II. It ministered to his personal comfort and peaok of mutd. The anxiety and fear which weighed upon Baruch aie thereby dissipated. God loves to see bis cbildreu cheerful and in sympathy with his will. It is just from the " sorrow of the world that worketh death," he seeks to deliver us. The work of Baruch would be easier and less ©ppressive when be was assured that his own safety would be secure' 1. But how fKJor is this )iromise com I Hired with the"life and immortality brought to light in the gospel " ! The childien of promise are not only delivered from the sorrows and disapi>ointments of this present evil world, but made sharers in the final triumphs of redenipiive love.
III. It CORRECTED A SPIRITUAL fault. 1. Tht cauHon. "Andseekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not." Earthly ambition has often crept into the heart of God's servants. It is not consistent with faithful, single-eyed service. They that would further the kingdom of God in the world must seek it first. Baruch was reminded that this is not our rest. And when the powers of the world were being shaken was no time for self-advancement. His sighs were not pure. He mourned over opportunities lost, not of laying up treasure in heaven, but of accumulating it on earth. 2. The promise, " 'Ihy life will 1 s;ive unto thee for a prey." It seems jioor, compared with his liopes. He parhaps anticipated a slight rebuke and obastisenient oi Israel, a few chiinges and adjustments, ami the carrying on of the Divine purposes to a speedy issue. This illusion is gently but firmly checked. The world has a severer ordeal to pa-iS through ere the ancient offence can be exyjiated, and the arena cleared for the Divine futnie. His hopes are, therefore, not wholly destroyed, but transferred. He will be spared to see the things beyond, and meanwhile it will be his privileije to help on that better time. Happy for him if, thus corrected, he attains to a diviner calm of spirit and a more thorough acceptance of the Divine terms and conditions. He too was but a sinner, whose deliverance wiu in itself a great and undeserved mercy (cf. Matt. xxiv.). — M.
Vers. 1 — 5. — Baruch ; or, the young recruit reheartened. Baruch reminds of Mark (Acts xiii. 13). Both were good and fa tliful men; both became discouraged; both were reheartened ; both found profitable to the ministry and true to the end. Now, as we look on this Divine rehearlening of Baruch, we are taught much —
I. Concerning God. 1. We see his grace. He does not overlook or forget his servants. He notes their distresses and devises means for their relief. "Like as a father pitietli," etc. 2. We see his methods with those who are as Baruch was. ( 1) Though animated by love, they were severe rather than southini;; stem rather than gentle and consolatory. We have many parallels to this. Ot. ch. xii., "If tbou hast run with the footmen," etc. How stern the dealing of GJod with Moses 1 No entreaty could procure the alteration of the sentence of exclusion from Canaan tb.it had gone out against him. See also our Lord's message to John the Baptist in prison : " Go, tell John," etc. No gentle message of syn pathy, but rather of rebuke for his failure of faith. So with Paul's thorn in the flesh, the Lord would not remove it. In all these cases there is rather the sharp, bracing, rousing summons to duty than words of soothing pity and tenderness. Far more like Paul's dealing with the recreant Mark — he virtually cashiered him — than that of Barnabas, who. Son of Consolation i hat he was, was all for comforting him and dealing gently with him. (2) God tells him that he has heard his complainings. When we talk to ourselves, we often forget that every word is audil'le to Goil. The people about our Lord were often talking to themselves concerning bim,aud, though they said nothing out loud, we constantly read how "Jesus answered and sail," showing that he had heard all they said. (3) He gives him to understand that his purpose is not to be set aside because of his complainings. " The Lord saith thus." If we cannot bring our circumstances to our mind, our wisdom is to bring our mind to our circumstances. Baruch was shown that he must do this. (4) He implies that a seeking after "high tilings" for himself had much to do with his complaining. He was of great ability, of uoblelineage (ch. IL 59; Josepb us, ' Ant.,' x, tL 2 ; X. 1), the grandson of Maasiah (2 Chron. xxxiv. 8), and this may w.il have animated
204 THE BOOK OJ THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. Toh. xiv. 1—5
him with hopes of high office in the state, such as his brother had held ; or his nearness to Jeremiiih may have led him to believe that he should be the prophet's successor. (5) He promises him that his life shall be spared, though with much difliculiy— " given to him as a prey." We cannot till what afterwards became of him. Tradition varies. There was not much comfort in all this, but rather a " What doest thou here, Elijah ? " (1 Kings xix.). 3. Sis motives. The leaders of an army must not be weaklings. Those who have stern work to do must themselves be stern. Luther, not Erasmus, must head the Reformation movement. Hence God disciplines his most trusted servants by very severe methods. Even our Lord, " He learned obedience by the things that he suffered ; " " He was made perfect through sufferings." 4. His success. That whiclf he purposes is ever done. Baruch here, as Mark afterwards, was rehearteued and did good service again.
IL CoNCERNiNn THE PBOPHETio woEK. Demands self-denial, involves much suffering, and has much sorrow in it. No wonder that in ancient days men shrank from the pastoral ofiSce. " Nolo episcopari " meant something then. Are any thinking of it ? Count the cost. Are any in it? Let them, as they need, seek daily strength from God.
** Chief Shepherd of thy chosen sheep^ From sin and death set free. May every undei-shepherd keep HiB eye intent on thee."
Let those not m charged of the Lord pray tor those that an.
IIL CoNOEBNiNO TOUKO SOLDIERS OF Jesub Christ. 1. There !■ much that U delightful in them. Their ardour, their zeal, their affection. Elisha to Elijah, Timo- theus to Paul, so here Baruch to Jeremiah. 2. But they are apt to be discouraged and desponding. They need enduring power. Melancthon thought he should soon convert men to the truth. But Luther tells how the old Adam was soon found to be too hard for the young Melancthon. 3. Let them submit cheerfully to the methods of discipline God has appointed for them, and be on their guard against all self-seeking ambition. 4. And they are to remember that, though their life be given to them, it shall be " M a prey." They will have to watch, to toil, to contend, to struggle, even for that,
** The Son of Ood goes forth to war ... Who follows in his train 7 "
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