Ver. 8. — Desirable habitationi: a new year's sermon. "Dwell deep, inhabitants of Dedan." The prophet is foretelling the calamities that are to come on the different heathen nations who dwelt around the land of God's peo|ile, and from whom they, at various times, had received sore wrong and harm. The Edomites — the descendants ol Ksau — were the traditional foes of Israel, and it is they who in all probability aie referred to. The country they inhabited was full of rocks, cliffs, deep gorges in the sides of which were many all but inaccessible caves. The rocky dwellings of Edom have been often told of — how they served as an almost impenetrable fortress for the robber bands which mostly inhabited them. But now vengeance was to come on these people, and the prophet is bidding them betake themselves in flight to the far-off desert, or to hide themselves in the deep recesses of their rocky caves, and there, if possiUe, safely dwell. " Dwell deep . . . Dedan " (cf. also ver. 30). For disaster was thieat- ening Hazor also. The ruthless King ol Babylon would fall on tlieni in his march west- wards to Egypt, and well would it be for them if the forests and caverns, the lofty rooks and the deep valleys of their rugged land slould provide them with secure retreat. It was in such hidden caves that David, during much of his fugitive life when hunted by Saul "like a partrid.;e upon the mountains," so often found refuge. And this fact he is for ever commemorating in his psalms by calling God his Rock, his Refuge, hij Hiding-place, his Fortress, his Secret Place. And tlie history of these lands tells once and again of the devices of military commanders to dislodge the inhabitants of these almost inaccessible retreats. Herod, so Jusephus tells, caused a, number of huge timber boxes to be made, in which stood armed soldiers, and these were lowered down the pre- cipitous sides of the cliffs in which the robber caverns were until they reached the cavern mouths. Then, rushing in, I hey would massacre the inhabitants, or else by huge hooks drag them forth and then hurl them down to the dread depths beneath. But generally these hidden habitations proved secure refuges for those who dwelt in them, and it is to this fact that the prophet refers. He is bidding them betake themselves thither, for danger was at hand — a relentless foe was threatening them. Now, the like exhortation may be addi essed to us ; for for us there are provided strong habitations unto which we may continually resort, sure refuges in wh.ch we may safely hide, Divins
OH. XLix. 1— 39.] THE BOOK OP THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. 259
retreats in the deep recesses of which we may securely dwell. Therefore we would say —
I. Dwell DEEP in the love or God. For the firm faith of the love that God hath toward us will be found to be a shelter, a solace, and a strength, such as nought else can render. St. John says concerning that love, " We know and have believed the love that God hath towards us." Yes ; sometimes we can clearly see it, we know and feel it. Gtod's providence, God's grace, God's Word, are all filled and flooded with it. But there are other times when we cannot say we know, but only that we helieve the love that, etc. — when providence seems adverse, when our path is rough and beset with thorns, when those yon trusted prove treacherous and your own friends turn against you, when your home is left desolate and dark clouds of anxiety gather heavy and thick over you. But those times are made far less fearful for us if we will but dwell, dwell deep, in the love of God. It was throngh this ever-cherished home of his soul that our Lord was able to endure so calmly and to meet with such meek majesty and Divine dignity the imspeakable sorrow of his earthly lot. Often did the tempter seek to drag liim forth from that secure retreat by his mocking sugsestion, " If thou he the Son of God," etc. But he tried in vain. Dwelling deep in the love of God, that inaccessible refuge, that siire retreat, he looked forth upon the path he had to tread and the cross he had to bear, and he could endure the one and despise the other in the might of that love in which he ever abode. And it is well that we should dwell where he dwelt, and so be blest as he was blest. And not a few of his people have done so — Abraham, David, Daniel, Paul, and myriads more, as GcA grant we may likewise.
II. Dwell deep in the knowledge op Holt Scripture. For no surer aid to our obeying the former exhortation can be given than our obedience to this. And yet there are few books of importance that are neglected as the Scriptures are, notwithstanding the invaluable help which such knowledge has imparted and must ever impart. What is the hundred and nineteenth psalm but one long panegyrip on the blessedness of this knowledge of the Word of God? And he vho knows what ihe Word of God can do for his soul will deem no praise too extravagant, no admiration and love too enthusiastic. Oh to be mighty in the Scriptures ! for that is to be mighty through them, capable and ready for all God's will. The dark problems of life cease to dismay ; the mysteries which meet us on every side cannot shake our faith ; we become open-eyed to signs and tokens of God's love which otherwise we should not see. Integrity and uprightness preserve us, and we run the way of God's commandments, because God, by means of them, hath enlarged our heart. It is this prayerlul habitual study of God's Word which is dwelling deep therein, and which is so iruitful of good to all that will so dwell.
III. Dwell deep in the fellowship op Christ. Cherish and guard with a holy care that communion with him which is the joy and strength of our souls. A sure test of the value of any spiiitual aid is given us in the intensity of the opposition which Satan offers to our use of such aid. Now, measured by this standard it is diffi- cult to over-estimate the value of this communion with Christ in which we say, " Dwell deep." This is not easy to do. For persistent indeed are the endeavours which Satan makes to destroy this communion. Who that kneels in prayer is ignorant of these endeavours ? — thoughts wandering ; desires earth-bound ; faith feeble ; love cold. Hence many neglect prayer, or they become formal in it. But there can be no real communion with Christ without this. Therefore we must rouse ourselves to earnestness. Pray that we may pray. Kneel down again and pray once more our as yet unprayed prayer. Let us resolve we will not be conquered. Encourage ourselves by remembering that the very diftioulties we meet are evidences of the truth of true prayer. And that such difficulties can be overcome; for they have been. And not only by prayer, but by walking with Christ in obedience and sympathy and love. — 0.