Jeremiah 8:2 - Homilies By S. Conway

Befooled indeed.

This is what we say when We see men giving heed to the plausible statements of gross impostors, and, in consequence, lavishing their time, energy, and wealth in the hope of large recompense; but who, when the time comes that the hoped-for gain should be theirs, find themselves deceived, defrauded, helpless, and utterly ruined men. These are they who are the prey of bubble companies, lying advertisements, and the other ten thousand frauds into which unwary persons are beguiled. But is not this what we may say when we read of those told of in our text? Was there ever more flagrant, piteous, and awful instance of men being made fools of indeed? For—

I. LOOK AT THESE UTTERLY DECEIVED ONES .

1. They were worshippers of the gods of the heathen . The sun, the moon, and all the host of heaven: these were the objects of their worship. Reference is continually made to them and to their worship ( 2 Kings 23:5 ; 2 Kings 21:3 , etc.).

2. And they were most earnest worshippers . Note the piling up of expressions to indicate this.

3. But yet they were utterly deceived and disappointed . See in text and in immediate context how these gods dealt with them. Ardent votaries as they had been, those whom they worshipped let all the hideous woes come upon them which are told of here: death, desolation, degradation, and despair. That was what their gods did for them. They had spent their all on these pretended physicians, and were nothing bettered, but made worse indeed.

II. ENDEAVOR TO EXPLAIN BOTH THEIR INFATUATION AND THEIR DISAPPOINTMENT .

1. As to their infatuation . It can hardly be possible for any reader of the history of these people to avoid asking the question, "Wherefore was it that they were so given to idolatry?" Their whole national history showed that nothing but sorrow and shame had come from idolatry, and yet here they were forever, not merely falling into it, but deliberately and persistently going after it. What could be the reason?

2. As to their disappointment . Idolatry, however for the moment it may seem to have brought good along with it (cf. supra ), resulted at last in such unparalleled woe as the prophets, one and all, continually declared must come from it. But whilst no idolatrous nation has ever stood permanently in its greatness—let the decayed and perished empires of antiquity witness—there can be little question that sentence against the evil work was executed more speedily, more sternly, and more notoriously against the Jews than against any other idolatrous nation whatsoever. It cost them more than any other people, and they have not paid "the uttermost farthing" even yet. The rabbis say that in every one of the innumerable cups of affliction which Israel in the course of the long ages has had to drink, there has been mingled some of the dust of that golden idol-calf which Moses ground to powder beneath Mount Sinai. We are told how, when he had done this, he cast the powder into the stream from whence the camp drew its water, and made all the people drink of it. Now, wherefore was sorer Judgment meted out to Israel than to others because of their idolatry?

III. THY TO TURN THIS WHOLE SUBJECT TO GOOD ACCOUNT .

1. The votaries of the world may in these verses behold their own portraiture and read their sure reward . For

2. The worshippers of God may profitably contemplate a model which too many of them too seldom follow , of earnest devotedness in their worship . "The children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light." Would that the devotedness of the world to its god were equaled by the devotedness of the Church to theirs!

3. Every one may beheld, in the tremendous and deadly attraction of the world, fresh, urgent, and constant need of being "kept by the power of God" in the love of God. Well may each day begin with this prayer—

"Lord, I my vows to thee renew:

Scatter my sins like morning dew,

Guard my first springs of thought and will,

And with thyself my spirit fill."

C.