Falsely accused.
Our Lord Jesus said, "It is sufficient for the servant that he be as his Master." Now, as he was falsely accused, so here we find his servant likewise. Note—
I. TO BE FALSELY ACCUSED IS THE COMMON LOT OF GOD'S PEOPLE. How many instances we have!—Abel, Joseph, Moses, David, etc. Because of such slanders the psalmist said, "All men are liars." And here the Prophet Jeremiah, having no thought of deserting his countrymen, is nevertheless accused of so doing. And today the world is ever ready with its slander. It avows that all the godly are but hypocrites, knaves, or fools. With what eagerness does it fasten upon the faults of a good man! How ready to take up an accusation against him!
II. HOW IS IT TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR? We reply:
1. Men of the world do not understand the principles on which the godly act. Hence what they do not understand they misrepresent.
2. They know their own motives, and attribute the like to the godly. They act from purely worldly motives, and hence they conclude godly men do the same.
3. They hate religion, and therefore are always ready to revile it.
4. It is "a comfort to Sodom" to think that the godly are no better than themselves after all. But—
III. HOW IS IT TO BE DEALT WITH?
1. Sometimes by silence. Silence leaves opportunity for and suggests reflection. How often of our Lord is it said, "He answered not a word" (cf. John 13:1-38.)]
2. Sometimes by indignant denial. Thus the prophet acted here; verse 14, "It is false," etc. They might have known, and probably did know, bow false their accusation was. Where there is great and true indignation felt at being thought capable of a given crime, that feeling, may often be shown; often, indeed, it ought to be, as when
3. Sometimes by showing the necessary untruthfulness of the accusation. This also our Lord did, as when they charged him with being in league with Beelzebub.
4. Sometimes by committing it all to God. Of our Lord it is said, "When he was reviled, he reviled not again, … but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously."
5. Sometimes by showing the motive of the false accusation. As when our Lord likened those who found fault with him to petulant children playing in the market place, who would be pleased with nothing.
6. Always by remembering that we are in the fellowship of Christ herein, and seeking his Spirit's aid to rightly bear this trial.—C.
Characteristics of injustice.
They may be traced in the incident recorded in these verses. Unjust judges as were these—
I. WILL NOT HEARKEN TO THE ACCUSED.
II. ARE BIASED BY PASSION.
III. ARE NEEDLESSLY CRUEL.
IV. SEEK NOT EIGHT, BUT REVENGE.
LEARN. To be careful what manner of spirit we are of whenever we are called upon to judge one another. Let us be thankful that the Judge before whom we stand, and who surveys all our ways, is that gracious Lord to whom the Father has committed all judgment, and who judges not righteously only, but in all mercy as well.—C.