We continue during the present month our reading of the prophet Jeremiah-the last half of the book, from Chap. 32:to the end. Here we have the promise of future recovery, spoken of in the thirtieth chapter, reiterated. Under the striking figure of buying a field, the right to redeem which belonged to him, the prophet foretells how all the land would one day be restored to God's people. Chap. 33:renews these promises of recovery, and introduces (which is not very prominent in Jeremiah) the rule of the house of David, and blessedness through the Messiah. In Chap. 23:6 we find the title " The Lord our Righteousness" given to Christ; here the same title is given to the people of God.

A striking feature of this part of the book is the mingling of the prophet's experience with his predictions. It is the last days of the nation's existence before the captivity. In fact, the prophet is one of those in the city when it is taken. There is an utter heartlessness in rulers and people up to the last, any outward signs of yielding on the part of the king being quickly checked by the princes. The prophet's position was entirely a painful and distressing one, and tested him greatly. There is no gleam of hope in people or king, but faith in the midst of absolute ruin can stay itself upon the sure word of God.

We are permitted to follow the fortunes of a little handful left in the land, and with, we might say, still an opportunity to cleave to God and own Him. Alas, these are scattered, and we find a handful-apostate and defiant in Egypt, against the direct command of God. There is much searching truth here for a remnant in any time of ruin, like the present, in these chapters.

Prediction of judgment upon the nations is also given.

The prophet Daniel comes next in order, both morally and in point of time. The scene is changed to the Gentiles here, Israel being in captivity. But God meets faith wherever He finds it, and in Daniel and his friends we find that individual faithfulness which should have been present in the nation as a whole.

Significantly, in this book of Gentile glory, we have again and again, both in vision and direct prediction, the downfall of the proud Gentile power, represented by Nebuchadnezzar and his successors, and the setting up of God's kingdom with His earthly people on a basis of permanent peace and blessing, through Christ.

This book gives more definite and complete outlines of prophetic truth. It supplies the framework into which all other prophecy finds its place.

Continuing in what we may call historical order, we have the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. These recount the return of a remnant to Jerusalem at the end of the seventy years of captivity predicted by Jeremiah (see, also, Daniel 9:). Under Ezra the temple is rebuilt and divine worship resumed. But things were in a very disordered state until Nehemiah comes, and through his agency the wall is rebuilt around the city and separation and government maintained.

But we must remember, even this partial and feeble recovery was by sufferance of their Gentile masters. The Jews never regained their status as a nation. That and all other blessing for them waits until He comes whose right it is to rule.

As in Daniel, these two books have much that is most helpful and suggestive to any company of people living in remnant days.