Righteous [art] thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of [thy] judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? [wherefore] are all they happy that deal very treacherously? Ver. 1. _Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee._] Or, Though I should contend w... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou [art] near in their mouth, and far from their reins. Ver. 2. _Thou hast planted them, and they have taken root._] All goes well with them; they have more than heart can wish. Psa 73:7 And in lieu of God'... [ Continue Reading ]
But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. Ver. 3. _But thou, Lord, knowest me, &c., _] _q.d., _ I can safely appeal unto thee, and take thee for a witness of mine innocenc... [ Continue Reading ]
How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end. Ver. 4. _How long shall the land mourn?_] For the sake of those wicked wretches aforementioned... [ Continue Reading ]
If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and [if] in the land of peace, [wherein] thou trustedst, [they wearied thee], then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan? Ver. 5. _If thou hast run with the footmen._] Here God returneth an... [ Continue Reading ]
For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee. Ver. 6. _For even thy brethren._] Let this comfort us in like case. Abel and John Diazius were bu... [ Continue Reading ]
I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies. Ver. 7. _I have forsaken my house._] A man's house is dear to him, dearer his heritage, dearest his well beloved wife. Jerusalem had been all this to God, but now for sin... [ Continue Reading ]
Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it. Ver. 8. _Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest._] Roaring against me, and revelling in the ruin of my messengers. _Ubi affectus augetur in antithesi verborum; haereditas mea, et contra... [ Continue Reading ]
Mine heritage [is] unto me [as] a speckled bird, the birds round about [are] against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour. Ver. 9. _Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird._] As an owl, say some, that loveth not the light; as a peacock, say others, proud and incons... [ Continue Reading ]
Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. Ver. 10. _Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard._] Those who before were called beasts, Jer 12:9 are here called pastors - viz., Nebuchadnezzar's captains. S... [ Continue Reading ]
They have made it desolate, [and being] desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth [it] to heart. Ver. 11. _Because no man layeth it to heart._] Heb., There is not a man putting it upon heart, that is, duly and deeply affected with my menaces, so as to take... [ Continue Reading ]
The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the [one] end of the land even to the [other] end of the land: no flesh shall have peace. Ver. 12. _For the sword of the Lord,_] _i.e., _ Of the enemy set on by the Lord; for whencesoever... [ Continue Reading ]
They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, [but] shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD. Ver. 13. _They have sown wheat._] The prophets have, say some, but to no profit. _ They shall put themselves to... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them. Ver. 14. _Thus saith the Lord against all mine evil neighbours._] These we... [ Continue Reading ]
And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land. Ver. 15. _After that I have plucked them out,_] _sc., _ In both senses. Jer 12:14 _ I will return._] In the "mi... [ Continue Reading ]
And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people. Ver. 16. _If they will diligently learn._] Heb., Learning, learn the ways of my people... [ Continue Reading ]
But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD. Ver. 17. _But if they will not obey._] The tartness of the threatening maketh us best taste the sweetness of the promise, and a mixture of them serves to keep the heart in the best temper. _ I will utterly... [ Continue Reading ]