_The word of the Lord_, &c. The date of this new sermon is not precisely marked, but it is probable it was delivered not long after the preceding one, and on the following occasion. “Besides the prophets who were commissioned to announce the approaching calamities of Judah and Jerusalem, there were... [ Continue Reading ]
_Stand in the gates of the Lord's house_ Namely, the east gate of the temple, which led directly to it, where he delivered this discourse, before all the people who entered there. _And proclaim there this word Proclaiming_ signifies both the authority by which he spake, and the divulging of what he... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel_ As creatures, we are all bound to regard _the Lord of hosts;_ as members of the visible church, _the God of Israel;_ what he said to them he says to us; and it is much the same with that which John the Baptist said to those whom he baptized, Matthew... [ Continue Reading ]
_Trust ye not in lying words_ Do not flatter yourselves with an opinion that you can be safe and happy on any other terms than those which God points out. _Saying, The temple of the Lord, &c., are these_ As much as to say, God hath placed his name here, Jeremiah 7:10, and chose these stately buildin... [ Continue Reading ]
_For if ye thoroughly amend your ways_, &c. In these verses the prophet tells them particularly what the amendment was which was necessary that they might escape destruction. It must be a thorough amendment, a universal, continued, persevering reformation; not partial, but entire; not hypocritical,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, ye trust in lying words_ Uttered by your false prophets, who promise you peace, and sooth you up in your impenitence. _Will ye steal, murder_, &c. Jeremiah does not charge them with the transgression of the ritual law of Moses, but with the breach of the weightier matters of the moral law.... [ Continue Reading ]
_But go ye now to Shiloh_ Shiloh was the place where, upon the first coming of the Israelites into Canaan, the tabernacle, in which was the ark of God's presence, was set up; and there it continued for a long space of time, even until the days of Samuel. It was during this period that the Israelites... [ Continue Reading ]
_And now, because ye have done all these works_ Either the same, or as bad, or worse than Israel did when the tabernacle was at Shiloh; and particularly those mentioned Jeremiah 7:9. _And I spake unto you, rising up early_, &c. A metaphor taken from persons who, being diligent in their business, are... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore pray not thou for this people_ God had been wont to suffer himself to be prevailed with to spare his people by the mediation of his servants, as of Moses, Exodus 32:11; Exodus 32:14; Numbers 14:19; but now he will admit of no intercession. See also chap. Jeremiah 15:1; Ezekiel 14:20. Noth... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah_ Thou canst not pass along the streets, but thou must needs be an eye witness of their abominations, committed openly and publicly in the face of the sun, without either shame or fear; _and in the streets of Jerusalem_ In both city and country. Thi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore thus saith the Lord_ And what he saith he will not unsay, nor can all the world withstand its execution. Hear it therefore and tremble. _Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place_ As the flood of waters was poured upon the old world, or the shower of fire and brim... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel_ And let Israel hear when their God speaks _Put your burnt-offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh_ The burnt-offerings, after they were flayed, were to be consumed wholly upon the altar, Leviticus 1:9; whereas, in the sacrifices of the peace-of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cut off thy hair, O Jerusalem_ This was commonly practised in the time of great sorrow and mourning. And Jerusalem is here addressed as a woman in extreme misery, and exhorted to take upon her the habit and disposition of a mourner, and to bewail the calamities which were fallen upon her. But some... [ Continue Reading ]
_They have set up their abominations_, &c. They have set up images and altars for idolatrous worship even in my temple, and the courts near it. This seems to be spoken of what was done in the times of Manasseh, or Amon, 2Ki 21:4; 2 Kings 21:7; 2 Chronicles 33:4. _And they have built the high places... [ Continue Reading ]
_It shall be no more called Tophet, but The valley of Slaughter_ King Josiah first of all _defiled_ this place, as the text speaks, 2 Kings 23:10; that is, polluted it by burying dead bodies in it, by casting filth into it, and scattering there the dust and ashes of the idols which he had broken to... [ Continue Reading ]