(a) Righteous [art] thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me
speak with thee of [thy] judgments: Why doth the way of the wicked (b)
prosper? [why] are they all happy that deal very treacherously?
(a) The prophet confesses God to be just in all his doings, although
man is not able to give a... [ 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 (c) reins.
(c) They profess God in mouth, but deny him in heart, which is here
meant by the reins, (Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:8).... [ Continue Reading ]
But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried my heart
toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and (d)
prepare them for the day of slaughter.
(d) The Hebrew word is "sanctify them", meaning that God would be
sanctified in the destruction of the wicked to whom God for a... [ Continue Reading ]
How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither,
for the wickedness of them that dwell in it? the beasts are consumed,
and the birds; because they said, (e) He shall not see our last end.
(e) Abusing God's leniency and his promises, they flattered themselves
as though God would e... [ Continue Reading ]
If thou hast run with the (f) footmen, and they have wearied thee,
then how canst thou contend with horses? and [if] in the land of
peace, [in which] thou didst trust, [they wearied thee], then how wilt
thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
(f) Some think that God reproves Jeremiah, in that he would r... [ Continue Reading ]
I have forsaken (g) my house, I have left my heritage; I have given
the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.
(g) God wills the prophet to denounce his judgments against Jerusalem,
even though they will both by threatenings and flatteries labour to
silence him.... [ Continue Reading ]
My heritage is to me as a (h) lion in the forest; it crieth out
against me: therefore have I hated it.
(h) Ever ranting and raging against me and my prophets.... [ Continue Reading ]
My heritage [is] to me [as] a (i) speckled bird, the birds around
[are] against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come
to devour.
(i) Instead of bearing my livery and wearing only my colours, they
have change and diversity of colours of their idols and superstitions
therefore thei... [ Continue Reading ]
Many shepherds have destroyed my (k) vineyard, they have trodden my
portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate
wilderness.
(k) He prophecies of the destruction of Jerusalem, by the captain of
Nebuchadnezzar, whom he calls pastors.... [ Continue Reading ]
They have made it desolate, [and being] desolate it mourneth to me;
the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth (l) [it] to
heart.
(l) Because no man regards my word, or the plagues that I have sent on
the land.... [ Continue Reading ]
(m) They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they (n) have put
themselves to pain, [but] shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed
of (o) your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD.
(m) That is, the prophets.
(n) They lamented the sins of the people.
(o) For instead of amendment,... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus saith the LORD against all my evil (p) 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.
(p) Meaning the wicked enemies of his Church who blasphemed his Name,
an... [ Continue Reading ]
And it shall come to pass, after I have plucked them out I (q) will
return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every
man to his heritage, and every man to his land.
(q) After I have punished the Gentiles I will have mercy on them.... [ Continue Reading ]
And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the (r) ways
of my people, to swear by my name, The (s) LORD liveth; as they taught
my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built (t) in the midst
of my people.
(r) The true doctrine and manner to serve God.
(s) Read (Jeremiah 4:2).... [ Continue Reading ]