Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Jeremiah
Book: Jeremiah
Chapter: 15
Overview:
The
Destruction of the wicked described.
(1-9) The
Prophet
laments such messages, and is reproved.
(10-14) He supplicates
Pardon, and is promised protection.
(15-21)
1-9 The
Lord declares that even
Moses and
Samuel must have
pleaded in vain. The putting of this as a case, though they
should stand before him, shows that they do not, and that saints
in
Heaven do not pray for saints
On Earth. The Jews were
condemned to different kinds of misery
By the righteous
Judgment
of
God, and the remnant would be driven away, like the
Chaff,
into
Captivity. Then was the populous
City made desolate. Bad
examples and misused authority often produce fatal effects, even
after men are dead, or have repented of their crimes: this
should make all greatly dread being the occasion of
Sin in
others.
10-14 Jeremiah met with much contempt and reproach, when they
ought to have blessed him, and
God for him. It is a great and
sufficient support to the people of
God, that however
troublesome their way may be, it shall be
Well with them in
their latter
End.
God turns to the people. Shall the most hardy
and vigorous of their efforts be able to contend with the
counsel of
God, or with the
Army of the Chaldeans? Let them hear
their doom. The enemy will treat the
Prophet Well. But the
people who had great estates would be used hardly. All parts of
the country had added to the national guilt; and let each take
shame to itself.
15-21 It is matter of comfort that we have a
God, to whose
knowledge of all things we may
Appeal.
Jeremiah pleads with
God
for
Mercy and relief against his enemies, persecutors, and
slanderers. It will be a comfort to
God's ministers, when men
despise them, if they have the
Testimony of their own
consciences. But he complains, that he found little pleasure in
his work. Some good people lose much of the pleasantness of
religion
By the fretfulness and uneasiness of their natural
temper, which they indulge. The
Lord called the
Prophet to cease
from his distrust, and to return to his work. If he attended
thereto, he might be assured the
Lord would deliver him from his
enemies. Those who are with
God, and
Faithful to him, he will
deliver from trouble or carry through it. Many things appear
frightful, which do not at all hurt a real believer in
Christ.