PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 2
Thomas Kelly Cheyne, 1841–1915 · 355,481 words · 309 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 2 — Section 1
Suirtiatijiji II- 1 {■ — • SirtiljmjWi H- j_, L,i. ' I ■—:- =~E;=^" ''924 101 104 556 BHMTuUfum ^«1 "•;!■;; ■■i.r;:;; i-r«n ns?' Biill^i^SiJiS CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Cornell University Library The original of this bool< is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in…
1,018 wordsSECTION 2The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 2 — Section 2
Vers. 10, 11. — ^Therefore fear thou not, my servant Jacob, etc. These two verses, omitted in the Septuagint, are among the passages which Hitzig (carrying out an idea of Movers) attributes to the editorial band of the author (a pious Jew of the Captivity, according to him) of Isa. xl. — Ixvi., and it cannot be …
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T«r. 8. — •" Sarlpture — the written Ward of Ood." Jeremiah wm Teqnired to wnte his prophecy in a book. Israel had received the Law first by a voice of thunder, but the voice was followed by the writing on the tables of stone (Exod. xxxiv. 1). St. John was commanded to write his vision in a book (Rev. i. 11). Withou…
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n. Wht Ibbael should not feab. For variotis reasons, viz. ; 1. 2^e security oj Ood'i service. Israel was Gh)d's servant. It is reasonable to suppose that God will protect and save those whom he honours with his name and calls to his work. 2. The promise of ultimate deliverance. " Lo, I will save thee from afer," etc…
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III. An extension of power and oloky. The exiles were scattered and their noalth and influence lost; the return at first promised liltlo satisfaction to tlie pooi and feeble band of patriots that attempted to rebuild the ruins of the ancient nation. But great promises encouraged the faithful to believe that ultimate…
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II. Its own hecovert. This was to be not only partial but complete, and was to be a terror to the onlookino; nations. 1. Nothing could he more unlikely at the time this was spoken. This was a part of the wonder of God's saving power, and a vindication of his agency. 2. That which men despised and neglected Ood raise…
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I. In his relation to his sdbjeots. 1. He was to b& of the same kindred, A stronger guarantee of the Divine favour could not bo given. No foreigner was to hold permanent sway over the Israel of God. In one of themselves the holy people would find a legitimate centre for loyal attachment and patriotic devotion. That …
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Ver. 5. — The mountains of Samaria. " Sa- maria" is used, equally witli Ephraim, for the northern kingdom. Shall eat them as oommon things; rather, skull enjoy the fruit. The word, however, literally means shall profane them. The more common phrase, " shall eat the fruit," occurs in Isa. Ixv. 21, where the same …
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Ver. 12. — Shall flow together to the good- ness of the Lord; i.e. the Gphraimites, niter praising God on the holy hill, shall spread themselves over their own territory like au overflowing stream, and enjoy the "good- ness" or good gifts of Jehovah — the corn (not simply the wheat), the wine, the oil, etc. (com…
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against him ; rather, at often tu I ipakt against him; ie. as often as I pronounced sentence against Ephraim — such a sentence as is recorded in Isa. ix. 8 — 21 (where the future tenses should be perfects) and zxviii. 1 — 4. We must remember that, with God, to speak is to perform. Often as Jehovah punished Israe…
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Vers. 27— 30.— The physical side of the Messianic blessing. Its effect npon the heart of tlie pardoned sinners will be such that they will fnlly recognize the justice of the Divine judgments. There will no longer be any room for a certain favourite proverb ; the death of a sinner will be imiversally acknowledged…
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Ver. 32. — ^Although I was an hnsband unto them. The translation of the Septuagint Kdyi illj.i\ri<ra aJrHv, is undoubtedly wrong, though adopted for consistency's sake by the author of Hebrews (viii. 9). The phrase is the same as in ch. iii. 14, where even the Septua gint has cyii /caTanvpieiaa i/uif. Ver. 33.— …
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III. The charaotee of these close relations. 1. It has a human side : " I will be the God of all the families of Israel." (1) Jehovah is acknowledged. The people had followed Baal. They return to the true God. Christians who acknowledge God and Christ should frankly confess their faith. (2) God is worshipped. If he …
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OF Gk>D. 1. God will do all that is possible for our highest good. We may believe witi: William Law "that no creature can sufler from any evil from which infinite goodnest- can deliver it." Qod has gone so far as to give his only begutten Son to die for us (John iii. 16). We may be sure that he will do all else that…
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IV. The Divine life in man beqins with the turning bound of the soul TOWAEDS G-OD. This "convirsion" is the first step. U may not he suddenly dis- cernible. It may not be indicated by any one epoch in our history. But it must take place. We have beeo wandering further and further from God. The most momentous step i…
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II. The future condition of iNDiviDaAi. besponsibilitt. (Ver. 30.) This was to come with the Messianic era. We have seen it beginning in the revelation of Christianity. It can only be perfected when Christ's work is perfected by his second advent for judgment. A right social order may do something in tlus direction.…
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Vers. 35 — 37. — Guarantees of perpetuity. These words are a promise to the Jews, ind plainly refer to the national existence of Israel ; but tlie breadtli and spirituality jf the covenant they confirm warrants us in seeing in them the pledges of God's faith- fulness and the Church's stability for all who enjoy the …
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II. Its chabactee as inferred from this. A love like this was as remarkable as it was vast, and had to be accounted for. A misunderstanding of its character had frequently involved the Jews in national crimes and disasters. 1. It was gracious and undeserved. There was nothing in the fathers to create such an affecti…
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was not only to be a restoration of the people to their own land. God does nothing by halves. The industry, social and national development, and the spiiitual life of Israel would be abundantly blessed. 1. The well-being of Ood^s people is viewed as connected. The spiritual with the material, and the material with t…
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The first covenant had lieen repeatedly and flagrantly broken. As a system of morals, it was perfect and without flaw ; but human nature, being corrupt, was unable to keep ita conditions (Rom. vii. 12). Universal corruption witnessed to the hopelessness of sal- vation by such a method. And yet the transgressions of …
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II The evidence that it is accomplished. 1. Universal knowledge of Ood. The goSf«l is intended for all men. Every man has a personal interest in its message. To keep back the truth from any one who has come within our reach is a sin ; especially is this the case with regard to those who are our daily companions and …
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II. 'i HE BLESSINGS OP SUCH RESTORATION. There will be : 1. Gladness and joy. (Cf. vers. 4, 7.) Under the imagery of a festive dance the prophet declares this. The mournful monotone of humanity's sorrow, its ceaseless moan, shall be rejiLiced by the song, the dance, the shout of joy. 2. Peace. For centuries the vine…
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perpetuated ; that has not perished, whatever else may have. And there results frotn all this the formation of a certain spirit and type of character. There aie family like- nesses, not in feature and form only, but in mental, moral, and physical characteristics as well. And these enlarge and become chnracteristics …
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II. But, let it be understood how it may, the prophetic statement is tkue. In the wilderness of Sinai what grace God's people found there 1 Blessings in basket and in store, in guidance, governance, guardianship; in instruction, discipline, and develop- ment as a nation : how they were welded together, trained for d…
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I. Without doitbt thekb was much in their history that seemed to be VERT CONTRARY TO WHAT LOVE WOULD DO. "I have loved thcc with an everlasting love," said God. " What I " we can imagine a perjilexed soul exclaiming — " What I love, everlastiii'4 love, and Israel a scattered people, her throne overturned, her kings …
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I. Illustrations of such pbocbdtjbb. There is that of the sower. He scatters his grain in the furrows, and throws it broadcast o'er the land. But by-and-by he gathers in the rich harvest. The merchant. He scatters his wealth in this venture and in that, in the confidence that he shall, in due time, gather large incr…
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II. But there is a satisfaction which is greatly to be desired. 1. That of trust, which prevents all murmuring at the dispensations of God, and which says, " 1 will trust, and not be afraid." 2. That of meekness, which says, " It is the Lord ; let him do what seemeth good in his sight." 3. That of belief in God's pr…
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CoNOLUBioN. 1. Welcome the smart and pain of sorrow for sin. 2. Dread that apathy which it so common in the slaves of sin. 3. Remember that it is only as the Lord turn* us that our conversion is genuine and real. — C. cH. XXXI. 1—40.^ THE Book OF THE PRO? HET JEREMIAH. 37 Ver. 18. — Our yokes. I. That which is hard…
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II. Its CONTRASTS. 1. The old co\ena,ntTe\a,teA to the possession ^ an earthly inJteri- lance, the new to the attainment of a spiritual character. The one was of earth, the other of heaven. The one held before Israel the winning and keeping of the promised land ; the other, the possession of likeness to God. 2. The …
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IL 1'uB SECOND PROMISE. " And they shall be my people." The avenue that this guards is that of man's circumstances. Doubt does often enter by such way. If a man be surrounded with distress, almost worn out with "the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune," broken-hearted and bankrupt of all earthly good, let none c…
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II. In spite of unreciprocated affection. Israel had had other lovers, and she liad loved them In return. They had bestowed gifts on her, and she had bestowed gifts on them, and so there was profession of mutual regard as long as it was profitable to make it. But tliere was no love to God. His holiness, his goodness…
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II. Those whom he gathers. The Lord's compassions fail not. To the yonng, the •trong, the healthy, those perfect in body, nothing was needed but to say, "The time is come for return. Make your start." But then all were not so placed. The weak- lings have ever to be considered, and God considers them, as it were, fir…
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II. The CAnsE of pbaise. Praise and gladness always have some cause, but tl •■ question remains to be asked whether it be a cause which God will approve. If it lie gladness rising out of some selfish triumph or gain, then tlie joy will assuredly i><' turned into mourning. But here the goodness of Jehovah is emphatic…
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to a Iaw. Sometimes there are extraordinary preseryations of infant life, and wben some life so delivered has afterwards unfolded into eminence and usefulness, thwe is a talk of something specially providential in the preservation. Some such preserved lives, however, turn out a great curse, Hnd then where is the pro…
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COVENANT. It would be a mistake to describe it as a covenant that failed. Paradoxical as the expression sounds, the very breaking of the covenant furnished the proof of its success. It made man's position clearer to him ; it prepared the world for Christ. The old covenant had been broken in spite of all the teaching…
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slement of truth in the preaching of the ground at Anathotu was the occasion whitdi ' false prophets,'' viz. that Jehovah was still called furth thu must striking proof of hit 48 THE BOOK OP THE PROPHET JEREMIAH, [oh. xxsn. 1—44. sublime confidence in God. Not that he understood how it could be God's will that he…
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Vers. 10—14. — The Authorized Version is here so far wrong, on technical terms, that it seems best to retranslate the whole pas- sage : " And 1 wrote (the circumstances) in the deed, and sealed it, and took wit- nesses, and weighed the money in the balance. And I took the purchase deed, that which was sealed (co…
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by the invader ; Jeremiah knows that the Jews will be driven from their country; he is a prisoner. Yet he buys of piece of land 1 The transaction is carried out calmly, carefully, with all legal exactitude, and every precaution against future mistakes as to ownership, just as if the prophet were at liberty to enter …
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II. The lbadivo details of the pbayeb. 1. A contemplation of the greatness of God (ver. 17). This is realized by a consideration of the stupendous works of God !■ nature. Thence we learn (1) that as God accomplishes suoli great works as are mani- fested in creation, no difiiculty or failure-can arise from his inabil…
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II. Unity is involvbd dj the idea of perfection. 1. Unity of thought. Truth is one. It may be variously conceived ; at first broken lights caught up in opposite quarters may look very different. But the more we eliminate personal " views," the more we can get of the white light of facts, the nearer we approach to th…
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Vers, 1 — 6. — Silencing a prophet. A short time before an attempt was made upon his life ; now it is imagined that the prophet will yield to harsh treatment and intimidation. The natural heart of man is so foolish that it cannot but credit man with the authorship of Divine truth, and suppose that he can control and…
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L The need of God's servant. Ver. 2 tells us that Jeremiah was at this time shut up in prison. His confinement was not so severe as that which he had suffered in his former prison; but yet there was very much in his present circumstances to make him need the sustaining grace of God. The story of his imprisonments is…
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Chaldeans (ch. xxxvii.). In the insolence begotten of their fancied deliverance, they thought they might do anything to God's servant. They therefore dragged him before the princes, procured his condemnation, smote him, and then cast him into deep dungeons, vrhere, had he lingered long, death must soon have put an e…
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absurd as it would seem in many eyes, and as it perhaps partly seemed even in Ms own eyes, he felt need still of more assurance and confidence tlian he yet possessed. And K) in this prayer he pours out his perplexities before God. And if we analyze this prayer, we shall see that he begins by going over in devout con…
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VIII. The depositaries of this testimony. The prophet put his in an earthen vessel. We, too, have this treasure in earthen vessels. Let the literal suggest the spiritual; Jeremiah, Paul. IX. The underlying and effectuating will. (Ver. 15.) The Lord luould have the land to be restored, the Cajjtivity should return. …
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AH. xxin. 1— 44.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. 61 vrisdom, and the beneficence of God, and the question, " Is anything too hard for thee ? " can meet with but one answer. How can any doubt the Divine reaourcei in view of the creating and sustaining providence of God. II. Guilt. If it be hard sometimes in the f…
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I. The peofbet himself. 1. That his trust in God might not fail. Had the career of the guilty nation been cut short because God foresaw what the certain end would be, such certain foresight being impossible to any but God, the faith of his servants wo'-M have been severely strained. They had ever heard of God as the…
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I. Without doubt theik exile tried them as fire. Fire is often the symbol of pain; and that there was indeed pain and sore distress in the exiles' lot is certain. Degradation, slavery, loss of their land, their high privileges as the people of God, in short, of their worldly all, had to be submitted to by them ; and…
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not far <iff. " If I had been a little child among the Israelites, I think I should have known, when father set the bitter herbs upon the table, that the lamb was roasting somewhere, and would be set out too^' With bitter herbs shall ye eat it ' — and so if there be bitter herbs, the dainty dish is near " (Spurgeon)…
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Vers, 36 — 41. — The bonds of abiding attachment to Ood. Jeremiah has seen the war prospect, and it is one of siege, captivity, and destruction. He speaks as one who has the long-tbreatened hour before his eyes (ver. 24). But God, looking from a higher point, sees the enduring bright result beyond. Observe in this p…
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Ver. 2.— Thus saith the lord, the Uaker thereof, etc. ; rather, Thus taith Jehovah, uho doeth it, Jehovah who frameth it that he may ettdblish it, whose name it Jehovah. It was needless to express the object of the verbs. Jehovah's great purpose is the regeneration of his people. To " frame " or " form " if syno…
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Vers. 20 — 22. — The constant, regular suc- cession of day and night is an emblem of the equally regular supply of royal descend- ants of David and of Levitical priests, and the countless grains of sand are symbolic of the wonderful increase of their numbers. At first sight the latter part of the promise seems a…
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ance from sin in the revelation of the means by which this is brought about. Since Christ has died for our sins we have pjood reason to ask for forgiveness and cleansing. 3. The promised cleansing and forgiveness are perfect ; i.e. (1) from all sins — none can be too black for the "Lord of all flesh" to overcome, fo…
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I. Town life. In the happy city described by Jeremiah there is a repopulation ol the deserted streets. What a melancholy sight is a city in ruins, silent and solitary 1 The very suggestion of life and bustle increases the gloom of the unnatural stillness that haunts tlio place. The first step towards restoration is …
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L The permanence of nature ib ah absttranoe of thb febhankkob of oraoe. The same God rules in the physical and spiritual spheres. In the one he is not capricious and uncertain. Why should we fear his being so in the other? Night, tempest, winter — things dark and wild — do not set aside the eternal ordinances of be…
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of God, or as legitimately descended from such a one, he ruled by Divine right. He was the centre of patriotic attachment, and the autlioritative emhodiment and enforcer of Divine righteousness — at least that was the ideal. Hdw few of the princes of the Davidio succession realized this the history of Judah can witn…
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Ver. 3. — 2%e reasonableness of prayer, " Call upon me, and I will answer thee," etc. This is one of the blessed promises of God given for the help of sorrowful and struggling men. None but God knows how many have been helped by it and by the glorious throng of Divine words which are like unto it, or how often, or h…
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marshals her facts. They are a goodly array, and drawn from all departments of creation, animate and inanimate ; from all kinds of living organisms, whether animal or vegetable; and they have forced upon you, we readily admit, the conviction of the universality and invariability of natural law. Christians are bound …
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I. Sin la an awful fact. All nations have recognized this and mourned over it. But it has not been created by Christianity. True, the Christian faith brands it with the stigma of shame as none other does ; for everywhere sin has cast its deep shadow and driven noble souls, not a few, to utter despair. But it was her…
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II. Pabadise beoained. Such is the bright, joyous picture set forth in these verses (11 — 18). Its elements are : 1. Righteousness. Not mere innocence, as in Eden, but virtue tested and triumphant, and so issuing in a settled righteousness. This must be the basis of all truly blessed life. The people must be all rig…
1,089 wordsSource & rights
Public-domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Text from OCR of an original historical scan; OCR may contain recognition errors.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.