Jeremiah 2:4-8 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

Bible Comments

Having put his people in mind of what had passed; and given them to understand that the Lord had not forgotten the smallest tendencies of their affection towards him; he now begins to remonstrate with them for all their ingratitude and rebellion. And in order to give the greater force to his complaint, he challengeth them to show cause, if anything in him could have left them the least apology. Reader think what an aggravation it is to all our transgressions, that they are against the best of all friends, the kindest of all relations. I know not what you feel in the review; but for myself, I scruple not to say, that the self-loathing, I sometimes experience, in the recollection of what passeth in a fallen nature, is to me abundantly increased, from the consideration, that our offences are all directed against God. It would be impossible to offend in any single instance, had we not first, for the time, lost all reverence and affection also for the person of Jesus. Every expostulation therefore seemeth to speak in the words before us, as though Jesus stood and said; what iniquity have you found in me, that you are gone far from me? If Jesus thus speaks, surely it cuts to the heart.

Jeremiah 2:4-8

4 Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:

5 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

6 Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?

7 And I brought you into a plentifulb country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.

8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.