Nothing can be more tender and endearing on the part of God, to show his reluctancy to punish. Comparing his city, and his people, to Gilead and Lebanon, are striking expressions. Gilead and Lebanon were very lovely and flourishing: but the most lovely places, if brought under God's displeasure, soon become a wilderness. Reader! think what a Gilead and Lebanon was our nature before sin marred it. Oh! what a desolation by sin! The world, the Lord saith, shall look with astonishment, on the change wrought on his people and City: is this Zion whom no man regardeth? Precious Lord Jesus, what an eternal state of ruin to our nature must have taken place, hadst thou not interposed for our recovery, by the sacrifice of thyself! Reader! who would believe the possibility of Israel changing their glory, had not scripture declared it, and for the love and reverence of Jehovah, have given their affection to dunghill idols?
Related Commentaries of Jeremiah 22:6
Jeremiah 22:6-9
6 For thus saith the LORD unto the king's house of Judah; Thou art Gilead unto me, and the head of Lebanon: yet surely I will make thee a wilderness, and cities which are not inhabited.
7 And I will prepare destroyers against thee, every one with his weapons: and they shall cut down thy choice cedars, and cast them into the fire.
8 And many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall say every man to his neighbour, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this great city?
9 Then they shall answer, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshipped other gods, and served them.