Jeremiah 12:1 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

JEREMIAH CHAPTER 12 The prophet complaineth of the wicked's prosperity; by faith seeth their ruin, Jeremiah 12:1-4. God admonisheth him of his brethren's treachery against him, and lamenteth his heritage, Jeremiah 12:5-13. A return from captivity promised to the penitent, Jeremiah 12:14-17. Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee: the prophet begins hero with a recognition of God's unquestionable righteousness and justice, in all his providential dispensations in the government of the world. Some read the latter part, should I plead with thee. But let it be should I plead; or, although or when I plead, that is, argue with thee; yet the prophet doth it not without a previous resolution to agree the Lord's dispensations just, whatsoever he should say. Yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments; yet, saith he, let me talk with thee, not by way of accusing thee, but for my own satisfaction concerning thy judicial dispensations in the government of the world. Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal treacherously? by all they, he means many of them, and is thought to have spoken with a special relation to the priests at Anathoth, that had conspired against his life. The prosperity of the wicked hath in all times been a riddle, and a sore temptation to the best of God's people; to Job, Job 21:7,13; to David, Psalms 37:1, Psalms 73:3,12 94:3,4 Hab 1:4,5. Lord, saith Jeremiah, I know thy ways of providence are just and righteous, but they are dark and hidden from me, I cannot understand why thou doest this.