Then shall they be built, &c.— We have here a clear prophesy of the calling of the Gentiles; and though, after the return from Babylon, the Maccabees in particular were zealous to make proselytes to the law of Moses, it is certain that this and other similar promises had their full accomplishment only in the preaching of the Gospel.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, The prosperity of the wicked has been a great temptation to more than one good man, Psalms 73. Jeremiah is staggered with it, and earnestly desires to be resolved concerning this point.
1. He presumes to plead with God, and talk with him of his judgment; desiring to obtain information, and have his own doubts silenced, fully persuaded that God is righteous, though he sees mysterious providences which he cannot solve. Note; (1.) Though we may not find fault with God's dispensations, we may reason with him upon them, and inquire into the grounds of them, for our greater satisfaction. (2.) Though there may be dark providences which we cannot understand, we must never quit this great and general truth, that God is righteous, and whatever he doth is well done.
2. The particular subject of his inquiry is, the prosperity of the wicked. Their way prospers, their malicious designs take effect, their treachery and hypocrisy meet with success, and they are happy to outward appearance; living at ease, and enjoying every earthly good. Thou hast planted them, as if they were God's peculiar care; yea, they have taken root; they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit; their families increase, their wealth accumulates, and they seem fixed in their possessions; thou art near in their mouth, they make a profession of godliness, and have the Lord's name often in their lips; but, notwithstanding, he is far from their reins, they have no real inward faith, fear, or love of him. Note; (1.) Worldly prosperity is here frequently the lot of God's enemies, who in their life-time receive their good things. (2.) The language of piety is easily learnt; but God trieth the reins, and requireth truth in the inward parts; without which, all besides is but sounding brass, and a tinkling cymbal.
3. God knew his simplicity as well as their hypocrisy, that his heart was right towards him; and that in all the trials he had been exposed to, he had approved his fidelity. Note; (1.) It is happy for us when we can appeal to God for our uprightness before him. (2.) God's judgment concerning us is not taken from our outward appearance, but from our hearts; keep, therefore, thy heart with all diligence. (3.) We may sit easy under men's revilings, if we are conscious of God's approbation of us.
4. He desires to see the ruin of these wicked ones; that, as fattened for slaughter, God would pull them out, and rid the land of that burden under which it groaned. For their wickedness, the famine devoured, and even the beasts and birds perished for want of sustenance, because they said He shall not see our last end; either God, whose judgments they defied, or Jeremiah, whose prophesy they despised, and whom they resolved to put to death, that he at least should not live to see the fulfilment of the threatenings which he denounced against them. Note; (1.) Prosperous sinners are only as the ox fattened for the slaughter. (2.) The earth groans under men's iniquities, but it shall shortly be relieved in their destruction.
5. God answers his complaints; not indeed in a direct explication of his dispensations, but in an admonition designed for his own profiting. If thou hast run with the foot-men, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? If thou canst not find out the devices of the men of Anathoth, how shouldst thou fathom the secrets of God's providence? so some interpret it: or rather, if these conflicts with the men of Anathoth discouraged him, how would he be able to cope with the king, princes, and priests at Jerusalem? and if in the land of peace wherein thou trustedst, in his own city, where he promised himself peace and safety, they have wearied thee; made such an impression on his spirits; how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan? when a flood of greater persecution shall burst forth upon him, and threaten to overwhelm him. For even thy brethren, the priests, the house of thy father, to whom by blood he was so nearly connected; even they have dealt treacherously with thee, seeking to silence or destroy him: yea, they have called a multitude after thee, raised a mob against him, and instigated them to insult and hoot him as he passed; believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee; they pretend to abhor persecution, and to discountenance such riotous proceedings, when in fact they are at the bottom of them; and when their words are smoother than oil, they have hearts full of rancorous enmity. Note; (1.) They who stand up for God and his truth, must prepare themselves for the world's opposition. (2.) Our bitterest enemies are often our nearest kinsmen, or our brethren in office. (3.) God prepares his servants by lesser trials for greater ones. (4.) In our own strength the least temptation will weary us; in God's strength, we shall be enabled to stem the swelling of Jordan.
2nd, We have,
1. God's dereliction of his people. His temple he deserts, his heritage he forsakes, the dearly-beloved of his soul he gives up into the hands of his enemies. Once they bore these favoured titles, God delighted in them, separated them for himself, and chose them for a peculiar people, setting his love upon them; but their ingratitude drove him from them, and left them an easy prey to every invader. The people of his heritage were as lions in the forest, roaring against God in the persons of his prophets, blaspheming his name, and renouncing his government, and become cruel, blood-thirsty, and oppressive; therefore have I hated it; withdrawn every token of favour from them, and devoted them to destruction. Note; Woe unto the soul, to the people from whom God departs; they are on the verge of ruin!
2. Their destruction by the Chaldeans. Come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour; the armies of Nebuchadnezzar, fierce and savage, are summoned to take the field, and consume this devoted people, Revelation 19:17-18 and no sooner is it spoken than done. Many pastors, the captains of the Chaldean host, have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness: once God regarded this place and people as his own, and delighted in it as his portion; but now universal desolation reigns, the country is turned into a wilderness, the cities sacked, burnt, and rased from their foundations, the sword devours from one end of the land to the other: and while this impenitent people lay not their sins to heart, the very earth mourns as more deeply affected than they, upbraiding their ingratitude and hardness of heart; and all attempts to extricate themselves are vain. It is the sword of the Lord, and therefore no flesh shall have peace; though they sow wheat, they shall reap thorns; literally, a curse being upon the ground for their sins; and figuratively, though they contrived to engage the Egyptians as their auxiliaries, they would prove a vexation to them, rather than assistance. Their pains are spent to no profit; and shame and confusion will cover them, when they see all their schemes disappointed, and their revenues, so lavishly spent to hire foreign aid, thrown away, because of the fierce anger of the Lord; against which all their policy and power were equally fruitless, and which was infinitely more to be feared than even the Chaldean army. Note; (1.) If we have God for our enemy, we can hope for no peace in time or eternity. (2.) Nothing can engage sinners to lay to heart the evil of their ways, when God withdraws his Spirit from them; even the heaviest judgments then but harden and exasperate. (3.) If God spared not his own pleasant portion or land, let no other guilty land hope to escape.
3rdly, Jeremiah's commission extended not merely to his own people, but to the neighbouring nations.
1. God threatens them with destruction for their unkindness to Israel. They are called his evil neighbours, such as the Moabites, Ammonites, Philistines, &c, by their connexions with whom God's people had been led into sin and idolatry, and that is the greatest evil which any can do; that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit, made inroads upon them, assisted the Chaldeans to destroy them, and led away many captives: for this God will visit them. Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, they too shall be utterly wasted and destroyed; and pluck out the house of Judah from among them; who, when their ruin came, would be released, and escape from their captivity. Note; (1.) It is a dangerous and irksome state to dwell in the midst of evil neighbours. (2.) They who have been our tempters, are often made our tormentors. (3.) If judgment begin at the house of God, let not the ungodly and the sinner think of escaping.
2. God still appears ready to have compassion on them, notwithstanding his judgments against them. Though cast out and captives, he will bring them again every man to his heritage, and every man to his land; on this condition, that, forsaking their former idolatries, they diligently learn the ways of my people, to worship and serve the true God, to swear by my name, The Lord liveth, and renounce all idols; in opposition to their former wicked conduct, when they taught my people to swear by Baal; then, not only shall their captivity be turned, but they shall be built in the midst of my people, become intitled to all the blessings and benefits of native Israelites, united with them in love, and admitted to the worship and service of God's temple. And this seems to look farther than to the conversion of many to the Jewish religion, who returned with them from Babylon; and had eminently its accomplishment when the Gentiles were gathered into the church, made fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ by the Gospel; but shall have its complete fulfilment, when Jews and Gentiles become, without distinction, one fold under one shepherd. Note; (1.) The bitterest enemies of God and his people may yet be reconciled; there is ever hope for the returning sinner. (2.) Whey who learn the ways of God's people will have their happy lot with them. (3.) They who would be proficients in the school of Christ must use all diligence; sloth and ignorance are inseparable.
3. Judgment is denounced on those who refused to obey the Gospel, and return to God. I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the Lord. Note; There is but one alternative; either we must turn to God, and be made happy in everlasting blessedness; or by departing from God, and continuing impenitent, go down into everlasting burnings.