And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.
Not be forgotten. If we translate Jeremiah 23:39 as the English version, the antithesis is, though I forget you, your shame shall not be forgotten.
Remarks:
(1) How terrible will be the judgments of God on the pastors that scatter the sheep from, instead of gathering them to Him (Jeremiah 23:1-2). But their unfaithfulness will not set aside God's faithfulness to His own covenant with His elect. He will, in His own time and way, "gather the elect remnant of His flock," both the spiritual Israel, the elect Church, and the literal Israel, "out of all countries."
(2) Messiah, "the righteous Branch," raised by God the Father unto David, is the Instrument by Whom alone this glorious work is being consummated. Already He reigns in the heart of His elect saints invisibly. Already He is most precious to them, in the character which His name Yahweh-Tsidkenu, "the Lord our righteousness," expresses (Jeremiah 23:6). Having no righteousness of their own wherewith to answer the demands of the law and the accusations of conscience, and knowing that the infinitely holy God requires a perfect righteousness for man's justification, how sweet it is to them to feel that Christ is made of God to them the very thing they need-not merely righteous, but righteousness itself-not merely righteousness, but "the righteousness of God," - and that made over to us; "for He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). This character of Jesus, known now to His elect church, shall hereafter be manifested also to Judah and Israel. Then shall His reign, which heretofore has been only spiritual, become also visible in all its glory revealed on earth. The Jews shall be restored to their own land with an exhibition of divine power far transcending that of the former Exodus from Egypt (Jeremiah 23:7-8); and Christ, as their King, "shall execute judgment and justice in the earth."
(3) What a sad transition it is from the glories of that coming blessedness on earth to the disorders of the present course of this world. It would be enough to break the heart (Jeremiah 23:9) of the faithful, when they look abroad and see on every side false teachers, immorality, swearing, and profanity (Jeremiah 23:10-11), were it not that they have God's own promise of better and brighter days to come. It is a sure test of false teaching when the teacher "strengthens the hands of evil-doers" (Jeremiah 23:14) by letting them remain undisturbed in their sins, so that they feel no need of "returning from their wickedness" by repentance. The faithful minister leads men to repentance (Jeremiah 23:22), faith, and righteousness, as the only way of peace. The false teacher, whose aim is to please man, and who has no commission from God (Jeremiah 23:21), promises "peace" to them that "despise" God (Jeremiah 23:17) and "walk after the imagination of their own heart." So far from "peace" awaiting such, "a whirlwind of the Lord shall fall grievously on their heads" (Jeremiah 23:19).
(4) "In the latter days" the Jews "shall consider perfectly" God's whole course of dealing with them, and shall then thoroughly humble themselves before Him at the remembrance. So, in the case of individuals among ourselves, God often, by a long course of trying discipline and chastisement, brings them to be truly wise at last, and to "consider their own ways," God's ways with them, and their latter end. (5) Let not any, whether ministers or people, delude themselves with the fancy that God is so "far off" (Jeremiah 23:23) as not to take strict account of all their ways. There is no hiding-place that can conceal one from the eye of Him who "fills heaven and earth" (Jeremiah 23:24). He requires His ministers to "speak His word faithfully" (Jeremiah 23:28). Their fidelity to His revealed Word is the discriminating test whereby the hearers can distinguish between them and false teachers-that is, between "the wheat and the chaff." God's Word is the "fire" that consumes the chaff, and the "hammer" that "breaks in pieces" all teachings and teachers that are unscriptural and false. Let us take heed that we be not led away by any error, however eloquently and with whatsoever seeming sincerity set forth. Let us beware of giving hard names to faithful preachings, which are "a burden" (Jeremiah 23:33) to our worldly, carnal, and self-seeking spirits, lest the Lord should take us at our word (Jeremiah 23:36; Jeremiah 23:39), and make His Word a burden upon us, "grinding us to powder" (Matthew 21:44). Rather let us joyfully take Christ's yoke upon us; so shall we find "His yoke easy, and His burden light" (Matthew 11:29-30).