Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Jeremiah
Book: Jeremiah
Chapter: 31
Overview:
The restoration of
Israel.
(1-9) Promises of guidance and
happiness;
Rachel lamenting.
(10-17) Ephraim laments his errors.
(18-20) The promised
Saviour.
(21-26) God's care over the
Church.
(27-34) Peace and prosperity in
Gospel time.
(35-40)
1-9 God assures his people that he will again take them into
Covenant relation to himself. When brought very low, and
difficulties appear, it is good to remember that it has been
So
with the
Church formerly. But it is hard under present frowns to
take comfort from former smiles; yet it is the happiness of
those who, through
Grace, are interested in the
Love of
God,
that it is an
Everlasting Love, from
Everlasting in the
counsels, to
Everlasting in the continuance. Those whom
God
loves with this
Love, he will draw to himself,
By the influences
of his
Spirit upon their souls. When praising
God for what he
has done, we must
Call upon him for the favours his
Church needs
and expects. When the
Lord calls, we must not plead that we
cannot come; for he that calls us, will help us, will strengthen
us. The
Goodness of God shall lead them to
Repentance. And they
shall weep for
Sin with more bitterness, and more tenderness,
when delivered out of their
Captivity, than when groaning under
it. If we take
God for our
Father, and join the
Church of the
First-born, we shall want nothing that is good for us. These
predictions doubtless refer also to a future gathering of the
Israelites from all quarters of the globe. And they figuratively
describe the
Conversion of sinners to
Christ, and the
Plain and
safe way in which they are led.
10-17 He that scattered
Israel, knows where to find them. It is
comfortable to observe the
Goodness of the
Lord in the
Gifts of
Providence. But our souls are never valuable as
Gardens, unless
watered with the dews of
God's
Spirit and
Grace. A precious
promise follows, which will not have full accomplishment except
in the heavenly Zion. Let them be satisfied of
God's
loving-kindness, and they will be satisfied with it, and desire
No more to make them happy.
Rachel is represented as rising from
her
Grave, and refusing to be comforted, supposing her offspring
rooted out. The
Murder of the children at
Bethlehem,
By Herod,
Mt 2:16-18, in some degree fulfilled this prediction, but
could not be its full meaning. If we have
Hope in the
End,
concerning an eternal inheritance, for ourselves and those
belonging to us, all temporal
Afflictions may be borne, and will
be for our good.
18-20 Ephraim (the ten tribes) is weeping for
Sin. He is angry
at himself for his
Sin, and folly, and frowardness. He finds he
cannot,
By his own power, keep himself close with
God, much less
bring himself back when he is revolted. Therefore he prays, Turn
thou me, and I shall be turned. His will was bowed to the will
of
God. When the teaching of
God's
Spirit went with the
corrections of his
Providence, then the work was done. This is
our comfort in affliction, that the
Lord thinks upon us.
God has
Mercy in store, rich
Mercy, sure
Mercy, suitable
Mercy, for all
who seek him in sincerity.
21-26 The way from the
Bondage of
Sin to the liberty of
God's
children, is a high-way. It is
Plain, it is safe; yet none are
likely to walk in it, unless they set their hearts towards it.
They are encouraged
By the promise of a new, unheard-of,
extraordinary thing; a
Creation, a work of Almighty power; the
human nature of
Christ, formed and prepared
By the power of the
Holy Ghost: and this is here mentioned as an encouragement to
the Jews to return to their own land. And a comfortable prospect
is given them of a happy settlement there.
Godliness and honesty
God has joined: let
No Man think to
Put them asunder, or to make
the one atone for the want of the other. In the
Love and favour
of
God the weary soul shall find
Rest, and the sorrowful shall
find joy. And what can we see with more satisfaction than the
good of
Jerusalem, and peace upon
Israel?
27-34 The people of
God shall become numerous and prosperous.
In Heb 8:8,9, this place is quoted as the sum of the
Covenant
of
Grace made with believers in
Jesus Christ. Not, I will give
them a new
Law; for
Christ came not to destroy the
Law, but to
fulfil it; but the
Law shall be written in their hearts
By the
finger of the
Spirit, as formerly written in the
Tables of
Stone. The
Lord will,
By his
Grace, make his people willing
people in the
Day of his power. All shall know the
Lord; all
shall be welcome to the knowledge of
God, and shall have the
means of that knowledge. There shall be an outpouring of the
Holy
Spirit, at the time the
Gospel is published.
No Man shall
finally perish, but for his own sins; none, who is willing to
accept of
Christ's
Salvation.
35-40 As surely as the heavenly bodies will continue their
settled course, according to the will of their Creator, to the
End of time, and as the raging
Sea obeys him,
So surely will the
Jews be continued a separate people. Words can scarcely set
forth more strongly the restoration of
Israel. The rebuilding of
Jerusalem, and its enlargement and establishment, shall be an
Earnest of the great things
God will do for the
Gospel Church.
The personal happiness of every true believer, as
Well as the
future restoration of
Israel, is secured
By promise,
Covenant,
and
Oath. This Divine
Love passes knowledge; and to those who
take
Hold upon it, every present
Mercy is an
Earnest of
Salvation.