Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Jeremiah
Book: Jeremiah
Chapter: 24
Overview:
Good and bad figs represent the Jews in
Captivity, and those
who remain in their own land.
- The
Prophet saw two baskets of figs set before the
Temple, as
offerings of
First-fruits. The figs in one
Basket were very
good, those in the other
Basket very bad. What
Creature viler
than a wicked
Man? and what more valuable than a godly
Man? This
Vision was to raise the spirits of those gone into
Captivity,
By
assuring them of a happy return; and to humble and awaken the
proud and secure spirits of those yet in
Jerusalem,
By assuring
them of a miserable
Captivity. The good figs represents the
pious captives. We cannot determine as to
God's
Love or
Hatred
By what is before us. Early suffering sometimes proves for the
best. The sooner the
Child is corrected, the better effect the
correction is likely to have. Even this
Captivity was for their
good; and
God's intentions never are in vain.
By Afflictions
they were convinced of
Sin, humbled under the
Hand of
God,
weaned from the world, taught to pray, and turned from sins,
particularly from
Idolatry.
God promises that he will own them
in
Captivity. The
Lord will own those who are his, in all
conditions.
God assures them of his protection in trouble, and a
glorious deliverance in due time. When our troubles are
sanctified to us, we may be sure that they will
End Well. They
shall return to him with their whole
Heart. Thus they should
have liberty to own him for their
God, to pray to him, and
expect blessings from him. The bad figs were Zedekiah and those
of his party yet in the land. These should be removed for their
hurt, and forsaken of all mankind.
God has many judgments, and
those that escape one, may expect another, till they are brought
to repent. Doubtless, this
Prophecy had its fulfilment in that
Age; but the
Spirit of
Prophecy may here look forward to the
Dispersion of the unbelieving Jews, in all the nations of the
Earth. Let those who desire blessings from the
Lord,
Beg that he
will give them a
Heart to know him.