Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Jeremiah
Book: Jeremiah
Chapter: 18
Overview:
God's power over his creatures is represented
By the potter.
(1-10) The Jews exhorted to
Repentance, and judgments foretold.
(11-17) The
Prophet appeals to
God.
(18-23)
1-10 While
Jeremiah looks upon the potter's work,
God darts
into his mind two great truths.
God has authority, and power, to
form and fashion kingdoms and nations as he pleases. He may
dispose of us as he thinks fit; and it would be as absurd for us
to dispute this, as for the
Clay to quarrel with the potter. But
he always goes
By fixed rules of
Justice and
Goodness. When
God
is coming against us in judgments, we may be sure it is for our
sins; but sincere
Conversion from the evil of
Sin will prevent
the evil of
Punishment, as to persons, and to families, and
nations.
11-17 Sinners
Call it liberty to live at large; whereas for a
Man to be a
Slave to his lusts, is the very worst slavery. They
forsook
God for idols. When men are parched with heat, and meet
with cooling, refreshing streams, they use them. In these things
men will not leave a certainty for an uncertainty; but
Israel
left the ancient paths appointed
By the Divine
Law. They walked
not in the
Highway, in which they might travel safely, but in a
way in which they must stumble: such was the way of
Idolatry,
and such is the way of iniquity. This made their land desolate,
and themselves miserable. Calamities may be borne, if
God smile
upon us when under them; but if he is displeased, and refuses
his help, we are undone. Multitudes forget the
Lord and his
Christ, and wander from the ancient paths, to walk in ways of
their own devising. But what will they do in the
Day of
Judgment!
18-23 When the
Prophet called to
Repentance, instead of obeying
the
Call, the people devised devices against him. Thus do
sinners
Deal with the great Intercessor, crucifying him afresh,
and speaking against him
On Earth, while his
Blood is speaking
for them in
Heaven. But the
Prophet had done his duty to them;
and the same will be our rejoicing in a
Day of evil.