Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Jeremiah
Book: Jeremiah
Chapter: 29
Overview:
Two letters to the captives in
Babylon; In the first, they are
recommended to be patient and composed.
(1-19) In the second,
judgments are denounced against the false prophets who deceived
them.
(20-32)
1-7 The written
Word of God is as truly given
By Inspiration of
God as his spoken
Word. The zealous servant of the
Lord will use
every means to profit those who are far off, as
Well as those
who are near him. The art of
Writing is very profitable for this
End; and
By the art of printing it is rendered most beneficial
for circulating the knowledge of the
Word of God.
God's sending
to the captives
By this
Letter would show that he had not
forsaken them, though he was displeased, and corrected them. If
they live in the fear of
God, they may live comfortably in
Babylon. In all conditions of
Life, it is our
Wisdom and duty
not to throw away the comfort of what we may have, because we
have not all we would have. They are directed to seek the good
of the country where they were captives. While the
King of
Babylon protected them, they must live quiet and peaceable lives
under him, in all
Godliness and honesty; patiently leaving it to
God to work deliverance for them in due time.
8-19 Let men beware how they
Call those prophets whom they
choose after their own fancies, and how they consider their
fancies and dreams to be revelations from
God. False prophets
flatter people in their sins, because they
Love to be flattered;
and they speak smoothly to their prophets, that their prophets
may speak smoothly to them.
God promises that they should return
after seventy years were accomplished.
By this it appears, that
the seventy years of the
Captivity are not to be reckoned from
the last
Captivity, but the first. It will be the bringing to
pass of
God's good
Word to them. This shall form
God's purposes.
We often do not know our own minds, but the
Lord is never at an
uncertainty. We are sometimes ready to fear that
God's designs
are all against us; but as to his own people, even that which
seems evil, is for good. He will give them, not the expectations
of their fears, or the expectations of their fancies, but the
expectations of their
Faith; the
End he has promised, which will
be the best for them. When the
Lord pours out an especial
Spirit
of
Prayer, it is a good sign that he is coming toward us in
Mercy. Promises are given to quicken and encourage
Prayer. He
never said, Seek ye me in vain. Those who remained at
Jerusalem
would be utterly destroyed, notwithstanding what the false
prophets said to the contrary. The reason has often been given,
and it justifies the eternal ruin of impenitent sinners; Because
they have not hearkened to my words; I called, but they refused.
20-32 Jeremiah foretells judgments upon the false prophets, who
deceived the Jews in
Babylon. Lying was bad; lying to the people
of the
Lord, to delude them into a false
Hope, was worse; but
pretending to
Rest their own lies upon the
God of
Truth, was
worst of all. They flattered others in their sins, because they
could not reprove them without condemning themselves. The most
secret sins are known to
God; and there is a
Day coming when he
will bring to
Light all the hidden
Works of
Darkness.
Shemaiah
urges the priests to persecute
Jeremiah. Their hearts are
wretchedly hardened who justify doing mischief
By having power
to do it. They were in a miserable thraldom for mocking the
messengers of the
Lord, and misusing his prophets; yet in their
distress they trespass still more against the
Lord.
Afflictions
will not of themselves cure men of their sins, unless the
Grace
of
God Works with them. Those who slight the blessings, deserve
to lose the benefit of
God's
Word, like
Shemaiah. The
accusations against many active Christians in all ages, amount
to
No more than this, that they earnestly counsel men to attend
to their true interest and duties, and to wait for the
performance of
God's promises in his appointed way.