Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Jeremiah
Book: Jeremiah
Chapter: 10
Overview:
The absurdity of
Idolatry.
(1-16) Destruction denounced
against
Jerusalem.
(17-25)
1-16 The
Prophet shows the
Glory of
Israel's
God, and exposes
the folly of idolaters. Charms and other attempts to obtain
supernatural help, or to pry into futurity, are copied from the
wicked customs of the
Heathen. Let us stand in awe, and not dare
provoke
God,
By giving that
Glory to another which is due to him
alone. He is ready to forgive, and save all who repent and
believe in the name of his Son
Jesus Christ.
Faith learns these
blessed truths from the
Word of God; but all knowledge not from
that source, leads to doctrines of vanity.
17-25 The Jews who continued in their own land, felt secure.
But, sooner or later, sinners will find all things as the
Word
of
God has declared, and that its threatenings are not empty
terrors. Submission will support the believer under every grief
allotted to him; but what can render the load of Divine
vengeance easy to be borne
By those who fall under it in sullen
despair? Those cannot expect to prosper, who do not,
By Faith
and
Prayer, take
God with them in all their ways. The report of
the enemy's approach was very dreadful. Yet the designs which
men lay
Deep, and think
Well formed, are dashed to
Pieces in a
moment. Events are often overruled,
So as to be quite contrary
to what we intended and expected. If the
Lord has directed our
steps into the ways of peace and
Righteousness, let us entreat
him to enable us to walk therein. Say not,
Lord, do not correct
me; but,
Lord, do not correct me in
Anger. We may
Bear the smart
of
God's rod, but we cannot
Bear the weight of his wrath. Those
who restrain
Prayer, prove that they know not
God; for those who
know him will seek him, and seek his favour. If even severe
corrections lead sinners to be convinced of wholesome truths,
they will have abundant cause for gratitude. And they will then
humble themselves before the
Lord.