Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Jeremiah
Book: Jeremiah
Chapter: 1
Overview:
Jeremiah's
Call to the prophetic office.
(1-10) A
Vision of an
Almond-tree and of a seething-pot, Divine protection is
promised.
(11-19)
1-10 Jeremiah's early
Call to the work and office of a
Prophet
is stated. He was to be a
Prophet, not to the Jews only, but to
the neighbouring nations. He is still a
Prophet to the whole
world, and it would be
Well if they would attend to these
warnings. The
Lord who formed us, knows for what particular
services and purposes he intended us. But unless he sanctify us
By his new-creating
Spirit, we shall neither be fit for his holy
service
On Earth, nor his holy happiness in
Heaven. It becomes
us to have low thoughts of ourselves. Those who are young,
should consider that they are
So, and not venture
Beyond their
powers. But though a sense of our own weakness and insufficiency
should make us go humbly about our work, it should not make us
draw back when
God calls us. Those who have messages to deliver
from
God, must not fear the
Face of
Man. The
Lord,
By a sign,
gave
Jeremiah such a
Gift as was necessary.
God's message should
be delivered in his own words. Whatever worldly
Wise men or
politicians may think, the safety of kingdoms is decided
according to the purpose and
Word of God.
11-19 God gave
Jeremiah a view of the
Destruction of
Judah and
Jerusalem By the Chaldeans. The
Almond-tree, which is more
forward in the
Spring than any other, represented the speedy
approach of judgments.
God also showed whence the intended ruin
should arise.
Jeremiah saw a seething-pot boiling, representing
Jerusalem and
Judah in great commotion. The mouth or
Face of the
Furnace or
Hearth, was toward the north; from whence the
Fire
and
Fuel were to come. The northern powers shall unite. The
cause of these judgments was the
Sin of
Judah. The whole counsel
of
God must be declared. The fear of
God is the best remedy
against the fear of
Man. Better to have all men our enemies than
God our enemy; those who are sure they have
God with them, need
not, ought not to fear, whoever is against them. Let us pray
that we may be willing to give up personal interests, and that
nothing may move us from our duty.