Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Jeremiah
Book: Jeremiah
Chapter: 6
Overview:
The invasion of
Judea.
(1-8) The
Justice of God's proceedings.
(9-17) All methods used to amend them had been without success.
(18-30)
1-8 Whatever methods are used, it is vain to contend with
God's
judgments. The more we indulge in the pleasures of this
Life,
the more we unfit ourselves for the troubles of this
Life. The
Chaldean
Army shall break in upon the land of
Judah, and in a
little time devour all. The
Day is coming, when those careless
and secure in sinful ways will be visited. It is folly to trifle
when we have eternal
Salvation to work out, and the enemies of
that
Salvation to fight against. But they were thus eager, not
that they might fulfil
God's counsels, but that they might fill
their own treasures; yet
God thereby served his own purposes.
The corrupt
Heart of
Man, in its natural state, casts out evil
thoughts, just as a
Fountain casts out her waters. It is always
flowing, yet always full. The
God of
Mercy is loath to depart
even from a provoking people, and is
Earnest with them, that
By
Repentance and reformation, they may prevent things from coming
to extremity.
9-17 When the
Lord arises to take vengeance,
No sinners of any
Age or rank, or of either sex escape. They were set upon the
world, and wholly carried away
By the
Love of it. If we
Judge of
this
Sin By God's
Word, we find multitudes in every station and
rank given up to it. Those are to be reckoned our worst and most
dangerous enemies, who flatter us in a sinful way. Oh that men
would be
Wise for their souls! Ask for the old paths; the way of
Godliness and
Righteousness has always been the way
God has
owned and blessed. Ask for the old paths set forth
By the
written
Word of God. When you have found the good way, go
On in
it, you will find abundant recompence at your
Journey's
End. But
if men will not obey the voice of
God and flee to his appointed
Refuge, it will plainly appear at the
Day of
Judgment, that they
are ruined because they reject
God's
Word.
18-30 God rejects their outward services, as worthless to atone
for their sins.
Sacrifice and
Incense were to direct them to a
Mediator; but when offered to purchase a license to go
On in
Sin, they provoke
God. The sins of
God's professing people make
them an easy prey to their enemies. They dare not show
themselves. Saints may rejoice in
Hope of
God's mercies, though
they see them only in the promise: sinners must
Mourn for fear
of
God's judgments, though they see them only in the
threatenings. They are the worst of revolters, and are all
corrupters. Sinners soon become tempters. They are compared to
ore supposed to have good metal in it, but which proves all
Dross. Nothing will prevail to part between them and their sins.
Reprobate Silver shall they be called, useless and worthless.
When warnings, corrections, rebukes, and all
Means of Grace,
leave men unrenewed, they will be left, as rejected of
God, to
Everlasting misery. Let us pray, then, that we may be refined
By
the
Lord, as
Silver is refined.