Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Jeremiah
Book: Jeremiah
Chapter: 40
Overview:
Jeremiah is directed to go to
Gedaliah.
(1-6) A conspiracy
against
Gedaliah.
(7-16)
1-6 The
Captain of the
Guard seems to
Glory that he had been
God's instrument to fulfil, what
Jeremiah had been
God's
Messenger to foretell. Many can see
God's
Justice and
Truth with
regard to others, who are heedless and
Blind as to themselves
and their own sins. But, sooner or later, all men shall be made
sensible that their
Sin is the cause of all their miseries.
Jeremiah has leave to dispose of himself; but is advised to go
to
Gedaliah,
Governor of the land under the
King of
Babylon. It
is doubtful whether
Jeremiah acted right in this
Decision. But
those who desire the
Salvation of sinners, and the good of the
Church, are apt to expect better times from slight appearances,
and they will prefer the
Hope of being useful, to the most
secure situations without it.
7-16 Jeremiah had never in his prophecies spoken of any good
days for the Jews, to come immediately after the
Captivity; yet
Providence seemed to encourage such an expectation. But how soon
is this hopeful prospect blighted! When
God begins a
Judgment,
he will complete it. While pride, ambition, or revenge, bears
rule in the
Heart, men will form new projects, and be restless
in mischief, which commonly ends in their own ruin. Who would
have thought, that after the
Destruction of
Jerusalem, rebellion
would
So soon have sprung up? There can be
No thorough change
but what
Grace makes. And if the miserable, who are kept in
Everlasting chains for the
Judgment of the great
Day, were again
permitted to come
On Earth, the
Sin and evil of their nature
would be unchanged.
Lord, give us new hearts, and that new mind
in which the new
Birth consists, since thou hast said we cannot
without it see thy heavenly kingdom.