Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Jeremiah
Book: Jeremiah
Chapter: 30
Overview:
Troubles which shall be before the restoration of
Israel.
(1-11) Encouragement to trust Divine promises.
(12-17) The
blessings under
Christ, and the wrath
On the wicked.
(18-24)
1-11 Jeremiah is to write what
God had spoken to him. The very
words are such as the
Holy Ghost teaches. These are the words
God ordered to be written; and promises written
By his order,
are truly his
Word. He must write a description of the trouble
the people were now in, and were likely to be in. A happy
End
should be
Put to these calamities. Though the
Afflictions of the
Church may last long, they shall not last always. The Jews shall
be restored again. They shall obey, or hearken to the
Messiah,
the
Christ, the Son of
David, their
King. The deliverance of the
Jews from
Babylon, is pointed out in the
Prophecy, but the
restoration and happy state of
Israel and
Judah, when converted
to
Christ their
King, are foretold; also the miseries of the
nations before the
Coming of Christ. All men must honour the Son
as they honour the
Father, and come into the service and
Worship
of
God By him. Our gracious
Lord pardons the sins of the
believer, and breaks off the
Yoke of
Sin and
Satan, that he may
serve
God without fear, in
Righteousness and true
Holiness
before him all the remainder of his days, as the redeemed
subject of
Christ our
King.
12-17 When
God is against a people, who will be for them? Who
can be for them,
So as to do them any kindness? Incurable griefs
are owing to incurable lusts. Yet, though the captives suffered
justly, and could not help themselves, the
Lord intended to
appear for them, and to punish their oppressors; and he will
still do
So. But every effort to heal ourselves must prove
fruitless,
So long as we neglect the heavenly
Advocate and
sanctifying
Spirit. The dealings of His
Grace with every true
convert, and every returning backslider, are the same in effect
as his proceedings to the Jews.
18-24 We have here further intimations of the favour of
God for
them after the days of their calamity have expired. The proper
work and office of
Christ, as
Mediator, is to draw near unto
God, for us, as the High
Priest of our profession. His own
undertaking, in compliance with his
Father's will, and in
compassion to fallen
Man, engaged him.
Jesus Christ was, in all
this, truly wonderful. They shall be taken again into
Covenant
with the
Lord, according to the
Covenant made with their
fathers. "I will be your
God:" it is his good-will to us, which
is the summary of that part of the
Covenant. The wrath of
God
against the wicked is very terrible, like a whirlwind. The
purposes of his wrath, as
Well as the purposes of his
Love, will
all be fulfilled.
God will comfort all that turn to him; but
those who approach him must have their hearts engaged to do it
with reverence, devotion, and
Faith. How will they escape who
neglect
So great
Salvation?