1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 “the LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘Write all the words that I have spoken to you in a book. 3 For, behold, the days come,’ says the LORD, ‘that I will turn again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah,’ says the LORD. ‘I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.’” 4 These are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah. 5 For the LORD says: “We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. 6 Ask now, and see whether a man travails with child. Why do I see every man with his hands on his waist, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned pale? 7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it. It is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. 8 It shall come to pass in that day, says the LORD of Armies, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and will burst your bonds; and strangers shall no more make them their bondservants; 9 but they will serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up to them. 10 Therefore don’t you be afraid, O Jacob my servant, says the LORD; neither be dismayed, Israel: for, behold, I will save you from afar, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, and shall be quiet and at ease, and no one shall make him afraid. 11 For I am with you, says the LORD, to save you; for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have scattered you, but I will not make a full end of you; but I will correct you in measure, and will in no way leave you unpunished.” 12 For the LORD says, “Your hurt is incurable, and your wound grievous. 13 There is no one to plead your cause, that you may be bound up. You have no healing medicines. 14 All your lovers have forgotten you. They don’t seek you: for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the greatness of your iniquity, because your sins were increased. 15 Why do you cry for your hurt? Your pain is incurable: for the greatness of your iniquity, because your sins were increased, I have done these things to you. 16 Therefore all those who devour you shall be devoured; and all your adversaries, everyone of them, shall go into captivity; and those who plunder you shall be plunder, and all who prey on you will I give for a prey. 17 For I will restore health to you, and I will heal you of your wounds,” says the LORD; “because they have called you an outcast, saying, ‘It is Zion, whom no man seeks after.’” 18 The LORD says: “Behold, I will turn again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have compassion on his dwelling places. The city shall be built on its own hill, and the palace shall be inhabited in its own place. 19 Out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of those who make merry. I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they will not be small. 20 Their children also shall be as before, and their congregation shall be established before me. I will punish all who oppress them. 21 Their prince shall be of themselves, and their ruler shall proceed from amongst them. I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach to me; for who is he who has had boldness to approach to me?” says the LORD. 22 “You shall be my people, and I will be your God. 23 Behold, the LORD’s storm, his wrath, has gone out, a sweeping storm: it shall burst on the head of the wicked. 24 The fierce anger of the LORD will not return, until he has executed, and until he has performed the intentions of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it.”
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary, 1706
Verses 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.
Verses 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.
Verses 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?