Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Jeremiah
Book: Jeremiah
Chapter: 4
Overview:
Exhortations and promises.
(1-2) Judah exhorted to
Repentance.
(3-4) Judgements denounced.
(5-18) The approaching ruin of
Judah.
(19-31)
1,2 The first two verses should be read with the last
Chapter.
Sin must be
Put away out of the
Heart, else it is not
Put away
out of
God's sight, for the
Heart is open before him.
3,4 An unhumbled
Heart is like ground untilled. It is ground
which may be improved; it is our ground let out to us; but it is
fallow; it is over-grown with thorns and weeds, the natural
product of the corrupt
Heart. Let us entreat the
Lord to create
in us a
Clean Heart, and to renew a right
Spirit within us; for
except a
Man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
Heaven.
5-18 The fierce conqueror of the neighbouring nations was to
make
Judah desolate. The
Prophet was afflicted to see the people
lulled into security
By false prophets. The approach of the
enemy is described. Some attention was paid in
Jerusalem to
outward reformation; but it was necessary that their hearts
should be washed, in the
Exercise of true
Repentance and
Faith,
from the
Love and pollution of
Sin. When lesser calamities do
not rouse sinners and reform nations, sentence will be given
against them. The
Lord's voice declares that misery is
approaching, especially against wicked professors of the
Gospel;
when it overtakes them, it will be plainly seen that the
Fruit
of wickedness is
Bitter, and the
End is fatal.
19-31 The
Prophet had
No pleasure in delivering messages of
wrath. He is shown in a
Vision the whole land in confusion.
Compared with what it was, every thing is out of order; but the
ruin of the Jewish nation would not be final. Every
End of our
comforts is not a full
End. Though the
Lord may correct his
people very severely, yet he will not cast them off. Ornaments
and false colouring would be of
No avail.
No outward privileges
or profession,
No contrivances would prevent
Destruction. How
wretched the state of those who are like foolish children in the
concerns of their souls! Whatever we are ignorant of, may the
Lord make of good understanding in the ways of
Godliness. As
Sin
will find out the sinner,
So sorrow will, sooner or later, find
out the secure.