Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Jeremiah
Book: Jeremiah
Chapter: 25
Overview:
The Jews rebuked for not obeying calls to
Repentance.
(1-7)
Their
Captivity during seventy years is expressly foretold.
(8-14) Desolations upon the nations shown
By the emblem of a
Cup
of wrath.
(15-29) The judgments again declared.
(30-38)
1-7 The
Call to turn from evil ways to the
Worship and service
of
God, and for sinners to trust in
Christ, and partake of his
Salvation, concerns all men.
God keeps an account how long we
possess the
Means of Grace; and the longer we have them, the
heavier will our account be if we have not improved them. Rising
early, points out the
Earnest desire that this people should
turn and live. Personal and particular reformation must be
insisted
On as necessary to a national deliverance; and every
one must turn from his own evil way. Yet all was to
No purpose.
They would not take the right and only method to turn away the
wrath of
God.
8-14 The fixing of the time during which the Jewish
Captivity
should last, would not only confirm the
Prophecy, but also
comfort the people of
God, and encourage
Faith and
Prayer. The
ruin of
Babylon is foretold: the rod will be thrown into the
Fire when the correcting work is done. When the set time to
favour Zion is come,
Babylon shall be punished for their
iniquity, as other nations have been punished for their sins.
Every threatening of the
Scripture will certainly be
accomplished.
15-29 The evil and the good events of
Life are often
represented in
Scripture as cups. Under this figure is
represented the
Desolation then coming upon that part of the
world, of which
Nebuchadnezzar, who had just began to reign and
act, was to be the instrument; but this destroying
Sword would
come from the
Hand of
God. The desolations the
Sword should make
in all these kingdoms, are represented
By the consequences of
excessive drinking. This may make us loathe the
Sin of
drunkenness, that the consequences of it are used to set forth
such a woeful condition. Drunkenness deprives men of the use of
their reason, makes men as mad. It takes from them the valuable
blessing, health; and is a
Sin which is its own
Punishment. This
may also make us dread the judgments of
War. It soon fills a
nation with confusion. They will refuse to take the
Cup at thy
Hand. They will not believe
Jeremiah; but he must tell them it
is the
Word of the
Lord of hosts, and it is in vain for them to
struggle against Almighty power. And if
God's judgments begin
with backsliding professors, let not the wicked expect to
escape.
30-38 The
Lord has just ground of controversy with every nation
and every person; and he will execute
Judgment On all the
wicked. Who can avoid trembling when
God speaks in displeasure?
The days are fully come; the time fixed in the Divine counsels,
which will make the nations wholly desolate. The tender and
delicate shall share the common calamity. Even those who used to
live in peace, and did nothing to provoke, shall not escape.
Blessed be
God, there is a peaceable
Habitation above, for all
the sons of peace. The
Lord will preserve his
Church and all
believers in all changes; for nothing can separate them from his
Love.