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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Jeremiah 6:9 - 6:15
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The Prophet Voices the Fury of the Lord
v. 9. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, They, namely, the invaders whose approach was here prophesied, shall thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine, not hastily nor superficially, but with the greatest thoroughness, as the divine judgment is ever executed. Turn back thine hand as a grape-gatherer into the baskets, going back to the vines again and again in order to get even the last of the berries, said of the repeated invasions of the Chaldeans, at each of which they carried away captives to Babylon.
v. 10. To whom shall I speak and give warning, so the prophet now voices his objection, that they may hear? Of what use is all remonstrance under such circumstances? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, closed against all admonitions by their own carnal-mindedness, and they cannot hearken, owing to the hardness of their hearts, brought on by their stubborn opposition. Behold, the Word of the Lord is unto them a reproach, a mockery and a derision; they have no delight in it.
v. 11. Therefore I am full of the fury of the Lord, so that its abundance must voice itself, like a stream overflowing its banks; I am weary with holding in, restraint was no longer a virtue; I will pour it out upon the children abroad, those playing in the streets and lanes, and upon the assembly of young men together; for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged, the one who is just growing old, with him that is full of days. Thus the sentence of the Lord would strike all classes of people and every age without exception, the whole nation being included in the outpouring of His wrath.
v. 12. And their houses shall be turned unto others, transferred to them as the spoils of war, with their fields and wives together. Cf Deu_28:30; for I will stretch out My hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the Lord, namely, for the purpose of chastising them.
v. 13. For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them, all classes of people, those of no influence as well as the powerful and mighty, every one is given to covetousness, the love of money suppressing every good intention, every laudable purpose; and from the prophet even unto the priest, the very leaders and teachers of the people, every one dealeth falsely, practicing falsehood and deception.
v. 14. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly, touching upon the faults and transgressions of the body politic in a superficial manner only, saying, Peace, peace! when there is no peace. The prophets and priests, the leaders of the people, who were, by God's command, the watchmen of the nation, ignored this duty in the interest of their own selfishness. Instead of exposing the evils, the wickedness, and idolatry of the people, they glossed over the conditions, treating the ulcerous growths of the body politic as insignificant bruises, after the manner of similar weak characters the world over.
v. 15. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? rather, "They are put to shame because they have wrought abominable things. " Nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush; they were devoid of all sense of decency, of all feeling of shame. Therefore they shall fall among them that fall, with the rest of the people that are doomed to destruction; at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord. Words having proved unavailing, the Lord will now execute His vengeance in deeds which will bring home the lessons which He intended to convey. The false leaders of any Church will deceive only themselves if they hope to escape the wrath which will strike the people under their care due to their own defection in attending to their duty.