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The Deceit of the People
v. 1. Oh, that my head were waters, an inexhaustible reservoir, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, flowing in an endless stream, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people, those who have become victims of their own foolishness in transgressing the Law of the Lord. Although the apostate Jews had fully deserved the punishment which came upon them, the prophet was still filled with deep compassion for them. At the same time his feeling of right and duty causes him to draw back in horror from every contact with them.
v. 2. Oh, that I had in the wilderness, far from the wicked capital and the haunts of men, a lodging-place of wayfaring men, a traveling lodge or caravansary, such as are found in the Orient, that I might leave my people and go from them! He preferred the loneliness and filth of a desert dwelling to the companionship of his own people, who had forsaken the Lord. For they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men, who practice falsehood and deceit.
v. 3. And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies, so that lies are the arrows which they send to their mark, but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth, they do not make adequate and proper use of fidelity in their dealings with others; for they proceed from evil to evil and they know not Me, saith the Lord, one wickedness being heaped upon the other. Therefore the Lord issues His warning in the form of a command:
v. 4. Take ye heed every, one of his neighbor, even of those who profess to be friends, and trust ye not in any brother, the very ties of blood-relationship being insufficient to withstand the general perfidy; for every brother will utterly supplant, literally, "trip up by the heel," Cf Gen_27:36, and every neighbor will walk with slanders, go about for talebearing. Cf Mic_7:5-6.
v. 5. And they will deceive every one his neighbor, overreaching him, trying to get the advantage of him, and will not speak the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies, the tongue, as it were, being almost compelled, as though unwilling to become guilty of so much wickedness, and weary themselves to commit iniquity, going to much pains to that end, for sin is a hard master.
v. 6. Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit, so God tells Jeremiah in characterizing the entire nation; through deceit they refuse to know Me, saith the Lord, their ignorance of Jehovah being willful and obstinate.
v. 7. Therefore, thus saith the Lord of hosts, the mighty ruler of the heavenly armies. Behold, I will melt them and try them, test them in the fire of tribulation, as the refiner tests metals in his furnace; for how shall I do for the daughter of My people? There is nothing remaining for Jehovah to do but this.
v. 8. Their tongue is as an arrow shot out, a sharp and deadly missile; it speaketh deceit, that being the burden of the Lord's complaint throughout this passage; one speaketh peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, professing nothing but kindness and good will for him, but in heart he layeth his wait, setting his ambush to harm and kill his neighbor.
v. 9. Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the Lord, letting His punishment come upon them for their treacherous and deceitful behavior. Shall not My soul be avenged on such a nation as this? Cf. Jer_5:9; Jer_5:29. God's righteousness and holiness demand that He visit the iniquity of willful sinners upon them.