15:1 Then said the LORD to me, a Though Moses and Samuel stood
before me, [yet] my mind [could] not [be] toward this
people: cast [them] out of my sight, and let them go forth.
(a) Meaning that if there were any man living moved with so
great zeal toward the people as were these two, yet he
would not grant this request, as he had determined the
contrary, (Eze 14:14).
15:3 And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD:
the sword to slay, and the b dogs to tear, and the fowls
of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and
destroy.
(b) The dogs, birds and beasts would devour them that were
slain.
15:4 And I will c cause them to be removed into all kingdoms
of the earth, d because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah
king of Judah, for [that] which he did in Jerusalem.
(c) The word signifies to run to and fro for fear and
unquietness of conscience as Cain did.
(d) Not that the people were punished for the king's sin
only, but for their own sins also, because they
consented to his wickedness.
15:6 Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone
backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against
thee, and destroy thee; I am e weary with repenting.
(e) That is, I will not call back my plagues or spare you
any more.
15:7 And I will fan them with a fan f in the gates of the
land; I will bereave [them] of children, I will destroy my
people, [since] they return not from their ways.
(f) Meaning, the cities.
15:8 Their widows g are multiplied to me above the sand of the
seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the
young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused [him] to fall
upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.
(g) Because I had slain their husbands.
15:9 She that hath borne h seven languisheth: she hath
breathed her last; her sun is i gone down while [it was]
yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the
remnant of them will I deliver to the sword before their
enemies, saith the LORD.
(h) She who had many lost all her children.
(i) She was destroyed in the midst of her prosperity.
15:10k Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of
strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have
neither l lent on interest, nor have men lent to me on
interest; [yet] every one of them doth curse me.
(k) By these are the prophet's words, complaining of the
obstinacy of the people and that he was reserved to so
wicked a time: in which also he shows what is the
condition of God's ministers, that is, to have all the
world against them, though they give no opportunity.
(l) Which is an opportunity for contention and hatred.
15:11 The LORD said, m Verily it shall be well with thy
remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee
[well] in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.
(m) In this perplexity the Lord comforted me, and said
that my last days would be quiet: and by the enemy he
means here Nebuzaradan the captain of Nebuchadnezzar,
who gave Jeremiah the choice either to remain in his
country or to go where he would; or by the enemy he
means the Jews, who would later know Jeremiah's
faithfulness, and therefore favour him.
15:12 Shall n iron break the northern iron and the steel?
(n) As for the people, though they seemed strong as iron,
yet they would not be able to resist the hard iron of
Babylon, but would be led captives.
15:15 O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and
avenge me of my o persecutors; take me not away in thy
longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered
rebuke.
(o) He does not speak this out of a desire for revenge,
but wishing that God would deliver his Church from
them who he knew to be hardened and incorrigible.
15:16 Thy words were found, and I p ate them; and thy word was
to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart: for I am called
by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
(p) I received them with a great joy, as he that is
famished eats meat.
15:17 I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I
sat alone q because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me
with indignation.
(q) I had nothing to do with the wicked contemners of your
word, but lamented bitterly for your plagues: showing
what the faithful should do when they see tokens of
God's anger.
15:18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, [which]
refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether to me r
as a liar, [and as] waters [that] fail?
(r) And have not assisted me according to the promise? In
which it appears that in the saints of God is
imperfection of faith, which through impatience is
often assailed as in (Jer 20:7).
15:19 Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou shalt s return,
then will I bring thee again, [and] thou shalt stand
before me: and if thou shalt separate the t precious
from the vile, thou shalt be u as my mouth: let them
return x to thee; but return not thou to them.
(s) If you forget these carnal considerations and
faithfully execute your charge.
(t) That is, seek to win the good from the bad.
(u) That is, as my mouth has pronounced, (Jer 1:18)
and as here follows in (Jer 15:20).
(x) Do not conform yourself to their wickedness, but let
them follow your godly example.
15:20 And I will make thee to this people a fortified brasen
wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall
not y prevail against thee: for I [am] with thee to save
thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
(y) I will teach you with an invincible strength and
constancy, so that all the powers of the world will
not overcome you.
