View Jeremiah 17 in the note window.
The captivity of Judah for her sin, ver. 1 - 4.
Trust in man cursed: in God, blessed, ver. 5 - 8.
The deceitful heart and most secret practices are known to God,
ver. 9 - 11.
The salvation of God, ver. 12 - 14.
The prophet complains of the mockers of his prophecies,
ver. 15 - 18.
Of keeping the sabbath, ver. 19 - 27.
1: Graven - Nor is it a thing done in secret, but it is engraven
upon the horns of their altars. God's altar was four - square, and at
each corner there was a rising part made of brass, these were called the
horns of the altar. Now their sin is said to be engraven upon the horns
of the altar, because the blood of the sacrifices which they offered to
idols was sprinkled there, or because their altars had some inscription
upon them, declaring to what idol that altar was consecrated.
2: Their children - This shewed how inveterate they were in this sin
of idolatry, that they taught it their children.
3: My mountain - Jerusalem stood at the foot of an hill, and part
of it on the side of it, upon the top of which hills, were many pleasant
fields.
4: For ever - For a long time; so the word ever is often taken.
9: The heart - There is nothing so false and deceitful as the heart
of man; deceitful in its apprehensions of things, in the hopes and promises
which it nourishes, in the assurances that it gives us; unsearchable by
others, deceitful with reference to ourselves, and abominably wicked, so
that neither can a man know his own heart, nor can any other know that of
his neighbour's.
11: Hatcheth them not - Having lost them, either by some man that has
taken them from her, or by some vermin or wild beast. A fool - Shall lose
it again before he dies, and then shall understand what a fool he was.
13: Depart - From what I have revealed to them as thy will, shall
have no portion beyond the earth.
14: For thou art - He whom alone I have reason to praise for mercies
already received.
15: Where - Daring the vengeance of God.
16: I hastened not - As I did not seek the office of a prophet, so
when thou wast pleased to call me to it, I did not decline.
