Jeremiah 4

Chap. IV. Ver. 1—31. Exhortations to repentance, and warnings of divine judgments.—The first two verses of this chapter are a repetition of the exhortations and promises addressed to Israel, in the preceding chapter, of which they ought to make a part. The prophet then addresses the people of Judah and Jerusalem; exhorting them to repentance and reformation, in order to prevent, if possible, the dreadful visitation that approached them. He then (ver. 5.) sounds the alarm of war. Nebuchadnezzar is seen, like a fierce lion on his march, and the disastrous issue is announced. As God can neither tempt nor be tempted to evil, ((James 1:13-14),) so, most assuredly, neither can he deceive nor be deceived.

But as false prophets spoke in the name of the Lord, and promised the people peace without reform, the prophet here speaking ironically to reprove them, says, “Surely, Lord, thou must have deceived this people, permitting the false prophets to assure them, Ye shall have peace, until the sword penetrateth to the soul.” Thus the passage is explained both by Drs. Blayney and Boothroyd. (Compare our remarks on (Jeremiah 20:7); and on (1 Kings 22:20).; also (Ezekiel 14:9).) There is not the indeed a see however, to suppose that any of the Lord’s real prophets had supported the delusion. After announcing the approach of Nebuchadnezzar, and the destruction which must attend his arrival, the prophet (ver.

19.) breaks out into an agony of distress—sees, as in a trance, the whole earth depopulated—the heavens clothed with mourning, and nature returning to her primitive chaos. “The Lord commonly warns before he strikes: but if his warnings are despised, they will soon be realized in judgments; and when he arises to execute vengeance, sinners will find it in vain to combine for mutual defence, or to flee any whither for refuge; and no ‘roaring lion,’ or ‘destroyer of the nations,’ is to be dreaded, in comparison with ‘him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell.’ Yet when he uses ambitious men, besides their intention, as his instruments of temporal punishment, the sufferers are made to howl and lament most dolefully.

When he contends, men are soon dispirited and infatuated; their resolution and capacity fail them, and their hearts sink and perish within them: but none are more stupified with astonishment and terror on such occasions than ungodly priests and false teachers. The justice of God, in leaving sinners to be deceived, and to ‘expect peace when vengeance reacheth to the soul,’ is very awful. The faithful servants of God deprecate from the people this judgment, above all others; yet they often perceive that he sees good to inflict it. On this account they are treated as malevolent, censorious, and spiritually proud; for they cannot but remind their hearers of the distinction betwixt a faithful minister of the gospel, and a blind guide, or a teacher of lies in the garb of a priest: but the event will justify their conduct, and convince all the world of the reality and immense importance of this disregarded distinction.

When light calamities are not effectual to fan and cleanse congregations, churches, or nations professing Christianity, God will give sentence upon them: a whirlwind and storm of vengeance will be commissioned to execute his word; and then it will be unavailing to say, ‘Wo unto us! for we are undone.’ ”—T. Scott.

Notes on the verses

Chap. IV. Ver. 3. Break up, &c.—(Fallow ground, is either that which, having been once tilled, has lain long uncultivated, or, ground slightly ploughed, in order to be ploughed again previously to its being sown; and it is here applied to a fruitless and hardened heart, which must be broken up by true repentance, and prepared for the reception of the good seed of the word of God, in order to bring forth the fruits of holiness.)—Bagster. Ver. 4. Circumcise yourselves.—The moral design of this rite is explained by St. Paul, (Romans 2:25-29). Ver. 6. Retize.—That is, into the fortress of Zion. Ver. 7. The lion is come up.—Doubtless Nebuchadnezzar.—Gentiles.—Blayney, “Nations.” Ver. 8. Surely thou hast greatly deceived.—Heb.

“Deceiving thou hast.” Ver. 11. A dry wind of the high places.—Boothroyd, ‘a scorching wind from the hills,’ burning up the earth, and suffocating its inhabitants. Ver. 13. He shall come up.—That is, Nebuchadnezzar, as in ver. 7. Ver. 15. From Dan….. and Ephraim.—Both which bordered “upon the kingdom of Judah northwards.” Ver. 10. O pride “‘Watchers,” Blayney understands “Besiegers;” i.e. the advance guard of the enemy, placing patrols round the city. Ver. 23. I beheld the earth, &c.—[The prophet here describes the impending ruin of Jerusalem and desolation of Judea by the Chaldeans, in language and imagery scarcely to be paralleled. The earth is brought back to its primitive state of chaos; the light of heaven is withdrawn, and succeeded by a dismal gloom; the mountains tremble, under dreadful apprehensions of the Almighty’s displeasure; a frightful solitude reigns around; not a vestige is seen of the human race; even the birds have deserted the fields, unable to find their usual food; the face of the country, once so fertile, is overgrown with briers and thorns, and assumes the dreary wildness of the desert; and the cities and villages have crumbled into ruins.]—Bagster.

Ver. 24. Moved lightly.—Blayney, “Shook.” See (Revelation 6:14). Ver. 30. Rentest thy face.—Blayney, “‘Distendest thy eyes with paint.” Compare note on (Isaiah 3:16).” Ver. 31. Is wearied.—Blayney, “Fainteth.”