Jeremiah 8

Chap. VIII. Ver. 1—22. Farther judgments denounced against Judah and Jerusalem.—The first three verses of this chapter should have been joined to the preceding. There the carcasses of the people are cast out for a prey to the fowls of heaven, or to be burnt among the filth and offal which the fires of Hinnom were kept burning to consume: here the tombs of the great are ransacked for concealed treasures. In the anticipation of these awful scenes, the Prophet severely reproves the folly and insensibility of the nation, which he reproaches as inferior in sagacity to the Stork and other birds. In ver. 13, a chorus of Jews is introduced, expressing their terror and alarm on the news of the invasion, which is greatly heightened by hearing the snorting of horses, even from Dan, and marking the devastations made by the army, whose cruelties are compared to the stings of the most terrible serpents of the wilderness, which cannot be charmed.

The Prophet then laments most bitterly the fate of the daughter of his people, changing the scene unawares to the place of captivity, where she is introduced answering in mournful responses to the Prophet’s dirge page! The variety of distressing images used by the Prophet to diversify this mournful subject is equally striking and astounding; and the chapter concludes with the earnest and pathetic inquiry, whether no spiritual physician can be found, to heal the moral and political wounds of the people of Judah? ‘Is there no balm in Gilead,” &c., that is, Is there no remedy? Are there no means of cure? ‘O, that my head were waters! and mine eyes a fountain of tears!” ‘Happy are they, who by calamities, or by any means, are brought to be silent in submission and self-abasement before God: for all, who are not thus humbled, will be silenced before his judgment-seat, and made to drink the water of gall for their sins.—While transgressors look for peace and prosperity, sudden destruction overtakes them: and there will be no charming or escaping the executioners of divine vengeance; no comforting of themselves under these sorrows.

But, however the servants of God may grieve for the miseries, which they foresee coming upon those whom they love; they will soon be satisfied with the reasons of the divine conduct, and * their sorrow will be turned into joy.—The justice of God is peculiarly manifest in the punishment of those who deem themselves secured, by the engagements of the new covenant and their relation to God; whilst they idolize the world and are slaves to their lusts.—As salvation by Christ can only be found in this life, so the present opportunity should be seized; lest at the hour of death, or the day of judgment, any should dolefully exclaim, ‘The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.’—The Lord hath graciously become our Physician; and the blood of Christ, and the influences of the Holy Spirit, are more effectual to heal the wounded conscience, and the distempered heart, than any medicines to cure the diseases of the body.

Why then are sinners not healed? Is there no Saviour, no sanctifier? Alas! they deem themselves whole, or are in love with their disease, or hate the Physician and his means of cure, or employ ‘physicians of no value,’ and madly attempt other methods of recovery. Thus they die unpardoned and unchanged; for they will not come to Christ for life and salvation.” —T. Scott.