Jeremiah 3

Gods great forebearance with the wiked and obstinanceIdolatry of Juda , and an invitationt repentanc,v 1, etc.A comparing of the wickednesse of Israels sinning , but exceeded them in wickednesse,6. Israel is also invited to repentance,12 . With fair evangelical promises, concerning the gathering of the elect Jews and Gentiles unto the church of Christ , the ordaining of the office of preaching, the repealing of the ceremonies, and the setting up of new form of worship: also concer ning the spirit of adoption, of prayer, and of true repentance (whereof God giveth his elect a pattern ) and the inheritance of heavenly Canaan,14,etc.

1. They say ,[Heb.to say, or,saying; that is ,they say so, in a manner of speaking ,suppose that,&] If a man leave his wife, and she go from him,and become another mans, shall he also yet return unto her?[that is ,may also the first husband take her again]should not that same land [wherein such an abomination should be committed. See hereof, Deut.24.4] be greatly profaned] thou now hast played the harlot with many lovers ,[Heb. Companions,friends]yet return again unto me,speaketh the LORD .[the Lord doth intimate hereby , that he will not withstanding graciously receive his people , if they shall seriously repent of all these abominations and breaches of covenant]

2. Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and , behold where hast thoou not been lien with?[That is , there are no high places, but thou hast committed Idolatry upon them]thou hast sate for them in the wayes ,[to watch for the lovers , as a common impudent strumpet. Compare Genesis 38:14. Ezekiel 16:24,25.] as qan Arabbian in the wildernesse: [As thieves and robbers watch for passengers in the desert places]so hast thou profaned the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wckedness .

3. Therefore the drops of rain [Or, showers of rain] have been with-held,[to wit, by me, according to my threatenings , Levit 26.19. Deuteronomy 28:23,24] and there hath been no latter rain : [see Deut. 11 on verse 14] but thou hast an whores [Heb. A womans ,a whores; as often] forehead, thou refusest to blush .[That is , thou wilt not be ashamed, whih tho indeed oughtest to be , when thou feelest my judgements , which l bring you upon the land.]

4. Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me? [Heb. Doest tho not cry utno me , or doest thou not call me,&c as if God should say , wilt thou not now yet return unto me? Repent yet from this time] My father , thou art the guide of my youth.[that hast led and guided me from the beginning with instruction , counsel, action, as a good husband doth his wife. Compare prov 2.17]

5. Will he reserve (anger) forever? [compare below, v12 and Psalms 103 .9 also Levit.19.18 Nahum 1:2 in which places the word anger, for the clearing of the sense, is to be understood. These and the words that follow may be taken as the words of the people , which God prescribeth unto them , to move him him thereby in a penitent and humble manner to have compassion on them : or, as the words of God, or of Prophet,shewing that God will turn away his anger,if they do repent] will he keep (it) continually? Behold thou speakest,and doest those wickedness,[which are related above .These are the words of God unto Israel] and doest prevail.[that is, thou doest obstinately break thorow with thy wickedness, as if God should say,It's but in vain for me to call thee to repentance, thou carest not for it,thou goest but the more wilfully on in thy wickednesse]

6. Moreover the LORD said unto me,In the days of King Josia; [When the ten tribes of Israel were carried away into Assyria] hast thou not seen what the backsliding Israel hath done?[Heb. Properly aversnesse, or back-sliding. Oth. The backsliding, in the faminine gender, agreeing to the following text, where Israel is compared to an harlot] she went up into all (or every) high mountain, and under all (or every) green tree, and there played the harlot.

7. And l said , after she had done all this, Turn thou unto me , but she returned not: This trencherous(one) her sister Juda saw.[The treancherous (one) so doth God call them of the tribe of Juda, by reason of their Idolatry, whereby they had broken the spiritual bond. And faith of marriage , that was between God and them. As well as the other ten tribes of Israel had done,which were all kinsmen of Juda, as being all descended from Patriarch Jacob:therefore they are called sisters .Compare Ezech.16.46. And 23.2,4,etc. So in the sequel.]

8. And l saw, when because all, wherein the backslidden Israel had committed adultery,l had forsaken her, and given her her bill of divorce,[delivering her into the hand of the Assyrians,who carried the ten tribes away captive,as rom the face of God , and out of their own Land] that the unfaithful,her filter Juda,feared not [stuck not,or, was not afraid to follow the evil example of Israel ,notwithstanding that she had,as it were beheld with her eyes all those judgements that had lighted upon Israel. Compare below chap.44.10 and Prov.28. On vers.14] but went her wayes, and played the harlot herself also.

9. Yea it came to passe, by reason of the fame of her whoredom ,[Hebr. Voice,&c which may be also so taken, as they it was a crying voice, as the scripture elsewhere speaketh, Genesis 4:10 with the annotat. Oth lightness]that she perfumed the land :[some apply this still to Israel , by comparing the following verse] for the committed adultery wood with stone and with[That is with stone and wooden idols so e zech. 20.32. See there]

10. and even in all this ,[or, for, or, by all this,that is , though she had seen all this that was before related concerning Israel]her unfaithful sister Juda hath not turned unto me with her whole heart; but falsly,[Heb. In ,or,with falshood; that is, deceitfully,hypocritically] saith the Lord.

11. Therefore the Lord said unto me ,The backslidden Israel had justified her soul [That is herself, her person,as often. See Genes 12.on verse 5] more then the unfaithful Judah. [The meaning is, Israel may boast of it,that she hath not done yet so wickedly,as judah hath. See Ezek.16.51,52. And 23.11]

12. Go thy wayes, and proclaim these words towards the North,[Toward Assyria and Media, whither the ten tribes were carried] and say: Repent , thou back-slidden Israel, saith the LORD, then I will not cause mine anger [Hebr face; that is, mine anger,or, my angry countenance, whereby is meant God's severe judgements, See Psal 21. on verse 10 and below chapter 4.26. Lev.17 on verse.10] to fall upon you: [Oth. I will not cast down my face against you : that is, I will not look upon you with an angry and stern countenance: ( Compare Genes.4.5,6) but will shew mercy and favour to you]for I. am gracious,[See 2.Chron.6 on verse 41] I will not keep (anger) forever. [see above on verse 5. Compare Psal.86.15 and 103.8,9.and 145.17]

13. Onely know[or,acknowledge] thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God;[See above chap.2. On vers28.]and hast scattered thy wayes to the strangers, under all (or,every) green tree,[That is,hast run hither and thither to and fro,like a light impudent harlot, to commit idolatry with strange idols, as above vers.2.6 See also Ezech.16.24,etc and 23.5,6,7etc] but ye have not bee obedient to my voice,saith the LORD.

14. Return,ye backsliding children,speaketh the LORD, for I have married you: [Having the authority of an husband over you] and I will take you, one of a City,and two of a Family, and I will bring you to Zion.[I will in mercy save a remnant, and bring them to fellowship of my Church,represented by Zion. See 1Chron9.3 and Rom.11.5. For this hath principally respect to the time of Christ,and of the New Testament]

15. And l will give you pastours;[That is , Teachers,Preachers] according to mine heart; they shall feed you(with) knowledge and understanding. [see further concerning this promise,below chap.23.4. Ezech.34.23.and Compare Eph4.11.and 1Sam.13.14]

16. And it shall come to pass, when ye shall be multiplied and become fruitful in the Land,[To wit, by the preaching of the Gospel,as came to passe in the time of our Saviour Christ,and his Apostles. See some beginning hereof, Acts 1:15. 1Cor.15.6 and afterward, Acts 2:41 and 4.4,etc] in those dayes, saith the LORD,[That is, the Ceremonies of the Old Testament(among which the ark was likewise a chief part)shall cease, as being shadows and types of the Messiah Jesus Christ, who being then come shall accoumplish all things, and cause his Church to worship God in Spirit ,and in truth ,in all places. See Job.4.21,23. 1 Timothy 2:8,etc.]neither shall it come to minde;[that is expounded by the following words. Compare Isai.65.17. And below chap 7 on vers31] neither shall they remember it,[To wit,not so,as in former time,and for the use of God's worship. Compare below Chap.16. On vers14.]nor visit (it)neither shall it be made[or be repaired]again[Or,(that,or.all those things)shall come to passe, or, be done no more. Oth it shall be no more magnified;that is , be highly esteemed and praised: because the Son of God shall be manifested in the flesh; as the word made, is likewise so taken by some,Deut.32.6 and 1Sam.12.6. And elsewhere.]

17. At that time they shall call Jerusalem, ther throne of the LORD and all heathen shall be gathered unto it ,because of the Name of the LORD ,[Or, to the Name of the LORD ;that is , to the LORD Himself,who shall be manifesteed in the flesh ,andand unto his Church,as it were by Name]to Jerusalem: and they shall walk no more after the opinion [Or imagination,speculation, thought.Oth.ha rdnesse. See Deut.29.19 Psal 81.13 and below chap.7.24 and 9.24 and 10.8 and 18.12, etc.]of their evil heart,

18. In those day es the house of Juda shall go to the house of Israel : and they shall come together out of the Land of the North, into the Land that l have given for inheritance unto your Fathers [See above on vers.14. They that formally were separated from one another,and were at oddess and enemies to each other ,shall live in peace and unity together ,here in the Church of God,by one Spirit of Faith, as members of one body under one head Jesus Christand shall hereafter possess the inheritance of God in the heavenly Canaan .Compare Isai.11.13 Ezech.37.16,etc and Hebr,11.14,15. And 12.22 and below chap 50.4 (and they shall come together out of the Land of the North). That is, of their captivity: this being a figure of their spiritual captivity ,and deliverance out of it by Christ (into the Land that l have given unto your Fathers for an inheritance)Or which l cause them to inherit,or, possess hereditarily].

19. I said indeed;How shall l put thee among the children? And give thee desired Land [Hebr. The Land of desire,of wish See Psal .106 on verse 24.]the beautiful inheritance.[Hebr. The inheritance of beauty. So was Canaan called , being a type of the heavenly Canaan See Ezech 20.3 Dan.8.9 and 11.6,41,45.]of the armies of the heathen ? But l said ,Thou shalt cry unto me ,[or, call me]My father ,and thou shalt not turn away from after.[L said,etc.That is, l thought as straight way again, spoken of God after the manner of men ,as it were considering and advising thus with himself , to expresse the unworthiness of his people (whereof furthur vers. 20.) and the greatness of his mercy:as if God should say:But how shall l attain to it ,to make me a church of such a wicked nation, and to adopt them for my children , and the heirs of the heavenly and glorious Canaan , with the multitudes of the Gentiles ? Whereunto God thus maketh answer within himself : I will by my spirit of conversion and adoption cause them to return (as followeth ) and to cry unto me in faith, Abba, Father, and not to depart from me . See Rom.8.9. Jerem. 32.40. Some take this versw as a consequent of the former promise and render it thus ,Also l said ,or For l said, how shall l,& c.by way of admiration: and in the sequel also l said , Thou shalt cry unto me ,etc.]

20. Verily (as) a woman unfaithfully departeth from her friend ;[Or companion ; that is, husband. Cmpare Hsi.3.1.] so have ye delt unfaithfully against me, ye house of Israel , saith the LORD.

21. Ther is a voice heard [That is , there shall be heard] upon the high places , a weeping (and) supplications[or a weeping of supplications] of the children of Israel, because they have perverted their way , and have forgotten the LORD, their God . [here beginneth a prophecie and description of the conversionof the Israelites.]

22. Return, ye backsliding children, I will heal your backslidings: [This is the voice of God]. Behold (here) are wel, we come unto thee, for thou art the LORD our God. [This is the answer of the weeping and supplicating penitent Israelites.]

23. Truly in vain (it is expected) from the hills,(and) the multitude of the mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the Salvation of Israel.[Compare Psalms 121:1]

24. For the shame [That is, the Idol Baal, of whom indeed we may be ashamed and confounded. So below ,chap.11.13. Hos .9.10] hath eaten up[that is ,devoured] the labour of our fathers, [that is, that which they had gotten by their labour ,as is expounded in the words following] from our youth ;their sheep, and their oxen, their sons and their daughters.[this shameful Idol Baal had consumed the labour of their fathers, both in respect of the just judgements that came upon them for it.]

25. We lie (down)in our shame, and our confusion convereth us , for we have sinned against the LORD, our God , we and our fathers from our youth unto this day: and we have not been obedient unto the voice of the LORD our God.