Jeremiah 11

Jeremiah 11:1-10

In this chapter, 1. God, by the prophet, puts the people in mind of the covenant made with their fathers, and the condition of it, that they should be obedient to him, ver. 1—2. 2. He charges them with abominately refusing to obey him, ver. 8—10. 3. He threatens them with utter ruin for their disobedience, especially for their idolatry, ver. 11, 13. their idols shall not save them, ver. 12. nor their prophets pray for them, ver. 14. and justifies his proceedings herein, they having brought all this neighbor upon themselves by their own willfulness, ver. 15—17. 4. A conspiracy is formed against Jeremiah by the men of death, which God discovers to him, ver. 18, 19. His prayer against them, ver. 20. and a predilection of God’s judgments upon them for it, ver. 21—23.

1. THE word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2. Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 3. And say thou unto H h them,

to the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, 4. “Which I commanded your fathers in the

day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, “from the iron furnace, saying, “Obey my voice, and

do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God: 5. That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, ’to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, “So be it, O LORD. 6. Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant,” and do them. 7. For I earnestly protested unto your fathers, in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, “rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice. 8. ‘Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but “walked every one in the 2 imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did them not. 9. And the LORD said unto me, ‘A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10. They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers. A new prophecy seems to begin at this chapter. Jeremiah is tent of God again to this rebellious house of Judah. 1. To remind them of the tenor of that covenant, by which they held the land of promise. The great condition of which was their obedience, v. 4. and this God earnestly pressed upon them to the one thing needful, charging their fathers to observe and do all his commandments, as the only means to secure his favour, and their relation to him, v. 4. promising that, in consequence of this, they should possess the land of Canaan flowing with milk and honey; and this was further enforced by the awful sanction of that terrible curse which would overtake the breakers of this covenant, v. 3. God had not ceased from that day to continue his admonitions to them, and urge that fidelity to which they were so strictly obliged, v. 7. And now this prophet must second those who went before in the same promotions and urgent calls to them, to hear and obey, v. 6. which that they may do, he earnestly prays, So be it, Lord! ver. 9. Note, (1.) They who withdraw themselves from God’s service, have no right to expect his protection. (2.) The condition of the legal covenant is obedience, and a curse is denounced on every transgression. Bleffed be God for a covenant of grace, established on better promises, and secured for ever by a better obedience than our own. 2. To charge them with their gross violations of this covenant, by which they had forfeited all the binding prevailed, and incurred all the penalties annexed to it, They obeyed not, neither they, nor their fathers, nor inclined their ear to the divitory commissioned messengers, that from time to time God sent to admonish them, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart, without the least regard to God’s law; therefore all the curses denounced against the disobedient lie at their door, v. 8. and God saw their secret as well as their open wickedness. A general conspiracy is formed among them, to discard God’s worship and law, and to introduce the idols and customs of the heathens around them. The men of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem, city and country, high and low, are engaged in it, v. 9. A little reformation had been made in the days of Judah, but they quickly turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, and sunk again into idolatry. Israel first led the way, and Judah copied their abominations, so that the covenant God had made with their fathers was utterly broken,

Jeremiah 11:10

Note, (1.) They who will not be ruled by God’s law, must be destroyed under his curse. (2.) Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not go unpunished. Heb. To go forth of. PC. viii. 4. 1. Prov. I. 17. 10. I. 15. Chap. iv. 11. Ezek. viii. 12. Met. 13. 4. Zech. vi. 19. Dont. viii. 17. 9. Heb. Exa. Chap. d. 10. 4. Heb. Beame. Chap. ii. 14. Hal. ii. 10. 11. ¶ Therefore thus faith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and “thought they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them. 12. Then shall the cities of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, “and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense; but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble. 13. For “according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem, have ye set up altars to that frameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal. 14. Therefore “pray not thou for this people, neither lite up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble. 15. ¶ What hath my beloved to do in mine house, saying the hath wrought lewdness with many? and the holy flesh is passed from thee: when thou dost evil, then thou rejoicest. 16. The LORD called thy name: A green olive-tree, fair and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken. 17. For the LORD of hosts, “that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel, and of the house of Judah, which they have done against them, selves to provoke me to anger, in offering incense unto Baal.

Jeremiah 11:11-17

The curse follows sin as close as the shadow does the body. We have here, 1. Their miserable and helpless case. Therefore I will bring evil

upon them, the evil of punishment for the evil of sin, which they shall

themselves away, because of the fierce anger of the Lord; against which,

all their policy and power were equally fruitless, and which was infinitely more to be feared than even the Chaldean army. Note, (1.) If we have God for our enemy, we can hope for no peace in time or eternity. (2.) Nothing can engage finners to lay to heart the evil of their ways, when God withdraws his spirit from them; even the heaviest judgments then but handen and exasperate. (3.) If God spared not his own pleasant land, let no other guilty land hope to escape. Zech. ii.8. Chap. xxiii. 37. ¶ 15c. xie. 12, 14. 14. ¶ Thus faith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, * that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit, Behold, I * will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them. 15. And it shall come to pals after that I have plucked them out, I will return, and * have compassion on them, and will bring them again every man to his heritage, and every man to his land. 16. And it shall come to pals, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth (as * they caught my people to swear by Baal) then * shall they be built in the midst of my people. 17. But * if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up, and destroy that nation, faith the LORD. 9. 14—17. Jeremiah’s commission extended not merely to his own people, but to the neighbouring nations. 1. God threatens them with destruction for their unkindness to Israel. They are called his evil neighbours, such as the Moabites, Ammonites, Philistines, &c. by their connections with whom God’s people had been led into sin and idolatry, and that is the greatest evil that any can do us; that touch the inheritance that I have caused my people Israel to inherit, made inroads upon them, afflicted the Chaldeans to destroy them, and led away many captives: for this God will visit them. Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, they too shall be utterly wafted and destroyed; and pluck the house of Judah from among them; who, when their ruin came, would be released, and escape from their captivity. Note, (1.) It is a dangerous and infirm state to dwell in the midst of evil neighbours. (2.) They who have been our tempters, are often made our tormentors. (3.) If judgment begin at the house of God, let not the ungodly sin the finner think of escaping. 2. God still appears ready to have compassion on them, notwithstanding his judgments against them. Though cast out, and captives, he will bring them again every man to his heritage, and his own land, on this condition, that forsaking their former idolatries, they diligently learn the ways of my people, to worship and serve the true God, to swear by my name, The Lord liveth, and renounce all idols, in opposition to their former wicked conduct, when they taught my people to swear by Baal; then, not only shall their captivity be turned, but they shall be built in the midst of my people, become entitled to all the blessings and benesits of native Israelites, united with them in love, and admitted to the worship and service of God’s temple. And this seems to look farther than the conversion of many to the Jewish religion, who returned with them from Babylon, and had most eminently its accomplishment when the Gentiles were gathered into the church, made fellow-hors, and of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ by the gospel, Eph. xi. 20, 21. when Jews and Gentiles became, without distinction, one told under one Shepherd. Note, (1.) The bitterest enemies of God and his people may yet be reconciled; there is ever hope for the returning finner. (2.) They who learn the ways of God’s people, will have their happy lot with them. (3.) They who would be proficient in the school of Christ, must use all diligence; such and ignorance are inseparable. 3. Judgment is denounced on those who refused to obey the gospel, and return to God. I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, faith the Lord. Note, There is but one alternative; either we must turn to God, and he made happy in everlasting blessness, or by departing from God, and continuing impenitent, go down into everlasting burnings.