Jeremiah 50

Jeremiah 50:13

Cannot I do - That God hath an absolute sovereign power to do what he pleases with the work of his hands: but he acts as a just judge, rendering to every man according to his works.

Jeremiah 50:21

Of Lebanon - Lebanon had rocks, and also fruitful valleys; snow fell upon these rocks, and upon a thaw ran down into the lower places. Reason teaches men not to forsake a greater good for a less, tho’ that greater good was but a poor creature comfort, not to be compared with God.

Jeremiah 50:22

Vanity - Idols. Ancient paths - The ways wherein Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the ancient patriarchs walked. To walk - In a way not cast up, not fit for God’s people to walk in.

Jeremiah 50:23

Desolate - Not that this was the end they aimed at, but it was the end these courses would certainly issue in.

Jeremiah 50:24

East wind - The east wind was in those parts the fiercest wind. As the east - wind scatters the chaff, so saith God, I will scatter them. In their calamity - And when they shall be in great calamity, I will turn my back upon them, I will not regard their prayers.

Jeremiah 50:25

For - We have the church on our side; the regular priests and the prophets, they know God’s mind as well as he. Let us smite him with the tongue - Expose him, representing him to be what the people hate.

Jeremiah 50:28

Therefore - But is it lawful for God’s servants to pray for evil against their enemies? It is not lawful for Christians. It is doubtless our duty, to pray for the conversion, forgiveness, and eternal salvation of our worst enemies.

Jeremiah 50:35

This place - Either this city, or this valley, which they had turned to an use quite contrary to the end for which God gave it them.

Jeremiah 50:36

To burn - This and the following verse, contain another great sin of this people, with the punishment which God proportions to it. The sin in the general was idolatry, but a most barbarous species of it, mentioned also chap.7:31 32:35, where it is said, they made their sons and their daughters pass thro’ the fire to Molech; the place where they did it is called Tophet, ver.19:6, of which also mention is made, Isaiah 30:33. Baal and Molech, signify the same thing; Baal signifies a Lord, Molech a King. Both Baal and Molech seem common names to all idols.

Jeremiah 50:38

In this place - In this place, among others, I will make void all the counsels that the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, have taken to escape my righteous judgments.

Jeremiah 50:43

As Tophet - That is, a place of slaughter and burials.

Jeremiah 50:45

Then - Jeremiah had now dispatched the errand upon which God had sent him to Tophet, coming back by God’s direction, he stands in the court, which was common to all people, where the most might hear.