3 `Thou hast said, Wo to me, now, for Jehovah hath added sorrow to my pain, I have been wearied with my sighing, and rest I have not found.
and in the doing good we may not be faint-hearted, for at the proper time we shall reap -- not desponding;
wherefore, we faint not, but if also our outward man doth decay, yet the inward is renewed day by day;
My refreshing for me `is' sorrow, For me my heart `is' sick.
for consider again him who endured such gainsaying from the sinners to himself, that ye may not be wearied in your souls -- being faint. Not yet unto blood did ye resist -- with the sin striving; and ye have forgotten the exhortation that doth speak fully with you as with sons, `My son, be not despising chastening of the Lord, nor be faint, being reproved by Him,
For though He afflicted, yet He hath pitied, According to the abundance of His kindness.
I `am' the man `who' hath seen affliction By the rod of His wrath. Me He hath led, and causeth to go `in' darkness, and without light. Surely against me He turneth back, He turneth His hand all the day. He hath worn out my flesh and my skin. He hath broken my bones. He hath built up against me, And setteth round poverty and weariness. In dark places He hath caused me to dwell, As the dead of old. He hath hedged me about, and I go not out, He hath made heavy my fetter. Also when I call and cry out, He hath shut out my prayer. He hath hedged my ways with hewn work, My paths He hath made crooked. A bear lying in wait He `is' to me, A lion in secret hiding-places. My ways He is turning aside, and He pulleth me in pieces, He hath made me a desolation. He hath trodden His bow, And setteth me up as a mark for an arrow. He hath caused to enter into my reins The sons of His quiver. I have been a derision to all my people, Their song all the day. He hath filled me with bitter things, He hath filled me `with' wormwood. And He breaketh with gravel my teeth, He hath covered me with ashes. And Thou castest off from peace my soul, I have forgotten prosperity. And I say, Perished hath my strength and my hope from Jehovah. Remember my affliction and my mourning, Wormwood and gall!
From above He hath sent fire into my bone, And it subdueth it, He hath spread a net for my feet, He hath turned me backward, He hath made me desolate -- all the day sick.
Thou hast persuaded me, O Jehovah, and I am persuaded; Thou hast hardened me, and dost prevail, I have been for a laughter all the day, Every one is mocking at me, Because from the time I speak I cry out, `Violence and destruction,' I cry, For the word of Jehovah hath been to me For reproach and for derision all the day. And I said, `I do not mention Him, Nor do I speak any more in His name,' And it hath been in my heart As a burning fire shut up in my bones, And I have been weary of containing, And I am not able. For I have heard the evil report of many, Fear `is' round about: `Declare, and we declare it,' All mine allies are watching `for' my halting, `Perhaps he is enticed, and we prevail over him, And we take our vengeance out of him.' And Jehovah `is' with me, as a terrible mighty one, Therefore my persecutors stumble and prevail not, They have been exceedingly ashamed, For they have not acted wisely, Confusion age-during is not forgotten. And, O Jehovah of Hosts, trier of the righteous, Beholder of reins and heart, I do see Thy vengeance out of them, For unto Thee I have revealed my cause. Sing ye to Jehovah, praise Jehovah, For He hath delivered the soul of the needy From the hand of evil doers. Cursed `is' the day in which I was born, The day that my mother bare me, Let it not be blessed! Cursed `is' the man who bore tidings `to' my father, saying, `Born to thee hath been a child -- a male,' Making him very glad! Then hath that man been as the cities, That Jehovah overthrew, and repented not, And he hath heard a cry at morning, And a shout at time of noon. Because he hath not put me to death from the womb, And my mother is to me -- my grave, And her womb a pregnancy age-during. Why `is' this? from the womb I have come out, To see labour and sorrow, Yea, consumed in shame are my days!
Wo to me, my mother, For thou hast borne me a man of strife, And a man of contention to all the land, I have not lent on usury, Nor have they lent on usury to me -- All of them are reviling me. Jehovah said, Did I not direct thee for good? Did not I intercede for thee in a time of evil, And in a time of adversity, with the enemy? Doth one break iron -- northern iron, and brass? Thy strength and thy treasures For a prey I do give -- not for price, Even for all thy sins, and in all thy borders. And I have caused thine enemies To pass over into the land -- Thou hast not known, For a fire hath been kindled in Mine anger, Against you it doth burn. Thou, Thou hast known, O Jehovah, Remember me, and inspect me, And take vengeance for me of my pursuers, In Thy long-suffering take me not away, Know -- I have borne for Thee reproach. Thy words have been found, and I eat them, And Thy word is to me for a joy, And for the rejoicing of my heart, For Thy name is called on me, O Jehovah, God of Hosts. I have not sat in an assembly of deriders, Nor do I exult, because of thy hand, -- Alone I have sat, For `with' indignation Thou hast filled me. Why hath my pain been perpetual? And my wound incurable? It hath refused to be healed, Thou art surely to me as a failing stream, Waters not stedfast. Therefore, thus said Jehovah: If thou turnest back, then I bring thee back, Before Me thou dost stand, And if thou bringest out the precious from the vile, As My mouth thou art! They -- they turn back unto thee, And thou dost not turn back unto them. And I have made thee to this people For a wall -- brazen -- fenced, And they have fought against thee, And they do not prevail against thee, For with thee `am' I to save thee, And to deliver thee -- an affirmation of Jehovah, And I have delivered thee from the hand of evil doers, And I have ransomed thee From the hand of the terrible!
Who doth make my head waters, And mine eye a fountain of tears? And I weep by day and by night, For the wounded of the daughter of my people.
And Jacob rendeth his raiment, and putteth sackcloth on his loins, and becometh a mourner for his son many days, and all his sons and all his daughters rise to comfort him, and he refuseth to comfort himself, and saith, `For -- I go down mourning unto my son, to Sheol,' and his father weepeth for him.
Wo to me, for I have inhabited Mesech, I have dwelt with tents of Kedar.
I remember God, and make a noise, I meditate, and feeble is my spirit. Selah. Thou hast taken hold of the watches of mine eyes, I have been moved, and I speak not.
Deep unto deep is calling At the noise of Thy water-spouts, All Thy breakers and Thy billows passed over me.
I had not believed to look on the goodness of Jehovah In the land of the living!
Also -- to-day `is' my complaint bitter, My hand hath been heavy because of my sighing.
God shutteth me up unto the perverse, And to the hands of the wicked turneth me over. At ease I have been, and he breaketh me, And he hath laid hold on my neck, And he breaketh me in pieces, And he raiseth me to him for a mark. Go round against me do his archers. He splitteth my reins, and spareth not, He poureth out to the earth my gall.
And Joshua saith, `Ah, Lord Jehovah, why hast Thou at all caused this people to pass over the Jordan, to give us into the hand of the Amorite to destroy us? -- and oh that we had been willing -- and we dwell beyond the Jordan! Oh, Lord, what do I say, after that Israel hath turned the neck before its enemies? and the Canaanite and all the inhabitants of the land do hear, and have come round against us, and cut off our name out of the earth; and what dost Thou do for Thy great name?'
And Moses saith unto Jehovah, `Why hast Thou done evil to Thy servant? and why have I not found grace in Thine eyes -- to put the burden of all this people upon me? I -- have I conceived all this people? I -- have I begotten it, that Thou sayest unto me, Carry it in thy bosom as the nursing father beareth the suckling, unto the ground which Thou hast sworn to its fathers? Whence have I flesh to give to all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give to us flesh, and we eat. I am not able -- I alone -- to bear all this people, for `it is' too heavy for me; and if thus Thou art doing to me -- slay me, I pray Thee; slay, if I have found grace in thine eyes, and let me not look on mine affliction.'
and Jacob their father saith unto them, `Me ye have bereaved; Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and Benjamin ye take -- against me have been all these.' And Reuben speaketh unto his father, saying, `My two sons thou dost put to death, if I bring him not in unto thee; give him into my hand, and I -- I bring him back unto thee;' and he saith, `My son doth not go down with you, for his brother `is' dead, and he by himself is left; when mischief hath met him in the way in which ye go, then ye have brought down my grey hairs in sorrow to sheol.'
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Jeremiah 45
Commentary on Jeremiah 45 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 45
Jer 45:1-5. Jeremiah Comforts Baruch.
After the completion of the prophecies and histories appertaining to the Jewish people and kings, Jeremiah subjoins one referring to an individual, Baruch; even as there are subjoined to the epistles of Paul addressed to churches, epistles to individuals, some of which were prior in date to the former. Afterwards follow the prophecies referring to other nations, closing the book [Grotius]. The date of the events here told is eighteen years before the taking of the city; this chapter in point of time follows the thirty-sixth chapter. Baruch seems to have been regularly employed by Jeremiah to commit his prophecies to writing (Jer 36:1, 4, 32).
1. these words—his prophecies from the thirteenth year of Josiah to the fourth of Jehoiakim.
3. Thou didst say, &c.—Jeremiah does not spare his disciple, but unveils his fault, namely, fear for his life by reason of the suspicions which he incurred in the eyes of his countrymen (compare Jer 36:17), as if he was in sympathy with the Chaldeans (Jer 43:3), and instigator of Jeremiah; also ingratitude in speaking of his "grief," &c., whereas he ought to deem himself highly blessed in being employed by God to record Jeremiah's prophecies.
added—rescued from the peril of my first writing (Jer 36:26). I am again involved in a similar peril. He upbraids God as dealing harshly with him.
I fainted—rather, "I am weary."
no rest—no quiet resting-place.
4. that which I have built … planted I will pluck up—(Isa 5:5). This whole nation (the Jews) which I founded and planted with such extraordinary care and favor, I will overthrow.
5. seekest thou great things for thyself—Thou art over-fastidious and self-seeking. When My own peculiar people, a "whole" nation (Jer 45:4), and the temple, are being given to ruin, dost thou expect to be exempt from all hardship? Baruch had raised his expectations too high in this world, and this made his distresses harder to be borne. The frowns of the world would not disquiet us if we did not so eagerly covet its smiles. What folly to seek great things for ourselves here, where everything is little, and nothing certain!
all flesh—the whole Jewish nation and even foreign peoples (Jer 25:26).
but thy life … for a prey—Esteem it enough at such a general crisis that thy life shall be granted thee. Be content with this boon of life which I will rescue from imminent death, even as when all things are given up to plunder, if one escape with aught, he has a something saved as his "prey" (Jer 21:9). It is striking how Jeremiah, who once used such complaining language himself, is enabled now to minister the counsel requisite for Baruch when falling into the same sin (Jer 12:1-5; 15:10-18). This is part of God's design in suffering His servants to be tempted, that their temptations may adapt them for ministering to their fellow servants when tempted.