Jeremiah 33

Jeremiah 33:1-26 . PROPHECY OF THE RESTORATION FROM BABYLON, AND OF MESSIAH AS KING AND PRIEST.

1. shut up--( Jeremiah 32:2 Jeremiah 32:3 , 2 Timothy 2:9 ). Though Jeremiah was shut up in bondage, the word of God was "not bound."

2. maker thereof--rather, "the doer of it," namely, that which Jeremiah is about to prophesy, the restoration of Israel, an act which is thought now impossible, but which the Almighty will effect.
formed it--namely, Jerusalem ( Jeremiah 32:44 ) [CALVIN]. Rather, "that formed," that is, moulds His purpose into due shape for execution ( Isaiah 37:26 ).
Lord . . . his name--( Exodus 3:14 Exodus 3:15 ).

3. Call . . . I will answer--( Jeremiah 29:12 , Psalms 91:15 ). Jeremiah, as the representative of the people of God, is urged by God to pray for that which God has determined to grant; namely, the restoration. God's promises are not to slacken, but to quicken the prayers of His people ( Psalms 132:13 Psalms 132:17 , Isaiah 62:6 Isaiah 62:7 ).
mighty things--Hebrew, "inaccessible things," that is, incredible, hard to man's understanding [MAURER], namely, the restoration of the Jews, an event despaired of. "Hidden," or "recondite" [PISCATOR].
thou knowest not--Yet God had revealed those things to Jeremiah, but the unbelief of the people in rejecting the grace of God had caused him to forget God's promise, as though the case of the people admitted of no remedy.

4. houses . . . thrown down by the mounts--namely, by the missiles cast from the besiegers' mounds ( Jeremiah 32:24 ); "and by the sword" follows properly, as, after missiles had prepared the way, the foe next advanced to close quarters "with the sword."

5. They--the Jews; the defenders of the "houses" ( Jeremiah 33:4 ), "come forward to fight with the Chaldeans," who burst into the city through the "thrown-down houses," but all the effect that they produce "is, to fill them (the houses) with their own "dead bodies."

6. ( Jeremiah 30:17 ). The answer to Jeremiah's mournful question ( Jeremiah 8:22 ).
cure--literally, the long linen bandage employed in dressing wounds.
truth--that is, stability; I will bring forth for them abundant and permanent peace, that is, prosperity.

7. cause . . . to return--that is, reverse ( Jeremiah 33:11 , Jeremiah 32:44 ). The specification, both of "Judah" and "Israel," can only apply fully to the future restoration.
as at the first--( Isaiah 1:26 ).

8. cleanse--( Ezekiel 36:25 , Zechariah 13:1 , Hebrews 9:13 Hebrews 9:14 ). Alluding to the legal rites of purification.
all their iniquity . . . all their iniquities--both the principle of sin within, and its outward manifestations in acts. The repetition is in order that the Jews may consider how great is the grace of God in not merely pardoning (as to the punishment), but also cleansing them (as to the pollution of guilt); not merely one iniquity, but all ( Micah 7:18 ).