Jeremías 18

1 La palabra que vino a Jeremías del SEÑOR, diciendo

2 Levántate, y vete a casa del alfarero, y allí te haré oír mis palabras

3 Y descendí a casa del alfarero, y he aquí que él hacía obra sobre una rueda

4 Y el vaso que él hacía de barro se quebró en la mano del alfarero; y tornó y lo hizo otro vaso, según que al alfarero pareció mejor hacerlo

5 Entonces vino a mí palabra del SEÑOR, diciendo

6 ¿Por ventura no podré yo hacer de vosotros como este alfarero, oh Casa de Israel, dice el SEÑOR? He aquí que como el barro en la mano del alfarero, así sois vosotros en mi mano, oh Casa de Israel

7 En un instante hablaré contra gentiles y contra reinos, para arrancar, y disipar, y destruir

8 Pero si esos gentiles se convirtieren de su maldad, contra el cual mal yo hablé, yo me arrepentiré del mal que había pensado hacerles

9 Y en un instante hablaré de la gente y del Reino, para edificar y para plantar

10 pero si hiciere lo malo delante de mis ojos, no oyendo mi voz, me arrepentiré del bien que había determinado hacerle

11 Ahora, pues, habla ahora a todo hombre de Judá, y a los moradores de Jerusalén, diciendo: Así dijo el SEÑOR: He aquí que yo dispongo mal contra vosotros, y trazo contra vosotros designios; conviértase ahora cada uno de su mal camino, y mejorad vuestros caminos y vuestras obras

12 Y dijeron: Es por demás: porque en pos de nuestras imaginaciones hemos de ir, y hemos de hacer cada uno el pensamiento de su malvado corazón

13 Por tanto, así dijo el SEÑOR: Preguntad ahora a los gentiles, quién oyó tal. Gran fealdad hizo la virgen de Israel

14 ¿Dejará alguno por ventura la nieve de la piedra del campo que corre del Líbano? ¿Dejarán las aguas singulares, frías, y corrientes

15 Porque mi pueblo me ha olvidado, incensando a la vanidad, y les hacen tropezar en sus caminos, en las sendas antiguas, para que caminen por sendas, por camino no hollado

16 para poner su tierra en desolación, y en silbos perpetuos; todo aquel que pasare por ella se maravillará, y meneará su cabeza

17 Como viento solano los esparciré delante del enemigo; les mostraré las espaldas, y no el rostro, en el día de su perdición

18 Y dijeron: Venid, y tracemos maquinaciones contra Jeremías; porque la ley no faltará del sacerdote, ni el consejo del sabio, ni la palabra del profeta. Venid e hirámoslo de lengua, y no miremos a todas sus palabras

19 SEÑOR, mira por mí, y oye la voz de los que contienden conmigo

20 ¿Se da por ventura mal por bien para que caven hoyo a mi alma? Acuérdate que me puse delante de ti para hablar bien por ellos, para apartar de ellos tu ira

21 Por tanto, entrega sus hijos a hambre, y hazlos escurrir por manos de espada; y queden sus mujeres sin hijos, y viudas; y sus maridos sean puestos a muerte, y sus jóvenes heridos a espada en la guerra

22 Oigase clamor de sus casas, cuando trajeres sobre ellos ejército de repente; porque cavaron hoyo para tomarme, y a mis pies han escondido lazos

23 Mas tú, oh SEÑOR, conoces todo su consejo contra mí que es para muerte; no perdones su iniquidad, ni borres su pecado de delante de tu rostro, y tropiecen delante de ti; haz así con ellos en el tiempo de tu furor

Jeremías 18 Commentary

Chapter 18

God's power over his creatures is represented by the potter. (1-10) The Jews exhorted to repentance, and judgments foretold. (11-17) The prophet appeals to God. (18-23)

Verses 1-10 While Jeremiah looks upon the potter's work, God darts into his mind two great truths. God has authority, and power, to form and fashion kingdoms and nations as he pleases. He may dispose of us as he thinks fit; and it would be as absurd for us to dispute this, as for the clay to quarrel with the potter. But he always goes by fixed rules of justice and goodness. When God is coming against us in judgments, we may be sure it is for our sins; but sincere conversion from the evil of sin will prevent the evil of punishment, as to persons, and to families, and nations.

Verses 11-17 Sinners call it liberty to live at large; whereas for a man to be a slave to his lusts, is the very worst slavery. They forsook God for idols. When men are parched with heat, and meet with cooling, refreshing streams, they use them. In these things men will not leave a certainty for an uncertainty; but Israel left the ancient paths appointed by the Divine law. They walked not in the highway, in which they might travel safely, but in a way in which they must stumble: such was the way of idolatry, and such is the way of iniquity. This made their land desolate, and themselves miserable. Calamities may be borne, if God smile upon us when under them; but if he is displeased, and refuses his help, we are undone. Multitudes forget the Lord and his Christ, and wander from the ancient paths, to walk in ways of their own devising. But what will they do in the day of judgment!

Verses 18-23 When the prophet called to repentance, instead of obeying the call, the people devised devices against him. Thus do sinners deal with the great Intercessor, crucifying him afresh, and speaking against him on earth, while his blood is speaking for them in heaven. But the prophet had done his duty to them; and the same will be our rejoicing in a day of evil.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 18

This chapter expresses the sovereign power of God ever his creatures, and his usual methods of dealing with them; it threatens destruction to the Jews for their idolatry; and is closed with the prophet's complaint of his persecutors, and with imprecations upon them. The sovereign power of God is expressed under the simile of a potter working in his shop, and making and marring vessels at pleasure, Jer 18:1-4; the application of which to God, and the house of Israel, is in Jer 18:5,6; and is illustrated by his usual dealings with kingdoms and nations; for though he is a sovereign Being, yet he acts both in a kind and equitable way; and as the potter changes his work, so he changes the dispensations of his providence, of which two instances are given; the one is, that having threatened ruin to a nation, upon their repentance and good behaviour he revokes the threatening, Jer 18:7,8; and the other is, that having made a declaration of good to a people, upon their sin and disobedience he recalls it, and punishes them for their wickedness, Jer 18:9,10; then follows a prophecy of the destruction of the Jews in particular, in which they are exhorted to repentance to prevent it; their obstinacy is observed; their folly in departing from God, and worshipping idols, is exposed; and they are threatened with utter ruin, Jer 18:11-17; the conspiracy and evil designs of the Jews against the prophet, their malice and ingratitude, are complained of by him, Jer 18:18-20; his imprecations upon them, and prayers for their destruction, are delivered out in Jer 18:21-23.