Jeremías 14:1-10

1 PALABRA de Jehová que fué dada á Jeremías, con motivo de la sequía.

2 Enlutóse Judá, y sus puertas se despoblaron: oscureciéronse en tierra, y subió el clamor de Jerusalem.

3 Y los principales de ellos enviaron sus criados al agua: vinieron á las lagunas, y no hallaron agua: volviéronse con sus vasos vacíos; se avergonzaron, confundiéronse, y cubrieron sus cabezas.

4 Porque se resquebrajó la tierra á causa de no llover en el país; confusos los labradores, cubrieron sus cabezas.

5 Y aun las ciervas en los campos parían, y dejaban la cría, porque no había hierba.

6 Y los asnos monteses se ponían en los altos, aspiraban el viento como los chacales; sus ojos se ofuscaron, porque no había hierba.

7 Si nuestras iniquidades testifican contra nosotros, oh Jehová, haz por amor de tu nombre; porque nuestras rebeliones se han multiplicado, contra ti pecamos.

8 Oh esperanza de Israel, Guardador suyo en el tiempo de la aflicción, ¿por qué has de ser como peregrino en la tierra, y como caminante que se aparta para tener la noche?

9 ¿Por qué has de ser como hombre atónito, y como valiente que no puede librar? tú empero estás entre nosotros, oh Jehová, y sobre nosotros es invocado tu nombre; no nos desampares.

10 Así ha dicho Jehová á este pueblo: Así amaron moverse, ni detuvieron sus pies: por tanto, Jehová no los tiene en voluntad; acordaráse ahora de la maldad de ellos, y visitará sus pecados.

Jeremías 14:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 14

This chapter contains prophecy of a drought, which produced a famine, Jer 14:1, and is described by the dismal effects of it; and general distress in the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem, Jer 14:2, even the nobles were affected with it, whose servants returned without water ashamed, when sent for it, Jer 14:3, the ploughmen could not use their plough, their ground was so hard, Jer 14:4 and the very beasts of the field suffered much, because there was no grass, Jer 14:5,6, upon this follows a prayer of the prophet to the Lord, that he would give rain for his name's sake; he confesses the sins of the people, that they were many, and against the Lord; and testified against them, that they deserved to be used as they were; and he addresses the Lord as the hope and Saviour of his people in time past, when it was a time of trouble with them; and expostulates with him, why he should be as a stranger and traveller, and like a mighty man astonished, that either had no regard to their land any more than a foreigner and a traveller; or no heart to help them, or exert his power, than a man at his wits' end, though he was among them, and they were called by his name; and therefore he begs he would not leave them, Jer 14:7-9, but he is told that it was for the sins of the people that all this was, which the Lord was determined to remember and visit; and therefore he is bid not to pray for them; if he did, it would not be regarded, nor the people's fasting and prayers also; for they should be consumed by the sword, famine, and pestilence, Jer 14:10-12, and though the prophet pleads, in excuse of the people, that the false prophets had deceived them; yet not only the vanity and falsehood of their prophecies are exposed, and they are threatened with destruction, but the people also, for hearkening unto them, Jer 14:13-16, wherefore the prophet, instead of putting up a prayer for them, has a lamentation dictated to him by the Lord, which he is ordered to express, Jer 14:17,18, and yet, notwithstanding this, he goes on to pray for them in a very pathetic manner; he expostulates with God, and pleads for help and healing; confesses the iniquities of the people; entreats the Lord, for the sake of his name, glory, and covenant, that he would not reject them and his petition; and observes, that the thing asked for (rain) was what none of the gods of the Heathens could give, or even the heavens themselves, only the Lord; and therefore determines to wait upon him for it, who made the heavens, the earth, and rain, Jer 14:19-22.