Jeremías 15

1 Y DIJOME Jehová: Si Moisés y Samuel se pusieran delante de mí, mi voluntad no será con este pueblo: échalos de delante de mí, y salgan.

2 Y será que si te preguntaren: ¿A dónde saldremos? les dirás: Así ha dicho Jehová: El que á muerte, á muerte; y el que á cuchillo, á cuchillo; y el que á hambre, á hambre; y el que á cautividad, á cautividad.

3 Y enviaré sobre ellos cuatro géneros, dice Jehová: cuchillo para matar, y perros para despedazar, y aves del cielo y bestias de la tierra, para devorar y para disipar.

4 Y entregarélos á ser agitados por todos los reinos de la tierra, á causa de Manasés hijo de Ezechîas rey de Judá, por lo que hizo en Jerusalem.

5 Porque ¿quién tendrá compasión de ti, oh Jerusalem? ¿ó quién se entristecerá por tu causa? ¿ó quién ha de venir á preguntar por tu paz?

6 Tú me dejaste, dice Jehová, atrás te volviste: por tanto yo extenderé sobre ti mi mano, y te destruiré; estoy cansado de arrepentirme.

7 Y aventélos con aventador hasta las puertas de la tierra; desahijé, desbaraté mi pueblo; no se tornaron de sus caminos.

8 Sus viudas se multiplicaron más que la arena de la mar; traje contra ellos destruidor á medio día sobre la madre y los hijos; sobre la ciudad hice que de repente cayesen terrores.

9 Enflaquecióse la que parió siete; llenóse de dolor su alma; su sol se le puso siendo aún de día; fué avergonzada y llena de confusión: y lo que de ella quedare, entregarélo á cuchillo delante de sus enemigos, dice Jehová.

10 ¡Ay de mí, madre mía, que me has engendrado hombre de contienda y hombre de discordia á toda la tierra! Nunca les dí á logro, ni lo tomé de ellos; y todos me maldicen.

11 Dijo Jehová: De cierto tus reliquias serán en bien; de cierto haré que el enemigo te salga á recibir en el tiempo trabajoso, y en el tiempo de angustia.

12 ¿Quebrará el hierro al hierro de la parte de aquilón, y al bronce?

13 Tus riquezas y tus tesoros daré á saco sin ningún precio, por todos tus pecados, y en todos tus términos;

14 Y te haré pasar á tus enemigos en tierra que no conoces: porque fuego se ha encendido en mi furor, y arderá sobre vosotros.

15 Tú lo sabes, oh Jehová; acuérdate de mí, y visítame, y véngame de mis enemigos. No me tomes en la prolongación de tu enojo: sabes que por amor de ti sufro afrenta.

16 Halláronse tus palabras, y yo las comí; y tu palabra me fué por gozo y por alegría de mi corazón: porque tu nombre se invocó sobre mí, oh Jehová Dios de los ejércitos.

17 No me senté en compañia de burladores, ni me engreí á causa de tu profecía; sentéme solo, porque me llenaste de desabrimiento.

18 ¿Por qué fué perpetuo mi dolor, y mi herida desahuciada no admitió cura? ¿Serás para mí como cosa ilusoria, como aguas que no son estables?

19 Por tanto así dijo Jehová: Si te convirtieres, yo te repondré, y delante de mí estarás; y si sacares lo precioso de lo vil, serás como mi boca. Conviértanse ellos á ti, y tú no te conviertas á ellos.

20 Y te daré para este pueblo por fuerte muro de bronce, y pelearán contra ti, y no te vencerán: porque yo estoy contigo para guardarte y para defenderte, dice Jehová.

21 Y librarte he de la mano de los malos, y te redimiré de la mano de los fuertes.

Jeremías 15 Commentary

Chapter 15

The destruction of the wicked described. (1-9) The prophet laments such messages, and is reproved. (10-14) He supplicates pardon, and is promised protection. (15-21)

Verses 1-9 The Lord declares that even Moses and Samuel must have pleaded in vain. The putting of this as a case, though they should stand before him, shows that they do not, and that saints in heaven do not pray for saints on earth. The Jews were condemned to different kinds of misery by the righteous judgment of God, and the remnant would be driven away, like the chaff, into captivity. Then was the populous city made desolate. Bad examples and misused authority often produce fatal effects, even after men are dead, or have repented of their crimes: this should make all greatly dread being the occasion of sin in others.

Verses 10-14 Jeremiah met with much contempt and reproach, when they ought to have blessed him, and God for him. It is a great and sufficient support to the people of God, that however troublesome their way may be, it shall be well with them in their latter end. God turns to the people. Shall the most hardy and vigorous of their efforts be able to contend with the counsel of God, or with the army of the Chaldeans? Let them hear their doom. The enemy will treat the prophet well. But the people who had great estates would be used hardly. All parts of the country had added to the national guilt; and let each take shame to itself.

Verses 15-21 It is matter of comfort that we have a God, to whose knowledge of all things we may appeal. Jeremiah pleads with God for mercy and relief against his enemies, persecutors, and slanderers. It will be a comfort to God's ministers, when men despise them, if they have the testimony of their own consciences. But he complains, that he found little pleasure in his work. Some good people lose much of the pleasantness of religion by the fretfulness and uneasiness of their natural temper, which they indulge. The Lord called the prophet to cease from his distrust, and to return to his work. If he attended thereto, he might be assured the Lord would deliver him from his enemies. Those who are with God, and faithful to him, he will deliver from trouble or carry through it. Many things appear frightful, which do not at all hurt a real believer in Christ.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 15

This chapter contains the Lord's answer to the prophet's prayers, in which he declares himself inexorable, and had resolved on the ruin of the Jewish nation for their sins; the prophet's complaint of the hardships he endured, notwithstanding his sincerity and integrity; and the Lord's promise of protection and deliverance, in case of his continuance in the faithful discharge of his office. The Lord denies the request of the prophet, by observing, that if even Moses and Samuel had been the intercessors for the people, he would not have regarded them, being determined upon casting them out, and sending them away captive, Jer 15:1, their punishment is declared, which was resolved on; some for death, or the pestilence; others for the sword; others for famine; and others for captivity; and others to be devoured by dogs, and fowls, and wild beasts, Jer 15:2,3, the cause of which were their sins, particularly their idolatry in the times of Manasseh, Jer 15:4, wherefore they should have no pity from men, nor would the Lord any more repent of the evil threatened, of which he was weary, because of their many backslidings, Jer 15:5,6, which destruction, being determined, is illustrated by a description of the instrument of it; by the multitude of widows, and the distress of mothers bereaved of their children, Jer 15:7-9 on which the prophet takes up a complaint of his being born for strife and contention, and of his being cursed by the people, though no usurer, Jer 15:10, when he is comforted with a promise of being used well by the enemy, both he and his remnant, Jer 15:11, but as for the people of the Jews in general, they would never be able to withstand the northern forces, the army of the Chaldeans; their riches and substance would be delivered into their hands, and their persons also be carried captive into a strange land, and the prophet along with them, because of their sins, and the wrath of God for them, Jer 15:12-14, upon which the prophet prays to the Lord, who knew him, that he would remember and visit him, and avenge him of his persecutors, and not take him away in his longsuffering; he urges, that he had suffered rebuke and reproach for his sake; that he was called by him to his office, which he had cheerfully entered on; he had his mission, commission, and message, from him, which he received with the greatest pleasure, signified by eating his words with joy; and that he had not associated himself with mockers and scoffers at religion and the word of God; and therefore expostulates why he should be put to so much pain, and be used as he was, Jer 15:15-18, wherefore the Lord promises that, upon condition of doing his work faithfully, he should be preserved, protected, and delivered, Jer 15:19-21.