Jeremiah 14

1 quod factum est verbum Domini ad Hieremiam de sermonibus siccitatis

2 luxit Iudaea et portae eius corruerunt et obscuratae sunt in terra et clamor Hierusalem ascendit

3 maiores miserunt minores suos ad aquam venerunt ad hauriendum non invenerunt aquam reportaverunt vasa sua vacua confusi sunt et adflicti et operuerunt capita sua

4 propter terrae vastitatem quia non venit pluvia in terra confusi sunt agricolae operuerunt capita sua

5 nam et cerva in agro peperit et reliquit quia non erat herba

6 et onagri steterunt in rupibus traxerunt ventum quasi dracones defecerunt oculi eorum quia non erat herba

7 si iniquitates nostrae responderunt nobis Domine fac propter nomen tuum quoniam multae sunt aversiones nostrae tibi peccavimus

8 expectatio Israhel salvator eius in tempore tribulationis quare quasi colonus futurus es in terra et quasi viator declinans ad manendum

9 quare futurus es velut vir vagus ut fortis qui non potest salvare tu autem in nobis es Domine et nomen tuum super nos invocatum est ne derelinquas nos

10 haec dicit Dominus populo huic qui dilexit movere pedes suos et non quievit et Domino non placuit nunc recordabitur iniquitatum eorum et visitabit peccata eorum

11 et dixit Dominus ad me noli orare pro populo isto in bonum

12 cum ieiunaverint non exaudiam preces eorum et si obtulerint holocaustomata et victimas non suscipiam ea quoniam gladio et fame et peste ego consumam eos

13 et dixi a a a Domine Deus prophetae dicunt eis non videbitis gladium et famis non erit in vobis sed pacem veram dabit vobis in loco isto

14 et dixit Dominus ad me falso prophetae vaticinantur in nomine meo non misi eos et non praecepi eis neque locutus sum ad eos visionem mendacem et divinationem et fraudulentiam et seductionem cordis sui prophetant vobis

15 ideo haec dicit Dominus de prophetis qui prophetant in nomine meo quos ego non misi dicentes gladius et famis non erit in terra hac in gladio et fame consumentur prophetae illi

16 et populi quibus prophetant erunt proiecti in viis Hierusalem prae fame et gladio et non erit qui sepeliat eos ipsi et uxores eorum filii et filiae eorum et effundam super eos malum suum

17 et dices ad eos verbum istud deducant oculi mei lacrimam per noctem et diem et non taceant quoniam contritione magna contrita est virgo filia populi mei plaga pessima vehementer

18 si egressus fuero ad agros ecce occisi gladio et si introiero in civitatem ecce adtenuati fame propheta quoque et sacerdos abierunt in terram quam ignorabant

19 numquid proiciens abiecisti Iudam aut Sion abominata est anima tua quare ergo percussisti nos ita ut nulla sit sanitas expectavimus pacem et non est bonum et tempus curationis et ecce turbatio

20 cognovimus Domine impietates nostras iniquitatem patrum nostrorum quia peccavimus tibi

21 ne nos des in obprobrium propter nomen tuum neque facias nobis contumeliam solii gloriae tuae recordare ne irritum facias foedus tuum nobiscum

22 numquid sunt in sculptilibus gentium qui pluant aut caeli possunt dare imbres nonne tu es Domine Deus noster quem expectavimus tu enim fecisti omnia haec

Jeremiah 14 Commentary

Chapter 14

A drought upon the land of Judah. (1-7) A confession of sin in the name of the people. (8-9) The Divine purpose to punish is declared. (10-16) The people supplicate. (17-22)

Verses 1-9 The people were in tears. But it was rather the cry of their trouble, and of their sin, than of their prayer. Let us be thankful for the mercy of water, that we may not be taught to value it by feeling the want of it. See what dependence husbandmen have upon the Divine providence. They cannot plough nor sow in hope, unless God water their furrows. The case even of the wild beasts was very pitiable. The people are not forward to pray, but the prophet prays for them. Sin is humbly confessed. Our sins not only accuse us, but answer against us. Our best pleas in prayer are those fetched from the glory of God's own name. We should dread God's departure, more than the removal of our creature-comforts. He has given Israel his word to hope in. It becomes us in prayer to show ourselves more concerned for God's glory than for our own comfort. And if we now return to the Lord, he will save us to the glory of his grace.

Verses 10-16 The Lord calls the Jews "this people," not "his people." They had forsaken his service, therefore he would punish them according to their sins. He forbade Jeremiah to plead for them. The false prophets were the most criminal. The Lord pronounces condemnation on them; but as the people loved to have it so, they were not to escape judgments. False teachers encourage men to expect peace and salvation, without repentance, faith, conversion, and holiness of life. But those who believe a lie must not plead if for an excuse. They shall feel what they say they will not fear.

Verses 17-22 Jeremiah acknowledged his own sins, and those of the people, but pleaded with the Lord to remember his covenant. In their distress none of the idols of the Gentiles could help them, nor could the heavens give rain of themselves. The Lord will always have a people to plead with him at his mercy-seat. He will heal every truly repenting sinner. Should he not see fit to hear our prayers on behalf of our guilty land, he will certainly bless with salvation all who confess their sins and seek his mercy.

Chapter Summary

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.