Jeremiah 6

1 confortamini filii Beniamin in medio Hierusalem et in Thecua clangite bucina et super Bethaccharem levate vexillum quia malum visum est ab aquilone et contritio magna

2 speciosae et delicatae adsimilavi filiam Sion

3 ad eam venient pastores et greges eorum fixerunt in ea tentoria in circuitu pascet unusquisque eos qui sub manu sua sunt

4 sanctificate super eam bellum consurgite et ascendamus in meridie vae nobis quia declinavit dies quia longiores factae sunt umbrae vesperi

5 surgite et ascendamus in nocte et dissipemus domos eius

6 quia haec dicit Dominus exercituum caedite lignum eius et fundite circa Hierusalem aggerem haec est civitas visitationis omnis calumnia in medio eius

7 sicut frigidam facit cisterna aquam suam sic frigidam fecit malitiam suam iniquitas et vastitas audietur in ea coram me semper infirmitas et plaga

8 erudire Hierusalem ne forte recedat anima mea a te ne forte ponam te desertam terram inhabitabilem

9 haec dicit Dominus exercituum usque ad racemum colligent quasi in vinea reliquias Israhel converte manum tuam quasi vindemiator ad cartallum

10 cui loquar et quem contestabor ut audiant ecce incircumcisae aures eorum et audire non possunt ecce verbum Domini factum est eis in obprobrium et non suscipient illud

11 idcirco furore Domini plenus sum laboravi sustinens effunde super parvulum foris et super concilium iuvenum simul vir enim cum muliere capietur senex cum pleno dierum

12 et transibunt domus eorum ad alteros agri et uxores pariter quia extendam manum meam super habitantes terram dicit Dominus

13 a minore quippe usque ad maiorem omnes avaritiae student et a propheta usque ad sacerdotem cuncti faciunt dolum

14 et curabant contritionem filiae populi mei cum ignominia dicentes pax pax et non erat pax

15 confusi sunt quia abominationem fecerunt quin potius confusione non sunt confusi et erubescere nescierunt quam ob rem cadent inter ruentes in tempore visitationis suae corruent dicit Dominus

16 haec dicit Dominus state super vias et videte et interrogate de semitis antiquis quae sit via bona et ambulate in ea et invenietis refrigerium animabus vestris et dixerunt non ambulabimus

17 et constitui super vos speculatores audite vocem tubae et dixerunt non audiemus

18 ideo audite gentes et cognosce congregatio quanta ego faciam eis

19 audi terra ecce ego adducam mala super populum istum fructum cogitationum eius quia verba mea non audierunt et legem meam proiecerunt

20 ut quid mihi tus de Saba adfertis et calamum suave olentem de terra longinqua holocaustomata vestra non sunt accepta et victimae vestrae non placuerunt mihi

21 propterea haec dicit Dominus ecce ego dabo in populum istum ruinas et ruent in eis patres et filii simul vicinus et proximus et peribunt

22 haec dicit Dominus ecce populus venit de terra aquilonis et gens magna consurget a finibus terrae

23 sagittam et scutum arripiet crudelis est et non miserebitur vox eius quasi mare sonabit et super equos ascendent praeparati quasi vir ad proelium adversum te filia Sion

24 audivimus famam eius dissolutae sunt manus nostrae tribulatio adprehendit nos dolores ut parturientem

25 nolite exire ad agros et in via ne ambuletis quoniam gladius inimici pavor in circuitu

26 filia populi mei accingere cilicio et conspergere cinere luctum unigeniti fac tibi planctum amarum quia repente veniet vastator super nos

27 probatorem dedi te in populo meo robustum et scies et probabis viam eorum

28 omnes isti principes declinantum ambulantes fraudulenter aes et ferrum universi corrupti sunt

29 defecit sufflatorium in igne consumptum est plumbum frustra conflavit conflator malitiae enim eorum non sunt consumptae

30 argentum reprobum vocate eos quia Dominus proiecit illos

Jeremiah 6 Commentary

Chapter 6

The invasion of Judea. (1-8) The justice of God's proceedings. (9-17) All methods used to amend them had been without success. (18-30)

Verses 1-8 Whatever methods are used, it is vain to contend with God's judgments. The more we indulge in the pleasures of this life, the more we unfit ourselves for the troubles of this life. The Chaldean army shall break in upon the land of Judah, and in a little time devour all. The day is coming, when those careless and secure in sinful ways will be visited. It is folly to trifle when we have eternal salvation to work out, and the enemies of that salvation to fight against. But they were thus eager, not that they might fulfil God's counsels, but that they might fill their own treasures; yet God thereby served his own purposes. The corrupt heart of man, in its natural state, casts out evil thoughts, just as a fountain casts out her waters. It is always flowing, yet always full. The God of mercy is loth to depart even from a provoking people, and is earnest with them, that by repentance and reformation, they may prevent things from coming to extremity.

Verses 9-17 When the Lord arises to take vengeance, no sinners of any age or rank, or of either sex escape. They were set upon the world, and wholly carried away by the love of it. If we judge of this sin by God's word, we find multitudes in every station and rank given up to it. Those are to be reckoned our worst and most dangerous enemies, who flatter us in a sinful way. Oh that men would be wise for their souls! Ask for the old paths; the way of godliness and righteousness has always been the way God has owned and blessed. Ask for the old paths set forth by the written word of God. When you have found the good way, go on in it, you will find abundant recompence at your journey's end. But if men will not obey the voice of God and flee to his appointed Refuge, it will plainly appear at the day of judgment, that they are ruined because they reject God's word.

Verses 18-30 God rejects their outward services, as worthless to atone for their sins. Sacrifice and incense were to direct them to a Mediator; but when offered to purchase a license to go on in sin, they provoke God. The sins of God's professing people make them an easy prey to their enemies. They dare not show themselves. Saints may rejoice in hope of God's mercies, though they see them only in the promise: sinners must mourn for fear of God's judgments, though they see them only in the threatenings. They are the worst of revolters, and are all corrupters. Sinners soon become tempters. They are compared to ore supposed to have good metal in it, but which proves all dross. Nothing will prevail to part between them and their sins. Reprobate silver shall they be called, useless and worthless. When warnings, corrections, rebukes, and all means of grace, leave men unrenewed, they will be left, as rejected of God, to everlasting misery. Let us pray, then, that we may be refined by the Lord, as silver is refined.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 6

This chapter is of the same argument with the former; and contains two things in it, the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, and the causes of it, which are intermixedly handled in it; a lively description is made of the notice of the approach of the enemy by blowing of trumpets and firing of beacons, Jer 6:1, and of the siege of the city, by pitching tents around it, casting up a mount against it, and scaling its walls at noon and by night, Jer 6:2-6, and this destruction is illustrated by the simile of gleaning of grapes, Jer 6:9, and amplified by the universality of it, with respect to persons and things; it reaching to persons of every age, and in every state, as old men, young men, and children, husbands and wives, and to all sorts of possessions, houses and fields, Jer 6:11,12,21, a description is given of the instruments of it, the Chaldeans, Jer 6:22,23 and it is aggravated by the anxiety, distress, and sorrow, the Jews would be in on account of it, Jer 6:24-26, the causes of it are in general the great aboundings of sin and wickedness in the midst of them, illustrated by a fountain casting out its waters, Jer 6:6,7, in particular, their neglect and contempt of the word of the Lord, Jer 6:10, the sin of covetousness, which prevailed among all sorts of people, high and low, in civil or religious life, Jer 6:13, the unfaithfulness of the prophets to the people, declaring peace, when there was none, Jer 6:14, their impenitence and hardness, Jer 6:15, their disregard to all instructions and warnings, Jer 6:16,17, their rejection of the law, and the precepts of it, Jer 6:18,19, their hypocritical sacrifices, Jer 6:20, and the chapter is concluded with an address to the prophet, setting forth his character and office, and the end of it, Jer 6:27 and his testimony concerning the people, showing their obstinacy and stubbornness, illustrated by a simile of refining metal in a furnace without success, Jer 6:28-30.