Jeremías 15

1 Inevitable condenación de Judá
Luego el Señor
me dijo: «Aun si Moisés y Samuel se presentaran delante de mí para rogarme por este pueblo, no lo ayudaría. ¡Fuera con ellos! ¡Quítenlos de mi vista!

2 Y si te dijeren: “¿Pero adónde podemos ir?”, diles: “Esto dice el Señor
:
»‘Los que están destinados a la muerte, a la muerte;
los destinados a la guerra, a la guerra;
los destinados al hambre, al hambre;
los destinados al cautiverio, al cautiverio’”.

3 »Enviaré contra ellos cuatro clases de destructores —dice el Señor
—. Enviaré la espada para matar, los perros para arrastrar, los buitres para devorar y los animales salvajes para acabar con lo que haya quedado.

4 Debido a las cosas perversas que Manasés, hijo de Ezequías, rey de Judá, hizo en Jerusalén, haré a mi pueblo objeto de horror para todos los reinos de la tierra.

5 »¿Quién tendrá compasión de ti, Jerusalén?
¿Quién llorará por ti?
¿Quién se tomará la molestia de preguntar cómo estás?

6 Tú me has abandonado
y me has dado la espalda
—dice el Señor
—.
Por eso, levantaré mi puño para destruirte.
Estoy cansado de darte siempre otra oportunidad.

7 Te aventaré como el grano a las puertas de las ciudades
y te quitaré tus hijos que tanto quieres.
Destruiré a mi propio pueblo,
porque rehusó cambiar sus malos caminos.

8 Habrá más viudas
que granos de arena a la orilla del mar.
Traeré al destructor al mediodía
contra las madres de los jóvenes.
Súbitamente haré que caiga sobre ellas
la angustia y el terror.

9 La madre de siete hijos se debilita y lucha por respirar;
su sol se puso mientras todavía es de día.
Ahora queda sin hijos,
avergonzada y humillada.
A los que queden, los entregaré
para que sus enemigos los maten.
¡Yo, el Señor
, he hablado!».

10 Queja de Jeremías
Luego dije:
—¡Qué aflicción tengo, madre mía!
¡Oh, si hubiera muerto al nacer!
En todas partes me odian.
No soy un acreedor que pretende cobrar
ni un deudor que se niega a pagar;
aun así todos me maldicen.

11 El Señor
respondió:
—Yo cuidaré de ti, Jeremías;
tus enemigos te pedirán que ruegues a su favor
en tiempos de aflicción y angustia.

12 ¿Puede un hombre quebrar una barra de hierro que proviene del norte
o una barra de bronce?

13 Sin que a ellos les cueste nada,
entregaré tus riquezas y tesoros
a tus enemigos como botín,
porque el pecado corre desenfrenado en tu tierra.

14 Les diré a tus enemigos que te lleven
cautivo a una tierra extranjera.
Pues mi enojo arde como un fuego
que quemará para siempre.

15 Luego dije:
—S
, tú sabes lo que me sucede.
Por favor, ayúdame. ¡Castiga a mis perseguidores!
Por favor, dame más tiempo; no dejes que muera joven.
Es por tu causa que sufro.

16 Cuando descubrí tus palabras las devoré;
son mi gozo y la delicia de mi corazón,
porque yo llevo tu nombre,
oh Señor
Dios de los Ejércitos Celestiales.

17 Nunca me uní a la gente en sus alegres banquetes.
Me senté a solas porque tu mano estaba sobre mí
y me llené de indignación ante sus pecados.

18 ¿Por qué, entonces, continúa mi sufrimiento?
¿Por qué es incurable mi herida?
Tu ayuda parece tan incierta como el arroyo estacional,
como un manantial que se ha secado.

19 Esto responde el Señor
:
—Si regresas a mí te restauraré
para que puedas continuar sirviéndome.
Si hablas palabras beneficiosas en vez de palabras despreciables,
serás mi vocero.
Tienes que influir en ellos;
¡no dejes que ellos influyan en ti!

20 Pelearán contra ti como un ejército en ataque,
pero yo te haré tan seguro como una pared de bronce fortificada.
Ellos no te conquistarán,
porque estoy contigo para protegerte y rescatarte.
¡Yo, el Señor
, he hablado!

21 Sí, te mantendré a salvo de estos hombres malvados;
te rescataré de sus manos crueles.

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.