Jeremiah 23

1 vae pastoribus qui disperdunt et dilacerant gregem pascuae meae dicit Dominus

2 ideo haec dicit Dominus Deus Israhel ad pastores qui pascunt populum meum vos dispersistis gregem meum eiecistis eos et non visitastis eos ecce ego visitabo super vos malitiam studiorum vestrorum ait Dominus

3 et ego congregabo reliquias gregis mei de omnibus terris ad quas eiecero eos illuc et convertam eos ad rura sua et crescent et multiplicabuntur

4 et suscitabo super eos pastores et pascent eos non formidabunt ultra et non pavebunt et nullus quaeretur ex numero dicit Dominu

5 ecce dies veniunt ait Dominus et suscitabo David germen iustum et regnabit rex et sapiens erit et faciet iudicium et iustitiam in terra

6 in diebus illius salvabitur Iuda et Israhel habitabit confidenter et hoc est nomen quod vocabunt eum Dominus iustus noster

7 propter hoc ecce dies veniunt dicit Dominus et non dicent ultra vivit Dominus qui eduxit filios Israhel de terra Aegypti

8 sed vivit Dominus qui eduxit et adduxit semen domus Israhel de terra aquilonis et de cunctis terris ad quas eieceram eos illuc et habitabunt in terra sua

9 ad prophetas contritum est cor meum in medio mei contremuerunt omnia ossa mea factus sum quasi vir ebrius et quasi homo madidus a vino a facie Domini et a facie verborum sanctorum eius

10 quia adulteris repleta est terra quia a facie maledictionis luxit terra arefacta sunt arva deserti factus est cursus eorum malus et fortitudo eorum dissimilis

11 propheta namque et sacerdos polluti sunt et in domo mea inveni malum eorum ait Dominus

12 idcirco via eorum erit quasi lubricum in tenebris inpellentur enim et corruent in ea adferam enim super eos mala annum visitationis eorum ait Dominus

13 et in prophetis Samariae vidi fatuitatem prophetabant in Baal et decipiebant populum meum Israhel

14 et in prophetis Hierusalem vidi similitudinem adulterium et iter mendacii et confortaverunt manus pessimorum ut non converteretur unusquisque a malitia sua facti sunt mihi omnes Sodoma et habitatores eius quasi Gomorr

15 propterea haec dicit Dominus exercituum ad prophetas ecce ego cibabo eos absinthio et potabo eos felle a prophetis enim Hierusalem est egressa pollutio super omnem terram

16 haec dicit Dominus exercituum nolite audire verba prophetarum qui prophetant vobis et decipiunt vos visionem cordis sui loquuntur non de ore Domini

17 dicunt his qui blasphemant me locutus est Dominus pax erit vobis et omni qui ambulat in pravitate cordis sui dixerunt non veniet super vos malum

18 quis enim adfuit in consilio Domini et vidit et audivit sermonem eius quis consideravit verbum illius et audivit

19 ecce turbo dominicae indignationis egredietur et tempestas erumpens super caput impiorum venie

20 non revertetur furor Domini usque dum faciat et usque dum conpleat cogitationem cordis sui in novissimis diebus intellegetis consilium eius

21 non mittebam prophetas et ipsi currebant non loquebar ad eos et ipsi prophetaban

22 si stetissent in consilio meo et nota fecissent verba mea populo meo avertissem utique eos a via sua mala et a pessimis cogitationibus suis

23 putasne Deus e vicino ego sum dicit Dominus et non Deus de longe

24 si occultabitur vir in absconditis et ego non videbo eum dicit Dominus numquid non caelum et terram ego impleo ait Dominus

25 audivi quae dixerunt prophetae prophetantes in nomine meo mendacium atque dicentes somniavi somniavi

26 usquequo istud in corde est prophetarum vaticinantium mendacium et prophetantium seductiones cordis sui

27 qui volunt facere ut obliviscatur populus meus nominis mei propter somnia eorum quae narrant unusquisque ad proximum suum sicut obliti sunt patres eorum nominis mei propter Baal

28 propheta qui habet somnium narret somnium et qui habet sermonem meum loquatur sermonem meum vere quid paleis ad triticum dicit Dominus

29 numquid non verba mea sunt quasi ignis ait Dominus et quasi malleus conterens petram

30 propterea ecce ego ad prophetas ait Dominus qui furantur verba mea unusquisque a proximo suo

31 ecce ego ad prophetas ait Dominus qui adsumunt linguas suas et aiunt dicit Dominus

32 ecce ego ad prophetas somniantes mendacium ait Dominus qui narraverunt ea et seduxerunt populum meum in mendacio suo et in miraculis suis cum ego non misissem eos nec mandassem eis qui nihil profuerunt populo huic dicit Dominus

33 si igitur interrogaverit te populus iste vel propheta aut sacerdos dicens quod est onus Domini dices ad eos ut quid vobis onus proiciam quippe vos dicit Dominus

34 et prophetes et sacerdos et populus qui dicit onus Domini visitabo super virum illum et super domum eius

35 haec dicetis unusquisque ad proximum et ad fratrem suum quid respondit Dominus et quid locutus est Dominus

36 et onus Domini ultra non memorabitur quia onus erit unicuique sermo suus et pervertitis verba Dei viventis Domini exercituum Dei nostr

37 haec dices ad prophetam quid respondit tibi Dominus et quid locutus est Dominus

38 si autem onus Domini dixeritis propter hoc haec dicit Dominus quia dixistis sermonem istum onus Domini et misi ad vos dicens nolite dicere onus Domin

39 propterea ecce ego tollam vos portans et derelinquam vos et civitatem quam dedi vobis et patribus vestris a facie mea

40 et dabo vos in obprobrium sempiternum et in ignominiam aeternam quae numquam oblivione delebitur

Jeremiah 23 Commentary

Chapter 23

The restoration of the Jews to their own land. (1-8) The wickedness of the priests and prophets of Judah, The people exhorted not to listen to false promises. (9-22) The pretenders to inspiration threatened. (23-32) Also the scoffers at true prophecy. (33-40)

Verses 1-8 Woe be to those who are set to feed God's people, but take no concern to do them good! Here is a word of comfort to the neglected sheep. Though only a remnant of God's flock is left, he will find them out, and they shall be brought to their former habitations. Christ is spoken of as a branch from David's family. He is righteous himself, and through him all his people are made righteous. Christ shall break the usurped power of Satan. All the spiritual seed of believing Abraham and praying Jacob shall be protected, and shall be saved from the guilt and dominion of sin. In the days of Christ's government in the soul, the soul dwells at ease. He is here spoken of as "the Lord our Righteousness." He is so our Righteousness as no creature could be. His obedience unto death is the justifying righteousness of believers, and their title to heavenly happiness. And their sanctification, as the source of all their personal obedience is the effect of their union with him, and of the supply of this Spirit. By this name every true believer shall call him, and call upon him. We have nothing to plead but this, Christ has died, yea, rather is risen again; and we have taken him for our Lord. This righteousness which he has wrought out to the satisfaction of law and justice, becomes ours; being a free gift given to us, through the Spirit of God, who puts it upon us, clothes us with it, enables us to lay hold upon it, and claim an interest in it. "The Lord our Righteousness" is a sweet name to a convinced sinner; to one that has felt the guilt of sin in his conscience; seen his need of that righteousness, and the worth of it. This great salvation is far more glorious than all former deliverances of his church. May our souls be gathered to Him, and be found in him.

Verses 9-22 The false prophets of Samaria had deluded the Israelites into idolatries; yet the Lord considered the false prophets of Jerusalem as guilty of more horrible wickedness, by which the people were made bold in sin. These false teachers would be compelled to suffer the most bitter part of the Lord's indignation. They made themselves believe that there was no harm in sin, and practised accordingly; then they made others believe so. Those who are resolved to go on in evil ways, will justly be given up to believe strong delusions. But which of them had received any revelation of God, or understood any thing of his word? There was a time coming when they would reflect on their folly and unbelief with remorse. The teaching and example of the true prophets led men to repentance, faith, and righteousness. The false prophets led men to rest in forms and notions, and to be quiet in their sins. Let us take heed that we do not follow unrighteousness.

Verses 23-32 Men cannot be hidden from God's all-seeing eye. Will they never see what judgments they prepare for themselves? Let them consider what a vast difference there is between these prophecies and those delivered by the true prophets of the Lord. Let them not call their foolish dreams Divine oracles. The promises of peace these prophets make are no more to be compared to God's promises than chaff to wheat. The unhumbled heart of man is like a rock; if not melted by the word of God as a fire, it will be broken to pieces by it as a hammer. How can they be long safe, or at all easy, who have a God of almighty power against them? The word of God is no smooth, lulling, deceitful message. And by its faithfulness it may certainly be distinguished from false doctrines.

Verses 33-40 Those are miserable indeed who are forsaken and forgotten of God; and men's jesting at God's judgments will not baffle them. God had taken Israel to be a people near to him, but they shall now be cast out of his presence. It is a mark of great and daring impiety for men to jest with the words of God. Every idle and profane word will add to the sinner's burden in the day of judgment, when everlasting shame will be his portion.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 23

This chapter contains threatenings to the Jewish governors, and to their priests and prophets, on account of their manifold sins; intermixed with gracious promises to the Lord's people, and particularly with a famous promise of the Messiah. The pastors or governors of Israel are charged with scattering and driving away the Lord's flock, for which they are threatened, Jer 23:1,2; and a promise is made of the gathering of the remnant of them, and of setting up other shepherds over them, under whom they should increase, and be comfortable, Jer 23:3,4; particularly the Messiah is promised; as David's righteous Branch; as a prosperous and righteous King; as the author of righteousness to his people, under whom they should have salvation and safety, Jer 23:5,6; so that in comparison of this salvation, the deliverance out of Egypt should not be spoken of, Jer 23:7,8; and then follows a sad complaint of the priests and prophets; of their profaneness, their adultery, swearing, lying, hypocrisy, and deception of the people; for all which they are severely threatened, Jer 23:9-15; wherefore the people are exhorted not to hearken to them, promising them peace and safety; whereas, by attending to the word of God, it might easily be seen that a storm of wrath was gone forth, and was ready to break, and would fall upon the head of the wicked, to the executing of the thoughts and purposes of God's heart, Jer 23:16-20; and the Lord declares he had not sent these prophets, as might be known from their not turning the people from their evil ways, Jer 23:21,22; whose conduct and behaviour could not be hid from the sight of the Lord, nor their prophecies from his ears, which were no other than dreams, and the deceits of their own hearts; and there was as great a difference between them and the word of the Lord, as between chaff and wheat; seeing his word in his hand is of great virtue and efficacy, whereas there was none in theirs, Jer 23:23-29; wherefore the Lord declares himself to be against these prophets, for stealing his word from their neighbour; for making use of his name, when they were not sent by him; and for causing the people to err by their lies, Jer 23:30-32; and both people, priest, and prophet, are severely threatened for jeering and scoffing at the word of the Lord, calling it the burden of the Lord; which phrase they are forbid to use in a sneering way; and should they persist in it, they are told that God would forsake and forget them, and cast them out, and everlastingly punish them, Jer 23:39,40.