A revolting and a rebellious heart . The heart is the center of the moral life virtually equivalent to "the will;" it. is "revolting" when it "turns back " (so literally here) from God's Law and service, and "rebellious" when it actively defies and opposes him. read more
That giveth rain, etc. The second appeal is to the regularity of the rains. Dr. Robinson remarks that there are not at the present day in Palestine "any particular periods of rain, or succession of showers, which might be regarded as distinct rainy seasons," and that …unless there has been some change m the climate of Palestine, the former and the latter rains seem to correspond to "the first showers of autumn, which revived the parched and thirsty earth and prepared it for the seed, and the... read more
The silken fetter. In Jeremiah 5:22 the prophet has spoken of the soft, unstable sand holding in and beating back the mighty surgings of the sea; but here he tells of what would seem a still more unlikely thing, that the goodness of God should lead men to fear him. He selects that prominent proof of God's goodness, the giving of the rains and the harvest, as a type of all, and he takes for granted that men ought to have found in this goodness of God an argument for his fear. Now we... read more
God's gifts of the rains and the harvest. "The Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us," etc. To a country so liable to drought as Palestine, the regular, periodic rainfall was of the utmost importance. If they had not the former rain—that which came first after seed-time—the seed would not germinate in the soil; and if, when near the harvest, the rain did not come again, there would be no full corn in the ear: it would not... read more
Against the God(1) of Creation Jeremiah 5:22, and(2) of Providence Jeremiah 5:24,They sin, not merely by apostasy, but by a general immorality extending to all classes Jeremiah 5:25-28. It is in this immorality that their idolatry has its root.Jeremiah 5:22The sea is the symbol of restless and indomitable energy, chafing against all resistance, and dashing to pieces the works whereby man endeavors to restrain its fury. Yet God has imposed upon it laws which it must obey, and keeps it in its... read more
Jeremiah 5:22-24. Fear ye not me? saith the Lord He ascribes their stupidity and foolishness to their want of the fear of God. As if he had said, If you would but call to mind God’s almighty power, and your own weakness, and keep an awe of him upon your minds, you would be more observant of his commands, and be afraid to disobey them. Which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea Who need not place rocks or walls to keep it in; but can give an effectual check to it by a little... read more
A corrupt society (5:20-31)The people of Judah do not fear God for his mighty power (20-21), nor do they give him thanks for the benefits he gives them through nature (22-24). They think they can go their own way regardless of God, but in so doing they miss out on his blessings (25).By cruelty, cunning and bribery, the wealthy increase their power, but the poor cannot obtain justice in even the smallest affairs. Administrators and judges alike are corrupt (26-28). God sees all this, and will... read more
That giveth rain. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 11:14 ). both = even. Some codices omit this word. the appointed . . . harvest. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 8:22 ). read more
Jeremiah 5:24. Let us now fear the Lord— The vicissitudes of seasons, of cold and heat, of drought and moisture, so wisely fitted for the growth of the fruits of the earth, and other uses of human life, are so remarkable a proof of the being of a God, and his providence, as to be obvious to the meanest capacity; and on this account they are frequently insisted on by the inspired writers. The prophet seems here to have had an eye to the sanction of the law, Leviticus 26:4. The former rain fell... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 5:22-24
Man rebuked by nature. Man considers himself to be " the lord of creation." He alone of all creatures is made in the image of God. Yet there are things in nature which should put him to shame. Jeremiah indicates two of these. I. THE DIVINE ORDER OF NATURE REBUKES THE WILFUL DISOBEDIENCE OF MAN . 1. Nature is ever obedient to the law of God . 2. Man alone is disobedient to the Law of God . He is the great exception to the order of the universe. The... read more