As a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke; literally, as an untaught calf (comp. Hosea 10:11 ). Turn thou me, etc. Jeremiah has a peculiarly deep view of conversion. Isaiah ( Isaiah 1:16-20 ) simply calls upon his hearers to change their course of life; Jeremiah represents penitent Ephraim as beseeching God so to prepare him that he may indeed "turn." read more
Ephraim's return. I. THE MOST ABANDONED OF GOD 'S CHILDREN MAY RETURN TO HIM . Ephraim was unfaithful before Judah, and fell into greater wickedness. The northern tribes were punished for their sins by a scattering that destroyed forever their national existence as a separate kingdom. Yet even Ephraim is to return. No one of God's children—no one of the great human family, we of the New Testament revelation may say—is beyond God's love. God loved Ephraim as well as... read more
Our yokes. I. That which is hard and yoke-like is appointed for us all. II. The reason of this appointment is that thereby we may render service which otherwise we could not. III. That to refuse or resist this yoke will bring down the chastisements of God. IV. That until we are really turned to God by his grace we shall so resist. V. We do not cease from such folly without great pain. "I have.; heard Ephraim bemoaning himself." VI. In that pain is our hope.—C. read more
The ground of this hope, viz. that Ephraim will humble himself with deep contrition. read more
Bemoaning one's self. The very word suggests sorrow, weariness, distress. And all the more when the reason of such bemoaning is not something external to ourselves, as when Rachel wept for her children, but something in ourselves, when we are the cause of our own distress. I. INQUIRE WHEREFORE THIS BEMOANING . 1 . That he had called down upon himself the chastisements of God. 2 . That these chastisements had been of no avail. 3 . That now it was made evident there... read more
Ephraim bemoaning himself; or, the penitent's restoration. The exiled Israelites are represented as about to grieve over their apostasy, and to seek God in confession and prayer. The answer of God is full of mercy and encouragement. The Captivity is to be brought back, and the cities of Israel are to be again occupied. I. THE STAGES AND PROCESSES OF TRUE REPENTANCE . ( Jeremiah 31:18 , Jeremiah 31:19 .) 1 . Conviction and acknowledgment of sin. The unbroken... read more
After that I was turned, I repented; rather, after my turning away ( as Jeremiah 8:4 ), I have repented. It is a different kind of "turning" which is here meant, a turning away from God. I was instructed; literally, I was made to know; i.e. brought to my senses by punishment. I smote upon my thigh; rather, I have smitten, etc. Ephraim describes his present state of mind, and the symbols by which he translates it into act. Smiting upon the thigh was a sign of mourning (comp. ... read more
Conversion and repentance. I. BOTH THESE ARE TOLD OF HERE . Conversion is. It is spoken of as "being turned" and "instructed." Repentance is . It is spoken of plainly and again figuratively: "I smote upon my thigh" This is a common mode of expressing indignation and grief. II. AND REPENTANCE IS SAID TO COME AFTER CONVERSION . And this is ever so. Not that there is no repentance prior to conversion. There is, and a genuine one. The "bemoaning" spoken of... read more
The Divine speaker asks, as it were in surprise, whether Ephraim, who has so flagrantly sinned against him, can really be his dear (or, precious ) son , his pleasant child (literally, child of caressing, i.e. one caressed). The latter expression occurs in a remarkable passage of Isaiah ( Isaiah 5:7 ). Since I spake against him; rather, as often as I spake against him; i.e. as often as I pronounced sentence against Ephraim—such a sentence as is recorded in Isaiah 9:8-21 (where... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 31:15-22
From this glorious prospect Jeremiah's eye turns to the melancholy present. The land of Ephraim is orphaned and desolate. The prophet seems to hear Rachel weeping for her banished children, and comforts her with the assurance that they shall yet be restored. For Ephraim has come to repentance, and longs for reconciliation with his God, and God, who has overheard his soliloquy, relents, and comes to meet him with gracious promises. Then another voice is heard summoning Ephraim to prepare for... read more