Jeremiah 12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 12:12

Verse 12 Jeremiah here proceeds farther — that no corner of the land would be exempt from the attacks of enemies. Desert is not put here for solitude not inhabited, but for high places; and as such places fbr the most part are fit for pastures, there is no doubt but that he means here secluded places. It is, however, sufficient for our present purpose to consider, that the desert; here is put in opposition to the level parts of the country. When, therefore, the enemies had rambled through the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 12:13

Verse 13 Most interpreters understand this of the prophets, that they had been disappointed, after having faithfully cultivated the field of God and sown good seed, that thorns only had sprung up, and briars only had grown: but this is a strained exposition. The Prophet, I doubt not, sets forth the curse of God, which the people were soon to experience. I indeed readily admit, that when he speaks of sowing and reaping, the expression is metaphorical; but I have no doubt but that the Jews are... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 12:14

Verse 14 The Prophet now begins to mitigate what might have beyond measure exasperated the minds of the people; and this he did, not so much for the sake of the people in general, as for the sake of the elect, a few of whom still remained. We have indeed seen that it was all over with the body of the people; for it had been said to Jeremiah, “Pray not for them, for I will not hear them,” (Jeremiah 11:14) The Prophet then knew the immutable purpose of God as to the mass of the people. Nor did... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 12:15

Verse 15 God does not only promise mercy here to the Jews, but also to heathen nations, of whom he would be the Judge, to punish them for the sake of his people. And that this passage is to be extended to aliens is evident from the context; for the Prophet immediately adds, “And it shall be, that when they shall learn the ways of my people, to swear in my name, Live does Jehovah, as they have taught my people to swear by Baal, then shall they be built in the midst of my people.” We hence see... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 12:16

Verse 16 We see that this refers to the Gentiles, who were previously aliens to the grace of God; nay, they entertained the most dire hatred towards his chosen people. In short, God declares that he would be merciful and propitious to these miserable nations, of whose salvation no hope was entertained, for they had been rejected by him, and they had oftell and long, and in various ways, provoked his vengeance; and though he speaks of neighbors, as we have seen, yet this prediction belongs... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 12:17

Verse 17 As he had shewn that there was a sure hope of salvation to his own people, when the Gentiles would embrace his mercy, so he now threatens the Gentiles with destruction in case they repented not; for he had promised to be merciful to the Gentiles conditionally, and said, — “If they learn the ways of my people, if they submit to my authority:” but now he says, if they will not hear, etc We hence see that God here threatens extreme vengeance to the Gentiles if they subjected not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:1

Painfully exercised by the mysteries of the Divine government, the prophet opens his grief to Jehovah. Righteous art thou, etc.; rather, Righteous wouldest thou be , O Jehovah , if I should plead with thee ; i.e. if I were to bring a charge against thee, I should be unable to convict thee of injustice (comp. Psalms 51:4 ; Job 9:2 ). The prophet, however, cannot refrain from laying before Jehovah a point which seems to him irreconcilable with the Divine righteousness. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:1

Perplexing questions. "Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper?" etc. Unquestionably they very often do. Some of the reasons are— I. THEY ARE MORE SHREWD . "The children of this generation are wiser than the children of light." They give more heed to the laws of success, are more alert to seize opportunities and to guard against those men and things which would work them harm. No amount of piety will compensate for inattention to the laws of success. II. THEY ARE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:1-2

The prosperity of the wicked. I. THE DIFFICULTY . The prosperity of the wicked was a difficulty of peculiar force to the Jews, since it seemed to contradict an item of their peculiar faith—the doctrine of temporal rewards and punishments. The difficulty is less to us Christians; but it is idle to deny its existence. It is threefold. 1. The success of wickedness . The treacherous plans of the wicked often succeed. Their violent actions are often unchecked and produce fatal... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:1-4

Moral difficulties with the providence of God. The tone of this address to Jehovah is strikingly contrasted with that to the men of Anathoth. To them he is as a lion or a brazen wall. To Jehovah he is as a fretful child, ignorant, willful, perverse, and requiring to be corrected. I. THE PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED A STUMBLING - BLOCK TO FAITH . ( Jeremiah 12:1 , Jeremiah 12:2 .) David even is envious over this, and many a saint has felt its bitterness in his soul.... read more

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