Jeremiah 12

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:1-4

The prophet puzzled by the prosperity of the wicked. I. How THIS PUZZLE ARISES . It arises from the presence of a number of facts together, the coexistence of which the prophet finds it impossible to explain. 1. There is his assurance as to the character of Jehovah . He speaks confidently as to the Divine righteousness. Observe how it is the thing that he starts with. All our doubts will get cleared up in the end, however long the process may be, if only we start with the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:1-5

The prophet's complaint. The writings of the prophets are often as much historic as they are prophetic; historic of personal as well as national experiences, of inward thoughts and emotions as of outward incidents. In tracing the current of events, the writers disclose the workings of their own spirits, and in expounding and vindicating God's ways with Israel or with other nations, they indicate the method of his dealings with themselves. This was singularly true of Jeremiah, and we have... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:2

Far from their reins ; i.e. from their heart (the seat of strong impulses and desires); comp. Psalms 16:7 ; Psalms 26:2 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:2

(last clause) God near to the mouth but far from the life. I. IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE THE NAME OF GOD ON OUR LIPS WHILE THE THOUGHT OF GOD IS ABSENT FROM OUR MINDS . This is the case with mere formal worshippers, who use the language of devotion without realizing to themselves its meaning. The danger of it besets us all. Words come to be handled like coins, without any distinct recognition of what they represent. This applies especially to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:3

Hast seen me, and tried ; rather, seest me , and triest . Pull them out. Perhaps this is correct, and there is an allusion to the figure of the plant in Jeremiah 12:2 . But the verb need mean no more than "separate" (comp. Jeremiah 6:29 ). Prepare them ; literally, consecrate them , as victims for the sacrifice. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:3

Imprecatory prayers. "Pull them out like sheep," etc. There are many of these. Some of them, like this one, are very terrible (cf. Psalms 109:1-31 .; Psalms 137:9 , etc.). How are they to be understood? how justified? Of what use are they to us now? Questions like these cannot but be started in reading such prayers. The difficulty of them has been felt by almost every Christian and even humane reader. To get rid of such difficulty— I. SOME HAVE SPIRITUALIZED THEM . The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:4

How long , etc.? The verse is decided rather differently by the Hebrew accents. The question should end at wither , and the following words run on. Every field should be the whole field ( i.e. open country). The connection has caused some difficulty. But drought is constantly described as a judgment ( Jeremiah 3:3 ; Jeremiah 5:24 , Jeremiah 5:25 ; Jeremiah 14:2-7 ; Jeremiah 23:10 ), and it is a prophetic doctrine that the lower animals suffer for the fault of man. Because... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:5

Jeremiah's impatience corrected. The expressions are evidently proverbial. The opposition to the prophet will reach a still higher pitch; and if he is so soon discouraged, how will he bear his impending trials? And if in the land of peace , etc.? a second figure, the translation of which needs amending. If ( only ) in a land of peace thou art confident , how wilt thou do in the pride of Jordan? The "pride of Jordan" means the thickets on its banks, which were notorious as the haunts... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:5

A dark prospect. If Jeremiah was ready to despair when he discovered the conspiracy of the men of Anathoth, how would he bear the news of the treachery of his own brethren? His condition under the lesser trouble made the prospect of greater trouble most alarming. The Divine admonition which such a situation showed him to need may be of value to others who may be repeating the experience of the prophet. I. DESPAIR UNDER LESSER TROUBLE MAKES THE ANTICIPATION OF GREATER ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:5

Failure in little things. "If thou hast run with the footmen," etc.? The prophet of God was weary hearted. Like Job, like the writer of the thirty-seventh psalm, like John the Baptist, he was sore perplexed at God's dealings. The wicked prospered, the righteous were cast down. Hence he sadly asks, "Wherefore doth," etc.? (Verse 1). Now, God answers such questionings as these in different ways. Sometimes by showing his servant the true state of the ungodly, making him" to understand their... read more

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