Jeremiah 12

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:9

The speckled bird. A great preacher relates the following incident:—He says, "I had during my early ministry to preach one evening at a neighboring village, to which I had to walk. After reading and meditating all day, I could not meet with the right text. Do what I would, no response came from the sacred oracle, no light flashed from the Urim and Thummim. I prayed, I meditated, I turned from one verse to another; but the mind would not take hold, or I was, as John Bunyan would say, ' much... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:10

Another simpler and more natural image, expressing the same idea, as these in Jeremiah 12:9 . The favorite way of representing Jehovah's relation to his people is that of a vine-proprietor to his vineyard (see on Jeremiah 2:21 ). How would a vineyard be ruined if a band of shepherds were to drive their flocks among the tender vine-shoots! The many pastors (or, shepherds ) are clearly Nebuchadnezzar and his generals (comp. Jeremiah 6:3 ). My pleasant portion . Jehovah is the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:10

Shepherds where they ought not to be. The words of this verse suggest a degradation of the vineyard, which may have been accomplished in one of two ways. The prophet may have been indicating the miseries of his country by a scene from real life, a literal spoiling of a vineyard by the literal flocks of careless or unscrupulous shepherds. Either a vineyard becomes neglected by its owner, and so lays itself open to the inroads of a roaming flock, or the shepherd comes, and, regardless of all... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:11

Layeth it to heart ; rather, laid it to heart. Inconsiderateness is repeatedly spoken of as an aggravation of the moral sickness of Israel ( Isaiah 42:25 ; Isaiah 57:1 , Isaiah 57:11 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:12

Upon an high places thresh the wilderness ; rather, upon all bare heights in the wilderness (see on Jeremiah 3:2 ). Hardly with a reference to their pollution by idolatry; the mention of "the wilderness" (or pasture-country) suggests that it is merely a feature in the impoverishment of the country (a contrast to Isaiah 49:9 ). The sword of the Lord shall devour ; rather, the Lord hath a sword which devoureth . It is the heavenly sword ( Isaiah 34:5 ), the symbol of Divine... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:13

A description in proverbial language of the absence of "peace" (literally, soundness , i.e. prosperity, security), from which "all flesh" in Judah at this time shall suffer. The trouble of sowing has been in vain, for they have reaped thorns ( so we must render grammatically, and not shall reap , and in the next clause shall not profit ought to be have not profited ). And they shall be ashamed of your revenues ; rather, be ashamed then of your produce ; but it is more... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:13

Profitless labor. I. PUNISHMENT WILL CONSIST IN PART IN THE PROFITLESSNESS OF LABOR . This will perhaps be the special punishment of industrious bad people. To them it will be peculiarly painful, for in proportion to the zest and earnestness with which any work is carried on will be the bitterness of disappointment when this is seen to fail Thus the victorious general is punished by being robbed of his conquests, the statesman by having his political schemes... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:13

Sowing wheat and reaping thorns. It is true that "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." It is also true that "men cannot gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles." And at the same time it is emphatically true that men may sow wheat and yet reap thorns. The contradiction is only on the surface; it suggests inquiry, and the further the inquiry is continued, the more it is seen what serious truth is contained in the prophet's statement. Consider, then, the statement in two... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:14

Here occurs a transition. The prophet comes forward with a denunciation in the name of Jehovah. All mine evil neighbors ; the hostile, peoples, mentioned, in 2 Kings 24:1-20 . My neighbors, because Jehovah "dwelleth in Zion." Pluck them out of their land ; viz. by deportation into a foreign land. Judah and the neighboring nations shall share the same fate. This is indicated by the use of the same verb "to pluck out" in the next clause with reference to Judah. In the ease of Judah,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:14-17

General punishment and general restoration. I. PUNISHMENT IS GENERAL . It is not selective, it is impartially administered. 1. The people of God do not escape . If the Christian falls into sin, the Law of God must be vindicated on him at least as rigorously as on the worldly man, Judah had shared the sins of her neighbors; she must also share their punishment. If sin is general, so must be its penalties. No religious position which does not secure us against wickedness... read more

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