Jeremiah 3:21-25

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 3:22

Verse 22 God here exhorts the Israelites to repent, that by their example he might move the Jews. The benefit of what is here taught might indeed have reached to the miserable captives and exiles; but as Jeremiah was especially the teacher of his own nation, he labored chiefly no doubt for their advantage, as we have before stated. God then here declares, that he would be reconcilable to the Israelites, how grievously soever they had sinned, he afterwards introduces them as answering, Behold,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 3:23

Verse 23 And in the same sense is to be taken what follows, Surely, deceit is from the hills, and the multitude of mountains, or, from the multitude of mountains, as the letter מ is to be repeated. Here the Prophet more fully expresses the evidence of their repentance, as though he had said, “We have been deceived by the hills and the multitude of mountains; we thought that there would be more defense from a large number of gods than if we worshipped one God: this deception has led to ruin. Let... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 3:24

Verse 24 They confirm more fully the same complaint, — That God had by manifest proofs shewed the sins of the nation; for he had consumed their labor, that is, whatever they had acquired by labor. He also adds sheep and cattle, and then sons and daughters He does not indeed ascribe this consumption to God; but the mode of speaking is more emphatic, when he says, Shame has consumed the labor of our fathers from our childhood: for by shame he understands wickedness, of which they ought to have... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 3:25

Verse 25 As the Israelites say here nothing new, but continue the same subject, I propose only to touch briefly on the words, lest I should be too tedious. They say then that they were lying in their miseries; and why? because they had dealt wickedly with God We see that they are explaining what they had confessed, — even that the labor of their fathers had been consumed by their shame, that is, by their wickedness; and they ascribe to themselves what might have been put to the account of their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 3:1-25

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 3:21

Another of those rapid transitions so common in emotional writing like Jeremiah's. The prophet cannot bear to dwell upon the backsliding of his people. He knows the elements of good which still survive, and by faith sees them developed, through the teaching of God's good providence, into a fruitful repentance. How graphic is the description! On the very high places (or rather, bare , treeless heights or downs , as verse 2) where a licentious idolatry used to be practiced, a sound is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 3:21

A sincere repentance in an appropriate place. How came this voice to be heard on the high places—this weeping and this supplication? The answer seems to lie in Jeremiah 3:20 , where there is interposed a suggestion that Israel, because of its past defections, would fail to prove capable and worthy of that glorious future which has been just depicted. How then can Israel reply except by an abundant outflow of the signs of penitence? There is weeping; there is deprecation of any such... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 3:21-25

Typical penitence. It is difficult if not impossible to fix any historic date for the fulfillment of this prophecy. Not a few competent scholars maintain that it is yet unfulfilled. But in any case it is a picture of the future, and may be accepted as a description of the penitence that is well-pleasing in the sight of God. All through it is spiritual, and the national circumstances involved are put thoroughly into the background. I. THE UPSPRINGING OF GODLY SORROW FOR SIN... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 3:22

Return, ye backsliding children , etc.; more literally, Turn, ye turned-away sons ; I will heal your turnings (as Hosea 14:4 ). It seems strange at first sight that this verso does not stand before Jeremiah 3:21 . But the truth is that Jeremiah 3:21 describes not so much the "conversion" of the Jews as their willingness to "convert", or "turn" to God. Christ must touch, or at least make his presence felt, in order that the sick man may be healed; a special call of God must be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 3:22

Invitation and response. I. THE INVITATION . 1. The object of the invitation. God calls on his people to return to him. Not simple reformation of morals, but the restoration of personal relations with God as the Father of his people is desired. 2. The condition of the invited. They are apostate children; i . e . As sinners, men have all lost a first estate of innocence, but have not lost, and can never lose, their filial relationship to God. Hence 3. The... read more

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