Jeremiah 17:12

THE SALVATION OF GOD

"A glorious throne, set on high from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary. O Jehovah, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be put to shame. They that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken Jehovah, the fountain of living waters."

"A glorious throne ..." (Jeremiah 17:12). These verses are an expression of Jeremiah's trustful faith in Jehovah and of his confidence that God's justice will be vindicated by the overthrow of the wicked and the reward of the righteous. This mention of `the glorious throne' "Apostrophizes the Jewish temple as the seat of God's glory in Zion;" but in this context it is equivalent to God who is enthroned in glory."[19]

"They that depart ... shall be written in the earth ..." (Jeremiah 17:13). "Unlike those graven in the rock forever (Job 19:24), the names written in the earth shall quickly disappear."[20] This interpretation was given earlier by Payne Smith; but John Bright, quoting Dahood's work in 1959, suggests that, "Based upon Ugaritic evidence, `earth' indicates the underworld, with the meaning that, `those written in the earth are those listed for death.' "[21]

Several have quoted Origen's remark that, "All men are written somewhere, the saints in heaven, but sinners on earth." All men should so live that they may hope, at the last day, to find their names inscribed in "The Book of Life" (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; 21:27, etc.).