Jeremiah 14:17-22 - Homilies By S. Conway

The distracting power of great distress.

The prophet seems blinded by his tears. The distress portrayed here is terrible indeed, and the prophet so realized it that his mind appears to have reeled beneath his apprehensions of the coming calamities. Hence he falls into utterances which can only be regarded, however pardonable and comprehensible under his piteous circumstances (cf. Jeremiah 14:18 ), as exaggerated, and in many respects, as all such utterances are, incorrect. Every sentence in Jeremiah 14:19 , etc; is open to grave question. It would be dreadful if they were not. Note-

I. THE PROPHET 'S EXPOSTULATIONS , ( Jeremiah 14:19 .) Now, God did not "utterly reject Judah," nor did "his soul loathe Zion." It was his love for his people that determined him at all costs to purge them from their evil.

II. HIS COMPLAINTS . ( Jeremiah 14:19 .) He complains that they had been disappointed and implies that God was the cause why their expectations had failed. They had no right to look for peace, being what they were.

III. HIS CONFESSIONS . Nothing could be more appropriate or more sure to gain the mercy of God than such confession as this, if it were indeed sincere and general on the part of those who had sinned. But this it was not; it was because they would not repent, would not return unto the Lord, that therefore his wrath arose against them until there was no remedy.

IV. HIS ENTREATIES . ( Jeremiah 14:21 .) God never "abhorred" his people but only their sins; and that God should be thought to "disgrace" the throne of his glory can only be explained on the grounds we have stated. Nor either is it God's way to " break his covenant."

V. HIS PLEAS . ( Jeremiah 14:22 .) Here the prophet pleads truly. There was no hope in any heathen deity, but in God alone. And had the people indeed "waited" upon God, matters had gone more happily with them. But this was just what they did not do. Now, concerning all such utterances as these:

1. Bear with them . God did so. He rebuked not his servant, though that servant had spoken unadvisedly concerning him.

2. Be very slow to believe them . Cf. Naomi, and her false forebodings of fear. How ill she thought God would deal with her! How gracious, in fact, that dealing was I And St. Paul assures us that " God hath not cast off his people." "All Israel shall be saved." Let us wait on and wait for God.

3. Be ashamed if by our sin we have caused such distress . Jeremiah had not sinned, but he mourns as if the sin were his own. Beholding the sorrow our sin causes to those who love us will, if we be not utterly hardened, arouse shame, sorrow, and contrition in our own hearts. 4. If those who know most of the mind of God tremble for us, have we not reason to tremble for ourselves?—C.