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<p>Jeremiah, having given great encouragement to those among the captives whom he knew to be serious and well-affected, assuring them that God had very kind and favourable intentions concerning them, here turns to those among them who slighted the counsels and comforts that Jeremiah ministered to them and depended upon what the false prophets flattered them with. When this letter came from Jeremiah they would be ready to say, “Why should he make himself so busy, and take upon him to advise us? <i>The Lord has raised us up prophets in Babylon</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Jer.29.15" href="/passage/?search=Jer.29.15">Jer. 29:15</a>. We are satisfied with those prophets, and can depend upon them, and have no occasion to hear from any prophets in Jerusalem.” See the impudent wickedness of this people; as the prophets, when they prophesied lies, said that they had them from God, so the people, when they invited those prophets thus to flatter them, fathered it upon God, and said that it was the Lord that raised them up those prophets. Whereas we may be sure that those who harden people in their sins, and deceive them with false and groundless hopes of God’s mercy, are no prophets of God’s raising up. These prophets of their own told them that no more should be carried captive, but that those who were in captivity should shortly return. Now, in answer to this, 1. The prophet here foretells the utter destruction of those who remained still at Jerusalem, notwithstanding what those false prophets said to the contrary: “As for the <i>king</i> and <i>people</i> that <i>dwell in the city</i>, who, you think, will be ready to bid you welcome when you return, you are deceived; they shall be followed with one judgment after another, <i>sword, famine</i>, and <i>pestilence</i>, which shall cut off multitudes; and the poor and miserable remains shall be <i>removed into all kingdoms of the earth</i>,” <a class="bibleref" title="Jer.29.16,Jer.29.18" href="/passage/?search=Jer.29.16,Jer.29.18"><span class="bibleref" title="Jer.29.16">Jer. 29:16</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Jer.29.18">18</span></a>. And thus God <i>will make them</i>, or rather deal with them accordingly, as the salt that has <i>lost its savour</i>, which, being good for nothing, is cast to the dunghill, and so are rotten figs. This refers to the vision and the prophecy upon it which we had <a class="bibleref" title="Jer.24.1-Jer.24.10" href="/passage/?search=Jer.24.1-Jer.24.10">Jer. 24:1-10</a> And the reason given for these proceedings against them is the same that has often been given and will justify God in the eternal ruin of impenitent sinners (<a class="bibleref" title="Jer.29.19" href="/passage/?search=Jer.29.19">Jer. 29:19</a>): <i>Because they have not hearkened to my words. I called, but they refused</i>. 2. He foretells the judgment of God upon the false prophets in Babylon, who deceived the people of God there. He calls upon all the children of the captivity, who boasted of them as prophets of God’s raising up (<a class="bibleref" title="Jer.29.20" href="/passage/?search=Jer.29.20">Jer. 29:20</a>): “Stand still, and hear the doom of the prophets you are so fond of.” The two prophets are named here, <i>Ahab</i> and <i>Zedekiah</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Jer.29.21" href="/passage/?search=Jer.29.21">Jer. 29:21</a>. Observe, (1.) The crimes charged upon them—impiety and immorality: They <i>prophesied lies in God’s name</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Jer.29.21" href="/passage/?search=Jer.29.21">Jer. 29:21</a>), and again (<a class="bibleref" title="Jer.29.23" href="/passage/?search=Jer.29.23">Jer. 29:23</a>), They have <i>spoken lying words in my name</i>. Lying was bad, lying to the people of God to delude them in 43d9 to a false hope was worse, but fathering their lies upon the God of truth was worst of all. And no marvel if those that had the face to do that could allow themselves in the gratification of those vile affections to which God, in a way of righteous judgment, <i>gave them up</i>. They have done <i>villainy in Isra
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