mh_parser/vol_split/24 - Jeremiah/Chapter 29.xml

<div2 id="Jer.xxx" n="xxx" next="Jer.xxxi" prev="Jer.xxix" progress="39.23%" title="Chapter XXIX">
<h2 id="Jer.xxx-p0.1">J E R E M I A H.</h2>
<h3 id="Jer.xxx-p0.2">CHAP. XXIX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Jer.xxx-p1" shownumber="no">The contest between Jeremiah and the false
prophets was carried on before by preaching, here by writing; there
we had sermon against sermon, here we have letter against letter,
for some of the false prophets are now carried away into captivity
in Babylon, while Jeremiah remains in his own country. Now here is,
I. A letter which Jeremiah wrote to the captives in Babylon,
against their prophets that they had there (<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.1-Jer.29.3" parsed="|Jer|29|1|29|3" passage="Jer 29:1-3">ver. 1-3</scripRef>), in which letter, 1. He
endeavours to reconcile them to their captivity, to be easy under
it and to make the best of it, <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.4-Jer.29.7" parsed="|Jer|29|4|29|7" passage="Jer 29:4-7">ver.
4-7</scripRef>. 2. He cautions them not to give any credit to their
false prophets, who fed them with hopes of a speedy release,
<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.8-Jer.29.9" parsed="|Jer|29|8|29|9" passage="Jer 29:8,9">ver. 8, 9</scripRef>. 3. He assures
them that God would restore them in mercy to their own land again,
at the end of 70 years, <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.10-Jer.29.14" parsed="|Jer|29|10|29|14" passage="Jer 29:10-14">ver.
10-14</scripRef>. 4. He foretels the destruction of those who yet
continued, and that they should be persecuted with one judgment
after another, and sent at last into captivity, <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.15-Jer.29.19" parsed="|Jer|29|15|29|19" passage="Jer 29:15-19">ver. 15-19</scripRef>. 5. He prophesies the
destruction of two of their false prophets that they had in
Babylon, that both soothed them up in their sins and set them bad
examples (<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.20-Jer.29.23" parsed="|Jer|29|20|29|23" passage="Jer 29:20-23">ver. 20-23</scripRef>),
and this is the purport of Jeremiah's letter. II. Here is a letter
which Shemaiah, a false prophet in Babylon, wrote to the priests at
Jerusalem, to stir them up to persecute Jeremiah (<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.24-Jer.29.29" parsed="|Jer|29|24|29|29" passage="Jer 29:24-29">ver. 24-29</scripRef>), and a denunciation
of God's wrath against him for writing such a letter, <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.30-Jer.29.32" parsed="|Jer|29|30|29|32" passage="Jer 29:30-32">ver. 30-32</scripRef>. Such struggles as
these have there always been between the seed of the woman and the
seed of the serpent.</p>
<scripCom id="Jer.xxx-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29" parsed="|Jer|29|0|0|0" passage="Jer 29" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Jer.xxx-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.1-Jer.29.7" parsed="|Jer|29|1|29|7" passage="Jer 29:1-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Jer.xxx-p1.11">
<h4 id="Jer.xxx-p1.12">Advice to the Captives in
Babylon. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p1.13">b. c.</span> 596.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jer.xxx-p2" shownumber="no">1 Now these <i>are</i> the words of the letter
that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of
the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests,
and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had
carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon;   2 (After
that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes
of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were
departed from Jerusalem;)   3 By the hand of Elasah the son of
Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of
Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying,
  4 Thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p2.1">Lord</span> of
hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives,
whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;
  5 Build ye houses, and dwell <i>in them;</i> and plant
gardens, and eat the fruit of them;   6 Take ye wives, and
beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give
your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters;
that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.   7 And
seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried
away captives, and pray unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p2.2">Lord</span> for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye
have peace.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxx-p3" shownumber="no">We are here told,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxx-p4" shownumber="no">I. That Jeremiah wrote to the captives in
Babylon, in the name of the Lord. Jeconiah had surrendered himself
a prisoner, with the queen his mother, the chamberlains of his
household, called here the <i>eunuchs,</i> and many of <i>the
princes of Judah and Jerusalem,</i> who were at that time the most
active men; <i>the carpenters and smiths</i> likewise, being
demanded, were yielded up, that those who remained might not have
any proper hands to fortify their city or furnish themselves with
weapons of war. By this tame submission it was hoped that
Nebuchadnezzar would be pacified. <i>Satis est prostrasse leoni—It
suffices the lion to have laid his antagonist prostrate;</i> but
the imperious conqueror grows upon their concessions, like Benhadad
upon Ahab's, <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.5-1Kgs.20.6" parsed="|1Kgs|20|5|20|6" passage="1Ki 20:5,6">1 Kings xx. 5,
6</scripRef>. And, not content with this, when these had
<i>departed from Jerusalem</i> he comes again, and fetches away
many more of <i>the elders, the priests, the prophets, and the
people</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.1" parsed="|Jer|29|1|0|0" passage="Jer 29:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>),
such as he thought fit, or such as his soldiers could lay hands on,
and carries them to Babylon. The case of these captives was very
melancholy, the rather because they, being thus distinguished from
the rest of their brethren who continued in their own land, looked
as if they were greater sinners than all men who dwelt at
Jerusalem. Jeremiah therefore writes a letter to them, to comfort
them, assuring them that they had no reason either to despair of
succour themselves or to envy their brethren that were left behind.
Note, 1. The word of God written is as truly given by
<i>inspiration of God</i> as his word spoken was; and this was the
proper way of spreading the knowledge of God's will among his
<i>children scattered abroad.</i> 2. We may serve God and do good
by writing to our friends at a distance pious letters of seasonable
comforts and wholesome counsels. Those whom we cannot speak to we
may write to; that which is written remains. This letter of
Jeremiah's was sent to the captives in Babylon by the hands of the
ambassadors whom king Zedekiah sent to Nebuchadnezzar, probably to
pay him his tribute and renew his submission to him, or to treat of
peace with him, in which treaty the captives might perhaps hope
that they should be included, <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.3" parsed="|Jer|29|3|0|0" passage="Jer 29:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. By such messengers Jeremiah
chose to send this message, to put an honour upon it, because it
was a message from God, or perhaps because there was no settled way
of sending letters to Babylon, but as such an occasion as this
offered, and then it made the condition of the captives there the
more melancholy, that they could rarely hear from their friends and
relations they had left behind, which is some reviving and
satisfaction to those that are separated from one another.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxx-p5" shownumber="no">II. We are here told what he wrote. A copy
of the letter at large follows here to <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.24" parsed="|Jer|29|24|0|0" passage="Jer 29:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>. In these verses,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxx-p6" shownumber="no">1. He assures them that he wrote in the
name of the <i>Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,</i> who indited
the letter; Jeremiah was but the scribe or amanuensis. It would be
comfortable to them, in their captivity, to hear that God is <i>the
Lord of hosts,</i> of all hosts, and is therefore able to help and
deliver them; and that he is the <i>God of Israel</i> still, a God
in covenant with his people, though he contend with them, and their
enemies for the present are too hard for them. This would likewise
be an admonition to them to stand upon their guard against all
temptations to the idolatry of Babylon, because the <i>God of
Israel,</i> the God whom they served, is <i>Lord of hosts.</i>
God's sending to them in this letter might be an encouragement to
them in their captivity, as it was an evidence that he had not cast
them off, had not abandoned them and disinherited them, though he
was displeased with them and corrected them; for, if the Lord had
been pleased to kill them, he would not have written to them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxx-p7" shownumber="no">2. God by him owns the hand he had in their
captivity: <i>I have caused you to be carried away,</i> <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.4" parsed="|Jer|29|4|0|0" passage="Jer 29:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef> and again, <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.7" parsed="|Jer|29|7|0|0" passage="Jer 29:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. All the force of the
king of Babylon could not have done it if God had not ordered it;
nor could he have any power against them but what was given him
from above. If God caused them to be carried captives, they might
be sure that he neither did them any wrong nor meant them any hurt.
Note, It will help very much to reconcile us to our troubles, and
to make us patient under them, to consider that they are what God
has appointed us to. <i>I opened not my mouth, because thou didst
it.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxx-p8" shownumber="no">3. He bids them think of nothing but
settling there; and therefore let them resolve to make the best of
it (<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.5-Jer.29.6" parsed="|Jer|29|5|29|6" passage="Jer 29:5,6"><i>v.</i> 5, 6</scripRef>):
<i>Build yourselves houses and dwell in them,</i> &amp;c. By all
this it is intimated to them, (1.) That they must not feed
themselves with hopes of a speedy return out of their captivity,
for that would keep them still unsettled and consequently uneasy;
they would apply themselves to no business, take no comfort, but be
always tiring themselves and provoking their conquerors with the
expectations of relief; and their disappointment at last would sink
them into despair and make their condition much more miserable than
otherwise it would be. Let them therefore reckon upon a continuance
there, and accommodate themselves to it as well as they can. Let
them <i>build,</i> and <i>plant,</i> and <i>marry,</i> and dispose
of their children there as if they were at home in their own land.
Let them take a pleasure in seeing their families built up and
multiplied; for, though they must expect themselves to die in
captivity, yet their children may live to see better days. If they
live in the fear of God, what should hinder them but they may live
comfortably in Babylon? They cannot but <i>weep</i> sometimes
<i>when they remember Zion.</i> But let not weeping hinder sowing;
let them not <i>sorrow as those that have no hope,</i> no joy; for
they have both. Note, In all conditions of life it is our wisdom
and duty to make the best of that which is, and not to throw away
the comfort of what we may have because we have not all we would
have. We have a natural affection for our native country; it
strangely draws our minds; but it is with a <i>nescio qua
dulcedine—we can give no good account of the sweet attraction;</i>
and therefore, if providence remove us to some other country, we
must resolve to live easy there, to bring our mind to our condition
when our condition is not in every thing to our mind. If the
<i>earth be the Lord's,</i> then, wherever a child of God goes, he
does not go off his Father's ground. <i>Patria est ubicunque bene
est—That place is our country in which we are well off.</i> If
things be not as they have been, instead of fretting at that, we
must live in hopes that they will be better than they are. <i>Non
si male nunc, et olim sic erit—Though we suffer now we shall not
always.</i> (2.) That they must not disquiet themselves with fears
of intolerable hardships in their captivity. They might be ready to
suggest (as persons in trouble are always apt to make the worst of
things) that it would be in vain to build houses, for their lords
and masters would not suffer them to dwell in them when they had
built them, nor to eat the fruit of the vineyards they planted.
"Never fear," says God; "if you live peaceably with them, you shall
find them civil to you." Meek and quiet people, that work and mind
their own business, have often found much better treatment, even
with strangers and enemies, than they expected; and God has made
his people to be <i>pitied of those that carry them captives</i>
(<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.106.46" parsed="|Ps|106|46|0|0" passage="Ps 106:46">Ps. cvi. 46</scripRef>), and a pity
it is but that those who have built houses should dwell in them.
Nay,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxx-p9" shownumber="no">4. He directs them to seek the good of the
country where they were captives (<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.7" parsed="|Jer|29|7|0|0" passage="Jer 29:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>), to pray for it, to endeavour to
promote it. This forbids them to attempt any thing against the
public peace while they were subjects to the king of Babylon.
Though he was a heathen, an idolater, an oppressor, and an enemy to
God and his church, yet, while he gave them protection, they must
pay him allegiance, and live <i>quiet and peaceable lives</i> under
him, <i>in all godliness and honesty,</i> not plotting to shake off
his yoke, but patiently leaving it to God in due time to work
deliverance for them. Nay, they must pray to God for the peace of
the places where they were, that they might oblige them to continue
their kindness to them and disprove the character that had been
given their nation, that they were <i>hurtful to kings and
provinces,</i> and <i>moved sedition,</i> <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.15" parsed="|Ezra|4|15|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:15">Ezra iv. 15</scripRef>. Both the wisdom of the serpent
and the innocency of the dove required them to be true to the
government they lived under: <i>For in the peace thereof you shall
have peace;</i> should the country be embroiled in war, they would
have the greatest share in the calamitous effects of it. Thus the
primitive Christians, according to the temper of their holy
religion, prayed for the powers that were, though they were
persecuting powers. And, if they were to pray for and seek the
peace of the land of their captivity, much more reason have we to
pray for the welfare of the land of our nativity, where we are a
free people under a good government, <i>that in the peace
thereof</i> we and ours <i>may have peace.</i> Every passenger is
concerned in the safety of the ship.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Jer.xxx-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.8-Jer.29.14" parsed="|Jer|29|8|29|14" passage="Jer 29:8-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Jer.xxx-p9.4">
<h4 id="Jer.xxx-p9.5">Advice to the Captives in
Babylon. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p9.6">b. c.</span> 596.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jer.xxx-p10" shownumber="no">8 For thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p10.1">Lord</span> of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your
prophets and your diviners, that <i>be</i> in the midst of you,
deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be
dreamed.   9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I
have not sent them, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p10.2">Lord</span>.
  10 For thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p10.3">Lord</span>,
That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit
you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return
to this place.   11 For I know the thoughts that I think
toward you, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p10.4">Lord</span>, thoughts
of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.   12
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I
will hearken unto you.   13 And ye shall seek me, and find
<i>me,</i> when ye shall search for me with all your heart.  
14 And I will be found of you, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p10.5">Lord</span>: and I will turn away your captivity, and I
will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places
whither I have driven you, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p10.6">Lord</span>; and I will bring you again into the place
whence I caused you to be carried away captive.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxx-p11" shownumber="no">To make the people quiet and easy in their
captivity,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxx-p12" shownumber="no">I. God takes them off from building upon
the false foundation which their pretended prophets laid, <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.8-Jer.29.9" parsed="|Jer|29|8|29|9" passage="Jer 29:8,9"><i>v.</i> 8, 9</scripRef>. They told them that
their captivity should be short, and therefore that they must not
think of taking root in Babylon, but be upon the wing to go back:
"Now herein <i>they deceive you,</i>" says God; "they <i>prophesy a
lie to you,</i> though they prophesy <i>in my name.</i> But <i>let
them not deceive you,</i> suffer not yourselves to be deluded by
them." As long as we have the word of truth to try the spirits by
it is our own fault if we be deceived; for by it we may be
undeceived. <i>Hearken not to your dreams, which you cause to be
dreamed.</i> He means either the dreams or fancies which the people
pleased themselves with, and with which they filled their own heads
(by thinking and speaking of nothing else but a speedy enlargement
when they were awake they caused themselves to dream of it when
they were asleep, and then took that for a good omen, and with it
strengthened themselves in their vain expectations), or the dreams
which the prophets dreamed and grounded their prophecies upon. God
tells the people, <i>They are your dreams,</i> because they pleased
them, were the dreams that they desired and wished for. They
<i>caused them to be dreamed;</i> for they hearkened to them, and
encouraged the prophets to put such deceits upon them, desiring
them to prophesy nothing but <i>smooth things,</i> <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.30.10" parsed="|Isa|30|10|0|0" passage="Isa 30:10">Isa. xxx. 10</scripRef>. They were dreams of
their own bespeaking. False prophets would not flatter people in
their sins, but that they love to be flattered, and speak smoothly
to their prophets that their prophets may speak smoothly to
them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxx-p13" shownumber="no">II. He gives them a good foundation to
build their hopes upon. We would not persuade people to pull down
the house they have built upon the sand, but that there is a rock
ready for them to rebuild upon. God here promises them that, though
they should not return quickly, they should return at length,
<i>after seventy years be accomplished.</i> By this it appears that
the seventy years of the captivity are not to be reckoned from the
last captivity, but the first. Note, Though the deliverance of the
church do not come in our time, it is sufficient that it will come
in God's time, and we are sure that that is the best time. The
promise is that God will visit them in mercy; though he had long
seemed to be strange to them, he will come among them, and appear
for them, and put honour upon them, as great men do upon their
inferiors by coming to visit them. He will put an end to <i>their
captivity,</i> and <i>turn away</i> all the calamities of it.
Though they are dispersed, some in one country and some in another,
he will <i>gather them from all the places whither they are
driven,</i> will set up a standard for them all to resort to, and
incorporate them again in one body. And though they are at a great
distance they shall be brought again to their own land, <i>to the
place whence</i> they were <i>carried captive,</i> <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.14" parsed="|Jer|29|14|0|0" passage="Jer 29:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. Now, 1. This shall be
the performance of God's promise to them (<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.10" parsed="|Jer|29|10|0|0" passage="Jer 29:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>): <i>I will perform my good
word towards you.</i> Let not the failing of those predictions
which are delivered as from God lessen the reputation of those that
really are from him. That which is indeed God's word is a <i>good
word,</i> and therefore it will be made good, and not one iota or
tittle of it shall fall to the ground. <i>Hath he said, and shall
he not do it?</i> This will make their return out of captivity very
comfortable, that it will be the performance of God's good word to
them, the product of a gracious promise. 2. This shall be in
pursuance of God's purposes concerning them (<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.11" parsed="|Jer|29|11|0|0" passage="Jer 29:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>): <i>I know the thoughts that I
think towards you.</i> Known unto God are all his works, for known
unto him are all his thoughts (<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Acts.15.18" parsed="|Acts|15|18|0|0" passage="Ac 15:18">Acts
xv. 18</scripRef>) and his works agree exactly with his thoughts;
he does all <i>according to the counsel of his will.</i> We often
do not know our own thoughts, nor know our own mind, but God is
never at any uncertainty within himself. We are sometimes ready to
fear that God's designs concerning us are all against us; but he
knows the contrary concerning his own people, that they are
<i>thoughts of good and not of evil;</i> even that which seems evil
is designed for good. His thoughts are all working towards the
expected end, which he will give in due time. The end they expect
will come, though perhaps not when they expect it. Let them have
patience till the fruit is ripe, and then they shall have it. He
will give them <i>an end, and expectation,</i> so it is in the
original. (1.) He will give them to see <i>the end</i> (the
comfortable termination) of their trouble; though it last long, it
shall not last always. The <i>time to favour Zion,</i> yea, the
<i>set time, will come.</i> When things are at the worst they will
begin to mend; and he will give them to see the glorious perfection
of their deliverance; for, as for God, his work is perfect. He that
in the beginning finished the <i>heavens and the earth,</i> and all
the <i>hosts</i> of both, will finish all the blessings of both to
his people. When he begins in ways of mercy he will <i>make an
end.</i> God does nothing by halves. (2.) He will give them to see
the <i>expectation,</i> that <i>end</i> which they desire and hope
for, and have been long waiting for. He will give them, not the
expectations of their fears, nor the expectations of their fancies,
but the expectations of their faith, the end which he has promised
and which will turn for the best to them. 3. This shall be in
answer to their prayers and supplications to God, <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.12-Jer.29.15" parsed="|Jer|29|12|29|15" passage="Jer 29:12-15"><i>v.</i> 12-14</scripRef>. (1.) God will
stir them up to pray: <i>Then shall you call upon me,</i> and
<i>you shall go, and pray unto me.</i> Note, When God is about to
give his people the expected good he pours out a spirit of prayer,
and it is a good sign that he is coming towards them in mercy.
Then, when you see the <i>expected end</i> approaching, <i>then you
shall call upon me.</i> Note, Promises are given, not to supersede,
but to quicken and encourage prayer: and when deliverance is coming
we must by prayer go forth to meet it. When Daniel understood that
the 70 years were near expiring, then he <i>set his face</i> with
more fervency than ever <i>to seek the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p13.6" osisRef="Bible:Dan.9.2-Dan.9.3" parsed="|Dan|9|2|9|3" passage="Da 9:2,3">Dan. ix. 2, 3</scripRef>. (2.) He will then stir up
himself to come and save them (<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p13.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.2" parsed="|Ps|80|2|0|0" passage="Ps 80:2">Ps.
lxxx. 2</scripRef>): <i>I will hearken unto you,</i> and <i>I will
be found of you.</i> God has said it, and we may depend upon it,
<i>Seek and you shall find.</i> We have a general rule laid down
(<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p13.8" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.13" parsed="|Jer|29|13|0|0" passage="Jer 29:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>): <i>You
shall find me when you shall search for me with all your heart.</i>
In seeking God we must search for him, accomplish a diligent
search, search for directions in seeking him and encouragements to
our faith and hope. We must continue seeking, and take pains in
seeking, as those that search; and this we must do with our heart
(that is, in sincerity and uprightness), and with our whole heart
(that is, with vigour and fervency, putting forth <i>all that is
within us</i> in prayer), and those who thus <i>seek God</i> shall
<i>find him,</i> and shall find him their bountiful rewarder,
<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p13.9" osisRef="Bible:Heb.11.6" parsed="|Heb|11|6|0|0" passage="Heb 11:6">Heb. xi. 6</scripRef>. He never said
to such, <i>Seek you me in vain.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Jer.xxx-p13.10" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.15-Jer.29.23" parsed="|Jer|29|15|29|23" passage="Jer 29:15-23" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Jer.xxx-p13.11">
<h4 id="Jer.xxx-p13.12">The Doom of the False
Prophets. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p13.13">b. c.</span> 596.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jer.xxx-p14" shownumber="no">15 Because ye have said, The <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p14.1">Lord</span> hath raised us up prophets in Babylon;
  16 <i>Know</i> that thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p14.2">Lord</span> of the king that sitteth upon the throne of
David, and of all the people that dwelleth in this city, <i>and</i>
of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity;
  17 Thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p14.3">Lord</span> of
hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the
pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be
eaten, they are so evil.   18 And I will persecute them with
the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will
deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be
a curse, and an astonishment, and a hissing, and a reproach, among
all the nations whither I have driven them:   19 Because they
have not hearkened to my words, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p14.4">Lord</span>, which I sent unto them by my servants the
prophets, rising up early and sending <i>them;</i> but ye would not
hear, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p14.5">Lord</span>.   20 Hear
ye therefore the word of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p14.6">Lord</span>,
all ye of the captivity, whom I have sent from Jerusalem to
Babylon:   21 Thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p14.7">Lord</span> of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the
son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy
a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the
hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them
before your eyes;   22 And of them shall be taken up a curse
by all the captivity of Judah which <i>are</i> in Babylon, saying,
The <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p14.8">Lord</span> make thee like Zedekiah and
like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;   23
Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed
adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words
in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and
<i>am</i> a witness, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p14.9">Lord</span>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxx-p15" shownumber="no">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> <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.15" parsed="|Jer|29|15|0|0" passage="Jer 29:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. 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>" <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.16 Bible:Jer.29.18" parsed="|Jer|29|16|0|0;|Jer|29|18|0|0" passage="Jer 29:16,18"><i>v.</i> 16,
18</scripRef>. 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 <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.24.1-Jer.24.10" parsed="|Jer|24|1|24|10" passage="Jer 24:1-10"><i>ch.</i>
xxiv.</scripRef> 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 (<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.19" parsed="|Jer|29|19|0|0" passage="Jer 29:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>): <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 (<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p15.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.20" parsed="|Jer|29|20|0|0" passage="Jer 29:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>):
"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> <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p15.6" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.21" parsed="|Jer|29|21|0|0" passage="Jer 29:21"><i>v.</i>
21</scripRef>. Observe, (1.) The crimes charged upon them—impiety
and immorality: They <i>prophesied lies in God's name</i>
(<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p15.7" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.21" parsed="|Jer|29|21|0|0" passage="Jer 29:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>), and again
(<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p15.8" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.23" parsed="|Jer|29|23|0|0" passage="Jer 29:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>), They have
<i>spoken lying words in my name.</i> Lying was bad, lying to the
people of God to delude them into 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 Israel,</i> for <i>they have committed adultery with
their neighbours' wives.</i> Adultery is villainy in Israel, and in
such as pretend to be prophets, who by such wickednesses manifestly
disprove their own pretensions. God never sent such profligate
wretches on his errands. He is the <i>Lord God of the holy
prophets,</i> not of such impure ones. Here it appears why they
flattered others in their sins—because they could not reprove them
without condemning themselves. These lewd practices of theirs they
knew how to conceal from the eye of the world, that they might
preserve their credit; but <i>I know</i> it <i>and am a witness,
saith the Lord.</i> The most secret sins are known to God; he can
see the villainy that is covered with the thickest cloak of
hypocrisy, and there is a day coming when he will bring to light
all these hidden works of darkness and every man will appear in his
own colours. (2.) The judgments threatened against them: <i>The
king of Babylon shall slay them before your eyes;</i> nay, he shall
put them to a miserable death, <i>roast them in the fire,</i>
<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p15.9" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.22" parsed="|Jer|29|22|0|0" passage="Jer 29:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>. We may
suppose that it was not for their impiety and immorality that
Nebuchadnezzar punished them thus severely, but for sedition, and
some attempts of their turbulent spirits upon the public peace, and
stirring up the people to revolt and rebel. So much of their
wickedness shall then be detected, and in such a wretched manner
they shall end their days, that their names shall be a curse among
the captives in Babylon, <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p15.10" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.22" parsed="|Jer|29|22|0|0" passage="Jer 29:22"><i>v.</i>
22</scripRef>. When men would imprecate the greatest evil upon one
they hated they would think they could not load them with a heavier
curse, in fewer words, than to say, <i>The Lord make thee like
Zedekiah and like Ahab.</i> Thus were they made ashamed of the
prophets they had been proud of, and convinced at last of their
folly in hearkening to them. God's faithful prophets were sometimes
charged with being the troublers of the land, and as such were
tortured and slain; but their names were a blessing when they were
gone and their memory sweet, not as these false prophets. As
malefactors are attended with infamy and disgrace, so martyrs with
glory and honour.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Jer.xxx-p15.11" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.24-Jer.29.32" parsed="|Jer|29|24|29|32" passage="Jer 29:24-32" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Jer.xxx-p15.12">
<h4 id="Jer.xxx-p15.13">The Malice of Shemaiah; The Doom of
Shemaiah. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p15.14">b. c.</span> 596.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jer.xxx-p16" shownumber="no">24 <i>Thus</i> shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah
the Nehelamite, saying,   25 Thus speaketh the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p16.1">Lord</span> of hosts, the God of Israel, saying,
Because thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the people that
<i>are</i> at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the
priest, and to all the priests, saying,   26 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p16.2">Lord</span> hath made thee priest in the stead of
Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p16.3">Lord</span>, for every man <i>that is</i>
mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in
prison, and in the stocks.   27 Now therefore why hast thou
not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet
to you?   28 For therefore he sent unto us <i>in</i> Babylon,
saying, This <i>captivity is</i> long: build ye houses, and dwell
<i>in them;</i> and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
  29 And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of
Jeremiah the prophet.   30 Then came the word of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p16.4">Lord</span> unto Jeremiah, saying,   31 Send
to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p16.5">Lord</span> concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because
that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he
caused you to trust in a lie:   32 Therefore thus saith the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p16.6">Lord</span>; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah
the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell
among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do
for my people, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p16.7">Lord</span>;
because he hath taught rebellion against the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxx-p16.8">Lord</span>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxx-p17" shownumber="no">We have perused the contents of Jeremiah's
letter to the captives in Babylon, who had reason, with a great
deal of thanks to God and him, to acknowledge the receipt of it,
and lay it up among their treasures. But we cannot wonder if the
false prophets they had among them were enraged at it; for it gave
them their true character. Now here we are told concerning one of
them,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxx-p18" shownumber="no">I. How he manifested his malice against
Jeremiah. This busy fellow is called <i>Shemaiah the
Nehelamite,</i> the <i>dreamer</i> (so the margin reads it),
because all his prophecies he pretended to have received from God
in a dream. He had got a copy of Jeremiah's letter to the captives,
or had heard it read, or information was given to him concerning
it, and it nettled him exceedingly; and he will take pen in hand,
and answer it, yea, that he will. But how? He does not write to
Jeremiah in justification of his own mission, nor offer any
rational arguments for the support of his prophecies concerning the
speedy return of the captives; but he writes to the priests, those
faithful patrons of the false prophets, and instigates them to
persecute Jeremiah. He writes in his own name, not so much as
pretending to have the people's consent to it; but, as if he must
be dictator to all mankind, he sends a circular letter (as it
should seem) among the priests at Jerusalem and the rest of the
people, probably by the same messengers that brought the letter
from Jeremiah. But it is chiefly directed to Zephaniah, who was
either the immediate son of Maaseiah, or of the 24th course of the
priests, of which Maaseiah was the father and head. He was not the
high priest, but sagan or suffragan to the high priest, or in some
other considerable post of command in the temple, as Pashur,
<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.20.1" parsed="|Jer|20|1|0|0" passage="Jer 20:1"><i>ch.</i> xx. 1</scripRef>. Perhaps
he was chairman of that committee of priests that was appointed in
a particular manner to take cognizance of those that pretended to
be prophets, of which there were very many at this time, and to
give judgment concerning them. Now, 1. He puts him and the other
priests in mind of the duty of their place (<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.26" parsed="|Jer|29|26|0|0" passage="Jer 29:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>): <i>The Lord hath made thee
priest instead of Jehoiada the priest.</i> Some think that he
refers to the famous Jehoiada, that great reformer in the days of
Joash; and (says Mr. Gataker) he would insinuate that this
Zephaniah is for spirit and zeal such another as he, and raised up,
as he was, for the glory of God and the good of the church; and
therefore it was expected from him that he should proceed against
Jeremiah. Thus (says he) there is no act so injurious or impious,
but that wicked wretches and false prophets will not only attempt
it, but colour it also with some specious pretence of piety and
zeal for God's glory, <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.66.6 Bible:John.16.2" parsed="|Isa|66|6|0|0;|John|16|2|0|0" passage="Isa 66:6,Joh 16:2">Isa.
lxvi. 5; John xvi. 2</scripRef>. Or, rather, it was some other
Jehoiada, his immediate predecessor in this office, who perhaps was
carried to Babylon among the priests, <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.1" parsed="|Jer|29|1|0|0" passage="Jer 29:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. Zephaniah is advanced, sooner
than he expected, to this place of trust and power, and Shemaiah
would have him think that Providence had preferred him that he
might persecute God's prophets, that he had come to this government
for such a time as this, and that he was unjust and ungrateful if
he did not thus improve his power, or, rather, abuse it. Their
hearts are wretchedly hardened who can justify the doing of
mischief by their having a power to do it. These priests' business
was to examine <i>every man that is mad and makes himself a
prophet.</i> God's faithful prophets are here represented as
prophets of their own making, usurpers of the office, and
lay-intruders, as men that were mad, actuated by some demon, and
not divinely inspired, or as distracted men and men in a frenzy.
Thus the characters of the false prophets are thrown upon the true
ones; and, if this had been indeed their character, they would have
deserved to be bound as madmen and punished as pretenders, and
therefore he concludes that Jeremiah must be so treated. He does
not bid them examine whether Jeremiah could produce any proofs of
his mission and could make it to appear that he was not mad. No;
that is taken for granted, and, when once he has had a bad name
given him, he must be run down of course. 2. He informs them of the
letter which Jeremiah had written to the captives (<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p18.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.28" parsed="|Jer|29|28|0|0" passage="Jer 29:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>): <i>He sent unto us in
Babylon,</i> with the authority of a prophet, saying, <i>This
captivity is long,</i> and therefore resolve to make the best of
it. And what harm was there in this, that it should be objected to
him as a crime? The false prophets had formerly said that the
captivity would never come, <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p18.6" osisRef="Bible:Jer.14.3" parsed="|Jer|14|3|0|0" passage="Jer 14:3"><i>ch.</i>
xiv. 13</scripRef>. Jeremiah had said that it would come, and the
event had already proved him in the right, which obliged them to
give credit to him who now said that it would be long, rather than
to those who said that it would be short, but had once before been
found liars. 3. He demands judgment against him, taking it for
granted that he is <i>mad,</i> and <i>makes himself a prophet.</i>
He expects that they will order him to be put <i>in prison</i> and
<i>in the stocks</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p18.7" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.26" parsed="|Jer|29|26|0|0" passage="Jer 29:26"><i>v.</i>
26</scripRef>), that they will thus punish him, and by putting him
to disgrace possess the people with prejudices against him, ruin
his reputation, and so prevent the giving of any credit to his
prophecies at Jerusalem, hoping that, if they could gain that
point, the captives in Babylon would not be influenced by him. Nay,
he takes upon him to chide Zephaniah for his neglect (<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p18.8" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.27" parsed="|Jer|29|27|0|0" passage="Jer 29:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>): <i>Why hast thou not
rebuked and restrained Jeremiah of Anathoth?</i> See how insolent
and imperious these false prophets had grown, that, though they
were in captivity, they would give law to the priests who were not
only at liberty, but in power. It is common for those that pretend
to more knowledge than their neighbours to be thus assuming. Now
here is a remarkable instance of the hardness of the hearts of
sinners, and it is enough to make us all fear <i>lest our hearts be
at any time hardened.</i> For here we find, (1.) That these sinners
would not be convinced by the clearest evidence. God had confirmed
his word in the mouth of Jeremiah; it had <i>taken hold</i> of them
(<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p18.9" osisRef="Bible:Zech.1.6" parsed="|Zech|1|6|0|0" passage="Zec 1:6">Zech. i. 6</scripRef>); and yet,
because he does not prophesy to them the smooth things they
desired, they are resolved to look upon him as not duly called to
the office of a prophet. None so blind as those that will not see.
(2.) That they would not be reclaimed and reformed by the most
severe chastisement. They were now sent into a miserable thraldom
for <i>mocking the messengers of the Lord</i> and <i>misusing his
prophets.</i> This was the sin for which God now contended with
them; and yet in <i>their distress they trespass yet more against
the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p18.10" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.22" parsed="|2Chr|28|22|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:22">2 Chron. xxviii.
22</scripRef>. This very sin they are notoriously guilty of in
their captivity, which shows that afflictions will not of
themselves cure men of their sins, unless the grace of God work
with them, but will rather exasperate the corruptions they are
intended to mortify; so true is that of Solomon (<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p18.11" osisRef="Bible:Prov.27.22" parsed="|Prov|27|22|0|0" passage="Pr 27:22">Prov. xxvii. 22</scripRef>), <i>Though thou shouldst
bray a fool in a mortar, yet will not his foolishness depart from
him.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxx-p19" shownumber="no">II. How Jeremiah came to the knowledge of
this (<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.29" parsed="|Jer|29|29|0|0" passage="Jer 29:29"><i>v.</i> 29</scripRef>):
<i>Zephaniah read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah.</i> He did
not design to do as Shemaiah would have him, but, as it should
seem, had a respect for Jeremiah (for we find him employed in
messages to him as a <i>prophet,</i> <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.21.1 Bible:Jer.37.3" parsed="|Jer|21|1|0|0;|Jer|37|3|0|0" passage="Jer 21:1,37:3"><i>ch.</i> xxi. 1, xxxvii. 3</scripRef>), and
therefore protected him. He that continued in his dignity and power
stood more in awe of God and his judgments than he that was now a
captive. Nay, he made Jeremiah acquainted with the contents of the
letter, that he might see what enemies he had even among the
captives. Note, It is kindness to our friends to let them know
their foes.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxx-p20" shownumber="no">III. What was the sentence passed upon
Shemaiah for writing this letter. God sent him an answer, for to
him Jeremiah committed his cause: it was ordered to be sent not to
him, but <i>to those of the captivity,</i> who encouraged and
countenanced him as if he had been a prophet of God's raising up,
<scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.31-Jer.29.32" parsed="|Jer|29|31|29|32" passage="Jer 29:31,32"><i>v.</i> 31, 32</scripRef>. Let
them know, 1. That Shemaiah had made fools of them. He promised
them peace in God's name, but God did not send him; he forged a
commission, and counterfeited the broad seal of Heaven to it, and
made the people <i>to trust in a lie,</i> and by preaching false
comfort to them deprived them of true comfort. Nay, he had not only
made fools of them, but, which was worse, he had made traitors of
them; he had <i>taught rebellion against the Lord,</i> as Hananiah
had done, <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.28.16" parsed="|Jer|28|16|0|0" passage="Jer 28:16"><i>ch.</i> xxviii.
16</scripRef>. And, if vengeance shall be taken on those that
rebel, much more on those that teach rebellion by their doctrine
and example. 2. That at his end <i>he shall also be a fool</i> (as
the expression is, <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.17.11" parsed="|Jer|17|11|0|0" passage="Jer 17:11"><i>ch.</i> xvii.
11</scripRef>); his name and family shall be extinct and shall be
buried in oblivion; he shall leave no issue behind him to bear up
his name; his pedigree shall end in him: <i>He shall not have a man
to dwell among this people;</i> and neither he nor any that come
from him shall <i>behold the good that I will do for my people.</i>
Note, Those are unworthy to share in God's favours to his church
that are not willing to stay his time for them. Shemaiah was angry
at Jeremiah's advice to the captives to see to the building up of
their families in Babylon, that they might be increased and not
diminished, and therefore justly is he written childless there.
Those that slight the blessings of God's word deserve to lose the
benefit of them. See <scripRef id="Jer.xxx-p20.4" osisRef="Bible:Amos.7.16-Amos.7.17" parsed="|Amos|7|16|7|17" passage="Am 7:16,17">Amos vii. 16,
17</scripRef>.</p>
</div></div2>