Jeremiah 8

Notes

Ver. 4-9. Though they are fallen into grievous calamities, they will hearken to no counsel that will tend to their recovery; but persevering in their wickedness, they continue firmly trusting to the flattering delusions of their false prophets. Scarcely one of them seriously thinks what he has done; but in general they rush forward into abominable practices, quite thoughtless and regardless of danger. More brutish than the fowls of heaven, they have no proper discernment either of God's mercies or judgments.—Though God has given them his law, and it has been copied out and expounded to them, and they even boast of it, yet they make no good use of it. Their politicians can advise nothing for their relief, and indeed show themselves arrant fools by their rejection of God's word. 18-20. I am almost overcome with grief to hear the cries of the people, occasioned by the ravage of the Chaldeans. How comes it that we, who are God's people, and have his temple among us, are thus destroyed by profane heathens? It is because of our idolatries; and after all our looking for assistance from the Egyptians or others, the season is past, and no help is come. 22. All means of help fail, because we continue obstinate in our sin.

Ver. 2. It seems natural to the living man to be anxious about his dead body. This natural feeling seems heightened by the hope and assurance of a resurrection. Whatever therefore interferes with the repose of the grave, seems equally to violate the feelings of nature and religion. Such violation, however, may arise (1), From rude, irreverent, and savage neglect or contempt. (2) In condemnation of some sin of the dead, and as a lesson to the living; thus Josiah burned the bones of the idolaters on the altar at Bethel, 2 Ki. 23. 16, 20. (3) As matter of idle curiosity or science; thus the mummies of Egypt form an ordinary article of European commerce among the learned. (4) They have not unfrequently been dragged from their resting-places as manure for the earth. (5) Less frequently, and less extensively, for the purpose of superstitious and unholy rites. (6) For the purpose of clearing the sepulchral vaults as dwelling-places for a wretched and houseless population; of which fact examples are often found in various parts of Western Asia. C.

Ver. 3. Death shall be chosen rather than life. Examples of the voluntary choice of death have frequently occurred among the Jews when cruelly persecuted under pretence of religion, but really on account of their wealth and usury. Thus, during the reign of king John, in the city of York in England, a large party, having first put their wives and children to death, set fire to the place in which they were assailed, and, with all their riches, perished miserably by their own hands. C.

Ver. 16. The snorting of his horses. Many eastern armies are altogether composed of horsemen; all others, and they are often very numerous, are mere camp-followers, and never engaged in battle. C.

Ver. 21. I am black. A phrase signifying the deepest melancholy and distress—an allusion to the overcasting of the sky with black clouds before a storm, ch. 14. 2; Joel 2. 6; Na. 2. 10. C.

Ver. 22. Balm in Gilead. The Balsamum judaicum has been celebrated by Pliny, Tacitus, &c., for its costliness, its medicinal virtues, and as the product of Judea alone, and of one particular spot in that country which Josephus assigns to Jericho. Bochart, however, considers the Gilead balm to be the resin of the terebinth, which grows abundantly in that district; and as it and similar products are often used in dressing wounds at particular stages, this opinion seems the most probable. C.

Reflections.—Barbarous is the outrage of bloody conquerors in sporting with the remains of the dead. But it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God, who can stretch out his hand to death and damnation to devour us. Just is his judgment in exposing idolaters, even when dead, before the idols which they had loved and worshipped in life; and fearful is the state when life becomes a burden, and men prefer to it a random leap into eternity. How obstinate against God, how attached to apostasy and self-imposition, how heedless of their own conduct, and how regardless of God's Word, do most men live! But none are more distinguished plagues to nations than evil, flattering, and impudent clergy. Nor shall any in hell have a deeper share of damnation. To their running unsent of God, preaching another gospel, and slight dealing with the consciences of sinners, is owing the ruin of nations and churches, and the everlasting misery of millions. But when God arms himself to judgment against a people, what multitudes of calamities beset them! what deprivation of comforts! what disappointments, terrors, and despair! And it is greatly affecting to faithful ministers to see ruin, inevitable ruin, coming on their congregation, church, or nation.