for thy name's sake--"for our backslidings are so many" that we cannot urge Thee for the sake of our doings, but for the glory of Thy name; lest, if Thou give us not aid, it should be said it was owing to Thy want of power ([Jos 7:9]; [Psa 79:9]; ; [Is 48:9]; [Eze 20:44]). The same appeal to God's mercy, "for His name's sake," as our only hope, since our sin precludes trust in ourselves, occurs in [Psa 25:11].
8. The reference is, not to the faith of Israel which had almost ceased, but to the promise and everlasting covenant of God. None but the true Israel make God their "hope." ([Jr 17:13]).
turneth aside to tarry--The traveller cares little for the land he tarries but a night in; but Thou hast promised to dwell always in the midst of Thy people ([2Ch 33:7], ). Maurer translates, "spreadeth," namely, his tent.
9. astonied--like a "mighty man," at other times able to help ([Is 59:1]), but now stunned by a sudden calamity so as to disappoint the hopes drawn from him.
art in the midst of us--([Ex 29:45], ; [Le 26:11], ).
called by thy name--([Da 9:18], ) as Thine own peculiar people ([De 9:29]).
10. Jehovah's reply to the prayer ([Jr 14:7-9]; [Jr 2:23-25]).
Thus--So greatly.
loved--([Jr 5:31]).
not refrained ... feet--They did not obey God's command; "withhold thy foot" ([Jr 2:25]), namely, from following after idols.
remember ... iniquity--([Ho 8:13]; ). Their sin is so great, God must punish them.
11. ([Jr 7:16]; [Ex 32:10]).
12. not hear--because their prayers are hypocritical: their hearts are still idolatrous. God never refuses to hear real prayer ([Jr 7:21], ; [Pr 1:28]; [Is 1:15]; 58:3).
sword ... famine ... pestilence--the three sorest judgments at once; any one of which would be enough for their ruin ([2Sa 24:12], ).
13. Jeremiah urges that much of the guilt of the people is due to the false prophets' influence.
assured peace--solid and lasting peace. Literally, "peace of truth" ([Is 39:8]).
14. ([Jr 23:21]).
15. ([Jr 5:12], ).
By sword and famine ... consumed--retribution in kind both to the false prophets and to their hearers ([Jr 14:16]).
16. none to bury--([Psa 79:3]).
pour their wickedness--that is, the punishment incurred by their wickedness ([Jr 2:19]).
17. ([Jr 9:1]; [La 1:16]). Jeremiah is desired to weep ceaselessly for the calamities coming on his nation (called a "virgin," as being heretofore never under foreign yoke), ([Is 23:4]).
18. go about--that is, shall have to migrate into a land of exile. Horsley translates, "go trafficking about the land (see [Jr 5:31], Margin; [2Co 4:2]; [2Pe 2:3]), and take no knowledge" (that is, pay no regard to the miseries before their eyes) ([Is 1:3]; 58:3). If the literal sense of the Hebrew verb be retained, I would with English Version understand the words as referring to the exile to Babylon; thus, "the prophet and the priest shall have to go to a strange land to practise their religious traffic ([Is 56:11]; [Eze 34:2], ; [Mi 3:11]).
19. The people plead with God, Jeremiah being forbidden to do so.
no healing--([Jr 15:18]).
peace ... no good--([Jr 8:15]).
20. ([Da 9:8]).
21. us--"the throne of Thy glory" may be the object of "abhor not" ("reject not"); or "Zion" ([Jr 14:19]).
throne of thy glory--Jerusalem, or, the temple, called God's "footstool" and "habitation" ([1Ch 28:2]; [Psa 132:5]).
thy covenant--([Psa 106:45]; [Da 9:19]).
22. vanities--idols ([De 32:21]).
rain--([Zec 10:1], ).
heavens--namely, of themselves without God ([Mt 5:45]; [Ac 14:17]); they are not the First Cause, and ought not to be deified, as they were by the heathen. The disjunctive "or" favors Calvin's explanation: "Not even the heavens themselves can give rain, much less can the idol vanities."
art not thou he--namely, who canst give rain?
Chapter 15
Jr 15:1-21. God's Reply to Jeremiah's Intercessory Prayer
1. Moses ... Samuel--eminent in intercessions ([Ex 32:11], ; [1Sa 7:9]; [Psa 99:6]).
be toward--could not be favorably inclined toward them.
out of my sight--God speaks as if the people were present before Him, along with Jeremiah.
2. death--deadly plague ([Jr 18:21]; ; [Eze 5:2], ; [Zec 11:9]).
3. appoint--([Le 26:16]).
kinds--of punishments.
4. cause ... to be removed--([De 28:25]; [Eze 23:46]). Rather, "I will give them up to vexation," I will cause them to wander so as nowhere to have repose [Calvin]; ([2Ch 29:8], "trouble;" Margin, "commotion").
because of Manasseh--He was now dead, but the effects of his sins still remained. How much evil one bad man can cause! The evil fruits remain even after he himself has received repentance and forgiveness. The people had followed his wicked example ever since; and it is implied that it was only through the long-suffering of God that the penal consequences had been suspended up to the present time (compare [1Ki 14:16]; [2Ki 21:11]; ; , ).
5. go aside ... how thou doest--Who will turn aside (in passing by) to salute thee (to wish thee "peace")?