Trust
in man or in God: the door of repentance opened
The great thing, amidst
all that was going on, was to trust in Jehovah. He who,
failing in this, made flesh his arm, should not see when
good came. Meantime the fire of God's anger was kindled
and should not be quenched. How could a wicked and
deceitful heart be trusted? The Lord searches it, to give
every one according to his ways. The prophet, in the name
of the people, casts himself upon Jehovah; and, on
account of the wickedness of the adversaries who mocked
at God's testimonies, he appeals to God. He had not
desired the woeful day which He announced; neither was it
by his own choice that he forsook the peaceful duties he
owed the people to follow God in this testimony. He
entreats God, whose terrible judgments were to scatter
the people, not to be a terror unto him. God was all his
hope in the day of evil. What a picture of the condition
of the remnant in the last days; and, at all times, of
the portion of one who is faithful when the people of God
will not hearken to his testimony! Nevertheless, it being
still called To-day, God in His longsuffering opens the
door of repentance to the people and to their king, if
they have ears to hear.
Jeremiah 17 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
The great thing, amidst all that was going on, was to trust in Jehovah. He who, failing in this, made flesh his arm, should not see when good came. Meantime the fire of God's anger was kindled and should not be quenched. How could a wicked and deceitful heart be trusted? The Lord searches it, to give every one according to his ways. The prophet, in the name of the people, casts himself upon Jehovah; and, on account of the wickedness of the adversaries who mocked at God's testimonies, he appeals to God. He had not desired the woeful day which He announced; neither was it by his own choice that he forsook the peaceful duties he owed the people to follow God in this testimony. He entreats God, whose terrible judgments were to scatter the people, not to be a terror unto him. God was all his hope in the day of evil. What a picture of the condition of the remnant in the last days; and, at all times, of the portion of one who is faithful when the people of God will not hearken to his testimony! Nevertheless, it being still called To-day, God in His longsuffering opens the door of repentance to the people and to their king, if they have ears to hear.