Events
relative to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple
The last chapter forms no
part of the book of Jeremiah, properly so called. We find
in it events relative to the destruction of Jerusalem and
of the temple. After the remarks we have made, that which
is said in it of Babylon will be easily understood.
The place of the
first empire in man's hand in God's government; God's
patience
I recapitulate here the
principles of this book on account of their importance.
The empire of Babylon, in consequence of the
unfaithfulness of the house of David, was established by
God Himself, and entrusted with the government of the
world. But Babylon not only oppressed Israel, but set up
idolatry, and corrupted the world. He who should have
been a worshipper of the true God, and an instrument of
His power, established, as far as he could, the influence
of the enemy. God has judged him. The empire which God
Himself established has been entirely overthrown. This
judgment was executed against the pride of man, and
against idolatry. At the same time it was the deliverance
of Israel. This last consideration gave rise to a
declaration on God's part of what Israel was to Him, and
what it shall be in the last days. But the subject
treated of is the Babylon of that day. Since then God has
permitted other powers to exist, governing the world with
universal dominion, until the final accomplishment of all
His purposes. These empires have subsisted according to
His will, have been raised up or cast down as He saw
good. But neither of them has held precisely the same
place as Babylon. None of them have been formally
established in the place of Israel, nor has the
destruction of any of them been the occasion of Israel's
restoration. The word of prophecy assures us that at the
end of the days, the judgment of the last empire will
have this effect. The judgment of Babylon has, in a
manner, foreshadowed it; as its moral character commenced
the sad history of these monarchies, and served as a
model to them in many respects as to the evil that should
be developed until the end. But to understand the
fundamental principles of this history, and the dealings
of God, the place which this first empire held in these
dealings must be clearly and distinctly kept in mind.
Besides the immense fact of the substitution of empire in
man's hand, for the immediate exercise of God's
government on the earth, the diligent testimony which God
sent, and the warnings to king after king, to people and
to priests, is very striking in this book, the patience
of God's love and interest.
Jeremiah 52 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
The last chapter forms no part of the book of Jeremiah, properly so called. We find in it events relative to the destruction of Jerusalem and of the temple. After the remarks we have made, that which is said in it of Babylon will be easily understood.
The place of the first empire in man's hand in God's government; God's patience
I recapitulate here the principles of this book on account of their importance. The empire of Babylon, in consequence of the unfaithfulness of the house of David, was established by God Himself, and entrusted with the government of the world. But Babylon not only oppressed Israel, but set up idolatry, and corrupted the world. He who should have been a worshipper of the true God, and an instrument of His power, established, as far as he could, the influence of the enemy. God has judged him. The empire which God Himself established has been entirely overthrown. This judgment was executed against the pride of man, and against idolatry. At the same time it was the deliverance of Israel. This last consideration gave rise to a declaration on God's part of what Israel was to Him, and what it shall be in the last days. But the subject treated of is the Babylon of that day. Since then God has permitted other powers to exist, governing the world with universal dominion, until the final accomplishment of all His purposes. These empires have subsisted according to His will, have been raised up or cast down as He saw good. But neither of them has held precisely the same place as Babylon. None of them have been formally established in the place of Israel, nor has the destruction of any of them been the occasion of Israel's restoration. The word of prophecy assures us that at the end of the days, the judgment of the last empire will have this effect. The judgment of Babylon has, in a manner, foreshadowed it; as its moral character commenced the sad history of these monarchies, and served as a model to them in many respects as to the evil that should be developed until the end. But to understand the fundamental principles of this history, and the dealings of God, the place which this first empire held in these dealings must be clearly and distinctly kept in mind. Besides the immense fact of the substitution of empire in man's hand, for the immediate exercise of God's government on the earth, the diligent testimony which God sent, and the warnings to king after king, to people and to priests, is very striking in this book, the patience of God's love and interest.