22 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.
22 This is what the Lord says: "Look, an army is coming from the land of the north; a great nation is being stirred up from the ends of the earth.
22 Thus says the Lord: "Behold, a people is coming from the north country, a great nation is stirring from the farthest parts of the earth.
22 And listen to this verdict from God: "Look out! An invasion from the north, a mighty power on the move from a faraway place:
22 Thus says the Lord: "Behold, a people comes from the north country, And a great nation will be raised from the farthest parts of the earth.
22 This is what the Lord says: "Look! A great army coming from the north! A great nation is rising against you from far-off lands.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 6:22
Commentary on Jeremiah 6:18-30
(Read Jeremiah 6:18-30)
God rejects their outward services, as worthless to atone for their sins. Sacrifice and incense were to direct them to a Mediator; but when offered to purchase a license to go on in sin, they provoke God. The sins of God's professing people make them an easy prey to their enemies. They dare not show themselves. Saints may rejoice in hope of God's mercies, though they see them only in the promise: sinners must mourn for fear of God's judgments, though they see them only in the threatenings. They are the worst of revolters, and are all corrupters. Sinners soon become tempters. They are compared to ore supposed to have good metal in it, but which proves all dross. Nothing will prevail to part between them and their sins. Reprobate silver shall they be called, useless and worthless. When warnings, corrections, rebukes, and all means of grace, leave men unrenewed, they will be left, as rejected of God, to everlasting misery. Let us pray, then, that we may be refined by the Lord, as silver is refined.