12 A throne of honour on high from the beginning, The place of our sanctuary, 13 The hope of Israel 'is' Jehovah, All forsaking Thee are ashamed, And 'My apostates' in the earth are written, For they have forsaken Jehovah, A fountain of living waters. 14 Heal me, O Jehovah, and I am healed, Save me, and I am saved, for my praise 'art' Thou. 15 Lo, they are saying unto me: 'Where 'is' the word of Jehovah? pray, let it come.' 16 And I hastened not from feeding after Thee, And the desperate day I have not desired, Thou—Thou hast known, The produce of my lips, before Thy face it hath been, 17 Be not Thou to me for a terror, My hope 'art' Thou in a day of evil. 18 Let my pursuers be ashamed, and let not me be ashamed—me! Let them be affrighted, and let not me be affrighted—me! Bring in on them a day of evil, And a second time 'with' destruction destroy them.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 17:12-18
Commentary on Jeremiah 17:12-18
(Read Jeremiah 17:12-18)
The prophet acknowledges the favour of God in setting up religion. There is fulness of comfort in God, overflowing, ever-flowing fulness, like a fountain. It is always fresh and clear, like spring-water, while the pleasures of sin are puddle-waters. He prays to God for healing, saving mercy. He appeals to God concerning his faithful discharge of the office to which he was called. He humbly begs that God would own and protect him in the work to which he had plainly called him. Whatever wounds or diseases we find to be in our hearts and consciences, let us apply to the Lord to heal us, to save us, that our souls may praise his name. His hands can bind up the troubled conscience, and heal the broken heart; he can cure the worst diseases of our nature.