Jer. 31:35-40 As surely as the heavenly bodies will continue their settled course, according to
the will of their Creator, to the end of time, and as the raging sea obeys him, so surely will the Jews
be continued a separate people. Words can scarcely set forth more strongly the restoration of Israel.
The rebuilding of Jerusalem, and its enlargement and establishment, shall be an earnest of the great
things God will do for the gospel church. The personal happiness of every true believer, as well as
the future restoration of Israel, is secured by promise, covenant, and oath. This Divine love passes
knowledge; and to those who take hold upon it, every present mercy is an earnest of salvation.
Chapter 32
Jeremiah buys a field. (Jer. 32:1-15) The prophet's prayer. (Jer. 32:16-25) God declares that he
will give up his people, but promises to restore them. (Jer. 32:26-44)
Jer. 32:1-15 Jeremiah, being in prison for his prophecy, purchased a piece of ground. This was
to signify, that though Jerusalem was besieged, and the whole country likely to be laid waste, yet
the time would come, when houses, and fields, and vineyards, should be again possessed. It concerns
ministers to make it appear that they believe what they preach to others. And it is good to manage
even our worldly affairs in faith; to do common business with reference to the providence and
promise of God.
Jer. 32:16-25 Jeremiah adores the Lord and his infinite perfections. When at any time we are
perplexed about the methods of Providence, it is good for us to look to first principles. Let us
consider that God is the fountain of all being, power, and life; that with him no difficulty is such
as cannot be overcome; that he is a God of boundless mercy; that he is a God of strict justice; and
that he directs every thing for the best. Jeremiah owns that God was righteous in causing evil to
come upon them. Whatever trouble we are in, personal or public, we may comfort ourselves that
the Lord sees it, and knows how to remedy it. We must not dispute God's will, but we may seek to
know what it means.
Jer. 32:26-44 God's answer discovers the purposes of his wrath against that generation of the
Jews, and the purposes of his grace concerning future generations. It is sin, and nothing else, that
ruins them. The restoration of Judah and Jerusalem is promised. This people were now at length
brought to despair. But God gives hope of mercy which he had in store for them hereafter. Doubtless
the promises are sure to all believers. God will own them for his, and he will prove himself theirs.
He will give them a heart to fear him. All true Christians shall have a disposition to mutual love.
Though they may have different views about lesser things, they shall all be one in the great things
of God; in their views of the evil of sin, and the low estate of fallen man, the way of salvation
through the Saviour, the nature of true holiness, the vanity of the world, and the importance of
eternal things. Whom God loves, he loves to the end. We have no reason to distrust God's faithfulness
and constancy, but only our own hearts. He will settle them again in Canaan. These promises shall
surely be performed. Jeremiah's purchase was the pledge of many a purchase that should be made