attend to the ways of providence, nor understand the voice of God in them, Jer. 8:7. They know
not how to improve the seasons of grace, which God affords. Many boast of their religious
knowledge, yet, unless taught by the Spirit of God, the instinct of brutes is a more sure guide than
their supposed wisdom. 4. They would not attend to the written word. Many enjoy abundance of
the means of grace, have Bibles and ministers, but they have them in vain. They will soon be
ashamed of their devices. The pretenders to wisdom were the priests and the false prophets. They
flattered people in sin, and so flattered them into destruction, silencing their fears and complaints
with, All is well. Selfish teachers may promise peace when there is no peace; and thus men encourage
each other in committing evil; but in the day of visitation they will have no refuge to flee unto.
Jer. 8:14-22 At length they begin to see the hand of God lifted up. And when God appears
against us, every thing that is against us appears formidable. As salvation only can be found in the
Lord, so the present moment should be seized. Is there no medicine proper for a sick and dying
kingdom? Is there no skilful, faithful hand to apply the medicine? Yes, God is able to help and to
heal them. If sinners die of their wounds, their blood is upon their own heads. The blood of Christ
is balm in Gilead, his Spirit is the Physician there, all-sufficient; so that the people may be healed,
but will not. Thus men die unpardoned and unchanged, for they will not come to Christ to be saved.
Chapter 9
The people are corrected, Jerusalem is destroyed. (Jer. 9:1-11) The captives suffer in a foreign
land. (Jer. 9:12-22) God's loving-kindness, He threatens the enemies of his people. (Jer. 9:23-26)
Jer. 9:1-11 Jeremiah wept much, yet wished he could weep more, that he might rouse the people
to a due sense of the hand of God. But even the desert, without communion with God, through
Christ Jesus, and the influences of the Holy Spirit, must be a place for temptation and evil; while,
with these blessings, we may live in holiness in crowded cities. The people accustomed their tongues
to lies. So false were they, that a brother could not be trusted. In trading and bargaining they said
any thing for their own advantage, though they knew it to be false. But God marked their sin. Where
no knowledge of God is, what good can be expected? He has many ways of turning a fruitful land
into barrenness for the wickedness of those that dwell therein.
Jer. 9:12-22 In Zion the voice of joy and praise used to be heard, while the people kept close
to God; but sin has altered the sound, it is now the voice of lamentation. Unhumbled hearts lament
their calamity, but not their sin, which is the cause of it. Let the doors be shut ever so fast, death
steals upon us. It enters the palaces of princes and great men, though stately, strongly built, and
guarded. Nor are those more safe that are abroad; death cuts off even the children from without,
and the young men from the streets. Hearken to the word of the Lord, and mourn with godly sorrow.
This alone can bring true comfort; and it can turn the heaviest afflictions into precious mercies.