Bible Commentaries

Jeremiah 22:8-9

I. The man who wrote these words was a very sorrowful man; one who was full of grief for what he saw, and for what he expected. He was an Israelite, one of the race of Abraham. He believed that God had chosen his nation to be a blessing to all nations. But he felt that his country, the country which he loved, was polluted by the evil things that were done in it. He could not tear himself from his nation. He was tearing himself from God if he did. God's covenant was with Israel. He was in God's covenant because he was an Israelite. Whatever calamities befel Israel must befal him. Jeremiah supposes that people of other countries would walk through the land of Israel, and see its capital city in ruins, and would say, "Wherefore hath the Lord done this to this great city?" And this, he says, would be the answer, "Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord, and have worshipped other gods and served them." He who was their true Lord would let them learn by hard punishment what was the fruit of their wilful ways, what comes of forgetting His commandments.

II. God has made with us a new covenant; a better covenant than that which He made with the Jews, because God does not merely say to us, "Keep My commandments," but He says, "I will give you My Holy Spirit that you may keep them." But the commandments which He bids us to keep are the very same. And when people grow indifferent to these commandments, then it fares with us as it fared with the Jews. We cease to be a strong people, a united people, a wise and understanding people, in the sight of the nations; we become weak, and divided, and foolish. If we hold fast to the covenant it will go well with us, and with our seed after us. We shall be true citizens of our land. God will bless our land and cause His face to shine upon it.

F. D. Maurice, Sermons Preached in Country Churches, p. 305.

References: Jeremiah 22:19.—J. Thain Davidson, Talks with Young-Men, p. 233. Jeremiah 22:21.—Plain Sermons by Contributors to "Tracts' for the Times," vol. i., p. 48.

Jeremiah 22:29

I. The manner of this cry. In form it is obviously and intensely peculiar. When the awakener utters such a piercing cry you may conclude that the sleep of the sleeper is deep. The two elements multiplied into each other which swell into a peal so loud, are the mercy that glows in the warner's breast, and the danger to which the sleeper lies exposed. The earth itself—all the creatures on it under man—have a quick ear for their Maker's voice, and never needing, never get a call so urgent. The alacrity of the creatures that lie either above or beneath him in the scale of creation brings out in higher relief the disobedience of man. The mystery of God's mercy to man is, we know, one thing into which unfallen angels desire to look; the mystery of man's heedlessness of God must be another. Angels, our elder brothers, must wonder both at our deep sleep and at God's long, loud, awakening cry. Both mysteries lie beyond their view.

II. The matter of this cry. (1) The speaker is the only living and true God. (2) The thing spoken is the word of the Lord. (a) The word of the Lord lies in the Scriptures; (b) the word of the Lord in the Scriptures is mercy; (c) the word of the Lord is Christ. (3) The injunction to regard that word: "O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord." The Eternal Word has come into the world to show us the Father, "Hear ye Him."

III. Several aspects of this shrill warning cry remain for consideration. (1) The earth so summoned, has already, in a sense most interesting and important, heard the word of the Lord. Christ's Kingdom is even now more powerful on the earth than any other kingdom. (2) The earth through all its bounds will one day hear and obey the word of the Lord. (3) When the earth hears its Lord's word forthwith it calls upon the Lord. (4) Earth—that is, men in the body—should hear the word of the Lord, for to them it brings a message of mercy. (5) Earth—the dust of the dead in Christ—shall hear the word of the Lord, and shall come forth.

W. Arnot, Roots and Fruits of the Christian Life, p. 198.

Reference: Jeremiah 22:29.—G. Brooks, Outlines of Sermons, p. 151.