Bible Commentaries

CHAP. XLV.

Baruch being dismayed, Jeremiah instructeth and comforteth him.

Before Christ 606.

THIS chapter evidently belongs to the 36th; but Grotius gives a reason why the collectors of Jeremiah's prophesies placed it here. "The prophesies and histories," says he, "being finished, which belonged to the kings and people of Judah, one is subjoined belonging to a single person; as in the epistles of St. Paul to the churches are subjoined what concern particular persons." The prophet afterwards adds the prophesies that respect other nations, with which his book concludes. As to the last chapter, we shall deliver our opinion when we come to it.

Jeremiah 45:3. The Lord hath added grief— "The sorrows which I felt for the threatenings denounced against my country and religion are increased by my own troubles; being sought after by the king's commands, in order to be put to death." See chap. Jeremiah 36:26.

Jeremiah 45:4. Behold, &c.— "The land and people which have so long flourished under the peculiar care of my providence, I resolve now to give up to utter destruction: (see chap. Jeremiah 31:28.) And art thou better (Jeremiah 45:5.) than the rest of my people, that thou shouldst expect to be exempted from the common evils?" Houbigant renders the last words, For the whole land is mine.

REFLECTIONS.—Baruch had been the prophet Jeremiah's faithful assistant, chap. 36: and thereby involved himself in trouble, and exposed himself to the fury of the enraged Jehoiakim. We have,

1. The consternation that God observes in him when the warrants were out for apprehending him. Woe is me now! he looked upon himself as a dead man; for the Lord hath added grief to my sorrow: after all the pains that he had taken, and the reproaches that he had endured, now his very life is in danger; and the anguish that he felt, on transcribing the dreadful doom of his people, is increased by his own sufferings. I fainted in my sighing, unable to support the load of grief that oppressed him; and I find no rest, from his sorrow, or any composure of mind under his troubles. Note; (1.) Our hearts are very unwilling to bear the cross. (2.) Many of our complaints arise more from our unbelieving fears, than our real danger. (3.) We should watch over the temper of our hearts, and the door of our lips, when tempted to impatience or despair under our sufferings; for God observes, and will reprove us for it.

2. Jeremiah, from God, checks his aspiring thoughts, the disappointment of which seems to have been at the root of his complaints. He was a man of abilities, a scribe to the prophet, and a follower of his piety; and he might hope that this would recommend him to his countrymen, and enable him to rise to some distinguished post: but it was absurd in him to seek great things for himself, when the whole nation was devoted to ruin. Note; (1.) If we had less expectations from the world, we should have fewer disappointments and less cause to complain. (2.) Even good men in general are slow of heart to believe what Jesus hath spoken, My kingdom is not of this world, and too often have their hearts been too much attached to worldly hopes and prospects.

3. Though his hopes of greatness are blasted, his life is secured to him, and that is a distinguishing mercy, when death spreads around his universal ravages. In all places, and amidst every danger, God promises to protect him, and with this he has cause to be abundantly satisfied and thankful.