Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Jeremiah · Chapter 33
CHAP. XXXIII.
Ver. 1. MOreover the Word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah the ſecond time] To the ſame purpoſe with the former, chap. 32. which is reckoned his fourteenth Sermon, as this his fifteenth: by both we ſee, that the Word of God is not bound, though the Preacher may, 2 Tim. 2.9. It runs and is glorified, is free and not fettered, 2 Theſ. 3.1.
While he was yet ſhut up] God forſaketh not his Priſoners: but giveth them oft extraordinary comforts. Philip Lantgrave of Heſſe (being a long time held priſoner by Charles the fifth, for the defence of the Goſpel) was demanded what upheld him all that time? he anſwered, Divinas Martyrum conſolationes ſe ſenſiſſe, that he felt in his ſoul the divine conſolations of Martyrs, in whom as the afflictions of Chriſt do abound, ſo do comforts by Chriſt abound much more, 2 Cor. 1.5.
Ver. 2. Thus ſaith the Lord the Maker thereof] i. e. Of the promiſe of reſtauration, chap. 32. Or of Jeruſalem, which he is ſaid to make in the ſenſe that he made Moſes and Aaron, 1 Sam. 12.6. that is advanced them.
The Lord is his Name] Jehovah the Eſſectiator: who giveth being to all things, and particularly to his Word.
Ver. 3. Call unto me and I will anſwer thee] Thou haſt a promiſe, and I will performe it; but ſo as that thou Jeremy, and ſuch as thou art, Daniel, Ezekiel, Nehemiah, &c. pray over the promiſe. The Angel told Daniel, he came for his prayer-ſake, chap. 10.12.
And ſhew thee great and mighty things] Or, abſtruſe and reſerved things. Gods praying people get to know much of his mind above others: like as John, by weeping, gat the book opened; and Daniel, by prayer had the Kings ſecret revealed unto him in a night viſion, Dan. 2.18, 19. Bene oraſſe, eſt bene studuiſſe, ſaid Luther; who as he had much communion with God by prayer; ſo holy truths were dayly more and more made known unto him, he knew not how nor which way, as himſelf ſaid.
Ver. 4. Which are thrown down by the mounts] Or Catapults or engines of demolition, uſed to batter with: See chap. 32.24.
And by the ſword] Or mattocks, ſc. after that the enemy had entred the City, and cryed, as Pſal. 137.3. Deſtruite, ex imis ſubvertite fundamentis: Down with it, down with it, even to the ground.
Ver. 5. They come to fight with the Chaldeans] But they fight not in Gods Name: for he hath, for all their wickedneſſe, hid his face from them; therefore they fight with ſuch ſorry ſucceſſe: the houſes which they would defend are filled with their dead carcaſſes. This whole verſe would be hemmed in with a Parentheſis.
Ver. 6. Behold I will bring it health and cure] Ʋna eademque manus vulnus opemque feret. This is Gods uſual method and manner of dealing with his people, Hoſ. 6.1. as a skilful Phyſician, primo pungit, deinde ungit.
Enecat, ut poſſit vivificare Deus.
Revelabo. 1. vt ipſa exhibebo.And I will reveals unto them abundance of peace and truth] Why then feri Domine, feri: ſuch gold as peace and truth cannot be bought too dear: The Chaldee here hath it Revelabo eis portam poenitentiae, I will reveal unto them the gate of repentance, and ſhew them how they may walk in the way of peace and truth.
Ver. 7. And I will cauſe the captivity of Judah] As chap. 24.5. and 30.3. and 32.44. they ſhall be as if I had not caſt them off, and I will hear them, Zach. 10.6.
Ver. 8. And I will cleanſe them from all their iniquity] Which muſt therefore needs be a filthy and loathſom thing: elſe what need cleanſing? Chriſt, for this cauſe, came by water and blood.
And I will pardon all their iniquities] This clauſe expoundeth the former, and containeth the mother-mercy.
Ver. 9. And it ſhall be to me a name of joy] i. e. An honour, that I ſhall take ſingular delight in.I… nomen latum, 1 laetificum.
And they ſhall fear and tremble for all the goodneſſe] Which bodes no good to them: for the Churches welfare is ever joyned with the downfal and deſtruction of her enemies.
Ver. 10. Again there ſhall be heard in this place] God loveth to help his people, when they are forſaken of their hopes.
Ver. 11. The voyce of joy] See chap. 7.34. and 16.9.
The voyce of them that ſhall ſay, Praiſe the Lord of hoſts, for he is good] This carmen intercalare the Jews ſang joyfully at their return from Babylon, Ezra. 3.11. and the Saints ſhall have cauſe to ſing throughout all eternity.
And of them that ſhall bring the ſacrifice of praiſe] Even the calves of their lips, giving thanks to his name, Heb. 13.15. together with other Evangelical ſacrifices, as contrition, Pſal. 51.17. Confidence, Pſal. 4.5. Almeſdeeds, Heb. 13.16. the obedience of faith, Rom. 15.16. ſelfdenial, Rom. 12.1, &c. The Talmudiſts ſay, that the ſacrifice of praiſe here mentioned ſhall continue, when all other ſacrifices are aboliſhed: and this we ſee verified in the Chriſtian Church.
Ver. 12. In all the Cities thereof ſhall be an habitation of Shepherds] i. e. Several ſorts of buildings, yea even ſheep-cotes and lodges for Shepherds and their flocks. All theſe promiſes are Antitheta, oppoſite to thoſe menaces, chap. 7.34. and 16.9. and 25.10. See chap. 31.24.
Ver. 13. Shall the flocks paſſe again under the hand of him that telleth them] As ſhepherds uſe oft to tell their ſheep. Chriſt the great Shepherd and Biſhop of ſouls, knoweth all his ſheep and calleth them by name: he hath them ever in numerato, for he numbreth the ſtars alſo. See Joh. 10.3, 11, 12.
Ver. 14 I will perform that good thing] Praeſtabo verbum iſtud optimum, as Tremellius well rendereth it. I will perform that beſt word or promiſe, viz. concerning Chriſt, in whom all the former and future promiſes are Yea and Amen to the glory of God, 2 Cor. 1.20.
Haec dicend… bono ſunt bona verba die.
Ver. 15. I will cauſe the Branch of righteouſneſſe] See the ſame chap. 23.5. This ſweet promiſe concerning Chriſt can never be too often repeated. The Greek and German verſions have that clauſe here alſo, as there, And a King ſhall reign and prosper, or underſtand.
Ver. 16. And this is the name wherewith ſhe ſhall be called, The Lord is our righteouſneſſe] Heb. this is that he ſhall call her Jehovah our Righteouſneſſe: Called the Church ſhall be by Chriſts own name (which is a very high honour) as being his Spouſe: and making up one myſtical body with him. Hence ſhe is called Chriſt, 1 Cor. 12.12. and the fulneſſe of him who filleth all in all, Eph. 1. ult. See chap. 23.6. with Ezek. 48.35.
Ver. 17. David ſhall never want a man] The Man Chriſt Jeſus, Luke 1.32.33.
Ver. 18. Neither ſhall the Prieſt — want a man] The ſame Man Chriſt Jeſus, who is (as a King everlaſting ſo) a Prieſt for ever after the order of Milchiſedech: and his ſacrificing of himſelf once is more then equivalent to the daily perpetual ſacrificing. Whereunto may be added the continuance of an Evangelical Miniſtry in the Church to the worlds end, Mat. 28.20. Eph. 4.11, 12, 13.
Ver. 19. And the Word of the Lord, &c.] Iterum de perpetuitate regni Chriſti tractat & jurat, ſaith Oecolampad. Once more he treateth of the perpetuity of Chriſts kingdom, and aſſureth it as by oath.
Ver. 20. If ye can break my Covenant of the day] God hath hitherto kept promiſe with nights and dayes, that one ſhall ſucceed the other: and will he not then keep touch with his people?
Ver. 21. Then may alſo my Covenant] See ver. 17.18. The Poet hath ſomewhat like this,
Jungantur anſè ſaeva ſideribus freta,
Et ignis undae, tartaro triſti polus,
Lux alma tenebris, r…ſcidae nocti dies, &c.Sen. in Octavia.
Ver. 22. As the hoſt of heaven] See Gen. 13.16. & 15.5.
So will I multiply the ſeed of David] True believers.
And the Levites] godly Miniſters. See Pſal. 68.11.
Ver. 23. Moreover] Or Again: Idem repetit, the ſame thing is repeated, that it may be the better believed.
Ver. 24. Conſider thou not what this people have ſpoken] This unbelieving, miſgiving, deſponding people of mine.
The two families] Judah & Iſrael habentur pro peripſemate.
Ver. 25. If my Covenant be not with day and night] See on ver. 20. If there be not a conſtant intercourſe of either.
Ver. 26. Then will I caſt away the ſeed of Jacob] The body of the faithful, whom he ruleth by his Word and Spirit, Pſal. 105.1, 6. Rom. 9.6. & Gal. 3.16, 17. & 6.16.
And will have mercy on them] This is a complexive promiſe, and better then mony, anſwereth all things.