Bible Commentaries

Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach.

Remember, O Lord, what is come upon us. — This last chapter is a brief recapitulation Propheta per ανακεφαλαιωσιν repetit omnia mala supra commemorate, et remedium petit a Domino. - Figueir. of what had been said in the four former, that they might be the better remembered and considered by the reader. The ancient Greek and Latin Bibles style it "Jeremiah’s prayer." Herein the prophet, or rather the Church, layeth open, as a lazar, A poor and diseased person, usually one afflicted with a loathsome disease; esp. a leper. her sores and sufferings, and beggeth to be remembered and considered of God. Not that either forgetfulness or inobservance can be found in him, for all things, both past and future, are present with him, but these are metaphoric expressions, and he alloweth us to be his "remembrancers."

Consider, and behold. — Heb., Behold and see Affectum cum effectu coniuncture significat.

Our reproach. — This is that which man’s nature is most impatient for. To the saints it is so much the more grievous, because they do quarter arms with Christ.

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Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.

Our inheritance is turned to strangers. — So the Jews called all other nations, as the Greeks, barbarians. From hence to Lamentations 5:19 there are so many verses, so many different complaints. While we are in this "vale of misery and valley of tears," we are sure of many ailments, and still to have somewhat to cry for.

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We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows.

We are orphans and fatherless. — And so are become thy clients, just objects of thy pity. Hosea 14:3

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We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us.

We have drunk our water for money. — Fire, water, and air are common good, quae iure naturae sunt omnium et singulorum, saith Cicero. Offic., i. Lysimachus paid dear for a cup of water when he parted with his kingdom for it. Dives would have done as much in hell for a drop, and could not have it.

Our wood is sold to us. — This was strange to them - who had enough of their own growing, or might have it from the commons for fetching - but just upon them for their abuse of it to the service of the queen of heaven. Jeremiah 7:18

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Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest.

Our necks are under persecution. — For that we would not stoop to the sweet yoke of thine obedience, but held it heavy, now, we are under an intolerable yoke of extreme slavery.

We labour, and have no rest. — Who once troubled God’s holy rest by bearing burdens, and working thereon. Jeremiah 17:21 In many places among us God’s Sabbath is made the voider, and dunghill for all refuse businesses. The Sabbath of the Lord, the sanctified day of his rest, saith a reverend writer, Bishop King on Jonah, lec, vii. is shamelessly troubled and disquieted. The Sabbath was never so profaned, saith such another reverend man Mr Ley’s Fast Sermon before Parliament, April 26, 1643. yet living, with heart, hand, foot, tongue, pen, and press, as of late. And is it not just with God that those who would jostle his religious rest out of its right, should be restless in their condition? as Lamentations 5:5 Thus he. All wicked men, acted and agitated by the devil day and night, may well cry out as here, We labour, and have no rest; but they are not sensible of this woeful servitude.

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We have given the hand [to] the Egyptians, [and to] the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.

We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians. — Enemies to the Chaldeans, no less than they were to us; but hard hunger, that driveth the wolf out of the wood, hath made us glad to be beholden to them for bread; so ill have the cruel Chaldees relieved and rewarded us for our work.

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Our fathers have sinned, [and are] not; and we have borne their iniquities.

Our fathers have sinned, and are not. — They had their payment, but not comparable to ours, who have outsinned them, and do therefore justly bear the punishment of both their sins and our own too. Nobis foret iucundias semel emori, quam vitara invitara vivere.

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Servants have ruled over us: [there is] none that doth deliver [us] out of their hand.

Servants have ruled over us. — And they are usually most insolent, as was Tobiah the servant. Nehemiah 2:19 Cicero, after the defeat given to! Pompey, complaineth in a certain epistle, Lords we could not away with, and now we are forced to serve our fellow servant. This was Canaan’s curse, to be a servant of servants. Genesis 9:25 See Trapp on " Genesis 9:25 "

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