“I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.”
Man. Jeremias had a share in the common misery, (Worthington) and bewails his own condition, as a figure of Christ, Psalm lxxxvii. 16., and Isaias liii. 3. (Calmet) — His disciples must expect to suffer. (Haydock)
“He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.”
Led, or driven me with the rod. (Haydock) — God employs two, Zacharias xi. 7. That of rigour was reserved for this prophet; (chap. xxxviii.) none of them suffered more.
“My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.”
Old and wrinkled, the effect of misery.
“He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.”
Gall. Septuagint, “head.” Chaldean, “he hath seized the chief,” Job xvi. 13. He speaks in the name of the besieged, who had been threatened with this punishment, ver. 19., and chap. viii. 14. (Calmet) — And labour. Nabuzardan ransacked the city worse than his master, (Worthington) if the latter was at all present. (Haydock)
“He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.”
Ever indeed, Ecclesiastes xii. 5., and Psalm xlviii. 12. Jeremias (xxxviii. 6.) was in imminent danger.
“Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.”
Prayer. God would not allow him to pray for the people, chap. vii. 16.
“He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.”
Stones. There is no passage, Job xix. 8.
“He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.”
Places. This may refer to the prophet or to the people.
“He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.”
Arrows. Such places were common where shooting was practised, 1 Kings xx. 36., and Job xvi. 11.
“I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.”
Song. True prophets were derided on account of impostors, and because their declarations were unpleasant, &c., chap. xvii. 15., and Ezechiel xii. 22.
“He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood. bitterness: Heb. bitternesses”
Wormwood, or a bitter poisonous herb, chap. ix. 26., and Deuteronomy xxix. 18.
“He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes. covered: or, rolled me in the ashes”
One. Hebrew, “against a stone.” My bread is full of them, Psalm ci. 10. (Calmet) — He describes his afflictions, as if his teeth had been broken. (Worthington)
“And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:”
End. Hebrew, “strength.” Septuagint, “victory.” (Calmet)
“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. recall: Heb. make to return to my heart”
Hope. The remembrance fills him with grief and hope, chap. xx. 12. (Haydock)
“They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
New. Novi should be novæ, to agree with miserationes. (Calmet) — Chaldean, “new miracles” occur daily. (Haydock) — God’s mercies are ever fresh. (Worthington)
“It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.”
Yoke. Afflictions endured for justice sake ensure a blessing. (Haydock) — All may derive great benefit from suffering.
“He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.”
Himself, with perfect resignation.
“He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.”
Hope. He does not doubt, but confides with great humility.
“He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.”
Him. We cannot verify this of the prophet as we can of Christ, (Matthew xxvi. 62.; Calmet) to whom this particularly refers. (Worthington)
“For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. willingly: Heb. from his heart”
Men. He punishes with regret, Ezechiel xviii. 23. Our crimes force him to chastise, ver. 36. (Calmet) — Yet he seeks our advantage. (Worthington)
“Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?”
Commanded. Hebrew, “said: It cometh to pass,” as if by chance. There have always been Epicureans, Ezechiel viii. 12., and Psalm xciii. 7. (Calmet) — Those who deny Providence speak, ver. 30. (Worthington)
“Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? complain: or, murmur”
Sins? If all happened by inevitable necessity, or according to the laws of Providence, why should any one complain?
“Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.”
Up. This posture “is the testimony of a soul naturally Christian.” (Tertullian, Apol.) — Our heart must accompany our hands, 1 Timothy ii. 8. (Calmet)
“We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.”
Inexorable. Hebrew and Septuagint, “Thou hast not shewn pity.” (Haydock)
“Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.”
Covered thyself, as if not to see our distress.
“Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.”
Cloud. Isaias lix. 2., and Ecclesiasticus xxxv. 21. These expressions are admirable.
“Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.”
Prophecy. Many would read, vastatio. Hebrew, “ruin.” Septuagint, “taking away.” (Calmet) — Protestants, “Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.” The prophets were continually in danger. (Haydock) — The preaching of false prophets has brought these evils upon the people. (Worthington)
“Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city. mine heart: Heb. my soul because: or, more than all”
Wasted. Literally, “robbed.” (Haydock) — I have felt more for my people than they have themselves. Moral writers often produce this text, to shew the dangers of an unguarded glance (Calmet) at women.
“They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.”
Over me, as if I were buried. (Haydock) — Jeremias was in prison (chap. xxxviii. 6.) when he prayed, ver. 54., and chap. xx. 7. (Calmet)
“O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.”
Judge what they have judged unjustly. (Worthington)
“The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.”
Lips; or language (Genesis xi. 1.) thou knowest, ver. 60.
“Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.”
Up, all their conduct. — Song. Ver. 14.
“Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them. sorrow: or, obstinacy of heart”
Buckler, to cover all the body. They shall be surrounded with misery, (Psalm cviii. 29.) while God will protect his servants, Psalm v. 13. (Calmet) — Let sorrow pierce their heart, as thy enemies are treated. (Worthington)