The prophet Jeremiah warned Judah for forty years of God’s impending punishment for her flagrant disobedience of his commands. The many messages of judgment, though, were mixed with promises of the mercy Judah would receive if only she would repent. The weeping prophet lamented over the people’s obstinacy and the resulting calamities, yet always reminded them of the hope they would find in God’s compassion—and the restoration that would come in their repentance.
This commentary began as 193 hour-long classroom lectures, given near the end of Calvin’s life at the rate of three per week extemporarily in Latin to a mixed bag of senior schoolboys, pastors, and ministerial students from all over Europe. Speaking as if personally acquainted with the prophet, John Calvin explains Jeremiah’s emphasis on God’s mercy and kindness toward his chosen but erring people. Just as Jeremiah looked forward to the future messianic kingdom, Calvin’s enthusiasm never wanes as he applies the prophet’s teaching to both the church and individual Christians.
“Jeremiah, after the city of Jerusalem had been destroyed and the temple burned, bewailed the miserable state of his own nation, so that he might show that even in such a disastrous state some benefit might be derived from what he says. This should be carefully noted, for if we do not bear this in mind, the book will lose its special interest.” (Page 293)
“yet hope still remained, provided that the people sought God in repentance and faith” (Page 293)
“God’s servants will not lack strength as long as they derive courage from the conviction that God himself is the author of their calling. God will give them strength so that they will be formidable to the whole world.” (Page 20)
“there is no reason for you to be afraid in the midst of a thousand deaths, since I am with you to deliver you.’” (Page 20)
“Their sin was made worse because they had no reason to forsake God and to alienate themselves from him” (Page 22)