10 Woe to me, my mother , that you have borne me As a man of strife and a man of contention to all the land ! I have not lent , nor have men lent money to me, Yet everyone curses me. 11 The Lord said , "Surely e I will set you free for purposes of good ; Surely e I will cause the enemy to make supplication to you In a time of disaster and a time of distress . 12 "Can anyone smash iron , Iron from the north , or bronze ? 13 "Your wealth and your treasures I will give for booty without cost , Even for all your sins And within all your borders . 14 "Then I will cause your enemies to bring it Into a land you do not know ; For a fire has been kindled in My anger , It will burn upon you."
15 You who know , O Lord , Remember me, take notice of me, And take vengeance for me on my persecutors . Do not, in view of Your patience , take me away; Know that for Your sake I endure reproach . 16 Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart ; For I have been called by Your name , O Lord God of hosts . 17 I did not sit in the circle of merrymakers , Nor did I exult . Because e of Your hand upon me I sat alone , For You filled me with indignation . 18 Why has my pain been perpetual And my wound incurable , refusing to be healed ? Will You indeed be to me like a deceptive stream With water that is unreliable e ? 19 Therefore , thus says the Lord , " If you return , then I will restore you- Before Me you will stand ; And if you extract the precious from the worthless , You will become My spokesman . They for their part may turn to you, But as for you, you must not turn to them. 20 "Then I will make you to this people A fortified wall of bronze ; And though they fight against you, They will not prevail over you; For I am with you to save you And deliver you," declares the Lord . 21 "So I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked , And I will redeem you from the grasp of the violent ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 15:10-21
Commentary on Jeremiah 15:10-14
(Read Jeremiah 15:10-14)
Jeremiah met with much contempt and reproach, when they ought to have blessed him, and God for him. It is a great and sufficient support to the people of God, that however troublesome their way may be, it shall be well with them in their latter end. God turns to the people. Shall the most hardy and vigorous of their efforts be able to contend with the counsel of God, or with the army of the Chaldeans? Let them hear their doom. The enemy will treat the prophet well. But the people who had great estates would be used hardly. All parts of the country had added to the national guilt; and let each take shame to itself.
Commentary on Jeremiah 15:15-21
(Read Jeremiah 15:15-21)
It is matter of comfort that we have a God, to whose knowledge of all things we may appeal. Jeremiah pleads with God for mercy and relief against his enemies, persecutors, and slanderers. It will be a comfort to God's ministers, when men despise them, if they have the testimony of their own consciences. But he complains, that he found little pleasure in his work. Some good people lose much of the pleasantness of religion by the fretfulness and uneasiness of their natural temper, which they indulge. The Lord called the prophet to cease from his distrust, and to return to his work. If he attended thereto, he might be assured the Lord would deliver him from his enemies. Those who are with God, and faithful to him, he will deliver from trouble or carry through it. Many things appear frightful, which do not at all hurt a real believer in Christ.