11 Moreover the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, Jeremiah, what do you see? I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. 12 Then said Yahweh to me, You have seen well: for I watch over my word to perform it. 13 The word of Yahweh came to me the second time, saying, What do you see? I said, I see a boiling caldron; and its face is from the north. 14 Then Yahweh said to me, Out of the north evil shall break forth on all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For, behold, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, says Yahweh; and they shall come, and they shall set everyone his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls all around, and against all the cities of Judah. 16 I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, in that they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands. 17 You therefore gird up your waist, and arise, and speak to them all that I command you: don’t be dismayed at them, lest I dismay you before them. 18 For, behold, I have made you this day a fortified city, and an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land. 19 They shall fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you: for I am with you, says Yahweh, to deliver you.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 1:11-19
Commentary on Jeremiah 1:11-19
(Read Jeremiah 1:11-19)
God gave Jeremiah a view of the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem by the Chaldeans. The almond-tree, which is more forward in the spring than any other, represented the speedy approach of judgments. God also showed whence the intended ruin should arise. Jeremiah saw a seething-pot boiling, representing Jerusalem and Judah in great commotion. The mouth or face of the furnace or hearth, was toward the north; from whence the fire and fuel were to come. The northern powers shall unite. The cause of these judgments was the sin of Judah. The whole counsel of God must be declared. The fear of God is the best remedy against the fear of man. Better to have all men our enemies than God our enemy; those who are sure they have God with them, need not, ought not to fear, whoever is against them. Let us pray that we may be willing to give up personal interests, and that nothing may move us from our duty.