10 Wo to me, my mother, For thou hast borne me a man of strife, And a man of contention to all the land, I have not lent on usury, Nor have they lent on usury to me—All of them are reviling me. 11 Jehovah said, Did I not direct thee for good? Did not I intercede for thee in a time of evil, And in a time of adversity, with the enemy? 12 Doth one break iron—northern iron, and brass? 13 Thy strength and thy treasures For a prey I do give—not for price, Even for all thy sins, and in all thy borders. 14 And I have caused thine enemies To pass over into the land—Thou hast not known, For a fire hath been kindled in Mine anger, Against you it doth burn.
15 Thou, Thou hast known, O Jehovah, Remember me, and inspect me, And take vengeance for me of my pursuers, In Thy long-suffering take me not away, Know—I have borne for Thee reproach. 16 Thy words have been found, and I eat them, And Thy word is to me for a joy, And for the rejoicing of my heart, For Thy name is called on me, O Jehovah, God of Hosts. 17 I have not sat in an assembly of deriders, Nor do I exult, because of thy hand,—Alone I have sat, For 'with' indignation Thou hast filled me. 18 Why hath my pain been perpetual? And my wound incurable? It hath refused to be healed, Thou art surely to me as a failing stream, Waters not stedfast. 19 Therefore, thus said Jehovah: If thou turnest back, then I bring thee back, Before Me thou dost stand, And if thou bringest out the precious from the vile, As My mouth thou art! They—they turn back unto thee, And thou dost not turn back unto them. 20 And I have made thee to this people For a wall—brazen—fenced, And they have fought against thee, And they do not prevail against thee, For with thee 'am' I to save thee, And to deliver thee—an affirmation of Jehovah, 21 And I have delivered thee from the hand of evil doers, And I have ransomed thee From the hand of the terrible!
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.