Jeremiah 17:5

“Thus saith the Lord, etc.] Here begins a new discourse, or part of one; or, however, another cause or reason of the ruin and destruction of the Jews is suggested; namely, their trust in man, or confidence in the creature, which is resented and condemned: cursed be the man that trusteth in man; as the Jews did in the Egyptians and Assyrians; (see <240236>Jeremiah 2:36,37), and in Abraham their father, and in being his seed, as they did in Christ’s time; and which was trusting in the flesh; and as all such may be said to do who trust in their natural descent from good men, (<400309>Matthew 3:9 <430833>John 8:33,39 <500304>Philippians 3:4,5), they also trusted in Moses, in the law of Moses, and…”

“Referring to the Jews' proneness to rely on Egypt, in its fear of Assyria and Babylon (Isa 31:1, Isa 31:3). trusteth--This word is emphatic. We may expect help from men, so far as God enables them to help us, but we must rest our trust in God alone (Psa 62:5).”

“In the rest of the prophecy Jeremiah dwells upon the moral faults which had led to Judah’s ruin. Jeremiah 17:6 Like the heath - Or, “like a destitute man” Psalms 102:17. The verbs “he shall see” (or fear) and “shall inhabit” plainly show that a man is here meant and not a plant. Jeremiah 17:8 The river - Or, “water-course” Isaiah 30:25, made for purposes of irrigation. Shall not see - Or, “shall not fear Jeremiah 17:6.” God’s people feel trouble as much as other people, but they do not fear it because they know (1) that it is for their good, and (2) that God will give them strength to bear it. Jeremiah 17:9 The train of thought is apparently this: If the man is so blessed Jeremiah 17:7-8 who…”

“17:5-10 This meditation on the folly of trusting in humans is contrasted with the wisdom of trusting in the Lord. 17:5 Trust is the disposition of the heart that results in obedience (cp. 11:4; Deut 27:15-26).”

“Cursed: Psa 62:9, Psa 118:8, Psa 118:9, Psa 146:3, Psa 146:4; Isa 2:22, Isa 30:1-7, Isa 31:1-9, Isa 36:6; Eze 29:6, Eze 29:7 flesh: Ch2 32:8; Isa 31:3 whose: Psa 18:21; Isa 59:15; Eze 6:9; Hos 1:2, Heb 3:12 Jeremiah 17:6”

“Further Confirmation of this Announcement in General Reflections concerning the Sources of Ruin and of well-being. - This portion falls into two halves: a. On the sources of ruin and of well-being ( Jer 17:5-18); b. On the way to life ( Jer 17:18-27). The reflections of the first half show the curse of confidence in man and the blessings of confidence in God the Lord, Jer 17:5-13; to which is joined, Jer 17:14-18, a prayer of the prophet for deliverance from his enemies. Jer 17:5-6 "Thus saith Jahveh: Cursed is the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm, while his heart departeth from Jahveh. Jer 17:6. He shall be as a destitute man in the wilderness, and shall not see that good…”