Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 15:18

A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.

Notes on the Whole Bible
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · 19th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.

This is the prayer of a man in bitter grief, whose human nature cannot at present submit to the divine will. God’s long-suffering toward the wicked seemed to the prophet to be the abandonment of himself to death; justice itself required that one who was suffering contumely for God’s sake should be delivered. Rebuke - i. e., reproach, contumely. Jeremiah 15:16 Thy words were found - Jeremiah’s summons to the prophetic office had not been expected or sought for by him. I did eat them - i. e., I received them with joy. This eating of the divine words expresses also the close union between that which came from God and the prophet’s own being. I am called by thy name - i. e., I am consecrated to Thy service, am ordained to be Thy prophet. Jeremiah 15:17 Rather, “I sat not in the assembly of the laughers, and was merry.” From the time God’s words came to Jeremiah he abstained from things innocent, and a gravity came over him beyond his years. I sat alone because of thy hand - As a person consecrated to God he would also be “separated.” See Jeremiah 1:5; compare Acts 13:2. With indignation - The prophet thus taught of God sees the sins of the people as offences against God, and as involving the ruin of His Church. Jeremiah 15:18 Why is my pain perpetual - i. e., Are all my labors to be in vain? As a liar ... - Really, “as a deceitful brook,” a brook which flows only in the winter, the opposite of the “perennial stream” of Amos 5:24. Jeremiah had expected that there would be a perpetual interference of Providence in his behalf, instead whereof things seemed to take only their natural course. return to 'Top of Page'

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