‏ Jeremiah 32

* Jeremiah buys a field. (1-15) The prophet's prayer. (16-25)

God declares that he will give up his people, but promises to

restore them. (26-44)

1-15 Jeremiah, being in prison for his prophecy, purchased a

piece of ground. This was to signify, that though Jerusalem was

besieged, and the whole country likely to be laid waste, yet the

time would come, when houses, and fields, and vineyards, should

be again possessed. It concerns ministers to make it appear that

they believe what they preach to others. And it is good to

manage even our worldly affairs in faith; to do common business

with reference to the providence and promise of God. 16-25 Jeremiah adores the Lord and his infinite perfections.

When at any time we are perplexed about the methods of

Providence, it is good for us to look to first principles. Let

us consider that God is the fountain of all being, power, and

life; that with him no difficulty is such as cannot be overcome;

that he is a God of boundless mercy; that he is a God of strict

justice; and that he directs every thing for the best. Jeremiah

owns that God was righteous in causing evil to come upon them.

Whatever trouble we are in, personal or public, we may comfort

ourselves that the Lord sees it, and knows how to remedy it. We

must not dispute God's will, but we may seek to know what it

means. 26-44 God's answer discovers the purposes of his wrath against

that generation of the Jews, and the purposes of his grace

concerning future generations. It is sin, and nothing else, that

ruins them. The restoration of Judah and Jerusalem is promised.

This people were now at length brought to despair. But God gives

hope of mercy which he had in store for them hereafter.

Doubtless the promises are sure to all believers. God will own

them for his, and he will prove himself theirs. He will give

them a heart to fear him. All true Christians shall have a

disposition to mutual love. Though they may have different views

about lesser things, they shall all be one in the great things

of God; in their views of the evil of sin, and the low estate of

fallen man, the way of salvation through the Saviour, the nature

of true holiness, the vanity of the world, and the importance of

eternal things. Whom God loves, he loves to the end. We have no

reason to distrust God's faithfulness and constancy, but only

our own hearts. He will settle them again in Canaan. These

promises shall surely be performed. Jeremiah's purchase was the

pledge of many a purchase that should be made after the

captivity; and those inheritances are but faint resemblances of

the possessions in the heavenly Canaan, which are kept for all

who have God's fear in their hearts, and do not depart from him.

Let us then bear up under our trials, assured we shall obtain

all the good he has promised us.