Ver. 1. Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying.] The prophet being thus called and confirmed, [as Jeremiah 1] sets forthwith upon the work. Est autem hoc caput plenum querelae, et quasi continuum pathos. In this chapter the Lord heavily complaineth of Jerusalem’s unworthy usage of him, convincing them thereof by sixteen different arguments, as A Lapide hath observed; and all little enough; for they put him to his proofs, as is to be seen. (Jeremiah 2:35)
Ver. 2. Go thou and cry.] For if I myself should do it immediately from heaven, my stillest rhetoric would be too loud for them. (Deuteronomy 5:27,28) I remember thee.] Who hast forgot thy first love and loyalty to me. Or, “I remember,” that is, I put thee in mind of the kindness that hath been between us. Augustus might have some such meaning in those last words of his to his wife when he lay a dying, ‘O Livia, remember our marriage, and adieu.’ It is thought she had a hand in setting him going, and that she was too familiar with Eudemus the physician. Qui specie artis frequens secretis, saith Tacitus. Peccatum est deicidium. The kindness of thy youth.] When thou camest out of Egypt after me, and wast espoused unto me at the giving of the law. We use highly to prize nettle buds when they first put forth, so doth God our young services. Others render it thus: I record the mercy showed to thee in thy youth, and the love of thy espousals— sc., whenas I loved thee because I loved thee, and for no other reason. (Deuteronomy 7:7,8) When thou wentest after me in the wilderness.] God takes it kindly when men will choose him, and his ways in affliction, as did Moses. (Hebrews 11:25) “Who is this that cometh from the wilderness”—from troubles and afflictions—“leaning on her beloved?” (Song of Solomon 8:5)
Ver. 3. Israel was holiness unto the Lord.] A people consecrated and set apart for his peculiar; (Exodus 19:5 Psalms 114:2) holy with a federal holiness at least. And the firstfruits of his increase.] Yea, his “firstborn,” and therefore, “higher than the kings of the earth.” (Psalms 89:27) All God’s people are so. (Hebrews 12:23 James 1:18) All that devour them shall offend.] Rather thus: All that devoured them trespassed—evil befell them; witness the four latter books of Moses.
Ver. 4. Hear ye the word of the Lord.] This is often inculcated in both Testaments, to procure attention. “I received of the Lord, that which also I delivered unto you.” (1 Corinthians 11:23) “This we say unto you by the word of the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:15) Thus to preach, is to preach cum privilegio, with authority.
Ver. 5. What iniquity have your fathers found in me?] How unreasonable was their apostasy! and how senseless is your pleading from their example! Nothing is more irrational than irreligion. That they are gone far from me.] Are ye weary of receiving so many benefits by one man? said Themistocles to his ungrateful countrymen. And have walked after vanity.] An idol is nothing at all, but only in the vain opinion of the idolater. And are become vain,] scil., ” In their imaginations”; (Romans 1:21) as vain as their very idols. (Psalms 115:8)
Ver. 6. Neither said they.] In their minds, or with their mouths. That signal deliverance was obliterated, and even lost upon them. Plerique omnes sumus ingrati. Through a land of deserts and of pits.] Per terrain campestrem et sepulchralem, where we talked of making our graves; neither was it any otherwise likely, but that God gave us pluviam escatilem et petram aquatilem, all manner of necessaries. Cicero. Tertul.
Ver. 7. And I brought you into a plentiful country.] You lived in my good land, but not by my good laws; you had aequissima iura, sed iniquissima ingenia, most just laws but most foul nature, as was said of the Athenians; as if I had hired you to be wicked, so have you abused my mercies to my greatest dishonour.
Ver. 8. The priests said not, Where is the Lord?] Ignorant they were, and idle. They would not be at the pains of a serious inquisition after God and his will; though he be a “rewarder of all that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) And they that handled the law.] That expounded and applied it. A metaphor from such as are trained in the war, who are said tractate bellum, to handle their arms. The pastors also transgressed against me.] What marvel, therefore, that the people did so too? For, as in a fish, the corruption of it beginneth at the head; so here. And the prophets prophesied by Baal.] And taught others to worship idols. We see then, it is nothing new that stars fall from heaven, that church chieftains should fall from God, and draw others after them. It went for a proverb, a little before Luther stirred, Qui theologum seholasticum videt, videt septem peccata mortalia, He that seeth a divine, seeth the seven deadly sins. Dixerunt, Ubi victimae, ubi nummi? triobolarium Deum faciunt subque hastam mittunt. -Oecol.