Ver. 1. The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron.] The four first verses of this chapter are left out by the Septuagint. Jerome saith they omitted them in gratiam et honorem papuli sui, in favour, and for the honour of their countrymen the Jews; but that was no just reason. “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven,” (Psalms 119:89) though there were not a Bible left on earth. These sinners against their own souls had their idolatry so deeply engraven on their hearts, that they could not get out the stamp, and the guilt thereof stuck so fast to their consciences, that they could hardly get off either the sting or the stain thereof. It is graven upon the tables of their hearts.] Their sin lay there, where the law should have lain. (Jeremiah 31:33) Like as Queen Mary, when she died, told those about her that the loss of Calais lay at her heart, a place far fitter for Jesus Christ. And upon the horns of your altars,] Whereon the blood of your sacrifices are sprinkled, and so your sin proclaimed.
Ver. 2. While their children remember their altars.] Or, As they remember their children, so they remember their altars and their groves, scil., with greatest love and delight. The Greeks call children φιλτατα, the comedian Charissima; so were their idols to these Jews.
Ver. 3. O my mountain in the field.] Or, O my mountain and field, i.e., O ye mountaineers and fieldlings. Montani fere asperi sunt et inculti: molliores corpore atque moribus pratenses; they should all be spoiled one with another, for the sin of their high places.
Ver. 4. And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue.] Or intermit, scil., the tillage of thy land. See Exodus 23:11 Le 26:33,34. It shall keep her Sabbaths.
Ver. 5. Cursed be the man that trusteth in man.] Disserit hic de summo bono, et de summo malo, saith one. Here the prophet discourseth of the chief good and of the chief evil. This latter he pronounceth to be to depart from God, and to depend upon the creature for help; for such a man, seem he never so manly a man (haggheber), is accursed of God, whom he robbeth of his chief jewel, that which giveth him the sovereignty, and setteth, as it were, the crown upon his head. See Judges 9:15 Ps 78:22 52:7. And maketh flesh his arm,] i.e., His strength; for in brachio est robur. Now three ways, saith a reverend man, we make flesh our arm— (1.) By sitting down in a faithless, sullen discontent and despair when we can see no second causes; (2.) By rising up in a corky, frothy confidence when we see sufficient human help; (3.) When we ascribe the glory of our good to it, “sacrificing to our own net.” (Habakkuk 1:16) This is to pull the curse upon our heads with twisted wrath and indignation. Whose heart departeth from God.] He trusteth not God at all who trusteth him not over all. Mr Case.
Ver. 6. For he shall be like the heath.] Wild myrice, that neither beareth fruit nor seed, and is good for little but to burn or make besoms. See Hebrews 6:8. Bastard tamarisk some call it; others, juniper. But shall inhabit the parched places of the wilderness.] Such shall have no content or satisfaction. Compare Matthew 12:43. The unclean spirit cast out “walks in dry places,” &c.; not but that dry and wet is all one with him, but it importeth his extreme restlessness.
Ver. 7. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord.] See on Jeremiah 17:5 Ps 25:12 32:10 34:8 84:12 125:1 146:5, where David. having entered a caveat against creature confidence, persuadeth people, by trusting in God alone, to provide for their own safety and happiness. See Nahum 1:7. Such shall have marvellous lovingkindness from God, (Psalms 17:7) above all that can be uttered (Psalms 31:19; see Proverbs 28:25).
Ver. 8. For he shall be as a tree planted.] It is plain that he here alludeth to Psalms 1:3; see the notes there. The laurel, saith Pliny, is never thunderstruck. Sure it is that he who trusteth in God taketh no hurt; his heart is fixed and unmovable (Psalms 112:7,8) to endure things almost incredible. (Psalms 27:3 Isaiah 14:32 cf. Isaiah 26:4,5) True trust will certainly triumph at length, as that which leaneth on the Lord and the power of his might, the surest support. By the river.] The Hebrew here is jubal; and the jubilee, saith one, had its name from this word, which signifieth a stream or watercourse, as carrying us to Christ, who is the truth of this type. (Luke 18:19) But his leaf shall be green.] Neither falling nor fading. And shall not be careful in the year of drought.] A metaphor, setting forth the full assurance of faith that is in some good men, such as was that holy martyr, who said, I will henceforth be careless, according to my name. “ Si fractus illabatur orbis, Impavidum ferient ruinae.” Neither shall cease from yielding fruit.] As they say the lemon tree doth not, but ever and anon sendeth forth new lemons as soon as the former are fallen down with ripeness. John Careless, Acts and Mon., fol. 1743. Theoph., Plin.