Ver. 1. Woe to the pastors,] i.e., To the rulers and chieftains, whether in the State or Church; woe to the wicked of both sorts; and why? They destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture.] So he calleth the people, how bad soever, because of the covenant with their fathers.
Ver. 2. Against the pastors.] Impostors, rather. That feed my people.] Or, That feed upon my people, rather; attonsioni gregis potius quam attentioni consulentes, more minding gain than godliness. Ye have scattered my flock.] And worried them, as so many evening wolves, (Zephaniah 3:3) grievous, or fat wolves. (Acts 20:29) [See Trapp on “Ac 20:29”] Behold, I will visit upon you.] Ludit in voce visitare; I will visit you in another sense, for your not visiting my people according to your duty. (Ezekiel 34:4,6,8)
Ver. 3. And I will gather the remnant of my flock.] I will bring them back from Babylon, but especially from out of this present evil world, into the bosom of my Church, by Christ the Arch-shepherd, and by such under-shepherds as he shall make use of to that purpose. (Ephesians 4:11) And they shall be fruitful and increase.] Gignendo gentes, by begetting the Gentiles unto Christ, through the preaching of the gospel.
Ver. 4. And I will set up shepherds over them.] “Pastors after mine own heart,” such as were Zerubbabel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Jehoshua the high priest, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, &c. Christian princes and pastors under the gospel, but especially Christ the “chief Shepherd and Bishop of our souls,” who is therefore here promised, (Jeremiah 23:5,6) for the comfort of God’s elect, who might well be troubled at that former dreadful denunciation. (Jeremiah 22:29,30) And they shall fear no more.] But enjoy spiritual security, and be of an invincible courage. Neither shall they be lacking.] Christ the good Shepherd will see to that, (John 10:28,29) his under-shepherds also, whose motto is Praesis ut prosis, will have a care. Bernard.
Ver. 5. I will raise to David a righteous branch.] Who shall raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof, (Amos 9:11) who shall also sit upon the throne of his father David, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. (Luke 1:32,33) Annon hoc probe sarcitur, &c. Is not this a good amends for that which is to befall Coniah and his posterity, put beside the kingdom? Of Christ the “righteous branch,” see Isaiah 11:1 4:2 Zec 3:8 [See Trapp on “Isa 11:1”] [See Trapp on “Isa 4:2”] [See Trapp on “Zec 3:8”]
Ver. 6. This is the name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness.] Jehovah Tsidkenu. This is a most mellifluous and sweet name of our Lord Jesus Christ, importing his Godhead, as the righteous Branch of David (Jeremiah 23:5) did his manhood; and besides assuring us that as he hath for us fulfilled all righteousness, (Matthew 3:15) so he is by God made unto us righteousness, (1 Corinthians 1:30) and that we are become the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) This one name of Christ is a strong tower; (Proverbs 18:10) it is such as will answer all our doubts and objections, were they never so many, had we but skill to spell all the letters in it. Cyprian was wont to comfort his friends thus, Venit Antichristus, sed superveniet Christus; Antichrist will come, but then Christ will be at the heels of him. We may well comfort ourselves against all evils and enemies with this consideration, Christ is “Jehovah our righteousness.” God hath “laid help on one that is mighty,” and he came to “bring in everlasting righteousness.” (Daniel 9:24) Why then should we “fear in the days of evil, when the iniquities of our heels shall compass us about.” (Psalms 49:5) Domine Satan, saith Luther somewhere, nihil me movent minae terrores tui; est enim unus qui vocatur Iehovah iustitia nostra, in quem credo: Is legem abrogavit, peccatum damnavit, mortem abolevit, infernum destruxit, estque O Satan, Satan tuus -that is, You, Sir Satan, your menaces and terrors trouble me not. For why? There is one whose name is called the Lord our righteousness, on whom I believe. He it is who hath abrogated the law, condemned, sin, abolished death, destroyed hell, and is a Satan to thee, O Satan. Surely this brave saying of Luther may well be reckoned among such of his sentences as a man would fetch, rather than be without them, upon his knees from Rome or Jerusalem. Vocat Scriptura nomen Messiae Iehova Tsidkenu, quia erit Mediator Deus, per cuius manus consecuturi sumus iustitiam a Deo ipso, inquit Rabbinus quidam in lib. Ikharim. Luth., tom. iv. fol. 55 A.
Ver. 7. Therefore, behold the days come.] See Jeremiah 16:14.
Ver. 8. But the Lord liveth.] See Jeremiah 16:15.
Ver. 9. My heart within me is broken.] Utitur exordiolo pathetico et tragico prorsus. Being to inveigh against the priests and false prophets, those great corrupters of the people, he useth this pathetic preface, Cordicitus et medullitus doles, I am grieved to the very heart, &c. All my bones shake.] Heb., Hover or flutter, as birds do, They shake and shudder with extreme fear and horror. Totus contremisco. I am like a drunken man.] Totus perturbatus sum, I am not myself, not able to stand high alone. Because of the Lord.] Through zeal of his glory. And because of the words of his holiness.] His holy words so shamefully slighted, his dreadful threats especially.