Commentary on Jeremiah and Lamentations Volume 2 John Calvin
JOHN CALVIN
understand by this term a splendid, large, or high building, I prefer the former sense, that is, that he speaks of the royal palace: stand then will the king's palace in its own form or place, as though it had never been destroyed. 240 In short, he promises such a restoration of the city and kingdom, that no less favor from God was to be expected in the second state of the Church, than it had formerly; for God would obliterate all memory of calamities when the Church again flourished, and the kingdom became so eminent in wealth, honor, power, and other excellencies, that it would evidently appear that God had only for a time been displeased with his Church.
PRAYER
Grant, Almighty God, that since we are so slow to consider thy judgments, and become continually hardened in our sins, --- O grant, that being really touched by those many warnings by which thou not only invitest, but also stimulatest us to repent, we may learn to humble ourselves, and so Submit to thy chastisements, that we may be capable of receiving that mercy which turns whatever evil may happen to us to our good and salvation, until we shall at length be gathered into that blessed rest which is prepared for us in heaven, through Christ our Lord. --- Amen.
Lecture One Hundred and Sixteenth
Jeremiah 30:19
19. And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
19. Et egredietur ab ipsis laus et vox laetitiarum; et augebo eos, et non minuentur; et decorabo eos, nec attenuabuntur.
The Prophet confirms what he had said. We have stated that the Jews, while any hope remained for them, were perverse towards God, but that, after they were brought to extremities, they became extremely dejected; for they lost all hope as to their state, and became so desponding that they would receive no consolation. It was not therefore enough, slightly, or in a few words, to promise them restoration; it was necessary that the promise should be repeatedly confirmed. This then is now the subject of the Prophet; he promises that praise and the voice of joy would proceed from them.
We ought to notice here the contrast between sighings, groanings, complaints, lamentations, and giving of thanks; for as long as they were detained in exile, no praise could have been heard among them. Sorrow is, indeed, no hinderance to prevent us to bless God in extreme misery; but we cannot with a full mouth, so to speak, bless God, except when some cause of joy is presented to us. Hence is that saying of James, ``Is any joyful among you? let him sing.'' (James 5:13)
As then the Prophet speaks of thanksgiving, he intimates that God's favor would 240The versions and the Targ. render the word for "palace," temple; and as the former clause has "on its heap," or, on its ruins, so in this the same preposition is used, and seems to require a similar construction, "on its former spot," or, on its wonted place. The word {{משפטdenotes what is customary or usual, as well as what is right and just. Then the two lines would read thus, --- And built shall be the city on its ruins, And the palace on its wonted seat shall be fixed, (or shall stand.) But the versions and the Targ. vary the meaning of the preposition. The Vulg., with which the rest essentially agree, is, ``And the temple according to its order, shall be founded.''
Blayney renders the line thus, --- And the palace shall be established upon its (former) plan. As in the previous line, the place is designated, it is probable that the place also is meant here. --- Ed.