Commentary on Jeremiah and Lamentations Volume 2 John Calvin (continued)
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.
JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS
be so great as to remove every sorrow and sadness from the Jews. But he indirectly exhorts the faithful to celebrate God's kindness. Had he only said, ``Go forth from them shall the voice of joy,'' it would, indeed, have been a complete sentence; but it was also necessary to remind the faithful for what end God would deal so kindly with his people, even that they might proclaim his goodness; for this is the design for which we receive every good from God's hand. Thanksgiving is then usually connected with joy, when mention is made of the Church.
But we have said that the faithful cannot with so much alacrity praise God, when they are pressed down by distresses, as when God makes their hearts to rejoice; for grief holds bound all the feelings of men; but joy, proceeding from a perception of God's paternal favor, dilates as it were their souls; and hence also their tongues are set loose. For this reason it is said in Psalm 51:15, ``O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.''
David there intimates that he had been for a time silent; when God hid from him his face, he could not taste of his paternal goodness. During that time David had his heart as it were bound and his mouth closed; but he prays the Lord to open his mouth, that is, to grant him joy that he might give him thanks.
We now perceive the meaning of the Prophet: he intimates, that though the Jews would be in sorrow for a time, would groan and mourn, yet this condition would not be perpetual; for God would at length comfort them, so that they would not only rejoice, but also proclaim his mercy when liberated.
He adds, I will increase them, and they shall not be lessened; I will adorn them, etc. Some render this also, ``I will increase them:`` but the words are different; and {}כבדcebed, means sometimes to increase, and sometimes to adorn, to glorify, to honor. The words which follow are also different, {}מעתmoth, and {}צערtsor. And though the Prophet meant to repeat nearly the same thing, yet there is no doubt but that he intended to set forth the favor of God by this variety, as though he had said, that so remarkable would be the mercy of God, that the Jews would acknowledge, that what had been promised to their father Abraham had been fillfilled to them, ``Thy seed shall be as the sand of the sea, and as the stars of heaven.'' (Genesis
22:17)
The perpetuity also, or the continuity of his favor is denoted, when he says, they shall not be lessened, they shall not be made small. It is possible for a people to increase for a short time; but such a thing is often of no long duration, for the form of this world passeth away. God then promises stability and perpetuity to his Church, for he would manifest his favor to it from day to day, and from year to year. 241 This is the meaning. It follows ---
Jeremiah 30:20
241The meaning of the latter verbs in these clauses is to be ascertained by the preceding verbs: "I will multiply," or increase "them;" then the opposite to this is, "and they shall not be lessened," or decreased: and when it is said, "I will glorify," or honor "them," the corresponding contrast to this is, "they shall not be degraded," or dishonored. The first clause refers to number, and the second to honor, dignity, or renown. Then the right version would be as follows, — And I will multiply them, and they shall not be lessened, I will also honor them, and they shall not be degraded. — Ed.