Jeremiah:12

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* Verse 1-6 - When we are most in the dark concerning God 's dispensations , we must keep up right thoughts of God , believing that he never did the least wrong to any of his creatures . When we find it hard to understand any of his dealings with us , or others , we must look to general truths as our first principles , and abide by them : the Lord is righteous . The God with whom we have to do , knows how our hearts are toward him . He knows both the guile of the hypocrite and the sincerity of the upright . Divine judgments would pull the wicked out of their pasture as sheep for the slaughter . This fruitful land was turned into barrenness for the wickedness of those that dwelt therein . The Lord reproved the prophet . The opposition of the men of Anathoth was not so formidable as what he must expect from the rulers of Judah . Our grief that there should be so much evil is often mixed with peevishness on account of the trials it occasions us . And in this our favoured day , and under our trifling difficulties , let us consider how we should behave , if called to sufferings like those of saints in former ages . * Verse 7-13 - God 's people had been the dearly-beloved of his soul , precious in his sight , but they acted so , that he gave them up to their enemies . Many professing churches become like speckled birds , presenting a mixture of religion and the world , with its vain fashions , pursuits , and pollutions . God 's people are as men wondered at , as a speckled bird ; but this people had by their own folly made themselves so ; and the beasts and birds are called to prey upon them . The whole land would be made desolate . But until the judgments were actually inflicted , none of the people would lay the warning to heart . When God 's hand is lifted up , and men will not see , they shall be made to feel . Silver and gold shall not profit in the day of the Lord 's anger . And the efforts of sinners to escape misery , without repentance and works answerable thereto , will end in confusion . * Verse 14-17 - The Lord would plead the cause of his people against their evil neighbours . Yet he would afterwards show mercy to those nations , when they should learn true religion . This seems to look forward to the times when the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in . Those who would have their lot with God 's people , and a last end like theirs , must learn their ways , and walk in them . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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