Jeremiah:17

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* Verse 1-4 - The sins which men commit make little impression on their minds , yet every sin is marked in the book of God ; they are all so graven upon the table of the heart , that they will all be remembered by the conscience . That which is graven in the heart will become plain in the life ; men 's actions show the desires and purposes of their hearts . What need we have to humble ourselves before God , who are so vile in his sight ! How should we depend on his mercy and grace , begging of God to search and prove us ; not to suffer us to be deceived by our own hearts , but to create in us a clean and holy nature by his Spirit ! * Verse 5-11 - He who puts confidence in man , shall be like the heath in a desert , a naked tree , a sorry shrub , the product of barren ground , useless and worthless . Those who trust to their own righteousness and strength , and think they can do without Christ , make flesh their arm , and their souls cannot prosper in graces or comforts . Those who make God their Hope , shall flourish like a tree always green , whose leaf does not wither . They shall be fixed in peace and satisfaction of mind ; they shall not be anxious in a year of drought . Those who make God their Hope , have enough in him to make up the want of all creature-comforts . They shall not cease from yielding fruit in holiness and good works . The heart , the conscience of man , in his corrupt and fallen state , is deceitful above all things . It calls evil good , and good evil ; and cries peace to those to whom it does not belong . Herein the heart is desperately wicked ; it is deadly , it is desperate . The case is bad indeed , if the conscience , which should set right the errors of other faculties , is a leader in the delusion . We cannot know our own hearts , nor what they will do in an hour of temptation . Who can understand his errors ? Much less can we know the hearts of others , or depend upon them . He that believes God 's testimony in this matter , and learns to watch his own heart , will find this is a correct , though a sad picture , and learns many lessons to direct his conduct . But much in our own hearts and in the hearts of others , will remain unknown . Yet whatever wickedness there is in the heart , God sees it . Men may be imposed upon , but God cannot be deceived . He that gets riches , and not by right , though he may make them his hope , never shall have joy of them . This shows what vexation it is to a worldly man at death , that he must leave his riches behind ; but though the wealth will not follow to another world , guilt will , and everlasting torment . The rich man takes pains to get an estate , and sits brooding upon it , but never has any satisfaction in it ; by sinful courses it comes to nothing . Let us be wise in time ; what we get , let us get it honestly ; and what we have , use it charitably , that we may be wise for eternity . * Verse 12-18 - The prophet acknowledges the favour of God in setting up religion . There is fulness of comfort in God , overflowing , ever-flowing fulness , like a fountain . It is always fresh and clear , like spring-water , while the pleasures of sin are puddle-waters . He prays to God for healing , saving mercy . He appeals to God concerning his faithful discharge of the office to which he was called . He humbly begs that God would own and protect him in the work to which he had plainly called him . Whatever wounds or diseases we find to be in our hearts and consciences , let us apply to the Lord to heal us , to save us , that our souls may praise his name . His hands can bind up the troubled conscience , and heal the broken heart ; he can cure the worst diseases of our nature . * Verse 19-27 - The prophet was to lay before the rulers and the people of Judah , the command to keep holy the sabbath day . Let them strictly observe the fourth command . If they obeyed this word , their prosperity should be restored . It is a day of rest , and must not be made a day of labour , unless in cases of necessity . Take heed , watch against the profanation of the sabbath . Let not the soul be burdened with the cares of this world on sabbath days . The streams of religion run deep or shallow , according as the banks of the sabbath are kept up or neglected . The degree of strictness with which this ordinance is observed , or the neglect shown towards it , is a good test to find the state of spiritual religion in any land . Let all ; by their own example , by attention to their families , strive to check this evil , that national prosperity may be preserved , and , above all , that souls may be saved . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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