Jeremiah:3

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* Verse 1-5 - In repentance , it is good to think upon the sins of which we have been guilty , and the places and companies where they have been committed . How gently the Lord had corrected them ! In receiving penitents , he is God , and not man . Whatever thou hast said or done hitherto , wilt thou not from this time apply to me ? Will not this grace of God overcome thee ? Now pardon is proclaimed , wilt thou not take the benefit ? They will hope to find in him the tender compassions of a Father towards a returning prodigal . They will come to him as the Guide of their youth : youth needs a guide . Repenting sinners may encourage themselves that God will not keep his anger to the end . All God 's mercies , in every age , suggest encouragement ; and what can be so desirable for the young , as to have the Lord for their Father , and the Guide of their youth ? Let parents daily direct their children earnestly to seek this blessing . * Verse 6-11 - If we mark the crimes of those who break off from a religious profession , and the consequences , we see abundant reason to shun evil ways . It is dreadful to be proved more criminal than those who have actually perished in their sins ; yet it will be small comfort in everlasting punishment , for them to know that others were viler than they . * Verse 12-20 - See God 's readiness to pardon sin , and the blessings reserved for gospel times . These words were proclaimed toward the north ; to Israel , the ten tribes , captive in Assyria . They are directed how to return . If we confess our sins , the Lord is faithful and just to forgive them . These promises are fully to come to pass in the bringing back the Jews in after-ages . God will graciously receive those that return to him ; and by his grace , he takes them out from among the rest . The ark of the covenant was not found after the captivity . The whole of that dispensation was to be done away , which took place after the multitude of believers had been greatly increased by the conversion of the Gentiles , and of the Israelites scattered among them . A happy state of the church is foretold . He can teach all to call him Father ; but without thorough change of heart and life , no man can be a child of God , and we have no security for not departing from Him . * Verse 21-25 - Sin is turning aside to crooked ways . And forgetting the Lord our God is at the bottom of all sin . By sin we bring ourselves into trouble . The promise to those that return is , God will heal their backslidings , by his pardoning mercy , his quieting peace , and his renewing grace . They come devoting themselves to God . They come disclaiming all expectations of relief and succour from any but the Lord . Therefore they come depending upon him only . He is the Lord , and he only can save . It points out the great salvation from sin Jesus Christ wrought out for us . They come justifying God in their troubles , and judging themselves for their sins . True penitents learn to call sin shame , even the sin they have been most pleased with . True penitents learn to call sin death and ruin , and to charge upon it all they suffer . While men harden themselves in sin , contempt and misery are their portion : for he that covereth his sins shall not prosper , but he that confesseth and forsaketh them , shall find mercy . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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