Jeremiah 31:17 | |
17. And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to their own border. | 17. Et erit spes novissimo tuo, dicit Jehova; et redibunt filii ad terminum suum (hoc est, in regionum suam) |
He indeed explains in a few words, but with sufficient plainness, what he had said. We must always bear in mind the order which I have pointed out, -- that he first placed before the Jews their calamity, that they might humble themselves before God; and then he gave them the hope of return, that they might feel assured that God would be propitious to them. He now includes both in these few words,
Now this passage contains a useful doctrine, -- that we are not to measure God's favor by present appearances, but learn to keep our minds and thoughts in suspense, while the Lord seems to be angry with us, and only disheartening terrors meet us, so that we may cherish in our hearts the hope which the Prophet exhorts us to entertain, and distinguish between our present state and the end. And on this account it is that the Apostle, in his Epistle to the Hebrews, while exhorting the faithful to patience, says that the rod is always at the time grievous to children, but that correction appears useful, when the end is regarded. (Hebrews 12:11) So when we perceive that God is displeased with us, we cannot but feel a dread, and we desire at the same time to escape from his chastening hand; but, as I have just said, we ought to direct our thoughts to the end or the issue, according to what we are taught here:
But a question may be here moved, Was there no hope for the intermediate time, while God was punishing the Jews? the answer is obvious, -- the Prophet takes hope here for hope accomplished. If any one calls it actual hope or hope effected, I do not object. But he doubtless intimates that all the calamities which the Jews would have to endure would at last end in their deliverance, and would be for their good. We thus see that hope here, as we have said, is to be taken for hope accomplished. And the Prophet explains himself,
1 Or the words may be rendered, "There is a hope for thy posterity." So Gataker, not without reason, renders the words. The following clause explains what this "hope" was. -- Ed.
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