God no Barren Wilderness
T. Horton, D. D. Jeremiah 2:31-37 O generation, see you the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? a land of darkness? why say my people, We are lords… I. A DEMAND. 1. It has the force of a remonstrance or protestation. Men are wrongly opinionated respecting God. (1) Because God is pleased sometimes to suspend and delay the expressions of His goodness to them. (2) Because God does not always reward them as they desire and expect. 2. It has the force of a remembrance or seasonable intimation; i.e., I have been the contrary, I have in reality been a paradise. 3. It has the force of a reproach; i.e., Israel hath rather been a wilderness to Me! And so it represents to us the unfruitfulness of God's people. Three things aggravate this. (1) The mercies they enjoy. (2) The means (of improvement, advantages) they partake of. (3) The expectations which are upon them. 4. It has the force of an appeal or provocation to them; i.e., let Israel speak what they know of Me. II. AN EXPOSTULATION. 1. The charge is two fold. (1) Their assertion: "We are lords," whereby they hold forth their own greatness, self-sufficiency, and independence. (2) Their resolution: "We will come no more," etc. 2. The censure, "wherefore?" signifies that — (1) It was without reason. (2) Against reason. Consider — (a) Their relation. "My people." (b) Their indebtedness. III. AN INVITATION. By "generation" He meant the people of the time. There is a reflection in the phrase upon the sinfulness and wretchedness of the age, as if to say, Into what a time and age are we fallen! 1. Unto what this generation is invited. To "see the Word of the Lord," i.e., mind it and attend to it. 2. The weightiness and seriousness of it. (1) As it respects God's own justification. (2) As it respects Israel's condemnation. (T. Horton, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee? WEB: Generation, consider the word of Yahweh. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of thick darkness? Why do my people say, 'We have broken loose. We will come to you no more?'