Jeremiah 14:7

O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee. THOUGH OUR INIQUITIES TESTIFY AGAINST US, DO THOU IT - what we beg of thee; interpose to remove the drought. Jeremiah pleads in the name of his nation (). So "work for us," absolutely used (). FOR THY NAME'S SAKE - for our backslidings are so many' that we cannot urge thee for the sake of our doings, but for the glory of thy name; lest, if thou give us not aid, it should be said it was owing to thy want of power (; ;...

The Prophet, no doubt, intended here to exhort the Jews by his own example to seek pardon; nor does he so assume the character of others, as though he was free himself from guilt; for he was not more righteous than Daniel, who, as we find, testified that he confessed before God, not only the sins of the people, but also his own sins. (Daniel 9:4) And Jeremiah, though not one of God’s despisers, nor of the profane, who had provoked God’s wrath, was yet one of the people; and here he connects himself with them; and he did this in sincerity and not in dissimulation. But he might have prayed silently at home; why then did he make public his prayer? What was his purpose in consigning it to writing? It was that he might rouse the people, as I have already said, by his example, so that they might flee as suppliants to God’s mercy, and seek forgiveness for their sins. This then was the Prophet’s...

1-9 The people were in tears. But it was rather the cry of their trouble, and of their sin, than of their prayer. Let us be thankful for the mercy of water, that we may not be taught to value it by feeling the want of it. See what dependence husbandmen have upon the Divine providence. They cannot plough nor sow in hope, unless God water their furrows. The case even of the wild beasts was very pitiable. The people are not forward to pray, but the prophet prays for them. Sin is humbly confessed. Our sins not only accuse us, but answer against us. Our best pleas in prayer are those fetched from the glory of God's own name. We should dread God's departure, more than the removal of our creature-comforts. He has given Israel his word to hope in. It becomes us in prayer to show ourselves more concerned for God's glory than for our own comfort. And if we now return to the Lord, he will save us t...

Verse Jeremiah 14:7. _O LORD, THOUGH OUR INIQUITIES TESTIFY AGAINST US_] We deeply acknowledge that we have sinned, and deserve nothing but death. Yet _act for thy name's sake_-work in our behalf, that we perish not....

DO THOU IT - Rather, “deal thou, act thou for Thy Name’s sake, i. e., not according to the strict measure of right and wrong, but as a God merciful and gracious....

EXPOSITION This chapter must be read in connection with the following one. They describe chiefly Jeremiah's twofold attempt at intercession (see verses 7-9 and 19-22)—a tender and appealing attempt indeed. The terrible sufferings of the people during a drought went to the prophet's heart. He even ventured, when repelled the first time, to intercede anew, on the ground of the covenant, but in vain. On receiving (Jeremiah 15:2) a revelation of the bitter fate in store for his people, he bursts out into a heartrending complaint that his own destiny should throw him into such a whirlpool of strife. His Lord at once corrects and consoles him (Jeremiah 15:10). There are doubts, however, about the connection of these latter verses—The date of the drought is not stated; but as the punishm

O LORD, THOUGH OUR INIQUITIES TESTIFY AGAINST US,.... That we deserve such judgments to be inflicted on us; and that God is righteous in bringing them; and we are altogether undeserving of the favour now about to be asked. These are the words of the prophet interceding for his people, and confessing their sins and his own: DO THOU IT FOR THY NAME'S SAKE; that is, give rain; which was the thing wanted, and which none but God could give, Jeremiah 14:22 though we are not worthy to have it done for our sakes, do it for thine own sake; for the honour and glory of thy name, of thy goodness, power, and faithfulness: FOR OUR BACKSLIDINGS ARE MANY; and so had many witnesses against them; and which shows how unworthy they were, and that they had no reason to expect the mercy on their own account; and especially as it follows: we have sinned a

In some respects, Jeremiah is one of the greatest of the ancient prophets, for he had most sorrowful task to perform. He had not to deliver a message full of Evangelical comfort, like that of Isaiah; nor had he gorgeous visions of coming kingdoms, as Ezekiel had; but he was the Cassandra of ibis age. Jeremiah spoke the truth, yet few believed him; his life was spent in sighing over a wicked people who rejected and despised him. He bore a heavy burden upon his heart, and tears continually bedewed his Cheeks, so that he was rightly called «the weeping prophet.» This chapter gives us an illustration of the style in which he used to pray. Jeremiah 14:1. _The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth._ There had been no rain, so the crops had failed, and there was a famine in the land. Jeremiah describes that famine in striking poetic imagery....

II. THE PROPHET'S MINISTRY BEFORE THE FALL OF JERUSALEM, THE PROPHECIES OF JUDGMENT AND RESTORATION, THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF JEREMIAH, HIS FAITHFULNESS AND HIS SUFFERING CHAPTER 14 The Great Drought, the Sword, the Famine, and the Pestilence _ 1. The description of the drought (Jeremiah 14:1) _ 2. The prophet's priestly intercession (Jeremiah 14:7) 3. The answer (Jeremiah 14:10) 4. The renewed prayer (Jeremiah 14:19) Jeremiah 14:1. The vivid description of the great drought is gi

JEREMIAH 14:1 TO JEREMIAH 15:9. THE DROUGHT IN JUDAH, AND JEREMIAH'S CONSEQUENT INTERCESSION. The date of this disaster is unknown, but some year in the latter half of Jehoiakim's reign is most probable. The effects of the drought are graphically described in Jeremiah 14:2. The personified gates represent the people who gather at them in mourning attire and attitude (sit in black upon the ground; _cf._ Jeremiah 8:21; Jeremiah 13:18). The empty pits are dried-up storage cisterns (_cf._...