\\INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 15\\

This chapter contains the Lord's answer to the prophet's prayers, in
which he declares himself inexorable, and had resolved on the ruin of
the Jewish nation for their sins; the prophet's complaint of the
hardships he endured, notwithstanding his sincerity and integrity;
and the Lord's promise of protection and deliverance, in case of his
continuance in the faithful discharge of his office. The Lord denies
the request of the prophet, by observing, that if even Moses and
Samuel had been the intercessors for the people, he would not have
regarded them, being determined upon casting them out, and sending
them away captive, \\#Jer 15:1\\, their punishment is declared, which
was resolved on; some for death, or the pestilence; others for the
sword; others for famine; and others for captivity; and others to
be devoured by dogs, and fowls, and wild beasts, \\#Jer 15:2,3\\, the
cause of which were their sins, particularly their idolatry in the
times of Manasseh, \\#Jer 15:4\\, wherefore they should have no pity
from men, nor would the Lord any more repent of the evil threatened,
of which he was weary, because of their many backslidings,
\\#Jer 15:5,6\\, which destruction, being determined, is illustrated by a
description of the instrument of it; by the multitude of widows, and
the distress of mothers bereaved of their children, \\#Jer 15:7-9\\
on which the prophet takes up a complaint of his being born for
strife and contention, and of his being cursed by the people, though
no usurer, \\#Jer 15:10\\, when he is comforted with a promise of
being used well by the enemy, both he and his remnant, \\#Jer 15:11\\,
but as for the people of the Jews in general, they would
never be able to withstand the northern forces, the army of
the Chaldeans; their riches and substance would be delivered into
their hands, and their persons also be carried captive into a strange
land, and the prophet along with them, because of their sins, and the
wrath of God for them, \\#Jer 15:12-14\\, upon which the prophet
prays to the Lord, who knew him, that he would remember and visit
him, and avenge him of his persecutors, and not take him away in his
longsuffering; he urges, that he had suffered rebuke and reproach
for his sake; that he was called by him to his office, which he had
cheerfully entered on; he had his mission, commission, and message,
from him, which he received with the greatest pleasure, signified by
eating his words with joy; and that he had not associated himself
with mockers and scoffers at religion and the word of God; and
therefore expostulates why he should be put to so much pain, and be
used as he was, \\#Jer 15:15-18\\, wherefore the Lord promises that,
upon condition of doing his work faithfully, he should be preserved,
protected, and delivered, \\#Jer 15:19-21\\.