Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 12

Verses 1-17

CHAPTER 12

1. The prophet’s prayer (Jeremiah 12:1-6 ) 2. The house forsaken, yet compassion (Jeremiah 12:7-17 )

Jeremiah 12:1-6 . In his outburst of grief and in great mental perplexity Jeremiah states the old question, why does the righteous man suffer, why does the wicked prosper? And then the prayer for His intervention. Such will be again the case with the godly remnant in the end of this present age. They will suffer and be persecuted as godly Jeremiah was and pray as Jeremiah prayed: “Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.” The imprecatory psalms are of the same prophetic meaning. Jehovah’s answer tells him that greater trials were in store for him (Jeremiah 12:5-6 ) .

Jeremiah 12:7-17 . The house is to be forsaken. The dearly beloved is to be given into the hands of the enemies. The sword of the Lord would now devour them. But there is the warning to the nations who touch His inheritance. He will deal with them in judgment as He dealt with Judah. Then we find the promise, “I will return and have compassion on them.” This is still future. The compassion for Israel comes in the day of His return.