Jeremiah 12 · The Lantern

The Prosperity of the Wicked

Righteous are you, LORD, when I contend with you; yet judgments I would speak with you: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are all the utterly treacherous at ease?

"You are righteous, Lord, that I shall make my defense before you. Yet I will speak judgments to you. Why is it that the way of the ungodly prospers? All those who deal treacherously in treacheries have flourished." We still inquire whether God, who has given the Law and the Prophets, is good, seeing that "the way of the ungodly prospers" and he does not punish the ungodly.

"Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all those who do evil things thrive?" Here the prophet steps out from his usual discourse. On other occasions he brings before God prayers and sorrow about sinners.

(Chapter 12 - Verses 1 onwards) Indeed, you are just, O Lord, if I argue with you (or because I want to satisfy you); however, I will speak to you about judgments. What is it that the way of the wicked prospers? It is well for all who break the law and act unjustly.

You planted them; they have also taken root. They go on, they have also made fruit. You are near in their mouth and far from their kidneys.

And you, LORD, know me; you see me and test my heart with you. Drag them out like sheep for the slaughter, and consecrate them for the day of killing.

How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field wither? For the evil of those dwelling in it, beast and bird are swept away — for they said: He will not see our end.

God’s Answer to Jeremiah

For if you have run with those on foot and they wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a land of peace you are trusting, how will you do in the thickets of the Jordan?

For even your brothers and the house of your father — even they have been treacherous to you; even they have called out after you in full cry. Do not believe them when they speak good things to you.

I have forsaken my house, I have abandoned my inheritance; I have given the beloved of my soul into the palm of her enemies.

"I have forsaken my house, I have abandoned my inheritance, I have given my beloved soul into the hands of its enemies." Behold for me the one who exists "in the form of God," being in the heavens; behold his house, above the heavens. And if you wish to see something yet higher (that he is "in the Father"), behold that his house is God.

And although the Apostle himself told the Hebrews that a testament is of no force, until the death of the testator happen, that is to say, a testament is of no strength while the testator liveth, but is established by his death, yet as in Jeremiah the Lord, speaking of the Jews, has said, Mine heritage is unto Me as a lion, he would not deny that they were heirs.

(Vers. 7, 8.) I left my house, I abandoned my inheritance: I gave my beloved soul into the hands of its enemies. My inheritance became like a lion in the forest: it roared against me, therefore I hated it. He who spoke in the Gospel: Rise, let us go from here (John 14:31).

My inheritance has become to me like a lion in the forest; she has given her voice against me — therefore I have hated her.

Is my inheritance to me a speckled bird of prey, birds of prey all around against her? Go, gather every beast of the field, bring them to devour.

"Is my inheritance to me a hyena's den?" He prophesies concerning this inheritance: has my inheritance perhaps become a hyena's den, a hyena's den — of the most savage beast, the corpse-eater, the one about the tombs, the one that eats the dead bodies? "Is my inheritance to me a hyena's den? Or a cave round about it on every side?

(Ver. 9.) Is my inheritance like a colorful bird to me? Is it like a bird dyed all over? Come, gather all the beasts of the earth; hurry to devour. LXX: Is the den of the hyena my inheritance? Is there a den all around it, above it? Go, gather all the animals of the field; let them come and eat it. According to the letter, he calls the colorful and fully dyed bird a peacock.

The Edomites and the Moabites and the Ammonites and the foreigners were always of a hateful and malicious disposition toward the Jews. When they saw the misfortunes brought against the Jews, they exulted over the Jews. For this reason he teaches them in advance of the future calling again of the Jews. And he calls their rulers "shepherds."

Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, they have trampled my plot; they have made my desirable plot a desolate wilderness.

One has made it a desolation; desolate, it mourns over me. The whole land is made desolate, for there is no man who sets it on the heart.

On all the bare heights in the wilderness devastators have come, for the sword of the LORD devours from the end of the land to the end of the land; there is no peace for all flesh.

They have sown wheat and reaped thorns; they have worn themselves out, they do not profit. And be ashamed of your produce, because of the burning anger of the LORD.

And it is said to those who have sinned, "You sow wheat and you reap thorns"; for even if they discourse in the oracles of God, those who do not discourse rightly in them, nor live in the way they ought, nor believe, are sowing wheat and reaping thorns.

Dearly beloved, it is fitting that we should not abuse our rank as clergy, so as to make it an occasion of pride, but diligently keep and observe God's commandments, to be in reality what in name we profess to be.

(Verse 13) They sowed wheat and harvested thorns: they received an inheritance, but it will not benefit them. LXX: You have sown wheat and harvested thorns: their clergy will not benefit them. They expected better things, but the worst came: they hoped for success, but endured adversity: they received an abundance of all things from the Lord, which will not benefit them.

A Message for Israel’s Neighbors

Thus says the LORD concerning all my evil neighbors who touch the inheritance I gave my people Israel to inherit: See, I am uprooting them from off their ground, and the house of Judah I will uproot from among them.

And it will be, after I have uprooted them, I will return and have compassion on them, and I will bring them back, each to his inheritance and each to his land.

And it will be, if they diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, As the LORD lives — as they taught my people to swear by Baal — then they will be built up in the midst of my people.

But if they do not obey, I will uproot that nation, uprooting and destroying — the utterance of the LORD.

Jeremiah12

The Prosperity of the Wicked

God’s Answer to Jeremiah

A Message for Israel’s Neighbors