And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.
Verse 10. I will send the sword] Many of them fell by sword and famine in the war with the Chaldeans, and many more by such means afterwards. The first received their captivity as a correction, and turned to God; the latter still hardened their hearts more and more, and probably very many of them never returned: perhaps they are now amalgamated with heathennations. Lord, how long?
The prophet saw two baskets of figs set before the temple, as offering of first-fruits. The figs in one basket were very good, those in the other basket very bad. What creature viler than a wicked man? and what more valuable than a godly man? This vision was to raise the spirits of those gone into captivity, by assuring them of a happy return; and to humble and awaken the proud and secure spirits of those yet i Jerusalem, by assuring them of a miserablecaptivity. The good fig represents the pious captives. We cannot determine as to God's love of hatred by what is before us. Early suffering sometimes proves for the best. The sooner the child is corrected, the better effect the correction is likely to have. Even this captivity was for their good and God's intentions never are in vain. By afflictions they wer convinced of sin, humbled under the hand of God, weaned from the world taught to pray, and turned from sins, particularly from idolatry. Godpromises that he will own them in captivity. The Lord will own thos who are his, in all conditions. God assures them of his protection i trouble, and a glorious deliverance in due time. When our troubles ar sanctified to us, we may be sure that they will end well. They shal return to him with their whole heart. Thus they should have liberty to own him for their God, to pray to him, and expect blessings from him The bad figs were Zedekiah and those of his party yet in the land These should be removed for their hurt, and forsaken of all mankindGod has many judgments, and those that escape one, may expect another till they are brought to repent. Doubtless, this prophecy had it fulfilment in that age; but the Spirit of prophecy may here loo forward to the dispersion of the unbelieving Jews, in all the nation of the earth. Let those who desire blessings from the Lord, beg that he will give them a heart to know him __________________________________________________________________
