Charles Spurgeon Commentary Jeremiah 2:18

"And now what hast thou to do in the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? or what hast thou to do in the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?" — Jeremiah 2:18 (ASV)

And now what have you to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor?

"The waters of the Nile;" or, as it may be read, "the waters of that muddy river." The Israelites had suffered so much during their long captivity in Egypt that one would have thought they would never have wanted to go near the house of bondage again: What have you to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor?

Or what have you to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?

You are trying to find pleasure in the world; you are going to the resorts of sin to seek amusement there. If you are a child of God, What have you to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? Or what have you to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river? What are you doing there, Elijah?

You have lost the comforts of religion by your backsliding; and now you are trying to make up for them by going into the world's gaiety. It will never do; you can never fill your belly with the husks that the swine eat. If you were one of the swine, you might do so; but if you are your Father's son, it is only the bread in his house that will satisfy your hungry soul.

And now what have you to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what have you to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?

For instead of going to the fountain of living waters, they were hoping to be helped by the Egyptians or helped by the Assyrians.

Just as there are some Christians who try to drink the muddy waters of sinful pleasure and of carnal lust, they are beginning to think the muddy river very sweet and to like the taste of it. It is a deadly evil when professing Christians begin to do as others do, and to mix with the world and feel pleasure in it. There will be a blight upon you if you turn from God! Misery will dog your steps before long, if you are indeed a child of God.