Charles Spurgeon Commentary Jeremiah 8:6

"I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repenteth him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turneth to his course, as a horse that rusheth headlong in the battle." — Jeremiah 8:6 (ASV)

I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course as the horse rusheth into the battle.

God listened; he waited to be gracious; he was eager to hear one penitent cry, and to observe one tear of genuine repentance, but, as the war-horse is eager for the fray, and, at the first blast of the trumpet, seeks to dash into the very center of the fight, so did these ungodly people. Instead of turning to God, they turned more desperately to sin.

I hearkened and heard, –

It is God who is speaking: I hearkened and heard, –

But they spake not aright:

"I tried to discover whether there was any good in them. I listened to hear them offer a prayer, I watched to mark anything like repentance in them."

No man repented him of wickedness, saying, What have I done?

every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.

See how God described these people. When He might have expected that some of them would relent, and in their thoughtful moments turn to a better mind, they did not do so; but, as the horse, when he hears the war-trumpet, rushes into the midst of the fray, so did these people go headlong into sin with desperate resolve.

Careless of wounds and death, they rushed to their destruction. I hope that this is not the case with any of my hearers at this time; I pray God that it may not be so.