John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 11:18

"And Jehovah gave me knowledge of it, and I knew it: then thou showedst me their doings." — Jeremiah 11:18 (ASV)

We know that they were all very wicked. Though they were proved guilty, they were not willing to yield, to acknowledge and confess their fault; instead, they raged against God and rose up against the prophets. Since they dared not spew forth their blasphemies against God, they attacked His servants and wished to appear as though their conflict was only with them.

This is not a vice confined to one age, for we find that it prevails even today. When we boldly reprove hidden vices, the profane immediately make an outcry, saying, “What! These men divine! But who has made these things known to them? Do they have this oracle from heaven?” They speak as though, indeed, neither the Word of God nor His Spirit can show their power, unless children become judges!

But the ungodly rise up against God’s servants for this purpose: that they may act with impunity in all matters, except those that might bring them before an earthly tribunal and be proven by clear and abundant evidence.

For this reason, the Prophet says that the vices of his own nation had been made known to him. It is as though he had said, “I see that you will be ready to raise an objection, as you are accustomed to proudly resist all reproofs and threatenings, as though you contended only with men. But I testify to you now beforehand that I bring nothing of my own, nor do I divine by myself what any one of you thinks inwardly. Know, however, that God, who knows the heart, has committed my office to me.

“He has, then, appointed me to be the herald of His vengeance; He has appointed me as a herald to declare war on you. So I do not come or act in my own name. There is, then, no reason for you to deceive yourselves, according to your usual manner, as though I presumptuously reproved you even when your vices are concealed—since it is God’s unique ability to know what is hidden in the hearts of men.

“The recesses of the heart are indeed intricate, and great darkness is within; but God sees more clearly than men. Cease then to make this objection which you are accustomed to raise against me—that I am presumptuous in bringing to light what lies hidden in darkness—for God has appointed me to bring these commands to you. As He knows the heart, as nothing escapes Him, and as He penetrates into our thoughts and feelings, so He has also designed by His word, which He has put in my mouth, to make public what you think is concealed.”

We now see the Prophet's design. However, some take a different view: that God had made known to His servant Jeremiah the impious conspiracy of which he afterwards speaks, and thus they connect the two verses.

But I do not doubt that the Prophet intended here to show the weight and significance of his doctrine, the credit and authority of which the Jews sought to detract from by boastfully alleging that he, a mortal man, assumed too much and announced uncertain divinations.

Therefore, to repel such false accusations, he wished to testify that he did not threaten them inconsiderately, nor did he speak what he merely supposed or conjectured when he exposed their sins. Instead, he only faithfully declared what had been enjoined by God and also revealed by the Holy Spirit. This is what is meant.