John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 22:24

"As I live, saith Jehovah, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence;" — Jeremiah 22:24 (ASV)

God here makes an oath that he had resolved to punish Jeconiah, who was also called Jehoiachin. He says that even though Jeconiah sat on the throne of David, he would still be a miserable exile.

We have indeed seen elsewhere that the Jews were so fascinated as to think that God was bound to them. At the same time, they allowed themselves every liberty in sinning, under the pretense that God had promised that the kingdom of David would remain as long as the sun and moon continued in the heavens (Psalms 89:37).

However, they did not consider that there was a mutual agreement in God’s covenant, for he required them to be faithful on their part. Nor did they consider that many were Abraham’s children according to the flesh who were not his lawful children before God. As for the king himself, he also never thought it possible that he could be driven into exile, because he was David’s successor and ordained by God.

This, then, is the reason why God now declares, Even though that Coniah were as a sealing ring on my finger, I would yet pluck it off from there. However exalted Jeconiah then was, God shows that his dignity would be only for a time and would soon fade away, for he would eventually be thrust from his throne and his condition completely changed. The word Coniah is, no doubt, a shortened form of Jehoiachin. The Prophet, therefore, calls him Coniah by way of contempt, as though he did not think him worthy of the complete name, but expresses it in two syllables instead of four. Thus, although Jeconiah was then the king, the Prophet still calls him Coniah.

Now, this passage teaches us that we should not be so proud of God’s favors as to forget what we are. Instead, we should always remember that we are dependent on him and that we ought diligently to pray to him at all times.

For security breeds contempt. This is why God strips us of the ornaments with which we have been clothed, and it is a just reward for our ingratitude.

Let all, then, who excel others know that what has been given may at any time be taken away, unless a good conscience acts, as it were, as the guard to preserve God’s gifts and benefits, so that they may not at any time fall away or be lost.