John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 22:27

"But to the land whereunto their soul longeth to return, thither shall they not return." — Jeremiah 22:27 (ASV)

The Prophet again changes the person, and yet not inelegantly, for he speaks here as one indignant. After addressing a few words to King Jeconiah, he turns aside from him and declares what God would do. Thus, when we think someone is scarcely worthy of being addressed, we change our discourse; after speaking a few words to him, we adopt another way of speaking. In the same manner, the Prophet spoke very indignantly when he addressed Jehoiakim, and then he declared how God would deal with him: he passed by him as though he were deaf or unworthy of being noticed. We thus see the Prophet's design in the change he makes in this passage.

Into the land, he says, to which they raise up their mind that they may return, there they shall not return. He had said before that both the king and his mother would die in a foreign land, and he now confirms the same thing.

For the foolish notion that the king of Babylon would eventually be favorable to them could only be eradicated from their minds with great difficulty. Nor is there any doubt that such thoughts as these were entertained: “When Nebuchadnezzar sees us coming humbly to him, he will show mercy, for what more does he require?”

“He does not mean to establish his royal palace here. It will satisfy him to have the people tributary to him; and when he finds that I am a man of no courage, he will prefer having me as king, rather than appointing a new one.” Such, then, was the reasoning the king had with his courtiers.

Therefore, the Prophet now demolishes this vain persuasion: They raise up their mind to the land, that is, they think of an eventual free return into their own country. For to raise up the mind is to apply the mind or thought to anything. They raise up, then, their mind to the land, that is, the land of Judah; but they shall never return there, whatever they may promise themselves.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, that as you promise us rest nowhere except in your celestial kingdom, we may never allow ourselves, while traveling on the earth, to be allured and driven here and there; but may we in the meantime call on you with resigned minds and thus carry on our warfare, so that however much you may be pleased by various contests to try and prove us, we may still continue to be your faithful soldiers, until we enjoy that rest which has been obtained for us by the blood of your only-begotten Son. — Amen.