John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 23:19

"Behold, the tempest of Jehovah, [even his] wrath, is gone forth, yea, a whirling tempest: it shall burst upon the head of the wicked." — Jeremiah 23:19 (ASV)

I will defer the consideration of this to the next Lecture. Tomorrow there will be no Lecture, for, as you know, the conferring of honors will engage us.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, that as we are ever inclined to be led away by ensnaring flatteries, and thus seek death and final ruin for ourselves, — O grant that we may learn to tremble at those denunciations announced by the prophets, by which you show us your wrath, so that we may be roused to true repentance, and not harden ourselves through your forbearance in what is evil, but pursue our heavenly course, until, having finally put off all our vices, we will be restored to that perfect form in which your holy image fully shines forth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. — Amen.

[Exposition continues from previous day's lecture]

The verse which I read at the end of my last Lecture must now be repeated to you: Behold, the tempest (or whirlwind) of Jehovah! it shall go forth with fury; even the impending whirlwind! on the head of the ungodly shall it abide, or fall; for יחול, ichul, means both.

The Prophet now assails the false teachers with more vehemence, for they were almost stupid. Indeed, none can betray so much audacity as to oppose God, except when wholly blinded by Satan.

Hence our Prophet deals with the false teachers as with fanatics or those wholly stupefied: he tells them that God would come like a whirlwind. Whether we translate it as a whirlwind or a storm, there is not much difference. And he adds that they could not escape, for the wrath of God was impending over them and would finally remain on them.

Now, it is usual in Scripture to deal very sharply with hypocrites, and especially with false teachers, because Satan rules in them to an awful extent. And doubtless, as I have already said, unless a person is fascinated with illusions, he could not dare to oppose God. Therefore, it is no wonder that the Prophet fulminates against these ungodly teachers, for it was nothing but play and sport to them to use God’s sacred name falsely to deceive the people. He afterwards adds, —