John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 29:14

"And I will be found of you, saith Jehovah, and I will turn again your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places wither I have driven you, saith Jehovah; and I will bring you again unto the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive." — Jeremiah 29:14 (ASV)

The Prophet now applies what he seemed to have spoken generally. He then shows the effect of God’s favor after having been reconciled to his people: namely, that he would restore their captivity and gather them from all places. This was particularly said to the Jews, but the two former verses contain, as I have said, a general doctrine.

He had said before, You shall find me; but he says now, I shall be found by you, or, I will show myself to you. There is an implied contrast between the hiding and the manifestation, for God had, in a manner, hid himself during the time of exile. But he suddenly made his face to shine forth and thus manifested himself as a Father, after having apparently forgotten his people.

Suitably, then, the Prophet speaks here. For though the Lord always looks on us, we, on the other hand, do not see him; indeed, we think that he is far from us. But he appears to us only then when we perceive that he cares for our salvation.

By saying, from all nations and from all places, he evidently countered a doubt which otherwise might have crept into the minds of many: “How can it ever be that God will gather us after we have been thus dispersed?” For no certain region had been allotted to them in which they might dwell together so as to form one body. Instead, they had been scattered as by a violent whirlwind, like chaff or stubble; and God had so driven them away that there was no hope of being gathered again.

Since it was then incredible that a people so dispersed could be collected together, the Prophet says, from all nations and from all places. The same thing is declared in the Psalm: He will gather the dispersions of Israel (Psalms 147:2).

For when the Jews looked upon their dreadful dispersion, they could entertain no hope. We see then how the Prophet encouraged them still to hope and urged them to struggle against this trial. The sentence seems to have been taken from Moses, for he says, Though you be scattered through the extreme parts of the world, yet God will gather you (Deuteronomy 30:1–3).

We see that Moses there expressly reproves the unbelief of the people if they despaired of God’s mercy and salvation because they were torn and scattered. He therefore shows that God’s power was abundantly sufficient to collect them again, though they were scattered to the four quarters of the world. We now perceive the purpose of the Prophet.

Hence, we may gather a useful doctrine: that God, in a wonderful manner, gathers his Church when scattered, so as to form it into one body, however he may for a time obliterate its name and even its very appearance. And of this he has given us some proof in our time.

For who could have thought that what we now see with our eyes would ever take place? That God would, in a secret manner, gather his elect when there was everywhere a dreadful desolation, and no corner found in the world where two or three faithful men could dwell together?

Hence, we see that this prophecy has not been fulfilled only at one time, but that the grace of God is here set forth, which he has often manifested and still manifests in gathering his Church.