John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 30:19

"And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small." — Jeremiah 30:19 (ASV)

The Prophet confirms what he had said. We have stated that the Jews, while any hope remained for them, were rebellious towards God, but that, after they were brought to extreme circumstances, they became extremely dejected; for they lost all hope concerning their situation, and became so despondent that they would receive no consolation. Therefore, it was not enough to promise them restoration briefly or in a few words; it was necessary that the promise should be repeatedly confirmed. This, then, is now the Prophet's subject; he promises that praise and the voice of joy would come from them.

We should notice here the contrast between sighing, groaning, complaining, lamenting, and giving thanks; for as long as they were detained in exile, no praise could have been heard among them. Sorrow, indeed, is no hindrance to prevent us from blessing God in extreme misery; but we cannot bless God with a full mouth, so to speak, except when some cause of joy is presented to us. Hence is that saying of James,

Is any joyful among you? let him sing (James 5:13).

So, as the Prophet speaks of thanksgiving, he intimates that God’s favor would be so great as to remove every sorrow and sadness from the Jews. But he indirectly exhorts the faithful to celebrate God’s kindness. Had he only said, “The voice of joy shall go forth from them,” it would, indeed, have been a complete sentence; but it was also necessary to remind the faithful for what purpose God would deal so kindly with his people, namely, that they might proclaim his goodness; for this is the purpose for which we receive every good thing from God’s hand. Thanksgiving is then usually connected with joy when the Church is mentioned.

But we have said that the faithful cannot praise God with as much alacrity when they are pressed down by distresses, as when God makes their hearts rejoice; for grief binds all the feelings of men; but joy, proceeding from a perception of God’s paternal favor, expands their souls, as it were; and hence also their tongues are set loose. For this reason it is said in Psalm 51:15,

O Lord, open thou my lips,
and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

David there intimates that he had been silent for a time; when God hid his face from him, he could not taste his paternal goodness. During that time David had his heart bound, as it were, and his mouth closed; but he prays the Lord to open his mouth, that is, to grant him joy so that he might give him thanks.

We now perceive the Prophet's meaning: he intimates that though the Jews would be in sorrow for a time, would groan and mourn, yet this condition would not be perpetual; for God would at last comfort them, so that they would not only rejoice, but also proclaim his mercy when liberated.

He adds, I will increase them, and they shall not be lessened; I will adorn them, etc. Some also render this, “I will increase them;” but the words are different; and כבדcebed, means sometimes to increase, and sometimes to adorn, to glorify, to honor. The words which follow are also different, מעתmoth, and צערtsor. And though the Prophet meant to repeat nearly the same thing, yet there is no doubt that he intended to set forth the favor of God by this variety, as if he had said that God's mercy would be so remarkable that the Jews would acknowledge that what had been promised to their father Abraham had been fulfilled to them:

Thy seed shall be as the sand of the sea, and as the stars of heaven (Genesis 22:17).

The perpetuity also, or the continuity of his favor is denoted, when he says, they shall not be lessened, they shall not be made small. It is possible for a people to increase for a short time; but such an increase is often not of long duration, for the form of this world passes away. God then promises stability and perpetuity to his Church, for he would manifest his favor to it from day to day, and from year to year. This is the meaning.