John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 5:15

"Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith Jehovah: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say." — Jeremiah 5:15 (ASV)

The Prophet shows here how the people would become like straw or dry wood, for God would bring a sure calamity which they did not fear.

But the context is to be observed here: the Prophet had said that the word in his mouth would be like fire; he now transfers this to the Assyrians and Chaldeans.

Now these things appear to be inconsistent, but we have already shown that all the scourges of God depended on the power of His word: when, therefore, the city was cut off by the Assyrians and Chaldeans, then the fire from the mouth of Jeremiah broke forth to destroy the city and the people.

In short, Jeremiah intimates that when the enemies came, no account was to be taken of their strength, nor of their forces, and that they would not bring with them any means for war, but rather there would be the execution of what he had said, of what had proceeded from his mouth. For we will see elsewhere that he was sent by God to besiege the city; but with what forces?

He was alone and unarmed; this is true. But this siege was not understood by the wicked and reprobate, yet it was not without effect, for as the Prophet spoke, so God executed what had proceeded from his mouth.

Thus, we see that the Chaldeans proceeded, as it were, from the mouth of the Prophet, like willing enemies who throw darts to demolish the walls of a city, who cast stones and overturn the walls with war engines, or like those who today use other war machines by which they demolish cities.

What then are all these instruments of war? They are the fire which God casts forth through the mouth of His servants. And the truth declared by them is accompanied by all those war engines that can destroy not only one city and one people, but the whole world, when He so pleases.

I bring then upon you a nation from far. We have said elsewhere why the Prophet refers to a long distance: because the Jews thought that there was no danger near them from nations so remote.

It is as though we were to speak of the Turks today: “Oh! They have to fight with other nations. Let those who are near them contend with the Turks, for we may live three or four ages in quietness.” We see such indifference prevailing today.

Therefore, the Prophet, to deprive the Jews of this vain confidence, says that this nation was near, though coming from remote places.

He says that they were a hard, or a strong nation, and a nation from antiquity. He does not mean simply that it was brave through age, but that it was hard and ferocious, for he says afterwards that they were all גברים, geberim, that is, valiant.

He then calls it a hard nation because it was cruel, and he afterwards mentions the barbarity of that nation. But he says first that it was from antiquity, for when a nation has ruled for a long time, and from a time beyond memory, it generates more ferocious spirits; this very antiquity tends to inflate the minds of men with pride and make them more ferocious. He says then that it was from antiquity.

He afterwards speaks of its barbarity: You will not, he says, understand its language, nor will you hear what it speaks.

Through language, we know, not only words but also feelings are communicated. Language is the expression of the mind, as it is commonly said, and it is therefore the bond of society. If there had been no language, how would men differ from brute beasts? One would barbarously treat another; there would indeed be no humanity among them.

Since language then unites men with one another, the Prophet, to terrify the Jews, says that that nation would be barbarous, for there would be no communication with it by means of language. Therefore, it followed that there would be no pity to spare the conquered, not even if they implored a hundred times; nor could those be heard who were miserable and such as might obtain some favor if they were understood.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, that though You might justly condemn us today for the gross and wicked impiety which You formerly condemned by the mouth of Your Prophet in Your ancient people, — O grant that we may not proceed in our obstinacy, but learn with pliable minds and in true docility of heart to submit to Your word, so that it may not turn to our ruin, but that we may by experience find it to be appointed for our salvation, so that being inflamed with a desire for true religion, and also cleansed from the filth of depraved affections and of carnal lusts, we may devote ourselves wholly to Your service, until, having put off the flesh and all its filth, we will at last attain to that perfect purity which is set before us in Your gospel, and be made partakers of Your eternal glory in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Amen.