John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 51:46

"And let not your heart faint, neither fear ye for the tidings that shall be heard in the land; for tidings shall come one year, and after that in another year [shall come] tidings, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler." — Jeremiah 51:46 (ASV)

Here the Prophet, in due time, anticipates a danger, lest the Jews should be disturbed in their minds when they saw those dreadful upheavals that afterward happened. For when their minds were raised to an expectation of a return, great commotions began to arise in Babylon.

Babylon, as is well known, was besieged for a long time, and, as is usual in wars, every day brings forth something new. Since God, then, in a way, shook the whole land, it was inevitable, especially under increasing evils, that the miserable exiles would become faint, being in constant fear, for they were exposed to the cruelty of their enemies. Therefore, the Prophet timely addresses them here, showing that there was no reason for them to be disturbed, whatever might happen.

Come, he says, and various rumors will arise; but stand firm in your minds. Interpreters confine these rumors to the first year of Belshazzar, but I do not know whether such a view is correct. I consider the words simply intended to strengthen weak minds, lest they should be overwhelmed, or at least vacillate, through trials, when they heard of severe commotions.

But there is a doctrine here especially useful: for when God designs to aid his Church, he allows the world to be, in a way, thrown into confusion, so that the favor of redemption may appear more remarkable. Unless, then, the faithful have some knowledge of God’s mercy, they could never endure with courageous minds the trials by which God tests them, while Satan, on the other hand, seeks to undermine their faith.

The prelude to this very thing can be seen in the ancient people: God had promised to be their redeemer; when the day drew near, war suddenly arose, and the Medes and the Persians, like locusts, covered the whole land. We know what various evils war brings with it.

There is, then, no doubt that the children of God endured many and severe troubles, especially as they were exiles there. They must have suffered lack; they must have been harassed in various ways. Now, since the outcome of the war was uncertain, they might have lost heart a hundred times, if they had not been supported by this prophecy.

But, as I have said, so God also deals with his Church now; for when a deliverer appears, all things seem to threaten ruin rather than to promise a joyful and happy deliverance.

It is then necessary that these prophecies come to our minds, and that we apply for our own benefit what happened previously to our fathers, for we are the same body.

Therefore, there is no reason for us today to wonder if all things seem to get worse and worse, even though God has promised that the salvation of his Church will always be precious to him, and that he will take care of her.

Why is this so? Because it is said, Let not your heart be faint, do not fear when rumors arise, one after another. When one year brings tumults, and then another year brings new tumults, yet do not let all this disturb your minds.

And Christ seems to allude to these words of the Prophet, when he says,

Wars will arise, and rumors of wars: do not be troubled (Matthew 24:6).

These words of Christ sufficiently warn us not to think it strange if the Church today is exposed to violent waves and is tossed as if by continual storms. Why is this so? Because it is right and just that our condition should be like that of the fathers, or at least approach it. We now understand, then, the Prophet’s design and the perpetual use that should be made of what is taught here.

He afterward adds, Violence in the land, and a ruler upon or after a ruler. This refers to Cyrus, who succeeded Darius, whom some call Cyaxares.

They, indeed, as is well known, both ruled; but Darius, who was older, had the honor of being the supreme king. Afterward, when Darius was dead, Cyrus became the king of the whole monarchy. Darius the Mede lived only one year after Babylon was taken.

But I do not doubt that the Prophet here encourages the Jews to be of good courage and a cheerful mind, even though the land would often change its masters; for that change, however frequent, could take nothing away from God’s authority and government.