John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 8:3

"And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue that remain of this evil family, that remain in all the places whither I have driven them, saith Jehovah of hosts." — Jeremiah 8:3 (ASV)

He intimates in this verse that all survivors would be doubly miserable, as it would be better for them to die at once than to waste away in unceasing suffering. For those who give another meaning to the words do not seem to understand the Prophet's design.

The meaning of the passage, then, is this: however dreadful God’s judgment would be when slaughters prevailed everywhere and dead bodies that had been previously buried were drawn out, all this would still be a slight punishment compared to what God would inflict on the rest—those who remained alive.

He also intimates that their life would be more miserable than death itself, indeed, even more than ten deaths.

So that those who would escape death might not think they had gained any advantage, the Prophet says, Chosen shall be death before life by all the residue.

From this we learn how grievous God’s vengeance was to be, for nothing would be better or more desirable than to undergo death at once, as life would be nothing but continued weakness and torment.

Expected then will be death in all places where there will be survivors, where I will drive them.

He mentions a reason for this twofold misery: they would not be allowed to live in their own country but would become exiles, and they would find God’s hand against them in their exile, as if following them everywhere.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, that as you terrify us daily with your judgments, and as it is necessary for our laziness to be spurred and for our corruption to be corrected in this way—O grant that we may be moved by your threats.

May we also allow ourselves to be kindly invited by you and make such progress in your word that, being terrified by threats, we may also readily and willingly obey whenever you, in a fatherly manner, call us to yourself.

May we labor in every way to devote ourselves wholly to you by subduing the corrupt desires of our flesh, so that nothing may hinder us from being submissive to your will, until at last we enjoy the rest of that eternal inheritance which you have promised to us in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.