Matthew Henry Commentary Jeremiah 11:18-23

"And Jehovah gave me knowledge of it, and I knew it: then thou showedst me their doings. But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, [saying], Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered. But, O Jehovah of hosts, who judgest righteously, who triest the heart and the mind, I shall see thy vengeance on them; for unto thee have I revealed my cause. Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Thou shalt not prophesy in the name of Jehovah, that thou die not by our hand; therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine; and there shall be no remnant unto them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation." — Jeremiah 11:18-23 (ASV)

The prophet Jeremiah tells us much about himself; the times he lived in were very troublesome. Those of his own city plotted how they might cause his death. They intended to end his days, but he outlived most of his enemies; they intended to blast his memory, but it lives to this day and will be blessed as long as time lasts.

God knows all the secret designs of his and His people's enemies, and can, when He pleases, make them known. God's justice is a terror to the wicked, but a comfort to the godly.

When we are wronged, we have a God to commit our cause to, and it is our duty to commit it to Him. We should also look carefully to our own spirits, so that we are not overcome by evil, but that by patiently continuing in prayer for our enemies, and in kindness to them, we may overcome evil with good.