Matthew Henry Commentary Jeremiah 2:14-19

"Is Israel a servant? is he a home-born [slave]? why is he become a prey? The young lions have roared upon him, and yelled; and they have made his land waste: his cities are burned up, without inhabitant. The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of thy head. Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken Jehovah thy God, when he led thee by the way? And now what hast thou to do in the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? or what hast thou to do in the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River? Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and a bitter, that thou hast forsaken Jehovah thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts." — Jeremiah 2:14-19 (ASV)

Is Israel a servant? No, they are the seed of Abraham.

We may apply this spiritually: Is the soul of man a slave? No, it is not; but it has sold its own liberty and enslaved itself to various lusts and passions.

The Assyrian princes, like lions, prevailed against Israel. People from Egypt destroyed their glory and strength. They brought these calamities on themselves by departing from the Lord.

The use and application of this is: Repent of your sin, so that your correction may not be your ruin. What has a Christian to do in the ways of forbidden pleasure or vain sinful mirth, or with the pursuits of covetousness and ambition?