Matthew Henry Commentary Jeremiah 29:8-19

"For thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Let not your prophets that are in the midst of you, and your diviners, deceive you; neither hearken ye to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith Jehovah. For thus saith Jehovah, After seventy years are accomplished for Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end. And ye shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith Jehovah, and I will turn again your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places wither I have driven you, saith Jehovah; and I will bring you again unto the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. Because ye have said, Jehovah hath raised us up prophets in Babylon; thus saith Jehovah concerning the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and concerning all the people that dwell in this city, your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity; thus saith Jehovah of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so bad. And I will pursue after them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth, to be an execration, and an astonishment, and a hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them; because they have not hearkened to my words, saith Jehovah, wherewith I sent unto them my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith Jehovah." — Jeremiah 29:8-19 (ASV)

Let people beware how they call those prophets whom they choose according to their own fancies, and how they consider their fancies and dreams to be revelations from God. False prophets flatter people in their sins, because they love to be flattered; and they speak smoothly to their chosen prophets, so that these prophets may, in turn, speak smoothly to them. God promises that they will return after seventy years were accomplished.

This shows that the seventy years of the captivity are not to be counted from the last captivity, but from the first. It will be the fulfillment of God's good word to them. This will accomplish God's purposes. We often do not know our own minds, but the Lord is never uncertain. We are sometimes ready to fear that God's designs are all against us; but for His own people, even what seems evil is for good.

He will give them, not the expectations of their fears, nor the expectations of their fancies, but the expectations of their faith. This is the end He has promised, which will be the best for them. When the Lord pours out a special spirit of prayer, it is a good sign that He is coming toward us in mercy. Promises are given to stimulate and encourage prayer.

He never said, Seek ye me in vain. Those who remained at Jerusalem would be utterly destroyed, despite what the false prophets said to the contrary. The reason has often been given, and it justifies the eternal ruin of impenitent sinners: Because they have not hearkened to my words; I called, but they refused.