Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 14:22

22 Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain ? or can the Heavens give showrs? Art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee, for thou hast made all these things .

The present Judgment under which they groaned, was a drought, which we had described in the six first Verses, the Prophet imploring God for the removal of it, argues from the impossibility of help in this case from any other way, none of the Idols of the Heathens, which he calls vain things, nothing in themselves, and of no use or profit to those that ran after them, could give Rain.

The Heavens indeed give it, but in the order of second causes, if God stoppeth those bottles they cannot run.

Lord art not thou able to do it (saith the Prophet) nay, art not thou he who alone is able to do it; (forsomuch the phrase doth import) The Scripture constantly giveth God the honour of giving Rain, Gen. 2.5. Deut. 28.12. 1 Kings 8.36. 2 Chron. 6.27. Iob 5.10. and 38.26, 28. Psalm 147.8. chap. 5.24. and 51.16. Ioel 2.23. Zech. 10.1. Matth. 5.45. Acts 14.17.

Therefore saith the Prophet, we thy people will wait upon thee by Prayer, and the payment of those homages thou requirest, for thou hast made all these things, that is, (say some) thou hast caused all these Judgments, or afflictive dispensations, or rather, thou hast made the Rain, last mentioned.

Marginal references: Psal. 135.7. Isa. 30.23. chap. 10.13.