Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 15:19

19 ¶ Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then I will bring thee again , and thou shalt stand before me : and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth : let them return unto thee, but return not thou unto them .

At the first reading of these words, one would take them to be a promise of God to restore this people to their former state, if they would reform, but upon a more wise and diligent consideration of what follows both in this and in the following verse, they seem rather Gods words unto the Prophet, rebuking his diffidence, and distrust in God, and promising him that if he did return from that his diffidence and distrust in Gods Promise and Providence,

he would restore him to the former favour he had had with him, and he should be his Prophet to reveal his mind to the people.

And if he would separate the precious Truths of God, from the vile Conceits of men, or rather preach so as to distinguish good and bad men one from another, then God would continue him as his Prophet, to speak in his name unto the people.

He chargeth the Prophet to keep his ground, and not to go over unto wicked men, but to use his indeavour to reduce them to that obedience which he yielded to him.

Marginal references: Zech. 3.7.; Ezek. 22 26; and 44.23.