- Israel gained this victory because God was wroth with Judah,
and made them the rod of his indignation. He reminds them of
their own sins. It ill becomes sinners to be cruel. Could they
hope for the mercy of God, if they neither showed mercy nor
justice to their brethren? Let it be remembered, that every man
is our neighbour, our brother, our fellow man, if not our fellow
Christian. And no man who is acquainted with the word of God,
need fear to maintain that slavery is against the law of love
and the gospel of grace. Who can hold his brother in bondage,
without breaking the rule of doing to others as he would they
should do unto him? But when sinners are left to their own
heart's lusts, they grow more desperate in wickedness. God
commands them to release the prisoners, and they obeyed. The
Lord brought Judah low. Those who will not humble themselves
under the word of God, will justly be humbled by his judgments.
It is often found, that wicked men themselves have no real
affection for those that revolt to them, nor do they care to do
them a kindness. This is that king Ahaz! that wretched man!
Those are wicked and vile indeed, that are made worse by their
afflictions, instead of being made better by them; who, in their
distress, trespass yet more, and have their hearts more fully
set in them to do evil. But no marvel that men's affections and
devotions are misplaced, when they mistake the author of their
trouble and of their help. The progress of wickedness and misery
is often rapid; and it is awful to reflect upon a sinner's being
driven away in his wickedness into the eternal world.
he wicked reign of Ahaz in Judah.