he land shall be delivered from heathen oppressors. (1-15)
The people are reminded of former sins, and promised
deliverance. (16-24) Also holiness, and gospel blessings.
(25-38)
Verses 1-15: Those who put contempt and reproach on God's people, will
have them turned on themselves. God promises favour to his
Israel. We have no reason to complain, if the more unkind men
are, the more kind God is. They shall come again to their own
border. It was a type of the heavenly Canaan, of which all God's
children are heirs, and into which they all shall be brought
together. And when God returns in mercy to a people who return
to him in duty, all their grievances will be set right. The full
completion of this prophecy must be in some future event.
Verses 16-24: The restoration of that people, being typical of our
redemption by Christ, shows that the end aimed at in our
salvation is the glory of God. The sin of a people defiles their
land; renders it abominable to God, and uncomfortable to
themselves. God's holy name is his great name; his holiness is
his greatness, nor does any thing else make a man truly great.
Verses 25-38: Water is an emblem of the cleansing our polluted souls
from sin. But no water can do more than take away the filth of
the flesh. Water seems in general the sacramental sign of the
sanctifying influences of the Holy Ghost; yet this is always
connected with the atoning blood of Christ. When the latter is
applied by faith to the conscience, to cleanse it from evil
works, the former is always applied to the powers of the soul,
to purify it from the pollution of sin. All that have an
interest in the new covenant, have a new heart and a new spirit,
in order to their walking in newness of life. God would give a
heart of flesh, a soft and tender heart, complying with his holy
will. Renewing grace works as great a change in the soul, as the
turning a dead stone into living flesh. God will put his Spirit
within, as a Teacher, Guide, and Sanctifier. The promise of
God's grace to fit us for our duty, should quicken our constant
care and endeavour to do our duty. These are promises to be
pleaded by, and will be fulfilled to, all true believers in
every age.
he land shall be delivered from heathen oppressors. (1-15)
The people are reminded of former sins, and promised
deliverance. (16-24) Also holiness, and gospel blessings.
(25-38)