udgements on Jerusalem and on its enemies. (1-8) The
senselessness and hypocrisy of the Jews. (9-16) The conversion
of the Gentiles, and future blessings for the Jews. (17-24)
Verses 1-8: Ariel may signify the altar of burnt-offerings. Let
Jerusalem know that outward religious services will not make men
free from judgements. Hypocrites never can please God, nor make
their peace with him. God had often and long, by a host of
angels, encamped round about Jerusalem for protection and
deliverance; but now he fought against it. Proud looks and proud
language shall be brought down by humbling providences. The
destruction of Jerusalem's enemies is foretold. The army of
Sennacherib went as a dream; and thus the multitudes, that
through successive ages fight against God's altar and worship,
shall fall. Speedily will sinners awake from their soothing
dreams in the pains of hell.
Verses 9-16: The security of sinners in sinful ways, is cause for
lamentation and wonder. The learned men, through prejudice, said
that the Divine prophecies were obscure; and the poor urged
their want of learning. The Bible is a sealed book to every man,
learned or unlearned, till he begins to study it with a simple
heart and a teachable spirit, that he may thence learn the truth
and the will of God. To worship God, is to approach him. And if
the heart be full of his love and fear, out of the abundance of
it the mouth will speak; but there are many whose religion is
lip-labour only. When they pretend to be speaking to God, they
are thinking of a thousand foolish things. They worship the God
of Israel according to their own devices. Numbers are only
formal in worship. And their religion is only to comply with
custom, and to serve their own interest. But the wanderings of
mind, and defects in devotion, which are the believer's burden,
are very different from the withdrawing of the heart from God,
so severely blamed. And those who make religion no more than a
pretence, to serve a turn, deceive themselves. And as those that
quarrel with God, so those that think to conceal themselves from
him, in effect charge him with folly. But all their perverse
conduct shall be entirely done away.
Verses 17-24: The wonderful change here foretold, may refer to the
affairs of Judah, though it looks further. When a great harvest
of souls was gathered to Christ from among the Gentiles, then
the wilderness was turned into a fruitful field; and the Jewish
church, that had long been a fruitful field, became as a
deserted forest. Those who, when in trouble, can truly rejoice
in God, shall soon have cause greatly to rejoice in him. The
grace of meekness contributes to the increase of our holy joy.
The enemies who were powerful shall become mean and weak. To
complete the repose of God's people, the scorners at home shall
be cut off by judgements. All are apt to speak unadvisedly, and
to mistake what they hear, but it is very unfair to make a man
an offender for a word. They did all they could to bring those
into trouble who told them of their faults. But He that redeemed
Abraham out of his snares and troubles, will redeem those who
are, by faith, his true seed, out of theirs. It will be the
greatest comfort to godly parents to see their children renewed
creatures, the work of God's grace. May those who now err in
spirit, and murmur against the truth, come to understanding, and
learn true doctrine. The Spirit of truth shall set right their
mistakes, and lead them into all truth. This should encourage us
to pray for those that have erred, and are deceived. All who
murmured at the truths of God, as hard sayings, shall learn and
be aware what God designed in all. See the change religion
produces in the hearts of men, and the peace and pleasure of a
humble and devout spirit.
udgements on Jerusalem and on its enemies. (1-8) The
senselessness and hypocrisy of the Jews. (9-16) The conversion
of the Gentiles, and future blessings for the Jews. (17-24)