he state and conduct of the Jewish nation. (1-7) The
judgments which would come. (8-23) The executioners of these
judgments. (24-30)
Verses 1-7: Christ is God's beloved Son, and our beloved Saviour. The
care of the Lord over the church of Israel, is described by the
management of a vineyard. The advantages of our situation will
be brought into the account another day. He planted it with the
choicest vines; gave them a most excellent law, instituted
proper ordinances. The temple was a tower, where God gave tokens
of his presence. He set up his altar, to which the sacrifices
should be brought; all the means of grace are denoted thereby.
God expects fruit from those that enjoy privileges. Good
purposes and good beginnings are good things, but not enough;
there must be vineyard fruit; thoughts and affections, words and
actions, agreeable to the Spirit. It brought forth bad fruit.
Wild grapes are the fruits of the corrupt nature. Where grace
does not work, corruption will. But the wickedness of those that
profess religion, and enjoy the means of grace, must be upon the
sinners themselves. They shall no longer be a peculiar people.
When errors and vice go without check or control, the vineyard
is unpruned; then it will soon be grown over with thorns. This
is often shown in the departure of God's Spirit from those who
have long striven against him, and the removal of his gospel
from places which have long been a reproach to it. The
explanation is given. It is sad with a soul, when, instead of
the grapes of humility, meekness, love, patience, and contempt
of the world, for which God looks, there are the wild grapes of
pride, passion, discontent, and malice, and contempt of God;
instead of the grapes of praying and praising, the wild grapes
of cursing and swearing. Let us bring forth fruit with patience,
that in the end we may obtain everlasting life.
Verses 8-23: Here is a woe to those who set their hearts on the wealth
of the world. Not that it is sinful for those who have a house
and a field to purchase another; but the fault is, that they
never know when they have enough. Covetousness is idolatry; and
while many envy the prosperous, wretched man, the Lord denounces
awful woes upon him. How applicable to many among us! God has
many ways to empty the most populous cities. Those who set their
hearts upon the world, will justly be disappointed. Here is woe
to those who dote upon the pleasures and the delights of sense.
The use of music is lawful; but when it draws away the heart
from God, then it becomes a sin to us. God's judgments have
seized them, but they will not disturb themselves in their
pleasures. The judgments are declared. Let a man be ever so
high, death will bring him low; ever so mean, death will bring
him lower. The fruit of these judgments shall be, that God will
be glorified as a God of power. Also, as a God that is holy; he
shall be owned and declared to be so, in the righteous
punishment of proud men. Those are in a woful condition who set
up sin, and who exert themselves to gratify their base lusts.
They are daring in sin, and walk after their own lusts; it is in
scorn that they call God the Holy One of Israel. They confound
and overthrow distinctions between good and evil. They prefer
their own reasonings to Divine revelations; their own devices to
the counsels and commands of God. They deem it prudent and
politic to continue profitable sins, and to neglect self-denying
duties. Also, how light soever men make of drunkenness, it is a
sin which lays open to the wrath and curse of God. Their judges
perverted justice. Every sin needs some other to conceal it.
Verses 24-30: Let not any expect to live easily who live wickedly. Sin
weakens the strength, the root of a people; it defaces the
beauty, the blossoms of a people. When God's word is despised,
and his law cast away, what can men expect but that God should
utterly abandon them? When God comes forth in wrath, the hills
tremble, fear seizes even great men. When God designs the ruin
of a provoking people, he can find instruments to be employed in
it, as he sent for the Chaldeans, and afterwards the Romans, to
destroy the Jews. Those who would not hear the voice of God
speaking by his prophets, shall hear the voice of their enemies
roaring against them. Let the distressed look which way they
will, all appears dismal. If God frowns upon us, how can any
creature smile? Let us diligently seek the well-grounded
assurance, that when all earthly helps and comforts shall fail,
God himself will be the strength of our hearts, and our portion
for ever.
he state and conduct of the Jewish nation. (1-7) The
judgments which would come. (8-23) The executioners of these
judgments. (24-30)