he sins and desolations of Israel. (1-5) Their evil
practices. (6-11) A promise of restoration. (12,13)
Verses 1-5: Woe to the people that devise evil during the night, and
rise early to carry it into execution! It is bad to do mischief
on a sudden thought, much worse to do it with design and
forethought. It is of great moment to improve and employ hours
of retirement and solitude in a proper manner. If covetousness
reigns in the heart, compassion is banished; and when the heart
is thus engaged, violence and fraud commonly occupy the hands.
The most haughty and secure in prosperity, are commonly most
ready to despair in adversity. Woe to those from whom God turns
away! Those are the sorest calamities which cut us off from the
congregation of the Lord, or cut us short in the enjoyment of
its privileges.
Verses 6-11: Since they say, "Prophesy not," God will take them at
their word, and their sin shall be their punishment. Let the
physician no longer attend the patient that will not be healed.
Those are enemies, not only to God, but to their country, who
silence good ministers, and stop the means of grace. What bonds
will hold those who have no reverence for God's word? Sinners
cannot expect to rest in a land they have polluted. You shall
not only be obliged to depart out of this land, but it shall
destroy you. Apply this to our state in this present world.
There is corruption in the world through lust, and we should
keep at a distance from it. It is not our rest: it was designed
for our passage, but not for our portion; our inn, but not our
home; here we have no continuing city; let us therefore arise
and depart, let us seek a continuing city above. Since they will
be deceived, let them be deceived. Teachers who recommend
self-indulgence by their doctrine and example, best suit such
sinners.
Verse 12,13: These verses may refer to the captivity of Israel and
Judah. But the passage is also a prophecy of the conversion of
the Jews to Christ. The Lord would not only bring them from
captivity, and multiply them, but the Lord Jesus would open
their way to God, by taking upon him the nature of man, and by
the work of his Spirit in their hearts, breaking the fetters of
Satan. Thus he has gone before, and the people follow, breaking,
in his strength, through the enemies that would stop their way
to heaven.
he sins and desolations of Israel. (1-5) Their evil
practices. (6-11) A promise of restoration. (12,13)