n exhortation to repentance. (1-3) Judgments upon other
nations. (4-15)
Verses 1-3: The prophet calls to national repentance, as the only way
to prevent national ruin. A nation not desiring, that has not
desires toward God, is not desirous of his favour and grace, has
no mind to repent and reform. Or, not desirable, not having any
thing to recommend them to God; to whom God might justly say,
Depart from me; but he says, Gather together to me that you may
seek my face. We know what God's decree will bring against
impenitent sinners, therefore it highly concerns all to repent
in the accepted time. How careful should we all be to seek peace
with God, before the Holy Spirit withdraws from us, or ceases to
strive with us; before the day of grace is over, or the day of
life; before our everlasting state is determined! Let the poor,
despised, and afflicted, seek the Lord, and seek to understand
and keep his commandments better, that they may be more humbled
for their sins. The chief hope of deliverance from national
judgments rests upon prayer.
Verses 4-15: Those are really in a woful condition who have the word of
the Lord against them, for no word of his shall fall to the
ground. God will restore his people to their rights, though long
kept from them. It has been the common lot of God's people, in
all ages, to be reproached and reviled. God shall be worshipped,
not only by all Israel, and the strangers who join them, but by
the heathen. Remote nations must be reckoned with for the wrongs
done to God's people. The sufferings of the insolent and haughty
in prosperity, are unpitied and unlamented. But all the
desolations of flourishing nations will make way for the
overturning Satan's kingdom. Let us improve our advantages, and
expect the performance of every promise, praying that our
Father's name may be hallowed every where, over all the earth.
n exhortation to repentance. (1-3) Judgments upon other
nations. (4-15)