V. 1. OH, THAT THOU WOULDEST REND THE HEAVENS, so the suppliant now begs the Lord, THAT THOU WOULDEST COME DOWN, bursting forth to execute vengeance, suddenly descending on Thy people's foes, THAT THE MOUNTAINS MIGHT FLOW DOWN AT THY PRESENCE, the mightiest of His creatures being overcome by the rev... [ Continue Reading ]
as when the melting fire burneth, consuming brushwood in the twinkling of an eye, THE FIRE CAUSETH THE WATERS TO BOIL, literally, "as fire makes the water swell and seethe," TO MAKE THY NAME KNOWN TO THINE ADVERSARIES, with a powerful rage, THAT THE NATIONS MAY TREMBLE AT THY PRESENCE, at the majest... [ Continue Reading ]
When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, such as the visible coming of the Lord to the final Judgment will be, THOU CAMEST DOWN, THE MOUNTAINS FLOWED DOWN AT THY PRESENCE, with an unparalleled exhibition of His unexcelled might, transcending all human fantasy.... [ Continue Reading ]
For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside Thee, any God beside the one true God, WHAT HE HATH PREPARED FOR HIM THAT WAITETH FOR HIM, or, "who intercedes for those who rely upon Him in faith," interfering in behalf of Hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou meetest, in a friendly and kindly manner, HIM THAT REJOICETH AND WORKETH RIGHTEOUSNESS, happy in observing the covenant faithfulness, THOSE THAT REMEMBER THEE IN THY WAYS, doing His will with joyful willingness. BEHOLD, THOU ART WROTH, He became angry, FOR WE HAVE SINNED. IN THOSE IS CONTINUANC... [ Continue Reading ]
AN APPEAL TO JEHOVAH TO FORSAKE HIS WRATH... [ Continue Reading ]
But, or in consequence of this sad situation, WE ARE ALL AS AN UNCLEAN THING, like the uncleanness of leprosy, AND ALL OUR RIGHTEOUSNESSES, all the deeds which men might consider righteous and laudable, ARE AS FILTHY RAGS, loathsome objects, an abomination in His sight; AND WE ALL DO FADE AS A LEAF;... [ Continue Reading ]
And there is none that calleth upon Thy name, since unbelief and despair has taken hold of all hearts, THAT STIRRETH UP HIMSELF TO TAKE HOLD OF THEE, the great majority of the people being overwhelmed by a feeling of dumb resignation which excluded faith; FOR THOU HAST HID THY FACE FROM US, withdraw... [ Continue Reading ]
But now, O Lord, in spite of the seriousness of the situation, THOU ART OUR FATHER, He Himself had begotten them in mercy; WE ARE THE CLAY AND THOU OUR POTTER, who chose and molded the people for His purposes, AND WE ALL ARE THE WORK OF THY HAND, both Israel's history and position being in the guida... [ Continue Reading ]
Be not wroth very sore, O Lord, not to the last extremity nor for eternity, NEITHER REMEMBER INIQUITY FOREVER. BEHOLD, SEE, WE BESEECH THEE, WE ARE ALL THY PEOPLE, the believers relying upon the fact of their having been chosen by the Lord as His own.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy holy cities are a wilderness, this being a special appeal to the Lord to preserve His honor; ZION IS A WILDERNESS, JERUSALEM A DESOLATION, all of which ought deeply to affect His heart and arouse Him to a holy zeal in changing conditions.... [ Continue Reading ]
Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised Thee, the Temple in which the true worship had taken place, IS BURNED UP WITH FIRE, consumed by its flames; AND ALL OUR PLEASANT THINGS, the customs and everything connected with the cultus of the Jews, ARE LAID WASTE, defiled by the heathe... [ Continue Reading ]
Wilt Thou refrain Thyself for these things, O Lord? holding back from coming to the assistance of His people. WILT THOU HOLD THY PEACE AND AFFLICT US VERY SORE? continuing the act of humiliating His people to the very limit. We have here a powerful appeal to the boundless mercy of the Lord, together... [ Continue Reading ]