I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. Ver. 1. _I will stand upon my watch_] To see what becomes of my prayer, and what will be the issue of my doubts and temptations about God's providence,... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make [it] plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. Ver. 2. _And the Lord answered me, and said_] Wisdom he had sought of God, who giveth liberally, James 1:5; and wisdom is granted him without hitting him in the teeth with his bol... [ Continue Reading ]
For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Ver. 3. _For the vision is yet for an appointed time_] This he is commanded to write, that God's people may learn to wait. He that... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, his soul [which] is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Ver. 4. _Behold, his soul which is lifted up_] _Ebulat, protuberat,_ which swelleth like a bubble, and reaketh through its own weakness; he that by unbelief or carnal security withdraweth from God, an... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, [he is] a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and [is] as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people: Ver. 5. _Yea, also because he transgresseth by wine_] Or, How... [ Continue Reading ]
Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth [that which is] not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay! Ver. 6. _Shall not all these take up a parable against him?_] Shall not the Babylonian, who i... [ Continue Reading ]
Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them? Ver. 7. _Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee?_] Rend and tear thee as hunting dogs do the beast they pursue. See Isaiah 13:14; Isa 13:21 Jeremiah 51:58. The... [ Continue Reading ]
Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and [for] the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein. Ver. 8. _Because thou hast spoiled many nations_] God loves to retaliate (as hath before been often observe... [ Continue Reading ]
Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil! Ver. 9. _Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness_] For there is a good covetousness (which few are guilty of), 1 Corinthians 12:31, "Covet earnestly t... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned [against] thy soul. Ver. 10. _Thou hast consulted shame to thy house, &c._] Thou hast taken a wrong course both for thy house of the kingdom (so the Persians called the king's palace, Dan 4:27), which shall be blown... [ Continue Reading ]
For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it. Ver. 11. _For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it_] Here are woeful echoes; screech owls of woe cry aloud from the beams of the oppressors' chambers, and make mos... [ Continue Reading ]
Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity! Ver. 12. _Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood_] This seemeth to be the senseless creatures, black _Cantus_ Song, (as they call it), chanted out against the wrong doer, by God's own appointment, _cui obscura clare... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, [is it] not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity? Ver. 13. _Behold, is it not of the Lord of hosts that the people shall labour in the fire_] Labour in vain to quench the fire, wherewith Babylon shall be bu... [ Continue Reading ]
For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. Ver. 14. _For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, &c._] He shall make himself a glorious name among the nations of the earth, by executing vengeance upon Babylo... [ Continue Reading ]
Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to [him], and makest [him] drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness! Ver. 15. _Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink_] The Babylonians (among other their flagitious practices afore mentioned) were much addict... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD'S right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing [shall be] on thy glory._ Ver. 16. _Thou art filled with shame for glory_] Or, more with shame than with glory. That is, thou s... [ Continue Reading ]
For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, [which] made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein. Ver. 17. _For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee_] Here, for the comfort of God's people (whic... [ Continue Reading ]
What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? Ver. 18. _What profiteth the graven image_] The Chaldees promised themselves much help against their enemies from their id... [ Continue Reading ]
Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it [is] laid over with gold and silver, and [there is] no breath at all in the midst of it. Ver. 19. _Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake_] It is wood still, and yet he saith to it, Awake, Arise, &c... [ Continue Reading ]
But the LORD [is] in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him. Ver. 20. _But the Lord is in his holy temple_] It is not enough to condemn superstitions; but we must know and serve the true God in a true manner. Cicero wished that he could as easily find out the true religion as di... [ Continue Reading ]