Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, Ver. 1. _Oh that thou wouldst rend the heavens._] That thou wouldst lie no longer hid there, as to some it may seem; but making thy way through all impediments and obstacles, th... [ Continue Reading ]
As [when] the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, [that] the nations may tremble at thy presence! Ver. 2. _As when the melting fire burneth._] So let the mountains burn and boil at thy presence. Aristotle _a_ reporteth that from th... [ Continue Reading ]
When thou didst terrible things [which] we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence. Ver. 3. _When thou didst terrible things._] Or, As when thou didst &c.; as thou didst of old for our forefathers. _ Which we looked not for._] See Deuteronomy 4:32,33, where God... [ 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, [what] he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. Ver. 4. _For since the beginning of the world men have not heard,_] _scil.,_ The mysteries of the gospel revealed... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, [those that] remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. Ver. 5. _Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness._] That doth thy work diligently and with... [ Continue Reading ]
But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Ver. 6. _But we are all as an unclean thing._] Both our persons and our actions are so; for "who can bring a clean thing out o... [ Continue Reading ]
_And [there is] none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities._ Ver. 7. _And there is none that calleth upon thy name,_] _i.e., _ Very few; _a_ for that God had then a praying peopl... [ Continue Reading ]
But now, O LORD, thou [art] our father; we [are] the clay, and thou our potter; and we all [are] the work of thy hand. Ver. 8. _But now, O Lord, thou art our father._] Or, Yet now, O Lord, thou art our father; therefore "we shall not die," say they, Heb 1:12 boldly, but warrantably. See on Isaiah 6... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we [are] all thy people._ Ver. 9. _Be not wroth very sore, O Lord._]]Neither overly much nor overly long, but "spare us, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." This is commended for the best... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. Ver. 10. _Thy holy cities are a wilderness._] And is that for thine honour. "Behold, see, we beseech thee.... [ Continue Reading ]
Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste. Ver. 11. _Our holy and our beautiful house._] The Church riseth higher and higher in her complaints to God; we must do likewise. _ Where our fathers praised thee._]... [ Continue Reading ]
Wilt thou refrain thyself for these [things], O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore? Ver. 12. _Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things?_] Or, Canst thou contain thyself at these things? No, he cannot; witness his answer hereunto. Isa 65:1 The obstinate Jews do in vain still... [ Continue Reading ]