But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till [there was] no remedy.

Ver. 16. But they mocked the messengers of God.] Yea, misused them, murdered them. See 2 Chronicles 30:10 Matthew 21:34,36 .

Until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people.] Desperate sinners procure implacable wrath, irrevocable decrees, exterminating judgments. Men's sins put thunderbolts into God's hands, who may well say, Non nisi coactus, Not till needs must: "fury is not in me." As a woman bringeth not forth without pain, a bee stingeth not till provoked, so neither doth God proceed to punish till there be no remedy.

Till there was no remedy.] Heb., No healing. They would have no healing, and now they can have none though they would. Cantharides and scorpions are said to carry about them a remedy for their own poison; at ipsi peccato sua inest poena et supplicium; but so doth not sin, for it is sure of punishment, when once it hateth to be healed especially. Nowhere else in Scripture but here, and Proverbs 29:1, is it said "there is no remedy"; and it is fearful. What can we of this nation expect but an utter extermination for our notorious obstinacy? See the sentence, and tremble at it. Eze 24:13-14 Josephus reporteth that in his time his countrymen the Jews were grown so desperately wicked, that if the Romans had not destroyed them, without doubt either the earth would have swallowed them up, or fire from heaven have consumed them.

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