Now — I will record it to he a witness for God, and against you, as Moses did his song, Deuteronomy 31:19, Deuteronomy 32:1. To — To the Lord of the vineyard. Of my beloved — Not devised by me, but inspired by God. Vineyard — His church. Hill — Hills being places most commodious for vines.... [ Continue Reading ]
He gathered — He removed all hindrances, and gave them all the means of fruitfulness. A tower — For the residence of the keepers.... [ Continue Reading ]
Nor digged — Vine — dressers use to dig up and open the earth about the roots of the vines. The meaning is, I will remove my ministers, who used great care and diligence to make you fruitful. Thorns — I will give you up to your own lusts. No rain — I will deprive you of all my blessings.... [ Continue Reading ]
Pleasant — In whom God formerly delighted. A cry — From the oppressed, crying to men for help, and to God for vengeance.... [ Continue Reading ]
Alone — That they alone may be the lords and owners, and all others only their tenants and servants.... [ Continue Reading ]
In mine ears — I heard God speak what I am about to utter.... [ Continue Reading ]
One bath — Of wine. The bath contained about eight gallons. Thus an acre did not yield one gallon. An ephah — Which was of the same quantity with the bath, only the bath was the measure of liquid things, the ephah of dry things; and a ephah was the tenth part of an homer. So instead of the increase... [ Continue Reading ]
The harp — They give up themselves wholly to luxury. The work — What God hath lately done, and is yet doing, and about to do among them; his grievous judgments, partly inflicted, and partly threatened, which required another course of life.... [ Continue Reading ]
No knowledge — No serious consideration of God's works, and of their own duty and danger. Honourable men — Who thought themselves quite out of the reach of famine.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he — That spends all his days in mirth and jollity.... [ Continue Reading ]
The mighty — All of them, both high and low, shall be brought to destruction.... [ Continue Reading ]
Exalted — By the execution of this just judgment. Sanctified — Shall appear to be an holy God, by his righteous judgments.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then — When God shall have finished that work of judgment. The lambs — The poor and harmless people, who shall be left in the land when the rich are carried into captivity. Manner — Or, by their fold, as this word is manifestly used, Micah 2:12, the only place of scripture, except this, in which thi... [ Continue Reading ]
That draw — That are not only drawn to sin by the allurements of the world; but are active and illustrious in drawing sin to themselves. Cords — Or, with cords of lying, as the last word frequently signifies, with vain and deceitful arguments and pretences, whereby sinners generally draw themselves... [ Continue Reading ]
Let him — God, in whose name thou and other prophets are always threatening us. This was the plain language of their actions; they lived as if they were of this opinion. The Holy One — They scornfully repeated the title usually given by the prophets to God.... [ Continue Reading ]
To them — That take away the difference between good and evil; that justify wicked men and things, and condemn piety, or righteous persons.... [ Continue Reading ]
To mingle — To drink: the antecedent being put for the consequent: for they mingled it in order to drinking.... [ Continue Reading ]
Take away — Pronounce sentence against him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Rottenness — They shall be like a tree which not only withers in its branches, but dies and rots at the roots, therefore is past recovery. Dust — Shall be resolved into dust, and yield no fruit.... [ Continue Reading ]
An ensign — To call them together for his service. From far — To the Chaldeans; for even Babylon is called a far country, Isaiah 39:3. And he saith nations, because the Chaldean army was made up of several nations. Will hiss — Or, will whistle unto, or for them: will gather them together by his word... [ Continue Reading ]
Nor sleep — They shall all be watchful and diligent to take all opportunities of executing my judgments. Nor latchet — I will take all impediments out of their way.... [ Continue Reading ]
Bent — Who are every way furnished and ready for my work, waiting only for my command. Flint — Because they shall not be broken or battered by the length or stonyness and ruggedness of the way. Whirlwind — For the swiftness of their march, and for the force and violence of their chariots in battle.... [ Continue Reading ]
Roar — Which signifies both their cruelty, and their eagerness to devour the prey.... [ Continue Reading ]
Sorrow — Darkness; that is, sorrow; the latter word explains the former. The heavens — When they look up to the heavens, as men in distress usually do, they see no light there.... [ Continue Reading ]