“Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.”
As witness of this people’s ingratitude.
“My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:”
He desireth that he may speak to God’s glory, and that the people, as the green grass, may receive the dew of his doctrine.
“He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”
The Hebrew word is rock , noting that God only is mighty, faithful and constant in his promise.
“Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?”
Not according to the common creation, but he hath made thee a new creature by his Spirit.
“When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.”
When God by his providence divided the world, he lent for a time that portion to the Canaanites, which should after be an inheritance for all his people Israel.
“He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;”
That is, abundance of all things even in the very rocks. Meaning, of the land of Canaan, which was high in respect of Egypt.
“But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.”
He showeth what is the principal end of our vocation.
“They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.”
By changing his service for their superstitions.
“They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. not to: or, which were not God”
Scripture calleth new, whatsoever man inventeth, be the error never so old.
“And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters. abhorred: or, despised”
He calleth them God’s children, not to honor them, but to show them from what dignity they are fallen.
“They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.”
Cross references: : Rom. 10:19 Which I have not favored, nor given my law unto them.
“The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs. within: Heb. from the chambers destroy: Heb. bereave”
They shall be slain both in the field and at home.
“Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the LORD hath not done all this. Our: or, Our high hand, and not the LORD hath done”
Rejoicing to see the godly afflicted, and attributing that to themselves, which is wrought by God’s hand.
“O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!”
They would consider the felicity, that was prepared for them, if they had obeyed God.
“How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?”
Or, delivered them to their enemies.
“Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.”
The fruits of the wicked are as poison, detestable to God, and dangerous for man.
“For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left. power: Heb. hand”
When neither strong nor weak in a manner remain. Or, change his mind.
“For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.”
That is, I swear, read Gen. 14:12 .
“Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people. Rejoice: or, Praise his people, ye nations: or, Sing ye”
Rom. 15:10 Whether the blood of God’s people be shed for their sins or trial of their faith, he promiseth to revenge it.
“For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.”
For I will perform my promise unto you, Isa. 55:10 .
“And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people:”
Num. 20:25 , 28 ; Num. 3:38 Gen. 25:8
“Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh , in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel. Meribah-Kadesh: or, strife at Kadesh”
Ye were not earnest and constant to maintain mine honor. Or, of strife. Num. 20:12 , 13 ; Num. 27:14