![]() ![]() Rightly, then, hast thou seen, he says for I am watching. Thus it is a general declaration which refers not only to punishments, but also to promises. He then gives a proof of this in other words, and says that he would watch over his word, that he might execute whatever he had announced by his servants as though he had said, “I indeed allot their parts (so to speak) to the prophets but as they speak from my mouth, I am present with them to fulfill whatever I command them.” In short, God intimates that the might and the power of his hand would be connected with the word, of which the prophets were ministers among men. Hence I have said that these verses ought to be connected with the last, in which God said, that he sent his Prophet to root up and to plant, to demolish and to build. That is, “I will cause the prophetic doctrine to take effect, that the whole world may know that I have not spoken in vain, and that my word is not an empty sound, but that it has real power, which in due time will appear.” ![]() “Not return shall my word to me empty, but shall prosper in all things,” ( Isaiah 55:11) ![]() But this, as I think, is too restricted a view for God, I have no doubt, extols here his own word, and speaks of its accomplishment as though he had said, that he spoke not by his servants, that what they said might vanish into air, or fall to the ground, but that power would accompany it, according to what is said in Isaiah, For what purpose? The answer is given: Thou hast rightly seen the staff of a watcher, because I watch over my word to execute (or, fulfill) it Interpreters seem to have unwisely confined this to the punishments afterwards mentioned: they think that what is intimated is, that the threatenings which the Prophet announced would not be without effect, because God was prepared to inflict whatever he would denounce. God then caused his servant to see the staff of a watcher. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |