not what they have had to rejoice in, nor have they a disposition to rejoice, the ruin of their country has marred their mirth. Note, First, God can easily change the note of those that are most addicted to mirth and pleasure, can soon turn their laughter into mourning, and their joy into heaviness. Secondly, Joy in God is, upon this account, far better than the joy of harvest, that it is what we cannot be robbed of, Ps. iv. 6, 7. Destroy the vines and the fig-trees, and you make all the mirth of a carnal heart to cease, Hos. ii. 11, 12. But a gracious soul can rejoice in the Lord as the God of its salvation, even then when the fig-tree does not blossom, and there is no fruit in the vine, Hab. iii. 17, 18. In God therefore let us always rejoice with a holy triumph, and in other things let us always rejoice with a holy trembling, rejoice as though we rejoiced not.
2. The concurrence of the prophet with them in this sorrow; "I will with weeping bewail Jazer, and the vine of Sibmah, and look with a compassionate concern upon the desolations of such a pleasant country; I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and mingle them with thy tears;" nay, (v. 11.) it appears to be an inward grief; My bowels shall sound like a harp for Moab; it should make such an impression upon him, that he should feel an inward trembling, like that of the strings of a harp when it is played upon. It well becomes God's prophets to acquaint themselves with grief; the great Prophet did so. The afflictions of the world, as well as those of the church, should be afflictions to us. See ch. xv. 5.
In the close of this chapter, we have,
(1.) The insufficiency of the gods of Moab, the false gods, to help them, v. 12. Moab shall be soon weary of the high-place, he shall spend his spirits and strength in vain in praying to his idols; they cannot help him, and he shall be convinced that they cannot. It is seen that it is to no purpose to expect any relief from the high-places on earth, it must come from above the hills. Men are generally so stupid, that they will not believe, till they are made to see, the vanity of idols and of all creature-confidences, nor will come off from them, till they are made weary of them. But when he is weary of his high-places, he will not go, as he should, to God's sanctuary, but to his sanctuary, to the temple of Chemosh, the principal idol of Moab; so it is generally understood; and he shall pray there to as little purpose, and as little to his own ease and satisfaction, as he did in his high-places; for, whatever honours idolaters do their idols, they do not thereby make them at all the better able to help them; whether they are the Dii majorum Gentium—Gods of the higher order, or minorum—of the lower order, they are alike the creatures of men's fancy, and the work of men's hands. Perhaps it may be meant of their coming to God's sanctuary: when they found they could have no succours from their high-places, some of them would come to the temple of God at Jerusalem, to pray there, but in vain; he will justly send them back to the gods whom they have served, Judg. x. 14.
(2.) The sufficiency of the God of Israel, the only true God, to make good what he had spoken against them.
[1.] The thing itself was long since determined; (v. 13.) This is the word, this is the thing, that the Lord has spoken concerning Moab, since the time that he began to be so proud and insolent, and abusive to God's people. The country was long ago doomed to ruin; this was enough to give an assurance of it, that it is the word which the Lord has spoken; and as he will never unsay what he has spoken, so all the power of hell and earth cannot gainsay it, or obstruct the execution of it.
[2.] Now it was made known when it should be done; the time was before fixed in the counsel of God, but now it was revealed, The Lord has spoken that it shall be within three years, v. 14. It is not for us to know, or covet to know, the times and the seasons, any further than God has thought fit to make them known; and so far we may and must take notice of them. See how God makes known. his mind by degrees; the light of divine revelation shone more and more, and so does the light of divine grace in the heart.
Observe, First, The sentence passed upon Moab; The glory of Moab shall be contemned; it shall be contemptible, when all those things they have gloried in, shall come to nothing. Such is the glory of this world, so fading and uncertain, admired awhile, but soon slighted. Let that therefore which will soon be contemptible in the eyes of others, be always contemptible in our eyes, in comparison with the far more exceeding weight of glory. It was the glory of Moab that their country was very populous, and their forces courageous, but where is her glory, when all that great multitude is in a manner swept away, some by one judgment, and some by another, and the little remnant that is left shall be very small and feeble, not able to bear up under their own griefs, much less to make head against their enemies' insults? Let not therefore the strong glory in their strength, nor the many in their numbers.
Secondly, The time fixed for the execution of this sentence; Within three years, as the years of a hireling, at the three years' end exactly; for a servant that is hired for a certain term keeps count to a day. Let Moab know that her ruin is very near, and prepare accordingly. Fair warning is given, and with it space to repent, which if they had improved as Nineveh did, we have reason to think, the judgments threatened had been prevented.
CHAP. XVII.
Syria and Ephraim were confederate against Judah, (ch. vii. 1, 2.) and they being so closely linked together in their counsels, this chapter, though it be entitled the burthen of Damascus, (which was the head city of Syria,) reads the doom of Israel too. I. The destruction of the strong cities both of Syria and Israel is here fore^i told, (v. 1..5.) and again, v. 9..11. II. In the midst of judgment mercy is remembered to Israel, and a precious promise made that a remnant should be preserved from the calamities, and should get good by them, v. 6..8. III. The overthrow of the Assyrian army before Jerusalem is pointed at, v. 12..14. In order of time, this chapter should he placed next after ch. ix. for the destruction of Damascus here foretold, happened in the reign of Ahaz, 2 Kings xvi. 9.
1.THE burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. 2. The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they shall be for flocks which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid. 3. The fortress shall also cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the Lord of hosts. 4. And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and. the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean. 5. And it shall be as when the harvest-man gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim.
We have here the burthen of Damascus; the
