another writer, " the old man so aged that he has to lean on his staff for support because of the multitude of his days," and the young in the glad buoyancy of recent life, fresh from their Creator's hands (shall in that day) " attest alike " (as in measure they do now in all communities of men) " the goodness of the Creator Who protecteth both, the children in their yet undeveloped strength, and the very old, whom He hath brought through all the changes and chances of this mortal life, in their yet sustained weak ness; for the tottering limbs of the very old, and the elastic, perpetual motion (and playfulness) of childhood, are like far distant chords of the diapason of the Creator's love."[1]
Then, as if doubly to confirm the immutability of His counsel, and to strengthen our hearts in the certain fulfil ment of the things just announced, as well as of those which follow however " marvellous " or " impossible " they may appear to human sight there follows a brief paren thetical statement (ver. 6) which is closed in, so to say, by a twofold use of the divine attesting formula, " saith Jehovah of hosts."
Even the saved remnant, contemplating the actual fulfilment of these great and precious promises, will exclaim, " This is Jehovah's doing " (or, lit., " This is of Jehovah "; for by no human or natural means could this have been brought about) " it is marvellous in our eyes " (Ps. cxviii. 23). But " thus saith Jehovah of hosts, If it is marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days[2] should it also be marvellous in Mine eyes? saith Jehovah of hosts"
The word Nbs, yipalei, used in this verse, from N?s, polla> rendered variously " wonderful," " marvellous," " hard,"
"difficult," " hidden," in the Authorised Version, reminds us of its use in at least two other places in the Old Testament in which God wants to teach us the great and prominent lesson which He has designed the whole of mankind to
