Isaiah 8:12-14 Say you not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear you their fear, nor be afraid.… The Lord knows how to overrule this in His providential government of the world to His own wise and holy purposes. And He does so — 1. By making it HIS scourge to punish His enemies. If men will not fear God they shall fear men. There is scarce a greater torment to be found in the world than for a man to be his own tormentor, and his mind made a rack and engine of torture to his body. It is a dreadful threatening which is recorded in Deuteronomy 28:65-67. When fear hath once seized the heart, you may see death's colours displayed in the face. 2. By fear God punishes His enemies in hell. 3. Providence makes use of the slavish fears and terrors of wicked men to scatter them, when they are combined and confederated against the people of God (Psalm 78:55, and Joshua 24:11, 12. See also Psalm 9:20). ( J. Flavel.) Parallel Verses KJV: Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. |
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