Geneva Study Bible Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, O that thou wouldest {a} rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,
(a) The prophet continues his prayer, desiring God to declare his love toward his Church by miracles and mighty power, as he did in mount Sinai. As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence! As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth {b} the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thy adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!
(b) Meaning, the rain, hail, fire, thunder and lightning. When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence. When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence.
For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. For since the beginning of the world men have not {c} heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, besides thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
(c) Paul uses the same kind of admiration, 1Co 2:9 marvelling at God's great benefit showed to his Church, by the preaching of the gospel. Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. Thou meetest him {d} that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy {e} ways: behold, thou art angry; for we have sinned: in {f} those is continuance, and we {g} shall be saved.
(d) You showed favour toward our fathers, when they trusted in you and walked after your commandments. (e) They considered your great mercies. (f) That is, in your mercies, which he calls the ways of the Lord. (g) You will have pity on us. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our {h} righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
(h) We are justly punished and brought into captivity, because we have provoked you to anger, and though we would excuse ourselves, yet our righteousness, and best virtues are before you as vile cloths, or (as some read) like the menstruous cloths of a woman. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.
But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the {i} clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
(i) Even though O Lord by your just judgment you may utterly destroy us as the potter may his pot, yet we appeal to your mercies, by which it has pleased you to adopt us to be your children. Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people. Be not very angry, O LORD, {k} neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.
(k) For so the flesh judges when God does not immediately send comfort. Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. {l} Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.
(l) Who were dedicated to your service, and to call on your Name. Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste. Our holy and our beautiful house, {m} where our fathers praised thee, is burned with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste.
(m) In which we rejoiced and worshipped you. Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore? Wilt thou restrain thyself {n} for these things, O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and grievously afflict us? (n) That is, at the contempt of your own glory? Though our sins have deserved this, yet you will not permit your glory thus to be diminished. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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