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1. The vision itself. The man with a line in his hand.

2. The interpretation of the vision. Jerusalem shall be built, and the city shall be inhabited.

3. A threefold apostrophe that the Lord infers from this —

(1) Directed to the Jews that yet continued in Babylon. The Lord calls them. It is barrenness and lowness of spirit not to accept deliverance. "Deliver thyself."(2) The news is to the enemies that were their neighbours.

(3) To both. Let the enemies silence their murmurings, silence their slanders. Let the saints silence their frettings, silence their doubtings. In the words of text are two things.

I. A PROPOSITION. "The Lord is raised up out of His holy habitation." The expression "habitation of His holiness" is used two ways in Scripture. It is sometimes put for heaven; sometimes for the temple, the place of God's presence among His people, manifested in ordinances. How is God said to be "raised up"? It is such a rising as is after an awaking out of sleep. But how can God be said to sleep? The cessation of acts of providence is God's sleep. The putting of them forth is God's arising, awaking. The meaning of the sentence is this, — When the Lord doth appear for His people as a return of their prayers, when the Lord ariseth gloriously for them, for their deliverance, and their enemies overthrow, then it is said, "The Lord is raised up out of His holy habitation." Two observations — The great comfort of the saints in all their straits and difficulties lies in this, when they see God ariseth for them. Experiments of God's rising in acts of providence are great grounds to His people to stay their faith, that God will go on, He will bring His work to perfection. Open this under three heads —

1. There is a time when God seems to sleep.

2. The great labour of the saints in all their straits is to awaken God, that God may arise. We knock at heaven's gate; we environ God; beleaguer God by our prayers; we as it were wrest mercy out of His hands.

3. The consolations of the saints must needs be very great from the arisings of God for them in His providential dealings. When the Lord doth arise, whatsoever standeth in opposition must fall. When God ariseth, He overruleth the spirits of men, so as they shall effect and accomplish the end. When God ariseth, He hath abundance rise with Him. When, by our spiritual eyes, can we discern that God is raised up?

1. Prayer is God's way by which He is raised up.

2. When the Lord defeateth the counsels of the enemy, turns their plots upon their heads.

3. When the Lord takes away the heart of His enemies.

4. When the Lord acteth the spirits of His people unto high and noble and invincible resolutions.

5. When the Lord goes on in ways of mercy, and draws out His loving kindness. The experiments (experiences) which the saints have of the rising of God are a sure pledge to their faith that He will go on; He will not leave the work till He hath brought it to perfection. The inference is, — then "be silent all flesh before Him." Some men keep silence in policy, because they would not discover themselves till a convenient time. But all the people of God that would approve themselves, must keep silence in duty. There is a silence of shame, and a silence of fear and astonishment. The Lord says to these Jews, silence your doubtings, and silence your frettings.

(W. Strong.)

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KJV: Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.

WEB: Be silent, all flesh, before Yahweh; for he has roused himself from his holy habitation!"