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I. THE SENSE OF THE PHRASE. Expressions concerning the locality o! the Divine presence arose out of the circumstances of His dwelling in the tabernacle of Moses; of His resting when the camp rested, and marching before them when they advanced. When God thus arose, He came forth from His holy habitation. When God is spoken of in human language, local and bodily ideas must enter into it. The conception of our minds, as to the operations of God, are aided by such phraseology. It may be applied generally to the dispensations of providence. When wickedness prevails, when error spreads, when the Church is wasted, then the Almighty is represented as shutting His eyes, turning away His face, withholding His hand, and resting in His holy place. But when He makes Himself manifest in judgment or mercy, when He has nations to punish or to bless, when His Church calls for protection and help, then He is "raised up out of His holy habitation," and "all flesh" is commanded to "keep silence" before Him.

II. THE OCCASIONS WHICH PROCURE THIS INTERPOSITION OF GOD.

1. He is raised up by the incorrigible vices of men. When wickedness abounds, for a time He appears to disregard it, or He interposes by gentle corrections; but there is a limit to His patience and forbearance.

2. Pride and oppression raise Him up out of His habitation. "Those kingdoms that walk in pride He will abase." Every power that is opposed to the laws of God must be overthrown; and the more proud and oppressive it is, the more certain, speedy, and marked is its downfall.

3. God is raised up for the manifestation of His truth. To every people God originally gave a saving system, and all nations might have preserved it. That they have not, is a proof of human depravity. Had it not been for special interpositions from God, the truth would have wholly perished; and with it all the hopes of the world must have ended forever. Here is the mercy of God.

4. God is raised up by the prayers of His saints. Prayer moves Him that moves the universe. Everything encourages prayer. That which is our privilege is made our duty. You know the efficacy of prayer. It is prayer that calls down His visitations, interests Him in your cause, and secures to you grace to help in every time of need. Nor less essentially is it connected with every plan for the spread of His Gospel, and the prosperity of His Church.

5. The performance of His promise to Messiah raises God up from His holy habitation. He had said, "I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance." This decree is not yet fully accomplished. God has been raised up partly to accomplish it; but He will ere long put forth His power in a still more glorious manner. Even now is He raised up for this purpose.

III. THE IMPRESSION THESE EXTRAORDINARY DISPENSATIONS SHOULD MAKE. Silence is commanded; but silence in such a case is the result of powerful mental impression.

1. It is the effect of deep and intense interest.

2. Reproof produces silence.

3. Satisfaction produces silence. All flesh, as well as the Church, is commanded to keep silence before God.

IV. BUT IS THE WHOLE TO ISSUE IN EMOTION? Certainly not. God is raised up out of His place, to raise us up from ours. We are to be fellow helpers to the truth. It is our encouragement that God is "raised up out of His holy habitation"; and this will render us inexcusable if we refuse to cooperate. If God is thus raised up, we have many encouragements to exertion. We have the Divine sanction. Prayer must be heard. We shall not want cooperation. We cannot want success. We shall be inexcusable, if we refuse to espouse His cause.

(R. Watson.)

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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!"