1. God goes on by degrees in His wrath against a people. He had in times past corrected them like a father, He would now execute them like a judge; the drops of His wrath had done no good, now they should have the full vials.
2. Wrath let out against a sinful people, ofttimes lies long upon them. “I will cause My fury to rest upon them.” They were seventy years under God’s displeasure in Babylon.
3. God takes pleasure in executing judgment, in accomplishing His wrath, and causing His fury to rest upon impenitent and incurable sinners, He will be comforted in it (Pro_1:26).
4. The Word of God may be preached among a people, and they, through ignorance and malice, not know it, nor entertain it.
5. Wicked men shall be convinced, and left without excuse. “They shall know that I the Lord have spoken”; they eyed men and not Me, they deemed it man’s voice, not Heaven’s; but they shall find that it was the voice of God amongst them.
6. God will justify His servants in their zealous labours for Him. “They shall know that I have spoken it in My zeal.” It is God speaks in the prophets; it is His zeal they express. Let men be zealous against sin, the iniquities of the times, they are counted mad, fiery fellows, troublers of Israel, seditious, factious, etc.
7. The Lord is intense, and will not recall His indignation, when He deals with unfaithful, covenant-breaking persons. As in God’s zeal there is intense love towards His Church (when God promises mercy to His people, it is sealed with this, “The zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do it,” 2Ki_19:31), so here is intense hatred, wrath against His enemies. (W. Greenhill, M. A.)
