Babylon is the instrument employed by the Divine wrath to thresh with.
But love takes part also in the work of threshing, and restrains the action of wrath. A picture likely to give comfort to the grain lying for threshing on the floor, i.e., to the people of Israel which, mowed down as it were and removed from its native son, had been banished to Babylon, and there subjected to a tyrannical rule. (F. Delitzsch.)
Comfort for God’s afflicted people
I. THE CHURCH IS GOD’S FLOOR, in which the most valuable fruits and products of this earth are, as it were, gathered together and laid up.
II. TRUE BELIEVERS ARE THE CORN OF GOD’S FLOOR. Hypocrites are but as the chaff and straw, which take up a deal of room, but are of small value, with which the wheat is now mixed, but from which it shall be shortly and forever separated.
III. THE CORN OF GOD’S FLOOR MUST EXPECT TO BE THRESHED by afflictions and persecutions.
IV. EVEN THEN, GOD OWNS IT FOR HIS THRESHING--it is His still; nay, the threshing of it is by His appointment and under His restraint and direction The threshers could have no power against it but what is given them from above. (M. Henry.)
