How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in ms anger.
Chastisements
1. It is our duty to strive with ourselves to be affected with the miseries of God’s people.
2. The chastisements and corrections that God layeth upon His Church are most wonderful.
(1) The Lord will in His own servants declare His anger against sin.
(2) He seeth afflictions the best means to frame them to His obedience.
(3) His ways are beyond the reach of flesh and blood.
3. God spareth not to smite His dearest children when they sin against Him.
(1) That He may declare Himself an adversary to sin in all men without partiality.
(2) That He may reduce His servants from running on headlong to hell with the wicked.
4. The higher God advanceth any, the greater is their punishment in the day of their visitation for their sins.
(1) To whom much is given, of them must much be required.
(2) According to the privileges abused, so is the sin of those that have them greater and more in number.
5. The most beautiful thing in this world is base in respect of the majesty and glory of the Lord.
6. God’s anger against sin moveth Him to destroy the things that He commanded for His own service, when they are abused by men. (J. Udall.)
The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob.
Spoiled habitations
1. It is the hand of God that taketh away the flourishing estate of a kingdom (Dan_4:29).
2. As God is full of mercy in His long-suffering, so is His anger unappeasable when it breaketh out against the sons of men for their sins (Jer_4:4).
3. God depriveth us of a great blessing when He taketh from us our dwelling places.
4. There is no assurance of worldly possessions and peace, but in the favour of God.
5. God overthroweth the greatest strength that man can erect, even at His pleasure.
6. It is a mark of God’s wrath, to be deprived of strength, courage, or any other necessary gift, when we stand in need of them.
7. It is the sin of the Church that causeth the Lord to spoil the same of any blessing that she hath heretofore enjoyed.
8. These being taken away in God’s anger, teacheth us that it is the good blessing of God to have a kingdom, to have strongholds, munitions, etc., for a defence against their enemies.
9. The more God honoureth us with His blessings, the greater shall be our dishonour if we abuse them, when He entereth “into judgment” with us for the same. (J. Udall.)
He hath cut off in His fierce anger all the horn of Israel.--
Strength despoiled
1. Strength and honour are in the Lord’s disposition, to be given, continued, or taken away at His pleasure.
2. When God’s favour is towards us, it is our shield against our enemies; but when He meaneth to punish us, He leaveth us unto ourselves.
3. Though God’s justice be severe against sin in all men, yet is it most manifest in His Church, having sinned against Him.
(1) All men’s eyes are most upon God’s Church.
(2) God doth declare Himself more in and for His Church than the world besides. (J. Udall.)
