Wesley Corpus

Chapter XX The prophet consulted by the elders, signifies God's displeasure against them, ver. 1 - 3. Gives them a history of God's dealings with their fathers, and their treacherous dealings with God in Egypt, ver. 4 - 9. In the wilderness, ver. 10 - 26. In Canaan, ver. 27 - 32. Judgments denounced against them, ver. 33 - 36. Mercy promised to a remnant, ver. 37 - 44. A word dropt toward Jerusalem, ver. 45 - 49. The seventh year - Of Zedekiah's reign, two years and five months before Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. Came - Yet resolved before - hand what they would do. Are ye come - Are ye in good earnest Wilt thou - Wilt thou not convince and reprove them And denounce my judgments against them The abominations - What their fathers have done, they approve, and have outdone; by that let them know what to expect. When I chose - When I shewed that I had chosen them. The history of the rebellions of the children of Israel, begins as early, as their beginning. So does the history of man's apostasy from his Maker. No sooner have we read the story of his creation, but we meet with that of his rebellion. So we see here, it was with Israel; a people designed to represent the body of mankind, both in their dealings with God, and in God's dealing with them. Lifted up my hand - Or stretched out and made bare my arm; that is, magnified my power for their deliverance. When I lifted up mine hand - Shewed my power in performing my oath, and assuring them of doing what was farther promised. I had espied - God speaks after the manner of men. Milk and honey - Literally milk and honey in abundance were in the land of Canaan. Proverbially it speaks the plenty and abundance of all the blessings of life. Of his eyes - To which you have looked for help. To accomplish - To make an end of them. For my name's sake - For the glory of my mercy and faithfulness. Polluted - Reproached and blasphemed. A sign - Of their being peculiarly my people.