Wesley Corpus

Chapter XXXVI A promise of the restoration of Israel, from their present deplorable condition, ver. 1 - 15. They are reminded of their former sins, and God's judgments, ver. 16 - 20. A promise of pardon, ver, 21 - 24. And sanctification, 25 - 38 The mountains - The inhabitants being in captivity, speak to the mountains, that is, the land of Judah, and Israel, which was a country full of mountains. Because the enemy - Many were the enemies of God's people; but they so conspired in one design, that the prophet speaks of them as one, and particularly of Edom. Swallowed - Devoured you, as hungry beasts devour their prey. Ye are taken up - You are the subject of all their discourse. An infamy - Ever branding you as infamous. Lifted up mine hand - Sworn in my wrath. The heathen - The Moabites, Ammonites, and Idumeans. At hand - The time is near, when my people shall come out of Babylon to settle in their own land. And thou - O land of Canaan. Bereave - Consume thine inhabitants. They - The heathen round about. Therefore - I will so bless thee, O land, that thou shalt bring forth and breed up many sons and daughters, and this reproach shall cease for ever. By their doings - By their carriage, and whole conversation. As the uncleanness - Or as one cut off from the congregation, because of some great sin. Entered - When they were come into Babylon. Profaned - They sinned. They - Their heathen neighbours. Them - The profane Jews. These - These profane slaves, call themselves the people of the Lord and say, he gave them the land out of which they are driven. But I had pity - For these sins I had just cause to cut them off; but I had pity, for the glory of my name: had I destroyed them, the heathen would have concluded against my omnipotence, and my truth. I will sanctify my great name - They gave the heathen occasion to think meanly of me, but I will shew I am as great as good. When God performs what he hath sworn by his holiness, then he sanctifies his name.