isaiah 49:13 commentary isaiah 49:13 commentary

Accordingly, he places the subject almost before their eye, that they may be fully convinced that they shall have the most abundant cause of rejoicing; though at that time they saw nothing but grief and sorrow. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. Isaiah III, Volume 2: Chapters 49-55: 454: HCOT: 1998: WorldCat Amazon CBD. The Lord hides the servant "in the shadow of his hand" and "in his quiver" (verse 2). That is in Christ, he was a man who was governed by God. Free Online Commentary. Shout for joy, O heavens! And set up My standard for the peoples; are without the yod or the conjunction vau before the verb: and so the Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate. She would not have compassion, well she might. c. Thus says the LORDto Him whom man despises, to Him whom the nation abhors: The LORD speaks to His Messiah, and reveals that He will be One whom man despises, and whom His own nation abhors. What is a plumb line in the Bible? The LORD has called Me from the womb; It's two hours wide and six hours long driving in a car. The reason of all this is, for the Lord hath comforted his people; with the discoveries of his love and grace; by his gracious presence among them; by the coming of Christ unto them in a spiritual way; by sending his Spirit, and renewing the face of things, and reviving his work in the midst of them; by the pure and powerful preaching of the Gospel, and comfortable administration of Gospel ordinances; and by large additions of converts made unto them: and will have mercy upon his afflicted, or "poor", or "meek" and "humble" ones, as the words F12 may be rendered: the Lord's people is a poor and afflicted people, poor in a temporal and spiritual sense; the church and interest of Christ is in a poor and low condition: the Lord's people are afflicted outwardly and inwardly, and so become meek, and are kept humble; these the Lord, in the latter day, will raise from a low and distressed condition to a more exalted and comfortable one; which will be an instance of his mercy and compassion, and be matter of joy unto them. And He said to me, To those who are in darkness, Show yourselves. Read Isaiah 49:1-4. His words are like a sharpened sword - truth that defends the righteous and destroys the rebellious. Thus says the LORD, The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother's womb he named me. You shall surely clothe yourselves with them all as an ornament, The "mountain" (Isaiah 13:2) is discussed in Notes and Commentary on Isaiah 2:1-5. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? He's brought them back in the land. Isaiah 49:1-13 (The 2nd Servant Song) Isaiah 49:1-13 - The 2nd Servant Song. That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth. But how will this prophecy be fulfilled? To this he submitted for our salvation. This chapter is full of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the words quoted could not possibly have their complete fulfillment in any other save in our Savior. So long as they are oppressed by fear or anxiety, or grief, they scarcely accept of any consolation; and therefore they need to be confirmed in various ways. You are My servant, O Israel: Since the rest of the context of this chapter indicates that this passage speaks of the Messiah, it is best to regard Israel as a reference to the Messiah. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth. And My God shall be My strength), New Revised Standard Version and Student Study Handout for Isaiah 9:2-7 International Bible Lesson "For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6NRSV). Isaiah 42:10-13; Isaiah 44:23; Isaiah 45:8; Isaiah 52:8-9; Isaiah 55:12-13). But we have no more reason to question his promise and grace than we have to question his providence and justice. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; "In the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me.". (1.) and break forth into singing, O mountains; such as are in high office either in the state, as Christian kings and princes, Isaiah 49:23 or in the church, as prophets and apostles, Revelation 18:20. But Zion said, The LORD has forsaken me: In the midst of this great praise for the Messiah and His saving work, Zion speaking of the highest hill in Jerusalem, and the place of Gods people by association Zion objects. a. Not much. 66:9-13). Then you will know that I am the LORD, Verse Isaiah 49:13. To Him whom the nation abhors, It is common in Isaiah thus to interpose a song of praise on the announcement of any great and glorious truth, and to call on the heavens and the earth to rejoice together (see the notes at Isaiah 12:1-6; Isaiah 42:10-11; Isaiah 44:23). And bind them on you as a bride does. From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name. And lick up the dust of your feet. [2.] We wept when we remembered Zion. Listen, you people that live in distant places. With such love, how could God ever forget His people? That he has a constant care of his church and people (Isaiah 49:16; Isaiah 49:16): I have engraven thee upon the palms of my hands. And rejoice, O earth! The work of God's Servant v1 Listen to me, you foreign nations. Sing, O heavens - In view of the glorious truths stated in the previous verses, that kings should rise up, and princes worship; that the Messiah would be for a light to the Gentiles, and that the true religion would be extended to each of the four quarters of the globe. What will the Messiah do for the Gentiles? Isaiah 13. The best commentaries on Isaiah ranked by scholars and reviewers: (1) Oswalt, John N. in NICOT, (2) Webb, Barry G. in BST, (3) Motyer, J. Alec . And you go today and the declaration of so many Jews is, "Where was God during the Holocaust? And now the LORD says, ( Psalms 137:1-4 ) Now some of the old rabbis say that the next two verses are God's response to this cry. But, says God, I will not forget thee. before I was born. (heaven) (Mt 7:13-14). For your waste and desolate placeswill even now be too small for the inhabitants: As the LORD brings the sons of Zion back to Israel, they will fill the land in a glorious way. But they are seeking to expand. Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. YHWH is described in terms of a nursing mother. And God's purposes are to be fulfilled there. And when the Israelis go in and take the oil and cut the prices in half, everybody is going to hail them as the heroes, because suddenly this whole problem of world economy is going to be reversed. 2 He made my words as sharp as a sword. [1.] I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; But, Secondly, It is possible that she may forget. I will make each of My mountains a road, "Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. But Zion said, The LORD has forsaken me, For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones" (49:13). The land will be too narrow for you by reason of the inhabitants. People born in exile will flock to the rebuilt Jerusalem. This promise was partially fulfilled in the return of the exiles from Babylon but will be ultimately fulfilled in the regathering of Israel in the last days. He reminds the doubting exiles that he is the all-powerful God and Israels covenant redeemer. "[9] The appearance of this outburst of praise in the midst of a long list of prophecies is similar to the appearance of the proleptic songs interspersed throughout the prophecy of Revelation, thus exhibiting the same characteristic found in other authentic portions of God's Word. 2. God replies that he can do it. God replies that they have no evidence to support such an accusation, for he has neither divorced them nor sold them. b. He is as sure a rewarder as he is a revenger. 5/8/2015 In today's lesson, God promises a multitude of children to Israel through faith. 6-12. God the Father is a spirit. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. The prophet speaker-author is using poetic forms, with dramatic or heightened images and turns of phrase. [2.] You have made my mouth like a sharp sword." Nothing in all creation can withstand his power (2-3). The place is too small for me; As I live, says the LORD, Clarke on They shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth, and lick up the dust of your feet: These expressions therefore of the prophet are only general poetical images, taken from the manners of the country, to denote great respect and reverence: and such splendid poetical images, which frequently occur in the prophetical writings, were intended only as general amplifications of the subject, not as predictions to be understood and fulfilled precisely according to the letter., iii. In Isaiah 49 the Messiah speaks towards the end of His ministry of salvation going also to the Gentiles: Listen, O coast lands, to Me, and take heed, you . What is the voice of one calling in the wilderness (Isaiah 40:3; John 1:23)? you shall surely clothe yourselves with them all as an ornament: The LORD will bring back the exiled and captive sons of Zion to the Promised Land, and this will be an ornament for Gods people. Partners In a New Creation / Lesson #5 lay upon them command after command, rule alter rule, a constant series of minute injunctions, under which they will . And the prey of the terrible be delivered; Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. God will rescue Israel from both their immediate and ultimate captivity. More Isaiah commentaries. Whether exiled in Babylon or scattered in other places, the people will return home amid much rejoicing (11-13).Some of the Jews thought God had forgotten them. Princes also shall worship, In His quiver He has hidden Me.. This is a truly significant Jewish sign that proclaims the nearness of our Lord's return. This was true for Zion when freed from the Babylonian captivity; it is even more true for those set free from captivity to Satan. Price of gasoline will go down, price of raw materials will go down. So the work of Christ among the Gentiles, the kings worshipping and so forth as the gospel of Jesus Christ has permeated many kingdoms of the Gentiles. The servant who is the nation Israel is displeasing to God (42:18-25), but this servant is honored by God (49:5). iii. Scripture: Isaiah 49:1-13 Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed The Kingdom Of Heaven Part 2 - Israel - A Nation Chosen By God Series Contributed by Stephen Smith on Sep 22, 2019 based on 3 ratings | 4,644 views A message explaining the reason why God chose Israel for himself and outlining the purpose he had (and still has) for this special nation. Isaiah Chapter49 Lessons from the text . This represents the choices and lifestyle a person accepts as well as calling attention to the . This is the third of our four lessons from Isaiah in our set of reflections on humanity's participation in God's new creation. But God said. 49 Listen to me, distant nations, you people who live far away! As a covenant to the people, And he said, It is a light thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the eaRuth ( Isaiah 49:5-6 ). 3 He said to me, "Israel, you are my servant; Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? (13-27) The Source Of True Deliverance (28-35) Historical Interlude (36-39) of He kept me safe in his hand. 8 The judgments upon Israel for their pride . For the Lord has comforted His people And will have compassion on His afflicted. Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; yet surely my just reward is with the LORD: The translators of the New King James do not believe these words belong in the mouth of the Messiah, because they do not capitalize the pronoun my, as they would if they believed it spoke of the Messiah. . Isaiah 46:1-13 Sovereign Control of God. The Most Amazing Child The Servant's weapon is the word of the Lord (49:2). And not have compassion on the son of her womb? ( Isaiah 49:16-21 ). "I will also give thee." The whole world will know it, and of course, God tells us in that day that He destroys the invading Russian army with her allies shall the whole world know that I am God. Isaiah 40:1; Isaiah 47:6) and had shown compassion on His formerly afflicted nation (cf. Yet I will not forget you. Yet if there is any specific time that this promise was fulfilled, it was as Jesus died on the cross and trusted in the promise of resurrection. Let the whole creation join with us in songs of joy, for it shares with us in the benefits of the redemption, and all they can contribute to this sacred melody is little enough in return for such inestimable favours, Psalms 96:11. This week, we're looking more closely at "daughter Zion's" restoration to motherhood. In Isaiah 42:3, the servant is described as "a bruised reed" and . If the Masoretic Text is correct, a long standing interpretation connects Sinim with China. (Wolf), ii. Isaiah 50:4-9a Commentary; Isaiah 51 Commentary. Study the Bible on the go with Andrew's free online Bible commentary. b. Can a woman forget her nursing child, Lick up the dust of thy feet refers to the great honor which the great ones of the world will give Israel. In whom I will be glorified. Why are both Jesus and Satan referred to as the morning star? [ a] He made me like an arrow, sharp and ready for use. Isaiah 55:1-13 Commentary; Isaiah 56 Commentary. (For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, Let there be joy in heaven, and let the angels of God celebrate the praises of the great Redeemer; let the earth and the mountains, particularly the great ones of the earth, be joyful, and break forth into singing, for the earnest expectation of the creature that waits for the glorious liberty of the children of God (Romans 8:19; Romans 8:21) shall now be abundantly answered. These multitudes are the Saints who will be gathered from every nation in the last days and enlisted . i. And their queens your nursing mothers; Yeshayahu - Isaiah - Chapter 49 Previous Chapter 48 Next Chapter 50 Rashi's Commentary: Show Hide Show content in: English Both Hebrew Previous Chapter 48 Next Chapter 50 The text on this page contains sacred literature. They are contending with the eternal God of heaven. Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, Kings shall be your foster fathers, The despising nation was Israel. Then I said, I have labored in vain, 1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. ", Isaiah began this pericope by clarifying the calling and ministry of the Servant. Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, For over one hundred years International Critical Commentaries have had a special place among works on the Bible. Grogan gives another perspective on Sinim: It is most likely that Isaiah was being consciously obscure. 1 What joy shall be in the midst of afflictions, by the Kingdom and birth of Christ. And the land of your destruction, It isnt just demonstrated by the past and the present, but also by His future plans for them. ii. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. The Father is the Lord, the Redeemer, and Holy One of Israel, as sending the Son to be the Redeemer. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. He is a pledge for all the blessings of the covenant; in him God was reconciling the world to himself. For I will contend with him who contends with you, Can a woman forget her nursing child: Though bizarre accounts of unspeakable cruelty surface from time to time, everyone knows that a woman will never forget her nursing child. Isaiah 49 reminds us that God's deep and abiding love for God's world is just too enormous to be limited to just one kind of person or people. And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted. This is rejoicing over deliverance from sin, not just exile. And I will save your children. The book of Isaiah contains 66 chapters divided into 39, and 27 the same way the Old and New Testament is divided. As Jesus told Thomas in a post-resurrection appearance, look at My hands (John 20:27). The idea in this verse is, that it was an occasion on which the heavens and the earth would have cause to exult together. Her enemies, who had threatened and assaulted her, shall be forced to withdraw from her: Thy destroyers, and those who made thee waste, who had made themselves masters of the country and ravaged it, shall go forth of thee. Now by this it will appear that Zion's suggestions were altogether groundless, that God has not forsaken her, nor forgotten her, nor ever will. * [ 49:1 ] Gave me my name : designated me for a special task or mission (cf. All new evidence . 49:15 This is a powerful metaphor of God's covenant love (cf. Opponents who try to ruin Israels work will not be successful and will leave in shame and defeat (17-18). The glorious day of Israel's future when the kings of the earth come and pay their homage year by year. 3 He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, and . Be joyful, O earth! The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 28:13 The word of the Lord was to them ; rather, shall be to them . And, of course, here God said, "Can a mother forsake her or forget her nursing child? I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver. With his own hand he protected me. You can also change some of your preferences. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? And the purpose is not to torment you, or because He hates you. THE MESSIAH: A RESTORER OF ISRAEL (Isaiah 49:8-13) 8. #2 "I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;". If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. I. The triumphs of the church, after her troubles, will in due time put the matter out of question. And it is a thing that is actually causing millions of people to starve to death in the third world. But how shall we sing the Lord's songs in a strange land?" And they are still proclaiming that God has forsaken them. 49:13. Please do not deface or discard. Note, God's compassions to his people infinitely exceed those of the tenderest parents towards their children. Commentary on 16 New Testament books, from Matthew to 2 Timothy. But he still loves them and has the power to save them. Isaiah now announced more about the work of the Servant (cf. d. Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship: Yet in the end, the Messiah will not be despised or abhorred. This is the reason why Isaiah describes the advantages of this deliverance in such lofty terms, in order that believers, though they beheld nothing around them but death and ruin, might sustain their heart by the hope of a better condition. Pay attention, you who are far away! The servant was to be a light to the nations, making it possible for non-Jews who had been in darkness because of being without the knowledge of God and his promises to be forgiven of their sins and to cease being in a state of alienation from him. So it's a wise plan, and who's going to object?So God speaks here that they're going to say, "Hey, we need to expand our borders. 13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. He could know, based on this promise, that the LORD would hear, help, and preserve Him. They shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth, Isaiah 49:1-13 Bringing Light to The Gentiles. Partners In a New Creation / Lesson #2 God Foretells Redemption / Isaiah 49:1-13. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. Israel had fallen away from the Lord and Isaiah was. The pictures of eating their own flesh and drinking their own blood draw on the horrors of siege conditions. Listen, O coasts, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; For the LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of [China] Sinim ( Isaiah 49:11-12 ). Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? Salem Media Group. Neither heat nor sun shall strike them; Sing, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth Which may be understood of the heavens, and the earth by a personification, a figure usual in Scripture, to express the greatness of the benefit received, and to raise thankfulness and admiration in the hearts of God's people; see ( Psalms 90:11 Psalms 90:12 ) ( Isaiah 55:12 ) or by the heavens may be meant the angels in heaven, who, as they rejoice at the conversion of a single sinner, will much more rejoice at such numerous conversions among Jews and Gentiles, here prophesied of, ( Luke 15:10 ) and, by the "earth", the saints on earth, the excellent in it, who have a more immediate concern in, and must be affected with, the case here represented: and break forth into singing, O mountains; such as are in high office either in the state, as Christian kings and princes, ( Isaiah 49:23 ) or in the church, as prophets and apostles, ( Revelation 18:20 ) . Your children shall make haste; your destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee. The purpose of Jesus Christ was to bring Jacob back to God, back to the Father, and to restore the preserved of Israel. The LORD has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name. And these from the land of Sinim.. The Lord ( Yehovah) hath forsaken me, and my Lord ( Adonai) hath forgotten me. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. He adds, "Thy walls shall be continually before me; thy ruined walls, though no pleasing spectacle, shall be in my thoughts of compassion." 2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; 3 And said unto me, Thou art my ; Place of Action: Jerusalem Golden Text: "Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages." (Isaiah 49:8). I. He will receive the worship and honor He deserves, because He is the chosen of the LORD. (1-2) The call and the preparation of the Messiah. Transition: Isaiah 49-55 is a section within a section. There is no situation of entanglement, nothing that you can possibly conceive, but this can be part of Gods way to make His mountain a way of deliverance. (Redpath). Though he exhorts and encourages all the godly to thanksgiving, yet he likewise aims at confirming the promise which might have been regarded as doubtful; for afflictions trouble our consciences, and cause them to waver in such a manner that it is not so easy to rest firmly on the promises of God. Jesus spoke of spoiling Satan in Luke 11:21-22: When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament, The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. But they will not. Chapters 13-27 : Historical Commentary on the Old Testament: forthcoming: Boda, Mark J. Isaiah: Story of God . The LORD has called Me from the womb: The Messiah, later revealed as Jesus Christ, was called from the womb. The reason of all this is. The mountains in the way are still the LORDs mountains, allowed there for a purpose. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. "Thy builders shall make haste" (so some read it), "who shall build up thy houses, thy walls, especially thy temple; they shall do it with expedition." God has forsaken us." We have no more reason to question his promise and grace, than we have to question his providence and justice. Break forth into singing, O mountains - "Ye mountains, burst forth into song"] Three ancient MSS. 10 million Ukrainians without power because of Russia. i. A woman may perhaps be so unhappy as not to be able to remember her sucking child (she may be sick, and dying, and going to the land of forgetfulness), or she may be so unnatural as not to have compassion on the son of her womb, as those who, to conceal their shame, are the death of their children as soon as they are their life, Lamentations 4:10; Deuteronomy 28:57. Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring their sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. i. Jesus set the demon possessed free from the bondage of chains and demonic torture (Mark 5:1-15). Scattered Jews in other countries will also return, helped by generous aid from the nations among whom they have lived (22-23).Among the exiles were some who apparently doubted the prophets promise of restoration, for Babylon seemed unconquerable. for the Lord hath comforted his people; with the discoveries of his love and grace; by his gracious presence among them; by the coming of Christ unto them in a spiritual way; by sending his Spirit, and renewing the face of things, and reviving his work in the midst of them; by the pure and powerful preaching of the Gospel, and comfortable administration of Gospel ordinances; and by large additions of converts made unto them: and will have mercy upon his afflicted, or "poor", or "meek" and "humble" ones, as the words (l) may be rendered: the Lord's people is a poor and afflicted people, poor in a temporal and spiritual sense; the church and interest of Christ is in a poor and low condition: the Lord's people are afflicted outwardly and inwardly, and so become meek, and are kept humble; these the Lord, in the latter day, will raise from a low and distressed condition to a more exalted and comfortable one; which will be an instance of his mercy and compassion, and be matter of joy unto them. The whole thing comes back to the oil. This is an important yet lightly noted prophecy of the rejection of the Messiah, by mankind in general and by Israel specifically. a. The LORDs love and faithfulness for Zion are also shown by His promise for their future. What God will do for Zion we are told, Isaiah 49:17; Isaiah 49:17. God will show His strength and love for Zion by giving unto Babylon what Babylon gave unto Zion, even though they thought it unlikely, as shown by the question of Isaiah 49:24. i. The Lord called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name. Yet these words can be set prophetically in the mouth of the Messiah, because surely Jesus was tempted by the discouraging thought that all His work was in vain and for nothing. Isaiah 51:1-11 Reassurance of Israel's Future. Before I was born, the Lord chose me. In these encouragements, Isaiah looks beyond his time to the coming of the Christ, and even beyond that to the second coming and the eternal kingdom. For the LORD has comforted His people, Chapters 49 to 51 contain especially strong messages of encouragement and hope. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Isaiah 42:5-9). Give me a place where I may dwell. This promise of salvation (49:8-12) leads into a rapturous eruption of praise and joy: "Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! Israel will return and rebuild its homeland. I have spent my strength for nothing, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God ( Isaiah 49:4 ). "Commentary on Isaiah 49:13". are without the yod or the conjunction vau before the verb: and so the Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate. Because of the LORD who is faithful, This does not allude to the foolish art of palmistry, which imagines every man's fate to be engraved in the palms of his hands and to be legible in the lines there, but to the custom of those who tie a string upon their hands or fingers to put them in mind of things which they are afraid they shall forget, or to the wearing of signet or locket-rings in remembrance of some dear friend. 1 Listen to me, all you in distant lands! If you do that, then the mountain between you and Gods land of blessing becomes the way into it. (Redpath). Be assured, [1.] Infidels, in their presumption, say God has forsaken the earth (Ezekiel 8:12), and has forgotten their sins,Psalms 10:11.