2 lines
8.4 KiB
HTML
2 lines
8.4 KiB
HTML
|
<p>Here, 1. The forces are mustered and commissioned to destroy Babylon, and every thing is got ready for a descent upon that potent kingdom: <i>Go up against</i> that <i>land</i> by <i>Merathaim</i>, the country of the Mardi, that lay part in Assyria and part in Armenia; and go among <i>the inhabitants of Pekod</i>, another country (mentioned <a class="bibleref" title="Ezek.23.23" href="/passage/?search=Ezek.23.23">Ezek. 23:23</a>) which Cyrus took in his way to Babylon. The forces of Cyrus are called to go up against Babylon (<a class="bibleref" title="Jer.50.21" href="/passage/?search=Jer.50.21">Jer. 50:21</a>), to <i>come against her from the utmost border</i>. Let all come together, for there will be both work and pay enough for them all, <a class="bibleref" title="Jer.50.26" href="/passage/?search=Jer.50.26">Jer. 50:26</a>. Distance of place must not be their hindrance from engaging in this work. <i>The archers</i> particularly must be <i>called together against Babylon</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Jer.50.29" href="/passage/?search=Jer.50.29">Jer. 50:29</a>. Thus <i>the Lord hath opened his armoury</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Jer.50.25" href="/passage/?search=Jer.50.25">Jer. 50:25</a>), <i>his treasury</i> (so the word is), <i>and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation</i>, as great princes fetch out of their magazines and stores all necessary provisions for their armies when they undertake any great expedition. Media and Persia are now God’s armoury; thence he fetches the weapons of his wrath, Cyrus and his great officers and armies, whom he will make use of for the destruction of Babylon. Note, Great men are but instruments which the great God makes use of to serve his own purposes. He has variety of instruments, has them at command, has armouries ready to be opened according as the occasion is. <i>This is the work of the Lord God of hosts</i>. Note, When God has work to do he will make it appear that he is <i>God of hosts</i>, and will not want instruments to do it with. 2. Instructions are given them what to do. In general, <i>Do according to all that I have commanded thee</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Jer.50.21" href="/passage/?search=Jer.50.21">Jer. 50:21</a>. It was said of Cyrus (<a class="bibleref" title="Isa.44.28" href="/passage/?search=Isa.44.28">Isa. 44:28</a>), <i>He shall perform all my pleasure</i>, in his expedition against Babylon. They must <i>waste and utterly destroy after them</i>; when they have destroyed once they must go over them again, or destroy their posterity that should come after them. They must <i>open her store-houses</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Jer.50.26" href="/passage/?search=Jer.50.26">Jer. 50:26</a>), rifle her treasures, and turn her artillery against herself. They must <i>cast her up as heaps</i>; let all the wealth and pomp of Babylon be shovelled up in a heap of ruins and rubbish. <i>Tread her down as heaps</i> (so the margin reads it) <i>and destroy her utterly</i>. See how little account the great God makes of those things which men so much value and value themselves so much upon. Their princes and great men, who are fat and bulky, shall fall by the sword, not as men of war in the field of battle, which we call a bed of honour, but as beasts by the butcher’s hand (<a class="bibleref" title="Jer.50.27" href="/passage/?search=Jer.50.27">Jer. 50:27</a>): <i>Slay all her bullocks</i>, all her mighty men; <i>let them go down</i> sottishly and insensibly, as an ox <i>to the slaughter. Woe unto them</i>! their case is the more sad for the little sense they have of it. <i>Their day has come</i> to fall, <i>the time</i> when they must be reckoned with, and they are not aware of it. 3. Assurances are given them of success. Let them do what God commands, and they shall accomplish what he threatens. A <i>great destruction</i> shall be made, <a class="bibleref" title="Jer.50.21" href="/passage/?search=Jer.50.21">Jer. 50:21</a>. <i>Babylon</i> shall <i>become a desolation</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Jer.50.23" href="/passage/?search=Jer.50.23">Jer. 50:
|