Odilon Massolar
Chaves
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Copyright © 2026, Odilon Massolar Chaves
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All glory to God!
Odilon Massolar Chaves is a
retired Methodist pastor, with a doctorate in Theology and History from the
Methodist University of São Paulo.
Son of Rev. Adherico Ribeiro Chaves and Roza Massolar Chaves.
He is married to RoseMary.
He has two daughters:
Liliana and Luciana.
His thesis dealt with the
Methodist revival in England in the eighteenth century and its contribution as
a paradigm for our days.
Theology.
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Table of Contents
· Introduction
·
Highlights from each of the books of the minor
prophets
·
Amos, the prophet of social justice
·
Micah denounces the sin of idolatry and
oppression of the poor
· Nahum announces God's implacable judgment
· Obadiah's Prophecy Against Edom
·
The righteous shall live by their faith in the
book of Habakkuk
· Jonah the Fish and Nineveh
· Zephaniah, the prophet of judgment
·
Hosea's Marriage to the Prostitute: God's Love
for Sinners
·
Locust Plague and the Outpouring of the Spirit
in the Book of Joel
·
Haggai and the glory of the second house
·
Visions of the restoration of Jerusalem and the
coming of the Messiah in the book of Zechariah
· Malachi, the Last Prophet
Introduction
"Wesley and the Minor
Prophets" is a 387-page book with Wesley's commentary on each of the 12
books of the Minor Prophets.
They are called minor prophets "because of the smaller literary
volume (book size) of their writings in the Old Testament, and not because
they have lesser importance, inspiration, or theological relevance." [1]
Wesley comments on these books and
"prioritized three fundamental axes that aligned the prophets with Methodist
theology:
- Holiness and Obedience: It emphasized
that the prophetic message was, above all, a call to practical
righteousness and holiness of heart.
- Social Justice: In prophets such
as Amos, he highlighted the condemnation of complacency and the need for
justice towards the poor.
- Repentance: The structure of his comments generally
followed the logic of exposing sin and then offering the solution through
God's grace." [2]
Wesley described the prophet Hosea as the most obscure of all the prophets because of his concise and sententious style.
Wesley often compared Zechariah's visions with those of John in Revelation. [3]
A study either edifies us and reveals the depth of Wesley's comments.
The Author
Highlights
from each of the books of the minor prophets
Amos,
the prophet of social justice
John Wesley, in his Bible notes and studies,
emphasizes the prophet Amos as a man of simple origin, a shepherd, and a
cultivator of sycamore trees, who was taken from his quiet life and called by
God to a daring mission. [4]
Micah denounces the sin
of idolatry and oppression of the poor
Based on John
Wesley's commentaries and Wesleyan scholarship, the prophet Micah is primarily
described as a prophet of social justice and true godliness. [5]
Nahum announces God's
implacable judgment
Based on the biblical
notes and the theology of John Wesley, the prophet Nahum is characterized
primarily as the one who announces God's ruthless judgment on a bloodthirsty and wicked city (Nineveh). [6]
Obadiah's Prophecy
Against Edom
Based on John
Wesley's biblical commentaries and Christian tradition, the prophet Obadiah is
primarily characterized as a faithful and zealous servant of the Lord, who put his own life on the line to protect God's
prophets. [7]
The righteous shall
live by their faith in the book of Habakkuk
Based on the biblical
writings and commentaries of John Wesley (Notes on the Old Testament), the
prophet Habakkuk is characterized primarily by his attitude of unwavering
faith in the midst of questioning and crisis. [8]
Jonah the Fish and
Nineveh
Based on John Wesley's
biblical notes and commentaries on the Scriptures, he describes the prophet
Jonah primarily with the following characteristics:
- Reluctant and disobedient: Wesley
highlights Jonah's initial reluctance to obey God's command to preach in
Nineveh.
- Clinging to nationalistic prejudices: Jonah is seen as
someone with a closed vision, reluctant to take the message of mercy to a
foreign people (Assyrians), revealing prejudice.
- Symbol of Christ: Despite his
flaws, Wesley interprets Jonah's time in the belly of the fish as a
typological sign (a prefiguration) of the three days that Jesus would
spend in the grave, according to Matthew 12:39-40.[9]
Zephaniah, the
prophet of judgment
Based on John
Wesley's theological notes (especially his "Study Bible"
perspective), Zephaniah is characterized primarily as a prophet of the severity of God's
judgment, which at the same time
paves the way for restoration through holiness
and the purification of the people. [10]
Hosea's Marriage to
the Prostitute: God's Love for Sinners
Based on John Wesley's studies and notes on Scripture,
the prophet Hosea is characteristically described as a messenger focused on Israel's unfaithfulness
in contrast to God's unconditional and persistent love. [11]
Locust Plague and the
Outpouring of the Spirit in the Book of Joel
Drawing on the
Wesleyan tradition and theological scholarship that values John Wesley's
perspective, the prophet Joel is often singled out for his crucial role in
heralding the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. [12]
Haggai and the glory
of the second house
John Wesley, in his
notes on the Bible, describes the prophet Haggai primarily through his active
and focused role in the rebuilding of the temple, characterizing him as a direct messenger of God
who awakens the people from their spiritual lethargy.[13]
Visions of the
restoration of Jerusalem and the coming of the Messiah in the book of Zechariah
John Wesley, in his
notes on the Bible, singles out the prophet Zechariah primarily for his messianic and apocalyptic
function, focusing on the clarity with which he foresaw the
coming and suffering of Christ. [14]
Malachi, the Last Prophet
Based on John Wesley's explanatory notes on the Bible,
the prophet Malachi is characterized primarily as the final messenger of the
Old Testament, whose message
highlights the impending judgment on the people's unfaithfulness and the need
for repentance. [15]
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Amos,
the prophet of social justice
===============================
John Wesley, in his Bible
notes and studies, emphasizes the prophet Amos as a man of simple origin, a
shepherd, and a cultivator of sycamore trees, who was taken from his quiet life
and called by God to a daring mission. [16]
Table of Contents
·
Introduction
· God's signs for a
conversion of Israel are ignored
· Called to seek God
and goodness
· Warning to the
Complacent and the Prophecy of Israel's Captivity
· Visions of the trial
·
Fruit Basket
View: Israel's Destiny
· Israel's Promise of Restoration
Introduction
Who was Amos?
"Amos
was a native ofTecoa, a town
about 20 km away,[Note 1]on the
edge of the desert of Judah (Amos 1:1), southeast ofBethlehem. He was
also a humble family man. It was aShepherdofSheepand
cultivatorSycamore
trees(ibid. 7:14). Around 760 B.C., he left his
quiet life and went to announce and denounce in theKingdom
of Northern Israel, during the reign of
Jeroboam II".[17]
According
to scholars, "Amos is a precursor, radical,
exemplary and paradigmatic prophet. The prophecy of Amos is, in a way, a
watershed in the history of prophecy in the sense that it establishes a new way
of being a prophet."[18]
Wesley
described him as having boldness, courage, obedience, humility, and a focus on
social justice. [19]
And
importantly: "Amos rescued the ethical dimension of the Covenant in
relation to one's neighbor, as part of the love of God." [20]
There
was great oppression of the poor and in addition accommodation of the leaders:
"Thus says the Lord; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four I
will not withdraw their punishment; for they sold the righteous for silver, and
the poor for a pair of shoes; who pants for the dust of the earth on the head
of the poor, and turns aside the way of the meek, and a man and his father
shall enter into the same maidservant to profane my holy name" (Amos
2:6-7).
The chapters have the following themes: God's signs for a
conversion of Israel are ignored; Called to seek God and good; Warning to the
complacent and the prophecy of Israel's captivity; Visions of the trial; View of the Fruit Basket: The Destiny of Israel;
Promise of Israel's restoration.
An essential book for our days.;
God's signs for a
conversion of Israel are ignored
I sent
pestilence among you after the manner of Egypt: I slew your young men with the
sword, and took away your horses; and I have brought up into your nostrils the
stench of your camps, yet you have not returned to me, saith the Lord
Amos 4
Verse 1
Hear this word, you cows of Bashan
Amos prophesied, "Hear this word, you
cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who
crush the needy, who say to their masters, 'Bring and let us drink.'
Then Amos compares the powerful, wanton, oppressive rulers of Israel to
those fed, strong, wanton animals
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos: Kine of Bashan - Then Amos compares the powerful, wanton,
oppressive rulers of Israel, to those fed, strong, wanton animals who in the
flocks pushed, wounded, and disturbed the weaker cattle.
Verse 2
that behold, the days shall come upon you
Amos prophesied , "The Lord God has
sworn by his holiness that behold, the days will come upon you, that he will
carry you with hooks, and your descendants with hooks."
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
By his holiness - By himself, for he is the holy God.
The days - Of famine, desolation, and captivity.
He–God by the Assyrian army shall take him, as the fish are caught with
the hook.
His posterity - The children of these oppressors.
Verse 3
And you will go out through the gaps, every
cow through the one that is before her
Amos prophesied, " And you shall go
out through the gaps, every cow that is before her; and you shall cast them
into the palace," says the Lord.
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
ye - Kine of Bashan.
Get out – You must strive to escape.
The breaches - Which the besieging enemy make in their
walls, when Samaria is besieged.
Before her - Taking the fast track.
The things - All the riches and ornaments of their palaces.
Verse 4
at Gilgal they multiply transgression
Amos prophesied, "Come ye to Bethel
and transgress; at Gilgal transgression multiplies; and bring your sacrifices
every morning, and your tithes after three years;
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
Come to Bethel – A strong irony, giving them as
incorrigible.
At Gilgal - Gilgal was a place where much idolatry was
practiced.
Every morning - In the same irony, God reproves their sins
even though they imitated the worship instituted in Jerusalem.
Three years – God had Deuteronomy 14:28, commanded every three years that all the
tithe for that year should be brought and kept in a public storehouse.
Verse 5
And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving
Amos prophesied , "And offer a
sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free
offerings: for this is like you, O children of Israel," says the Lord God.
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
With leaven - Like all the rest of his will-worship, so
this also is against the express law, Leviticus 2:11. However, do it at your own risk, try if it
will end in well.
Proclaim - Publicly persuaded his people to voluntary
sacrifices.
Verse 6
and want of bread in all your places
Amos prophesied, "And I have also given you tooth
cleaning in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places.
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
The Lord who gave many blessings to win you to repentance, also tried what
could be done by judgments.
Teeth cleaning – This is a description of hunger.
Verse 7
And I also withheld the rain from you
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
When - At a station when your country needed it most.
That you might see my hand in it, I gave rain to one city, and withheld it
from the next; nay, one part of the same field was watered and blossomed:
another part, withered and withered.
Verse 8
but they couldn't get enough
Thus, two or three cities approached a city, to
drink water; but they were not satisfied, yet ye have not returned to me, saith
the Lord.
Not satisfied - Either this didn't have enough for them,
or they didn't dare part with him, Wseley said.
Verse 9
the caterpillar devoured them; yet ye have
not returned unto me, saith the Lord
Amos prophesied , "I struck you with
blight and mold; when your gardens, and your vineyards, and your fig trees, and
your olive trees, the caterpillar devoured them; yet you have not returned to
me, saith the Lord.
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
Increased - When they were most fruitful.
Devoured - Eat everything, as is their custom.
Verse 10
I have sent pestilence among you after the
manner of Egypt
Amos prophesied, "I have sent pestilence among you after the
manner of Egypt: I have killed your young men with the sword, and I have taken
away your horses; and I have brought up into your nostrils the stench of your
camps, yet you have not returned to me, saith the Lord.
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
Their horses - The horsemen being slain.
The stench - So great a slaughter was made in their
camp that there was not enough to bury the dead.
Verse 11
I have cast down some of you, as God
overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah
Amos prophesied, " I have overthrown
some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a brand
plucked out of the fire.
Wesley explained Amos' prophecy:
Cast down - By painful and heartbreaking judgments.
Like a firebrand - Those of you who escaped were still like
firebrands in the midst of the fire, until infinite mercy saved a remnant.
Verse 12
Therefore will I do so unto thee, O Israel
Amos prophesied, " Therefore will I
do this to you, O Israel; and because I will do this to you, prepare to meet
your God, O Israel."
Therefore, in a more terrible manner I will now
proceed against thee, said Wesley.
Verse 13
the God of hosts, is his name
Amos
prophesied, "For behold, he who forms
the mountains, and creates the wind, and declares to man what his mind is, who
darkens the morning, and treads the high places of the earth, the Lord, the God
of hosts, is his name."
Declare - Know the thoughts of all
men, said Wesley.
Whose sovereign power all creatures obey
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos: The
God of hosts - Whose sovereign power all
creatures obey, and act for or against us as he wills. Let us humble ourselves
before this God and give all diligence to make him our God. For happy are the
people whose God is and who have all this power committed to their benefit.[21]
Called to seek God and goodness
Seek the Lord, and you will live; lest it break up like fire in the
house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be no one to quench it at Bethel
Seek
good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall
be with you, as you have spoken
Amos 5
Verse 2
The Virgin of Israel Fell
The virgin of Israel has fallen; she will rise no
more: she is forsaken in her land; there is no one to lift her up, prophesied Amos.
Wesley explained Amos' prophecy:
The virgin - Thus she was, when she was first betrothed
to God.
Upon his land - Broken in pieces in his own land, and so
left as a broken vessel.
Verse 3
For thus saith the Lord God
For thus saith the Lord God; The city that went out
for a thousand will leave a hundred, and the city that went out for a hundred
will leave ten, for the house of Israel, prophesied Amos.
Wesley explained Amos' prophecy:
For a thousand - Who sent a thousand soldiers.
One hundred - You will lose nine parts of them.
Verse 4
Seek me, and you shall live
For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel,
Seek me, and ye shall live, prophesied Amos.
Ye shall live - It will be well with you, said Wesley.
Verse 5
for surely Gilgal will go into captivity
But do not seek Bethel, nor go into Gilgal, nor
pass over to Beersheba, for surely Gilgal will go into captivity, and Bethel
will be reduced, prophesied Amos.
Seek not–Seek not–Consult not, worship not the idol
at Bethel, Gilgal, or Beer-sheba, said Wesley.
Verse 6
Seek the Lord, and you will live
Seek the Lord, and ye shall live; lest it break up
like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it
in Bethel, prophesied
Amos.
Wesley explained Amos' prophecy:
The house of Joseph - The kingdom of the ten tribes, the chief
of which was Ephraim, the son of Joseph.
At Bethel - If once this fire breaks out, all your
idols at Bethel will not be able to extinguish it.
Verse 7
You leave justice on earth
You who turn judgment into wormwood, and leave
righteousness on earth,
Wesley explained Amos' prophecy:
You - Rulers and judges.
Trial - The righteous sentence of the law.
For wormwood - Proverbially understood; bitterness,
injustice, and oppression.
Stop – Cease in your courts of judicature.
Verse 8
Seek the one who makes the seven stars and
Orion
Seek him who makes the seven stars and Orion, and
makes the shadow of death into dawn, and makes the day dark into night, who
cries out for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the face of the
earth: The Lord is his name, prophesied Amos.
Wesley explained Amos' prophecy:
The seven stars - A constellation, the rising of which
around September was usually accompanied by sweet showers.
Orion – Which emerges around November usually brings cold, rainfall and frost
mix very seasonal to the earth.
The shadow of the earth - The greatest adversity in a great
prosperity.
Dark with power - Turns prosperity into adversity.
That flame - Commands the vapour to rise, which it turns into
rain; and then pours out of the clouds to make the earth fruitful.
Verse 9
Who strengthens the dispossessed against the
strong
Who strengthens the
dispossessed against the strong, so that the dispossessed will come against the
stronghold, prophesied Amos.
Wesley explained Amos' prophecy:
The strong - The powerful, victorious, and insolent.
Shall come - Shall assemble and form a siege against
its besiegers.
Verse 10
They abhor him who speaks uprightly
They hate him that rebuketh at the door, and abhor
him that speaketh righteously, prophesied Amos.
Wesley explained Amos' prophecy:
They - The judges and the people.
At the gate - Where the judges sat, and where the
prophets often delivered their message.
Verse 11
tread down the poor, and take out of him
bundles of wheat
Amos prophesied , "Because you tread
on the poor, and take out of them bundles of wheat, you have built houses of
hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant
vineyards, but you shall not drink wine from them."
Wesley explained Amos' prophecy:
Your step - You utterly oppress the defenseless.
You take - You have extorted from the poor great quantities of wheat, on which he must live.
Verse 12
I know your multiple
Amos prophesied, "For I know your
manifold transgressions, and your mighty sins: they afflict the righteous, they
take bribes, and they turn the poor away from the gate on their right hand.
At the gate - In their courts of law, said Wesley.
Verse 13
'Cause it's a bad time
Amos prophesied, "Therefore the wise
should keep silent at that time, for it is an evil time."
Wesley explained Amos' prophecy:
Must be silent - Be forced to do so.
Evil - Both by the sinfulness of it, and by the troubles, wars, and
captivity now at hand.
Verse 14
Seek good, and not evil
With you - To bless you and save you still, said
Wesley.
Verse 15
Hate evil, and love good, and establish
judgment in the door
Amos prophesied, " Hate evil, and
love good, and establish judgment in the door: it may be that the Lord, the God
of hosts, will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph."
Wesley explained Amos' prophecy:
Evil – All evil between people and yourselves.
Love - Praise, encourage, defend: let your heart be turned to good things
and good men.
Remnant - What the invasions of enemies, or the
civil wars spared, and left in Samaria and Israel.
Lament must be in every street
Amos prophesied , "Therefore the Lord,
the God of hosts, the Lord, says this; Lament must be in every street; and they
shall say in every way, Alas! Unfortunately! and they shall call the husbandman
to mourn, and those who are skilled in mourning to mourning.
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
Therefore - The prophet, foreseeing their obstinacy,
proceeds to denounce the judgment against them.
This kind of men are little accustomed to such mourning ceremonies, but now
they will also be called; leave your toil, give yourself up to public mourning.
And in all the vineyards there will be
mourning
Amos prophesied, "And there will be
mourning in all the vineyards, for I will pass by you," says the Lord.
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
Vineyards - In these places there was usually the
greatest joy.
Pass – To punish everyone everywhere.
the day of the Lord is darkness
Amos prophesied , "Woe to you who
desire the day of the Lord!" To what end is it for you? the day of the
Lord is darkness, and not light.
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
That desire - mockingly, not believing that such a day
would come.
To what end – What do you think about getting out of it?
It's darkness - All adversity, black and sad.
No light - No joy or comfort.
Like a man ran away from a lion and a bear
found him
Amos prophesied, "As if a man ran
away from a lion, and a bear met him; or he went into the house, and leaned his
hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him."
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
And a bear - You can escape from one, but must fall
into another calamity.
Indoors - At home you can wait for safety, but there
is another kind of mischief should you find it.
I hate, despise your feast days
I hate, despise your feast days, and will not smell
in your solemn assemblies, Amos prophesied.
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
I hate – Unclean and profane as they are.
Won't smell - A taste, of rest or delight, I won't
accept and be satisfied.
Remove the noise of your songs from me
Remove from me the noise of thy songs: for I will
not hear the melody of thy violas, Amos prophesied.
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
Thy songs - Used in their sacrifices and solemn
feasts; in this they imitated the worship in the temple, but all was
displeasing to the Lord.
Will not listen - Not with pleasure and acceptance.
Tuas violas - This type of musical instrument is placed
for everything else.
But let the judgment flow like the waters
But let justice flow like
waters, and justice like a rushing torrent, Amos prophesied.
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
Let the judgment - Let justice be administered constantly.
Righteousness - Equity.
Stream - Taking down everything that opposes it.
You offered sacrifices and offerings to me in
the wilderness for forty years
Amos prophesied, " Have you offered
sacrifices and offerings to me in the wilderness for forty years, O house of
Israel?
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
Ye have - Their fathers and they, though at so great
a distance of time, are one people, and so the prophet regards them.
To me - Was it to me, or to your idols, that you offered it, even in the
wilderness?
But you bore the tabernacle of your Molech
and Kium
Amos prophesied , "But you have
borne the tabernacle of your Molech, and Kium, your images, the star of your god,
which you have made for yourselves."
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
Ye endured - Ye bore with you in the wilderness; the
sanctuary, or canopy in which the image was placed.
Moloch – The great idol of the Ammonites.
Chiun — Another idol.
Therefore I will bring you into captivity
Amos
prophesied, " Therefore I will bring you into captivity beyond
Damascus," says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts.
Said Wesley, Therefore - For all your
idolatry and other sins, in which you have continued obstinately.[22]
Warning to the Complacent and the Prophecy of Israel's
Captivity
Woe to
those who are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mount of Samaria, who are
appointed rulers of the nations, to whom the house of Israel has come!
who lie
down on beds of ivory, and stretch out on their couches, and eat the lambs of
the flock, and the calves in the midst of the stable;
Therefore now they shall go captive with the first who shall be
captives, and the feast of those who have extended shall be removed
Amos 6
Verse 1
Woe to those who are at home in Zion
Amos prophesied
,
"Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and trust in Mount Samaria, who are
appointed rulers of the nations, to whom the house of Israel has come."
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos with several comments:
At will - Who neither fear nor
believe in the threatened judgments of God.
In Zion - This is put to the
kingdom of the two tribes, and chiefly the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Samaria - Woe also to those who
trust in the strength, wealth, and politics of the kingdom of Samaria or
Israel.
Which two cities, Zion and
Samaria.
Appointed chief - Accounted for the
principal cities of that part of the world.
To whom–To what place did all
Israel go, the two tribes to Zion, the ten tribes to Samaria.
Verse 2
Are they better than these kingdoms?
Amos
prophesied ,
"Go over to Calneh, and see; and from thence go to Hamath the Great, and
then go down to Gath of the Philistines: are they better than these kingdoms?
or is their border greater than your border?"
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
Pass by you - Walk through the history
of that great and ancient city.
Hemate - Head of the Syrian
kingdom, lately overthrown by Tiglath-pilneser, and a new instance of God's
righteous indignation against secure sinners.
Gath–The chief city of the
Philistines, some years before laid waste by the weapons of Hazael; by these
instances, learn to correct their ways, or expect to perish in them.
Greater–That is, greater than
these kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and their borders, or bounds, greater than
those of Israel and Judah.
Verse 3
and you bring to the seat of violence
Amos
prophesied, " Ye that ward off the evil day, and bring near the
seat of violence;
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
Ye–That ye flatter yourselves
of the day of darkness foretold, is far off.
The seat - The court that should
relieve the oppressed, is made a seat of violence.
Verse 4
who lie on ivory beds
who lie down on beds of
ivory, and stretch out on their couches, and eat the lambs of the flock, and
the calves in the midst of the stable; Amos prophesied.
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
This lie - That out of laziness or
luxury, they lie down to rest.
And eat - The best of all his
flock.
Verse 5
Who sing
to the sound of the viola da gamba
Who sing to the sound of
the viola da gamba and invent musical instruments for themselves, like David; Amos
prophesied.
That song - That in a time of deep
mourning be entertained with songs and musical instruments, said Wesley.
Verse 6
but they are not grieved because of Joseph's
affliction
Amos
prophesied, "Who drink wine in cups, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments,
but are not grieved because of Joseph's affliction."
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
In bowls - Not in small vessels,
but probably bowls: they drank these filled ones as full as they could hold
also, and for the purpose of drinking one another.
And anoint–In those hot countries,
this anointing was much used.
Not grieved - Nothing affected with
the calamities of his country.
Verse 7
Therefore, now they will go captive with the
first who are captives
Amos
prophesied ,
"Therefore now they shall go captive with the first that shall be
captives, and the feast of them that have been extended shall be removed.
The feasting - The feasts of
the voluptuous will cease, said Wesley.
Verse 8
I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his
palaces
Amos
prophesied, " The Lord God has sworn by himself, says the Lord
God of hosts, 'I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore
I will give up the city with all that is in it.'
The excellence - All that the seed of
Jacob regards as a glory and excellence to them, all their outward privileges
and worship, said Wesley.
Verse 9
if there are ten men left in a house
And it shall come to pass,
that if there are ten men left in a house, they shall die, Amos prophesied.
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
Remain — Escaping the enemy
sword.
Ten men - Many men, a certain
number for an uncertain one.
They will die - Although they will escape for a while, they will not escape finally.
Verse 10
Is there still anyone with you?
Amos
prophesied ,
"And a man's uncle shall snatch him away, and he who burns him, to take
away the bones of the house, and shall say to him that is by the side of the
house, Is there any man with thee?" and he shall say, No. Then he shall
say, Hold up thy tongue: for we cannot make mention of the name of the Lord.
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
Uncle - Or near kinsman, instead
of those who used to do it and were paid for it; but now that none of them
remains, the neighbor to the dead must, as far as he can, take him on his
shoulders and carry him.
that burneth–Though the Jews chiefly
buried, yet in some cases they burned the dead bodies, as in this of
pestilence.
The bones - The meat being consumed,
the bones are reserved to be buried.
To him - Any one he sees near the
house from which the bones are taken.
Is there still some – Someone lives in your
house.
Hold your tongue - Do not complain, lest
you be killed, lest all be plundered.
For - It is too late to seek
God, who is executing his immutable decree.
Verse 11
and it will strike the big house with cracks
Amos
prophesied ,
"For behold, the Lord commands, and he will strike the great house with
slits, and the little house with slits."
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
For behold—It seems to be the
continued discourse of him that cared for the dead, verse 10, God sent war,
famine, and pestilence.
The great house - The palaces of great men
will have great breaches made in them, and the huts of poor men will be, by
minor blows, ruined.
Verse 12
for ye have turned judgment into gall
Shall the horses run upon
the rock? shall one plough there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into
gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock; Amos
prophesied.
Should horses - Whether the prophets
exhort or advise, it does no more good than if you run your horses over the
precipices of the rocks, said Wesley.
Verse 13
You who rejoice in a useless thing
Amos
prophesied, " You who rejoice in a useless thing, that you say, 'Have
we not taken horns in our own strength?'
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
Who rejoices - In their victories,
alliances, and idols.
We have not - We rise to greatness by
our wisdom and courage.
Verse 14
But behold, I will raise up a nation against
you
Amos
prophesied, "But behold, I will raise up a nation against you, O house of
Israel," says the Lord, the God of hosts, "and they will afflict you
from the entrance of Hemate to the river of the wilderness."
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
Hemath - A city in Syria,
bordering Israel, to the northeast.
The wilderness–Which is the southwestern
part of Canaan. Thus, your entire country will be destroyed.[23]
Visions
of the trial
Thus
hath the Lord God shown me; and behold, he formed locusts at the beginning of
the budding of this last growth; and, behold, it was the last growth after the
king's reapers.
For thus
says Amos: Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely be carried
captive out of their own land.
Amos 7
Verse 1
behold, he formed locusts at the beginning of
the budding
Amos prophesied, " Thus hath the
Lord God shown me; and, behold, he formed locusts at the beginning of the
budding of this last growth; and, behold, it was the last growth after the
king's harvests."
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
So - This is the first of five prophetic representations of what was
coming upon this people.
The last growth - The firing of the first growth being very
luxuriant, they wont eat it with cattle; but if the second growth were eaten,
it would spoil the whole harvest.
Cut - It is supposed that the first cut of the corn on the blade was for
the use of the king; and after that the second spring grew until the harvest.
Verse 2
And it came to pass, when he had finished
eating the grass of the earth,
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
It happened - In the vision.
By whom - How will any of Jacob's escape, if thou
shalt overthrow him?
Verse 3
The Lord repented for this: It will not be, says
the Lord.
Repented - This is spoken in the manner of men.
Verse 4
and, behold, the Lord God called to contend
with fire
Amos prophesied, " Thus hath the
Lord God shown me, and, behold, the Lord God hath called to contend with fire,
which hath devoured the great deep, and devoured a part.
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
Shown - In vision.
Called - Commanded fire from heaven.
A part - Of the earth also.
Verse 7
and, behold, the Lord was standing upon a
wall made by a plumb line
Amos prophesied, " Thus he showed
me, and, behold, the Lord was standing on a wall made by a plumb line, with a
plumb line in his hand."
By a plumb line - Strong and beautifully built, said Wesley.
Verse 8
Amos, what do you see?
And the Lord said to me, "Amos, what do you
see? And I said: A plumb line. And the Lord said, Behold, I will put a plumb
line in the midst of my people Israel; I will pass through them no more; Amos prophesied.
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
Define a plumb line – I will measure exactly all ten tribes.
Pass by them - I will no longer abstain, but I will tear
down all that is defective.
Verse 9
And the high places of Isaac shall be
desolate
Amos prophesied, "And the high
places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid
waste; and I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the sword."
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
The high places - The temples on high mountains built for
idols.
Of Isaac - The seed of Isaac.
Verse 10
Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel
Amos prophesied , "Then Amaziah the
priest of Bethel sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel, 'Amos has conspired
against you in the midst of the house of Israel; the land cannot bear all his
words.'
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
In the middle - Openly, and publicly, endeavoring to
incite Israel to sedition or rebellion.
The land - The people cannot endure all their harsh
predictions.
Verse 11
and Israel will surely be taken captive
The book of Amos recorded, "For thus says Amos: Jeroboam will die by the sword,
and Israel will surely be led captive out of their own land."
Jeroboam shall die - He nowhere said this, but spoke of his
house distinct from his person, as verse-9, said Wesley.
Verse 13
But prophesy no more at Bethel
But prophesy no more at Bethel, for it is the
king's chapel, and it is the king's court.
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
The king's court - For that, therefore, you must show more
respect, and not so affront the king in his own house.
Verse 14
Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah
And Amos answered and said unto Amaziah, I was not a prophet,
neither was I the son of a prophet; but I was a shepherd, and a gatherer of
sycamore trees;:
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
No prophet - Not originally, or by study, or by any
human appointment.
A shepherd - By reproduction and occupation, I was, and
still am, a shepherd.
Sycamore fruit - This fruit was a good food for man or
cattle.
Verse 16
Do not prophesy against Israel
Amos prophesied , "Now therefore
hear the word of the Lord: You say, 'Do not prophesy against Israel, and do not
let your word fall against the house of Isaac.'
Isaac's house - Isaac's posterity, said Wesley.
Verse 17
Your wife will be a harlot in the city, and
your sons and your daughters will fall by the sword
Amos
prophesied ,
"Therefore thus says the Lord; Your wife will be a harlot in the city, and
your sons and your daughters will fall by the sword, and your land will be
divided into lines; and you will die in a polluted land, and Israel will
certainly come out of their land captive.
Wesley explained:
In a polluted land - Among the heathen.
Israel - The ten tribes.[24]
Fruit Basket View:
Israel's Destiny
And he said, Amos, what do you see? And I said, A basket of summer
fruit. And the Lord said unto me, The end is come upon my people Israel; I will
not go through them anymore.
Amos 8
Verse 2
Amos, what do you see?
Amos
wrote: And he
said, Amos, what do you see? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. And the Lord
said unto me, The end is come upon my people Israel; I will not go through them
anymore.
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
The end - Of God's patience
towards Israel, the end of their maturation, they are now fully mature, fit to
be gathered.
Pass through them - God had with admirable
patience spared, but now he will no longer forgive or spare.
Verse 3
There will be many dead bodies everywhere
Amos
prophesied, "And the songs of the temple shall howl in that day," saith
the Lord God, "There shall be many dead bodies everywhere; they shall cast
them out in silence."
With silence - So great will be the
cruelty of the enemy, that they dare not bury them, or if they do, it must be
indiscernible, said Wesley.
Verse 4
O ye that bring in the needy, to make the poor
of the earth faint
Hear this, O ye that bring
in the needy, to make the poor of the earth faint, Amos
prophesied.
To fail - Either to eradicate
them, or to enslave them, said Wesley.
Verse 5
and falsifying the scales with deception
Amos
prophesied, saying, When the new moon goes, that we should sell corn? and the
sabbath, that we should put forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel
great, and falsifying the scales with deceit?
Wesley explained the prophecy of Amos:
When—Ye who wish there were
nothing to interrupt your marketing, who look upon solemn times of worship as
onerous, such was the first day of every month, and the weekly sabbath.
Small - Thus, the ephah being
too small, the poor buyer did not have what was due to him.
The great shekel - They weighed the money
they received, and had no more justice, than to make their shekel weight
greater than the standard; so the poor were doubly oppressed, had less than
they were entitled to, and paid more than they ought to pay.
Verse 6
So we can buy the poor for silver
Amos
prophesied, that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; Yes,
and sell the wheat refuse?
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
That we might buy - They would have new
moons and more sabbaths, that they might go to the market to buy the poor. And
when these poor people owed only a very small commodity, as a pair of shoes
suppose, these merciless men took advantage of them and made them sell themselves
to pay the debt.
The garbage - This was another kind of
oppression, corrupted goods, sold to those who were needed.
Verse 7
I will certainly never forget any of his
works
The Lord swore by Jacob's
excellency, "I will surely never forget any of his works," Amos
prophesied.
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
He swore - By himself.
Forget it - Suffer to get away
with it.
Verse 8
and it will rise up entirely like a flood
Amos
prophesied, " Shall not the earth tremble because of it, and all that
dwell therein shall mourn? and it shall arise utterly as a flood; and it shall
be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt."
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
The land - Her people.
By this--That which thou hast
done, and that which God will do.
And this - The judgment, the
displeasure of God, will rise and grow like a mighty devastating flood.
He - The earth.
Drowned–Like Egypt by the
overflowing of the Nile.
Verse 9
that I will cause the sun to go down at noon,
and I will darken the earth in the clear day.
Amos
prophesied, " And it shall come to pass in that day," says
the Lord God, "that I will cause the sun to go down at noonday, and I will
darken the earth in the light day."
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
Noon–Then the sun of Israel did
as at noon set under the dark cloud of conspiracies and civil wars by Shallum,
Menahem, Pekah, and Hosea, until the midnight darkness extended over Pul,
Tiglath-Pilneser, and Shalmaneser.
Darken — Bring a thick cloud of
trouble and woe.
On the clear day – When they think
everything is safe, secure, and well resolved.
Verse 10
And I will turn your feasts into mourning
Amos
prophesied, "And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into
lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all the loins, and baldness
upon all the heads: and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the
end thereof as a bitter day."
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
On all loins - All kinds of people
should mourn.
Baldness - Shaving the head and
beard was a sign of the greatest sadness.
A bitter day—A bitter day, which you
wish you had never seen, will succeed your dark night.
Verse 12
and they will not find it
Amos prophesied, "And they shall wander from
sea to sea, and from north to east, and shall run to and fro to seek the word
of the Lord, and shall not find it."
Wander - Look everywhere for a
prophet or preacher, from the Mid-land Sea to the Dead Sea, they will look
everywhere for a prophet, Wesley said.
Verse 14
Those Who Swear by the Sin of Samaria
Those who swear by the sin
of Samaria, and say, As thy god liveth, O Dan; and as the custom of Beersheba
liveth: they shall fall, and rise no more, Amos
prophesied.
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
They–Who sacrifice and swear by
the calves at Dan and Bethel.
By sin–Who says that the idol in
Dan is the true and living God.
The way - The idol that is
worshipped at Beersheba.[25]
Israel's
Promise of Restoration
In that
day I will set up the tabernacle of David which is fallen, and I will shut up the
breaches of it; and I will raise up its ruins, and build it as in the days of
old
Amos 9
Verse 1
I saw the Lord standing on the altar
Amos prophesied, "I saw the Lord
standing on the altar, and said, 'Strike the lintel of the door, that the doorposts
may tremble, and cut them all off on the head; and I will kill the last of them
with the sword: whoever flees from them will not flee, and whoever escapes from
them will not be delivered.'
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
The altar - Of burnt offering before the temple at
Jerusalem, this altar and temple Israel had forsaken, and raised up others
against it; and here God in his jealousy seems prepared to avenge himself.
Possibly, it may hint at his future departure from Judah as well. There
Ezekiel, Ezekiel 9:2, saw the men of the slaughter standing.
The gate - The gate door leading into the priests'
court.
And cut them down - Deep wound, the people who were
visionally represented as being in the temple court.
Verse 2
Even if they dig in hell
Though they dig in hell, from thence my hand shall
take them; though they ascend into heaven, from thence will I bring them down; Amos prophesied.
Hell - The center of the earth, or the depth of hell, Wesley said.
Verse 3
And even if they hide on the top of Carmel, I
will seek them out and bring them out
Amos prophesied, "And though they
hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will seek them out and bring them out;
and though they be hidden from my sight at the bottom of the sea, from there I
will command the serpent, and it shall bite them."
The serpent - The crocodile or shark, said Wesley.
Verse 4
And yet they go into captivity
Amos prophesied, "And though they go
into captivity before their enemies, from thence I will command the sword, and
it will kill them; and I will set my eyes on them for evil, and not for
good."
Fix my eyes - I will watch them perpetually, Wesley said.
Verse 5
and all who dwell therein shall mourn
Amos prophesied, "And the Lord God
of hosts is he that toucheth the earth, and it shall melt, and all that dwell
therein shall mourn, and it shall rise up like a flood; and it shall be
drowned, as by the flood of Egypt."
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
Toca – He doesn't have to put much effort into it, a touch of his finger
will do it.
It must melt - Like the snow before the sun.
Verse 6
The Lord is your name
It is he who builds his stories in heaven, and has
founded his host on the earth; he who cries out for the waters of the sea, and
pours them out on the face of the earth: The Lord is his name, Amos
prophesied.
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
Their stories - The celestial orbs above each other, like
so many stories in a tall, imposing palace. And he founded his troops on the
earth: all creatures, which are one army, one body; so closely are they
connected, and so harmoniously do all act for the accomplishment of their
Creator's purposes.
Cry out for the waters - Either in judgment to drown, or in mercy
to give rain.
Verse 7
Have I not brought Israel out of the land of
Egypt?
Amos prophesied, " Are you not to me as
children of the Ethiopians, O children of Israel?" says the Lord. Have I
not brought Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines of Caphtor,
and the Syrians of Kir?
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
The Arabs - A savage, thieving and servile nation.
I have not brought - And while you boast of my goodness to you,
bringing you out of Egypt, and then concluding, God cannot leave you whom he
has thus redeemed; you argue wrong, for it aggravates your sin.
From Kir – Conquered by some powerful enemies, and sent to Kir, a
country in Media, but finally delivered. If these nations argue that they are
out of the danger of divine justice, because I have done it for them.
Verse 8
Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the
sinful kingdom
The sinful kingdom - Every sinful kingdom, said Wesley.
Verse 9
I will sift the house of Israel
Amos prophesied, "For behold, I will
command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, as wheat is
sifted through a sieve, but the smallest grain shall not fall on the
earth."
The smallest grain - Though fallen and thrown with great
violence, yet the smallest, good grain must not be lost or destroyed, said
Wesley.
Verse 10
Evil will not reach us
Amos prophesied, " All the sinners
of my people will die by the sword, who say, 'Evil will not overtake us or
hinder us.'
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
All sinners - The great and notorious sinners.
Evil - It is far away, let us die first, and be safe in the grave.
Verse 11
On that day I will set up the tabernacle of
David
Amos prophesied, "In that day I will
set up the tabernacle of David which is fallen, and I will shut up the breaches
of it; and I will raise up its ruins, and build it as in the days of old;
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
On that day - At the appointed time which I have fixed.
Arise - Bring back from captivity, and re-establish in your own land, the
house of David, and those who cling to your family.
Fallen - By the revolt of the ten tribes.
The breaches - Which are in it by this long division.
Verse 12
that they may possess the remnant of Edom
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
They – literally the Jews.
Possess - Both the lands of Edom, and some of the
posterity of Edom; these as servants, the other as their property.
The remnant–Left by Nebuchadnezzar.
All heathen–That is, around.
This does this - But this is also a prophecy of
establishing the kingdom of the Messiah, and bringing in the Gentiles.
Verse 13
Behold, the days are coming, saith the Lord,
when the farmer shall overtake what he reaps
Amos prophesied, "Behold, the days
are coming," says the Lord, "when the farmer will overtake the
reaper, and he who treads the grapes he sows; and the mountains will pour out
sweet wine, and all the hills will melt."
Here is another promise literally of abundant abundance for the returned
captives
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
Behold, the days are coming - Here is another promise literally of
abundant abundance to the returned captives, and mystically of abundant grace
poured out in the days of the gospel.
The ploughman - Whoever breaks the ground, and prepares it
for sowing, must be ready to tread on the heels of the reaper who will have so
great a harvest, that before he can gather it all, it will be time to plough
the soil again.
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos:
So great will be your harvest
The Grape Stomper - So great will be his harvest that e'er the
grape stompers may have finished their work, the seed-man will be sowing his
seed against the coming season.
It shall fall - The vineyards shall be as fruitful, and
the new wine as plentiful as if it came down from the mountains.
as if whole hills were melted into such liquors
It shall melt - Or, as if whole hills were melted in such
liquors. If any object, it never was so: I answer, the sins of the returned
captives prevented these blessings, which are promised on a tacit condition.
Verse 15
And I will plant them in their land, and they
will no longer be uprooted from the land that I have given them
Amos
prophesied, "And I will plant them in their land, and they shall no more be
uprooted out of the land which I have given them," says the Lord your God.
Wesley commented on the prophecy of Amos: Drawn
up - On condition that they seek the Lord.
This was on the part of God with admirable constancy accomplished over six
hundred years, perhaps the longest time of freedom from captivity that they had
ever known.[26]
===============================
Micah denounces the sin of idolatry and oppression of
the poor
===============================
Based on John Wesley's commentaries and Wesleyan
scholarship, the prophet Micah is primarily described as a prophet of social
justice and true godliness. [27]
Table
of Contents
· Introduction
· Judgment against Israel and Judah. Coming
desolation
·
Woe to the oppressors, promise of restoration
·
Judgment on false leaders and false prophets
· Zion's Future Glory
· Jacob's Remnant
·
A call to the practice of justice, mercy and to
walk humbly before the Lord
Introduction
According to Micah 1:1,
Micah prophesied
during the rule of Kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah, who ruled from
approximately 740 to 697 B.C. Therefore, he was likely a contemporary of the prophets Amos, Hosea, Jonah, and
Isaiah. Micah spoke his words to the kingdoms of Judah and Israel."[28]
Micah lived in a period of Israel's financial progress
and spiritual weakening.
There was oppression of the rich over the poor and
Micah considered this one of the greatest sins of Israel and Judah.
Micah denounced the sins of idolatry and the
oppression of the poor by the upper classes.
Hence his famous statement in 6:8: "He has
declared to you, O man, what is good; and what is it that the LORD requires of
you, but that you do justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with your
God?"
He prophesied that the Messiah would be born in
Bethlehem and taught that in the last days, the Lord would have compassion on
Israel.
Wesley's explanatory notes on the book of Micah were
31 pages long, and as a book he reached 45 pages.
The central themes of the book of Micah are: Judgment
against Israel and Judah. Desolation to come; Woe to
the oppressors, promise of restoration; Judgment on false leaders and false
prophets; Zion's future glory; The remnant of Jacob; A call to practice
justice, mercy and to walk humbly before the Lord.
Judgment against Israel and Judah. Coming desolation
Micah prophesied , "For behold, the
Lord goes out of his place, and comes down, and treads on the high places of
the earth."
And Wesley clarified, The Lord - He comes as a judge, to
hear, to determine, and to punish.
The prophet declared, For
his wound is incurable; because he came to Judah; he has come to the gate of my
people, to Jerusalem.
And Wesley explained, His wound - The wounds of Samaria,
his own sins, and the righteous displeasure of God.
Wesley commented, It come–The contagion of their
sins, and God's indignation against it, came to Judah also, yes, to Jerusalem.
Wesley
stated in his notes on a time of desolation: The enemy must encamp among you,
must stay on your ground, so that you will have no opportunity to go out to
help your neighbors.
Chapter 1
Verse 1
The best son, from the worst father. How long
Micah prophesied during his reign we can only conjecture, possibly as far as
Hezekiah's fourteenth year
The word of the Lord that
came to Micah the Marrastite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings
of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
Wesley commented: "Hezekiah - The best son, from the
worst father. How long Micah prophesied during his reign, we can only
conjecture, possibly as far as the fourteenth year of Hezekiah."
it may be supposed that this prophet
prophesied sixteen years in the time of Jotham, as many under Ahaz and fourteen
under Hezekiah, in all forty-six years
Wesley commented: "Therefore it may be
supposed that this prophet prophesied sixteen years in the time of Jotham, as
many under Ahaz and fourteen under Hezekiah, in all forty-six years. And he
survived the captivity of Israel ten years, which he lamented and foretold."
This seems to be an appeal to senseless
creatures, or a summons to bring them in evidences of God
Listen, all of you; hear, O
earth, and all that is in it: and let the Lord God, the Lord of his holy
temple, be a witness against thee.
O earth–This seems to be an appeal
to senseless creatures, or a summons to bring them in evidences of God against
these kingdoms, Wesley remarked.
In it - Animate or inanimate
creatures, all that is on earth.
Temple–Either from his temple at
Jerusalem, or from heaven.
The Lord - He comes as a judge, to hear, determine,
and punish
For behold, the Lord comes
out of his place, and goes down, and tramples down the high places of the
earth.
The Lord - He comes as a judge, to
hear, determine, and punish.
His place–Heaven, the place of his
glorious throne.
Come down - Show, by the effects of your power,
righteousness, and wisdom
Wesley remarked, Come down -
Show, by the
effects of his power, justice, and wisdom, that he is most eminently present
there.
Tread - Tread under your feet all
that is high, excellent, and the matter of your glory.
And the mountains will melt under him
And the mountains shall
melt under him, and the valleys shall be rent asunder, as wax before the fire,
and as the waters that pour down a steep place.
Crack - Or torn to pieces,
broken and slid.
For the transgression of Jacob is all this,
and the sins of the house of Israel
For the transgression of
Jacob is all this, and the sins of the house of Israel. What is Jacob's
transgression? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are
they not Jerusalem?
Jacob - The sons of Jacob, the
ten tribes.
Or, who is the source and cause of this
overflowing transgression? Of Jacob
What—Or, who is the source and
cause of this overflowing transgression? Of Jacob - The ten-tribe kingdom, the
head of which was Samaria, where the kings had their residence, where they
worshipped idols, and set an example for the rest of the Israelite kingdom,
Wesley commented:
Or, Who is the cause of the high places, and
the idolatry practiced there? Jerusalem
Wesley
explained in his notes: And what - Or, who is the cause of
the high places, and the idolatry practised there? Jerusalem - Which was the
chief city of that kingdom, and had the same influence over Judah, as Samaria
had over the ten tribes.
Therefore I will make Samaria as a heap of
field
Therefore I will make
Samaria as a heap of field, and as vineyard crops; and I will pour out its stones
in the valley, and I will uncover its foundations.
Like a heap - Like a heap of ruins.
From a vineyard - In planting vineyards,
they dig up the land, and throw it into hills; so shall this city do, said
Wesley:
The city was built on a high hill
Wesley commented, In the valley - The city was
built on a high hill, and a deep valley below it.
I'm going to find out - I'm going to raze the
walls, fortresses, and public buildings of this city, down to the foundations.
And all your graven images will be shattered
The rents - The rich gifts
given for the honour and service of idols by deceived idolaters, commented
Wesley:
She–The kingdom of Samaria.
How Prostitutes Receive Rich Gifts From Their
Lovers
Wesley commented, "It–Your wealth, or the rich
gifts made to your idols.
From a prostitute - How
prostitutes receive rich gifts from their lovers.
They - These rich gifts will be
transformed by the Assyrians to the service and honour of their idols,
commented Wesley:
So I will mourn and howl, I will go naked and
naked
Therefore I will mourn and
howl, I will go naked and naked; I will mourn like dragons, and mourn like
owls.
Wesley commented, "Therefore—Because of those terrible
massacres in Israel and Samaria.
And naked - As one who, in the
bitterness of passion, rejected his superior garment, remarked Wesley.
Dragons - Or rather, jackals,
which haunt desolate places and make a great and horrible noise at night.
Wesley said.
'Cause your wound is incurable
For his wound is incurable;
because he came to Judah; he has come to the gate of my people, to Jerusalem.
His wound - The wounds of Samaria,
his own sins, and the righteous displeasure of God.
The contagion of their sins, and the
indignation of God
Wesley commented, It come–The contagion of their
sins, and God's indignation against it, came to Judah also, yes, to Jerusalem.
Do not declare it in Gath,
nor weep at all; in the house of Afra, roll in the dust.
Lest the Philistines triumph
Wesley explained, Declare ye not - Lest the Philistines
triumph.
Do not weep - Do not weep publicly.
Aphrah - That was farther from
the Philistines.
Roll Yourself - Express your sadness.
They will go into captivity
Come, inhabitant of
Shafirh, naked to thy shame: the inhabitant of Zahanan did not go out in
mourning from Bethezel; he will receive his position from you.
Wesley commented, Pass - The imperative is here
laid for the future; they will go into captivity.
Saphir – Probably Samaria and
Jerusalem.
Stripped naked by the conquering enemy
Naked - Stripped naked by the
conquering enemy.
Zaanan - It is thought that this
was a sizable garrison full of people and soldiers.
A strong city taken by the Assyrians
Went not out –To help the neighboring
town of Bethezel.
Beth-ezel - A strong city taken by
the Assyrians, said Wesley.
The enemy must camp among you
Wesley
explained in his notes: Your
position - The enemy must encamp among you, must stay on
your ground, so that you will have no opportunity to go out to help your
neighbors.
he carefully hoped for the good
For the inhabitant of Maret
waited carefully for good, but evil came down from the Lord to the gate of
Jerusalem.
Maroth - A city in Judea.
Wesley commented, But evil –The flood of affliction
by the Assyrian, swallowed up other cities, and swelled even the chief city,
Jerusalem.
Tie the car to the swift beast
O thou inhabitant of
Lachish, tie the chariot to the swift beast; she is the beginning of sin to the
daughter of Zion, because in you are found the transgressions of Israel.
Lachish - A strong fortress in the
confines of Judah.
Tie the chariot - To flee from the enemy's
sword.
being the closest to the idolatrous Israel
Wesley said, She –Lachish, who being the
nearest to idolatrous Israel, caught their infection and transmitted it to
Jerusalem.
Transgressions - Not only idolatry, but
other sins also.
Of Israel - Of the ten tribes.
they shall be a lie to the kings of Israel
Therefore you shall give
gifts to Moresetetete; the houses of Achzib will be a lie to the kings of
Israel.
Wesley said, Give gifts - The inhabitants of
Lachish courted the assistance of the Philistines against Assyria.
A city known to the Philistines
Moresheth-Gath - A city known to the
Philistines, called Moresheth-Gath, to distinguish it from a city of the same
name in the tribe of Judah, Wesley said.
Achzib - This was also a city of
the Philistines.
A lying refuge
A lie - A lying refuge, a
support that will break under them, said Wesley.
An Heir - The Assyrian
Yet I will bring an heir
for you, O inhabitant of Mareshah; he will come to Adullam, the glory of
Israel.
Wesley said, An heir - The Assyrian, who in the
right of conquest shall possess thee.
Mareshah - A city of the
Philistines.
Perhaps this city was considerable
Wesley said, Adullam - Perhaps this city was
considerable enough at that time, to be the glory of Israel.
Verse 16
'Cause they've gone into captivity to you
Go bald and vote for your
delicate children; increase your baldness like the eagle; for they have gone
into captivity to you.
Wesley
explained in his notes: Thou–O Judea and Israel, pluck thy hair. Scrape off
what you can't pluck.
For thy children - For the loss of them,
some being slain, others died of starvation, or swept away with the pestilence,
and the waste carried captive, said Wesley.
Like the eagle
Like the eagle - A species of which it is
totally bald.[29]
Woe to the oppressors, promise
of restoration
Chapter 2
The prophet Micah declared,
Woe to those who devise
iniquity and do evil in their beds! When the morning is clear, they practice
it, because it is in the power of their hands.
And he says, " Therefore you shall have
no one to cast a rope by lot in the congregation of the Lord."
Wesley said of the
captivity, Thou
shalt have - None
that will ever return to this land, to see it distributed by line, and given to
them to possess it.
The prophet Micah
prophesies of what the Lord will do: "I will surely gather
all of you, O Jacob; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put
them together like the sheep of Bozrah, like the flock in the midst of his
fold; they will make a lot of noise because of the crowd of men.
Verse 1
Woe unto them that devise iniquity and do
evil in their beds!
Woe unto them that devise
iniquity and do evil in their beds! When the morning is clear, they practice
it, because it is in the power of their hands.
Wesley
explained in his notes: This device - Invent and frame evil.
Evil Work - Invent how to work it.
without considering right or wrong
It is in power - Because they can;
without regard to right or wrong, said Wesley.
Verse 2
And they covet fields, and take them with
violence
And they covet fields, and
take them with violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man
and his house, even a man and his inheritance.
Said Wesley, And his house - His family, which by
this means is left to poverty.
Wesley
explained in his notes: And their inheritance - And this is done against
the old right and possession, no, in a case where God has forbidden them to
sell their inheritance.
Verse 3
Behold, I plan evil against this family
Therefore thus saith the
Lord; Behold, I am planning an evil against this family, from which you will
not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily, for this time is evil.
Said Wesley, Against this family - God will plan evil
against their family, as they planned evil against the family of their
neighbors.
Haughty: You have made others bow
their heads; you must also now.
Full of miseries in all of Jacob's family
It is evil - Full of miseries in all
the family of Jacob.
Verse 4
On that day someone will speak a parable
against you
In that day someone will
speak a parable against you, and will lament with sorrowful lamentation, and
will say, We are utterly spoiled; he has changed the portion of my people; how
he took it from me! Turning away, he divided our fields.
Wesley clarified: A parable - A mocking proverb.
And mourn - Your friends for you,
and you for yourself.
He — God.
Its wealth, abundance, freedom, joy, and honor...
Said Wesley, Portion - Your wealth, abundance,
liberty, joy, and honour, in poverty, hunger, servitude, sorrow, and dishonour.
How terribly God dealt with Israel; removing
their captive people and transferring their possession to their enemies?
Wesley
explained in his notes: How dreadfully did God deal
with Israel; removing their captive persons, and transferring their possession
to their enemies? Turning away - Turning away from us in displeasure. God
divided our fields among others.
Verse 5
No one who will ever return to this earth
Therefore you shall have no
one to cast a rope by lot in the congregation of the Lord.
Said Wesley, Thou shalt have - None that will ever
return to this land, to see it distributed by line, and given to them to
possess it.
In the congregation - They will no longer be
the congregation of the Lord, nor his children after them, explained Wesley in
his notes.
Verse 6
they will not prophesy to them, lest they be
ashamed
Do not prophesy, say those
who prophesy; they will not prophesy to them, lest they be ashamed.
Said Wesley, They shall not prophesy - So God in their
displeasure grant their desire.
Shame yourself - This will bring
no shame to yourselves.
Verse 7
O thou that is called the house of Jacob, is
the spirit of the Lord fastened, are these his works?
O thou that is called the
house of Jacob, is the spirit of the Lord fastened, are these his works? Is not
he who walks uprightly good to my words?
That art called - You are in name, not in
fact, the seed of Jacob.
God's power, wisdom, and goodness
Wesley explained: Tight - The power, wisdom, and
goodness of God are no less now than they were before.
My words promise all good to those who walk
in God's ways with honest hearts
Said Wesley, Are these - Are these severe
proceedings the actions in which your God delights? Do not my words - My words
promise all good, to those who with honest hearts walk in the ways of God.
Verse 8
Until lately my people have risen up as
enemies
Until lately my people have
risen up as enemies: you take off the robe with the clothes of those who pass
safely as men averse to war.
Rose up - They arose, Israel
against Judah, and Judah against Israel, and lately the tribes conspired
against one another; subjects against their kings, and great against the
meanest kind, said Wesley.
You despoil those who do not fear evil
Wesley said, With the garment - You strip those who fear
no evil, mind their private affairs.
Verse 9
The women of my people you have driven out of
their pleasant houses
The women of my people ye
have driven yourselves out of their pleasant houses; from their children you
have taken away my glory forever.
Women - Widows.
to be treated tenderly
Said Wesley, Of my people - Of the Israelites, not
strangers, who were by peculiar provision of the law of God, to be tenderly
treated, Exodus 22:22.
Expelled - You have left your old
dwellings.
You have driven your children from their
homes and property
Wesley explained: Of your children - You have driven your
children from your houses and property, which were secured by the law of God
from any sale beyond the jubilee; yet you have confiscated them forever.
My glory–Which was the glory of my
bounty to them.
Verse 10
You, inhabitants of Israel, prepare
yourselves for your departure from this land
Arise and depart; for this
is not your rest: because it is polluted, it will destroy you with a painful
destruction.
Arise—Ye inhabitants of Israel,
prepare yourselves for your departure from this land.
it was on condition of continued obedience
Their rest - Though it was given to
this people for a rest under the wing of God; yet it was on condition of
continued obedience, said Wesley.
Polluted - With many, and great,
and old sins.
Destroy - He will vomit you.
Verse 11
If a man pretends to have the spirit to
prophesy
If anyone who walks in
spirit and falsehood lies, saying, I will prophesy to you about wine and strong
drink; he will be the prophet of this people.
Walking - If a man pretends to
have the spirit to prophesy.
Saying – You will have many days
and you will be able to eat, drink and be merry.
He shall be unto the
prophet - Such
they like and choose.
Verse 12
I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I
will put them together like the sheep of Bozrah
I will surely gather all of
you, O Jacob; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them
together like the sheep of Bozrah, like the flock in the midst of his fold;
they will make a lot of noise because of the crowd of men.
They - Everything else.
Like the sheep - in great numbers.
Said Wesley, His flock - His own flock, where
they are safe.
This was fulfilled in part when the Jews
returned from Babylon, but more fully when Christ, by his gospel
Wesley clarified, The multitude of men - This was fulfilled in
part, when the Jews returned from Babylon, but more fully when Christ, by his
gospel, gathered into one, all the children of God that were scattered.
Verse 13
The Door of Escape from Their Captivity
The breaker went up before
them; they broke, and passed through the gate, and went out through it; and
their king shall pass before them, and the Lord upon their heads.
The breaker - To break all opposition.
Said Wesley, The gate - The door of escape from
his captivity. There are no cities so strong that the Assyrians will not take
and possess, and enter in through the gates.
The Lord - Same Jehovah
The Lord - Same as Jehovah, as he was at the head of
Israel, when he brought them out of Egypt.[30]
Judgment on false leaders
and false prophets
Chapter 3
The prophet prophesied, "And I said, Hear, I
pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Isn't it for
you to know the judgment?
Wesley said: You princes,
magistrates, and governing officers, should of all men know and do what is
right.
And Micah said, " Thus says the Lord of the
prophets who cause my people to err, who bite with their teeth, and cry out,
'Peace.'
Wesley said, That bite - When they are provided
with presents and well fed.
Verse 1
You should not understand and conform to the righteous
laws of your God
Wesley
said, It is not for you - You should not understand and conform to the
righteous laws of your God. You, princes, magistrates, and ruling officers,
ought of all men to know and do what is right.
Verse 2
Who hate good and love
evil; who tear their skin and flesh from their bones;
delight in, both evil works and evil workers
Said Wesley, The good - Ye that hate not only to
do good, but the good that is done, and those that do it.
Evil - Chuse, and delight in,
both evil works and evil workers.
You who use the flock as cruelly as the
shepherd
Whosoever shall pluck it - Ye who
use the flock as cruelly as the shepherd, who instead of shearing the fleece
would tear off the skin and flesh.
Verse 3
You who devour the goods and food of your
brothers and sisters
who also eat the flesh of
my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and
cut them in pieces, as for the pot, and as meat in the cauldron.
Wesley said, "The flesh - You who devour the goods
and food of your brethren.
Break Your Bones - An allusion to wolves,
bears, or lions, which devour the flesh and break the bones of helpless lambs.
Verse 4
Then they will cry to the Lord, but he will
not hear them
Then they will cry to the
Lord, but he will not listen to them; even he will hide his face from them at
that time, because they have behaved badly in their works.
Then - When these miseries come
upon them.
Verse 5
Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets
who cause my people to err
Thus says the Lord
concerning the prophets who cause my people to err, who bite with their teeth
and cry out, Peace; and he that he put not into their mouths, they even prepare
war against him.
Wesley said, That bite - When they are provided
with presents and well fed.
Prepare for war - They do all the evil
they can.
Verse 6
Night - Heavy Calamities
Therefore the night shall
be unto you that ye may have no vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye
shall not guess; and the sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall
be darkened upon them.
Night - Heavy calamities.
A vision - You must no longer
pretend to have a vision, or dare to predict anything, said Wesley.
God's hand will be against them
And the sun - The hand of God will be
against them, making their sorrows more terrible, as the darkness by the sun
setting at noonday.
Verse 7
Then the seers will be put to shame, and the
soothsayers will be confounded
Then the seers shall be
ashamed, and the soothsayers confounded: yes, they shall all cover their lips;
for there is no answer from God.
The seers - So called by deceived
people.
Cover your lips- The mourners did so,Eze 24:17;Ezekiel 24:22. Thus they will mourn and
languish in shame, Wesley said.
Because the answer they had previously
pretended to be from God
Said Wesley, No answer - Because the answer they
had formerly, pretended to be from God, now appears not to have been from Him.
Verse 8
But I am full of power, by the Spirit of the
Lord
Power - Courage and liveliness.
Of judgment - To discern times and
seasons, right from wrong, Wesley clarified.
Power - Resolution.
Verse 10
They build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with
iniquity
They build Zion with blood
and Jerusalem with iniquity.
Said Wesley, They - The heads and the great
enlarge, beautify, and fortify the house in Zion, particularly the temple and
the royal palace.
With riches, of which they became masters by
violence
Wesley said: Blood - With riches, of which
they became masters by violence, taking the lives of the owners.
Verse 11
Their rulers judge for reward, and their
priests teach for wages, and their prophets divine for money
Their rulers judge for
reward, and their priests teach for wages, and their prophets divine for money;
yet they shall lean on the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? no evil can
come upon us.
Lean – Pretend to trust him.
Wesley said, Among us - As our God and our
shield.
Verse 12
Therefore Zion for your sakes will be
ploughed up like a field, and Jerusalem will become heaps
Therefore Zion for your
sakes shall be ploughed up as a field, and Jerusalem shall be heaped into
heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.
For his sake - Because of his sins.
The mountain, on which the temple stood
Wesley said, The mountain - The mountain, on which
the temple stood. This is the passage, which is quoted, Jeremiah 26:18, which Hezekiah and his
princes accepted well: yea, they repented; and so the execution of it did not
come in their day.[31]
Zion's Future Glory
Chapter 4
Prophet Micah says, " But it shall come to pass
in the last days, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be
established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills;
and the people shall run to it."
Wesley explained, In the last days–Or, in the last days, at
the expiration of the seventy years of captivity, near two hundred years of the
time of Micah, a type of the days of the Messiah's kingdom.
And the prophet said, And many nations shall
come and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the
house of the God of Jacob: and he shall teach us his ways, and we will walk in
his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord out
of Jerusalem.
Wesley further affirmed, Come - Then the Jews, delivered
from captivity, encouraged one another; which was a fulfilment of this prophecy
in part; the conversion of the multitude of the Gentiles to Christ was a most
eminent fulfilment.
Micah the prophet declared, "Arise and thresh, O
daughter of Zion, for I will make your horn of iron, and make your hoofs
bronze, and break in pieces many people, and consecrate their gain to the Lord,
and their substance to the Lord of all the earth."
Wesley explained, And threshing–The future strength of the
church employed in subduing her enemies, is here foretold.
Verse 1
But in the last days it shall come to pass
that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established on the top of
the mountains
But it shall come to pass
in the last days, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be
established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills;
and people will run to him.
Or, in the last days, at the expiration of
the seventy years of captivity
Wesley said, In the last days–Or, in the last days, at the
expiration of the seventy years of captivity, close to two hundred years of the
time of Micah, a type of the days of the Messiah's kingdom.
The mountain - The mountain on which
the temple stood, the type of the church of Christ.
Literally fulfilled when the second temple
was built by the Jews
Established - Literally fulfilled when
the second temple was built by the Jews. Spiritually, when Christ established
his church by the preaching of the gospel, Wesley said.
Verse 2
Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the
Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob
This was partly fulfilled
Wesley
stated, Many nations - This was in part fulfilled when so many
proselytizing servants from various nations, in love to their Jewish masters,
and more to the God of the Jews, went up with them from Jerusalem, said Wesley.
Then the Jews, freed from captivity, encouraged one another
a type of Christ and the gospel church
To the mountain–To the temple at
Jerusalem, a type of Christ and the gospel church, Wesley affirmed.
In Jerusalem the only way to worship God is
declared
Wesley stated, From Jerusalem - In Jerusalem is declared
the only way to worship God, and from thence the only law of right worship
shall come forth, when the Messiah comes.
Verse 3
The Messiah will act as judge and king
And he will judge among
many peoples, and rebuke mighty and distant nations; and they shall beat their
swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning shears: nation shall not
lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
He–The Messiah will act as
judge and king.
Then Christ commissioned his apostles
Rebuke - Then Christ commissioned
his apostles, to teach all nations.
Verse 4
But each one shall sit
under his vine and under his fig tree; and no man shall make them afraid, for
the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.
the kind of a greater redemption by Christ
Wesley said, They–The redeemed of the Lord,
redeemed from the Babylonian captivity, the type of a greater redemption by
Christ.
They must sit down - That is, they must
enjoy peace, security, and abundance. This was more fully fulfilled in gospel
days, Wesley said.
Verse 5
For all peoples shall walk every man in the
name of his god
For all peoples shall walk
every man in the name of his god, and we shall walk in the name of the Lord our
God for ever and ever.
All people shall walk - It is the practice of
all nations, to serve their gods.
Walk - Seek the Lord, embrace his law,
and worship.
Verse 6
The Jews weakened by the harsh use of oppressive conquerors
In that day, saith the
Lord, I will gather the coward, and will gather the one who was cast out, and
the one I afflicted;
Wesley stated, This stops - The Jews weakened by the
harsh use of oppressive conquerors.
And Christ will gather much more to his flock
those who have been captives of Satan
she–Judah captive; driven out,
from their own land. And Christ will gather much more to his flock those who
have been captives of Satan, Wesley said.
Verse 7
And I will make the one
that stood still a remnant, and the one that was driven out far away, a strong nation;
and the Lord will reign over them on Mount Zion from now on, forever.
A remnant - That as they are preserved to a seed, so
they take root and grow, and continue until the coming of the Messiah
A remnant - That as they are
preserved to a seed, so they take root and grow, and continue until the coming
of the Messiah.
Verse 8
to you will come the first dominion; the
kingdom will come to the daughter of Jerusalem
And thou, O tower of the
flock, stronghold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall come the first
dominion; the kingdom will come to the daughter of Jerusalem.
O tower–A tower placed for the
whole city of Jerusalem.
Wesley stated, The fortress–Ophel, a strong fort, is
also laid for the whole city.
The first dominion - The old dominion; the government (after
seventy years of captivity) will return to the old royal family and continue in
it until Shiloh comes
Wesley stated: The first dominion - The old dominion; the government (after seventy
years of captivity) will return to the old royal family and continue in it
until Shiloh comes. This, in type, was fulfilled, under Zerubbabel and his
successors; but the whole antitype concerns the kingdom of the Messiah.
Verse 9
Now, why do you cry out loud? Is there no
king in you?
Now, why do you cry out
loud? Is there no king in you? Is your Advisor perishable? for the pains have
taken you like a woman in labor.
Now - Now I promised you such
great things.
No king - Thou hast lost thy king
Zedekiah, but thy God, thy king, is with thee, said Wesley.
The Messiah, the wisdom of his father, has
the guidance of your sufferings, deliverance, and recovery
Wesley said, Thy counselor—Is not one of thy wise
counselors left? However, the Wonderful Counselor is with you. The Messiah, the
wisdom of your father, has the guidance of your sufferings, deliverance, and
recovery.
Verse 10
You will have troubles, sorrows and dangers
in wars
Be thou grieving, and labor
to give birth, O daughter of Zion, as a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go
out of the city, and dwell in the country, and go unto Babylon; there you will
be delivered; there the Lord will rescue you from the hand of your enemies.
Wesley said, In pain - Thou shalt have trouble,
sorrows, and dangers in the wars against the Babylonians, and in the captivity
under them.
Now - soon.
On their journey to Babylon, they were forced
to lodge in the fields
In the field - On
their journey to Babylon, they were forced to lodge in the fields, Wesley
stated.
The Hebrew word points to a redemption for
one's neighbor relative, and thus reminds us of the Messiah
Wesley said, Delivered - By Cyrus, by Darius, and
by Artaxerxes; and this was a greater type of deliverance.
Redeem - The Hebrew word points
to a redemption by the neighbor relative, and thus reminds us of the Messiah,
the great redeemer of the church, Wesley clarified.
Verse 11
Now also many nations have gathered together
against you
Now also many nations have
gathered together against you, saying, Let her be defiled, and let our eyes
look upon Zion.
Now - The time is near.
Let it be polluted
Wesley stated, Defiled—Let her be polluted with
blood, and we will go in, plunder, and destroy her temple and palaces.
Look - With delight at your
destruction.
Verse 12
But they don't know the Lord's thoughts
But they do not know the
thoughts of the Lord, nor do they understand his counsel, for he will gather
them together like sheaves on the ground.
The thoughts - The design of the holy,
just, and faithful God.
God in due time will gather his enemies
Wesley said, "As the sheaves - The ploughman gathereth
up the sheaves on the ground to thresh them; so God shall in due time gather
his enemies, that they may be wounded, broken, and destroyed.
Verse 13
The future strength of the church employed in
subduing its enemies is here foretold
Arise and thresh, O
daughter of Zion: for I will make thy horn of iron, and make thy hoofs of
brass, and break in pieces many people, and consecrate their gain to the Lord,
and their goods to the Lord of all the earth.
Wesley said, And thresh–The future strength of the
church employed in subduing her enemies, is here foretold.
Iron - This expresses the strength of the church
firm as iron
Iron - This expresses the strength of the church as
firm as iron, to overthrow its enemies, said Wesley.
By this figurative discourse, the strength of
Zion is expressed
Wesley affirmed, Brass - By this figurative
discourse is expressed the strength of Zion, trampling underfoot, and breaking
the power of her enemies in pieces.
And I--I, the church.
Your gain - The spoils of my
conquered enemies.[32]
Jacob's Remnant
Chapter 5
The prophet declares, "And the
remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples as the dew from the
Lord, as the rains on the grass, which tarry not for man, nor wait for the
children of men."
Wesley clarified:
Like a dew - This remnant wherever they are, will multiply like the
dew that refreshes the grass, so where this remnant is, it will be a blessing
to those around them, who use them in a friendly way.
Wesley clarified,
"Like the rains - God will bless them by his immediate hand, as
he alone, without man's help, gives dew and rains." As this was fulfilled
in kind, before the gospel was preached to all nations, so it was, now is, and
always will be fulfilled in the ages to come. God's remnant will be a blessing
to the places where they live.
The prophet explains, "And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the
Gentiles, in the midst of many peoples, as a lion among the beasts of the
forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, which, if it passes by, both
treads and dashes in pieces, and no one can deliver."
Like a lion - For strength and courage, that the beasts of the forest dare not
oppose, and cannot resist, said Wesley.
Finally, the prophet Micah says: Your hand will be lifted up on your adversaries, and all
your enemies will be cut off.
Verse 1
Once this must be done, do it quickly
Gather now in troops, O
daughter of troops; he has besieged us; they will smite the judge of Israel
with a rod in the face.
Said Wesley, Now assemble - Since this is to be done, do it quickly.
Nineveh or Babylon
Wesley clarified:
O daughter of troops—Nineveh or Babylon.
He–Sennacherib, or Nebuchadnezzar.
They - The proud and oppressive enemy.
The Judge - The King.
but the two tribes that joined David's family
Wesley said,
Of Israel–Not the ten tribes, though they are really called by that
name, but the two tribes which adhered to the family of David.
A rod - This is a proverbial speech, expressing the most contemptuous usage.
Verse 2
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah
of the fruitfulness of the earth
Wesley said,
Bethlehem of Judah was called Ephrathah, from the fruitfulness of
the land where it was: the word whence is derived importing fruitfulness.
You're honored above them all
Said Wesley,
You are small - If you are
the least in other respects, in this, you are honored above them all.
Ruler - King and sovereign.
In Israel - In the midst of the Israel of God.
Going on - Whose generation, as he is the Son of God, equal to his father, is
eternal, said Wesley.
Verse 3
Therefore he will deliver them up until the
time when she who is in labor gives birth
Therefore he will deliver
them up until the time when she who is in labor gives birth; then the rest of
his brethren shall return to the children of Israel.
He — God.
Give them up - To the Chaldeans.
The daughter of Zion, compared here to a
woman in labor
Wesley said,
She—The daughter of Zion, compared here to a woman in labor, shall
be delivered from captivity.
His brethren - The brethren of the Messiah. Those of Judah and Benjamin who were
taken captive, Wesley said.
Verse 4
in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty
of the name of the Lord your God
And he shall arise and feed
in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God;
and they shall stand: for now he shall be great unto the ends of the earth.
The ruler, the Messiah will remain
To Wesley: He–The ruler, the Messiah shall abide. This posture speaks of the readiness, joy, and stability of Christ, his government, and kingdom.
Like a shepherd
Feed - As a shepherd who diligently guides, preserves and feeds his sheep,
Wesley said.
By force - By his own omnipotent strength.
By commission of the Father in whose name
Christ came
To Wesley: Of
the name - By commission of the Father in whose name Christ came,
preached, worked miracles, and instituted his evangelical church.
They - Their church, composed of converted Jews and Gentiles, will continue;
the gates of hell will not prevail against them.
Messiah, can be glorified, all over the world
To Wesley: For
- The church is so redeemed and established, that Christ, the Messiah, can be
glorified, all over the world.
Verse 5
And this man will be peace when Assyria
enters our land
And this man will be peace
when Assyria comes into our land; and when he treads in our palaces, we will
raise up against him seven shepherds and eight principal men.
This man - The Messiah.
Peace - Which is promised to God's people
To Wesley:
Peace - Which is promised to God's people; all their deliverances
are not only for his sake, but effected by his power.
What
Sennacherib did
Wesley said,
They shall tread on our palaces–What Sennacherib did in all the
cities of Judah except Jerusalem.
We - Hezekiah, and with him the prophets and the people, shall prevail
with God to send deliverance.
Seven shepherds
Seven shepherds - A certain number put to an uncertain one.
Verse 6
And they shall lay waste the land of Assyria
with the sword
Said Wesley,
They—The seven pastors and eight principal men, these great
instruments of God's vengeance and deliverance of his church.
So did Merodach Baladan
Wesley clarified, Lay waste the land–Thus did Merodach Baladan, king of Babylon.
The land of Nimrod - The same with the land of Assyria.
The entrance - The fortified borders. In this way, he, the Messiah, will free the
Jews, his people.
The type of all other enemies
The Assyrian - The type of all other enemies, to the people of God.
Verse 7
This remnant, wherever they are, will
multiply
And the remnant of Jacob
shall be in the midst of many peoples as the dew from the Lord, as the rains
upon the grass, which tarry not for man, nor wait for the children of men.
Wesley clarified:
Like a dew - This remnant wherever they are, will multiply like the
dew that refreshes the grass, so where this remnant is, it will be a blessing
to those around them, who use them in a friendly way.
God's remnant will be a blessing to the
places where they live
Wesley clarified,
"Like the rains - God will bless them by his immediate hand, as
he alone, without man's help, gives dew and rains." As this was fulfilled
in kind, before the gospel was preached to all nations, so it was, now is, and
always will be fulfilled in the ages to come. God's remnant will be a blessing
to the places where they live.
Verse 8
And the rest of Jacob will be among the
Gentiles
And the remnant of Jacob
shall be among the Gentiles, in the midst of many peoples, as a lion among the
beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, which, if it
passes by, treads on it and dashes in pieces, and no one can deliver.
Like a lion - For strength and courage, that the beasts of the forest dare not
oppose, and cannot resist, said Wesley.
Verse 9
Your hand will be lifted up over your
opponents
Your hand will be lifted up
on your enemies, and all your enemies will be cut off.
Thy hand - Thou people of God.
Verse 10
Not in judgment, but in mercy
And it shall come to pass
in that day, saith the Lord, that I will cut off thy horses from among thee,
and will destroy thy chariots.
Wesley clarified, I will cut off
- Not in judgment, but in mercy, for there shall be no need of them, neither
shall the church of God trust in them any more.
Thy chariots–Chariots prepared for war.
Verse 11
Cut off the occasion to fortify your cities
And I will destroy the
cities of thy land, and will pull down all thy strongholds;
Wesley stated: The cities - Cut off the occasion of fortifying your cities, you will need no other
defense than what I am to you.
Verse 12
God, in mercy to his people, will take away
these occasions of sin
And I will cut off sorces
out of thy hand; and you will have no more soothsayers;
I will cut off - God, in mercy to his people, will take away these occasions of sin,
said Wesley in his notes.
Verse 13
This was verified among the Jews
And I will cut off thy
graven images, and thy standing images from among thee; and thou shalt worship
the work of thy hands no more.
Wesley stated,
Graven images - This was verified among the Jews, who to this day
hate images for divine uses, and learned it in their captivity.
Verse 14
The groves they abused by idolatrous worship
And I will pluck up thy
groves from among thee, and will destroy thy cities.
Thy groves - The groves which they abused by idolatrous worship, Wesley explained
in his notes.
Verse 15
In an unprecedented way. Christ will give his Son the heart or the neck
of his enemies
And I
will execute vengeance with wrath and wrath upon the Gentiles, such as they
have not heard.
Wesley said, " I have not heard—In an unprecedented manner. Christ will give his
Son the heart or neck of his enemies, and make them his friends or his footstool.[33]
A call to the practice of
justice, mercy and to walk humbly before the Lord
Chapter
6
The prophet declares,
" Hear ye
mountains, the contention of the Lord, and ye strong foundations of the land:
for the Lord has contention with his people, and he will plead with
Israel."
Wesley
affirmed,
Foundations of the earth - The mountains themselves; the sin of Israel is
so notorious, that the whole creation may be called as a witness against them.
And the prophet declares, With what shall I stand
before the Lord, and bow down before the Most High God? Shall I come before him
with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
Wesley said, With what - He whose heart has been
touched by the foregoing exposition, may be supposed to make this inquiry.
And the Prophet said, Shall the Lord be pleased
with thousands of rams, or with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my
firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
And he said, " He has shown you, O man,
what is good, and what does the Lord ask of you, but that you do justice, and
love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?"
Wesley then explained: Do justice - Give to every one his
due, superior, equal, inferior, be equal to all, and oppress no one, in body,
goods, or name; in all your dealings with men, bear a chancery on your own
animals, and do according to equity.
He said: Love mercy - Be kind, merciful, and
compassionate to all, using severity to none.
And he concluded, Walk humbly with thy God - Hold constant communion
with God by humble and holy faith.
Verse 1
This is God's command to Micah
Hear now what the Lord
says; Arise, contend before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.
Arise—This is God's command to
Micah, said Wesley.
Discuss the case between God and your people
Wesley
said, Contend
thou -
Discuss the case between God and thy people; and speak as if he wished to make
the mountains hear thee, to testify for me.
Verse 2
the sin of Israel is so notorious, that the whole creation can be called
as a witness against them
Wesley affirmed, Foundations of the earth - The mountains themselves; the sin of Israel is
so notorious, that the whole creation may be called as a witness against them.
Verse 3
What have I done - What injustice or cruelty?
O my people, what have I
done to you? and what have I tired you of? testify against me.
What have I done - What injustice or
cruelty? What painful and heavy impositions I have laid upon you, said Wesley
in his explanatory notes on the Bible.
Tell me, what made you tired of me?
Tired of you - Speak, what is it that
made you tired of me?
Verse 4
Miriam - A prophetess to be an assistant to her
brothers
For I brought thee out of
the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent
Moses, Aaron, and Miriam before you.
Wesley said in his
explanatory notes on the Bible: And Miriam - A prophetess to be an
attendant to her brethren, and to be an example and a counselor to women.
Verse 5
This is where Balak began by the women of
Midian to mock Israel
O my people, remember now
what Balak king of Moab inquired of, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered
him from Shittim to Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord.
Wesley said in his
explanatory notes on the Bible: Shittim–This is the place where
Balak began by the women of Midian to mock Israel as the Baalim had advised,
and so continued to do, even to Gilgal, along the borders of his dominion.
Righteousness - His mercy, justice, and
truthfulness.
Verse 6
With which I will stand before the Lord
Wesley
said, With what - He whose heart has been touched by the foregoing
exposition, may be supposed to make this inquiry.
Verse 7
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousand
rivers of oil?
Will the
Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the
sin of my soul?
Thousands - many.
Ten thousand
rivers - If it were possible to
give them.
Verse 8
God has already told you in his word, with what you must come before him
He has
shown you, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord ask of thee, but that
thou shouldest do justice, and love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God?
He--God has already told you
in his word, with what you shall come before him.
Giving to each one his due
Wesley said, Do justice - Give to every one his
due, superior, equal, inferior, be equal to all, and oppress no one, in body,
goods, or name; in all your dealings with men, bear a chancery on your own
animals, and do according to equity.
Be kind, merciful, and compassionate to
everyone
He said: Love mercy - Be kind, merciful, and
compassionate to all, using severity to none.
Maintain Constant Communion with God
And he concluded, Walk humbly with thy God - Hold constant communion
with God by humble and holy faith.
Verse 9
The voice of the Lord cries out to the city
Said Wesley, Cry out - Either by his
judgments, every one of which is the voice of the Lord, or by his prophets.
The city–To all the cities of
Israel and Judah, but chiefly to Jerusalem and Samaria.
Every wise man
Said Wesley, "The man of wisdom - Every wise man. See thy
name|-God shall perceive in this cry.
The rod - Listen to God's voice in
the punishments God is now sending.
Named him - Who hath chosen him, and
strifeth with him.
Verse 10
There are still the treasures of wickedness
in the house of the wicked
Are there still the
treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scanty measure that
is abominable?
However - After so many express
laws and so many examples of punishment, said Wesley.
Treasures - Obtained by injurious
courses.
Verse 11
I must consider them pure with the wicked
scales
Shall I consider them pure
with the wicked scales and the bag of deceitful weights?
Consider them pure - Approve, or acquit them,
then as if they were righteous, said Wesley.
Verse 12
For your rich are full of violence
For its rich are full of
violence, and its inhabitants have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful
in their mouth.
of this–Of Jerusalem and Samaria.
Verse 13
God will be so long wounded
Therefore I will also make
you sick, and I will smite you, and I will make you desolate because of your
sins.
Wesley said, Sick - God will be so long
wounded, that the blows will strike the heart, and leave Israel sick with their
wounds.
Verse 14
You will be knocked down in the house by your
own hands
You will eat, but you will
not be satisfied; and your overthrow will be in the midst of you; and thou
shalt hold on to thyself, but thou shalt not deliver; and what you deliver I
will give to the sword.
In the midst of thee - Thou shalt be cast down
into the house by thine own hands.
Wesley said, Thou shalt seize - This may refer to
persons or things, which we seize to save them.
The enemy will pursue you
Thou shalt not surrender - Where thou lodgest thy
children, and lay up thy wealth, thither the enemy shall pursue thee; or if
thou fly to other countries, it shall not be a safe refuge for thee, said
Wesley.
That thou deliverest - For a little while.
Verse 15
Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap
Thou shalt not reap - An enemy shall reap.
Wesley stated, Sweet wine - You must tread the
grapes that provide sweet wine.
Verse 16
The idolatrous cult was created by Omri
For the statutes of Omri
are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their
counsels; that I may make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof a
hissing; therefore you will bear the reproach of my people.
Wesley stated: The statutes - The idolatrous worship
was created by Omri in the royal city.
Ye - O house of Israel.
What should I do to you - This will be the event.
Of this - Of the earth.
If my people forsake me
Wesley further stated: Reprobation - Reprobation threatened
in the law, if my people forsake me.[34]
===============================
Nahum announces God's implacable judgment
===============================
Based on the biblical notes and the theology of John
Wesley, the prophet Nahum is characterized primarily as the one who announces
God's ruthless judgment on a bloodthirsty and wicked city (Nineveh). [35]
Table
of Contents
· Introduction
·
The announcement
of God's vengeance against Nineveh
·
The
Bloody Warriors and the Lord's Promise of Vengeance
·
Because
of its sin, Nineveh is destroyed
Introduction
Wesley's
Explanatory Notes on "The Book of Nahum" deals with a message of
Nineveh's destruction and comfort to Judah.
"Nahum,
whose name in Hebrew
means "the comforter," is the seventh of the Minor Prophets, who is credited with
authoring the Book of Nahum,
which tells of the destruction of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, the city that Jonah warned about. [36]
In
the past, Nineveh was saved because of Jonah's preaching and repentance.
"These people were not the same people who had repented of their sins
after Jonah had preached in Nineveh more than a century earlier. The people of
Nineveh had returned to wickedness by the time of Nahum and their actions had
led to their destruction.[37]
Nahum
prophesied about 660 B.C. and before the fall of Nineveh in 606 B.C.
"Nahum
depicts the fall of Nineveh and the celebration of all peoples oppressed by the
great Assyrian Empire."[38]
Nahum's
prophecy is "a message of comfort to the people of Judah, who were living
under the fear and oppression of the Assyrians. Nahum prophesies the fall of
Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, and the deliverance of the people
of Judah."[39]
There
are three chapters.
The announcement of God's vengeance against Nineveh
Assyria,
whose capital was Nineveh, had caused much oppression and suffering to the
people of Judah. Nahum announces God's justice over the oppressors and
announces that the city of Nineveh will be destroyed.
Prophet Nahum says, "God is jealous, and
the Lord avenges; the Lord takes vengeance and is angry; the Lord will take
vengeance on his adversaries, and reserve his wrath for his enemies."
Promise of deliverance to Judah: "Behold, the feet of
him who preaches good news, who proclaims peace, are upon the mountains! O
Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, and keep thy vows, for the wicked shall pass by
thee no more; he is completely cut off."
An overflowing flood, said Nahum – Wesley
commences: "His judgments like a mighty flood that overflows all the
banks, will swallow up Assyria."
Nahum 1
7Verse 1
The burden of Nineveh. The
book of the vision of Nahum, the elkoshita.
Wesley's Comments
The word was usually called the burden of that nation or city
The burden - When prophets were sent
to denounce judgments against a nation or city, the word was generally called
the burden of that nation or city.
Called seers
The vision - As the prophets were
ancient called seers, 1 Samuel 9:9, so their prophecies were
called visions.
Nahum–His name speaks a
comforter, but it is God's people whom he warns of the destruction of their
oppressors.
Verse 2
God is jealous
God is jealous, and the
Lord avenges; the Lord takes vengeance and is angry; the Lord will take
vengeance on his adversaries, and reserve his wrath for his enemies.
Wesley's Comments
As supreme governor
Jealous - For his own glory.
Revenge - As supreme governor, who
by office is obliged to correct the oppressed and punish the oppressor.
Verse 3
The Lord is slow to anger
Wesley's Comments
The Methods of His Providence
Has his way - The methods of his
providence.
The whirlpool - Which carries before it
all things that stand in its way.
God will appear with great power
The dust of his feet - Though he is surrounded
by darkness, yet as a distant army is uncovered by the dust which his feet
raise, so God will appear with great power marching against his enemies.
Verse 4
He rebukes the sea, and
dries it up, and dries up all the rivers; Bashan languishes, and Carmel, and
the flower of Lebanon languishes.
Wesley's Comments
The flowers
The flower - Whatever has bloomed in
it; the flowers and flowers that used to be the glory of it.
Fortaleza on the day of anguish
The Lord is good, strength
in the day of trouble; and he knows those who trust in him.
He knows —He approves, possesses,
and preserves.
Verse 8
But with an overflowing flood
Wesley's Comments
An overflowing flood - His judgments as a
mighty flood that overflows all the banks, will swallow up Assyria.
Of this - Of Nineveh, which is
Nineveh itself.
Darkness - Desolating troubles and
afflictions.
Verse 9
What do you imagine against the Lord?
What do you imagine against
the Lord? He will bring an end to it: affliction will not rise a second time.
Wesley's Comments
Against the Lord - What do you imagine or
project against your people, do you project against them? Give it a total end -
It will lead you to total desolation.
Verse 10
Bent like thorns
For as long as they are
bent like thorns, and while they are drunk like drunkards, they will be
devoured like stubble altogether withered.
Wesley's Comments
Like thorns - They will be like thorns
easily burned, and like thorns folded together that burn together, and help to
destroy one another.
As drunkards - As men drunk,
and unable to help themselves, so the Assyrians drunk with pleasure and pride,
shall be overt, and easily overthrown.'
Verse 11
Evil Against the Lord
Out of thee came one who
imagines evil against the Lord, an ungodly counselor.
Wesley's Comments
Come - Sennacherib or
Rabshekah.
Thee–Of Nineveh.
Against the Lord - Against the Lord's
people, 2 Chronicles 32:1.
Verse 12
Thus saith the Lord
Thus saith the Lord; Though
they be quiet, and many also, they shall be cut off when he passeth away.
Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.
Wesley's Comments
They–The Assyrians.
Be safe and don't fear dangers
Quiet - Be safe and do not fear
dangers.
Yet, so--irresistible, suddenly
and universally.
He–The angel of the Lord.
O Israel, I will use this
rod no more.
Verse 14
And the Lord gave you a commandment
Wesley's Comments
Thou–Thou, Sennacherib, and the
whole kingdom of Assyria.
be sown - No man shall bear thy
name and title; but thy kingdom shall be swallowed up.
Verse 15
Behold, on the mountains are the feet of him
who brings good news, who brings peace!
Wesley's Comments
That wicked oppressor, Sennacherib
Maintain - Be careful to serve God.
Thy vows - Made in thy distress.
The wicked - That wicked oppressor,
Sennacherib.[40]
The Bloody Warriors and the Lord's Promise of
Vengeance
Prophet Nahum refers to his
enemies as lions: "Where is the dwelling place of lions and the
lozenge of young lions, where did the lion, the old lion, and the lion's cub
walk, and no one frightened them?"
Wesley explains, "Of lions—tyrants and bloody
warriors."
Nahum says, "The lion tore in
pieces enough for his cubs, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled their
holes with fangs, and their burrows with ravine."
Prophecy against Nineveh: "Behold, I am against
thee, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will burn their chariots in smoke, and the
sword shall devour thy lions, and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and
the voice of thy messengers shall be heard no more."
Nahum 2
Verse 1
Save the ammo
He that is broken in pieces
ascendeth before thy face: keep the ammunition, watch the way, strengthen thy
loins, strengthen thy power mightily.
Wesley's Comments
The Medes or Chaldeans
He–The Medes or Chaldeans,
who tear Nineveh to pieces.
The ammunition - The strong.
Strengthen thy loins - Strengthen yourself.
Verse 2
He rejected Jacob's excellency
For the Lord hath rejected
the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel; for those who emptied
them and cut off their vine branches.
Wesley's Comments
For - Israel and Jacob were
more for God, but he punished them; much more will he punish Nineveh.
Turned - Lying down.
All that Jacob gloried in
Excellence - Wealth, valiant men, all
that Jacob boasted of.
Jacob - The two tribes.
Israel - The ten tribes.
Emptied them - Quite exhausted.
The shield of their brave men is red
His vine branches - He destroyed all the
fruits of the earth.
Verse 3
Mighty Men - Medes or Chaldeans
The shield of their mighty
men is red, the mighty men are of scarlet: the chariots will have lighted
torches on the day of their preparation, and the beeches will be terribly
shaken.
Wesley's Comments
The shield - A part for all armor and
furniture.
Mighty men - Medes or Chaldeans.
Red - With the blood of the
dead.
Torches - Torches have always been
carried in them.
In the day - When he shall gather his
armies.
Shaken - By axes cutting them down for war.'
Verse 4
Cars will rage on the streets
Wesley's Comments
On the streets - From Nineveh, when
taken.
Justle - Because of his crowd and
fury.
What with the flickering fire caused
by their horses and chariots, what with the gleam of the irons polished upon
them
In the wide forms - Where there is more
space, and yet scarce enough for them to move.
As torches - That with the gleaming
fire caused by their horses and chariots, that with the brightness of the irons
polished upon them, and that with the light of the flaming torches borne in
them.
By speed, restlessness and terror
Like the lightning - Both for speed,
restlessness, and terror.
Verse 5
They'll stumble on your floor
He will number his worthy:
they will stumble in his gait; they will hasten to his wall, and the defense
will be prepared.
Wesley's Comments
Approved officers and commanders
He–The king of Babylon.
Your worthy - Approved officers and
commanders.
Stumble - Show such advancement,
that they should not stay to choose their way.
The Assyrians to defend, the Chaldeans to attack
They–The Assyrians to defend,
the Chaldeans to attack the walls of Nineveh.
The gates of the rivers
will be opened, and the palace will be dissolved.
The Gates - From the city towards
the river.
From Tigre
The rivers - From the Tigris, on
which Nineveh stood.
A powerful flood brought down the walls of
Ninivi
Dissolved - While the Chaldeans were
besieging Nineveh, a mighty flood broke down the walls of Nineveh, for the
space of twenty furlongs, through which the besiegers made their entrance.
Dissolved - As if melted, it will
fall to pieces.
Verse 7
And Huzzab will be taken captive
And Huzzab will be taken
captive, she will be brought up, and her maidservants will lead her as with the
voice of doves, beating upon their breasts.
Wesley's Comments
Huzzab — The queen.
The voice of the doves - Sighing their
complaints.
Instead of musical instruments
On her breasts - Instead of musical
instruments, which they used to play, they now only beat her breasts.
Verse 8
A water tank
But Nineveh has been from
ancient times like a pool of waters, but they will flee. Stand, stand, they
will scream; but no one will look back.
Wesley's Comments
Very populous
Like a tank - Very populous, like a
tank that has been raising fish for a long time, and is full of them.
These multitudes will flee
However – However, these
multitudes will flee disconcerted and terrified.
They–The chiefs, and the
bravest among the Ninevites.
Verse 9
Take the spoil of silver
Take the spoil of silver,
take the spoil of gold, for there is no end of deposit, nor glory of all pleasant
utensils.
Wesley's Comments
Chaldeans encourage
Thomas–Thus the Chaldeans
encourage one another in plundering the city.
Verse 11
Lions' Abode
Where is the dwelling place
of lions and the lozenge of young lions, where the lion, the old lion, and the
lion's cub roamed, and no one frightened them?
Tyrants and Bloody Warriors
Of lions - tyrants and bloody
warriors.
Verse 12
The lion tore to shreds enough for its cubs
The lion tore in pieces
enough for his cubs, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled their holes
with fangs, and their burrows with ravine.
Wesley's Comments
Torn - Formerly fell upon their
neighboring nations.
Their lionesses - queens, concubines or ladies in
the Assyrian court.
Verse 13
Behold, I am against you, saith the Lord
Behold, I am against thee,
saith the Lord of hosts, and I will burn their chariots in smoke, and the sword
shall devour thy lions, and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the
voice of thy messengers shall be heard no more.
Wesley's Comments
I'm going to burn it - Nineveh.
The city being first sacked, then burned
In the smoke - The city being first
sacked, then burned; these chariots were burned in that smoke.
Ambassadors or meeting masters
Your prey - Causes you to stop
making a prey anymore.
Thy messengers - Ambassadors or meeting
masters. This probably refers to Rabshadate, who blasphemed the living God.
Those who once spoke reproachfully against God are not worthy to be heard.[41]
Because of sin, Nineveh is destroyed
Nahum denounces: "Woe to the bloody
city! everything is full of lies and thefts; the prey does not move away".
The horseman, that is, the Chaldeans and their
confederates, says Wesley, "lifts up the shining sword and the shining
spear: and there is a multitude of the dead, and a great number of dead bodies;
and there is no end to their carcasses; they stumble over their corpses."
The Lord will act with power, "because of the
multitude of the harlots of the favored harlot, the mistress of sorceries, who
sells nations by her harlots, and families by her sorceries."
Finally,
Nahum says:
"There is no cure for your bruise; Your wound is grievous: all who hear
the breath of you will clap their hands over you; for on whom has not your
wickedness passed continually?"
Nahum 3
Verse 1
Woe to the bloody city
Woe to the bloody city! everything is full of lies
and thefts; the prey does not move away;
Wesley's Comments
The Prey - Extortion and rapine.
Verse 3
The knight raises his resplendent sword
Wesley's Comments
The Knights - The Chaldeans
The Knights - The Chaldeans and their confederates.
Because of the multitude of harlots of harlots of
the favored harlot, the lady of sorceries, who sells nations through her
harlots and families through her sorceries.
Prostitution – Idolatries
Fornication–The idolatry, which was multiplied by the
many persons who served the Assyrian idols. And prostitutions literally
understood, doubtless abounded, where wealth, luxury, ease, and long continuity
of them could be found.
Well favored - Glorious in its state and government, and
in the splendor of its idols, temples, and sacrifices.
Of witchcraft
Of witchcraft - Fascinating policies; or it may be taken by sorceries or
necromancers, which abounded among the Assyrians.
Who sells - Who disposes of them as imperiously and
absolutely as men make slaves.
This may indicate the seduction
of some families
And families - This may indicate the seduction of some
particular and eminent families to a hereditary service of the Assyrian idols,
or to sorceries, in which the devil has imitated the institution of God, by
bringing a family into his service.
Verse 5
Behold, I am against you, saith the Lord
Behold, I am against thee, saith the Lord of hosts;
and I will uncover thy garments upon thy face, and will show unto the nations
thy nakedness, and unto the kingdoms thy shame.
Wesley's Comments
I'm going to undress you
Find out – I'll strip you naked and deal with you
like inhuman soldiers deal with captive women.
Those who look to you will flee from you
And it shall come to pass, that all that look upon
thee shall flee from thee, and shall say, Nineveh hath been laid waste; Who
will mourn it? whence shall I look for comforters for thee?
With disgust and disgust
He shall flee - With loathsomeness and loathing.
He shall mourn - Whose bowels shall be moved by her, who
had no bowels for anyone.
Verse 8
You are better than the populous
Thou – Nineveh.
Wesley's Comments
No - This is supposed to be what we now call
Alexandria
No - This is supposed to be what we now call Alexandria. Are you bigger,
stronger, and wiser? However, all his power was broken, his riches spoiled, and
his glory buried in ruins.
Wall - The defense of your walls on one side.
A powerful and strong wall
Your Wall - A powerful and strong wall, built from the
sea towards the land.
Verse 9
Ethiopia and Egypt were his strength
Ethiopia and Egypt were his strength, and it was infinite;
Put and Lubim were your helpers.
Wesley's Comments
Your Strength - Provide soldiers and military assistance.
It was infinite - There was no end to his confidence and
warlike provisions.
Or the Moors
Place - Or the Moors, who are west of Alexandria.
You too will get drunk
Lubim - The people who inhabited what is now called Cyrene.
You will also be drunk: you will be hidden, you
also will seek strength because of the enemy.
Thou shalt also drink deeply of the bitter cup of God's displeasure.
You will hide. O Nineveh
Hidden - You will hide. O Nineveh, as well as Alexandria.
Will Seek - Process and plead for assistance.
Verse 12
All your fortresses will be like fig trees
Wesley's Comments
Ripe figs - Whose weight and ripeness will quickly
bring them to the ground.
Shaken - If only lightly touched.
Verse 13
Behold, your people among you are women
Wesley's Comments
They were very cowardly
They are women - They were very cowardly.
The gates - The strong borders.
Wide open - Whether out of fear or betrayal.
Thy bars - With which the gates were closed and
strengthened.
Verse 14
Fortify your fortresses
Take the waters to the place, fortify your
fortresses; It enters the clay, treads the mortar, strengthens the brick kiln.
Wesley's Comments
Fill all your cisterns, and draw the waters into the ditches.
Take away the waters - Fill all your cisterns, and draw the
waters into the ditches.
Step on the mortar - Put your brick makers to work to prepare
the stock of materials for your fortifications.
Verse 15
There the fire will devour you
There the fire will devour you; the sword shall cut
thee, it shall devour thee as a locust: make thyself many as the locust, make
thyself many as the locusts.
Wesley's Comments
There - In the fortresses themselves.
Eat thyself - As easily as the worm eats the green
grass.
Many - They are innumerable; be so if you can; all will be in vain.
Verse 16
You have multiplied your merchants
You have multiplied your merchants above the stars
of heaven: the locust spoils and flies.
Wesley's Comments
So these are like the worms
The worm spoils - So these are like the worms, which spoil
wherever they come, and when there is no more to be obtained, they flee.
Verse 17
Your crowned ones are like locusts
Wesley's Comments
Thy crowned - Thy confederate kings and princes.
Commanders and officers are numerous
Captains - Commanders and officers are numerous, like
locusts and locusts; but it is all to show, not to help.
On the cold day - While the season suits them.
Like the sun parched, scald 'em
The sun - When troubles, wars, and dangers, such as
the parched sun, scald them.
Not known – You'll never know where to find them.
Verse 18
Your shepherds sleep
Wesley's Comments
They are negligent, heartless, or dead
Thy shepherds - Thy rulers and counselors.
Sleep - They are negligent, heartless, or dead.
No one gathers together - No one will care to preserve your
dispersed.
Verse 19
There's no cure for your bruise
There is no cure for your
bruise; Your wound is grievous: all who hear the breath of you will clap their
hands over you; for on whom has not your wickedness passed continually?
Wesley's Comments
Insulting and rejoicing
Shall clap - Insulting and rejoicing.
Thy wickedness - Thy tyranny, pride,
oppression, and cruelty; trampling upon and trampling them down.[42]
===============================
Obadiah's Prophecy Against Edom
===============================
Based on John Wesley's biblical commentaries and
Christian tradition, the prophet Obadiah is primarily characterized as a faithful
and zealous servant of the Lord, who put his own life on the line to protect God's prophets.
[43]
Table
of Contents
·
Introduction
·
Prophecy
against Edom for its betrayal and wickedness to Israel
Introduction
"Wesley's
Explanatory Notes on the Prophecy of Obadiah against Edom" is a book by
Wesley with his explanatory notes.
The book of the prophet
Obadiah is the shortest in the Old Testament, having only 21 verses.
Edom is the name of the
descendants of Esau, who was an opponent of the people of Israel.
When the Israelites
suffered at the hands of the Chaldeans, who destroyed Jerusalem and took
thousands captive, Edom found pleasure in this and even helped Israel's
adversaries (Obadiah 10-14).
Psalm 137 says, "Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem, who said, 'Uncover her, uncover her to her foundations.' Ah! daughter of Babylon, which you are going to be desolate; Blessed is he who repays you the repay you have paid us. Blessed is he who takes your children and finds them on the stones."
This book of Obadiah
deals only with the prophecy against Edom prophesying its destruction.
Part of the prophecy reads, "There shall not be any of the house of
Esau left; for the Lord has spoken it."
It goes on to say: "And saviors shall go up
to Mount Zion to judge Mount Esau; and the kingdom will be the Lord's."
The unique theme of the
book is the prophecy against Edom for its betrayal and wickedness to Israel.
Prophecy against Edom for its betrayal and wickedness
to Israel
Obadiah deals with one
subject: the nation of Edom and the prophecy about its total destruction.
"Edom is the name of
the descendants of Esau. The nation of Edom lived in the mountains of Seir,
south of the Dead Sea, as far as the Gulf of Akaba (Genesis 36:8-9). Esau was Jacob's twin
brother. Already before his actual birth, God announced that the eldest son,
Esau, would serve the younger son, Jacob."[44]
In Obadiah's prophecy, he proclaims that the house of Esau (Edom) will
be destroyed: "And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of
Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in
them, and devour them; and there shall be none left of the house of Esau; for
the Lord has spoken it."
Wesley states that this
"was fulfilled in part by Hyrcanus[45] and the Maccabees" and quotes 1
Maccabees 5:3.
"Obadiah, in his
short prophecy about Edom, describes the threat of this final judgment and the
reasons for it. But at the same time, he informs us that the day of Jehovah
will be a day of general judgment upon the nations and a time of restoration for
the people of Israel." [46]
The book of Obadiah deals with: "The future destruction of
Edom"; "The Reasons for the Judgment" and "The Day of
Salvation of Jehovah and Israel."
Chapter 1
Verse 1
The
vision of Obadiah.
Thus
saith the Lord God concerning Edom
The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord God
concerning Edom; we heard a rumor from the Lord, and an ambassador was sent
among the nations, "Arise, and let us rise up against her in battle."
Wesley's Comments
His name speaks a servant
or a worshiper of the Lord
Obadiah - His name speaks of a servant or a
worshipper of the Lord, but who he was we do not know.
We—the prophets, listen.
But it comes from God
A rumor - Not an uncertain account, but comes from
God.
It is sent–By the Lord first, and then by
Nebuchadnezzar, who executed at Edom that which is here foretold.
The nations–Those who were with, or subject to,
Nebuchadnezzar.
Behold,
I have made thee little among the nations
Behold, I have made thee little among the nations,
thou art greatly despised.
Little - You are a small people. Compared to other nations.
Edomites
Despised - Whatever these Edomites had been, they
were now despised.
Verse 3
A rough,
resistant and daring people.
And
proud above measure
The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who
dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose abode is high; who says in his heart,
'Who will bring me down to the ground?'
Wesley's Comments
Pride - The Edomites were, like most mountaineers, a rough, hardy, and daring
people. And proud beyond measure.
Above what it really is
Deceived you - Magnifying your strength above what it
really is.
Verse 4
Though thou exaltest thyself as an eagle, and
though thou shalt set thy nest among the stars, from thence I will bring thee
down, saith the Lord.
Wesley's Comments
God who is in heaven would
bring you down
Cast yourself down - God who is in heaven would cast you down.
When men could not organize armies against thee, the stars should fight in
their courses against thee. Nothing can stand that God overthrows, Jeremiah 49:16-17.
Verse 5
If thieves had come to thee, if thieves by night,
(how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they were filled? If
the harvesters came to you, wouldn't they leave some grapes?
Wesley's Comments
If the thieves
If thieves - If the thieves during the day had spoiled
you, they would not have stripped you.
Thieves - If the thieves at night had been with you,
they would have left some behind.
Those who cut down the vine
Until they had enough - But here there is nothing left.
Some grapes - But here are those that cut down the vine.
Verse 6
How the things of Esau are researched! How his
hidden things are sought!
Wesley's Comments
Esau - The father of this
people
Esau - The father of this people, placed for his posterity.
Seized and brought by
soldiers
Wanted - All that the Edomites had kept in the most secret places, are seized
and brought by soldiers.
Verse 7
Those
who eat of your bread have struck you
All the men of your confederacy have brought you to
the border: the men who were at peace with you have deceived you, and have
prevailed against you; they that eat of thy bread have smote thee, and in him
is no understanding.
Wesley's Comments
Thy confederates marched
Thy confederacy - Thy confederates marched with thee till
thou didst come to the borders of thy country.
Deceived you - Proved to be treacherous.
Prevailed —Treacherously.
A trap
A wound - A trap set with sharp spikes.
No understanding - You were not aware of this.
Verse 9
Temã
And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be astonished,
lest every one of the mountain of Esau be cut off by the slaughter.
Wesley's Comments
Teman — The principal city of Idumea.
Verse 11
Foreigners
took their armies captive
In the day that you were on the other side, in the
day that the foreigners took their armies captive, and the foreigners entered
through their gates, and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them.
Wesley's Comments
Battle against your brother
In the day - During the war which the Babylonians made
against Judea.
He stood - He put himself in battle order against his
brother.
Jerusalem - On the citizens and their goods.
So merciless and insolent
As one of them - As merciless and insolent as any of them.
Verse 12
Nor
should you rejoice with the children of Judah in the day of their destruction
But you should not have looked at your brother's
day, in the day he became a stranger; neither should you rejoice with the children
of Judah in the day of their destruction; nor should you have spoken proudly on
the day of trouble.
Wesley's Comments
Looked - With joy in affliction.
Boasting of the Jews
A stranger - Like a stranger, one who no longer had a
right to anything on earth.
Proudly - Boasting of the Jews, when Jerusalem was
taken.
Verse 13
You
should not have entered the gate of my people in the day of their calamity
You should not have entered the gate of my people
in the day of their calamity; yes, you should not have looked upon their
affliction in the day of their calamity, nor laid their hands on their goods in
the day of their calamity;
Wesley's Comments
Nor should you have stood
at the crossroads, to exterminate those who escaped
Entered - Like an enemy.
Verse 14
Nor should you have stood at the crossroads, to
exterminate those who escaped; nor should you deliver up your own who remained
in the day of trouble.
Wesley's Comments
When the city was taken,
some might have escaped
The breaches - Of the walls, through which, when the city
was taken, some might have escaped.
Chaldeans
Delivered - to the Chaldeans.
Remain — Survived the capture of the city.
Verse 15
For the day of the Lord is near upon all nations;
as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee; your reward will be on your
head.
Wesley's Comments
The time the Lord appointed
for punishment
The day - The time which the Lord appointed for the
punishment of this and other nations.
Perfidious, cruelly and
voraciously, against Jacob
As thou hast done–perfidiously, cruelly, and voraciously,
against Jacob.
Verse 16
And they
will be as if there were no
For as ye have drunk from my holy mountain, so
shall all nations drink continually, yes, they shall drink, and swallow, and be
as though there were none.
Wesley's Comments
You have drunk deeply from
the cup of affliction
As ye - As ye, my own people, have drunk deeply of the cup of affliction, so
shall other nations be much more, yea, they shall drink of it, till they perish
utterly.
Verse 17
But on
Mount Zion there will be deliverance
But on Mount Zion there will be deliverance, and
holiness will be; and the house of Jacob shall possess his goods.
Wesley's Comments
Literally, this refers to
the Jews
Zion - Literally, this refers to the Jews: typically to the gospel church.
A remnant that will be
freed by Cyrus
Deliverance - A remnant that will be delivered by Cyrus,
a type of the redemption of Israel by Christ.
The people returned from
captivity
Holiness - The temple, the city, the people returned
from captivity will be holy to the Lord.
Your possessions - Your own ancient possessions.
Verse 18
And the
house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house
of Esau a stubble
And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the
house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau a stubble, and they shall kindle
in them, and devour them; and there shall be none left of the house of Esau;
for the Lord hath spoken it.
Wesley's Comments
This was fulfilled in part
by Hyrcanus and the Maccabees
Kindle - This was fulfilled in part by Hyrcanus and the Maccabees, 1 Maccabees 5:3, but it will be more fully
realised, when the Lord makes his church as a fire to all his enemies.
Verse 19
And
those in the south will possess Mount Esau
Wesley's Comments
After their return and
victories over Edom, they will possess their country
They–The Jews living in the southern parts of Canaan, beside Idumea, after
their return and victories over Edom, will possess their country.
The
first was entirely realized by Hyrcanus
From the plain - The Jews who dwell in the flat country,
shall enlarge their borders, possess the country of the Philistines, together
with their ancient inheritance. The first was entirely accomplished by
Hyrcanus.
And all the land that the
ten tribes possessed will be possessed again by the Jews
And if this was the time to fulfill one, it was undoubtedly the time to
fulfill the other as well. And all the land that the ten tribes possessed will
again be possessed by the Jews.
Here is promised a greater
possession than they ever had before the captivity
Gilead - Here is promised a greater possession than they ever had before the
captivity; and doubtless points to the expansion of Christ's church in gospel
times.
Verse 20
Army of
the children of Israel will possess
And the captivity of this army of the children of
Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, as far as Zarephath; and the
captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the
south.
Wesley's Comments
Shalmaneser Taken Captive
The captivity - Those of the ten tribes who were carried
captive by Shalmanesar.
Now it will be possessed by
these returned captives
Of the Canaanites - All the country which they possessed
anciently with this addition, which what the Canaanites kept by force, and the
Israelites could not take from them, shall now be possessed by these returned
captives.
Zarephath, near Sidon.
Captive Leads by
Nebuchadnezzar
From Jerusalem - The two tribes taken captive by
Nebuchadnezzar.
Sepharad - Probably a region of Chaldea.
The cities - All the cities that were once yours.
Verse 21
And saviors will go up to Mount Zion to judge
Mount Esau
And saviors will go up to
Mount Zion to judge Mount Esau; and the kingdom will be the Lord's.
Wesley's
Comments
Liberators, literally the leaders of the captive troops, who will come
from Babylon
Saviors – Deliverers, literally
the leaders of the captive troops, who will come from Babylon, such as
Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Mystically, Christ and his apostles and other
preachers of the gospel.
To avenge Israel in Edom
To judge - To avenge Israel at
Edom.
Will be honored, obeyed, and worshipped
The Lord - The God of Israel,
Jehovah, will be honored, obeyed, and worshipped by all.[47]
===============================
The righteous shall live by their faith in the book of
Habakkuk
===============================
Based on the biblical writings and commentaries of
John Wesley (Notes on the Old Testament), the prophet Habakkuk is characterized
primarily by his attitude of unwavering faith in the midst of
questioning and crisis. [48]
Table
of Contents
· Introduction
·
The
Prophet Habakkuk complains about a time of injustice and violence in Judah
·
The
prophet puts his complaint before God and waits for his answer
·
Habakkuk
Prayer, Praise for God's Mighty Works, and Living by Faith
Introduction
"Wesley's Explanatory Notes on Habakkuk"
deals with the book of the prophet Habakkuk with Wesley's explanatory notes.
During a time of lawlessness, oppression of the poor,
and violence in Judah, he asks in God: How long?
It was a period of the invasion of the fearsome people
of the Chaldeans into Judah.
Habakkuk complains and waits for God's answer, who
answers him.
The book of the prophet Habakkuk brings the origin of
the expression "the just shall live by faith".
The themes of the three chapters are: "The
Prophet Habakkuk complains about a time of injustice and violence in
Judah"; "The prophet lays his complaint before God and waits for his
answer"; "Habakkuk's prayer, praise for the mighty works of God and
living by faith."
The Prophet Habakkuk complains about a time of
injustice and violence in Judah
Chapter 1
Wesley comments on verse
4 of Habakkuk chapter 1: "For the wicked continue unpunished. The law -
All law, moral, ceremonial, and judicial. It is loose - It is looked down upon
and not observed. Go ahead - From magistrates, judges and civil servants".
For him, the goal is to
oppress and ruin.
It was the time of the
invasion of the Chaldeans into Judah. Wesley commented: "The Chaldeans
attract all equal, good or bad. In your net - Destroying many together. And
they gather - As if they could never have enough, they push men into their nets."
All of this was a burden
to the prophet.
The burden that the prophet
Habakkuk saw.
Wesley's Comments
The prophet seems to speak of these painful things
The burden - The prophet seems to
speak of these painful things, as a burden which he himself groaned.
Verse 4
Wherefore the law is
loosened, and judgment never cometh out: for the wicked compass about the
righteous; therefore, the wrong judgment proceeds.
Wesley's Comments
Because the wicked go unpunished
Therefore - Because the wicked
continue unpunished.
The law - All law, moral,
ceremonial, and judicial.
It is loosened - It is despised and
unobserved.
Go Ahead – From magistrates,
judges, and civil servants.
With the aim of oppressing and ruining
Makes compass - As it were, besiegers,
with the aim of oppressing and ruining.
Verse 5
Look to yourselves among
the nations, and look, and marvel, for I will do in your days a work which ye
will not believe, though it be preached unto you.
Wesley's Comments
Here God begins to answer the prophet
Behold, - Here God begins to answer
the prophet.
Among the heathen - See what judgments were
executed upon the heathen for similar sins.
Verse 6
For behold, I raise up the
Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march across the breadth
of the land, to possess the dwellings that are not theirs.
Wesley's Comments
Quick in the execution of his merciless purposes
Bitter - Cruel and merciless.
Hasty - Quick in the execution
of his ungodly purposes.
Verse 7
They are terrible and
terrible: their judgment and their dignity will proceed from themselves.
Wesley's Comments
Their authority comes from themselves, without respect to any other law
or rule
Their judgment - The law which they
observe, is their own will.
Their dignity - Their authority comes
from themselves, without respect to any other law or rule.
Verse 8
Their horses are also faster than leopards
His horses also are swifter
than leopards, and are fiercer than the wolves of the night: and his riders
shall scatter, and his riders shall come afar off; they will fly like an eagle
that hurries to eat.
Wesley's Comments
The wolves of the evening – Who fasted during the
day, went forth at night, fierce and ravenous.
It shall spread - Throughout the earth.
Verse 9
They will all come to violence
They will all come to
violence: their faces will swell like the east wind, and they will gather captivity
like sand.
Wesley's Comments
To enrich oneself by making everyone a prey
To violence - To enrich oneself by
making everyone a prey.
Their faces - Their own countenances
will be as blower as the east wind.
Verse 10
And they shall mock kings,
and princes shall despise them: they shall mock every fortress; for they shall
heap up dust, and take it.
Wesley's Comments
Who opposed his designs
In kings - Who opposed his
designs.
And take it - By mighty mounds
launched.
Verse 12
Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One
Art thou not from
everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? we will not die. O Lord, you ordained
them for judgment; and, O mighty God, you have established them for correction.
Wesley's Comments
It will not die - It will be totally
destroyed.
Ordered - Created and designed.
They–The Chaldean kingdom.
To execute this judgment, which is tempered with mercy
For judgment - To execute this
judgment, which is tempered with mercy.
For correction - To punish, not to
destroy.
Verse 14
And makest men as the fish
of the sea, as the creeping things, which have no dominion over them?
Wesley's Comments
Not infusing cruel appetites
And do - Not by infusing cruel
appetites, but by allowing them to act according to the appetite that was
already in them.
Totally oppression
Like the fishes - Of which the
greater eagerly devours the smaller.
Creeping things - Which in the waters are
food for the fry; so the world, like the sea, is utterly oppression.
None to defend the weak
No ruler - None to defend the weak,
or restrain the powerful.
Verse 15
They catch them all with
the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag:
therefore they rejoice and rejoice.
Wesley's Comments
The Chaldeans attract all alike, good or bad
They - The Chaldeans attract
all alike, good or bad.
In your net - Destroying many
together.
They take men into their nets
And gather together - As if they could never
have enough, they take men into their nets.
Verse 16
Therefore they sacrifice to
their net, and burn incense at their drag; for for them his portion is fat, and
his flesh abundant.
Wesley's Comments
They ascribe praise to their victories
They sacrifice–Ascribe the praise of
their victories.
Your net - For your own inventions,
diligence, and power.
Verse 17
And will they not continually spare to kill the nations?
Will they then empty their
net, and will they not continually spare to kill the nations?
Wesley's Comments
How Fishermen Empty the Filled Net to Refill It
Empty your net - How fishermen empty the
full net to fill it again.[49]
The prophet puts his complaint before God and waits
for his answer
Habakkuk said, "I will
stand guard and stand in the tower and watch to see what he will say to me and
what I will answer when I am rebuked."
"And the Lord answered
me, and said, 'Write the vision, and make it plain upon tablets, that he that
readeth it may run.'"
It was something of public
interest. Wesley said, "That which was of public interest, and therefore
to be published, was anciently written or engraved on tables, smooth stones, or
wood, and afterwards hung in a public place to be read."
The Lord said, "For
the vision is yet for the appointed time, but in the end he shall speak, and
shall not lie: though he tarth, wait for it; for it will surely come, it will
not tarry."
Habakkuk then prophesies
the so-called five "Woes."
One of them says: "Woe
to him who covets evil covets his house, to set his nest on high, that he may
be delivered from the power of evil!"
Wesley comments, at the end
of the chapter: "(...) submit to and depend on him; Let his enemies be
silent, reverence, hope, pray, and wait for Him, who will arise and have mercy
on them, who will make all things go well with the righteous and evil with the
wicked, who will fully and satisfactorily resolve doubts and unravel the
riddles of His providence."
Chapter 2
Verse 1
I'll stand guard and put myself in the tower
Wesley's Comments
I'll stand like a watchman
About my watch - I'll stand as a watchman
in my watchtower.
He–The Lord.
Called to give an account of the mystery of providence
Reprobate - Called to give an
account of the mystery of providence; either to satisfy the skeptics or to
silence the quarrelsome.
Verse 2
And the Lord answered me
Wesley's Comments
What was in the public interest and therefore to be published
On the tables - What was of public
interest, and therefore to be published, was anciently written or engraved on
tables, smooth stones, or wood, and then hung in a public place to be read.
That no one can need to stop
Can run - That no one may need to
stop, but every one can discern clearly and clearly what is written.
Verse 3
When God's Appointed Period Will Come
For the vision is still for
the appointed time, but in the end it will speak, and will not lie: though it
be late, it waits for it; for it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Wesley's Comments
In the end - When the period
appointed by God will come.
Get Realized
Shall speak - Be accomplished, and do
not disappoint your expectation.
Verse 4
Behold, his soul that is
lifted up is not upright in him, but the just shall live by his faith.
Wesley's Comments
Who proudly contests with the justice and wisdom of Divine Providence
That which is raised up - That proudly contests
with the justice and wisdom of Divine Providence, and provides for his own
safety by his own intelligence.
The humble and upright
The righteous - The humble and upright,
who adore the depth of divine providence and are persuaded of the truth of the
divine promises.
He shall live - He is sustained by a firm expectation of Zion's deliverance.
Verse 5
'Cause he transgresses by wine
yes, also, because he
transgresses by wine, he is a proud man, nor does he stay at home, who
increases his desire like hell, and is like death, and cannot be satisfied, but
gathers to him all nations, and gathers to him all peoples.
Wesley's Comments
He–The king of Babylon.
Belshazzar, his city and kingdom of Babylon has fallen
Wine–By this means Belshazzar,
his city and kingdom of Babylon fell a prey to Darius and Cyrus.
At home - He is always abroad
warring against one or the other.
To him - To his kingdom.
All the nations–That are round about him.
Verse 8
Because he has spoiled many nations
Because he has spoiled many
nations, all the rest of the people will spoil you; because of the blood of men
and the violence of the land, the city and all who dwell in it.
Wesley's Comments
Of the land - Of all the land of
Chaldea.
The city - Babylon.
Verse 9
Woe to him that covets evil coveteth his house
Woe to him that lust after
evil lust after his house, that he might set his nest on high, that he might be
delivered from the power of evil!
Wesley's Comments
To his house - His family he would
enrich and raise high.
Delivered – Kept safe and out of
harm's way from everyone below him.
Verse 10
You consulted shame for your house
You have consulted shame
for your house, exterminating many people, and you have sinned against your
soul.
Wesley's Comments
Thou–Nebuchadnezzar.
Verse 11
'Cause the stone will cry out from the wall
For the stone shall cry out
of the wall, and the beam of the tree shall answer it.
Wesley's Comments
He must cry out - As if he had a
voice, he cries to God for vengeance.
Answer – Confirm the accusation against
you.
Verse 13
Let men go through the most painful work
Behold, is it not of the
Lord of hosts that the people shall labor in the very fire, and the people
shall grow weary of much vanity?
Wesley's Comments
Is it not of the Lord - Is it not a judgment of
God? Must work - Let men go through the most painful work.
Without any reward for their work
For much vanity - For nothing; without any
reward for his labour.
Verse 16
You are full of shame
because of the glory; drink thou also, and uncover thy foreskin; the cup of the
right hand of the Lord shall turn toward thee, and spew shamefully upon thy
glory.
Wesley's Comments
Thou–O king of Babylon.
They turned the cup of pleasure, God will take the cup of indignation
too
It shall be changed - They have turned the cup
of pleasure, God will take the cup of indignation also, and make them drink
deeply of it.
You'll be so hated
Shameful vomiting - You will be as hated as
a shameful drunkard is in his vomit.
Verse 17
Because the violence of Lebanon will cover you
For the violence of Lebanon
shall cover thee, and the spoil of the beasts, which hath made them afraid,
because of the blood of men, and because of the violence of the land, and of
the city, and of all that dwell therein.
Violence - The violence you did to
Judea will overwhelm you.
Such spoil as by hunters is done among wild animals
The spoil of brass - Such spoil as by hunters
is made among wild beasts, when they endeavor to destroy all kind.
Verse 20
But the Lord is in his holy
temple; let all the earth be silent before him.
Wesley's Comments
He is Jehovah
The Lord - He is Jehovah, the
source of being, life, power, and salvation for his people.
Let His enemies be silent, revere, hope, pray, and wait for Him
Keep Silence - Fear, submit, and depend
on Him; Let your enemies be silent, reverence, hope, pray, and wait for Him,
who will arise and have mercy on them, who will make all things go well with
the righteous and evil with the wicked, who will fully and satisfactorily
resolve doubts and unravel the riddles of His providence.[50]
Habakkuk Prayer, Praise for
God's Mighty Works, and Living by Faith
God's answer stirred
Habakkuk: "O Lord, I heard your words, and I was afraid: O Lord, revive
your work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make it known;
in wrath, remember mercy."
Habakkuk says, "His
glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise."
Wesley comments on Habakkuk's faith that recalls God's deeds: "When
God was leading the Israelites out of Egypt, he made the pestilence go before
him, thus preparing the space for his people."
Yet Wesley comments on
Habakkuk's fears and faith: "These fears made me turn to God, that I might
rest in him."
And the well-known text of
Habakkuk 3:17: "Though the fig tree does not blossom, nor is there fruit
on the vines; the work of the olive tree will fail, and the fields will not
produce food; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no
cattle in the stables."
Verse 18 strikes at their
change and faith: "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will rejoice in the
God of my salvation."
The text gives rise to the
expression "The just shall live by faith" which was repeated by Paul
and preached by Martin Luther.
At the end, Habakkuk says,
"The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like the feet of
deer, and he will make me walk on my high places."
Chapter 3
Verse 1
A prayer of the prophet
Habakkuk over Shigionoth.
Wesley's Comments
A musical instrument
Upon Sigionoth - A musical instrument.
Verse 2
O Lord, I heard thy words, and I was afraid
O Lord, I heard thy words,
and I was afraid: O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the
midst of the years make known; In wrath, remember mercy.
Wesley's Comments
Thy speech - In answer to the inquiry
made chap1:13,14.
Trembled at what you say
He was afraid - He trembled at what you
say.
In the middle of the years - Even before the seventy
years have expired.
Make it known - Thy truth, wisdom,
power, and compassion.
Verse 3
The God of our fathers was discovered from Teman
God came from Teman, and
the Holy One from Mount Paran. /*Selah*/. His glory covered the heavens, and
the earth was full of his praise.
Wesley's Comments
God - The God of our fathers,
found out from Teman, a mountain not far from Mount Sinai, where the law was
given.
Paran: Near Sinai.
God so gloriously appeared among your fathers
His glory - This the prophet
mentions as a support of his faith, that God so gloriously appeared among his
fathers.
Full of his praise - Of works that were
worthy of all praise.
Verse 4
Pure, clear as the sun, but much more dazzling
And his brightness was like
light; He had horns sticking out of his hand: and there was the hiding place of
his power.
Wesley's Comments
Like the light - Pure, clear as the sun,
but much more dazzling.
Moses' face shone
His hand - The face of Moses shone;
the face, yes, the hands of our God, shine with glorious light.
There - In that light with which
he appeared.
The hiding place - Who discovered much of
it, but hid much more; it was inaccessible light.
Verse 5
Before him went the plague
Before him was the plague,
and burning embers came out at his feet.
Wesley's Comments
Before him - When God was leading the
Israelites out of Egypt, he made the pestilence go before him, thus preparing
the space for his people.
Verse 6
He stood up and measured the earth
He arose, and measured the
earth: he saw and divided the nations; and the everlasting mountains are
scattered, the everlasting hills have bowed down: their ways are everlasting.
Wesley's Comments
He gave his presence with Joshua
He arose –Gave his presence with
Joshua, as one who stood still while the work was done.
The land - The promised land.
He saw it - He looked with a
frowning face.
Departed –Cast them out, his eye
did it, for he looked at them, and did it.
He shows by ruling his people
His ways - The wisdom, goodness,
justice, holiness, and power of God, which he shows in governing his people.
Verse 7
I saw the tents of Cushan
in distress, and the curtains of the land of Midian trembled.
Wesley's Comments
With fear and pain
The tents - The people who
dwelt in them.
Arabia - Near whose borders
Israel marched.
In affliction - With fear and pain, lest
mighty people fall upon them.
Those who lived within them; These people lived in tents
The curtains –Those who dwelt within
them; these people dwelt in tents, which were made on the sides with curtains.
Verse 8
Was your anger against the rivers?
Was the Lord pleased with
the rivers? Was your anger against the rivers? Was your anger against the sea, that
you should ride on your horses and on your chariots of salvation?
Wesley's Comments
The sea - The Red Sea.
As a general at the head of his army
Riding - As a general at the head
of his army.
Upon thy horses - Alluding to the manner
of men.
Salvation - No; but he came to save
his people.
Verse 9
The Lord is represented as armed
Thy bow was made completely
naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, yes, thy word. /*Selah*/. You have
cleft the earth with rivers.
Wesley's Comments
Your bow - A part of the armor is
placed for the whole. The Lord is represented as armed, in readiness to smite
all His enemies.
In fulfillment of his oath
According to oaths - In fulfilment of his
oath made to our fathers and their posterity.
Cut the land - When they were marching
through a dry and thirsty land.
Verse 10
The mountains have seen thee, and trembled
The mountains have seen
thee, and trembled; the overflow of the waters has passed; the deep sounded his
voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
Wesley's Comments
The flood that at that time used to be very large in and around the
Jordan
Overflowing - The flood which at that
time used to be very great in and around the Jordan, passed through the word of
God; the waters below flowed and flowed from the above, which were in a
mountain to make way for Israel.
The depths - Either the deep channel
in which the Jordan flowed, or the Red Sea with a terrible roar parted its
waters.
Raise your hands - Your waves that were in
a pile.
Verse 11
The sun and the moon stood still in his dwelling:
The sun and the moon stood
still in their habitation: by the light of thy arrows they went, and by the
brightness of thy shining spear.
Wesley's Comments
stood still–In the prayer of Joshua.
In the light - Which was most
miraculously continued.
Verse 13
Thou hast gone forth for the salvation of thy people
Thou hast gone forth for
the salvation of thy people, yes, for salvation with thy anointed; thou hast
smitten the head of the house of the wicked, uncovering the foundation up to
the neck. /*Selah*/.
Wesley's Comments
With thy anointed–Under the conduct of thy
anointed one, Joshua, the type of Messiah.
You gave a mortal wound to the kings of Canaan
Thou ferest – Thou hast given a deadly
wound to the kings of Canaan.
The house of the wicked - The courts of these
kings were houses of the vilest wickedness.
Discovering - Destroying everything
from head to toe.
Verse 14
With your rods you have cut off the heads of their villages
With their rods you cut off
the heads of their villages, they went out like a whirlwind to scatter me; his
joy was as it were secretly devouring the poor.
Wesley's Comments
Villages - All cities and all towns
without walls.
They - The inhabitants of
Canaan.
Like a whirlwind
Like a whirlwind - With violence invading me on all sides.
Scatter - To scatter and drive
away the Israelites.
Their joy - They rejoiced in full
confidence to swallow up Israel off guard.
Verse 15
You walked the sea with your horses
You have walked across the
sea with your horses, through the heap of great waters.
Wesley's Comments
Thou hast walked - Thou hast held in thy
way, from thy entrance into the east of the earth, to the west of it.
Verse 16
He will invade them with his troops
When I heard it, my belly
trembled; My lips trembled with the voice: Rottenness entered into my bones,
and I trembled in myself, to rest in the day of trouble: when he ascends to the
people, he will invade them with his troops.
Wesley's Comments
What terrible desolations
When I heard - What terrible
desolations God threatened against Israel.
My Heart Trembled - Another effect of
astonishing fears and astonishment.
A decadence
Rottenness - A decay of all my
strength.
That I might rest - These fears made me turn
to God, that I might rest in him.
He–The king of Babylon.
The people - The Jews.
Verse 17
Even if the fig tree does not bloom
Wesley's Comments
The work - The work given to the
olive tree.
Do not produce meat - Corn.
Flock - Of sheep.
Verse 19
The Lord God is my
strength, and he will make my feet like the feet of the deer
The Lord God is my
strength, and he will make my feet like the feet of deer, and he will make me
walk on my high places. To the lead singer on my stringed instruments.
Wesley's Comments
God my refuge
Like hind legs - That I may escape to God
my refuge.
He will make me - To conquer and triumph.[51]
===============================
Jonah the Fish and Nineveh
===============================
Based on John Wesley's biblical notes and
commentaries on the Scriptures, he describes the prophet Jonah primarily with
the following characteristics:
- Reluctant and disobedient: Wesley
highlights Jonah's initial reluctance to obey God's command to preach in
Nineveh.
- Clinging to nationalistic prejudices: Jonah is seen as
someone with a closed vision, reluctant to take the message of mercy to a
foreign people (Assyrians), revealing prejudice.
- Symbol
of Christ: Despite his flaws, Wesley interprets
Jonah's time in the belly of the fish as a typological sign (a
prefiguration) of the three days that Jesus would spend in the grave,
according to Matthew 12:39-40.[52]
Table
of Contents
· Introduction
·
John Wesley's Explanatory
Notes on the Bible
·
Jonah tries to flee from
God and is swallowed by a big fish
·
The prayer and the account
of Jonah's affliction in the belly of the
· Fish
· The Fast and the Cry for
Men and Beasts and the Repentance of Nineveh
·
Jonah's discontent and
contradictions with God's mercy
Introduction
"Wesley's Explanatory Notes on Jonah the Fish and
Nineveh" is a book based on Wesley's Explanatory Notes on the Bible.
The book deals with all 4 chapters of Jonah.
The part in red is the biblical texts. The blank part
is Wesley's comments. In each chapter, we made an introduction in addition to
highlighting in yellow some important statements.
We just gave it a new format to improve the
understanding of Wesley's text.
The central themes in the four chapters
are: "Jonah seeks to flee from God and is swallowed by a great fish";
"The prayer and the account of Jonah's affliction in the belly of the
fish"; "The fasting and the cry for men and beasts and the repentance
of Nineveh"; "Jonah's discontent and contradictions with the mercy of
God".
The book of Jonah deals
with God's mercy and Jonah's contractions. Probably, as some writers claim, it
was a time of strong nationalism in Israel, which would explain Jonah's
attitude.
The fact is that Wesley
wrote in his notes about Jonah's inexcusable wickedness: "Go, Jonah, rest
and be thankful: that goodness, which spared Nineveh, spared you in this
inexcusable wickedness of yours. I will be repentant to Nineveh what I am to you,
God merciful and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and I will turn
away from the evil that you and they deserve."
Wesley's profound comments on Jonah,
Nineveh, and the mercy of God.
Jonah tries to flee from God and is swallowed by a big
fish
Chapter 1
Verse 2
Arise,
go to Nineveh, the great city, and cry out against it
Your
wickedness has gone up before me
Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city, and cry out
against it; for his wickedness has come up before me.
That great city - It is said to have been one hundred and
fifty furlongs long, that is, eighteen miles and three-quarters, and eleven
miles and a quarter wide.
Verse 3
To flee
from the presence of the Lord
But Jonah arose to flee from the presence of the
Lord to Tarshish, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to
Tarshish, and paid for its passage, and went down in it, to go with them to
Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
Wesley's Comments
Perhaps he might think that
God would not put him in this work
Of the presence - Of the place where God usually showed
himself present, revealing his word and will to his prophets. Perhaps he may
think that God would not put him in this work, when he was taken to a strange
country.
Verse 5
Then the
sailors were afraid, and cried every man to his god
Then the sailors were afraid, and cried every man
to his god, and threw the goods that were in the ship into the sea, to relieve
it. But Jonah went down to the side of the ship; and he lay down and slept
soundly.
Wesley's Comments
To the sides - in some hut or other, whither he went
before the storm came up.
Verse 6
What do
you mean, O sleeper?
Then the captain of the ship came to him and said
to him, "What do you mean, O sleeper?" arise, call upon your God, if
God thinks of us, lest we perish.
Wesley's Comments
He will think of us - With pity and favor.
Verse 7
Come,
and let us cast lots
And they said to each one of them, "Come, and
let us cast lots, that we may know why this evil is upon us." Then they
cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.
Wesley's Comments
Lots are a call to heaven
in doubtful cases
Casting lots - "Lots are an appeal to heaven in
doubtful cases, and therefore should not be used, but where the matter is
otherwise indeterminable."
Verse 8
Tell us,
we beseech you, because of whom this evil is upon us
And they said unto him, Tell us, we beseech thee,
because of whom this evil is upon us; What is your occupation? And where do you
come from? What is your country? and of what people art thou?
Wesley's Comments
What have you done, for
which God is so angry with you and with us for your sake?
Tell us—What have you done, for which God is so
angry with you and with us for your sake?
Verse 9
I am a
Hebrew; and I fear the Lord
And he said to them, "I am a Hebrew; and I
fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.
Wesley's Comments
I fear—I worship and serve the true God; the eternal and almighty God, who
made and rules the heavens.
Verse 13
However,
men rowed hard to bring him ashore
Yet men rowed hard to bring him ashore; but they
could not, because the sea was rough, and it was tempestuous against them.
Wesley's Comments
They were willing to work
at any job to save him
Rowed hard - They were willing to labor at any work to
save him.
Verse 14
I
beseech thee, Lord, we beseech thee, that thou wilt not perish for the life of
this man
Therefore they cried unto the Lord, and said, I
beseech thee, O Lord, we beseech thee, that thou shalt not perish for the life
of this man, nor put innocent blood upon us; for thou, Lord, hast done as thou
pleasest.
Wesley's Comments
Now they all cry out to the
God of Jonah
To the Lord - Now they all cry out to the God of Jonah,
to Jehovah.
And he said, "Let us not perish for taking his
life."
Confirming the conviction
for the continuation of the storm
Has done - Sending out the tempest, seizing the
prophet by it, detecting him by lot, sentencing him by his own mouth, and
confirming the condemnatory sentence for the continuance of the tempest.
Verse 16
Then men feared the Lord
greatly
Then the men feared the Lord greatly, and offered a
sacrifice to the Lord, and made vows.
Wesley's Comments
Perhaps how Jonah's
throwing into the sea was a type of Christ's death
Feared the Lord - Perhaps as Jonah's casting into the sea
was a type of Christ's death, so the effect it had on the sailors may be a type
of the conversion of the heathen from idols to God.
They would always worship
the one to whom Jonah preached
Made vows - Probably they voted, they would always
worship him to whom Jonah preached, the Creator of heaven and earth.
Verse 17
Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to
swallow Jonah
Now the Lord had prepared a
great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was three days and three nights in the
belly of the fish.
Wesley's Comments
God is
in charge of all his creatures
A great fish–The Hebrew word is,
numbered, designated it for the receiver and deliverer of Jonah. God is in
charge of all his creatures and can make any of them serve his designs of mercy
for his people.[53]
The prayer and the account of Jonah's affliction in
the belly of the fish
Chapter 2 is a prayer
of Jonah from the belly of the fish.
Jonah said in symbolic
words, "The waters were about me, even my soul: the deep surrounded me all
around, the tares were wrapped around my head."
This chapter relates of his cry and of his affliction: "The straits
with which he was surrounded, his body and mind being both shut up, the one by
the monstrous dungeon of the fish's belly, and the other by the terrors of the
Almighty," said Wesley.
At the
end of the chapter, "the Lord spoke to the fish, and vomited Jonah on dry
ground."
Wesley explained, "Though the fish do not understand like man, they
have ears to hear their Maker."
Chapter 2
Verse 2
Out of
the womb of hell I cried, and thou hast heard my voice
And he said, Because of my affliction I cried unto
the Lord, and he heard me; out of the womb of hell I cried, and thou hast heard
my voice.
Wesley's Comments
Monstrous dungeon of the
belly of the fish and the other by the terrors of the Almighty
Affliction - Straits with which he was surrounded, his
body and mind being both closed, one by the monstrous dungeon of the fish's
belly and the other by the terrors of the Almighty.
Hear ye my voice - Of which, no doubt, God gave him a
guarantee in his own soul.
Verse 4
Yet I will look again at
your holy temple
Then I said, 'I am cast out from your presence; yet
I will look again upon thy holy temple.
Wesley's Comments
I thought through my fears
and sufferings
I said – to myself, I thought through my fears and sufferings.
Cut off from all hope of
life
Cast out - Cut off from all hope of life, and as if
he were forgotten of God.
I will look - Towards the sky.
Verse 5
The waters surrounded me,
even my soul
The waters surrounded me, even my soul: the deep
surrounded me around me, the tares were wrapped around my head.
Wesley's Comments
It seems to mean
The weeds - It seems to signify that my case was as
hopeless as that of a man wrapped in weeds in the depths of the sea.
Verse 6
Yet thou
hast brought my life out of corruption, O Lord my God
I descended to the foot of the mountains; the earth
with its bars has encircled me forever; yet thou hast brought my life out of
corruption, O Lord my God.
Wesley's Comments
The fish took him down so
deep into the sea
I went down - The fish carried him down as deep into the
sea as are the bottoms of mountains.
I seemed to be stuck where the bars that held
With their bars – I seemed to be stuck where the bars they
attached were as durable as the rocks, from which they were made.
Beautifully protected
Yet - For what was first my danger, thou hast wonderfully protected me.
Of corruption - Or the well, a description of the state of
the dead.
In the certainty of faith
O Lord - In the assurance of faith, he speaks of the thing as already done.
Verse 7
I
remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you
When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the
Lord, and my prayer came to you, to your holy temple.
Wesley's Comments
Heaven, the temple of his
glory
Thy holy temple - Heaven, the temple of his glory, whence
God gives the order for his deliverance.
Verse 8
An
Eternal Source of Mercy
Those who observe lying vanities forsake their own
mercy.
Wesley's Comments
They–Whoever they are that depend on idols.
The Lord, who is for all
who depend on him
Mercy - The Lord, who is to all who depend on him, the fountain of living
waters; who is an eternal fountain of mercy, and flows freely to all who wait
for him.
Verse 9
But I'll
sacrifice you with a voice of thanksgiving
Wesley's Comments
The vote
Vow–Which was probably to go to Nineveh and preach what God commanded him.
He can only save
The Lord - He alone can save.
Verse 10
And the Lord spoke to the fish
And the Lord spake unto the
fish, and vomited out Jonah on dry land.
Wesley's Comments
They
have ears to hear their Creator
Spoke - Though the fish do not
understand like man, they have ears to hear their Maker.[54]
The Fast and the Cry for Men and Beasts and the
Repentance of Nineveh
Chapter 3 of the book
of Jonah will bring about Nineveh's repentance and God's mercy.
It took three days to
go around the city. It was "exceedingly great" and Wesley commented,
"The greatest city in the world known at that time, was then in its
flourishing state greater than Babylon.
Jonah said, "Yet
forty days, and Nineveh will be overthrown."
Even the king was
converted: "For the word came to the king of Nineveh, and he rose up from
his throne, and put on his robe, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat down
in ashes."
He commanded fasting
with sackcloth even for the animals: "But let men and beasts cover
themselves with sackcloth, and cry out strongly to God; yes, turn every man
from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands."
Chapter 3
Verse 3
So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh
Wesley's Comments
The largest city in the known world at that time,
Exceedingly great - The greatest city in the
known world at that time, was then in its flourishing state larger than
Babylon, whose compass was three hundred and eighty-five stadia, but Nineveh
was in the compass, four hundred and eighty.
Its walls are said to have been thirty meters high, its walls wide
enough for three chariots to meet and pass safely past each other
Its walls are said to have
been thirty feet high, its walls wide enough for three chariots to meet and
safely pass each other; that it had fifteen hundred towers in its walls, each
two hundred feet high, and one million four hundred thousand men employed for
eight years to build it.
Three-day trip
Of three days' journey - To walk around the
walls, allowing twenty miles for each day's journey.
Verse 4
Yet forty days, and Nineveh will be overthrown
And Jonah began to enter
the city a day's journey, and cried out, and said, Forty days yet, and Nineveh
shall be overthrown.
Wesley's Comments
On
condition of repentance
Must be shot down - The threat is expressed.
But there was a reservation with God, on condition of repentance.
Verse 5
And the people of Nineveh believed in God
Wesley's Comments
Of the greatest - Great and small, rich
and poor.
Verse 6
And he arose from his throne, and put his robe on it, and covered it
with sackcloth
For the word came to the king
of Nineveh, and he rose from his throne, and put his robe on it, and covered it
with sackcloth, and sat down in ashes.
Wesley's Comments
The king - Probably Phul Belochus.
Your robe - Take off your rich
clothes.
Verse 7
And he caused it to be proclaimed and published by Nineveh, by the
decree of the king and his nobles
And he caused it to be
proclaimed and published by Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles,
saying, Let neither man nor beast, nor cattle, nor flock prove anything; do not
graze or drink water;
Wesley's Comments
That the
fast may be more solemn
Taste anything - Man and beast must cease
to eat and drink, that fasting may be more solemn, that the cry of man,
seconded by the cry of hungry cattle, may enter the ears of God, who preserves
man and beast.
Verse 8
But let men and beasts cover themselves with sackcloth, and cry out
strongly to God
Wesley's Comments
Dress
with sackcloth
And beast - Their horses and camels,
both of which they adorned with rich and costly garments, they shall now, in
testimony of sincere repentance, clothe with sackcloth; the clothes of the
beasts shall testify to men.
Violence - Oppression and rapine.
In their hands - Which are practised by
them.[55]
Jonah's discontent and contradictions with God's mercy
Nineveh repented: "But this greatly displeased
Jonah, and he was very angry."
In an unwarranted attitude, Jonah prayed to the Lord,
and said, "I beseech thee, Lord, that was not my word, while I was yet in
my own country? Therefore I fled ahead to Tarshish, because I knew that you are
a God of mercy, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repent of evil."
Jonah sat down to see
what would happen in the city, and God prepared something for the ...Jonah saw
his contradiction: "And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and brought it up
on Jonah, that it might be in shadow over his head, to deliver him from his
pain. And Jonah rejoiced exceedingly over the gourd."
But God prepared a worm that struck the gourd that
died. Jonah was angry.
Then the Lord said,
"You have had compassion on the gourd, for which you have not worked, nor
made it grow; who rose in a night, and perished in a night; And he would not
spare Nineveh, that great city, where there are more than sixty thousand people
who cannot discern between the right hand and the left; and also a lot of
cattle?"
Of
Jonah's contradiction, Wesley said, "Go, Jonah, rest and be thankful: that
goodness which spared Nineveh spared thee in this inexcusable wickedness of
thine. I will be repentant to Nineveh what I am to you, God merciful and
merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and I will turn away from the
evil that you and they deserve."
Chapter 4
Verse 1
But this
displeased Jonas very much
But this greatly displeased
Jonah, and he was very angry.
Wesley's Comments
Divine patience sparing
Nineveh
He–The divine patience sparing Nineveh.
Verse 2
I knew
that you are a merciful God, slow to anger
And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I beseech
thee, O Lord, that this was not my word, while I was yet in my own country?
Therefore I fled ahead to Tarshish, because I knew that you are a God of mercy,
slow to anger and of great kindness, and repent of evil.
Wesley's Comments
That your forgiveness
contradicts my preaching
Wasn't that – didn't I think of that? That your
forgiveness contradicts my preaching.
Verse 3
Therefore
now, O Lord, take away, I beseech thee, my life from me
Therefore now, O Lord, take away, I beseech thee,
my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.
Wesley's Comments
Dishonored and rebuked by
hardened sinners
Than to live for–Dishonored and rebuked by hardened
sinners, who will mark me as a liar.
Verse 5
Then Jonah
went out of the city, and sat down at the east of the city
Then Jonah went out of the city, and sat down at
the east of the city, and there he made himself a booth, and sat under it in
the shade, until he could see what was to happen to the city.
Wesley's Comments
Of green branches
A booth - Some small, stingy shed, probably with
green branches.
Until he can see - It seems that the forty days have not
fully expired.
Verse 6
That it
would be in shadow over his head
Wesley's Comments
This spreading plant was
supposed to sprout to be a shadow
Prepared - He ordered that in the place where Jonah's
booth stood, this spreading plant should sprout to be a shade when the gathered
branches were withered.
Tranquility to your mind
Deliver – To give your mind some tranquility.
Verse 7
But God prepared a worm
But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the
next day, and he smote the gourd that withered.
Wesley's Comments
By the same power
Prepared - By the same power that caused the gourd to
suddenly leap and scatter.
The whole gourd withered
He smote - That the next morning he bit the root, so
that the whole gourd withered.
Verse 8
God prepared a mighty east
wind
And it came to pass, when the sun rose, that God
prepared a mighty easterly wind; and the sun beat upon Jonah's head, that he fainted,
and desired in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to
live.
Wesley's Comments
It will teach you to value
your own life more and to be more tender with the lives of others
An east wind - A dry, scorching, blowing wind.
Fainting - Overcome by the heat.
Before God Ends Him
Better to die - But Jonah must be wiser, more humble, and
more merciful too, before he dies. Before God is done with him, he will teach
him to value his own life more and to be more tender with the lives of others.
Verse 9
Do you
do well to be angry because of the gourd?
And God said to Jonah, "Do you do well to be
angry because of the gourd?" And he said, "I do well to be angry to
the death."
Wesley's Comments
If in the violence of this
passion I die (as some have died), I have not yet been guilty
I do well to be angry - If in the violence of this passion I die
(as some have died), yet I am not guilty. What a speech! In fact, the law has
not done anything perfect!
Verse 10
You have
had compassion on the gourd.
And the Lord said, Thou hast had compassion on the
gourd, for which thou hast not worked, nor made it grow; who rose in a night,
and perished in a night;
Wesley's Comments
You worked - You didn't define it.
Grow - Neither do you water or give him growth.
Verse 11
And he would not spare Nineveh, that great
city
And he would not spare
Nineveh, that great city, where there are more than sixty thousand people who
cannot discern between the right hand and the left; And also a lot of cattle?
Wesley's Comments
I. The God of infinite
compassion and goodness.
Would you have me less merciful to so good a city, than you are to a
weed?
That great city - Would you have me less
merciful to so good a city, than you are to a weed? Who cannot discern - Here
are more than sixty innocents who are children.
There are many others of my creatures who are not sinners, and my tender
mercies are and will be over all my works
Much cattle - Besides the men, women,
and children who are in Nineveh, there are many others of my creatures who are
not sinners, and my tender mercies are and will be upon all my works. If you
want to be their butcher, I will be their God.
Thy inexcusable wickedness
Go, Jonah, rest and be
thankful: that goodness which spared Nineveh spared you in this inexcusable
wickedness of yours. I will be repentant to Nineveh what I am to you, God
merciful and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and I will turn
away from the evil that you and they deserve.[56]
===============================
Zephaniah, the prophet of judgment
===============================
Based on John Wesley's theological notes (especially
his "Study Bible" perspective), Zephaniah is characterized primarily
as a prophet of the severity of God's judgment, which at the same time paves the way
for restoration through holiness and the
purification of the people. [57]
Table
of Contents
· Introduction
·
Prophecies
about the day of the Lord and destruction because of sin
·
Calling for fasting, judgment of the nations, and
hope for the people
· Promises of judgment and
restoration
Introduction
Zephaniah lived in the capital of Jerusalem. The
prophets Nahum, Habakkuk, and Jeremiah were his contemporaries.
Many believe that Zephaniah prophesied even before
King Josiah's reform.[58]
"Zephaniah is a prophet of judgment. He
prophesies of the impending devastation of the land of Judah and the
destruction of Jerusalem because of Judah's injustice, hypocrisy, and idolatry
(ch. 1). This prophecy was fulfilled in 586 BC. That is why the faithful
remnant are called to seek Jehovah when nations near and far will feel
Jehovah's vengeance (ch. 2). The present corrupt state of things contrasts with
the future blessings of the people, as described in the chapter." 3
Zephaniah prophesies of the terrible day of the Lord,
the day of his wrath and judgment. [59]
But the
book of Zephaniah also shows that "the same God who would bring such
chastisement upon his people would extend his mercy to them."[60]
The
central themes of the chapters are: Prophecies about the day of the Lord and
destruction because of sin; Convocation of fasting, judgment of the nations,
and hope for the people; Promises of judgment and restoration.
Zephaniah is called by some scholars the prophet of judgment.
Prophecies about the day of the Lord and destruction
because of sin
What was happening in
Jerusalem?
Zephaniah made this
prophecy:
"And those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops; and those who
worship, and who swear by the Lord, and who swear by Malcam"
Wesley explains, "And that swear - That mingle idol worship
and worship of the true God; who dedicate themselves to God, and Baal, or
Malchim, that is, Moloch."
Zephaniah is harsh in his
message:
"Be silent before the Lord God, for the day of the Lord is near, for the
Lord has prepared a sacrifice and invited his guests."
In chapter 1, there is
reference to the day of the Lord.
The prophet announces: "The great day of the
Lord is at hand, the voice of the day of the Lord is at hand, and the voice of
the day of the Lord is very hastened; the mighty man shall cry out there
bitterly."
And he says more: "That day is a day of
wrath, a day of anguish and anguish, a day of waste and desolation, a day of
darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness."
Wesley says, "One day - Of unprecedented
calamities."
Zephaniah again: "Neither their silver
nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath;
but the whole earth will be devoured by the fire of his zeal, for he will
quickly get rid of all who dwell on the earth."
Zephaniah 1
Verse 1
He is believed to have been the great-grandson of King Hezekiah
The word of the LORD which
came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah,
the son of Izkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Ammon, king of Judah.
Zephaniah - He is believed to have
been the great-grandson of King Hezekiah.
Contemporary with Jeremiah and Ezekiel
In the days of Josiah - So he was contemporary
with Jeremiah and Ezekiel, and foretells what Jeremiah and Ezekiel did.
Verse 4
And I will stretch out my
hand upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off
the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the
priests;
Wesley's Comments
What remains of Baal's idolatry
The remnant - What remains of the
idolatry of Baal.
This place - Jerusalem.
The name - Both the people and
their memory.
They were gatekeepers and sacristans of Baal
The Chemarims - Either so called for
their black robes that came in, or, for their swarthy colour occasioned by the
black smoke of incense: they were gatekeepers and sacristans of Baal.
The priests - The priests of Baal.
Verse 5
Who mix idol worship and worship of the true God
Wesley's
Comments
House
roofs - On the flat roofs of
your homes.
And that
swear - That mingle idol worship
and worship of the true God; that devote themselves to God, and Baal, or
Malchim, that is, Moloch.
Verse 7
The Lord's Day Is Near
Wesley's Comments
Be quiet - Thou that murmurest
against God, be afraid.
The day - A day of the Lord's
vengeance.
The wicked Jews
A sacrifice - The wicked Jews, whom he
shall sacrifice by the sword.
His guests –summoned the beasts of
the field and the fowls of the air to eat the flesh and drink the blood.
Verse 8
I will punish the princes, and the king's
sons, and all
And it shall come to pass
on the day of the sacrifice of the Lord, that I will punish the princes, and
the king's sons, and all who are clothed in strange garments.
Wesley's Comments
The Dress of Foreigners, Imitated by Debauched Jews
The princes - The great ones, who
dreamed of changing better than others, but fell with the first, 2 Kings 25:19-21.
Sons - Sons and grandsons,
Josiah: Jehoahaz died a captive in Egypt, 2 Kings 23:34, Jehoiakim died in Babylon
and was buried with the burial of an ass, Jeremiah 22:18-19, Jeconiah died a captive:
and Zedekiah and his sons fared even worse.
Strange dress - The dress of foreigners,
imitated by the profligate Jews.
Verse 9
Or the oppressive kings
On the same day I will also
punish all those who leap on the threshold, who fill the houses of their
masters with violence and deceit.
Wesley's Comments
On the same day—At the same time.
Their lords' houses–Either the oppressive
kings, whose officers were these, or public officials and judges, whose servants
thus spoiled the poor.
And it will happen on that day
Violence - Property taken by force,
by false accusations or by bribed evidence.
Verse 10
And it shall come to pass
in that day, saith the Lord, that there shall be a noise of crying from the gate
of the fish, and howling from the second, and a great noise from the hills.
Wesley's Comments
The Fish Gate
The noise - The great cry and
lamentation.
The Fishes' Gate - At which gate the Babylonians first entered the
city.F
Fortified with three walls
The second - This gate was in the
second wall of Jerusalem, which on that side was fortified with three walls.
Crashing - From broken things to
goosebumps; possibly the noise of broken doors, windows, cabinets, and chests.
The hills - On which the city stood.
Verse 11
All the merchants were slaughtered
Howl, you inhabitants of
Maktesh, because all the merchants have been slaughtered; all who bear silver
are cut off.
Wesley's Comments
Cry loud and bitter
Howl - Weep loudly and
bitterly.
Maktesh - The lower city.
Merchants - Who used to stay in this place.
That silver bear - That they brought with
them to pay for what they bought.
Verse 12
And it shall come to pass at that time that I
will examine Jerusalem
And it shall come to pass
at that time that I will examine Jerusalem with lamps, and will punish the men
who sit on the dregs thereof; those who say in their hearts, 'The Lord will not
do good, nor will he do evil.'
Wesley's Comments
God speaks in the manner of men
I will seek–God speaks after the
manner of men, who seeks dark places with candles. He will find out and punish
completely.
Its dregs - In allusion to liquors,
which not being poured from vessel to vessel to refine them, become thick and
fetid.
Verse 14
The great day of the Lord is near
The great day of the Lord
is near, and the voice of the day of the Lord is very hastened; the mighty man
will cry out bitterly there.
Wesley's Comments
The voice of the day - The day that will come
with a great noise.
Verse 15
That day is a day of wrath
That day is a day of wrath,
a day of anguish and anguish, a day of waste and desolation, a day of darkness
and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
Wesley's Comments
One day - Of unprecedented
calamities.
Verse 17
Because they have sinned against the Lord
And I will bring anguish
upon men, so that they may walk as blind men, because they have sinned against
the Lord; and his blood shall be poured out as dust, and his flesh as dung.
Wesley's Comments
Like blind men - Not knowing where to go.
Like powder
As dust - As abundantly and as
carelessly as the dust on the road.
Verse 18
Neither their silver nor their gold will be
able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath
Wesley's Comments
Therefore, let not sinners be put to sleep by the patience of God
On earth - Wherefore, let not
sinners be put to sleep by the patience of God; for when the measure of their
iniquity is complete, his righteousness will overtake and overcome them, and
will do a speedy and thorough work.[61]
Judgment of
the nations and hope for the people
Chapter
2 says there is hope: Wesley says, "Assemble yourselves - Call
a solemn assembly, proclaim a fast."
Zephaniah shows that there
is still hope: "Before the decree appears, before the day passes away like chaff,
before the fierceness of the Lord's wrath comes upon you, before the day of the
Lord's wrath comes upon you."
Wesley explains, "The decree - Before the decree of God
is put into execution.
But judgment upon nations
will take place: "Therefore, as I live, says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel:
Surely Moab shall be like Sodom, and the children of Ammon like Gomorrah, the
creation of nettles, and salt pans, and an everlasting desolation; the rest of
my people will plunder them, and the rest of my people will possess them.
Zephaniah 2
Verse 1
Gather yourselves, yes, gather yourselves, O
nation
Gather yourselves, yes,
gather yourselves, O undesired nation;
Wesley's Comments
Convene a solemn assembly, proclaim a fast
Assemble - Summon a solemn
assembly, proclaim a fast.
Not wanted - Or, not desirous.
Unwilling to return and unworthy of being received on his return.
Verse 2
Before the decree appears
Wesley's Comments
The decree - Before the decree of God
is put into execution.
Before the day of your calamities
The day - Before the day of their
calamities.
Like the tares - Take them away as the
wind carries the tares away.
Verse 3
Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth
Seek the Lord, all you meek
of the earth, who have done his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness;
perhaps you will be hidden in the day of the Lord's wrath.
Wesley's Comments
Seek – Fear, adore, depend on
him alone.
Meek - you humble
You meek - you humble.
Made his judgment - Obeyed his precepts.
Seek justice, seek meekness
Seek justice - Continue in it.
Seek
meekness - Wait patiently on the
just and merciful God.
Under the wing of Divine Providence
Hidden - Under the wing of Divine
Providence.
Verse 4
Why Gaza will be abandoned
Wesley's Comments
It's time to seek God
For - It is time to seek God;
for your neighbors, as well as you, will be destroyed.
Gaza - One of the principal
cities of the Philistines.
They - The Babylonians.
In captivity
Must Drive - In captivity.
At noon - Must be taken by force
at noon.
Verse 5
Woe to the inhabitants of the seashore
Woe unto the inhabitants of
the seashore, the nation of the Cheretheths! the word of the Lord is against
you; O Canaan, land of the Philistines, I will destroy thee, that there shall
be no inhabitant.
Wesley's Comments
The inhabitants - All the Philistines.
Men who were robust, fierce, and terrible to their neighbors
Cherethites - Or destroyers, men who
were robust, fierce, and terrible to their neighbours.
O Canaan–That part which the
Philistines kept by force from the Jews.
Verse 6
There will be only huts for shepherds
And the shore of the sea
shall be dwellings and huts for the shepherds, and pens for the flocks.
Wesley's Comments
For shepherds - Instead of cities full
of wealthy citizens, there will be only huts for shepherds.
Verse 7
The Lord your God will visit you, and turn
away your captivity
And the border shall be for
the rest of the house of Judah; they will feed on it; they shall lie down in
the houses of Ashkelon in the evening, for the Lord their God shall visit them,
and turn away their captivity.
Wesley's Comments
The shore - The shore of the sea,
the land of the Philistines.
The remnant - Who survive captivity.
Shall feed - Your flocks.
Must Visit - In Mercy
In houses - In places where these
formerly were.
They - Shepherds and flocks.
Shall visit - In mercy.
Verse 8
With which they have refaced my people
I have heard the reproach
of Moab, and the reproaches of the children of Ammon, with which they have
reproached my people, and have magnified themselves against their border.
Wesley's Comments
I — God.
They have enlarged
themselves -
Invading their borders.
Verse 9
Surely Moab will be like Sodom, and the
children of Ammon like Gomorrah
Wherefore, as alive, saith
the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the
children of Ammon as Gomorrah, the breeding of nettles, and salt pans, and an
everlasting desolation; the rest of my people will plunder them, and the rest
of my people will possess them.
Wesley's Comments
Nettles - Not cultivated, but
overrun by nettles.
Returning from Babylon
Salt pits - A dry, barren land,
suitable only for extracting salt.
The residue - Who return from Babylon.
Possess them - Settle in the parts of
their lands, which are suitable for habitation.
Verse 11
The Lord will be terrible to them
The Lord will be terrible
to them, because they will hunger for all the gods of the earth; and men shall
worship him, every man from his place, even all the isles of the nations.
Wesley's Comments
Idols of these lands
Hungry - Take away all your
sacrifices and drink offerings.
The gods - Idols of these
lands.
From his place–Not only in Jerusalem, but
everywhere.
Verse 12
You too Ethiopians
You also Ethiopians will be
killed by my sword.
Wesley's Comments
The Chaldeans are called the sword of God
By my sword - The Chaldeans are called
the sword of God; for God employed them.
Verse 13
And he shall stretch out his hand against the
north, and destroy Assyria
And he shall stretch out
his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and he will make Nineveh a desolation
and dry as a desert.
Wesley's Comments
He — God.
There will be desolation
The north–Assyria, which was north
of Judea, and north of Babylon.
Verse 14
And flocks shall lie down
in the midst of it, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the
bustard shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; his voice will sing in the
windows; there will be desolation in the thresholds, because he will discover
the work of cedar.
Wesley's Comments
This is the merry city that dwelt carelessly
All animals - All types of animals
that are found in these countries.
The Bitter Tree - A bird that delights in
desolate places.
Verse 15
Wesley's Comments
No one like me
That - Then the prophet
triumphs over her.
There is no one – No one like me, or who
can compete with me.[62]
Promises of judgment and restoration
In this prophecy, in chapter 3, Zephaniah speaks of
God's wrath upon Jerusalem: "She did not obey the voice; it has not
received correction; she did not trust in the Lord; she has not approached her
God."
There is a promise of judgment of the nations: "Wherefore, wait ye
in me, saith the Lord, until the day that I arise for the spoil; for my message
is to gather the nations, that I may gather together kingdoms, to pour out my
wrath upon them, even all the fierceness of my anger; for the whole earth shall
be devoured by the fire of my zeal."
There is a promise of purification: "For then I will
give the people a pure language, that they may all call on the name of the
Lord, that they may serve him with one accord."
It further says: "The remnant of
Israel will not commit iniquity or speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue
be found in their mouths, for they shall feed and lie down, and no one shall
make them afraid."
Zephaniah 3
Verse 1
Woe to her who is filthy and polluted
Woe to her who is filthy and polluted, the
oppressive city!
Wesley's Comments
For her - Jerusalem.
Verse 2
She did not obey the voice; She has not
received correction
Wesley's Comments
The voice - From God for his mercy and judgments
crying aloud.
Verse 3
Her princes inside her are roaring lions
Its princes within it are roaring lions; their
judges are night wolves; They don't gnaw on their bones until the next day.
Wesley's Comments
Their princes - Persons of principal rank and authority.
Lions - Who hunt prey and are always frightening or devouring.
Wolves - Insatiable and cruel
Wolves - Insatiable and cruel, like night wolves, sharpened by hunger.
Don't gnaw on the bones – They don't leave anything but the bones to
be eaten the next day.
Verse 4
His prophets are light and treacherous people
Its prophets are light and treacherous people: its
priests have defiled the sanctuary, they have violated the law.
Wesley's Comments
Their prophet - So called, false prophets.
Light - Unstable and fickle.
Twisting her for wicked
interpretation
Violence to the law - Twisting it by perverse interpretation.
Verse 5
The righteous Lord is in the midst of it
The righteous Lord is in the midst of it; he will
do no iniquity: every morning he brings forth his judgment, he faileth not; but
the unjust knows no shame.
Wesley's Comments
In the middle - Observing everything.
Wesley's Comments
He will judge them justly
Do not do iniquity - He will judge you justly.
Every morning - Daily he discovers his displeasure against
the wicked.
It does not fail - It does not let any season slip to
convince them, by public and visible punishments.
The unrighteous - But the wicked Jews proceed without shame
and without fear.
Verse 6
Their cities are destroyed
I have cut down the nations: their towers are
desolate; I have laid waste their streets, so that no one can pass by; their
cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is no inhabitant.
Wesley's Comments
The Nations–Anciently, the Canaanites, lastly the ten tribes, and later still, the
Assyrians.
Verse 7
Surely you will fear me
I said, "Surely you will fear me, you will
receive instruction; that their dwelling should not be cut off, however I
chasten them: but they rose up early in the morning, and corrupted all their
works.
Wesley's Comments
I said - I thought (speaking in the manner of men).
Thou—O Jerusalem.
Fear me
Fear me - By the many and great judgments executed upon others.
I punished them – to some extent.
Verse 8
Therefore wait in me, saith the Lord, until
the day that I arise for the spoil
Wherefore, wait ye in me,
saith the Lord, until the day that I arise for the spoil; for my message is to gather
the nations, that I may gather together kingdoms, to pour out my wrath upon
them, even all the fierceness of my anger; for the whole earth shall be
devoured by the fire of my zeal.
Wesley's Comments
Therefore – Since you will not be changed.
Wait - Heed my resolution.
Until I rise up to destroy
first
Until I rise to destroy first, and then to take the spoil.
The Incorrigible Jews
About them - The incorrigible Jews.
Devoured - Consumed as if burned.
That jealousy that God is
jealous of
My jealousy - That jealousy with which God is jealous
for his own glory.
Verse 9
For then I will give the people a pure
language
For then I will give the people a pure language,
that they may all call on the name of the Lord, to serve him with one accord.
Wesley's Comments
A pure language—I will give them a pure way to worship me,
the matter of a pure heart.
Verse 10
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
Wesley's Comments
The Remnant
My scattered - The remnant of prayer of the scattered
Jews shall return to their own land, and bring themselves an offering to the
Lord.
Verse 11
In that day you shall not be ashamed of all your works
In that day you shall not be ashamed of all your
deeds in which you have transgressed against me; for then I will bring out from
among you those who rejoice in your pride, and you will no longer be proud
because of my holy mountain.
Wesley's Comments
Your sins
Thy deeds - Thy sins formerly committed.
In thy pride – Proud Formalists.
Be ye no more proud - Ye shall boast no more, because of the
city, or the temple.
Verse 12
I will also leave you in the midst of you
And I will leave among you a people who are
afflicted and poor, and they will trust in the name of the Lord.
Wesley's Comments
Of thee–In Judea and in Jerusalem.
The remnant of Israel will not commit
iniquity
The remnant of Israel shall not commit iniquity,
nor shall they speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their
mouths, for they shall feed and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.
Must Feed – Must enjoy peace and abundance.
Verse 15
The Lord has taken away your judgments, cast
out your enemy
Wesley's Comments
Abolished, and put an end to trials
Taken away - Abolished, and put an end to the judgments
which thy sins have brought upon thee.
Your enemy – The Babylonian.
It is in the midst - He has returned to redeem and rule you.
Thou shalt not fear
Further, While thy chariot is as my presence with
thee becomes, thou shalt not fear, nor feel the like evils.
Verse 18
I will gather together those who are grieved for
the solemn assembly, who are thee's, to whom her reproach was a burden.
Wesley's Comments
Who lament their distance from worship
Sad - Who lament their distance from the solemn worship of God.
Who are thee - Thy children.
Reproach - The taunts of his enemies.
Verse 19
Behold, at that time I will destroy all that
afflicts you
Behold, at that time I will destroy all that
afflicteth thee, and I will save him that waveres, and will gather him that is
cast out; and I will give them praise and fame in all the lands where they have
been ashamed.
Wesley's Comments
I'll break your power and dissolve your
kingdom
Undo - I will break your power and dissolve your kingdom.
It stops – Who is in trouble and ready to fall.
Expelled - In remote countries.
Verse 20
At that time I will bring you again
At that time I will bring
you again at the time when I gather you together, for I will make you a name
and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I bring back your captivity
before your eyes, says the Lord.
Wesley's Comments
And then the Israel of God will be made a name and a praise for all
eternity
A praise - So will the universal
church of the firstborn be in the great day. And then the Israel of God will be
made a name and a praise for all eternity.[63]
===============================
Hosea's Marriage to the Prostitute: God's Love for
Sinners
===============================
Based
on John Wesley's studies and notes on Scripture, the prophet Hosea is
characteristically described as a messenger focused on Israel's
unfaithfulness in contrast to God's unconditional and persistent love. [64]
Table of Contents
· Introduction
·
Hosea's
Wedding: Symbolism of Israel's Unfaithfulness
·
Israel's
Unfaithfulness and the Promise of Punishment
·
God's Love for Israel
·
Accusation against Israel's sin
===============================
Introduction
"Hosea's Marriage to the Prostitute: God's Love
for Sinners" is a book that deals with Israel's unfaithfulness to God,
symbolized by the marriage of the prophet Hosea to a prostitute.
It is based on chapters 1 to 4 of Hosea.
The 30-page book is based on Wesley's explanatory
notes.
"The life and book of Hosea is a reflection of
his prophetic ministry. It covers a critical period when the religion of the
Northern Kingdom was in decline (750 BC). His preaching was centered on
breaking the covenant of the people of Israel with God."[65]
The Lord commanded Hosea to marry a prostitute. Hosea
married Gomer, at a time when prostitutes were stoned.
Such a message was a living parable in the life of the
prophet Hosea: a marriage to a prostitute (Hosea 1:2).
She was subsequently unfaithful to Hosea. Hosea's love
for his wife is like God's love for the sinner. This message was what God
wanted to show in Hosea's time.
The book has the following chapters: Hosea's Wedding:
Symbolism of Israel's Unfaithfulness; Israel's unfaithfulness and the promise
of punishment; God's love for Israel; Accusation against Israel's sin.
A book that which
reveals God's great love for Israel, in spite of all its unfaithfulness.
The word of the Lord
was, "But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and will save them by
the Lord their God, and I will not save them with bows, or with swords, or with
battles, or with horses, or with horsemen."
Hosea's Wedding: Symbolism of Israel's Unfaithfulness
And the Lord said to
Hosea, "Go, take for yourself the wife of harlots, and the children of
harlots; for the land has committed great fornication, departing from the Lord
Hosea 1
Verse 2
Go, take for yourself a woman of
Beginning of the book of Hosea: The beginning of the word
of the Lord by Hosea. And the Lord said to Hosea, "Go, take for yourself
the wife of harlots, and the children of harlots; for the land has committed
great fornication, departing from the Lord.
Wesley's comments: Go take -
This was probably done in vision, and should be told to the people, as other
visions were: it was parabolically proposed to them, and might have been
sufficient to convince the Jews, they would have considered, as David
considered the parable of Nathan.
A harlot-to-be wife and children - Receiving and maintaining the children she
had before, said Wesley.
Verse 4
and I will cause the kingdom of the house of
Israel to cease
Beginning of the book of Hosea: And the
Lord said unto him, Call him Jezreel: for yet a little while, and I will avenge
the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause the kingdom of the
house of Israel to cease.
The blood–The slaughters made by the hand of Jehu or
by his order, at Jezreel.
but the usurper, and his successors adhering to the idolatry of Jeroboam
Wesley's Comments: The house of Jehu
- Who now possessed the throne, through the reigns of Jehoahaz, Jehoash, and
Jeroboam; but the usurper, and his successors adhering to the idolatry of
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and adding other sins to it, now provoked God to
declare a sudden extirpation of the family: all this came to pass when Shallum,
plotting against Zechariah, slew him, 2 Kings 15:8-10.
The kingdom - After one and forty years of tottering, it
fell into utter ruin, and has continued so to this day, said Wesley.
Verse 5
I will break the bow of Israel
The book of Hosea recorded, "And it shall come to
pass in that day that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of
Jezreel."
Wesley's comments:
That day - When my vengeance overtook the house of
Jehu.
Break - Weaken and gradually break a lot.
The bow - All your warlike provision, power, and
ability.
Jezreel - In this valley it is probable that the
bloodiest battles of the civil wars were fought; the reason of this may be,
because whoever took the victory in this place, soon became lord of Samaria and
Jezreel, and consequently of the kingdom.
Verse 6
And she conceived again and gave birth to a
daughter
Lo-ruhamah - I have no pity. The name of Israel had been Ruhamah for many
ages, that is, lamented. God had compassion on them and saved them from their
enemies. But now that Israel is no longer to be mourned, God would cast them
into the wrath of usurpers and conspirators, Wesley said.
Verse 7
But I will have mercy on the house of Judah
Wesley's comments:
Save
them - I will preserve
them, lest violence swallow them up, nor time of captivity wear them down; and
this preserved remnant will return, and be planted in their own land, and there
kept safe.
By the Lord - Particularly in that extraordinary
deliverance of Hezekiah and Jerusalem, of Sennacherib.
Verse 9
for you are not my people, and I will not be
your God
The book of Hosea recorded, " Then
God said, 'Call him Loammi, for you are not my people, and I will not be your
God.'
Loammi - In other words, it's not my people. Though once you were a peculiar
people, you are no more; You are rejected as you deserved.
I will not be your God - I will be a God to you, no more than to
any of the heathen nations. This God executed them when he delivered them into
the hands of Shalmaneser, who sent them where no one can now find them.
Verse 10
And
the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea.
Hosea prophesied , "But the number
of the children of Israel will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be
measured or numbered. And it shall come to pass, in the place where it was said
to them, 'Ye are not my people,' it shall be said unto them, Ye are the children
of the living God."
Not Israel according to the flesh
Wesley's explanation:
The children of Israel - Not Israel according to the flesh, not
those same families that are taken captive.
In the place - In those places, where a people dwelt that
was not his people, there will be a people of God.
The living God - Who is the source of life to all his
children, and who enables them to offer living sacrifices to the living God.
Verse 11
they shall constitute for themselves one head
Hosea
prophesied,
"Then the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall come
together, and shall be one head for themselves, and shall come up out of the
land: for the day of Jezreel shall be great."
Wesley's explanation:
So - This verse has an historical and spiritual
sense; one referring to the return of Babylon, the other to a more glorious
deliverance from a more miserable captivity.
Judah - The two tribes, which
adhered to the house of David.
Israel - Some of the ten tribes
which were incorporated with the kingdom of Judah, and so carried captive with
them. But this is to be understood spiritually of all the Israel of God.
Wesley's comments:
One head–Zerubbabel, who was
appointed by Cyrus, but with the full approval of the people. And so Christ is
appointed by the Father, head of his church, whom believers accept from the
heart.
Ascend–Literally out of Babylon,
spiritually out of the bondage of sin and Satan.
Great - Good, cheerful and comfortable.
Israel is here called Jezreel
Wesley's Explanation: Of Jezreel–Israel is here called Jezreel, the seed of God. This seed
is now sown in the ground and buried under the clods; but his day will be great
when the harvest comes. Great was the day of the church, when those who were to
be saved were daily added to it.[66]
Israel's
Unfaithfulness and the Promise of Punishment
Plead
with thy mother, beseech thus, for she is not my wife, neither am I her
husband: let her bring forth her fornications, and her adulteries from between
her breasts;
lest I
should spoil it, and set it as it was the day it was born, and make it like a
wilderness, and set it like dry land, and quench it with thirst.
And I
will put an end to all their joy, their feast days, their new moons, their
sabbaths, and all their solemn feasts.
And I
will destroy her vineyards and her fig trees, of which she said, These are my
rewards which my lovers have given me: and I will make them a forest, and the
beasts of the field shall eat them.
Hosea 2
Verse 1
Tell your brothers
Tell your brothers, Ammi, and your sisters, Ruama, Hosea prophesied.
Wesley's explanation:
Ye - Who is made of no people a people, who were once unmerciful, but have
now obtained mercy.
His brethren - To those of the ten tribes, who are his
brethren.
Ammi – Let them know that they are still God's people, they
are still within the covenant of their father Abraham, if they want like their
father, to walk with God, everything will be fine.
Verse 2
Plead with your mother
Hosea prophesied, Plead with thy mother,
beseech thus: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband: let her bring
forth her from her presence, and her adulteries from between her breasts;
Wesley's explanation:
His mother - The whole body of the people of Israel,
which were typified in Gomer.
Plead, Ye that are sons and daughters of God in the midst of this idolatrous
nation.
Not my wife - For by her adulteries she dissolved the
marriage covenant.
Verse 3
so that I don't strip you
And Hosea prophesied, "Lest I spoil
her, and make her as the day she was born, and make her like a wilderness, and
make her like dry land, and quench her with thirst."
Wesley's explanation:
Take off her clothes - As was usually done by enraged
husbands, divorcing impudent adulteresses.
Like a
desert - Barren and
desolate.
Verse 5
Because their mother committed fornication
Hosea prophesied, "For their mother
has committed fornication; she who conceived them has done shamefully, because
she said, 'I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my
wool and my linen, my oil and my drink.'
Whereas every mercy she enjoyed was the gift of God,
the fruit of his covenant, love, and faithfulness to her; yet she denies all
her goodness, and ascribes to her idols the bread she ate, the water she drank,
and the clothes she wore, Wesley commented.
Verse 6
Therefore, behold, I will cover your path
with thorns
Therefore, behold, I will cover thy way with
thorns, and will make a wall, lest she find her paths, Hosea prophesied.
Wesley's explanation:
Covering—I will surround thee with wars, and
calamities, that thou lovest thy sinful courses, thou shalt take little
pleasure in them.
Make a wall - yes, I will make the calamities of this
people as a strong wall, which they cannot break.
Your ways - In which you went when you went to Egypt,
or Syria for help; but by my judgments and by the power of your enemies, you
will be so guarded, you will not find how to send them for relief.
Verse 7
And she'll follow her lovers
Hosea prophesied, And she shall follow
her lovers, but overtake them; and she shall seek them, but find them not: then
shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then it was better
for me than now.
Wesley's explanation:
His lovers - Idols and idolaters.
Reach them – But
you will never exceed the desired help.
To my first husband - God who had married Israel to himself.
Verse 8
For she did not know that I gave her wheat,
wine, and oil
Hosea prophesied, "For she did not
know that I gave her wheat, wine, and oil, and multiplied the silver and gold
that they prepared for Baal."
Wesley's explanation:
Didn't know - Didn't consider.
They - The body of the Jews. Prepared - Dedicated to the service of the
idol.
Verse 9
Therefore I will return, and take away my
wheat in its time
Hosea prophesied, "Therefore I will
return, and take away my wheat in its season, and my wine in its season, and I
will recover my wool and my linen given to cover its nakedness."
Wesley's explanation:
Take it away - I will take back everything I have given.
In the time of it - When they shall gather it, as being ripe.
Verse 10
And now I'll find out your lust
And now I will discover your lust in the eyes of
your lovers, and no one will deliver you from my hand.
His lust - Folly and wickedness, said Wesley.
Verse 11
I will also cause all their joy to cease
Wesley's explanation:
Their feast days - Though apostate, Israel fell into
idolatry, but they retained many of the Mosaic rites and ceremonies.
Their solemn feasts - The three annual feasts of tabernacles,
weeks, and passover, all of which ceased when they were taken captive by
Shalmaneser.
Verse 12
And I will destroy their vineyards and their
fig trees
Hosea prophesied, "And I will
destroy her vineyards and her fig trees, of which she said, These are my
rewards which my lovers have given me: and I will make them a forest, and the
beasts of the field shall eat them."
Wesley's explanation:
My rewards - They have given the praise of all their
abundance to idols.
They - Their vineyards and olive groves, and the places where they planted
their fig trees and other fruit trees.
Verse 13
And I will visit upon it the days of Baalim
Hosea prophesied, "And I will visit
the days of Baalim upon her, when she burned incense to them, and adorned
herself with her earrings and her jewels, and followed her lovers, and forgot
me, saith the Lord."
Wesley's explanation:
Visit - Punish
The days - The sins of those days.
Of Baalim - Baal was the great idol of the ten tribes;
here it is plural Baalim, to denote the multitude of idols which they
worshipped, all called by this one name.
Adorned himself - To put the greatest honour on the idol.
Verse 14
Therefore, behold, I will seduce her
Hosea prophesied, "Therefore,
behold, I will seduce her, and will lead her into the wilderness, and will
speak to her with comfort."
Wesley's explanation:
I will seduce - I will incline your mind to consider what
I propose.
In the wilderness - Deep anguish.
Verse 15
And from there, from there, his vineyards
Hosea prophesied, "And from there
she will sing from there, her vineyards, and the valley of Achor for the gate
of hope, and she will sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day
when she came up out of the land of Egypt."
Wesley's explanation:
Your vineyards - Many blessings.
Hence - From the time of his repentance.
Valley of Achor – Which was a large, fruitful, and pleasant
valley near Jericho, at the entrance to the land of Canaan.
A Door of Hope - That valley was a door of hope for Israel
of old. And such a gate God will give to repentant Israel.
As in the days of her youth - When I married her.
Verse 16
that you will call me Ishi
And it shall be in that day, saith the Lord, that
thou shalt call me Ishi; and thou shalt call me no more baali, Hosea prophesied.
Wesley's explanation:
Thou shalt call - Both by words, affections, and obedience,
will own me as her husband, and delight to call me so.
Baali - That is, my Lord.
Verse 17
For I will take the names of the Baals out of
their mouths
For I will take the names
of the Baals out of their mouths, and they shall be remembered no more by their
name, Hosea prophesied.
Wesley's explanation:
For - I will abolish the memory of Baalim.
Baalim —This great idol to all others.
And they--These false gods.
By their name - Their names perishing with them.
Verse 18
On that day I will make a covenant for them
with the beasts of the field
Wesley's explanation:
To them - The Israel of God.
With the beasts - With all the creatures that can serve or
harm them. It is a full and gracious promise of abundance of peace, security,
and love through creation.
Safely - This was, in some measure, done well to the Jews returning from
captivity. But the full realization will be for the church of Christ.
Verse 21
I will hear the heavens, and they will hear
the earth
And it shall come to pass in that day that I will
hear, saith the Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; Hosea prophesied.
On that day - On the day of gospel grace, said Wesley.
God, the first and universal cause will influence the heavens, he will
command their dew and rains
Wesley's explanation: I will hear—God,
the first and universal cause will influence the heavens, he will command their
dew and rains. When the earth is dry, it makes as it were cry to the heavens
for refreshing rains, when the seed sown, the vines and olives planted, are
still, they cry out to the earth for its kind influences, that they may spring
up and bear fruit to Jezreel, who may call and weep,
but you will never be satisfied if God does not hear you
Verse 23
And I will sow it for myself in the earth
Hosea
prophesied,
"And I will sow it for myself in the land, and I will have mercy on her
who obtained no mercy; and I will say to them that were not my people, Thou art
my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God."
Wesley's explanation: I will sow - I will bless them with a wonderful increase of people,
express with allusion to the seed sown in the earth. Thus the Jews multiplied
after the Babylonian captivity, but much more have the number increased since
the preaching of the gospel.[67]
God's Love for Israel
And I
said unto him, Thou shalt tarry by me many days; thou shalt not commit
fornication, neither shalt thou be for another man; so I will be for you.
And the
children of Israel shall return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their
king; and I will fear the Lord and his goodness in the last days
Hosea 3
Verse 1
Therefore the woman who is her friend's
beloved, but an adulteress
Hosea prophesied, "Then the Lord
said to me, 'Go therefore the woman who is your friend's beloved, but an adulteress,
according to the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel, who look to
other gods, and love jars of wine.'
Wesley's explanation:
From her friend - Her husband.
An adulteress - Either already defiled, or that will
certainly be stained with this vice.
According to love - Let this be the emblem of my love to the
children of Israel.
And love - Love the parties of your idols, where they
drink wine to excess.
Verse 2
So I bought it for fifteen pieces of silver
So I
bought it for fifteen pieces of silver, and for a Homer of barley, and half a
Homer of barley, Hosea prophesied.
Wesley's explanation:
Fifteen pieces of silver - It was half the value of a slave, Exodus 21:32.
A homer of barley - About fourteen bushels.
Barley - The meanest kind of provision; and suited to a low condition, all
this is, to expose the indigence and ingratitude of Israel, and the bounty of
God towards Israel.
Verse 3
thou shalt not commit fornication, neither
shalt thou be for another man
Hosea prophesied, "And I said to
him, 'You shall stay for me many days; you shall not commit fornication, nor be
for another man; so will I be for you.'
Stay by me - Thou shalt wait unmarried, till I marry
thee, said Wesley.
Verse 4
For the children of Israel shall be many days
without a king
For the children of Israel shall be many days
without a king, and without a prince, and without sacrifice, and without an
image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim; Hosea prophesied.
they and she were guilty of adultery, both of which were long punished
For - Now the parable is unfolded, it will be with Israel as with such a
woman, they and she were guilty of adultery, both long punished, both made
slaves, kept with difficulty and valued petty, but in mercy finally forgiven
and reaccepted though after a long time of trial, commented Wesley.
Wesley's explanation:
Without a king - None of his own royal line shall sit on
the throne.
A prince - Strangers shall be princes and rulers over
them.
No sacrifice - Offered according to the law.
An image - They could not carry any of their images
with them, and the Assyrians would not let them make new ones.
Ephod - No priest, as well as no ephod.
Idolatrous images kept in their private homes
Wesley commented, And without theraphim
- Idolatrous images kept in their private houses, like the Roman household
gods; in a word, such shall be the state of their captives; they shall have
nothing of their own in religious or civil affairs, but be wholly under the
power of their conquering enemies.
Verse 5
and I will fear the Lord and his goodness in
the last days
Hosea
prophesied,
"Then the children of Israel will return, and seek the Lord their God, and
David their king; and I will fear the Lord and his goodness in the last
days."
Wesley's explanation:
Back - Repent.
And David - The Messiah who is the
son of David.
And his goodness - God and his goodness;
that is, the good and gracious God. God in Christ and with Christ will be
worshipped.
The last days - In the days of the
Messiah, in the times of the gospel.[68]
Accusation against
Israel's sin
My
people were destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected
knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may not be a priest to me; because
thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children
Hosea 4
Verse 2
They swear, lie, kill, steal and commit adultery
They swear, lie, kill,
steal, and commit adultery, and break out, and the blood touches the blood, Hosea prophesied.
Wesley's explanation:
Burst forth – Like waters that swell above all shores.
Touch the blood - The slaughters are multiplied; so that the
end of the one is the beginning of another.
Verse 3
That is why the earth will mourn
Hosea prophesied, "Therefore the
earth shall mourn, and whosoever dwelleth therein shall faint, with the beasts
of the field, and with the fowls of the air: yes, the fish of the sea shall
also be carried away."
Wesley's explanation:
It must wither away - It must wither.
With the
beasts of the field - God punishes man by cutting down what was made for the benefit of
man; and it is probable that the domesticated cattle starved for want of grass
or fodder, all being consumed by the devastating armies. The tamer was killed
by enemies, or offended with stench, left the country, or was devoured by birds
of prey.
Taken away - Either by drying up the waters, or by
corrupting them with blood and carcasses.
Verse 4
Yet let no one quarrel or rebuke another
Yet let no man contend, nor rebuke another: for thy
people are like those contending with the priest, Hosea prophesied.
Wesley's explanation:
Let no man exert himself - They are so hardened, it is no use
any more to warn them.
As those that strive - There is no modesty, or fear of God or man
left between them, they will struggle with their teachers, reprovers, and
counselors.
Verse 5
thou shalt fall by day, and the prophet shall
also fall with thee by night
Therefore thou shalt fall by day, and the prophet
also shall fall with thee by night, and I will destroy thy mother, Hosea prophesied.
Wesley's explanation:
Therefore - The prophet turns his discourse to the
people, thou, O Israel; he speaks to them as to one person.
Fall - To stumble, fall and be broken.
This day - Very suddenly; your fall will no longer be
delayed.
Wesley further commented:
The prophet - Prophesied lies.
In the night - In the darkest calamities.
Thy mother - Both the state and the kingdom; and the
synagogues, or churches: the public is like a mother to private persons, so all
shall be destroyed.
Verse 6
My people were destroyed for lack of
knowledge
Hosea prophesied, "My people are
destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I will
reject you also, that you may not be a priest to me; because you have forgotten
the law of your God, I also will forget your children."
Wesley's explanation:
Destroyed - Many have already been cut down by Pul,
king of Assyria, and many destroyed by the bloody tyranny of Menahem.
Of knowledge - Of God, his law, his providence, his holy
nature, his hatred of sin, and power to punish it.
Because thou –The prophet now turns from the people to
the priests, to whom he speaks as to one person.
Wesley further commented:
Rejected Knowledge - Art and will be ignorant.
Seeing thou –O Israel, and ye O priests, ye have broken
all the precepts of it.
Thy children - The people of Israel, the whole kingdom of
the ten tribes, said Wesley.
Verse 7
As they multiplied, they sinned against me
As they multiplied, they
sinned against me; therefore I will turn their glory into shame, Hosea prophesied.
Wesley's explanation:
Like them - Kings, priests, and people.
They were increased - In number, in riches, and honor.
So they sinned - Sin grew with their wealth and honour.
His glory - They turned everything that they could
boast above others into sin. I will turn it into your dishonor.
Verse 8
They eat the sin of my people
Hosea prophesied,
"They eat the sin of my people and set their hearts on their
iniquity."
Wesley's explanation:
They–The priests who minister to idols.
Sin – Probably by sin is meant the sin offering, in which the priest had
his share.
And they - Covetous, luxurious, idolatrous priests.
Verse 10
Because they will eat and not have enough;
they will commit fornication, and will not increase
Wesley's explanation:
They don't have enough - They shouldn't be nourished, nor satisfied
with what they eat.
It shall not increase - They shall not increase the number of
their children, or the women shall not give birth, or the children shall not
live.
Verse 11
Prostitution, wine and new wine take away the
heart.
Take away the heart - Deprive men of their understanding and
judgment.
Verse 12
My people ask for counsel in their trunks
My people ask counsel in their stocks, and their
people tell them, because the spirit of fornication has made them err, and they
have committed fornication under their God, Hosea prophesied.
Wesley's explanation:
Stocks - Wooden statues.
The spirit of fornication - A heart entangled with harlots, spiritual
and bodily.
He made them err - blinded and deceived them.
Verse 13
They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains,
and burn incense on the hills
Hosea prophesied, "They sacrifice on
the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks, poplars,
and elms, for their shade is good; therefore your daughters shall commit
fornication, and your wives shall commit adultery."
Wesley's explanation:
Good - Convenient for sacrificers.
They shall commit fornication - They shall dishonor themselves and their
families with fornicators.
Verse 14
I will not punish your daughters when they
commit fornication, nor your wives when they commit adultery
Wesley's explanation:
Nor their spouses – I will give them to their own hearts.
To themselves - Husbands and parents are examples to their
wives and daughters.
Therefore the people - The ignorant and obsessed people, who do
not know God.
Shall fall - Be utterly ruined.
Verse 15
Though thou, O Israel, commit fornication,
let not Judah offend
Hosea prophesied, "Though thou, O
Israel, commit fornication, let not Judah offend; and come not to Gilgal, nor
go up to Beth-aven, nor swear, As the Lord liveth."
Offending - Committing similar sins.
Gilgal - Gilgal was chosen by Jeroboam, or by successive idolaters for the
solemn worship of their idols.
Beth-aven - Bethel, where Jacob lodged, who called it
Bethel, the house of God; but when Jeroboam made it the place for his calf
worship, it became Beth-aven, the house of vanity or iniquity.
Nor swear–This is a part laid for all the worship of
God, which the prophet warns them not to mingle with their idolatries.
Verse 16
For Israel slips backward like a rebellious
heifer
Wesley explained:
Israel - The ten tribes.
Like a heifer that slips back - Which when grown vigorous and wanton, will
not bear the yoke nor be confined to its permitted pastures.
In a great place - In a great place or wilderness, where
there is no rest, security, or provision; such will be the condition of the ten
tribes.
Verse 17
Ephraim is united to idols
Ephraim is united to idols: leave him alone.
Wesley explained:
Ephraim - The sons of Ephraim were numerous and
potent, and here placed for all the ten tribes.
Leave him alone - He is obstinate, so throw him up.
Verse 18
Your drink is sour
Hosea prophesied, Their drink is sour:
they have committed fornication continually; their rulers shamefully love, Dai.
Wesley explained:
His drink - His wine is corrupt and harmful.
Continually - Without ceasing from the time of Jeroboam
to this day.
Dai - Beside there is shameful oppression and bribery among them.
Verse 19
The wind tied her to its wings
The wind has bound her to
her wings, and they will be put to shame because of her sacrifices, Hosea
prophesied.
Wesley explained:
The wind - The whirlwind of God's
wrath seized this old adulteress, and has already taken away some of her
children.
They shall be put to shame - What they have done to
their trust, will be their shame.[69]
===============================
Locust Plague and the Outpouring of the Spirit in the
Book of Joel
===============================
Drawing on the Wesleyan tradition and theological
scholarship that values John Wesley's perspective, the prophet Joel is often
singled out for his crucial role in heralding the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. [70]
Table
of Contents
·
Introduction
· The locust plague and
the call to repentance
· Promise of
restitution and the outpouring of the Spirit
·
The Judgment of the Nations
That Oppressed Israel and the Promise of Blessings
Introduction
Wesley's explanatory
notes on the book of Joel: "Locust Plague and the Outpouring of the Spirit"
is an updated book by Wesley in a more popular format.
Joel uses the phrase
"locusts" to teach how the people will be defenseless if they do not
repent before the "day of the Lord" comes.
For Wesley, the prophecy that speaks of locusts refers to the Chaldeans: "A fire – The Chaldeans, as a fire will
totally consume all things."
And of the locust army, Wesley comments,
"His army—Of locusts and insects, and of Chaldeans signified by
these."
It will be a time of
famine and destruction, but the Bible says that God promises to restore the
years that were consumed by the locusts (Joel 2:25). Repentance and
sanctification are needed.
Joel's prophecy calls
the people to proclaim a holy fast and to call a solemn meeting for the people
to seek God.
The devastation of the
locusts will be replaced by the abundance that the Lord will provide (Joel
2:18-27) through the outpouring of the Spirit (Joel 2:28-32).
The chapters have the
following themes: "The locust plague and the call to repentance; Promise
of restitution and the outpouring of the Spirit; The judgment of the nations
that oppressed Israel and the promise of blessings.
A very current book for our time.
The locust plague and the call to repentance
In this first chapter, the prophet Joel speaks of that the 'what the caterpillar left, the locust ate; and
what the locust left the locust ate; and what the locust left, the caterpiller
ate.'"
Wesley comments that there are "four kinds of insects, are here
mentioned, which succeeded each other and devoured everything that could be a
support for the Jews, from which followed a severe famine."
The prophet Joel speaks of a nation:
"For there came up into my land a nation strong and innumerable, whose
teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the teeth of the face of a great
lion."
Wesley comments, "One nation–An innumerable multitude of locusts
and caterpillars, called a nation here, as Solomon calls the conies and the
ant, Proverbs 30:25-26, and perhaps a prognostication of a very
numerous and powerful nation, which shall soon invade Judah."
Wesley says that the locusts are the Assyrians or Babylonians: "Strong - Mighty in power and fearless in
courage, if you refer to the Assyrians or Babylonians; if for these worms, they
are, though each weak in his own right, yet in these multitudes, strong and
irresistible."
The people are called to repentance:
"Sanctify the fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the
inhabitants of the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the
Lord."
Wesley commented, "Sanctify ye - O priests, set aside a day in
which ye are afflicted, confess your sins, and ask your pardon."
Joel 1
Verse 1
Probably at the end of Jeroboam's reign
The word of the Lord which came to Joel the son of
Petuel.
Wesley's Comments
It came unto Joel–Probably at the end of the reign of Jeroboam
the second over Israel, and in the days of Uzziah over Judah.
Verse 2
The
oldest among you, who can remember things done many years ago
Listen to this, old men, and give ear, all the
inhabitants of the earth. Was this in your days, or even in the days of your
fathers?
Wesley's Comments
Old Ones – The oldest among you, who can remember
things done many years ago.
Verse 4
What the caterpillar left, the locust ate; and what
the locust left the locust ate; and what the locust left, the caterpiller ate.
Wesley's Comments
They devoured everything
that could be a support for the Jews, which was followed by a severe famine
Palmer-worm - Four sorts of insects, are here mentioned,
which succeeded each other and devoured everything that could be a support to
the Jews, whence followed a severe famine.
Verse 5
Awake, ye drunkards, and weep
Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all you
wine-drinkers, because of the new wine; for it is cut out of his mouth.
Wesley's Comments
It's cut off – Suddenly, cut off
even when you're ready to drink, and totally cut off by these devouring worms.
Verse 6
For a nation strong and innumerable has come
up into my land, whose teeth are dandelions
For a nation is come up into my country, strong and
innumerable, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the teeth of the
face of a great lion.
Wesley's Comments
Perhaps a prognosis of a
very numerous and powerful nation, which will soon invade Judah
A nation–An innumerable multitude of locusts and
caterpillars, called a nation here, as Solomon calls the conies and the ant, Proverbs 30:25, 26, and perhaps a prognostication of a very
numerous and powerful nation, which shall soon invade Judah.
Mighty in power and
fearless in courage, whether you refer to the Assyrians or Babylonians
Strong - Mighty in power, and fearless in courage, whether you refer to the
Assyrians or Babylonians; if to these vermin, they are, though each weak in his
own right, yet in these multitudes, strong and irresistible.
These the locusts do, and
the Assyrians will do
A great lion - Such a waste as lions do, these locusts
do, and the Assyrians will do.
Verse 8
I'm sorry
I mourn like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the
husband of her youth.
Wesley's Comments
The husband of her youth - Espoused to her, but snatched away by an
early death.
Verse 9
The Lord's ministers weep
The grain offering and the drink offering are cut
off from the house of the Lord; the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep.
Wesley's Comments
The drink offer
The drink-offering - By the destruction of the vines, all the
wine (of which they were to offer the drink-offering) failed.
Verse 10
The countryside is devastated, the land weeps
The countryside is devastated, the earth weeps; for
the wheat is wasted, the new wine is dried up, the oil withers.
Wesley's Comments
Wheat and barley are eaten
The corn - Wheat and barley, are eaten in their
green.
Dried up - The drought was so great,
that the vines were withered, and all their hopes of new wine cut off.
The olive oil - The olive trees.
This is a clear account of
why priests were called to mourn
Languisheth - This is a clear account of the reason why
the priests were called to mourn, and why the grain offering and the drink
offering were cut off.
This is a just cause for
which you must mourn
Be ashamed, O husbandmen; howl, O vinedressers, for
the wheat and the barley; for the harvest of the field perished.
Wesley's Comments
Be ashamed - This is a just cause for which you should
mourn, and inquire why God is so displeased with you.
Verse 14
Sanctify the fast, convoke a solemn assembly
Sanctify the fast, call a solemn assembly, gather
the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the Lord your
God, and cry out to the Lord,
Wesley's Comments
Sanctify - O priests, set aside a day when you are
afflicted, confess your sins, and ask for your forgiveness.
Inside the house–The temple courts, where people used to
pray.
Verse 15
The day of the Lord is near
Woe to the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand,
and it will come as destruction from the Almighty.
Wesley's Comments
A day of greater difficulty
than they still felt
The Lord's day - A day of greater difficulty than they yet
felt, troubles which God will heap upon them.
Shall come - Unless fasting, prayers, and amendment
prevent it.
Verse 16
Devoured
by locusts, or withered with drought
Was not the food cut off before our eyes, yes, joy
and gladness of the house of our God?
Wesley's Comments
Cut - Devoured by locusts, or withered with drought.
Verse 17
The seed is rotten under its clods, the barns
are desolate
The seed is rotten under its clods, the barns are desolate,
the barns are broken; because the wheat is dry.
Wesley's Comments
He was desolate
Was desolate - Run to ruin because the owners,
discouraged by the barrenness of the seasons, would not mend them.
Verse 19
Fire devoured the desert pastures
To thee will I cry, O Lord: for the fire hath
devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned up all the
trees of the field.
Wesley's Comments
Fire - Immoderate heat.
The wilderness - The world, signifies only places not
ploughed and less inhabited than others.
Verse 20
The beasts of the field cry out to you
The beasts of the field cry
unto thee, because the streams of the waters are dried up, and the fire hath
devoured the pastures of the wilderness.
Wesley's Comments
They voice their grievances
Cry - They express their
complaints, their sad tones, they have a voice to cry as well as an eye to look
to God.[71]
Promise of restitution and the outpouring of the
Spirit
Prophet
Joel speaks of the day of the Lord: "Blow the trumpet in
Zion, and sound the alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the
earth tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming, for it is at hand."
Wesley speaks of
"a time of great trouble and calamity. And this passage may well allude to
the day of judgment and the calamities that precede that day."
Prophet Joel says, "A fire devours
before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the earth is like the garden of
Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yes, and nothing will
escape them."
And of the locust army, Wesley comments, "His army—Of locusts and insects, and of
Chaldeans signified by these."
A. Wesley further says, "It will be a greater reproach to be slaves
to the nations represented by the locusts, therefore, in mercy, deliver us from
the one and the other."
And when the prophet Joel says, "Run hither and thither,"
Wesley remarks, "That doesn't seem proper to these insects, but it goes
well with soldiers, who conquer a city, and search everywhere for
plunder."
Through Joel's prophecy, the Lord promises victory: "But I will take the host of the north from afar
from thee, and will cast it into a barren and desolate land, with its face
toward the eastern sea, and its rear toward the extreme sea, and its stench
shall rise, and its stench shall rise,
because he has done great things."
Prophet
Joel says,
"And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as
the Lord has said, and in the rest that the Lord shall call."
As a
consequence, the Lord promises, "And I will restore to you
the years which the locust ate, the locust, the caterpillar, and the
caterpillar, my great army, which I sent against you."
The
Spirit promises, "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out
my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your
old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions."
Joel 2
Verse 1
Blow the trumpet in Zion
Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound the alarm in my
holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the earth tremble, for the day of the
Lord is coming, for it is at hand;
Wesley's Comments
The prophet continues his
exhortation to the priests
Soprai - The prophet continues his exhortation to the priests, who were
appointed to convene the solemn assemblies.
Verse 2
Day of darkness and darkness
A day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and
thick darkness, as the morning spread over the mountains: a great and strong
people; there has never been anything like it, nor will there be more after it,
even in the years of many generations.
Wesley's Comments
A Time of Great Trouble and
Calamity
A day of darkness - A time of great trouble and calamity. And
this passage may well allude to the day of judgment, and to the calamities
which precede that day.
The coming calamities
spread through this people.
As the morning spreads over the whole hemisphere and first
over the high mountains, so it will be that the coming calamities spread over
this people.
A great people - This seems most directly to the
Babylonians.
Verse 3
Behind them a desolate desert; yes, and
nothing shall escape them
A fire devours before them; and behind them a flame
burneth: the earth is like the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a
desolate wilderness; yes, and nothing will escape them.
Wesley's Comments
The Chaldeans, like a fire,
will utterly consume all things
A fire–The Chaldeans, like a fire will utterly consume all things.
Behind them - What is left behind is as burnt with a
flame.
Like Eden - Fruitful and pleasant.
Verse 6
The people will suffer a lot
Before his face, the people will suffer much: all
faces will be darkened.
Wesley's Comments
The color of dead men, or
the dark pallor of frightened men
Blackness - As is the color of dead men, or the dark
pallor of frightened men in fainting.
Verse 7
They'll run like mighty men
They will run like mighty men; they will scale the
wall as men of war; and they shall march every man in his ways, and shall not break
his ranks.
Wesley's Comments
It foretells the terror and
strength of both armies signified by these locusts
Their ranks - This skill in ordering, and steadfastness
in keeping under, just as trained soldiers, foretells the terror and strength
of both armies signified by these locusts, and of the locusts themselves.
Verse 8
When they fall on the sword, they will not be
hurt
Neither shall the one push the other; every man
shall walk in his own way, and when they fall on the sword, they shall not be
hurt.
Wesley's Comments
Made by the Assyrians or
Babylonians
The sword - The sword will not be a weapon to destroy
them; literally checked in the locusts, and checked in the strange
preservations in the most desperate adventures made by the Assyrians or
Babylonians.
Verse 9
They'll run back and forth in the city
They will run to and fro in the city; they will run
over the wall, they will climb over the houses; they will enter through the
windows like thieves.
Wesley's Comments
This doesn't seem
appropriate for these insects, but it pairs well with soldiers
Run to and fro - This does not seem appropriate
for these insects, but it suits well with soldiers, who conquer a city and
search everywhere for loot.
Either abandoned by the
inhabitants, or defended by those who are in them
Run over the wall - To clear the wall of all the besieged.
The houses - Either abandoned by the inhabitants, or
defended by those who are in them.
Like a thief - Suddenly, unexpectedly, to spoil, if not
to kill.
Verse 10
The earth will shake before them
The earth will shake before them; the heavens will
tremble, the sun and the moon will be darkened, and the stars will withdraw
their brightness.
Wesley's Comments
The earth - A divine hyperbole. But this may also have
a reference to the big day.
Verse 11
And the Lord will sound his voice before his
host
And the Lord will sound his voice before his army,
for his camp is very great, because he who does his word is strong, because the
day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can bear it?
Wesley's Comments
Summon and encourage them
Pronounce your voice - Summon them and encourage them as a
general does with his soldiers.
Of locusts and insects, and
of Chaldeans signified by them
His army - Of locusts and insects, and of Chaldeans
signified by these.
Verse 13
And rend your hearts, and not your garments,
and return to the Lord your God
And rend your hearts, and not your garments, and
turn to the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and
of great kindness, and repents of evil.
Wesley's Comments
He turns away from
executing the ferocity of his wrath
And repenteth - He turns aside from executing the ferocity
of his wrath.
Verse 14
Who knows if he will come back and repent and leave
a blessing behind him; a grain offering and a drink offering to the Lord your
God?
Wesley's Comments
God does not move from one
place to another
He will return - God does not move from place to place; but
when he withholds his blessings, he is said to withdraw. And so, when he gives
his blessing, he is said to return.
Have the locusts leave
before they have eaten all that is on earth
And leave a blessing behind him - Make the locusts depart before they have
eaten all that is on earth.
Verse 16
Gather the people, sanctify the congregation
Gather the people, sanctify the congregation,
gather the elders, gather together the children and those who suck their breasts;
let the bridegroom come out of his room, and the bride out of his chamber.
Wesley's Comments
God with pity looks upon
your tears
The children - Though they understand little what is
done, yet their cities ascend, and God with pity looks upon their tears.
A more sincere supplication
to God
These that suck - Their cries and tears may perhaps move the
congregation to a more earnest supplication to God for mercy. So the Ninevites,
Jonah 3:7-8.
The bridegroom - Let the new married man leave the joy of
the wedding and grieve over the rest.
Verse 17
Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord
weep
Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between
the porch and the altar, and say, 'Spare, O Lord, your people, and do not give
your inheritance to reproach, that the nations may rule over it; why should
they say among the people, Where is their God?
Wesley's Comments
The porch - That imposing porch built by Solomon, 1 Kings 6:3.
Priests ordained to stay,
fasting and praying
The altar - The altar of burnt offering, which stood
at some distance from this porch, and here are the priests commanded to stand,
fasting and praying, whence they may be heard and seen by the people in the
next courtyard, in which the people used to pray.
It will be a greater
reproach to be slaves to the nations represented by the locusts
Reprove - The famine, though by locusts, is a rebuke to
this thy inheritance; It will be a greater reproach to be slaves to the nations
represented by the locusts, therefore, in mercy, deliver us from the one and
the other.
Verse 20
But I will drive the host of the north from
afar from thee, and will cast it into a barren and desolate land
Wesley's Comments
From this army will be led
The army of the north - That part of the locusts which are facing
north.
With the face - The van of this army shall be driven to
the dead sea, east of Jerusalem.
The rear - The rear of this army will be driven to the
western sea.
Or the corpses of the dead
and unburied Assyrians
Their stench - The stench of these locusts destroying and
rotting on the face of the earth, or the corpses of the dead and unburied
Assyrians.
Verse 22
Fear not, beasts of the field
Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field, for the pastures
of the desert sprout, because the tree yields its fruit, the fig tree and the
vine give its strength.
Wesley's Comments
Their strength - Bring as much as they are able to bear.
Verse 23
Rejoice therefore, children of Zion
Rejoice therefore, ye children of Zion, and rejoice
in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and
shall bring down to you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the
first month.
The autumn rain that is
needed to soften the earth
The Former Rain - The autumn rain that is needed to
soften the land and prepare it to receive the corn.
The latter rain - Necessary to bring and ripen the fruits,
counted the latter rain because these husbandmen and vinedressers counted from
the time of sowing to the spring and harvest.
Wesley's Comments
The first month - That is, our March.
Verse 24
And I will restore to you the years that the
locust ate
And the piseiras will be filled with wheat, and the
fats will overflow with wine and oil.
Wesley's Comments
The fats - The containers into which the liquor
flowed from the press.
Verse 25
And I will restore to you the years that the locust
ate, the locust, the caterpillar, and the caterpillar, my great army, which I
sent against you.
Restore — Make peace with yourself.
Verse 26
And ye shall eat bountifully, and be
satisfied
And ye shall eat abundantly, and be satisfied, and
praise the name of the Lord your God, which hath made you wonderfully; and my
people will never be ashamed.
Wesley's Comments
And it shall come to pass afterward that I
will pour out my spirit upon all flesh
Wonderfully - In one year, giving as much as the locusts
wasted in previous years.
Ashamed - Neither disappointed in their hopes, nor
necessary to seek relief among the heathen.
And it shall come to pass after that I will pour
out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.
Wesley's Comments
In Extraordinary Gifts on
the Early Preachers of the Gospel
After - After the return from Babylon, after the various troubles and
salvations by which these may know that I am the Lord.
I will pour out–In extraordinary gifts upon the first
preachers of the gospel, and in various graces to all believers.
But now they will be
enlarged to all nations and to all who believe
Over all flesh - Before these gifts were confined to a
particular nation; but now they shall be enlarged to all nations, and to all
who believe.
This was in part fulfilled
according to the letter in the early days of the gospel
Shall prophesy - This was in part fulfilled according to
the letter in the early days of the gospel; but the promise means that, by
pouring out the Spirit upon his sons and his daughters, they will have as full
a knowledge of the mysteries of God's law, as the prophets before their time.
But it can mean further
Thou shalt dream dreams–This also was literally fulfilled in the days of the apostles. But it may mean farther, the knowledge of God and his will will abound among all classes, sexes, and ages in the days of the Messiah, and not only equal, but surpass all that once was by prophecy, dreams, or visions.
I will pour out my spirit
And I will pour out my spirit also on the male and
female servants in those days.
Wesley's Comments
My Spirit - Of adoption and sanctification.
About
those times, you will see it fulfilled
And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the
earth, blood, fire, and pillars of smoke.
Wesley's Comments
Wonders - Those who read what historians report
about these times, will see this fulfilled in the letter itself.
Great bloodshed
Blood - Possibly rash of blood, as some sources have been reported to have
run with blood, foreshadowing the great bloodshed by the sword and the wars
that followed.
Fire - Either coming out of the earth or lightning in the air.
The sun will turn to darkness
Wesley's Comments
Now specifies what is to be
done in heaven
The sun - Having mentioned the wonders that were to
be performed on earth, he now specifies what is to be done in heaven.
The dreadful day - The profane day of the destruction of
Jerusalem; typifying the day of judgment.
And it shall come to pass that whosoever
shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved
Wesley's Comments
Either
of these external afflictions, or that it is infinitely better than eternal
miseries, which will swallow up the unbelieving world
Whomsoever to call -
Whoever, hearing
the gospel, repents and believes in Christ.
Delivered - Either from these
outward afflictions, or that it is infinitely better than eternal miseries,
which will swallow up the unbelieving world; "And this will aggravate the
ruin of those who perish, that they might have been saved on such easy terms."
Is it then easy for an unelect to repent and believe? Can he not so easily take
the sun out of the firmament? On mount Zion - In the true church typified by
Zion.
Jerusalem - In mystical Jerusalem,
the church and city of the Messiah.
Deliverance - Temporal and eternal.
Shall call - To believe in Christ,
and for him to hope for eternal life.[72]
The Judgment of the Nations
That Oppressed Israel and the Promise of Blessings
Wesley says that "the
Lord will debate the cause of my people."
Wesley comments, "I
have done any wrong, that you avenge my people? Or do you start violating the
laws of neighborhood and friendship and think about escaping? You think it has
to do with a poor people."
The Lord says, "Because ye have
taken my silver and my gold, and have brought my pleasant things into your
temples."
He says, "You also sold the
children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem to the Greeks, that you might
drive them away from their borders."
The Lord's promise,
"Behold, I will bring them out of the place where ye have sold them, and
will bring your recompense upon your head."
Wesley remarked, "I will raise them up - This was fulfilled
when Alexander and his successors dismissed all the Jews who were slaves in
Greece, and gave them permission to return to their own country."
Joel's prophecy says, "Awake up the
nations, and go up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge
all the nations round about."
Another promise says, "The Lord also shall
roar out of Zion, and shall cause his voice to sound from Jerusalem; and the
heavens and the earth shall tremble, but the Lord shall be the hope of his
people, and the strength of the children of Israel."
Promise of blessings: "And it shall come to
pass in that day, that the mountains shall pour forth new wine, and the hills
shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a
fountain shall go forth out of the house of the Lord, and water the valley of
Shittim."
The prophet speaks of the
nearness of the day of the Lord: "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of
decision, because the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision."
The Lord promises to
cleanse the people, and Wesley comments, "To cleanse both by the spirit of
sanctification and by free forgiveness in the blood of the redeemer."
Joel 3
Verse 1
I bring again the captivity of Judah and
Jerusalem
For behold, in those days
and at that time, when I shall again bring the captivity of Judah and
Jerusalem,
Wesley's Comments
When I
by Cyrus brought Judah out of Babylon
In those days - When I by Cyrus brought
Judah out of Babylon.
Of Judah - As the type of all the
remnant that are saved.
Two tribes restored by Cyrus
And Jerusalem - For in addition to what
relates to the two tribes restored by Cyrus, the bringing back of the captivity
of all the Israel of God by Christ is to be considered at all times through
this chapter.
Verse 2
And I will gather all the nations, and bring
them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat
And I will gather all the
nations, and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat, and there I will
pray to them for my people and for my inheritance Israel, which they have
scattered among the nations and divided my land.
Wesley's Comments
In kind, it is all the nations that have oppressed Judah
All nations - In kind, it is all
nations that oppressed Judah, in antitype, all nations that were enemies to
Christ and the church.
In the valley of
Jehoshaphat - I will debate the cause of my people, and make them right in the
midst of my church, represented by the valley of Jehoshaphat.
Such is the injustice of the persecutors of the church
Departed my land - Such is the injustice of
the persecutors of the church now, and so shall God judge them in due time.
Verse 3
And they cast lots for my
people; and they gave a boy for a prostitute, and sold a girl for wine, that
they might drink.
Wesley's Comments
It was
customary with the conquerors to divide the captives by lot
Casting lots - It was customary with
the conquerors to divide the captives by lot, and so did these enemies of the
Jews.
Verse 4
Yes, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre,
and Sidon, and with all the borders of Palestine?
Yes, and what have ye to do
with me, O Tyre, and Sidon, and with all the borders of Palestine? Will you
give me a reward? and if you reward me, I will quickly and quickly repay your
reward on your head;
Wesley's Comments
Have I done any wrong, that you avenge my people?
Yes - I have done any evil,
that you avenge my people? Or do you start violating the laws of neighborhood
and friendship and think about escaping? Do you think it has to do with a poor
opprest people, my people, and I don't worry about that? Palestine - In which
there were trading cities and merchants who bought and sold these captives.
A reward – Do I or my people deal
with you? And if - If you deal with it like this, I will quickly avenge myself
and my people on you.
Verse 5
Because you have taken my silver and my gold
Because you have taken my
silver and my gold, and have brought my pleasant things into your temples;
Taken - Either as part of the
spoil or as part of your payment.
And the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem you sold to the
Greeks
My Silver - Silver and gold vessels
dedicated to my service.
You also sold the children
of Judah and the children of Jerusalem to the Greeks, that you might drive them
away from their borders.
Remove them - That there may be no
hope of their return to their country.
Behold, I will bring them out of the place
where you sold them
Behold, I will bring them
out of the place where you sold them, and I will bring your retribution on your
heads.
This was fulfilled when Alexander and his successors dismissed all Jews
who were slaves in Greece
I will raise them up - This was fulfilled
when Alexander and his successors dismissed all the Jews who were slaves in
Greece, and gave them permission to return to their own country.
Verse 8
And I will sell your sons and your daughters
into the hand of the children of Judah
And I will sell your sons
and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they will sell
them to the Sabeans, to a people far off, because the Lord has spoken so.
Wesley's Comments
And I will sell - Deliver them into the
hands of the Jews.
Verse 9
Prepare for war
Proclaim this among the Gentiles;
Prepare for war, awaken the powerful, let all men of war come near; Let them
rise:
Wesley's Comments
This - These things I will do
to the enemies of God's people.
The Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Greeks
The Gentiles–The Assyrians, Chaldeans,
and Greeks successively.
Prepare for war - Prepare for wars against
the enemies of my people.
Verse 10
Turn your ploughshares into swords
Turn your ploughshares into
swords, and your pruning shears into spears; let the weak say, I am strong.
Wesley's Comments
I clothed myself with strength and courage
I am strong - Clothe
myself with strength and valour; let no one be absent from this war.
Verse 11
Gather yourselves, and
come, all ye Gentiles, and gather yourselves round about; bring down thither, O
Lord, thy mighty ones.
Wesley's Comments
Around - Around Judah.
Towards Jerusalem
There–Towards Jerusalem; the
church and inheritance of God.
Thy mighty ones - All those mighty
warriors whom thou wilt make use successively to punish the oppressors of thy
church.
Verse 12
Awaken the nations, and go up to the Valley
of Jehoshaphat
Awake up the nations, and
go up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the
nations round about.
Wesley's Comments
The heathen–The several nations at
their appointed time, perhaps the Assyrians first under Shalmaneser, then under
Sennacherib, both of whom went up to the valley of Jehoshaphat.
In the midst of my people
For there - In the midst of my
people to beg, condemn, and punish the heathen around Judea.
Verse 13
Put in the sickle, for the
harvest is ripe: come, come down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for
his wickedness is great.
Wesley's Comments
And when
this is done, God will still have powerful ones to kill his enemies, until the
final judgment
O executioners of divine
vengeance: begin to reap, kill sinners ripe for judgment; let Tiglath Pilneser
and his soldiers cut off Syria and its king, for their violence against my
people. Let Cyaxares and his armies overthrow Assyria. Let Nebuchadnezzar overthrow
Moab, Ammon, Mount Seir, Egypt, Tyre, Sidon, and the Philistines; after this,
let Cyrus reap the mature Babylonians, and Alexander, the Medes and Persians.
And let the divided Greek captains kill each other, until the Romans kill them.
And when this is done, God will still have powerful ones to kill his enemies,
until the final judgment, in which all will be destroyed forever.
In another metaphor
Tear you down - In another
metaphor, the prophet declares the cutting off of the enemies of the church.
They are to be trodden in the press of God's displeasure
The press - As the grapes in the
press are trodden, so the enemies of God's people must be trodden in the press
of God's displeasure.
Overflowing - The blood of slaughtered
men flows like wine springs up, in greater abundance than the casks can
contain.
It is great - The violence and all
kinds of sins of these kingdoms is exceedingly great.
Verse 14
The day of the Lord is near in the valley of
decision
Multitudes, multitudes in
the valley of decision, because the day of the Lord is near in the valley of
decision.
Wesley's Comments
In the valley of decision - Where God having
gathered them together, decided their disputes, and by the conqueror punish the
conquered for their sins against God and his people.
The day - The day of vengeance.
Verse 16
The Lord also shall roar from Zion, and shall
sound his voice from Jerusalem
The Lord also will roar
from Zion, and from Jerusalem will sound his voice; and the heavens and the
earth shall tremble, but the Lord shall be the hope of his people, and the
strength of the children of Israel.
Wesley's Comments
Thus shall ye know that I am the Lord your
God
Roar - He will attack the enemy
in astonishment as the lion's roar surprises the weaker animals of the forest.
Verse 17
Wesley's
Comments
Always watching over you, and delighting to save you
Dwelling - Very graciously present
with you, and always watching over you, and delighting to save you.
After your enemies are destroyed and the remnant is saved
Then - After his enemies are
destroyed and the remnant is saved, and the Messiah has come; for to him and to
his days these things refer in the last analysis.
Jerusalem - The church of Christ.
Strangers - No profane or unclean
person will pass through it, or be found in it forever.
Verse 18
And it shall come to pass in that day, that
the mountains shall pour forth new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk.
And it shall come to pass
in that day, that the mountains shall pour forth new wine, and the hills shall
flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a
fountain shall come forth out of the house of the Lord, and water the valley of
Shittim.
Wesley's Comments
So
fruitful will the hills be
The mountains - The vines planted on the
mountains.
It shall flow - So fruitful shall be the
hills, that milk shall abound everywhere.
This, no doubt, is a shadow of the cleansing blood of Christ, and his
sanctifying spirit and word
A fountain - The prophet alludes to
those waters which were carried from some source through conduit pipes towards
the altar. This, no doubt, is a shadow of the cleansing blood of Christ, and
his sanctifying spirit and word. And inasmuch as it is said to come from the
house of the Lord, it intimates that this saving grace will be preached first
in Jerusalem, and by the church, which is the house of God, will be published
to others.
It was a place on the plains of Moab
Shittim – It was a place on the
plains of Moab. These spiritual waters will flow to the dry and thirsty, barren
and unfruitful Gentiles, and will make them fruitful.
Verse 19
Egypt will be a desolation, and Edom will be
a desolate wilderness
Egypt will be a desolation,
and Edom will be a desolate wilderness because of the violence against the
children of Judah, because they shed innocent blood in their land.
Wesley's Comments
By Egypt
we can understand all the enemies of the church
Egypt – By Egypt we can
understand all the enemies of the church that carry it towards the church, as
Egypt carried it towards Israel.
Wesley's Comments
Edom was an implacable enemy of
Judah
Edom - Edom was an implacable
enemy of Judah in his greatest distress. And all who are under the character of
Edom are here threatened under this name.
Judah - God's people.'
Verse 20
But Judah will dwell forever
But Judah will dwell
forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
Wesley's Comments
Judah - The redeemed of the
Lord, his church.
Verse 21
To purify both by the spirit of sanctification and by
free forgiveness in the blood of the redeemer
Multitudes, multitudes in
the valley of decision, because the day of the Lord is near in the valley of
decision.
For I will cleanse the
blood that I have not cleansed, for the Lord dwells in Zion.
Wesley's Comments
And I will cleanse -
Cleanse both by
the spirit of sanctification and by free pardon in the blood of the Redeemer.
His blood - His sinfulness, which
before I had not taken away.[73]
===============================
Haggai and the glory of the second house
===============================
John Wesley, in his notes on the Bible, describes the
prophet Haggai primarily through his active and focused role in the rebuilding
of the temple, characterizing him as a direct messenger of God who awakens the people
from their spiritual lethargy.[74]
Table
of Contents
· Introduction
·
Prophecy
of Haggai awakens the governor and the priest to the rebuilding of the temple
in Jerusalem
·
The
promise of the second house to have a glory greater than the first
Introduction
Nebuchadnezzar invaded and destroyed Jerusalem, burned the temple,
plundered its treasures, and exiled its population (2 Chronicles 36).
"After seventy years in exile, Cyrus, the generous Persian king who
conquered Babylon, issued a decree that allowed the Jews to return to their
land. Two years later, in 536 B.C., a group led by Zerubbabel arrived in
Jerusalem, exactly fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy of the seventy-year captivity
(Jeremiah 25:11). The project to rebuild the temple began in 535 BC,[75] but it stagnated for several years.
"The Jews, already resettled in Jerusalem after the exile, lived
comfortably in well-built residences, adorned with wood panels, enjoying
increasing prosperity. Although there was consensus on the need to rebuild the
temple, most believed that this project could wait (1.2)." [76]
The Lord raised up Haggai and exhorted the Jews to rebuild the temple in
Jerusalem promising great blessings, if they would be obedient to Him,
especially bringing peace to Jerusalem.
The unfaithfulness of the people caused there to be want in Jerusalem.
There were four prophecies of Haggai. The governor and
the priest were awakened.
The promise is that the second glory will be greater
than the first.
Haggai aroused the people to prioritize the
construction of the temple. The people were awakened.
Prophecy of Haggai awakens the governor and the priest
to the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem
In the first chapter of
Haggai it is recorded that "the word of the Lord came through Haggai the
prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel the governor of Judah, and to Joshua
the son of Josedek the high priest."
And Haggai's prophecy makes a strong argument: "You sowed much and
produced little; you eat, but you don't have enough; you drink, but you are not
satisfied with drink; you are clothed, but there is no one hot; and he who
receives wages receives wages to put him in a bag with holes!".
And the prophecy says more:
"Go
up into the mountain, bring wood and build the house; and I will delight in it,
and I will be glorified, says the Lord."
And Wesley explained, "Be pleased - I will accept your offerings and hear your
prayers.
Glorified - Show my majesty and consider me glorified
by you too."
The
prophecy brought results: "And the Lord stirred up the spirit of
Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, and the spirit of
Joshua the son of Josedek the high priest, and the spirit of all the rest of
the people; and they came and worked in the house of the Lord of hosts their
God."
Haggai 1
Verse 1
And the word of the Lord came to Zerubbabel
through Haggai the prophet
In the second year of king Darius, in the sixth
month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came through Haggai
the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, and to
Joshua the son of Josedek the high priest, saying,
Wesley's Comments
Son - Adopted son of Shealtiel, being of the royal line, but by nature, son
of Pedaiah.
A Kind of Great Liberator
Governor - Appointed to this by the Persian king,
upon the remnant returned from Babylon.
Joshua - One type of the great deliverer; one Joshua takes them into Canaan,
another restores the temple.
Verse 4
This house is devastated
Is it time for you, O you, to dwell in your
roof-houses, and is this house devastated?
Wesley's Comments
Lining - Arched and richly adorned.
Verse 6
You sowed much and produced little
You have sown much and produced little; you eat,
but you don't have enough; you drink, but you are not satisfied with drink; you
are clothed, but there is no one hot; and the one who receives wages receives
wages to put him in a bag with holes.
Wesley's Comments
Don't have enough – But what you eat doesn't nourish or
satisfy you.
Are not full - Their water does not quench their thirst,
their wine does not revive their spirit.
No hot – You have no comfort in that.
With holes - Loses all your work.
Verse 8
Go up to the mountain, bring firewood, and
build the house; and I will gladly do it
Go up to the mountain, bring firewood, and build
the house; and I will delight in it, and I will be glorified, says the Lord.
Wesley's Comments
I will accept your
offerings and hear your prayers
Be pleased - I will accept your offerings and hear your
prayers.
Glorified - Show my majesty and consider me glorified
by you also.
Verse 9
You waited long, and behold, it came in
little
You waited long, and behold, it came in little; And
when you brought him home, I blew on him. Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because
of my house that is devastated, and everyone runs to their home.
Wesley's Comments
It has just arrived - But it did not respond to the expectation.
I blew up – I blew up.
You run - You eagerly carry your own private
buildings.
Verse 10
He restrained from the dew, and the earth
stood still from its fruit
Therefore the heaven above you was restrained from
the dew, and the earth was held back from its fruit.
Wesley's Comments
God forbade them to drop
dew
It was—God forbade them, to let down dew.
Verse 11
And I asked for a drought on the earth
And I asked for a drought upon the earth, and upon
the mountains, and upon the wheat, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and
upon the earth, and upon men, and upon the cattle, and upon all the labor of
the hands.
Wesley's Comments
Many diseases afflicted
them
Upon men - Men's own blood and constitutions were
altered, and many diseases afflicted them.
Verse 13
Then Haggai the messenger of the Lord spoke in the
message of the Lord to the people, saying, "I am with you," says the
Lord.
In the message of the Lord - in the words of his master.
Wesley's Comments
The people - The whole assembly.
Verse 14
And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel
And the LORD stirred up the
spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, and the
spirit of Joshua the son of Josedek the high priest, and the spirit of all the
rest of the people; and they came and worked in the house of the Lord Almighty
their God,
Wesley's Comments
By whose
name he delights to be known among the returned captives
The Lord of Hosts - By whose name he
delights to be known among the returned captives; and it was a name more suited
to his present state, surrounded on all sides with enemies.[77]
The promise of the second house to have a glory
greater than the first
In this
second chapter, Haggai's prophecy says, "Who is left among you
who has seen this house in its first glory?"
And the
prophecy speaks of the glory of the house of the Lord: "And I will shake all
nations, and the desire of all nations will come, and I will fill this house
with glory, saith the Lord of hosts."
Wesley commented, "The
first temple had a glory in its magnificent structure, rich ornaments, and
costly sacrifices; but this was a worldly glory; what is here promised is a
heavenly glory of Christ's presence in it. He who was the brightness of his
Father's glory, who is the glory of the church, appeared in this second
temple."
The
prophecy speaks of the glory of the last (second house): "The glory of this
last house will be greater than that of the first, says the Lord of hosts; and
in this place I will give peace, says the Lord of hosts!"
Haggai 2
Verse 3
Who is left among you who saw this house in
its first glory?
Who is left among you who
saw this house in its first glory? And how do you see it now? Isn't it in your
eyes compared to this like nothing?
Wesley's Comments
That saw - Almost eighty years ago.
The Temple Built by Solomon
This house - The temple built by
Solomon.
Verse 5
So my spirit remains among you
According to the word I
spoke to you when you came out of Egypt, so my spirit remains among you; fear
not.
Wesley's Comments
My spirit - Of strength and courage,
of wisdom and understanding.
Verse 6
I will shake the heavens and the earth
For thus saith the Lord of
hosts; Yet once is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth,
and the sea, and the dry land;
Wesley's Comments
After
many confirmations of the new covenant
Yet once – After many confirmations
of the new covenant, one more remains to be made.
A little time–Though above five hundred
years, yet this was but a little time compared with that between the promise to
Adam and the coming of Christ.
This was metaphorically fulfilled
I will tremble - Whether metaphorical or
literal, it was verified at the time of Christ's coming into the world. After
the return from captivity, by the commotions between the Greeks, Persians, and
Romans, which began soon after this period; This was metaphorically fulfilled.
And it was literally fulfilled by wonders and earthquakes, at the birth, death,
and resurrection of Christ.
Verse 7
I will fill this house with glory
And I will shake all
nations, and the desire of all nations will come, and I will fill this house
with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.
Wesley's Comments
Which
was literally fulfilled in the overthrow of the Persian monarchy by the Greeks
All nations - Which was literally
fulfilled in the overthrow of the Persian monarchy by the Greeks, in the civil
wars and successive troubles between Alexander's successors, the growth of
Roman power subduing its neighbours, and their dissensions and domestic wars.
Christ,
the Most Desirable, for All Nations
The desire–Christ, the most
desirable, to all nations, and who was desired by all who knew his own misery,
and his sufficiency to save them, who should be the light of the Gentiles, as
well as the glory of his people Israel.
The first temple had a glory in its magnificent structure
With glory - The first temple had a
glory in its magnificent structure, rich ornaments, and costly sacrifices; but
this was a worldly glory; what is here promised is a heavenly glory of the
presence of Christ in it. He who was the brightness of his father's glory, who
is the glory of the church, appeared in this second temple.
Verse 8
Mine is silver, and mine is gold
Silver is mine, and gold is
mine, saith the Lord of hosts.
Wesley's Comments
The silver - The treasures of both:
doubt not, therefore, but I will give enough to build this house.
Verse 9
The glory of the latter house will be greater than that of the former
The glory of the latter
house shall be greater than that of the former, saith the Lord of hosts; and in
this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.
Wesley's Comments
In this place - In my house, a type of
Christ.
Peace - A spiritual, inner,
heavenly peace.
Verse 11
And the priests answered and said,
"No."
Thus says the Lord of
hosts; Now ask the priests about the law, saying:
Wesley's Comments
About the law - What the law says in
this case.
Verse 12
If any man shall bear holy
flesh in the hem of his garments, and touch with its hem bread, or stew, or
wine, or oil, or any other flesh, shall he be holy? And the priests answered
and said, "No."
Wesley's Comments
Part of
the sacrifice
Holy flesh - Part of the sacrifice,
legally sanctified, or sanctified by the altar on which the whole was
sanctified.
On the skirt - On the lap of your
garment, or on any other cloth, and if this cloth touches any common thing like
bread, etc., will it become legally holy?
Verse 13
And the priests answered and said, "It
will be unclean
And Haggai said, "If
anyone who is unclean by a dead body touches any of these things, is he
unclean?" And the priests answered and said, "She will be
unclean."
Wesley's Comments
Said: "Now the second case
is proposed.
Should what the unclean touches become unclean?
These - Bread or stew, wine or oil, or meat.
Impure - Should what the unclean
touches become impure? Though a mediate touch of what is holy does not make
holy, yet a mediate touch of what is polluted
Will it not contaminate?
Verse 14
What they offer there is impure
And Haggai answered,
"Thus is this people, and thus is this nation before me," says the
Lord; and so is all the work of his hands; and what they offer there is
unclean.
Wesley's Comments
Polluted
people, touching what's clean
Then - Polluted people,
touching what is clean, pollute it, so polluted Jews, polluted God's
ordinances, while the outward performance of legal duties, left them as profane
in themselves, as they were before: a little more than ought to be done. The
soul must be purified first, so that it and we can offer a pure offering.
Whatever they do, they pollute everything with polluted hands
The people - The body of the Jews.
Every job – Whatever they do, they
pollute everything with polluted hands.
Impure
hearts
Offering - What they bring to the
altar with unclean hearts, is polluted by them.
Verse 15
Before you put a stone upon a stone
Now therefore, I pray you,
consider from this day forward, from before a stone was laid upon another in
the temple of the Lord;
Wesley's Comments
Up - In recent years.
Before you start rebuilding the temple
Before - Before you begin to
rebuild the temple after you have stopped it.
Verse 16
All the while the temple was neglected
As those days were when you
came to a pile of twenty measures, there were only ten: when you came to the
press to take fifty vessels out of the press, there were only twenty.
Wesley's Comments
Since - All the time the temple
has been neglected.
When one came - Men are disappointed
half and half.
Proved to be only half of his hope
But ten - Which he expected to
taste twenty measures, ephahs, or bushels. It proved to be only half of his
hope, therefore his corn failed and his oil much more.
Verse 17
I wounded you with a scourge and with mold
I have smitten thee with
sores, and with mildew, and with hail, in all the work of thy hands; yet ye
have not returned unto me, saith the Lord.
Wesley's Comments
Blessing - Burning and scorching
winds.
All jobs - In your ploughing and
sowing, in the planting of olives and vines.
Verse 18
From the day the foundation of the temple of
the Lord was laid
Consider now, from this day
forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation
of the temple of the Lord was laid, consider it.
Wesley's Comments
From the day - When you began to build
on the old foundation.
Verse 19
From today I will bless you
Is the seed still in the
barn? yes, it has not yet brought forth the vine, the fig tree, the
pomegranate, and the olive tree; From this day I will bless you.
Wesley's Comments
You will be blessed in all of them, and you will have a great production
It is the seed - Your seed for the next
harvest is still in your barns.
Produced not - No sign yet appears what
vintage you will have, what stock of wine, oil, figs, and pomegranates. Yet in
the word of God I say to you, You will be blessed in them all, and you will
have a great production.
Verse 23
'Cause I chose you
In that day, saith the LORD
of hosts, I will take thee, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel,
saith the LORD, and will make thee a seal; for I have chosen you, saith the
Lord of hosts.
Wesley's Comments
My servant - A type of him who was
the most beloved servant of God.
Thus the antitypical Zerubbabel, the Messiah
As a signet - Which is highly valued
and carefully maintained. Thus the antitypical Zerubbabel, the Messiah, will be
promoted He is indeed the signet at the right hand of God. For all power is
given to him and derived from him. In it the great letter of the gospel is
signed and sanctified, and it is in it that all the promises of God are yes and
amen.[78]
===============================
Visions of the Restoration of Jerusalem
and the coming of the Messiah in the book of Zechariah
===============================
John Wesley, in his notes on the Bible, singles out
the prophet Zechariah primarily for his messianic and apocalyptic function, focusing on the
clarity with which he foresaw the coming and suffering of Christ. [1]
Table
of Contents
· Introduction
·
Promises of restoration and the coming of the
Messiah
· A call to conversion
· Future prosperity
· Promise of removal of wickedness
· God's promise to use High
Priest Joshua to finish rebuilding the temple
· Vision of the flying scroll
and the woman in a basket reveal the sins of Judah
·
Vision of the building of
the temple in Jerusalem
· Promise of Jerusalem's
Restoration
·
Prophecies of the coming of
the Messiah
· Restoration and Blessings for
Judah
· Promise of Purification and
Restoration of the Inhabitants of Jerusalem
Introduction
"Visions
of the Restoration of Jerusalem and the Coming of the Messiah" is a book
that refers to the book of Zechariah with explanatory notes by Wesley. A book
of 66 pages.
The book of Zechariah relates the prophecies of the
prophet Zechariah to the people of Jerusalem, who were still working to rebuild
their lives and also their faith after the period of exile in Babylon.
"Throughout 14 chapters we can observe the
messages that the Lord transmitted to the prophet Zechariah through visions.
The people were discouraged and their faith was shaken after leaving exile and
the prophet, through his messages, endeavored to encourage the people to resume
their faith in God and be saved."[2]
Zechariah, according to the Bible, was a priest of
the temple of Jerusalem and a prophet.
Zechariah
"was a contemporary of Haggai (Ezra 5:1). With Haggai, he was
called to awaken the returning Jews, to complete the task of rebuilding the
temple (Ezra 6:14).[1] As the son of Barachiah,
the son of Iddo, he was of one of the
priestly families of the tribe of Levi. He is one of the most
Messianic of all the Old Testament prophets, given distinct and proven
references to the coming of the Messiah."[3]
Zechariah was also a prophet.
"He is one of the most messianic of
all the Old Testament prophets, given distinct and proven references to the
coming of the Messiah"
"His prophetic career began in the second year of Darius I, King of the Achaemenid Empire (520 B.C.), about six years before
the first group returned from the
Babylonian exile."[4]
The book of Zechariah contains several visions. "Zechariah's night
visions demonstrated God's continuing concern for the protection and
restoration of His people (1:16, 17, 20; 2:11, 12; 8:3-23), as well as the importance
of Zerubbabel and Joshua in God's plan (3:1-14; 6:9-15)."[5]
Zechariah lived in the post-Babylonian period. "It is here also
that the prophet is clear in saying that the exile from Babylon was not a mere
coincidence. It was the result of Judah's disobedience and unfaithfulness to
the Lord and His precepts (1:4-6; 7:11-14). Once the lesson of the results of
disobedience had been learned, the Jewish community of Zechariah's day was to
live out the loyalty expected by God (3:7)."[6]
Zechariah predicted the
Messiah, and Jesus fulfilled Zechariah's prophecy about the colt: "Rejoice
greatly, O daughter of Zion; cry out, O daughter of Jerusalem, Behold, your
King is coming to you: he is righteous and has salvation; humble, and riding on
a donkey, and on a colt, the colt of an ass."
Wesley explained the words:
"Thy king—the Messiah.
He is righteous - The
righteous, who comes to fulfill all righteousness.
Have salvation - To
bestow on all who believe in him."
Zechariah was a
prophet of hope.
Zechariah
also spoke of 30 pieces of silver. Some scholars claim that it refers to the 30
pieces of silver of Judas who betrayed Jesus: "For I said to them, 'If it
seems good in your eyes, give me my wages, and if not, leave it. And they
weighed my wages, thirty pieces of silver" (Zechariah 11:12).
And
Jesus in Matthew 26:31 quoted the prophet Zechariah: "Then Jesus said to
the disciples, 'This night I will be a stumbling block to all of you, for it is
written, 'I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be
scattered.'"
"The
last six chapters of Zechariah focus especially on a future period of the
restored Jewish community. These prophecies reveal God's plan to bring powerful
and greater blessings to Jerusalem: God would avenge His people by destroying
their enemies (9:1-8); the great King of Israel would arise in Jerusalem,
ushering in a time of peace (9:9-17); and God would gather His scattered people
(10:1–11:3). The final chapters culminate in the vision of God's final victory
over those who continued to resist His will (12:1-9) and the cleansing of the
land and the people (13:1-9). The divine warrior will return, and all humans
will be subjected to His reign (14:1-21). Zechariah's visions of the coming of
a king and of a final victory over evil point not only to Christ's earthly
ministry, but also to His ultimate victory described in Revelation." [7]
A book to learn more about the prophecies about the
Messiah.
Promises
of restoration and the coming of the Messiah
Rejoice
greatly, O daughter of Zion; cry out, O daughter of Jerusalem, Behold, your
King is coming to you: he is righteous and has salvation; humble, and riding on
an ass, and on a colt, the colt of an ass
Several texts in the book
of Zechariah speak of sin, the restoration of Judah and Jerusalem, and the
coming of the Messiah.
Among them are:
- Yahweh was deeply angry
with your ancestors.
Then you shall say to the
people of today, 'This is what Yahweh of hosts says: 'Come back to me,' says
Yahweh of hosts, 'and I will come back to you,' says Yahweh of hosts.
- Do not do as your
ancestors did. The prophets of old called their attention, saying, "Thus
says the Lord of hosts: Turn from your ways and from your evil deeds." But
they did not listen, nor did they pay attention to me, declares the Lord.
-And he said unto him, Run,
speak unto this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as cities
without walls, unto the multitude of men and cattle that are in it.
- Rejoice exceedingly, O
daughter of Zion; cry out, O daughter of Jerusalem, Behold, your King is coming
to you: he is righteous and has salvation; humble, and riding on an ass, and on
a colt, the colt of an ass.
- For behold, the stone
which I set before Joshua; seven eyes will be on one stone: behold, I will
engrave the engraving thereof, saith the Lord of hosts, and will remove
iniquity from that land in one day.
Zerubbabel's hands laid the foundation of this house; his hands will
also finish it; and you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.
- For who despised the day of
small things? for they will rejoice, and see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's
hand with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which roam all the earth.
"Then I turned and
looked up, and looked, and there was a flying roll.
And he said unto me, This
is the curse that goeth out upon the face of all the earth: for whosoever
stealeth shall be cut off as on this side, according to it; and everyone who
swears will be cut off as on that side, according to him.
And behold, there arose a
talent of lead, and this is a woman sitting in the midst of the ephah.
And he said, "This is
wickedness." And he cast him into the midst of the ephah; and he threw the
weight of the lead over his mouth
- And
they that are far off shall come, and build in the temple of the LORD: and ye
shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to
pass, if ye diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.
And I will bring them, and
they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be my people, and I
will be their God in truth and in righteousness.
- Thus saith the LORD of
hosts; Your hands be strong, you who in these days hear these words by the
mouth of the prophets, who in the day when the foundation of the house of the
Lord Almighty was laid, that the temple might be built
- Rejoice exceedingly, O
daughter of Zion; cry out, O daughter of Jerusalem, Behold, your King is coming
to you: he is righteous and has salvation; humble, and riding on an ass, and on
a colt, the colt of an ass-ass
- And I will strengthen the
house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and bring them back to put
them; for I have mercy on them, and they shall be as though I had not cast them
off, for I am the Lord their God, and I will hear them.
- And I will sow them among
the people, and they shall remember me in lands far off; and they shall live
with their children, and be converted.
In that day a spring will
be opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem because of
sin and uncleanness
A call to conversion
Yahweh
was deeply angry with your ancestors.
Then you
shall say to the people of today, 'This is what Yahweh of hosts says: 'Come
back to me,' says Yahweh of hosts, 'and I will come back to you,' says Yahweh
of hosts.
Do not
do as your ancestors did. The prophets of old called their attention, saying,
"Thus says the Lord of hosts: Turn from your ways and from your evil
deeds." But they did not listen, nor did they pay attention to me,
declares the Lord.[8]
Zechariah 1
Verse 1
the word of the Lord came to Zechariah
In the eighth month, in the
second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the son of
Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
In the eighth month – Two
months later, Haggai began to encourage the Jews to build the temple, Wesley
said.
Zechariah - Probably this is that Zechariah whom the
Jews slew between the temple and the altar, Matthew 23:35, said Wesley.
Verses 2-4
Come back to me
Yahweh was deeply angry
with your ancestors.
Then you shall say to the
people of today, 'This is what Yahweh of hosts says: 'Come back to me,' says
Yahweh of hosts, 'and I will come back to you,' says Yahweh of hosts.
Turn from your ways and your evil deeds
Do not do as your ancestors
did. The prophets of old called their attention, saying, "Thus says the
Lord of hosts: Turn from your ways and from your evil deeds." But they did
not listen, nor did they pay attention to me, declares the Lord.
Verse 5
Your parents, where are they?
Your parents, where are
they? And the prophets, do they live forever?
Where are they - But where are their disobedient parents?
Were they not consumed by famine and the sword, as I threatened them? They live
- The prophets died like others; they must not always live to warn you, Wesley
said.
Verse 6
But have not my words and my statutes, which
I commanded my servants the prophets, taken possession of your fathers?
But have not my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the
prophets, taken possession of your fathers? And they returned, and said, As the
Lord of hosts thought to do to us according to our ways, and according to our
works, so hath he dealt with us.
Wesley commented:
My words - The terrible threats I have spoken.
My statutes - The decreed
judgments which I have resolved
to execute upon them, which by my prophets I have proclaimed.
Grab Yourself - Overtake as a pursuing enemy overtakes and
grabs your enemy.
They returned - Hence it must appear that Zechariah gave
them time to consider what to answer.
Thus he dealt - It is true, as God said he would, so he did against us.
I saw it by night, and behold a man riding a
red horse
I saw it by night, and
behold a man riding on a red horse, and he was among the myrtles that were at
the bottom; and behind him were red, speckled, white horses.
Wesley explained:
A man–Christ Jesus in the form of a man.
Riding - In a posture of readiness.
A red horse - This color is a symbol of his coming to
take revenge on his enemies.
The myrtles - He stood in a convenient place to observe
and be ready, among verdant and fragrant trees, emblems of the saints of God.
At the bottom - This fund or valley in which the myrtles
grew, is an emblem of the church in a low and afflicted state.
Behind him–Christ was, as one becomes a captain, in
front, the rest, as his soldiers, are behind to attend him.
Wesley said:
Red horses - Horses and riders, and these are angels,
verse - 10. And the colour of these horses is red, probably denoting the bloody
condition of states and kingdoms, by wars against each other when God punishes
his church, or when he takes vengeance.
Speckled - Of a mixed colour; perhaps an emblem of
subjects, not all dark, not all light, as those during the last seventy
prophetic weeks.
White - An emblem of the church's best days.
Verse 9
O my lord, what are these?
And I said, "O my
lord, what are these?" And the angel who spoke with me said to me, "I
will show you what these are."
Wesley explained:
O my Lord - This
was Christ, the Lord of hosts.
What are these - What
is the meaning of these apparitions.
The Angel–Christ,
the angel of the covenant.
Verse 10
These
are the ones whom the Lord sent to walk to and fro on the earth
And the man who was among the myrtles answered and said, "These are
the ones whom the Lord has sent to walk to and fro in the earth."
These--Horsemen,
are angels, who are ministers of Divine Providence in the government of the
world, said Wesley.
Verse 11
They answered the angel of the Lord, who was
among the myrtles, and said
They answered the angel of
the Lord who was among the myrtles, and said, "We have walked to and fro
in the earth, and behold, the whole earth is quiet and at rest."
Is at rest - All
men are quiet to rest. Everything is peaceful. This was the state of the empire
that at that time ruled everything, Wesley said.
Verse 12
O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou have no
mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah
And the angel of the Lord
answered, and said, O Lord of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on
Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which thou hast been indignant these
sixty years?
Angel of the Lord - The angel, the Lord Christ, said Wesley.
Verse 14
He cries out, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts
And the angel who spoke
with me said to me, 'Cry out, saying, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts; I am
jealous of Jerusalem and Zion with great zeal.
Cry thou - Now
publish what thou hearest, and assure my poor captive church, that God will do
good to them, said Wesley.
Verse 15
And I'm very displeased with the nations
Wesley commented:
A little displeased - With
my own people, that is, in comparison with the anger I have against the
heathen.
Helped move forward - I tried to destroy who I
would just correct.
Verse 16
I returned to Jerusalem with mercy
Therefore thus saith the
Lord; I returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built there, saith
the Lord of hosts, and a string shall be spread over Jerusalem.
A line - The
builder's measuring line should be stretched, to mark the walls, gates, streets
and houses in Jerusalem, Wesley said.
Verse 17
my cities for prosperity will still be
scattered; and the Lord will yet comfort Zion
Cry again, saying, Thus
saith the Lord of hosts; my cities for prosperity will still be scattered; and
the Lord will still comfort Zion, and will still choose Jerusalem.
Through prosperity – Through increasing families,
they will send colonies, and plant new cities, and through increasing wealth
and livestock, they will be able to build their cities and stock their
colonies, Wesley said.
Verse 18
Then I
lifted up my eyes, and saw
Then I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, four horns.
Four horns - Emblems of the enemies of the Jews, said Wesley.
Verse 19
These are
the horns that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem
And I said to the angel who spoke with me,
"What is this?" And he answered me, "These are the horns that
scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem."
Wesley explained:
The horns—powers, states, and kingdoms, which on every side
have pushed, broken, and thrown my people.
Judah - The two tribes.
Israel - The ten tribes.
Verse 21
These are the horns that scattered Judah
Then I
said, "What are these coming to do?" And he said, These are the horns
that scattered Judah, so that no one lifted up his head; but these came to wear
them out, to cast off the horns of the Gentiles, who lifted up their horns over
the land of Judah to scatter it.
Wesley explained;
He – Christ.
These - He first points to the four horns.
But these - These carpenters are emblems of those
instruments which God will employ to break these destroyers.
Who lifts up - Who has employed his arms and force against the
kingdom of Judah, to drive them out of the inheritance of God.[9]
Future
prosperity
And he said unto him, Run, speak unto this young
man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as cities without walls, unto the
multitude of men and cattle that are in it
Zechariah
2
Verse 2
To measure
Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length
Then I said, "Where
are you going?" And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is
its breadth and what is its length.
Wesley
commented:
Measure - To take the exact dimensions of it, that it may
respond to God's promise and be able to receive its inhabitants.
Jerusalem - The city that was to be built next.
Verse 3
And behold, the angel that spoke with me came out
And behold,
the angel that spoke with me went out, and another angel went out to meet him,
Wesley
commented:
The angel–Christ, who had spoken so long with Zechariah.
Came out - Out of the midst of the myrtles.
Verse 4
Jerusalem
will be inhabited as cities without walls for the multitude
And he said to him, "Run, speak to this young
man, saying, 'Jerusalem will be inhabited as cities without walls for the
multitude of men and cattle that are in it.'
Wesley
commented:
And he said, Christ to that angel that came to meet him.
Run–Hurry up and tell Zechariah.
As cities - His suburbs will be like cities without walls,
for extension and security.
Verse 5
I'll be a
wall of fire around her
For I, says the Lord, will be to her a wall of fire
round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
"My presence and favor will make it glorious," said Wesley.
Verse 6
'Cause I
scattered you like the four winds of heaven
Go out, and flee from the land of the north, saith
the Lord, for I have scattered thee as the four winds of heaven, saith the
LORD.
Wesley
explained:
Ho, ho—Ye sleepy Jews.
Get out - Get out of your prisons.
Run away - Make all your haste.
Of the land–Babylon, which was north of Canaan.
For I have scattered thee - As I have executed my
threatenings in spreading it, so I will fulfill my promise, and gather it.
Verse 7
O Zion, who
dwellest with the daughter of Babylon
Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the
daughter of Babylon.
Deliver thyself - Accept thy deliverance, said Wesley.
Verse 8
For thus saith the Lord of hosts; After his glory,
he sent me to the nations that spoiled you, because he who touches you touches
the apple of his eye.
After the glory - After he became his glory, I am to avenge him
from his enemies, said Wesley.
Verse 9
For behold,
I will shake my hand upon them
Wesley
commented:
About them - Against the nation that does violence to my
people.
To his servants - To the Jews, who were first stripped by, and
afterwards made servants unto them.
Sent me - To inform them of my father's will.
Verse 10
for behold,
I am coming, and will dwell among thee
Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for behold, I
am coming, and will dwell among you, saith the Lord.
Wesley
commented:
I come - To execute judgments upon thy adversaries, and
to complete thy deliverance and salvation.
I will dwell–This was fulfilled partly for the Jews, but more
fully for the evangelical church.
Verse 11
And many
nations will be gathered to the Lord in that day
And many nations shall be gathered unto the Lord in
that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell among you, and you will know
that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.
Wesley
explained:
Shall be united - Shall worship the God of Israel.
In that day - When Christ comes in flesh and blood, and breaks
down the dividing wall.
He sent me – The Messiah.
Verse 12
choose
Jerusalem again
And the Lord shall inherit Judah her portion in the
holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
Inherit - Claim, recover, possess, and delight, as a man does in
his paternal inheritance, said Wesley.
Verse 13
for he was raised up from his holy dwelling
Be silent, all flesh, before the
Lord, for he has been raised up from his holy habitation.
Wesley commented:
Be silent - Reverence and worship God,
and wait for the fulfillment of his word.
All flesh - both Jew and Gentile.
He is lifted up - God is already in this work,
and he will not sit down again, till he has done all his work.[10]
Promise
of removal of wickedness
For behold
the stone which I laid before Joshua; seven eyes will be on one stone: behold,
I will engrave the engraving thereof, saith the Lord of hosts, and will remove
iniquity from that land in one day.
Zechariah
3
Verse 1
And he
showed me Joshua the high priest
And Joshua
the high priest showed me standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan
standing at his right hand, to resist him.
Wesley
explained:
And he--The Lord represented to me in a vision.
Standing—Ministering in your office.
The angel - Christ.
Verse 2
The Lord
rebuke thee, O Satan
And the
Lord said to Satan, "The Lord rebuke you, O Satan; even the Lord, who
chose Jerusalem, rebukes you; Is not this a brand taken from the fire?
Christ, as mediator
Wesley said:
The Lord–Christ, as
mediator, would rather rebuke him in the name of his Father, than in his own.
That's not it - Joshua.
Verse 3
Joshua was
clothed in filthy garments
Now Joshua
was clothed in filthy garments, and stood on his feet—
Wesley
said:
With filthy
garments - The emblem of a poor or sinful state.
The angel - Christ.
Verse 4
Behold, I
have made thy iniquity pass from thee, and will clothe thee with dumb garments
And he answered and spoke to those who stood
before him, saying, "Take off his filthy garments." And he said unto
him, Behold, I have made thy iniquity depart from thee, and will clothe thee
with dumb garments.
Wesley
said;
And he - Christ.
For those – ministerial angels.
I have
caused - What the angels could not take away, Christ
did; He removed the filth of sin, the guilt, and the stain from it.
With change
of clothes - Clean and rich, the emblem of holiness.
Verse 5
And the
angel of the Lord was there
And I said,
"Put a mitre on his head." Then they put a beautiful mitre over his
head and dressed him in clothes. And the angel of the Lord was there.
Wesley
commented:
I said—Zechariah takes the boldness to desire this for Joshua, which may
increase his authority, and he asks for the thing of Christ.
A tight
mitre - The proper ornament for the head of the
high priest.
With
garments - All the garments that belonged to the high
priest.
The angel - Christ.
Verse 6
the angel
of the Lord protested to Joshua
And the
angel of the Lord reproached Joshua, saying,
Protested - Solemnly declared, said Wesley.
Verse 7
Thus says
the Lord of hosts
Thus says
the Lord of hosts; If you walk in my ways, and if you keep my warrant, then you
will judge my house also, and you will keep my courts also, and I will give you
places to walk among these that are there.
Wesley
commented:
My charge - The special charge and office of the high priest.
Judge - Be ruler in the temple, and in the things that pertain to the worship
of God there.
Guard–Not as a servant, but as the chief, in whom others wait, and at last
you will have a place among my angels.
Verse 8
for behold,
I will bring forth my servant, the BRANCH
Hear now, O
Joshua the high priest, you and your companions who sit before you, for they
are men of wonder, for behold, I will bring out my servant, the BRANCH.
Wesley
commented:
Thy
companions - Thy associates in the priestly office.
Who sit - As assessors in a council.
Amazed - The unbelieving Jews marvel at them; at their labour and expense in
attempting to build such a house.
Bring it - God the
Father will bring a far more wonderful work.
The Branch - The Messiah.
Verse 9
and I will
remove iniquity from that land in one day
For behold
the stone which I laid before Joshua; seven eyes will be on one stone: behold,
I will engrave the engraving thereof, saith the Lord of hosts, and will remove
iniquity from that land in one day.
Wesley
commented:
Behold, (pointing to a particular stone) that stone which I have placed in the
sight of Joshua.
Upon a stone - Upon that stone are seven eyes, probably placed in such a manner,
that they might look in many ways; so it was a more exact emblem of Christ and
of his perfect knowledge and wisdom.
I have
removed - forgiven the iniquity of this land at once.
The temple, founded on this cornerstone, guarded and watched over by all-seeing
Providence, is the blessing and honor of that people, whose sins are all
forgiven.
Verse 10
you shall call each one his neighbor under the vine and under the fig
tree
In that day, saith the Lord of
hosts, ye shall call every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig
tree.
Wesley commented:
In that day - To take away the sins of my
people.
Ye shall call—You shall invite one another to
refresh yourselves with the sweet fruit of the vine and fig tree. When iniquity
is taken away, we receive precious benefits from our justification, more
precious than the fruit of the vine or fig tree. And we rest in sweet
tranquility, being quiet from the fear of evil.[11]
God's promise to use High Priest
Joshua to finish rebuilding the temple
Zerubbabel's hands laid the foundation of this
house; his hands will also finish it; and you will know that the Lord of hosts
has sent me to you.
For who
despised the day of small things? for they will rejoice, and see the plumb line
in Zerubbabel's hand with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which
roam all the earth.
Zechariah 4
Verse 2
I looked,
and behold a lampstand all of gold, with a cup on top
And he said
to me, "What do you see?" And I said, I looked, and behold, a
lampstand all of gold, with a cup on top, and the seven lamps thereof, and
seven tubes for the seven lamps, which are above.
Wesley's
comments:
With a bowl - Or bowl.
His seven
lamps - The lampstand of the temple had so many.
And seven
pipes - Then each of the lamps had a pipe that went
from it to the bowl.
At the top - These lamps were placed so that they were slightly higher than the
body of the candlestick.
Verse 3
and two olive trees by it
and two olive trees beside it,
one on the right of the bowl, and the other on the left.
Two olive trees by him - All of which is an emblem of
the church, made of pure gold; to be a light in the world; to shine like lamps
that burn continually, kept with pure oil, distilled from olive trees, not
pressed by man, but continually, abundantly, and freely flowing from God, said
Wesley.
Verse 7
Who art
thou, O great mountain?
Wesley's
comments:
O great mountain - All opposers together.
Become a
plain - You will sink into nothingness.
The head
stone - Should help in the placement of the
finishing stone, as it helped when the foundation stone was laid.
Grace,
grace - Wishing all prosperity, and a long
continuance of it, for the temple and those who should worship God in it. As
God's free favor began and ended, may it always dwell in him and replenish him.
Verse 9
Zerubbabel's hands laid the foundation of this
house
Zerubbabel's hands laid the foundation of this
house; his hands will also finish it; and you will know that the Lord of hosts
has sent me to you.
Thou–Zerubbabel and all the Jews, said Wesley.
Verse 10
they are
the eyes of the Lord, which roam all over the earth
For who despised
the day of small things? for they will rejoice, and see the plumb line in
Zerubbabel's hand with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which roam
all the earth.
Wesley's
comments:
For he who
despised - In the work of God, the day of small things
is not to be despised. God often uses weak instruments, to bring about mighty
things: and though the beginnings are small, he may cause the last end to
increase greatly.
For - Though they have underestimated the meanness of the second temple,
yet when they are finished they will rejoice in it.
The plumb line - The
perpendicular with which Zerubbabel will attempt the finished work.
With those
seven - In subordination to the Divine Providence
expressed by the seven eyes, which were in that stone. And those who have the
plumb line in their hand, must look into these eyes of the Lord, must have a
constant regard for Divine Providence, and as dependent upon their conduct and
submission to its provisions.
Verse 12
What are
these two olive branches
And I answered again, and said unto him, What are these two branches of
olive, which by the two golden pipes empty the golden oil of themselves?
Wesley
said:
I replied - I started to speak.
To him – The angel.
What are these - Two main branches, one on each tree, more full of berries, and
hanging over the golden pipes.
Through the
pipes - These were attached to the bowl, on each
side, with a hole in the sides of the bowl, to allow the distilled oil from
these olive branches to drain into the bowl.
Out of
themselves - An emblem of supernatural grace; these
branches full of the true olive tree, are ever empty, and are ever full; so are
the ordinances of the gospel.
Verse 14
These are
the two anointed ones
And he said, These are the two anointed, who stand by the Lord of all
the earth.
The two
anointed ones - Christ and the Holy Spirit. The Son
was to be sent by the Father, as well as the Holy Spirit. And they're right
next to him, ready to go[12],
Wesley said.
Vision of
the flying scroll and the woman in a basket reveal the sins of Judah
So I turned and looked up, and behold, and
behold, a flying roll.
And he said
unto me, This is the curse that goeth out upon the face of all the earth: for
whosoever stealeth shall be cut off as on this side, according to it; and
everyone who swears will be cut off as on that side, according to him.
And behold,
there arose a talent of lead, and this is a woman sitting in the midst of the
ephah.
And he
said, "This is wickedness." And he cast him into the midst of the
ephah; and he threw the weight of the lead over his mouth
Zechariah 5
Verse 1
Behold a
flying roll
So I turned and looked up, and behold, and behold, a flying roll.
A flying
scroll — A volume, or book spread out largely,
flying in the air, rapidly, Wesley said.
Verse 3
This is the
curse that goes out on the face of the whole earth
And he said unto me, This is the curse that goeth out upon the face of
all the earth: for whosoever stealeth shall be cut off as on this side,
according to it; and everyone who swears will be cut off as on that side,
according to him.
This - This scroll or book contains the curse, due to sinners, said Wesley.
Wesley
commented:
All the
land - Or all the land of Judea, or all the world,
wherever these sins are found.
According
to him - According to the threats inscribed on it.
Swears – profanely or falsely.
Verse 4
I will
bring him out, says the Lord of hosts
I will
bring him out, saith the Lord of hosts, and he shall enter into the house of
the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name; and he
shall stand in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with his wood and
his stones.
Wesley
said:
He shall
come in - This curse shall come with commission from
me.
Shall abide - Shall stand near them and them like the leprosy of Gehazi.
And the
stones - Nothing shall remain, as when the wood and
stones of a house are consumed.
Verse 6
This is
their likeness throughout the earth
And I said: What is this? And he said, This is an ephah that goes out.
And he said, "This is their likeness in all the earth."
Wesley
said:
He – The angel.
An ephah - A measure that contained about three bushels.
Sai - Outside the temple.
Their
likeness - This is an emblem of this people
everywhere. Thus, there is limited time and measure for them, while they sin
and are filling the ephah with their sins, they will find that the ephah of
wrath is also full to be poured out upon them.
Verse 7
And this is
a woman setting in the midst of the ephah
And behold,
there arose a talent of lead, and this is a woman sitting in the midst of the
ephah.
Wesley
commented:
And behold—Here's another part of this vision.
Raised - Brought thither to cover it.
A talent–A piece of lead of a weight of talent, as great as the mouth of the
ephah.
A woman–A woman, the third in the vision. Perhaps this view was purposely obscure, at least a simple denunciation of the second overthrow of the state and the temple, might discourage them from going forward in the present restoration of them.
Verse 8
And cast
him into the midst of the ephah
And he
said, "This is wickedness." And he cast him into the midst of the
ephah; and he threw the weight of the lead over his mouth.
Wesley
commented:
This - This woman represents the wickedness of the Jews.
He cast - The angel struck down this woman.
In the
mouth - And so shut it, to suffer the punishment of
all its sins.
Verse 9
And behold,
two women came out, and the wind was in their wings
And I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and,
behold, two women came out, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings
like the wings of a stork, and lifted up the ephah between earth and heaven.
Wesley
commented:
Went out - From the same place whence came the ephah.
Their wings–They had wings, like the wings of storks, great and strong, and they
flew before the wind with great swiftness. The judgments came flying like this,
and so they took with them those who were incorrigible.
Verse 11
To build her a house in the land of Shinar
And he said unto me, To build
her a house in the land of Shinar, and it shall be established, and there
sitteth upon her foundation.
Wesley commented:
Build - Not in mercy, but in
judgment.
From Shinar - From Babylon, whither many of
the Jews fled, and others of them were forced by the Romans.
Situated there - There they will be confined
without hope of deliverance.
Their own foundation - They are established on the
dregs of their own unbelief: their wickedness is established on their own
foundations.[13]
Vision of
the building of the temple in Jerusalem
And they that are far off shall
come and build in the temple of the Lord, and ye shall know that the Lord of
hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye diligently obey
the voice of the Lord your God
Zechariah 6
Verse 1
and I looked,
and, behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains
And I
turned and lifted up my eyes, and looked, and, behold, four chariots came out
from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of bronze.
Wesley
commented:
Four chariots - Angels who are sometimes termed chariots of God. These, as employed
in the affairs of the church and empire, act their part in the revolution and
changes of things, until the gospel is preached by the Messiah and the
apostles.
Brazen - These denote the immovable decrees of God, his constant execution of
his counsels, and the insuperable restraints upon all empires and countries,
which God keeps within the barriers of such impregnable mountains.
Verse 2
In the
first chariot there were red horses
In the
first carriage there were red horses; and in the second carriage black horses;
Wesley
commented:
Red horses–Perhaps denoting bloody times, Revelation 6:4.
Black horses - Perhaps
a time of mortality, and debilitating diseases, Revelation 6:5.
Verse 3
And in the
third carriage white horses
And in the
third chariot white horses; and in the fourth carriage grisled horses and bays.
Wesley
explained:
White
horses - Signifying joyful and prosperous subjects,
chap. 1:8.
Grisled - A mixed state of affairs.
Verse 5
These are the four spirits of the heavens
And the
angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of heaven, which
come forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.
Wesley
explained:
These are - The angels of heaven, who have a great share in the administration of
the affairs of church and states.
From heaven - Who reside in heaven, until they are employed, go thither when
employed, and, having done their work, return thither.
Standing - They stand as servants attending to their Lord's command.
Verse 6
The black
horses that are there leave for the country from the north
The black
horses that are there leave for the country of the north; and the whites go out
after them; and the mighty men go out to the land of the south.
Wesley
explained:
The black
horses - The angels represented by the black horses
are the executioners of God's righteous displeasure.
Ai – In the second carriage.
The country
of the north - Babylon.
The grisled - The angels represented by these, administered the Roman power, which
was sometimes favourable, sometimes fierce and severe, to those with whom they
had to do.
The
southern country - Egypt and Arabia, which lay south of Judea.
Perhaps it may point to the invasion of Africa also, the punishments of which
were mingled, with kindness and mercy more than the punishments of Babylon.
Verse 7
Get out of here, walk up and down the earth
And the bay
went out, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro on the land; and he
said, "Go from here, walk to and fro on the earth." So they walked to
and fro across the earth.
Wesley
said:
Sought to
go - Waited for a commission.
He said—Christ who has all power in heaven and earth.
Through the
land - Through the rest of the kingdoms of the
world far from Judea, but not far from the wise and sovereign providence of
God.
Verse 8
Then he
cried upon me, and spoke to me, saying
And he
cried upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go to the land of
the north have calmed my spirit in the land of the north.
Wesley
explained:
Cried he–Christ spoke aloud, and called for him.
Calmed my spirit - Doing what I appointed them in vengeance for the wounds of my people, and bringing my people back to Canaan.
Verse 10
He takes from captivity Heldai, Tobiah, and
Jedaiah, who came from Babylon
Take
Heldai, Tobiah, and Jedaiah, who came from Babylon, out of captivity, and come
the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah;
Wesley commented:
Thomas–Of those who came out of Babylon.
Come thou - Go and fetch them, if they lodge elsewhere.
The same
day - The same day that they come.
Verse 11
So take
silver and gold, make crowns, and put them on Joshua's head
Then take
silver and gold, and make crowns, and put them on the head of Joshua the son of
Josedek the high priest;
Make crowns - One of silver, the other of gold.
Place them - Place the two, one after the other.
Joshua - That here is now a type of Christ, king and priest for ever to his
people.
Verse 12
Behold the man whose name is RENOVO
And he
speaks to him, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man
whose name is the BRANCH; and it shall grow out of its place, and build the
temple of the Lord;
Wesley commented:
To him–Joshua, but to the ears of others.
Whose name
is the Branch - Whom you know by the name of the Branch,
which was called so long ago. You, O Joshua, are the portrait, he is the Branch
himself.
Out of his
place - Of the tribe and of the family, and in the
place foretold.
He will
build - He is, though invisible, who is by your
side, who builds the material temple, far inferior to the spiritual temple,
which Christ will build, preserve, and dwell in for ever.
Verse 13
He will
build the temple of the Lord
He will
build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and sit and rule on
his throne; and he shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace
shall be between them both.
Wesley commented:
The glory - Of the
royal and priestly office; the glory of both crowns shall dwell upon him.
Shall sit down - Which speaks both of his royal magnificence, and the perpetuity
of it.
A priest - The great high priest, to offer the great sacrifice to God, to make
reconciliation, to intercede for his people.
The counsel
of peace - The peace made for God's people will rest
upon these two, the kingly and priestly office of Christ; by his priestly
office he will make peace with God, by his kingly office he will deliver them
from their spiritual enemies.
Verse 14
And the
crowns shall be for Helem, and for Tobiah, and for Jedaiah
And the
crowns shall be for Helem, and for Tobiah, and for Jedaiah, and for Gabe the
son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the Lord.
Wesley
explained:
The crowns - The two crowns mentioned earlier.
Helem - These people we don't know more than their names.
A memorial - Of the certain and speedy coming of the Messiah.
Verse 15
And those who are far off will come and build in the temple of the Lord
And they that are far off shall
come and build in the temple of the Lord, and ye shall know that the Lord of
hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye diligently obey
the voice of the Lord your God.
Wesley commented:
Those who are far off - This verse has a double
reference, one to the Jews, and the building of the material temple, the other
to the introduction of the Gentiles.
And this - The literal part will happen
in your days, if you obey the voice of the Lord. The mystical part will also
happen, and if you believe and obey, the Gentiles will come in and be your
brothers, and they will help build the temple, the spiritual temple. But if you
rebel and obey not, you will be cast out, and the Gentiles will be accepted to
be God's people.[14]
Promise of
Jerusalem's Restoration
And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the
midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God in
truth and in righteousness.
Thus says the Lord of hosts; Your hands be strong,
you who in these days hear these words by the mouth of the prophets, who in the
day when the foundation of the house of the Lord Almighty was laid, that the
temple might be built
Zechariah 8
Verse 2
I was
jealous of Zion with great jealousy
Thus says the Lord of
hosts; I was jealous of Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous of her with
great fury.
Wesley
commented:
Jealousy - With great care lest she sin as before, against
my love, and her own welfare, and with a great desire to do her good, and
rescue her from her enemies.
Fury - With heat of rage against his enemies.
Verse 3
I have
returned to Zion, and I will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem
Thus saith the Lord; I have returned to Zion, and I
will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the city of
truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain.
It shall be called the city of truth - Its citizens shall love the
truth and speak, shall worship me in truth from the heart, as well as in the
true manner prescribed to them, said Wesley.
Verse 4
Old men and
old men shall still dwell in the streets of Jerusalem
Thus says the Lord of hosts; Old men and old men will still dwell in the
streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand throughout the
age.
Old men — Formerly war, or famine or pestilence, and
debilitating diseases, cut men and women before they reach old age, Wesley said.
Verse 6
If it is
wonderful in the eyes of the rest of this people in these days
Thus says the Lord of
hosts; If it is wonderful in the eyes of the rest of this people in these days,
must it also be wonderful in my eyes? says the Lord of hosts.
Wonderful—These things may seem strange to these people, Wesley said.
Verse 7
Behold, I will
save my people
Thus says the Lord of
hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the eastern land and from the western
land;
The eastern country--Persia and Media, which were
east of Jerusalem, and were now masters of Babylon, said Wesley.
Verse 8
And I will
bring them, and they will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem
And I will bring them, and they
shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be my people, and I will
be their God in truth and in righteousness.
In truth and righteousness - That means both God's part and theirs; on God's part, truth, their
righteousness, obedience to God's righteous law, said Wesley.
Verse 9
Let your hands be strong, you who in these days hear these words through
the mouths of the prophets
Thus
says the Lord of hosts; Let your hands be strong, you who in these days hear
these words by the mouth of the prophets, who in the day that the foundation of
the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.
The prophets - Haggai and Zechariah, said Wesley.
Verse 10
For before
those days there was no wage for man, nor rent for animals
For before those days there was no wage for man,
nor rent for animals; nor was there peace to him that went out or came in
because of affliction: for I set all men, every man against his neighbor.
Wesley
explained:
Before these days - For eighteen years together.
No rent - No profit from the labour of men or animals, no
sowing or planting.
Affliction - Anguish and want, through barrenness, which
accompanied all his labor.
Verse 11
But now I
will not be for the rest of this people
But now I will not be to the rest of this people as
before, says the Lord of hosts.
I will not be - That is, I will not deal with them as in the
days before, said Wesley.
Verse 14
How I
thought of punishing you, when your fathers provoked me to anger
For thus saith the Lord of
hosts; How I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to anger,
saith the Lord of hosts, and I repented not,
I didn't regret it — I didn't stop doing it, Wesley said.
Verse 15
So I also
thought in these days of doing good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah
So also I thought in these days
to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not.
Then - Then, with the same firmness of mind, I purposed
to do good to you, said Wesley.
Verse 16
execute the
judgment of truth and peace at your gates
These are the things you will do; speak the truth
to your neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace at your gates:
Wesley explained:
Judgment of truth - True judgment.
Peace – May it restore and establish peace among you.
Gates - The places of judicature, where the judges sat.
Verse 19
Therefore,
love the truth and peace
Thus says the Lord of hosts; the fast of the fourth
month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of
the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah gladness and gladness, and joyful
feasts; Therefore, love truth and peace.
Wesley
commented:
Thus saith the Lord - This verse is a final
decision of the case: so long as they do the things required, verses 16,17,
then fasting will cease and turn into joyful feasts.
The fourth month - In which the city was taken by the Babylonians.
The fifth - In which the temple was burned.
The seventh - In which Gedaliah was slain.
The tenth - On the tenth day that the army of the king of
Babylon sat down before the city.
And it
shall come to pass that peoples shall come, and inhabitants of many cities
Thus says the Lord of hosts; And it shall come to
pass that peoples shall come, and inhabitants of many cities;
People—Crowds, Wesley
said.
Verse 21
And the
residents of one city will go to another
And the inhabitants of one city shall go to
another, saying, Let us pray with haste before the Lord, and seek the Lord of
hosts; I will go too.
I will go too—The guests, shall with as much zeal embrace the
motion, as others have done it, said Wesley.
mighty men
shall come for the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem
yes, many peoples and mighty nations will come to
seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord.
In Jerusalem–Literally understood, you have the firstfruits of
them mentioned, Ac 2:10, 12. Mystically, Jerusalem is the church of Christ, Wesley said.
Pray - To perform all gospel worship, Wesley said.
Verse 23
We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you
Thus says the Lord of hosts; In
those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall seize all the languages of
the nations, and shall take hold of the garment of the Jew, saying, We shall go
with you, for we have heard that God is with you.
Wesley explained:
Ten men - That is, many men.
All languages - No nation is excluded
anymore.
A Jew - To whom the gospel was first
preached.
We have heard - And now we see, and we are
right.
That God - The true God, the only true
God, whom to know is eternal life.[15]
Prophecies of the coming of the Messiah
Zechariah 9
Verse 1
when the
eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, are toward the Lord
The weight of the word of the Lord in the land of
Hadrach and Damascus will be their rest, when the eyes of man, as of all the
tribes of Israel, are turned to the Lord.
Wesley
explained:
Hadrach - This is the name of a city in Celosyria, and
here it means the country as well. It was not far from Damascus.
The rest of it - This burden shall rest long and heavy upon
Damascus.
Toward the Lord - For as all the appeals of men in
cases of error are to heaven, so those who have been wronged by Syrian
injustice, look to heaven for the right.
Verse 2
And Hamath
will also border on her
And Hamath also will border on it; Tyre and Sidon,
though he be very wise.
Wesley
explained:
Hamath - A major city of Syria.
Shall border - Shall be so near the storm, that they shall not
escape.
Very wise - Each of them is subtle and thinks by cunning to
save himself, but God ridicules his wisdom.
Verse 4
Behold, the
Lord will cast it out
Behold, the Lord will cast her
out, and smite her power in the sea; and it will be devoured by fire.
Cast her out - From her inheritance, as the word properly
signifies, said Wesley.
Verse 5
Ashkelon
will see and fear him
Ashkelon will see him and fear him; Gaza will also
see him, and will be very sad, and Ekron; for their expectation will be put to
shame; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be
inhabited.
Wesley
commented:
His expectation - His hope that Tyre would break Alexander's power
or resist him.
Embarrassed - It turned into shame and confusion.
The king - The government will be overthrown.
It shall not be inhabited - For many years.
Verse 6
and I will
cut off the pride of the Philistines
And a bastard will dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut
off the pride of the Philistines.
A bastard - Strangers, who have no right of inheritance, said Wesley.
Verse 7
yes, he
shall be unto our God, and shall be as governor in Judah
And I will take out of his mouth his blood, and his
abominations from between my teeth; but he that remaineth shall be for our God,
and shall be as governor in Judah, and Ekron as Jebusite.
Wesley
commented:
Take the blood from him - Though the proud and warlike
nations have delighted to shed blood, and, as it were, to eat the blood of
their enemies, yet God will overthrow their power, and take the prey out of
their mouth.
Abominations - Their abominable sacrifices which they offered
and feasted upon. God will punish their idolatries and, destroying the cities
of these abominations, will remove them forever.
The remnant - That select little number that escapes the
sword, will be the peculiar ones of the Lord.
As governor - For the honour that will be given them.
As a Jebusite - The city is set for the people, and this city
and people for all others: all the remaining Philistines shall be as Jebusites,
servants of God's people.
Verse 8
And I'll
camp around my house because of the army
And I will encamp around my house for the sake of
the army, for the sake of the passing away, and for the sake of the returning;
and no oppressor will pass through them any more; for now I have seen with my
eyes.
Wesley
commented:
I will camp - To defend him from all his enemies.
My house - This temple, but as it is an emblem of the
church.
The army - Of the Persian and Greek army, whose march
passed through Judea.
Verse 9
Rejoice
exceedingly, O daughter of Zion
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; cry out, O
daughter of Jerusalem, Behold, your King is coming to you: he is righteous and
has salvation; humble, and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the colt of an ass.
Wesley
explained:
Your king – The Messiah.
He is righteous - The righteous, who comes to fulfill all
righteousness.
Have salvation - To bestow on all who believe in him.
Verse 10
And I will
cut off the chariot of Ephraim
Wesley
commented:
I will cut off - When the Messiah comes and sets up his kingdom,
he will need no outside force. Neither the chariot, nor the bow, nor the sword
brought him salvation, nor will they be mentioned in the day of his conquest.
The heathen through him shall be reconciled to God,
and to one another, Ephesians 2:17.
From the river - From the Euphrates to the extremity of Canaan,
as far as the Mediterranean Sea; a type of the whole world, which in due time
would be the inheritance of Christ.
Verse 11
covenant I
have sent your prisoners out of the pit where there is no water
As for you also, by the blood of your covenant I
have sent your prisoners out of the pit where there is no water.
Wesley
said:
As for thee - O Jerusalem; these words are the words of Christ
to her.
By the blood - By my blood, in which thy covenant is confirmed;
it is the covenant of God made by him, it is the covenant of Zion made unto
her, it is also Christ's made in him.
I delivered the Jews from Babylon: compared to a
well in which there was no water, in which the Jews must have perished, if God
had not visited them.
Verse 12
Return to
the fortress, prisoners of hope
Return to the fortress,
prisoners of hope: to this day I declare that I will give you twice as much;
Wesley
commented:
Turn - The prophet exhorts the Jews to hasten to
Christ, who is the salvation and high tower of the church.
Prisoners of hope - Captives, but not without hope.
Even today - On this day of least distress.
Double - Twice as good as you have suffered evil.
Verse 13
and I have
raised up thy children, O Zion
When I bowed Judah to me, I filled the bow with
Ephraim, and lifted up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made
thee as the sword of a mighty man.
Wesley
said:
When I have bent Judah - In the day when Judah shall
be in my hand as a strong bow, bent.
Ephraim - Ephraim, the remainder of the ten tribes (which
returned with Judah) shall be for a supply of warriors; as a full quiver is a
supply of arrows for the archer.
O Greece - Against the Greeks or Ionians, who oppressed the
Jews, and bought them as slaves, against whom the Jews took up arms, under the
conduct of the Maccabees, to whom Christ fulfilled much of this promise.
Verse 14
And the
Lord will be seen over them
And the Lord shall be seen upon them, and his arrow
shall come forth like lightning; and the Lord God shall blow the trumpet, and
go with whirlwinds from the south.
Wesley
commented:
It must be seen - It must appear manifestly to them.
His arrow - His judgments, quick, irresistible, and sudden.
Like lightning - Which breaks out with violence, and runs from
east to west in a moment.
The Lord God - Their God, the God of Israel, shall sound the
alarm to them, and sound the call to bring them together.
From the south - In which the most powerful eddies are raised;
Some think that the prophet alludes to the storm in the giving of the law.
Verse 15
The Lord of
hosts will defend them
Wesley
said:
Devour - Destroy your enemies.
With slings - As David did with Goliath.
Drink - At their festivals, when they offer sacrifices
of thanksgiving for their victories.
Make a noise - Shout with shouts of triumph, as do men whose
hearts rejoice in success and deceived with wine.
They shall fill–With the blood of the sacrifices which they offer.
Verse 16
And the
Lord your God will save you in that day like the flock of his people
And the Lord your God will save you in that day
like the flock of his people, for they will be like the stones of a crown,
lifted up like a standard over your land.
Wesley
said:
As the flock - As a shepherd saves his flock.
Like the stones of a crown - Precious in my eyes.
Like an ensign - Or trophy.
Verse 17
For how great is his goodness and how great is his beauty
Wesley commented:
His goodness - Infinite goodness is the
source of all good done to this people.
Its beauty - How wonderful is the beauty
of Divine Providence in the deliverance and salvation of Israel? Corn -
Abundant harvests will make young men joyful in sowing, reaping, and eating
their fruits.
New wine - There will be such an
abundance of wine, that all, young and old, will be deceived with it.[16]
Restoration and Blessings for Judah
And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I
will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them back to put them up; for I
have mercy on them, and they shall be as though I had not cast them off, for I
am the Lord their God, and I will hear them.
And I will sow them among the people, and they will
remember me in distant lands; and they shall live with their children, and be
converted.
Zechariah 10
Verse 1
and will
give them torrential rains with every grass of the field
Ask the Lord for rain in the time of the latter
rain; and the Lord will make bright clouds, and give them torrential rains with
every herb of the field.
Wesley
commented:
The latter rain - This made abundance of the whole supply, and is
proverbially used to signify a great blessing.
Bright clouds - Bright through the lightning that breaks from
them.
They--The Jews.
Verse 2
troubled,
because there was no shepherd
For idols have spoken vanity, and soothsayers have
seen lies and told false dreams; they console in vain; so they departed like a
flock, troubled, because there was no shepherd.
Wesley said:
Vanity - His predictions were vain.
They went – They went into captivity.
Disturbed - Oppressed and afflicted.
No pastor - No ecclesiastical or civil governor, who would
faithfully discharge his duty.
Verse 3
for the
Lord of hosts has visited his flock
My anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I
punished the goats, because the LORD of hosts visited his flock, the house of
Judah, and made them like his fair horse in battle.
Wesley
commented:
The pastors - Church and state officials.
The goats - The officers among them, who were like goats,
who push, and wound, and trample down the weaker cattle.
Visited - In mercy.
Like his beautiful horse - he gave them strength and
courage.
Verse 4
From him
came the song
Wesley
commented:
Out of it - From God.
The Corner - The prince or ruler, who stands in a polity as a
cornerstone in buildings.
The nail - Which fastens the tents of war, or the wood
together in a house.
The battle bow - All war provision.
Every oppressor - Or collector of tribute. It was from God that
Nebuchadnezzar prevailed mightily and opposed Israel; and it is from God also
that Judah grows with such power, so as to be able to deal with his adversaries
and impose tribute on them.
Verse 6
And I will
strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will
bring them back to put them in
And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I
will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them back to put them up; for I
have mercy on them, and they shall be as though I had not cast them off, for I
am the Lord their God, and I will hear them.
Of Joseph - The remnant of the kingdom of Israel, the
residue of the ten tribes.
To put them - To establish them in their own land and in their
own cities.
Verse 7
your heart will rejoice in the Lord
And the people of Ephraim shall be as a mighty man
of valor, and their hearts shall rejoice as with wine: yes, their children
shall see him, and shall rejoice; your heart will rejoice in the Lord.
Your children will see - These blessings will continue
through your generations, for the children that will be born.
Verse 8
for I have
redeemed them, and they shall increase as they increase
I will whistle for them and gather them together;
for I have redeemed them, and they shall increase as they increase.
Wesley
explained:
I will whistle - Though they are now scattered far away, I will
call them as a shepherd, and they will run with speed back to the flock.
How they increased - As they did in the old days.
Verse 9
And I will
sow them among the people
Wesley
explained:
I will sow them - Their increase shall be as the increase of rich
soil that has much seed sown upon it.
The people - The heathen.
In distant countries - Whithersoever they were
taken.
With their children - The children born to them
will live and grow up with them.
Turn Again - To your city and country.
Verse 10
And I will
bring them back out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria
And I will bring them back out of the land of
Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of
Gilead and Lebanon; and no place will be found for them.
The place shall not be found - The land must be too narrow
for them, said Wesley.
Verse 11
And he will
pass by the sea in affliction
And he shall pass through the sea with affliction,
and smite the waves of the sea, and all the depths of the river shall dry up:
and the pride of Assyria shall be overthrown, and the sceptre of Egypt shall
withdraw.
Wesley explained:
And he passed by - The whole verse is an allusion to what God had
done in the two famous deliverances of his people, bringing them out of Egypt,
through the Red Sea, and through the Jordan, and destroying the Egyptians, and
delivering them from Assyrian bondage, and for that, destroying that kingdom.
Verse 12
And I will strengthen you in the Lord
And I will strengthen them in
the Lord; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the Lord.
Wesley
explained:
Walk up and down - Must manage all your affairs.
In his name - By power and wisdom given
from on high, to the glory of our God and our Redeemer.[17]
Promise of Purification and Restoration of the
Inhabitants of Jerusalem
In that day a spring will be opened to the house of
David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem because of sin and uncleanness
Zechariah 13
Verse 1
On that day
a spring will be opened to the house of David
Wesley explained:
One source - The blood of Christ.
Open - The spouse is to Christ a sealed fountain, but
Christ is to sinners an open fountain.
Inhabitants of Jerusalem - The inhabitants of Jerusalem
are all to whom the gospel is preached.
For uncleanness - To cleanse all kinds of sins and impurities.
Verse 27
and I will
also bring out of the earth the prophets and the unclean spirit
Wesley explained:
Cut off - I will utterly destroy idols and idolatry.
The prophets - The false prophets.
The unclean spirit - The devil who puts false
prophets to work.
Verse 3
And it
shall come to pass, that when any man yet prophesy
Wesley explained:
Prophesy - Falsely.
Your father - Your dearest friends.
Must push it through - That is, it must wound, must
punish it with stripes that may leave its marks behind.
Verse 4
And it
shall come to pass in that day that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of
their sight
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the
prophets shall be ashamed every man of his vision, when he prophesies; neither
shall they wear rough clothing to deceive;
A rough garment—As true prophets were wont to wear, said Wesley.
Verse 6
The ones I've been hurt with in my friends' house
And someone
will say to him, 'What are these wounds on your hands?' Then he shall answer,
Those with whom I have been smitten in the house of my friends.
With whom I was smitten - To recover from ruining
myself and others by imposture, see verse – 3, said Wesley.
Verse 7
smite the
shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered
Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against
the man who is my companion, saith the Lord of hosts; smite the shepherd, and
the sheep shall be scattered, and I will turn my hand upon the little ones.
Wesley explained:
O sword - Afflictions, persecutions, and the cross.
My shepherd - Who is my faithful shepherd, and will lay down
his life for my sheep.
My companion - This speaks Christ; man with
us, and God with his Father, God-man in one person.
The shepherd - This great and good shepherd.
Turn my hand - God will turn his hand in favor, and for
protection will keep the new and weak disciples.
Verse 8
Lord, two parts of it will be cut off, and they will die
===============================
And it shall come to pass, that
in all the earth, saith the Lord, two parts thereof shall be cut off, and shall
die; but the third shall be left in it.
Wesley explained:
Two parts - Not precisely two, but the
greater part will die a temporal death, by the sword of Titus, or in eternal
death under unbelief.
The third - A remnant, the smaller part,
will escape or be preserved.[18]
===============================
Malachi, the Last Prophet
===============================
Based on John Wesley's explanatory notes on the
Bible, the prophet Malachi is characterized primarily as the final
messenger of the Old Testament, whose message highlights the impending judgment on the
people's unfaithfulness and the need for repentance. [19]
Table of Contents
· Introduction
· God's Love for Israel and the
Rebuke of Priests
· Corruption
of the priests and the breaking of the Covenant
· Promise
of a Messenger in the future; A Call to Repentance
· Promise
of the Sun of Righteousness and the Coming of Elijah
Introduction
Malachi was
the last prophet of the Old Testament, then there is a silence of 400 years
until the arrival of Elijah.
In his explanatory notes, Wesley explained,
"Though the spirit of prophecy shall cease for four hundred years, yet at
the end of those years you shall have one sent as great as Elijah."
"John
the Baptist, who came in the spirit and power of Elijah, Luke 1:17, and
therefore bears his name," said Wesley.
The people
had returned from captivity and there was a cooling off. The priests left their
first love and became corrupted.
The four
chapters have the following themes: God's love for Israel and the rebuke of priests; Corruption of the
priests and the breaking of the Covenant; Promise of a Messenger in the future;
a call to repentance; Promise of the sun of righteousness and the coming of
Elijah.
God's Love for Israel and the Rebuke of Priests
The Lord said, "I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet you say,
'Wherein hast thou loved us?' Wasn't Jacob's brother Esau? saith the Lord, Yet
I have loved Jacob."
When the Lord says, "And I hated Esau, and laid waste his
mountains, and his inheritance for the dragons of the wilderness," Wesley
explains, "I hated—I loved not the posterity
of Esau as I loved Jacob's."
Of the
priests it is said, "A son honors his
father, and a servant his master; If I am a father, where is my honor? And if
I'm a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests,
that ye despise my name. And you say, 'Wherein do we despise your name?'"
Wesley
explains, "O priests - If
disobedience had been found among ignorant people, it might have been a little
excusable. But you, O priests, who have the duty to know me, have despised me,
as the sons of Eli, and have caused others to do so also."
It is
further said, "But ye have profaned it,
saying, The table of the Lord is profaned; and its fruit, its food, is
contemptible."
"You also said, 'Behold, I am weary! and ye have blotted it out,
saith the Lord of hosts; and you brought the one that was torn, and the lame,
and the sick; So you have brought an offering: Shall I accept this from your
hand? saith the Lord."
Verse 2
I have loved you, saith the Lord
I have loved you, says the Lord. Yet you say, 'Wherein hast thou loved
us?' Wasn't Jacob's brother Esau? saith the Lord, Yet I have loved Jacob,
Loved you - Both personally considered and relatively,
in progenitors.
We - Who were captives
We - Who have been captives, and groaned under
him all our days till late.
Was not Esau - Was not a father begat them, and a mother
begat them? I loved Jacob - I preferred him to the birthright, and that of free
love. I loved his person and his posterity.
Verse 3
And I hated
Esau, and laid waste his mountains
And I hated Esau, and laid waste his mountains and his inheritance to
the dragons of the wilderness.
Wesley's
Comments
I hated it - I did not love Esau's posterity as I
loved Jacob's.
Its heritage - Mount Seir with the surrounding mountains.
We are
impoverished, but we will return and rebuild the desolate places
Waste - By the arms of Nebuchadnezzar five years
after the sack of Jerusalem, and while Jacob's captivity returned, and his
cities were rebuilt, Esau never was.
The dragons - Creatures that delight in desolate places,
by which the utter desolation of Esau is signified.
Verse 4
While Edom says, We are impoverished, but we will return and rebuild the
desolate places; thus says the Lord of hosts: They will build, but I will tear
down; and they shall call them, The end of wickedness, and a people against
whom the Lord is angry forever.
Wesley's
Comments
So he did
in the times of the Maccabees
Tear down - Thus he did in the times of the Maccabees.
The border of wickedness - They
shall be a very wicked people, and so notorious, that all their neighbours
shall mark them for it.
They will provoke God so much
Have indignation - They will provoke God so
much, that their indignation will be kindled against them forever.
Verse 5
And your eyes shall see, and you shall say, The Lord shall be magnified
from the border of Israel.
Wesley's
Comments
From the border of Israel - Let
Israel from all its borders praise God.
Verse 6
The son
honors his father
A son honors his father, and a servant his master; If I am a father,
where is my honor? And if I'm a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of
hosts unto you, O priests, that ye despise my name. And you say, 'In what have
we despised your name?'
Wesley's
Comments
If
disobedience had been found among ignorant people, it might have been a little
excusable
O priests - If disobedience had been found among
ignorant people, it might have been a little excusable. But you, O priests, who
have the duty to know me, have despised me, as the sons of Eli, and have caused
others to do so also.
Verse 7
You offer
filthy bread on my altar
You offer unclean bread on my altar; and you say, 'Wherein have we
profaned you?' In what you say, 'The table of the Lord is contemptible.'
Wesley's
Comments
Bread - Or the grain offerings, or rather, in a
wider sense, all sacrifices and oblations.
You say - Perhaps in words; at least your actions
speak your thoughts.
This comprises all that has been offered to God
The table - This comprises all that has been offered to
God.
Verse 8
And if you
offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil?
And if you offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye
offer the lame and the sick, is it not evil? offer it now to your governor;
Will he be pleased with you or will he accept you? says the Lord of hosts.
Wesley's
Comments
Evil - It is not against the express command of
God.
Verse 9
God have
mercy on us
Now therefore, I beseech you, pray God to have mercy on us: this has
happened by your means: will he attend to your persons? says the Lord of hosts.
Wesley's
Comments
I beseech you, O priests.
Plead - Intercede with God for his sinful people.
This--This contempt of God.
Verse 11
For from sunrise to sunset, my name shall be
great among the Gentiles
For from the rising of the sun until the setting of
the sun my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and incense shall be offered
everywhere unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among
the nations, saith the Lord of hosts.
Wesley's
Comments
And under this type are contained prayers and
praises, or rather
Incense - A law term for a gospel duty, and under
this kind are contained the prayers and praises, or rather the whole worship of
the gospel.
A pure offering - Both sincere, in
opposition to hypocrisy, and holy, in opposition to impurity, superstition, and
idolatry.
Verse 12
But you
have profaned it
Wesley's
Comments
But you - O priests! And people for their examples.
You say - By your behavior.
It is polluted - It is not a sacred thing.
Or the flesh that fell to the priest's share
His flesh - Either the flesh that fell to the priest's part, or the portion that was laid upon the altar.
Verse 13
Shall I
accept this from your hand? saith the Lord
You also said, "Behold, what weariness!" and ye have blotted
it out, saith the Lord of hosts; and you brought the one that was torn, and the
lame, and the sick; So you have brought an offering: Shall I accept this from
your hand? saith the Lord.
Wesley's
Comments
What weariness - What toil and drudgery to observe every
point of the law.
Unfit for my altar
This - With such sniffing minds in my service, and
with such sacrifices, unfit for my altar.
Verse 14
Sacrifice to the Lord a corrupt thing
But cursed be the deceiver, who has a male in his
flock, and makes a vow, and sacrifices a corrupt thing to the Lord; for I am a
great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is terrible among the nations.
Wesley's
Comments
The deceiver
- The hypocrite who seems to offer a sacrifice of the best, but puts God off
with the worst.[20]
Corruption
of the priests and the breaking of the Covenant
Chapter
2
The Lord warns the priests, "Of your
solemn feasts," and Wesley comments, "Your most solemn
days and feasts, shall be as repugnant to me as dung, and shall cause you, who
offer them as unclean and loathsome, as if I had cast the dung of these
sacrifices in your faces."
Further
warning to priests: "For the lips of the
priest must keep knowledge, and from his mouth they must seek the law, for he
is the messenger of the Lord of hosts."
Wesley
comments, "Must maintain knowledge
- That is what their office obliges them to; it is the duty of all the people
of God to know his law, but the duty of the priest is to know it more than
others."
The prophet Malachi transmits the word of the Lord: "Therefore I have also made you contemptible and
vile in the sight of all the people, because you have not kept my ways, but
have been partial in the law."
Wesley comments, "You were partial"—"You have perverted the law to please great men, or to serve some
unworthy design. When we investigate 'the reasons for the contempt of the
clergy,' should we forget that?"
Verse 2
I will
curse your blessings
If ye will not hear, and if ye will not keep it in your heart, to give
glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will send a curse upon you, and
will curse your blessings; yes, I have cursed them, because you do not keep it
at heart.
Wesley's
Comments
I cursed them – I have already sent the curse, and it is
partly upon you.
Verse 3
The dung of
your solemn feasts
Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and will scatter dung upon your faces,
even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one will take you with him.
Wesley's
Comments
I will corrupt—I will take away the prolific virtue and
strength of it, that it may bear no fruit.
Spreading dung - It is an expression of the greatest
contempt.
Your most solemn days and feasts will be as
repugnant to me as dung
Of your solemn feasts - Your
most solemn days and feasts, will be as repugnant to me as dung, and will cause
you, who offer them as unclean and loathsome, as if I had thrown the dung of
these sacrifices in your faces.
Take it away - You will be taken away with it, removed as
equally unclean with the dung itself, equally fit to be cast into the dunghill.
Verse 4
And you
will know that I have sent you this commandment
And ye shall know that I have sent you this commandment, that my covenant
may be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.
Wesley's
Comments
If you do not confirm and keep the covenant of Levi
between you
My covenant - If you do not confirm and keep the covenant
of Levi among you, I will make it firm on my part, punishing those who violate
it.
Verse 5
My covenant
was with him of life and peace
Wesley's
Comments
With him–With Levi.
Peace - Of long and prosperous life, assured to the
Levites in their due ministrations before God.
Before my name - Conducted himself with reverence before
God.
Verse 6
He walked
with me in peace and equity
The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found on his
lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and turned many away from
iniquity.
Wesley's
Comments
They feared God and were humble
It was in his mouth - He taught the people.
Aaron, Eleazar, Phinehas, every one of those priests or Levites, in whatever
age they lived; who feared God and were humble.
Iniquity is not found - He did
not judge with respect to persons, or by bribes.
He walked - His whole life was a continual walk with
God; he lived with God and for him.
At peace - With God, and it was his aim to live in
peace with others.
Verse 7
For the
lips of the priest must keep knowledge
For the lips of the priest must keep knowledge, and from his mouth they
must seek the law, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
Wesley's
Comments
Must
maintain knowledge - This is what their position obliges them to
Must maintain knowledge - That is
what their office binds them to; it is the duty of all God's people to know his
law, but the duty of the priest is to know it more than others.
And they - The people.
Verse 8
You have
caused many to stumble
But you have strayed from the path; you have caused many to stumble in
the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.
Wesley's
Comments
Corrupted - You violated it
But you - Priests.
Stumbling against the law - By his
false expositions of it.
Corrupted - You violated him, contradicted his great
intentions, and did what was in you to defeat them.
Verse 9
Wesley's Comments
You perverted the law to please
great men
You have perverted the law to please great men, or to
serve some unworthy design. When we inquire into "the reasons for the
contempt of the clergy," should we forget this?
Verse 10
Don't we
all have a father?
Don't we all have a father? Has not one God created us? Why do we
traffic treacherously against his brother, profaning the covenant of our
fathers?
Wesley's
Comments
A father - Abraham, or Jacob
A father - Abraham, or Jacob, with whom God made the
covenant by which his posterity was made a peculiar people.
Created us - The prophet speaks of this great and
gracious work of God, creating them to be a chosen people. And so we Christians
are created in Christ Jesus.
Verse 11
Judah acted
treacherously
Judah did treacherously, and an abomination was committed in Israel and
in Jerusalem; for Judah had profaned the holiness of the Lord whom he loved,
and had married the daughter of a strange god.
Wesley's Comments
Contracting
Affinity with Idolaters
Profaned–Profaned the law, confining Israel
to marry within themselves, and not to put themselves in danger, contracting
affinity with idolaters.
Which he loved - Which he, Judah, once loved.
The daughter - Idolaters. Even though they had wives
before, whom they now rejected.
Verse 12
The Lord
will cut off from Jacob's tabernacles
Wesley's
Comments
The master and the scholar - Neither
shall any one be left to teach nor to learn.
He who offers - The priests.
Verse 13
And ye did
this again, covering the altar of the Lord with tears
And ye have done this again, covering the altar of the Lord with tears,
weeping, and crying, so that he looketh no more upon the offering, nor receiveth
it willingly at your hand.
Wesley's
Comments
In addition
to that first fault, you committed another
And this - In addition to this first fault, you have
committed another, you abuse and afflict your Jewish wives, whom you alone
ought to have esteemed.
With tears - Their despised wives fly to the temple,
weep and cry out to God for reparation.
With weeping - This is added to show the abundance of your
tears.
He–The Lord.
Verse 14
For the Lord hath been a witness between thee and
the wife of thy youth
Yet you say, 'Why?' For the Lord hath been a witness between thee and
the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast acted treacherously; yet she is
your companion and the wife of your covenant.
Wesley's
Comments
The wife of thy covenant - To whom
thou art so firmly attached, that while she remains faithful, thou canst not be
loosed.
Verse 15
He had the residue
of the spirit
And he didn't make one? However, he had the residue of the spirit. And
why one? So that he could seek a godly seed. Therefore beware of your spirit,
and let no man act treacherously against the wife of his youth.
Wesley's
Comments
One - But a man and a woman.
However - However, he could have done more.
Therefore, a - A couple, and no more.
A holy seed
born to God
A godly seed - A holy seed born to God in chaste marriage,
and brought up as it was, in the fear of God.
Be careful – Keep your heart from wandering after
strange wives.
Verse 16
For the
Lord, the God of Israel, says he hates to divorce
For the Lord, the God of Israel, says that he hates to divorce; for one
covers violence with his garments, saith the Lord of hosts; Therefore guard
your spirit, lest you do treacherously.
Wesley's
Comments
Turning away - Divorce, like those petulant Jews used to
make way for some new wives, whom God hates as much as repudiate.
Verse 17
You have wearied the Lord with your words
You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you
say, 'What have we wearied him up?' When you say, 'Everyone who does evil is
good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them; or, Where is the God of
judgment?
Wesley's
Comments
Your wicked reasoning
His words
- His wicked reasoning and wicked quarrels against God.
It is good
- This wicked inference which they have drawn, from their prosperity in the
world.
He delights in them–As it seems (say these atheists) for their
prosperity.
Where is the God of judgment - If he is there, judging and ruling the world,
why does he not punish these men?[21]
Promise
of a Messenger in the future; A Call to Repentance
Chapter
3
"Behold, I will send my messenger, and he will
prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will come suddenly to
his temple, the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight; behold, he will
come, saith the Lord of hosts."
Wesley
comments, "The messenger–"The angel of the covenant, the Messiah, in
whose blood the covenant between God and man was confirmed."
A
call to repentance: "From the days of your
fathers you have departed from my precepts and have not kept them. Return to
me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you said, 'Wherein
shall we return?'"
And he said, "Ye are cursed with a curse, because ye have robbed me, even this whole nation!"
Verse 1
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he will prepare the way
Behold, I will send my
messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek,
will come suddenly to his temple, the messenger of the covenant, in whom you
delight; behold, he will come, saith the Lord of hosts.
Wesley's Comments
I. The
Messiah.
My messenger
- John the Baptist.
The Lord
- The Messiah.
Whom you
who truly fear God
Whom ye seek
- Whom ye who truly fear God, long and hope.
After the coming of its forerunner
Suddenly come–After
the coming of his forerunner.
To his temple–That
which was the second temple at Jerusalem, lately built by Zerubbabel and
Joshua.
The angel of the covenant, the Messiah
The messenger
- The angel of the covenant, the Messiah, in whose blood the covenant between
God and man was confirmed.
In whom you delight, Jews, among whom there are few, who are not
pleased to think of his coming, though for various reasons.
Verse 2
But who can endure the day of his coming?
Wesley's
Comments
Abide
- Who will be able to stand under the weight of those crosses which in that day
will fall upon all sorts of men? The day - This day was from his preaching, to
the utter destruction of Jerusalem, about seventy years after the birth of
Christ.
Some are
like metals
A refiner's fire
- Some are as metals, which nothing but a fierce fire can purge, such fire will
be the troubles of these days.
Like
boiling waters
Fuller's soap
- Like boiling waters, into which stained clothes are thrown, and like rubbing
them with soap; so that day will prove to all, a day of great trial, to purify
and refine.
Verse 3
And he
shall sit down as a refiner and purifier of silver
And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of
silver, and shall purify the sons of Levi, and purify them as gold and silver,
that they may offer an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.
Wesley's
Comments
The effect of this trial by fire
It should fit
– As resolved to watch your work and finish it.
He will purify
- The effect of this trial by fire will be the complete cleansing of the people
who are passing through it.
Sons of Levi
- Either the Jewish Levites, or all Christians, who are made priests unto God.
In righteousness and true holiness
In righteousness
- That they may offer themselves, their souls, and bodies to God, in
righteousness and true holiness.
Verse 4
Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing
Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be
pleasing to the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in the years before.
Wesley's
Comments
The offerings
- The services and duties of the whole Christian church.
Pleasant
- Very pleasant for him.
Verse 5
And I'll come to you for judgment
And I will come to you for judgment; and I will be
a swift witness against sorcerers, and against adulterers, and against those
who swear falsely, and against those who oppress a hireling in his wages, a
widow, and an orphan, and who turn a stranger away from his right, and do not
fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
Wesley's
Comments
I'll get close
- You spoke as if you thought I was far away, but you'll see that I'm close.
To you
- O Jews, not those very persons to whom Malachi preached, but those who were
alive when the Messiah came.
'Cause I am the Lord, I don't change
For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore ye
sons of Jacob are not consumed.
I have an
unchanging hatred for sin
I change not
- I have an unchangeable hatred of sin: and my long-suffering does not change
either, therefore you are not consumed in your sins.
God is the
same in his wisdom to ordain the rewards of good and evil
Unconsumed—God
is the same in his wisdom to ordain the rewards of good and evil in the fittest
season, therefore neither the one nor the other are consumed, but preserved for
the season appointed by God.
From the days of your fathers you have departed from my precepts and
have not kept them
From the days of your fathers you have departed
from my precepts and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to
you, says the Lord of hosts. But you said, "Wherein shall we return?"
Of my ordinances
- Which either directed my worship, or their relations to one another.
Verse 9
Because you stole from me
Ye are cursed with a curse, because ye have robbed
me, even this whole nation.
Wesley's
Comments
Cursed with a curse - They are very cursed.
Verse 10
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that
there may be meat in my house, and prove me in this, saith the Lord of hosts,
if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour out upon you a blessing
that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Wesley's
Comments
Bring -
Make a punctual and full payment of all tithes; concerning this Nehemiah
contended with the rulers, and made them obey, and then all Judah obeyed, and
did likewise, Nehemiah 13:10-13.
This was one or more large rooms
For the storehouse - This was one or more large rooms, purposely
built for this use.
So that there is meat
That there may be meat - That the priests and Levites might live.
Prove it to me
- Do the experiment.
To express great abundance
The windows of heaven - A kind of proverbial speech, to express great
abundance.
A blessing
- First of rain to water the earth, then a blessing of corn, wine, and oil, and
all the other produce of the earth.
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sake, and
he will not destroy the fruits of your land; neither shall your vine put forth
its fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
All kinds of devourers, the locusts
The devourer
- All sorts of devourers, the locusts, the worm, and the caterpillar, which
though they are in incredible multitudes, yet a rebuke from God will check them
all at once, as if they were but one.
For your sake
- For your good.
Your Vine
– Your vine should carry its fruit until it is fully ripe.
Verse 12
You will be a delightful land
And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye
shall be a delightful land, saith the Lord of hosts.
Wesley's
Comments
All nations
– This is all about you.
A delightful land
- The revival of religion in a land, will cause it to delight some, both to God
and to all good men.
Verse 15
And now we call the proud happy
And now we call the proud happy; yes, those who do
wickedness are established; yes, those tempting God are set free.
Wesley's
Comments
And now
- You say, we see before our eyes, that the proud despisers of God and his law
are the flourishing ones.
Delivered
– Escape all punishment.
Verse 16
Then those who feared the Lord often spoke to one another
Then those who feared the Lord often spoke to one
another; and the Lord listened, and heard, and before him was written a book of
remembrance for those who feared the Lord, and who thought on his name.
Wesley's
Comments
Then
- When the contempt of God grew so much.
Who feared the Lord - Those who were truly religious.
He spoke often
- He talked more often.
And a book
- All this is spoken in the manner of men.
For them
- In their name.
Verse 17
And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts
And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in
that day when I make my jewels; and I will spare them, as he spares his own son
that serveth him.
Wesley's
Comments
Make my jewels
- This shall be fully made good in the last great day, and in heaven for
everlasting ages.
I will spare them
- In the mean time they will be spared, mourned for, preserved, and loved.
Verse 18
Then you will return, and
discern between the righteous and the wicked
Wesley's
Comments
You
despisers of God and religion
Ye
- Ye despisers of God and religion, return to your senses, forced by the
convincing power of God's judgments.
Discern
- See clearly the happiness of the righteous, and their own misery, who perish
in their wickedness.[22]
Promise
of the Sun of Righteousness and the Coming of Elijah
Chapter
4
The Lord
says, "For behold, the day is coming that
will burn like an oven; and all the proud yes, and all the workers of evil,
shall be stubble, and the coming day shall burn them up."
"But for you who fear my name, the Sun of righteousness will rise,
bringing healing in his wings; and you will go out, and grow up like calves in
a stable."
Wesley
explains, "The sun of righteousness–Christ,
who is properly compared to the sun, being the source of vital light and heat
to his church. And of mercy and lovingkindness; for the Hebrew word imports
both."
And the
Lord promises, "Behold, I will send Elijah
the prophet unto you before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the
Lord."
"Behold, I will send.Wesley
comments, "Though the spirit of prophecy ceases for four hundred years,
yet at the end of those years you will have one sent as great as Elijah."
Wesley
adds, "Elijah - That is, John
the Baptist, who came in the spirit and power of Elijah, Luke 1:17, and
therefore bears his name."
Verse 1
Lord of
hosts, so that he will leave them neither root nor branch
For behold, the day is coming that will burn like an oven; and all the
proud yes, and all the doers of evil, shall be stubble, and the coming day
shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, so that he shall leave them
neither root nor branch.
Wesley's
Comments
Come—Though it is at a distance from you, it is
still coming, and it will overtake and overwhelm you as well.
And that may well be an emblem of judgment day
Like a furnace - The goldsmith's fire, chap. 3:2, is now
represented as a fire, burning more terribly, as indeed it did when Jerusalem
and the temple were on fire, when fire raged everywhere, but more fiercely
where the arched roofs made it bend, and envelop flames with flames. And this
may well be an emblem of the day of judgment.
Verse 2
The Sun of
justice will rise
But for you who fear my name, the Sun of righteousness will rise,
bringing healing in his wings; and you will go out, and grow up like calves out
of a stable.
Wesley's
Comments
And of mercy and lovingkindness
The sun of righteousness–Christ,
who is properly compared to the sun, being the source of vital light and heat
to his church. And of mercy and lovingkindness; for the Hebrew word imports
both.
With healing - Your rays will bring health and strength,
with delight and joy, safety and security.
Go on - Leave Jerusalem, before the fatal siege.
Grow - In strength, vigor, and spiritual stature.
From the tent - Where they are protected and well ordered.
Verse 3
And ye
shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your
feet
And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the
soles of your feet in the day that I do this, saith the Lord of hosts.
Wesley's Comments
So they
really trample on the wicked
Cast down the wicked - When believers by faith overcome the world, when they suppress their corrupt appetites and passions, and when the God of peace bruises Satan under their feet, then they actually trample on the wicked.
Verse 4
Remember
the law of Moses
Wesley's
Comments
Now bid
farewell to prophecy
Remember - Now bid farewell to prophecy, for you will
have no more 'till the great prophet,' till Shiloh comes, but pay diligent
attention to the law of Moses.
To all Israel - So long as they shall be a people and
church.
Statutes and judgments—Be not
partial; statutes and judgments, that is, the whole law you must attend to and
remember as God requires.
Verse 5
Behold, I
will send you the prophet Elijah
Wesley's
Comments
Though the spirit of prophecy ceases for four
hundred years
Behold, I will send - Though the spirit of
prophecy shall cease for four hundred years, yet at the end of those years
shall ye have one envoy, as great as Elijah.
Elijah - That is, John the Baptist
Elijah - That is, John the Baptist, who came in the
spirit and power of Elijah, Luke 1:17, and
therefore bears his name.
Before - That is, immediately before; then he was
born six months before Christ, and began his preaching a few years before
Christ began to exercise his public office.
This literally refers to the times of revenge on
the Jews
The great and dreadful day of the Lord - This
literally refers to the times of vengeance upon the Jews, from the death of
Christ to the final desolation of the city and temple, and by accommodation, to
the end of the world.
Verse 6
And he will
turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children
to their fathers
And he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the
hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come, and smite the earth with
a curse.
Wesley's
Comments
And he – John the Baptist.
There were
at this time many great and unnatural divisions among the Jews
Shall convert the heart - There
were at this time many great and unnatural divisions among the Jews, wherein
parents studied evil for their own children.
Of the children - Disobedient children
estranged from their parents.
That ends
in total destruction
With a curse - Which ends in utter destruction; leaving
Jerusalem a desolate mountain and a perpetual monument of God's displeasure.
Some remark that the last word of the Old Testament
is a curse: while the New Testament ends with a blessing
Some
observe that the last word of the Old Testament is a curse: while the New
Testament ends with a blessing, yes, the choicest of blessings, The grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all! Amen. December 24, 1766.[23]
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[22] https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/wen/amos-5.html
[23] https://www.studylight.org/comentários/eng/wen/amos-6.html
[24] https://www.studylight.org/comentários/eng/wen/amos-7.html
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[38] https://www.amazon.com.br/Naum-Profeta-Conhecendo-os-Livros-ebook/dp/B0C4QSCFFF
[39] https://explicandoabiblia.com.br/profeta-naum/
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“João Hircano (em hebraico: יוחנן הרקנוס, Yohanan Hyrcanus;
ca. 175 a.C. — 104 a.C.)
foi um sumo
sacerdote e membro da dinastia dos hasmoneus que
governou a Judeia entre cerca de 135 e 104 a.C”. (https://pt.wikipedia.org/
wiki/João_Hircano).
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[66] https://www.studylight.org/comentários/ing/wen/hosea-1.html.
[67] https://www.studylight.org/comentários/eng/wen/hosea-2.html
[68] https://www.studylight.org/ comentários/eng/wen/hosea-3.html.
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[80]https://www.bibliaonline.com.br/acf/zc
[81] https://pt.wikipedia.org/
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[82] https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zacarias_(profeta)
[83] https://estudoverdadeevida.wordpress.com//2013/06/08/licao-11-visoes-de-esperanca-zacarias/#:
[84] https://estudoverdadeevida.wordpress.com/2013/06/08/licao-11-visoes-de-esperanca-zacarias/#:~
[85] https://estudoverdadeevida.wordpress.com/2013/06/08/licao-11-visoes-de-esperanca-zacarias/#:~
[86]https://biblia.paulus.com.br/biblia-pastoral/antigo-testamento/livros-profeticos/zacarias/1
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1
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1
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