John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 7. O [thou that art] named the house of Jacob , etc.] Called after that great and good man, and reckoned the people of God, and have the character of being religious persons; but, alas! have but a name, and not the thing, and are the degenerate offspring of that famous patriarch: is the Spirit of the Lord straitened ? or “shortened” f109 ; the Spirit of the Lord in his prophets, is it to be limited and restrained according to the will of men? or, if these prophets are forbid to prophesy, and they are silenced, is not the residue of the Spirit with the Lord? cannot he raise up others to prophesy in his name? or is the Spirit of the Lord confined, as a spirit of prophesy, only to foretell good things, and not evil? may it not threaten with, punishment for sin, as well as promise peace and prosperity?, and is it to be reckoned narrow and strait, because it now does not? the fault is not in that, but in you, who make it necessary, by your conduct, that not good, but evil things, should be predicted of you: [are] these his doings ? either Jacob’s doings, such things as Jacob did? did he ever forbid the prophets of the Lord from prophesying? or did he do such things as required such menaces and threatenings as now delivered by the prophets? or are these becoming such persons as go by his name? or are such works as are done by you pleasing to God? were they, no such terrible messages would be sent by his prophets: or are these the Lord’s doings? are judgments the works he is continually doing and taking delight in? are they not his acts, his strange acts? did you behave otherwise than you do, you would hear nothing of this kind: do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly ? that walks in a right way, and according to the rule of the divine word, in the uprightness and integrity of his heart, aiming at the honour and glory of God in all his ways? to such a man the words of the Lord by his prophets speak good things, promise him good things here and hereafter, and do him good, exhilarate his spirits, cheer, refresh, and comfort his soul.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-11 - Since they say, "Prophesy not," God will take them at their word, an their sin shall be their punishment. Let the physician no longer atten the patient that will not be healed. Those are enemies, not only to God, but to their country, who silence good ministers, and stop the means of grace. What bonds will hold those who have no reverence for God's word? Sinners cannot expect to rest in a land they have polluted You shall not only be obliged to depart out of this land, but it shal destroy you. Apply this to our state in this present world. There is corruption in the world through lust, and we should keep at a distanc from it. It is not our rest: it was designed for our passage, but no for our portion; our inn, but not our home; here we have no continuin city; let us therefore arise and depart, let us seek a continuing cit above. Since they will be deceived, let them be deceived. Teachers wh recommend self-indulgence by their doctrine and example, best suit suc sinners.
Original Hebrew האמור559 בית1004 יעקב3290 הקצר7114 רוח7307 יהוה3068 אם518 אלה428 מעלליו4611 הלוא3808 דברי1697 ייטיבו3190 עם5973 הישׁר3477 הולך׃1980
