John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not hear them , etc.] When all the above evils threatened them in the preceding chapters shall come upon them; when the enemy shall invade their hind, besiege their cities, and take them, and they, their families and substance, just ready to fall into their hands, they shall cry unto the Lord; or pray unto him, as the Targum, in the time of their distress; but he will not hear their prayer, so as to answer it according to their desire; that is, he will not save them from imminent danger, but deliver them up, them, and all that belong unto them, into the hands of such that shall use them as they have done others: he will even hide his face from them at that time ; turn his back upon them, and a deaf ear to them, and show them no favour, nor grant them any help and protection: as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings ; he will punish them according to the law of retaliation; as when the poor cried unto them, when they were stripping them of their substance, and they would not hearken to them, so now, when they cry unto the Lord in their distress, he will not hearken to them; and as they turned their backs, and hid their faces from those that were afflicted by them, and would show them no favour, so will the Lord deal with them; and as they exercised the utmost cruelty and barbarity that could be done, they will now be given up into the hands of cruel and merciless men, that will use them in like manner: or, “because they have done ill in their doings” to the poor, whose cause God will defend and vindicate.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - Men cannot expect to do ill, and fare well; but to find that done to them which they did to others. How seldom do wholesome truths reach the ears of those in high stations or in authority! Those who deceiv others are preparing confusion for their own faces. The prophet ha ardent love to God and to the souls of men; deep concern for his glor and their salvation, and zeal against sin. The difficulties he met with did not drive him from his work. He had this strength; not from and of himself, but he was full of power by the Spirit of the Lord. Those wh act honestly, may act boldly. And those who come to hear the word of God, must be willing to be told of their faults, must take it kindly and be thankful.
Original Hebrew אז227 יזעקו2199 אל413 יהוה3068 ולא3808 יענה6030 אותם853 ויסתר5641 פניו6440 מהם1992 בעת6256 ההיא1931 כאשׁר834 הרעו7489 מעלליהם׃4611
