John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets , etc.] That is, the predictions which he ordered his prophets to declare in his name, that their fathers should die by the sword, or famine, or pestilence, or be carried captive, which he purposed in himself, and threatened them with: did they not take hold of your fathers ? overtake them, seize upon them, and have their accomplishment in them? not one thing has failed, or come short of being fulfilled, of all that was determined, or said should be done: and they returned and said ; that is, as many of them as perished not, but were carried captive; at least many of them, who either were thoroughly converted, and turned from their evil, or however in appearance: and who were obliged to own, Like as the Lord of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doing, so hath he dealt with us : as he purposed, so he performed, and that with great justice and equity, being what their evil ways and doings righteously deserved; (see Isaiah 14:24).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - God's almighty power and sovereign dominion, should engage an encourage sinners to repent and turn to Him. It is very desirable to have the Lord of hosts for our friend, and very dreadful to have his for our enemy. Review what is past, and observe the message God sent by his servants, the prophets, to your fathers. Turn ye now from your evi ways, and from your evil doings. Be persuaded to leave your sins, a the only way to prevent approaching ruin. What is become of ou fathers, and of the prophets that preached to them? They are all dea and gone. Here they were, in the towns and countries where we live passing and repassing in the same streets, dwelling in the same houses trading in the same shops and exchanges, worshipping God in the sam places. But where are they? When they died, there was not an end of them; they are in eternity, in the world of spirits, the unchangeabl world to which we hasten apace. Where are they? Those of them who live and died in sin, are in torment. Those who lived and died in Christ are in heaven; and if we live and die as they did, we shall be with them shortly and eternally. If they minded not their own souls, is tha a reason why their posterity should ruin theirs also? The prophets ar gone. Christ is a Prophet that lives for ever, but all other prophet have a period put to their office. Oh that this consideration had it due weight; that dying ministers are dealing with dying people abou their never-dying souls, and an awful eternity, upon the brink of whic both are standing! In another world, both we and our prophets shal live for ever: to prepare for that world ought to be our great care in this. The preachers died, and the hearers died, but the word of God died not; not one jot or title of it fell to the ground; for he is righteous.
Original Hebrew אך389 דברי1697 וחקי2706 אשׁר834 צויתי6680 את853 עבדי5650 הנביאים5030 הלוא3808 השׂיגו5381 אבתיכם1 וישׁובו7725 ויאמרו559 כאשׁר834 זמם2161 יהוה3068 צבאות6635 לעשׂות6213 לנו כדרכינו1870 וכמעללינו4611 כן3651 עשׂה6213 אתנו׃854
