Isaiah 57:17-19 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth… 1. This sometimes appears by despising afflictions. Many attempt to outbrave calamity, as if they were stronger than God. (1) Those may be said to despise His chastening, who account it a small matter, who from a principle of pride and presumption think it unworthy of them to seem affected with it, or refuse to turn to the hand that smiteth. (2) Again, we despise affliction, if we consider not its origin, which is the corruption of our whole nature by sin. (3) Adversity is also despised, when the subjects of it do not consider the more immediate cause of it, which is the anger of God because of sin, and confess with Moses, the man of God: "We are consumed by Thine anger, and by Thy wrath are we troubled."(4) Further, affliction is despised, if we do not consider the design of it. 2. By repining under adversity. 3. By keeping death at a distance, if the affliction be of a bodily kind. 4. By forming empty resolutions of repentance and reformation, while under affliction. 5. By exciting men to make lies their refuge. The deceitful heart prompts them to trust in earthly means for deliverance from affliction. 6. By making them despise means. We have seen again and again how the deceitfulness of the heart works by contraries, in its opposition to God. If it prevail not with those under affliction to depend absolutely on means, it will strenuously urge the total neglect of them. 7. By seeking deliverance from the affliction itself, rather than the sanctified use of it. 8. By abusing adversity, as an occasion of hardening itself against God. (J. Jameson, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. |
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