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I. GOD'S DIRECTION TO THE PROPHET, AND IN HIM TO ALL EAT DO HIS WORK IN SUCH A SEASON AS THIS DESCRIBED. "Let them return to thee, return not thou to them." Plausible compliances of men in authority, with those against whom they are employed, are treacherous contrivances against the God of heaven, by whom they are employed.

1. It cannot be done but by preferring the creature before the Creator, especially in those things which are the proximate causes of deviation. Two principal causes I have observed of this crooked walking.

(1)  Fear.

(2)  That desire of perishing things, which hath a mixture of covetousness and ambition.

II. THE SUPPORTMENT AND ASSISTANCE PROMISED. "I will make thee to this people a brazen and a fenced wall." Now the Lord will do this —

1. Because of His own engagement.

2. For our encouragement.

III. THE OPPOSITION WHICH MEN CLEAVING TO THE LORD IN ALL HIS WAYS SHALL FIND, WITH THE ISSUE AND SUCCESS OF IT. "They shall fight against thee, but shall not prevail." The words may be considered either as a prediction depending on God's prescience of what will be; or a commination from His just judgment, of what shall be. In the first sense the Lord tells the prophet, from the corruption, apostasy, stubbornness of that people, what would come to pass. In the second, what for their sins and provocations, by His just judgment, should come to pass. I shall take up the latter only, namely, That it is a commination of what shall be for the further misery of that wretched people; they shall judicially be given up to a fighting against Him. Now the Lord doth this —

1. To seal up a sinful people's destruction. Eli's sons hearkened not, because the Lord would slay them (1 Samuel 2:25).

2. To manifest His own power and sovereignty in maintaining a small handful, ofttimes a few single persons, a Moses, a Samuel, two witnesses against the opposing rage of a hardened multitude.Use —

1. Let men, constant, sincere, upright in the ways of God, especially in difficult times, know what they are to expect from many, yea, the most of the generation, whose good they intend, and among whom they live; opposition and fighting is like to be their lot; and that not only it will be so because of men's lusts, corruptions, prejudices; but also it shall be so, from God's righteous judgments against a stubborn people; they harden their hearts that it may be so, to compass their ends; and God hardens their hearts that it shall be so to bring about His aims; they will do it to execute their revenge upon others, they shall do it to execute God's vengeance upon themselves.

2. Let men set upon opposition make a diligent inquiry, whether there be no hand in the business, but their own? whether their counsels be not leavened with the wrath of God, and their thoughts mixed with a spirit of giddiness, and themselves carried on to their own destruction?

( J. Owen, D. D.)

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KJV: Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.

WEB: Therefore thus says Yahweh, If you return, then will I bring you again, that you may stand before me; and if you take forth the precious from the vile, you shall be as my mouth: they shall return to you, but you shall not return to them.