The content of this chapter is the same as the previous one. For the prophet admonishes his own in various ways, both by threats and by promises, so that he may draw them away from trusting in human protection and help. It is clear, however, that the prophet preached many sermons of this content. To us, who are out of danger, he seems to repeat the same thing ad nauseam. But the godly hearts cannot be satisfied with the word of God in the evil hour of temptation, nothing is too much.
V. 1. and do not consider themselves holy in Israel.
2 He shows the sin against the first commandment. As if to say: What is this perverse nature that you put your trust in horses and chariots and not in your Creator? because they seek other saviors besides God.
V. 2. But he is wise.
You take me and my God for fools, but you will feel that he is most wise. Thus, we too are accused by the papists as heretics and rebels. Therefore, according to the example of the prophet, we can say that the time will come when we will be all too orthodox and peaceable for the papists. But this will not be believed until it happens.
Against the Help of the Evildoers.
4. the help is to be taken in a suffering way (passive), which the Jews, who are evildoers, seek.
V. 3. For Egypt is man, and not God.
Here one must notice the conclusion that the inference of the Holy Spirit teaches us. It is man; therefore it should not be relied upon; therefore it cannot help. Likewise, it is flesh; therefore it should not be relied upon; therefore it cannot help. For it must be applied to all cases of life, and to all doings, and to all works, to all attempts and human help, which are undertaken without the fear of God. The prophet uses this saying against the violence of the world and human powers. What are the kings and princes of Egypt on whom you rely? They are men. What are their horses? They are flesh. So I can say to a monk: What is your righteousness that you rely on? What are the masses? What is fasting? These are human and carnal things which the prophet condemns here, which are to serve man but not to rule in such a way that men rely on them. Accordingly, this whole passage is an exhortation to the first commandment.
That the helper may grovel, and he who is helped may fall 2c.
Both the helper and the one being helped will fall.
(7) It is to be wondered at that, since there are so many hard sermons in the holy Scriptures against this presumption, and daily experience also warns against it, yet nothing is done. The human heart is so accustomed, even born, to vain confidence and idolatry. If someone
When a man looks at the world, he will see that there is nothing but a perpetual fall of all generations and classes of men. For they all rely on flesh. Now he adds the promise of victory, that he may draw them from human strength.
V. 4. as a lion roars over his prey.
8. in order to raise up the weak, the Lord compares himself to a lion, which, when it has got a prey, roars, and does not turn to the crowd or to the cry of the shepherds. You, he says, are my prey, which the Assyrians will not snatch from me.
V. 5. as the birds do with wings.
9 This is a glorious promise. By "the bird with his wings" he means a hen spreading her wings to protect her young.
V. 6. Turn back.
10 Namely, from carnal trust to the Lord, who promises this. For this is what he says: "Return, you who have greatly departed," namely from God to trust in man.
V. 7. 8. His young team will become interest-bearing.
11 I believe that this is to be taken literally. They want to rule over you, but they will be defeated and overcome. I will deal with them in such a way "that they shall be glad to remain peasants", who now promise themselves the kingdom over you.
V. 9. and their rock.
12 That is, the princes of Assyria with their king Sanherib.
Who has fire to Zion.
(13) I take it from the household, that God dwells in Jerusalem, and there is a householder, and there has a hearth, as a citizen. This is a lovely image, which serves for the uplifting of the hearts. He also said this without an image in Numbers 35:34: "Defile not the land wherein ye dwell, wherein I also dwell among you: for I am the LORD that dwelleth among the children of Israel."