Bible Commentaries

Psalms 105:39 — 39. covering—in sense of protection (compare Exodus 13:21; Numbers 10:34). In the burning sands of the desert the cloud protected the congregation from the heat of the sun; an emblem of God's protecting favor of His people, as interpreted by Isaiah (Isaiah 4:5; Isaiah 4:6; compare Isaiah 4:6- :).

Ecclesiastes 3:13 — 13. Literally, "And also as to every man who eats . . . this is the gift of God" (Ecclesiastes 3:22; Ecclesiastes 5:18). When received as God's gifts, and to God's glory, the good things of life are enjoyed in their due time and order (Acts 2:46; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Timothy 4:3; 1 Timothy 4:4).

Song of Solomon 2:11 — 11. the winter—the law of the covenant of works (Matthew 4:16). rain is over— (Hebrews 12:18-24; 1 John 2:8). Then first the Gentile Church is called "beloved, which was not beloved" (1 John 2:8- :). So "the winter" of estrangement and sin is "past" to the believer (Isaiah 44:22; Jeremiah 50:20; 2 Corinthians

Isaiah 14:22 — 22. against them—the family of the king of Babylon. name—all the male representatives, so that the name shall become extinct (Isaiah 56:5; Ruth 4:5). remnant—all that is left of them. The dynasty shall cease (Ruth 4:5- :). Compare as to Babylon in general, Ruth 4:5- :.

Isaiah 4:2 — manifestation of Jesus Christ to the "escaped of Israel" in His characteristic attributes, beauty and glory, typified in Aaron's garments ( :-). Their sanctification is promised as the fruit of their being "written" in the book of life by sovereign love (Isaiah 4:3); the means of it are the "spirit of judgment" and that of "burning" (Isaiah 4:4). Their "defense" by the special presence of Jesus Christ is promised (Isaiah 4:5; Isaiah 4:6). branch—the sprout of JEHOVAH. Messiah (Jeremiah 23:5; Jeremiah 33:15;

Isaiah 62:1 — as representative of all the praying people of God who love and intercede for Zion (compare Isaiah 62:6; Isaiah 62:7; Psalms 102:13-17), or else Messiah (compare Isaiah 62:6). So Messiah is represented as unfainting in His efforts for His people (Isaiah 42:4; Isaiah 50:7). righteousness thereof—not its own inherently, but imputed to it, for its restoration to God's favor: hence "salvation" answers to it in the parallelism. "Judah" is to be "saved" through "the Lord our (Judah's and the Church's) righteousness"

Jeremiah 12:16 — 16. swear by my name— (Jeremiah 4:2; Isaiah 19:18; Isaiah 65:16); that is, confess solemnly the true God. built—be made spiritually and temporally prosperous: fixed in sure habitations (compare Jeremiah 24:6; Jeremiah 42:10; Jeremiah 45:4; Psalms 87:4; Psalms 87:5; Ephesians 2:20; Ephesians 2:21; 1 Peter 2:5).

Ezekiel 4:4 — 4. Another symbolical act performed at the same time as the former, in vision, not in external action, wherein it would have been only puerile: narrated as a thing ideally done, it would make a vivid impression. The second action is supplementary to the

Hosea 4:19 — 19. Israel shall be swept away from her land (Hosea 4:16) suddenly and violently as if by "the wings of the wind" (Psalms 18:10; Psalms 104:3; Jeremiah 4:11; Jeremiah 4:12). ashamed . . . of their sacrifices—disappointed to their shame in their hope of help through their sacrifices to idols.

Hosea 6:5 — hewed them by the prophets—that is, I announced by the prophets that they should be hewn asunder, like trees of the forest. God identifies His act with that of His prophets; the word being His instrument for executing His will (Jeremiah 1:10; Ezekiel 43:3). by . . . words of my mouth— (Isaiah 11:4; Jeremiah 23:29; Hebrews 4:12). thy judgments—the judgments which I will inflict on thee, Ephraim and Judah (Hebrews 4:12- :). So "thy judgments," that is, those inflicted on thee (Hebrews 4:12- :). are

Deuteronomy 5:4 — 4. The Lord talked with you face to face in the mount—not in a visible and corporeal form, of which there was no trace (Deuteronomy 4:12; Deuteronomy 4:15), but freely, familiarly, and in such a manner that no doubt could be entertained of His presence.

Romans 4:25 — the same in all time, and the testimony of the Old Testament on this subject is one with that of the New ( :-, c., and see on :-, Note 1). (3) Faith and works, in the matter of justification, are opposite and irreconcilable, even as grace and debt (Romans 4:4 Romans 4:5; and see on Romans 4:5- :). If God "justifies the ungodly," works cannot be, in any sense or to any degree, the ground of justification. For the same reason, the first requisite, in order to justification, must be (under the conviction

1 Corinthians 8:3 — 3. love God—the source of love to our neighbor (1 John 4:11; 1 John 4:12; 1 John 4:20; 1 John 5:2). the same—literally, "this man"; he who loves, not he who "thinks that he knows," not having "charity" or love (1 Corinthians 8:1; 1 Corinthians 8:2). is known of him—is known with the knowledge of approval

Galatians 4:28 — 28. we—The oldest manuscripts and versions are divided between "we" and "ye." "We" better accords with :-, "mother of us." children of promise—not children after the flesh, but through the promise (Galatians 4:23; Galatians 4:29; Galatians 4:31). "We are" so, and ought to wish to continue so.

Ephesians 4:17 — 17. therefore—resuming the exhortation which he had begun with, "I therefore beseech you that ye walk worthy," c. ( :-). testify in the Lord—in whom (as our element) we do all things pertaining to the ministry (1 Thessalonians 4:1 [ALFORD] Romans 9:1). henceforth . . . not—Greek, "no longer"; resumed from Romans 9:1- :. other—Greek, "the rest of the Gentiles." in the vanity, c.—as their element: opposed to "in the Lord." "Vanity of mind" is the waste of the rational powers

Philippians 1:4 — 4. making request—Translate, "making my request." for you all—The frequent repetition in this Epistle of "all" with "you," marks that Paul desires to declare his love for all alike, and will not recognize any divisions among them. with joy—the characteristic

Philippians 3:14 — 14. high calling—literally, "the calling that is above" (Galatians 4:26; Colossians 3:1): "the heavenly calling" (Hebrews 3:1). "The prize" is "the crown of righteousness" (1 Corinthians 9:24; 2 Timothy 4:8). 2 Timothy 4:8- :, "crown of life." 2 Timothy

2 Timothy 1:7 — The spirit which He gave us, was not the spirit of timidity (literally, "cowardice," which is weakness), but of "power" (exhibited in a fearless "testimony" for Christ, :-). "Power is the invariable accompaniment of the gift of the Holy Ghost. Luke 24:49 Acts 1:8; compare Acts 1:8- :, "full of faith and of the Holy Ghost," with 2 Timothy 1:8, "full of faith and power." Fear is the result of "the spirit of bondage" (Romans 8:15). Fear within exaggerates the causes of fear without. "The spirit of power"

James 1:11 — 11. Taken from :-. heat—rather, "the hot wind" from the (east or) south, which scorches vegetation (Luke 12:55). The "burning heat" of the sun is not at its rising, but rather at noon; whereas the scorching Kadim wind is often at sunrise (Jonah 4:8) [MIDDLETON, The Doctrine of the Greek Article]. Jonah 4:8- : uses the Greek word for "heat." Jonah 4:8- :, "bloweth upon it," seems to answer to "the hot wind" here. grace of the fashion—that is of the external appearance. in his ways—referring to

1 Peter 1:3 — into the past ( :-) [ALFORD]. Blessed—A distinct Greek word (eulogetos, "Blessed BE") is used of God, from that used of man (eulogemenos, "Blessed IS"). Father—This whole Epistle accords with the Lord's prayer; "Father," 1 Peter 1:3; 1 Peter 1:14; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 Peter 2:2; "Our," 1 Peter 1:4, end; "In heaven," 1 Peter 1:4; "Hallowed be Thy name," 1 Peter 1:15; 1 Peter 1:16; 1 Peter 3:15; "Thy kingdom come," 1 Peter 3:15- :; "Thy will be done," 1 Peter 2:15; 1 Peter 3:17; 1 Peter