His soul was grieved for the misery of Israel— This is a figurative expression, setting forth, in a very emphatical manner, the effect of the divine compassion. If the Israelites, hardened by idolatry, had not repented, God resolved not to deliver them: but as soon as they repented and reformed, he changed his conduct towards them. His wisdom leaves free scope to his goodness. Though God is, of course, superior himself to the affections of grief and affliction, the sacred writer expresses it as if his soul was grieved for their misfortunes, as if compassion disarmed him in their favour. See Jeremiah 15:1.
REFLECTIONS.—It was long before they bowed the knee of penitence; but better late than never. We have,
1. Their humble confession. They had committed two great crimes: they had forsaken God, the fountain of living water, and had hewn themselves idols, broken cisterns which could hold no water; their sufferings were, therefore, just, and they acknowledged their deserts. Note; The first step of a sinner's return to God is a discovery of his own great guilt, and a sense of his deserved ruin.
2. God sends them a sharp and upbraiding answer to their cries. He turns not away his ear from their prayers, nor sinks them in utter despair; but speaks so as to awaken their consciences, and confound them under the sense of their baseness and ingratitude. Many a time had they been delivered, and those very oppressors subdued under them; yet they had vilely sinned against their own mercies: he, therefore, refers them for help to the gods whom they served, to upbraid their folly, and convince them of the weakness of these lying vanities. He refuses to deliver them any more, that is, conditionally, as long as their idols were kept among them. Note; (1.) If God frowns upon the returning sinner, let him not despair; it is only his desert, indeed, if he be utterly rejected: yet, with the Lord there is mercy and forgiveness. (2.) When we are brought to a real sense of our sins, we shall see the vanity and insufficiency of those things to make us happy on which we formerly relied.
3. The people of Israel, solemnly assembled, it should seem, when this message by an angel, or prophet, was brought to them, own their just deserts, and surrender themselves up to God; yet humbly entreat, that once more he would spare them; and, convinced of their vanity, instantly put away their abominations. Note; (1.) When we come to God, we must pretend no excuse for our sin, but plead guilty, and throw ourselves on the mercy of our Judge. (2.) If we would prove our repentance real, we must instantly renounce the sins that we confess. (3.) When sin is our bitterness and burden, though we may stand trembling under the black review, there is yet hope.
4. God regards them with tender compassion, and, to speak as a man, beholds their misery with bowels which yearn over them. Note; No prodigals return to God, but his fatherly heart is touched with the feeling of their wretchedness, and he is ready to embrace the most miserable of sinners.