Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for [I] will work a work in your days, [which] ye will not believe, though it be told [you].
Ver. 5. Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously] Heb. Wonder, wonder. This is God's answer to the former expostulation, which he disliketh not, but encourageth the rest of his people to the like holy boldness. It containeth a promise to the prophet and the rest that were like affected, that he would shortly vindicate his glory and be avenged of the wicked, though he bore long with them. This that he may the better assure, he proceedeth by an elegant climax, wherein his speech getteth ground and ariseth higher and higher, that the despisers might be the more affected. "Behold, ye despisers," so St Paul after the Septuagint (whose translation he here followeth as most received, and most making for his purpose), Acts 13:41, the sense being one and the same.
For I will work a work in your days] This phrase noteth the strong intention of God upon it; as Jeremiah 18:18, to devise devices, noteth strong plotting to mischief the prophet. So Christ is said to work a work, John 5:36. Many do rather play their works than work them. This is not God-like. He is serious and thorough in his works.
Which ye will not believe, though it be told you] But put off all, as those in the Gospel did, with a God forbid; and so go on in sin, till wrath come upon you to the utmost. To this day we cannot get men to believe the truth of God's judgments, while they hang in the threatenings; but one put-off or another they get, through self-delusion, or obstinace of heart, Lamentations 3:65, next unto which followeth, Thy curse upon them.