For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Ver. 14. For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, &c.] He shall make himself a glorious name among the nations of the earth, by executing vengeance upon Babylon, and so pleading the cause of his oppressed people (whom he seemed, during their captivity there, to neglect), that men shall have cause to say, "Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth," Psalms 58:11 .
As the waters cover the sea] The channel of the sea; that is, plentifully and abundantly; see a like promise Isaiah 11:9, but to another purpose. That is a famous promise of the coming and kingdom of Christ; and so some interpreters apply this. Wherein though they seem to be mistaken, considering the context; yet the ancients rightly here hence argued, that Christ would certainly come again to judgment, because many wicked men escape in this world without condign punishment, which then they shall be sure of, 2 Thessalonians 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 1:9. Then all shall be set to rights, though now they may seem less equally carried; and the reason of God's proceedings with men shall be cleared up, which now also we are bound to believe (sometimes secret, but) ever just. At the day of judgment we shall see an excellent harmony in this discord of things; and all obscure passages shall be made as plain to us as if they were written with the most glittering sunbeam upon a wall of crystal. Then shall this sweet promise have its full accomplishment: "The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea," in greatest abundance, and redundancy.