But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
Ver. 4. But with righteousness judge the poor,] i.e., The poor in spirit, those meek ones of the earth. So the Anabaptists of Germany called themselves, and said that now the promise must be fulfilled, "The meek shall inherit the earth"; whenas they by blood, rapine, cruel wars, seized on the possessions of others. And have we not now a among us many loaves of the same leaven, brats of the same breed, bloody in their positions and dispositions - the fifth monarchy men they call themselves. Christ Jesus (as he hath lately to his great praise, so still) preserve and bless us out of their bloody fingers, and from their prodigious principles and practices. He hath promised it here, and much more: thou shalt "give thy judgment to the king" (Christ), "and he shall deliver the poor" Psa 72:2 - viz., from all foes and persecutors.
And he shall smite the earth,] i.e., Earthly minded men, who are "of the earth, speak of the earth, and the earth heareth them." Joh 3:31 As the earth is cold and dry, so are they. As the earth is heavy, and beareth downward, so do they. As the earth keepeth down hot exhalations that naturally would ascend, so is it with such. And lastly, as the earth standeth still in the midst of heaven, and taketh no notice of the whole circumference that is carried around it, so are earthly men stupid and insensible, &c. Howbeit "by the rod of his mouth," that is, by the preaching of the gospel, Christ doth again secretly "smite the earth," that is, the consciences of carnal people, glued to the earth, making them sound heavily as a shawm. b
And with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.] The devil and his deputies, Antichrist especially, 2Th 2:8 and that with little ado, even with a blast of his lips only; as with his bare word he laid on their backs those soldiers that came to apprehend him.
a This was written May 1, 1657.
b A mediaeval musical instrument of the oboe class, having a double reed enclosed in a globular mouthpiece.