O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:
Ver. 18. Oh that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments.] See the like wishes, Deuteronomy 32:29; Deuteronomy 5:29 Psalms 81:13, implying that so they might have redeemed many sorrows, escaped many miseries.
Then had thy peace been as a river] "Great peace have all they that love God's law, and nothing shall offend them," Psa 119:165 they shall have a confluence of all comforts and contentments: yet ever with an exception of the cross, as need requireth.
And thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.] Which are perpetual, fluctus fluctum trudit.