And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.
Ver. 12. And the harp and the viol.] To make themselves the more mad upon pleasure, they had their music of all sorts, that thereby they might banish all seriousness, and be lulled faster asleep in carnal security. Fescenninis cantibus omnia personabant, a practice still in use among drunkards, to drown the noise of their consciences; like as the old Italians, to drown the noise of the heavens when it thundered, were wont to ring their greatest bells, beat up their drums and tabors, &c; so Amos 6:4; Amos 6:6 .
Are in their feasts.] Or, Are their feasts or drinkings.
But they regard not the work of the Lord.] That is, the first making, whether of themselves, to glorify God in some honest employment, and not to make drunkenness their occupation; or of other creatures, wherein they might find much of God, a as Pliny did in the music of the gnat, and the curious paint of the butterfly; as Galen did in the double motion of the lungs, called systole and diastole; but especially as David did in the contemplation of the universe, Psa 8:3 and as Mr John Dod did in the flower he had in his hand at Holdenby, where, being invited by an honourable person to see that stately house, he answered, In this flower I can see more of God than in all the beautiful buildings in the world. See Psalms 111:2; Psalms 92:4; Psalms 37:4. Thus if these drunkards had done, they would not have so abused God's good creatures. But "whoredom and wine, and new wine had taken away their hearts." Hos 4:11 Neither regarded they anything but the sparkling of the wine in the cup, Pro 23:31 and the beauty of the strange woman, Pro 23:33 in the flagrancy of their beastly lust.
Neither consider the operation of his hands.] The present disposing of his creatures, either by way of mercy or judgment. They pass by his providences unobserved, his late judgments upon the ten tribes, Amo 6:6 his heavy plagues hanging over their own heads, called his "work, and the counsel of the Holy One of Israel." Isa 5:19 Nihil omnino sapiunt nisi luxum suum, They mind nothing but their luxury and looseness.
a Saeculum est speculum reram invisibilium. - Trismeg.