That say, Let him make speed, [and] hasten his work, that we may see [it]: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know [it]!
Ver. 19. That say, Let him make speed.] That jeer when they should fear, jest at God's judgments, and mock at his menaces, as if they were only bugbear terms, devised on purpose to frighten silly people, but that themselves had more wit than to regard them. This also was the guise of those atheists in later ages. Jeremiah 17:15 Eze 12:23 Amos 5:18 2Pe 3:3 Eμπαικται, they made children's play of God's direful threats, as the Greek word signifieth. And that they may not plead ignorance, the apostle addeth, Isa 5:5 that they were "willingly ignorant"; they choked their natural light, and contradicted the testimony of their own consciences. Magna eorum hodieque seges est; such dust heaps are found in every corner.
And let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel.] Verba ludificantium Deum et prophetas, a These scoffers are here brought in deriding the very name whereby the holy prophets for more reverence sake commonly called the Lord, viz., "the Holy One of Israel." Or thus, God is the Holy One of Israel, which Israel we are; and thinkest thou that he will do us hurt? b Hereupon the prophet addeth,
a Mιμησις .
b Oecolamp.