In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
Ver. 9. In all their afflictions he was afflicted.] See Exodus 3:7; Exodus 3:9 Jdg 10:16 Zec 2:8 Act 9:4 Jeremiah 31:20. O God, we may better say, than the poet did of Augustus -
“ Est placidus, facilisque parens, veniaeque paratus:
Et qui fulmineo saepe sine igne tonat.
Qui rum triste aliquid statuit, fit tristis et ipse:
Cuique fere poenam sumere poena sua est. ” a
And the angel of his presence saved them,] i.e., Jesus Christ, who is called the "face of God"; Exo 33:14-15 "the image of the invisible God"; Col 1:15 whom whoso "hath seen, hath seen the Father also"; Joh 14:9 he "who is in the bosom of the Father"; Joh 1:18 and as an everlasting priest mediateth and ministereth in the presence of his Father, making request for us; Heb 9:24 Rev 8:3 that "angel of the covenant." Mal 3:1
And he bare them.] As parents do their young children.
And carried them.] As eagles do their young. See Exo 19:4 Deuteronomy 32:11. See Trapp on " Deu 32:11 "
a De Ponto, ii., Eleg. 2.