Thus saith the LORD; Cursed [be] the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
Ver. 5. Cursed be the man that trusteth in man.] Disserit hic de summo bono, et de summo malo, saith one. Here the prophet discourseth of the chief good and of the chief evil. This latter he pronounceth to be to depart from God, and to depend upon the creature for help; for such a man, seem he never so manly a man (haggheber), is accursed of God, whom he robbeth of his chief jewel, that which giveth him the sovereignty, and setteth, as it were, the crown upon his head. See Jdg 9:15 Psalms 78:22; Psalms 52:7 .
And maketh flesh his arm,] i.e., His strength; for in brachio est robur. Now three ways, saith a reverend man, a we make flesh our arm - (1.) By sitting down in a faithless, sullen discontent and despair when we can see no second causes; (2.) By rising up in a corky, frothy confidence when we see sufficient human help; (3.) When we ascribe the glory of our good to it, "sacrificing to our own net." Hab 1:16 This is to pull the curse upon our heads with twisted wrath and indignation.
Whose heart departeth from God.] He trusteth not God at all who trusteth him not over all.
a Mr Case.