So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
Ver. 16. So the poor hath hope] How should it be otherwise? experience will breed confidence. Thou hast, thou wilt, is an ordinary Scriptural medium, Psalms 85:1,4 2 Corinthians 1:10. So, the poor, helpless, hopeless person, who is pined away, spent and utterly exhausted and wasted, both for health and wealth, he hath hope (spem maiorum et meliorum, greater and better, as Alexander said when he had given away all); and this holds head above water, makes wants plenitudes, and beguiles calamity, as good company doth the way. Neither is hope ever more highly elevated than when our state in all men's eyes is at its lowest. I was brought low (or drawn dry, the same word as here), and he helped me, Psalms 116:6. "So he will regard the prayer of the destitute," Psalms 102:17. The Hebrew word there signifies a poor shrub that is in the wilderness low and slender, trod upon by beasts, unregarded, worthless; such a one looketh unto God and is lightened, Psalms 34:5, conceiveth lively hope, hope unfailable through faith unfeigned, having earnest expectation (as the word signifieth) of strong consolation; so that he can truly say with St Paul, When I am weak, then am I strong, 2 Corinthians 12:10. Such prisoners of hope can turn them to the strong holds, Zechariah 9:12 .
And iniquity stoppeth her mouth] Iniquity, that is, the workers of iniquity, those worst sort of sinners (the word importeth men of manifold perverseness, Maligni et nocendi studiosi. Aquinas), amazed at godly men's good successes, contrary to their expectations, shall stand speechless, as he did, Matthew 22:12, convicted of their wickedness, and confounded at God's wonderful works. See the like Isa 52:15 Psa 107:42 Micah 7:16 Jeremiah 8:14. Thus Jannes and Jambres were silenced and convinced, but not converted. No more are many today, who yet have as little to say as they. The full accomplishment of this promise is not to be looked for till the last day.