Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.
Ver. 32. Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty] It is a high point of heavenly wisdom, in the beginning of our petitions, to propound God to ourselves under such holy notions and fit expressions, as wherein we may see an answer to our prayers, as here. See Nehemiah 1:5 .
Let not all the trouble] Heb. The wearying, the lassitude. Afflictions are not joyous, but grievous to the flesh, which doth soon flag, and even sink under the burden, if not supported by the hand of Heaven.
Seem little before thee] As if we had not yet suffered enough, but, as if we wanted weight, must be made yet heavier by an addition of new afflictions, 1 Peter 1:6. God is apt to think a little enough, and spare, Isaiah 40:1, and to take care that the spirit fail not before him, that his children swoon not in the whipping, Isaiah 57:16. He knows that every child of affliction hath not the strength to cry out, as Luther did, Feri Domine, feri, Smite on, Lord, smite on, for I am absolved from my sins; or as another did, I thank thee, O Lord, for all mine extremity; and I beseech thee, if thou think it good, to add to it a hundredfold more, &c.
That hath come upon us] As foul weather comes before it is sent for. Heb. Hath found us; for we sought it not, but would gladly have shunned it.
Since the time of the kings of Assyria] Who yet were their most favourable enemies; and are, therefore, compared to a golden head in Nebuchadnezzar's image; but any servitude is grievous; and among the Greeks, after that they were delivered from the tyranny of the Macedonians and Spartans, the error at the Nemaean games was forced to prononce the word, Liberty, iterumque iterumque, again and again. And how earnest are God's people here in deprecating another captivity. He heareth them; and for their late seventy years' captivity, granteth them seven seventies of years (Daniel's weeks) for the enjoyment of their own country.