For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.
Ver. 35. For they have not served thee in their kingdom] As David did, who held it his highest honour to be the servant of the Lord, Psalms 36:1,12; and as those three famous Christian emperors, Constantine, Valentinian, and Theodosius, who styled themselves The vassals of Jesus Christ (Socrat.).
And in thy great goodness that thou gavest them] In the abundance of all things, Deuteronomy 28:47, they should have considered, the more wages the more work; and that thus to requite the Lord was to come under the censure of a foolish people and unwise, Deuteronomy 32:6, yea, of idle and evil servants, Matthew 25:26 .
And in the large and fat land] "But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked"; fulness bred forgetfulness; saturity, security, Deuteronomy 32:15; therefore he was worthily pent up and pined in a strange land, where he had liberty little enough, and prisoner's pittance.
Neither turned they from their wicked works] They quarrel not with their faults, but with their friends that reprove them; they turn not to him from whom they had deeply revolted. Their impenitence maketh their sins mortal, says St John, 1 John 5:16; immortal, saith St Paul, Romans 2:5; they die in their sins, as did those Jews in the Gospel, and perish for ever, John 8:21 .