Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I [am] God, [even] thy God.
Ver. 7. Hear, O my people, and I will speak, &c.] What sweet and winning language is here for a preface! God's proceedings against sinners, whom he might confound with his terrors, is with meekness and much mildness, Genesis 3:9; Genesis 3:11; Genesis 4:9 Matthew 22:11; Matthew 26:50. Be we herein followers of God as dear children, Jos 7:19 Galatians 6:1 2 Timothy 2:19 .
O Israel, I will testify against thee] i.e. I will expostulate with thee, and convince thee. This is a mercy which the Lord vouchsafed our first parents when they had sinned; the serpent he would not so much as examine, but doomed him presently.
I am God] And should, therefore, have been better obeyed.
Even thy God] And, therefore, thou of all others shouldest have had more care, and not have despited me with seeming honours by presenting me with outside services.