v. 11–17. Woe unto him that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink, &c.
National ungodliness. I. Its phases, dissipation, drunkenness, forgetfulness of God. II. Its punishment, captivity, famine, pestilence, humiliation. III. The certainty of its visitation, God must be vindicated, His people must be delivered.[1]—J. Lyth, D.D.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] The individual culprit may sometimes
Unpunished to his after-reckoning go:
Not thus collective man; for public crimes
Draw on their proper punishment below.
When nations go astray, from age to age
The effects remain, a fatal heritage.
Bear witness, Egypt, thy huge monuments,
Of priestly fraud and tyranny austere!
Bear witness thou, whose only name presents
All holy feelings to religion dear—
In earth’s dark circlet once the precious gem
Of living light—O fallen Jerusalem!—Southey.
Sensuality.
v. 11, 12. Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts; but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of His hands.
Sensuality. I. Its features. II. Its follies. III. Its inconsideration.[1] IV. Its punishment.—J. Lyth, D.D.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Of men out of hell, none more to be pitied than he who hangs over its mouth, and yet is without fear. What good does physic poured down a dead man’s throat? If he cannot be chafed to some sense of his condition, all applications are hopeless; and if sharp affliction, which is the strongest physic, leaves the sinner senseless, there is little prospect that anything else will do him good.—Gurnall, 1617–1679.