Westminster Annotations, Jonah 2 – Haggai 2
The ARGUMENT of the Book of the Prophet JONAH.
JOnah prophesied in Israel: see a Kings 14. 25. but, as other Prophets, so he profited but little: wherefore God gave him expresse Charge to go to Nineveh the chief Citie of that great Empire of the Assyrians; both to shew, that the compassionate and infinitely-mercifull God had beams of Grace to shine forth in the publishing of his blessed Word to the Gentiles; and also, that Israel might have a visible Reproof of their horrible Ingratitude and Stubbornnesse; who, for the space of many yeers, had not converted to the Lord; whereas Nineveh, by one Prophet, was converted in three days. At first, he withstood his Calling, and fled to Joppa, hopelesse to convert Nineveh; or, fearing the calling in of the Gentiles, might be the casting off of the Jews, whereof he was loth to be the Instrument; minding more the Sons then the Father, the Safety of the Jews, then the Glory of God. But when he had been three days and three nights in the Whales belly (in figure expressing how Christ should die, and rise again the third day) he went in confidence to preach to the Ninevites. After that miraculous Deliverance, the Prophet cometh to that famous and populous Citie, and denounceth against it approaching Ruine; which Threatning, produced a publike Humiliation and Repentance; for which, God did suspend the Execution for a time: Whereupon, the Prophet discovered much Humane frailty, in being troubled at the effect of Gods▪ MercieMercy; and is both familiarly reproved by the Lord, and with bowels of compassion better instructed. In this Book, Jonah setteth down his Embassie to the Ninevites; first, imposed; secondly, undertaken: Imposed, where the refractory Prophet is punished, Chap. 1. and upon his Prayers delivered, Chap. 2. Secondly, undertaken; the effect whereof, is the sparing of the repenting Ninevites, Chap. 3. and the angry Prophet is reprehended, and better disciplined, by the mercifull God.
The ARGUMENT of the Book of the Prophet MICAH.
MIcah prophesied in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, Kings of Judah; some say, at least thirty yeers; at which time Isaiah also prophesied; and they two are like in the subject, and in their terms and Propheticall style, sublime and lofty. He declareth the Destruction of both the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and their approaching Dispersion, by the Assyrians and the Caldeans, because of their manifold Wickednesse; but chiefly, for their Idolatrie. Then he maketh Promises, to true Believers, of Temporall Deliverance from Captivity, and Spirituall, through Christ, who should bring eternall Salvation to the whole Church, gathering it out of all Nations: whose coming in the Flesh, or Incarnation, and Place of his Birth, are described so, that from him Herod might be told where Christ the true Bread of life should be born, namely, at Beth-lehem, The house of Bread; for so the Hebrew word signifieth. Furthermore, he joyneth excellent Prophecies of the coming of Christs Kingdom, of the Calling in of the Gentiles, and of the felicity of the Church. His Prophecie hath two parts: The first consisteth of Threatnings, Chapters 1, 2, and 3. and of Consolations, Chapters 4 and 5. The second part hath also Threatnings, Chap. 6. and, after the Complaint of the Prophet and all the Godly, concerning the paucity of good men in every Rank and Degree, so that they could scarce finde, among their neer friends and necessary acquaintance, Piety and Faith; he endeth his Prophecie with Consolation, promising the Confusion of Enemies, and Gods singular Mercy to the Church, Chap. 7.
The ARGUMENT of the Book of the Prophet NAHƲM.
NIneveh that famous Citie, Head of that great Assyrian Empire, when Jonah the Prophet was sent thither to preach, That within fourty days it should be destroyed, was moved to Repentance; and so the Tranquility of that Empire was lengthened: But after a certain time, they grew secure, regarding worldly means to augment their Dominion, more then the fear of God, and so, casting off the further care of Religion, returned to their former sinnes; yea, encreased them, through their Oppression of other Nations, and of Gods People. The Assyrians overthrew the Syrian Kingdom, took Damascus, and carried the people captive to Kir, and slew Rezin the Syrian King, 2 Kings 16. 9. and they brought Israel to be Lo-ruchamah, that is, Unpitied; and Loammi, No people: And now that irrevocable Decree of God (the setter up and puller down of Kingdoms) for the finall Overthrew of that Empire, is foretold them by his Prophet Nahum. He prophesied of a Ruine to Nineveh, and Habakkuk of the Caldeans to arise. Before Pul King of Assyria; see 2 Kings 15. 19. 1 Chron. 5. 26. (of whose Kingdom Nineveh was the chief Citie, as Damascus was of Syria, Isai. 7. 8.) Aram (or, after the Greek, Syria) had greater fame then Assur. Since Pul, Assur pillaging many Countreys, grew to be a tree, Ezek. 31. 3. but falling foul upon Israel (which was scattered by Nineveh) began to fall, by Caldeans; and Babel soon grew to be as great a Tree, Dan. 4. as ever Assur had been. The Wheels of Providence are full of eyes, seeing what People shall be on the earth, and the bounds of their Habitation. Kingdoms and Empires, by the appointment of the ETERNAL, have their Periods: and then their time draweth nigh, when they practise cruelty against Gods Church and People. The Assyrian flourishing Empire, for Wrongs done to Israel, must fall by the Babylonians (as Babel did after, for Indignities to Judah, fall by the Medes and Persians, &c.) Nahum the Prophet doth lively represent it by all Circumstances, both to assure Gods People it shall be so, and to comfort them, in his just Revenge of all their Wrongs on the heads of their Enemies. He also telleth, that after their coming from Babel, joyfull Preaching shall be over all Nations; and comforteth the true Jew, in the fair feet of them that publish Peace, and biddeth them festivie a Festivity. In brief, Nahum first propoundeth the Assyrians Destruction, Chap. 1. Secondly, expoundeth the Causes thereof; the Instrumentall, the Caldeans, fierce and furious Enemies, Chap. 2. The Principall, the Eternall and Infinite just God, Chap. 3. who is jealous of his own Glory, and Avenger of his Peoples Wrongs.
The ARGUMENT of the Book of the Prophet HABAKƲK.
THis holy Prophet being in extreme grief that Gods own People should so abuse his Patience, and run to the extremity of Wickednesse; addresseth his serious and sad Complaint to God, against such cruell and cursed Practices; and then turneth his speech to tell the Jews, That in the present Age wherein they lived, they should (for Manassehs wickednesse, and the superlative Sins of that stubborn and rebellious Nation against the Lord and his Law) see their Common-weal destroyed by the Caldeans. Afterward, he falleth to wonder and admire that God would advance to height of Dignity and Empire, a Nation so bitter, hastie, proud, violent, vicious, cruell, and insatiably covetous, as the Babylonians were, suffering them to be Executioners of his Judgements, and Scourgers of his own People. And lest the Godly, seeing these horrible and lasting Troubles, should despair, this must be their Comfort, that The just should live by Faith: and therefore the Lord by Vision putteth the Prophet, and every Believer, upon the exercise of Faith and Patience, the chiefest Cordials in every Calamity, strengthning the heart to stay for the effect of Gods Justice, both to free his People, and to punish the Enemie. Lastly, the Prophet maketh a wonderfull Prayer, celebrating Gods mighty Power in ancient Deliverances, and terrible Executions on Enemies in former times; desiring that in the midst of the yeers (the seventieth of Captivity, was the midst between Samuel and Redemption) God would revive his Work, and in Wrath remember MercieMercy; and by Faith, expecteth Deliverance from present Evils, and that the glorious God, who had shaken Cananeans, would also shake Caldeans, and bring his People to walk on their high-places again. After he hath done his Prayer, he saith, To the chief singer on Neginoth; that is, Sing this Song with an infinite Lustinesse and Courage; for you shall see the Power of God marvellous in Babylon, and then you shall return to Jerusalem. In this Book, the Prophet first expostulateth with God, Chap. 1 & 2. Secondly, directeth his Prayer to God, Chap. 3.
The ARGUMENT of the Book of the Prophet ZEPHANIAH.
TZephaniah sheweth, what Tzaphan Jah, stored hath God (as Moses told, Deut. 32. 34.) for his Peoples sins. He prophesied but a few yeers before the Captivity of Babylon, exhorting that wicked People of Judah, by Repentance and true Conversion, to prevent Judgement before the Decree bring forth, and the fierce anger of GOD come upon them: But seeing they despised the Redeemer (taught by the Passeover in Josiahs days) he telleth them God will punish the Kings children for Pride and close Idolatry: the Rulers, for Cruelty; her Princes being roaring Lions, and Judges ravening Wolves: the false Prophets, for lying Vanities, that he would overthrow their state, and carry them to Babylon: yet upon confession of their sins, God will leave a poor and humble People which shall trust in Messiah the Lord, who should work their Salvation, and collect his Church from amongst all the Nations of the world, sanctifie and save it; shewing the effect of his Grace and Justice, in preserving and blessing her, and cursing and confounding her enemies. He prophesied in Josiahs days; and threateneth, in Chap. 1. dehorteth, Chap. 2. comforteth, Chap. 3.
The ARGUMENT of the Book of the Prophet HAGGAI.
AFter the seventy yeers Captivity, foretold by Jeremiah, were expired, and the Jews were returned from Babylon; God raised up some Prophets, among the rest Haggai and Zechariah, to exhort them to reedifie the Temple, and to reestablish his pure Worship. Haggai sharply reproveth them for regarding their private Commodities more then the publike Good, building their own Houses with neglecting the Lords House; and sheweth, that the Plague of Famine sent amongst them, was a just Recompence of their grosse Ingratitude in omitting that Work, to effect which, God mightily wrought their Deliverance from Babel: Yet if they will up and build, God would be with them with his Word and Spirit: And albeit that House they builded were far lesse stately then the former built by Solomon, and nothing in comparison, in their eyes who had seen both, and for which many were grieved; the Prophet comforteth them, and all the Elect, in assurance that the glory of this later House should be greater then the glory of the former: For Zerubbabel the Signet; that is, Christ (who was to come of Zerubbabel) should be born and come into their reedified-Temple, and by his presence advance it to greater glory then ever the former had; who by the Father is appointed King of his Church, yea, King of kings, and Lord of lords; and who also should shake the heaven and the earth; the Heaven of Jewish Ceremonies, and Earth of profane Empire, by setting up his Kingdom in Spirituall Worship; bringing all Nations under his Power, and subverting all Power contrary to his. Haggai expoundeth Daniels Sevens, that the Jews should build a Temple, Chap. 1. that Christ, the Desire of all Nations, should come into it; and so, by his presence there, make that Temple more glorious then Solomons, Chap. 2.