xxvii. 10, 11. _Yet the defenced city, &c._
I. WHAT A WONDERFUL PICTURE! Proud Babylon so utterly overthrown that
on its site cattle feed, and women gather dried sticks for firewood.
What an astonishing faith that rendered it possible for any one even
to conceive of such a national revolution. That faith grew out of a
victorious confidence in the righteousness of God as the ruler of the
world, and in His faithfulness to His promises. Such a faith we
should cultivate when we see iniquity triumphant. Its utter overthrow
is sure. II. WHAT AN ASTONISHING DECLARATION! "For it is a people of
no understanding; therefore," &c. It appears to be in direct
contradiction to our Saviour's prayer, "Father, forgive them, _for
they know not what they do._" But in the latter case the ignorance
was involuntary; in the former, it was deliberate and persistent.
Babylon resisted every effort God made to instruct her, and persisted
in her career of defiance of His authority and of outrage on all the
claims of man. Such obduracy was at length confronted by Divine
justice, and then ensued utter ruin. This is the eternal law of the
universe. Therefore, let the impenitent tremble, for persistence in
sin forfeits all our claims upon God as our Creator (H. E. I., 4488,
4489).