Be silent, all flesh, before Yahweh; for he has roused himself from his holy habitation!”
Parallel Translations
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Be silent, all flesh, before Yahweh; for he has roused himself from his holy habitation!”
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Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.
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(2-17) Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD; for He is aroused out of His holy habitation.
Cross-references (18)
Passages linked to Zechariah 2:13 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Habakkuk 2:20 But Yahweh is in his holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before him!”
- Zephaniah 1:7 Be silent at the presence of the Lord Yahweh, for the day of Yahweh is at hand. For Yahweh has prepared a sacrifice. He has consecrated his guests.
- Psalms 68:5 A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
- Psalms 78:65 Then the Lord awakened as one out of sleep, like a mighty man who shouts by reason of wine.
- Psalms 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”
- Zephaniah 3:8 “Therefore wait for me”, says Yahweh, “until the day that I rise up to the prey, for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour on them my indignation, even all my fierce anger, for all the earth will be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
- Isaiah 51:9 Awake, awake, put on strength, arm of Yahweh! Awake, as in the days of old, the generations of ancient times. Isn’t it you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the monster?
- Deuteronomy 26:15 Look down from your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless your people Israel, and the ground which you have given us, as you swore to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
- Psalms 11:4 Yahweh is in his holy temple. Yahweh is on his throne in heaven. His eyes observe. His eyes examine the children of men.
- Isaiah 26:20-21 Come, my people, enter into your rooms, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a little moment, until the indignation is past. For, behold, Yahweh comes out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth also will disclose her blood, and will no longer cover her slain.
- Isaiah 42:13-15 Yahweh will go out like a mighty man. He will stir up zeal like a man of war. He will raise a war cry. Yes, he will shout aloud. He will triumph over his enemies. “I have been silent a long time. I have been quiet and restrained myself. Now I will cry out like a travailing woman. I will both gasp and pant. I will destroy mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs. I will make the rivers islands, and will dry up the pools.
- Isaiah 57:15 For the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, says: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
- Romans 9:20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed ask him who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?”
- 2 Chronicles 30:27 Then the Levitical priests arose and blessed the people. Their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy habitation, even to heaven.
- Isaiah 57:5 you who inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree; who kill the children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?
- Isaiah 63:15 Look down from heaven, and see from the habitation of your holiness and of your glory. Where are your zeal and your mighty acts? The yearning of your heart and your compassion is restrained toward me.
- Jeremiah 25:30 “Therefore prophesy against them all these words, and tell them, “ ‘Yahweh will roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation. He will mightily roar against his fold. He will give a shout, as those who tread grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.
- Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain Here is a sealing of the whole prophecy. The…
Here is a sealing of the whole prophecy. The Prophet highly extols the power of God, that the Jews might not still doubt or fear as with regard to things uncertain. He says that whatever he had hitherto declared was indubitable; for God would put forth his power to succor his Church and to remove whatever hindrance there might be. We have seen similar expressions elsewhere, that is, in the second chapter of Habakkuk and in the first of Zephaniah; (Habakkuk 2:1 Zephaniah 1:1) and these Prophets had nearly the same object in view; for Habakkuk, after having spoken of the restoration of the people, thus concludes, — that God was coming forth to bid silence to all nations, that no one might dare to oppose when it was his will to redeem his Church. So also Zephaniah, after having, described the slaughter of God’s enemies, when God ordered sacrifices to be made to him as it were from the whole world, uses the same mode of expression, as though he had said, that there would be nothing to resist the power of God. It is the same here, Silent, he says, let all flesh be before Jehovah. It is, in short, the shout of triumph, by which Zechariah exults over all the enemies of the Church, and shows that they would rage in vain, as they could effect nothing, however clamorous they might be.
By silence we are to understand, as elsewhere observed, submission. The ungodly are not indeed silent before God, so as willingly to obey his word, or reverently to receive what he may bid or command, or humbly to submit under his powerful hand; for these things are done only by the faithful. Silence, then, is what especially belongs to the elect and the faithful; for they willingly close their mouth to hear God speaking. But the ungodly are also said to be silent, when God restrains their madness: and how much soever they may inwardly murmur and rage, they yet cannot openly resist; so that he completes his work, and they are at length made ashamed of the swelling, words they have vomited forth, when they pass off in smoke. This is the sense in which the Prophet says now, silent be all flesh. He means, in short, by these words, That when God shall go forth to deliver his Church, he will be terrible; so that all who had before furiously assailed his chosen people, shall be constrained to tremble.
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With regard to the habitation of holiness, I explain it of the temple rather than of heaven. I indeed allow that heaven is often thus called in Scripture: and it is called the palace or temple of God, for we cannot think as we ought of God’s infinite glory, except we are carried above the world. This is the reason why God says that he dwells in heaven. But as the Church is spoken of here, Zechariah, I doubt not, means the temple. It is indeed certain that there was no temple when God began to rise as one awakened from sleep, to restore his people: but as the faithful are said in Psalm 102 to pity the dust of Sion, because the place continued sacred even in its degradation and ruin; so also in this passage Zechariah says, that God was roused — Whence? from Sion, from that despised place, exposed to the derision of the ungodly: yet there God continued to dwell, that he might build again the temple, where his name was to be invoked until Christ appeared. We now see that the temple or Sion is intended rather than heaven, when all circumstances are duly weighed. Now follows —
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Zec 2:13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the…
Zec 2:13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.
Ver. 13. Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord] Heb. הס Peace and be still, as our Saviour once said to the raging sea, Mar 4:39, whereupon the wind ceased (which before had blown and blustered till it was weary again, as the Greek word there importeth) and there was a great calm, all was suddenly hushed, and silent (εκοπασεν). The enemies of the Church are no less brutish and boisterous than the fierce winds and waves (αγπια κυματα), Psa 107:25-27. But God, who sets a bound to the mighty waters which they may not pass, Psa 104:9, he also restraineth the remainder of man’s wrath, Psa 76:10. If he do but (as the Roman tribune was wont to do) interpose his veto. If he do but say (st) Be silent, O all flesh, σιγα λαος, plot not, prate not, practise not against my people, who dare quatch in his presence, or gainstand his commands ( הס ησυχααετε)? Who art thou, O man, that chattest against God? saith Paul, Rom 9:20 "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without wisdom?" saith God to Job, Job 38:2. How now? Let all flesh be silent. Let God be justified, and every mouth stopped. Talk no more so exceeding proudly, let not arrogance come out of your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked (whether they will or no) shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. "The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them," saith holy Hannah, 1Sa 2:3; 1Sa 2:9-10. And then they shall be glad to be quiet, and to save themselves as they can; like as the worms when it thunders wriggle into the corners of the earth; and as Caligula (that bold miscreant that dared his Jove to a duel), when it thundered, covered his eyes with his cap, running under the bed, or any bench hole (Sueton.).
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O all flesh] Frail and foolish, weak and worthless men, who may not compare their wisdom or oppose their strength to God’s; before whom they can no more stand than a glass bottle can before a cannon-shot. They should, therefore, do well to meddle with their match; and not "contend with him that is mightier than they," Ecc 6:10. The Church is called Jehovahshammah, or, The Lord is there, Eze 48:35, and although she be but a virgin, yet she hath a thrice puissant champion, even the Holy One of Israel, Isa 22:23.
Who is now also already raised up] Or aroused, awakened as a man out of sleep, Psa 44:23, or as a giant that shouteth by reason of wine, Psa 78:65.
Out of his holy habitation] That is, out of heaven, Deu 26:15, where he hath bathed his sword, Isa 34:5, and bent his bow and made it ready, Psa 50:12. Or out of his temple, which was likewise God’s habitation, 1Sa 2:20, and thence God would help his people, as they once said to David at Mahanaim, 2Sa 18:3, Therefore now it is better that thou help us, or cause us to be helped, out of the city. Remarkable is that of the psalmist, "In Salem is God s tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion. There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah." Psa 76:2-3. There? where? In the tabernacle, in the assemblies of God’s saints. By all flesh here may also be meant the unbelieving Jews, who are enjoined silence and submission; they are styled here, as the Levites styled the people, saying, "Hold your peace," Neh 8:11; dispute not, doubt not, distrust not God’s promises, seem they never so improbable or impossible to be effected; hearken not to the murmurings of your own misgiving hearts, but silence your reason, exalt your faith.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Be silent; murmur not, you that love not Zion;…
Be silent; murmur not, you that love not Zion; dispute not, you that, think these promises are too good, too great; but, in silence, reverence and adore God in all his excellences and ways; wait, and expect the accomplishment of all by him who never utters more than he can and will do for his people. O all flesh; both Jew and Gentile; you are weak, short-sighted, and worthless; you are flesh, be silent and wait.
Before the Lord; the wise, mighty, gracious, and faithful One; who never suffered a word of his to fall unfulfilled, nor will let any of these promises to fail.
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He is raised up: he speaks to our capacity; God is said to be raised in allusion to men who get up, or rise up, and set about what they will do; so here God is on this work already.
Out of his holy habitation; either heaven, or his temple.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord,.... Be…
Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord,.... Be filled with fear, awe, and astonishment, at the wonderful work of God; the destruction of antichrist; the conversion of the Jews, and the calling of the Gentiles: let them not open their mouths, or dare to say one word against it. The Targum interprets the words of the wicked, and paraphrases them thus,
"let all the wicked be consumed before the Lord;''
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see Psa 104:35 and it seems to design the rest of the people, who will not be converted; called flesh, being not only frail and mortal, but corrupt and sinful; and so not able to contend with God, who is mighty in strength, and glorious in holiness, and a God doing wonders. A like phrase is in Hab 2:20,
for he is raised up out of his holy habitation: which is heaven, Isa 63:15 where he seemed to have been as it were asleep for many hundreds of years, even during the reign of antichrist; but now he will be as a man awaked out of his sleep, and will arise to take vengeance on his and his church's enemies, and to help them, and make them happy and glorious.
Next: Zechariah Chapter 3
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Be silent - Reverence and adore God, and expect…
Be silent - Reverence and adore God, and expect the accomplishment of his word. All flesh - Both Jew and Gentile. He is raised up - God is on this work already, and he will not sit down again, 'till he has accomplished his whole work.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 13. Be silent, O all flesh] Let all…
Verse 13. Be silent, O all flesh] Let all the nations of the world be astonished at this. God will arise, and deliver this ancient people, and bring them into the glorious liberty of the sons of God.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Zec 2:13. Be silent — Reverence and adore God,…
Zec 2:13. Be silent — Reverence and adore God, and expect the accomplishment of his word. O all flesh — Both Jews and Gentiles. He is raised up out of his holy habitation — God is engaged in this work already, and will not rest till he has accomplished his whole work.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Be silent - Literally, “hush all flesh, before the…
Be silent - Literally, “hush all flesh, before the Lord” (see at Hab 2:20, p. 207); man in his weakness Gen 6:3; 2Ch 32:8; Job 10:4; Psa 56:4; Psa 78:39; Isa 31:3; Jer 17:5, “flesh and blood” in the language of the New Testament Mat 16:17; 1Co 15:50; Gal 1:16, before God his Maker. “All flesh,” the whole human race Gen 6:12; Psa 65:3; Psa 145:21; Isa 40:5-6; Isa 49:26; Isa 66:23; Joe 3:1; Eze 21:4, Eze 21:9-10, is to be hushed before God, because His judgments, as His mercies, are over all.
For God ariseth - God seemeth to be quiescent, as it were, when He bears with us; to arise, when He puts forth His power, either for us, when we pray, “Lord, awake to help me” (Psa 59:4, add Psa 7:7; Psa 44:24); or in displeasure. His “holy habitation” is alike the tabernacle 1Sa 2:29, 1Sa 2:32; Psa 26:9; Psa 68:6, temple 2Ch 36:15, heaven Deu 26:15; Jer 25:30; 2Ch 30:27, since His presence is in all.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Silent: obey with reverence. (Haydock) See Habacuc ii. 20.,…
Silent: obey with reverence. (Haydock) See Habacuc ii. 20., and 1 Machabees i. 3. (Calmet) --- Habitation, becoming man. (Menochius)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain Be silent, O all flesh-- (Hab 2:20). "Let all…
Be silent, O all flesh-- (Hab 2:20). "Let all in silent awe and reverence await the Lord's coming interposition in behalf of His people!" The address is both to the Gentile foes, who prided themselves on their power as if irresistible, and to the unbelieving Jews, who distrusted God's promises as incredible. Three reasons why they must be silent are implied: (1) they are but "flesh," weak and ignorant; (2) He is JEHOVAH, all-wise and all-powerful; (3) He is already "raised up out of His place," and who can stand before Him? [PEMBELLUS], (Psa 76:8-9).
he is raised up out of his holy habitation--that is, out of heaven (Deu 26:15; Ch2 30:27; Isa 63:15), to judge and avenge His people (Isa 26:21); or, "out of His holy" temple, contemptible and incomplete as it looked then when Zechariah urged them to rebuild it [CALVIN]. But the call to all to "be silent" is rather when God has come forth from heaven where so long He has dwelt unseen, and is about to inflict vengeance on the foe, before taking up His dwelling in Zion and the temple. However, Psa 50:1-2 ("Out of Zion"), Psa 50:3 (compare Hab 2:3), Psa 50:4, favors CALVIN'S view. God is now "silent" while the Gentile foe speaks arrogance against His people; but "our God shall come and no longer keep silence"; then in turn must all flesh "be silent" before Him.
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Next: Zechariah Chapter 3
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 13. be silent] Comp. Hab_2:20; Zep_1:7.
13. be silent] Comp. Hab_2:20; Zep_1:7.
raised up] waked up. R. V.
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his holy habitation] From heaven, “the habitation of His holiness” (Deu_26:15; Jer_25:30), where He had seemed to dwell, far off from the affairs of earth, Jehovah should arise, or awake, and come forth to judgment, to succour His people and discomfit His enemies. Let all flesh be hushed before Him in awful silence.
The Fourth Vision. Joshua the High Priest before the Angel of Jehovah, Zec_3:1-10. The former visions had foretold that the “rest” of the nations should be disturbed (Zec_1:8-17), that the enemies of Israel should be “cast out” (Zec_1:18-21), and that Jerusalem should become the habitation of Jehovah (Zec_2:1-13). But in order to the fulfilment of these promises, there must be a moral and spiritual reformation of the people. With this the next vision is concerned. Judgment begins at the house of God (comp. Mal_3:3). The prophet sees Joshua the High Priest, the representative not only of the whole priesthood, but also of the entire nation, standing before the Angel of the Lord. At his right hand stands the Adversary, to play an adversary’s part against him (Zec_2:1). But before the charge can be preferred, Jehovah Himself interposes and rebukes the Adversary. Would the same hand, He asks, that had plucked from the fire the brand, charred, blackened and half-consumed already, cast it back again into the flames? And should He, who had delivered the remnant of His people from the furnace of Babylon, now listen to the charges of the accuser and yield them again to destruction? (Zec_2:2.) Doubtless, matter of accusation is not wanting. The very garb of Joshua testifies against him. Instead of the pure white linen in which the High Priest should have been arrayed, he is “clothed with filthy garments” (Zec_2:3). But this obstacle shall by an act of mere grace be removed. The angel attendants are commanded to take away his filthy garments; while their action is interpreted to him by the assurance that his iniquity is put away, and the promise of pure raiment is given him (Zec_2:4). At the instance of the prophet, who would fain see God’s High Priest arrayed in the complete attire of his office, a fair mitre is added. The angel of Jehovah stands by to seal by his presence and approval the transaction (Zec_2:5). Nor does he quit the scene till he has revealed to Joshua the full dignity of the priesthood to which he is now restored. As exercised by himself and his successors, it shall, while it moves in the ways of holy obedience in the restored Temple on earth, move also in spirit among the heavenly ministrations of angels (Zec_2:6-7). But it shall furthermore, by virtue of its typical character, foreshadow and prepare the way for Him who, Himself its chief cornerstone, shall rear the true Temple on which the eyes of Jehovah are fixed (Zec_2:8-9), who by one act shall remove iniquity for ever (Zec_2:9), and restore prosperity and festal joy to man (Zec_2:10).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (13) Be silent.—Better, Hush! (Comp. Hab_2:20.)
(13) Be silent.—Better, Hush! (Comp. Hab_2:20.)
Raised.—Better, roused. The figure is that of a lion roused up from its lair. (Comp. the still bolder metaphor of Psa_78:65.) LXX. misread the word for “habitation,” which they render correctly elsewhere, and give ἐκ νεφελῶν ἁγίων αὐτοῦ, “from His holy clouds.”
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Be silent; hush. (comp. Hab_2:20 Zep_1:7, and notes there)…
Be silent; hush. (comp. Hab_2:20 Zep_1:7, and notes there) In the expectation of these mighty events, men are called upon to wait in awe and reverence. He is raised up; he hath arisen. He had seemed to sleep when he let his people be trodden down by the heathen; but now he, as it were, waketh and cometh from heaven, his holy habitation, (Deu_26:15) to inflict the threatened judgment on the nations, and to succour his own people. (comp. Psa_44:23, etc.)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord, for…
Zec_2:13
Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord, for He is raised up out of His holy habitation
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Flesh silenced by Gods arising
1.
The vision itself. The man with a line in his hand.
2. The interpretation of the vision. Jerusalem shall be built, and the city shall be inhabited.
3. A threefold apostrophe that the Lord infers from this--
(1) Directed to the Jews that yet continued in Babylon. The Lord calls them. It is barrenness and lowness of spirit not to accept deliverance. Deliver thyself.
(2) The news is to the enemies that were their neighbours.
(3) To both. Let the enemies silence their murmurings, silence their slanders. Let the saints silence their frettings, silence their doubtings. In the words of text are two things.
I. A proposition. The Lord is raised up out of His holy habitation. The expression habitation of His holiness is used two ways in Scripture. It is sometimes put for heaven; sometimes for the temple, the place of Gods presence among His people, manifested in ordinances. How is God said to be raised up? It is such a rising as is after an awaking out of sleep. But how can God be said to sleep? The cessation of acts of providence is Gods sleep. The putting of them forth is Gods arising, awaking. The meaning of the sentence is this,--When the Lord doth appear for His people as a return of their prayers, when the Lord ariseth gloriously for them, for their deliverance, and their enemies overthrow, then it is said, The Lord is raised up out of His holy habitation. Two observations--The great comfort of the saints in all their straits and difficulties lies in this, when they see God ariseth for them. Experiments of Gods rising in acts of providence are great grounds to His people to stay their faith, that God will go on, He will bring His work to perfection. Open this under three heads--
1. There is a time when God seems to sleep.
2. The great labour of the saints in all their straits is to awaken God, that God may arise. We knock at heavens gate; we environ God; beleaguer God by our prayers; we as it were wrest mercy out of His hands.
3. The consolations of the saints must needs be very great from the arisings of God for them in His providential dealings. When the Lord doth arise, whatsoever standeth in opposition must fall. When God ariseth, He overruleth the spirits of men, so as they shall effect and accomplish the end. When God ariseth, He hath abundance rise with Him. When, by our spiritual eyes, can we discern that God is raised up?
1. Prayer is Gods way by which He is raised up.
2. When the Lord defeateth the counsels of the enemy, turns their plots upon their heads.
3. When the Lord takes away the heart of His enemies.
4. When the Lord acteth the spirits of His people unto high and noble and invincible resolutions.
5. When the Lord goes on in ways of mercy, and draws out His loving kindness. The experiments (experiences) which the saints have of the rising of God are a sure pledge to their faith that He will go on; He will not leave the work till He hath brought it to perfection. The inference is,--then be silent all flesh before Him. Some men keep silence in policy, because they would not discover themselves till a convenient time. But all the people of God that would approve themselves, must keep silence in duty. There is a silence of shame, and a silence of fear and astonishment. The Lord says to these Jews, silence your doubtings, and silence your frettings. (W. Strong.)
God raised up out of His holy habitation
I. The sense of the phrase. Expressions concerning the locality o! the Divine presence arose out of the circumstances of His dwelling in the tabernacle of Moses; of His resting when the camp rested, and marching before them when they advanced. When God thus arose, He came forth from His holy habitation. When God is spoken of in human language, local and bodily ideas must enter into it. The conception of our minds, as to the operations of God, are aided by such phraseology. It may be applied generally to the dispensations of providence. When wickedness prevails, when error spreads, when the Church is wasted, then the Almighty is represented as shutting His eyes, turning away His face, withholding His hand, and resting in His holy place. But when He makes Himself manifest in judgment or mercy, when He has nations to punish or to bless, when His Church calls for protection and help, then He is raised up out of His holy habitation, and all flesh is commanded to keep silence before Him.
II. The occasions which procure this interposition of God.
1. He is raised up by the incorrigible vices of men. When wickedness abounds, for a time He appears to disregard it, or He interposes by gentle corrections; but there is a limit to His patience and forbearance.
2. Pride and oppression raise Him up out of His habitation. Those kingdoms that walk in pride He will abase. Every power that is opposed to the laws of God must be overthrown; and the more proud and oppressive it is, the more certain, speedy, and marked is its downfall.
3. God is raised up for the manifestation of His truth. To every people God originally gave a saving system, and all nations might have preserved it. That they have not, is a proof of human depravity. Had it not been for special interpositions from God, the truth would have wholly perished; and with it all the hopes of the world must have ended forever. Here is the mercy of God.
4. God is raised up by the prayers of His saints. Prayer moves Him that moves the universe. Everything encourages prayer. That which is our privilege is made our duty. You know the efficacy of prayer. It is prayer that calls down His visitations, interests Him in your cause, and secures to you grace to help in every time of need. Nor less essentially is it connected with every plan for the spread of His Gospel, and the prosperity of His Church.
5. The performance of His promise to Messiah raises God up from His holy habitation. He had said, I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance. This decree is not yet fully accomplished. God has been raised up partly to accomplish it; but He will ere long put forth His power in a still more glorious manner. Even now is He raised up for this purpose.
III. The impression these extraordinary dispensations should make. Silence is commanded; but silence in such a case is the result of powerful mental impression.
1. It is the effect of deep and intense interest.
2. Reproof produces silence.
3. Satisfaction produces silence. All flesh, as well as the Church, is commanded to keep silence before God.
IV. But is the whole to issue in emotion? Certainly not. God is raised up out of His place, to raise us up from ours. We are to be fellow helpers to the truth. It is our encouragement that God is raised up out of His holy habitation; and this will render us inexcusable if we refuse to cooperate. If God is thus raised up, we have many encouragements to exertion. We have the Divine sanction. Prayer must be heard. We shall not want cooperation. We cannot want success. We shall be inexcusable, if we refuse to espouse His cause. (R. Watson.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 2:13 Be silent: The force of the Hebrew word…
2:13 Be silent: The force of the Hebrew word (has) is similar to our English word “hush” (see Hab 2:20; Zeph 1:7).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.