21 I go down now, and see whether according to its cry which is coming unto Me they have done completely -- and if not -- I know;'
And Jehovah cometh down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men have builded;
And Jehovah saith unto Moses, `Say unto the sons of Israel, Ye `are' a stiff-necked people; one moment -- I come up into thy midst, and have consumed thee; and now, put down thine ornaments from off thee, and I know what I do to thee;'
and I go down to deliver it out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to cause it to go up out of the land, unto a land good and broad, unto a land flowing with milk and honey -- unto the place of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
`The God of gods -- Jehovah, the God of gods -- Jehovah, He is knowing, and Israel, he doth know, if in rebellion, and if in trespass against Jehovah (Thou dost not save us this day!)
Give help, let us go down, and mingle there their pronunciation, so that a man doth not understand the pronunciation of his companion.'
and there is not a created thing not manifest before Him, but all things `are' naked and open to His eyes -- with whom is our reckoning.
because the Lord himself, in a shout, in the voice of a chief-messenger, and in the trump of God, shall come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ shall rise first,
because I have come down out of the heaven, not that I may do my will, but the will of Him who sent me.
and thou hast remembered all the way which Jehovah thy God hath caused thee to go these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble thee to try thee, to know that which `is' in thy heart, whether thou dost keep His commands or not.
For lo, Jehovah is going out from His place, And He hath come down, And hath trodden on high places of earth.
I Jehovah do search the heart, try the reins, Even to give to each according to his way, According to the fruit of his doings.
To the Overseer. -- A Psalm by David. Jehovah, Thou hast searched me, and knowest. Thou -- Thou hast known my sitting down, And my rising up, Thou hast attended to my thoughts from afar. My path and my couch Thou hast fanned, And `with' all my ways hast been acquainted. For there is not a word in my tongue, Lo, O Jehovah, Thou hast known it all! Behind and before Thou hast besieged me, And Thou dost place on me Thy hand. Knowledge too wonderful for me, It hath been set on high, I am not able for it. Whither do I go from Thy Spirit? And whither from Thy face do I flee? If I ascend the heavens -- there Thou `art', And spread out a couch in Sheol, lo, Thee! I take the wings of morning, I dwell in the uttermost part of the sea, Also there Thy hand doth lead me, And Thy right hand doth hold me. And I say, `Surely darkness bruiseth me, Then night `is' light to me. Also darkness hideth not from Thee, And night as day shineth, as `is' darkness so `is' light. For Thou -- Thou hast possessed my reins, Thou dost cover me in my mother's belly. I confess Thee, because that `with' wonders I have been distinguished. Wonderful `are' Thy works, And my soul is knowing `it' well. My substance was not hid from Thee, When I was made in secret, Curiously wrought in the lower part of earth. Mine unformed substance Thine eyes saw, And on Thy book all of them are written, The days they were formed -- And not one among them. And to me how precious have been Thy thoughts, O God, how great hath been their sum! I recount them! than the sand they are more, I have waked, and I am still with Thee. Dost Thou slay, O God, the wicked? Then, men of blood, turn aside from me! Who exchange Thee for wickedness, Lifted up to vanity `are' Thine enemies. Do not I hate, Jehovah, those hating Thee? And with Thy withstanders grieve myself? `With' perfect hatred I have hated them, Enemies they have become to me. Search me, O God, and know my heart, Try me, and know my thoughts, And see if a grievous way be in me, And lead me in a way age-during!
Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, Our hidden things at the light of Thy face,
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Genesis 18
Commentary on Genesis 18 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 18
We have an account in this chapter of another interview between God and Abraham, probably within a few days after the former, as the reward of his cheerful obedience to the law of circumcision. Here is,
Gen 18:1-8
The appearance of God to Abraham seems to have had in it more of freedom and familiarity, and less of grandeur and majesty, than those we have hitherto read of; and therefore more resembles that great visit which, in the fullness of time, the Son of God was to make to the world, when the Word would be flesh, and appear as one of us. Observe here,
Gen 18:9-15
These heavenly guests (being sent to confirm the promise lately made to Abraham, that he should have a son by Sarah), while they are receiving Abraham's kind entertainment, they return his kindness. He receives angels, and has angels' rewards, a gracious message from heaven, Mt. 10:41.
Gen 18:16-22
The messengers from heaven had now despatched one part of their business, which was an errand of grace to Abraham and Sarah, and which they delivered first; but now they have before them work of another nature. Sodom is to be destroyed, and they must do it, ch. 19:13. Note, As with the Lord there is mercy, so he is the God to whom vengeance belongs. Pursuant to their commission, we here find,
Gen 18:23-33
Communion with God is kept up by the word and by prayer. In the word God speaks to us; in prayer we speak to him. God had revealed to Abraham his purposes concerning Sodom; now from this Abraham takes occasion to speak to God on Sodom's behalf. Note, God's word then does us good when it furnishes us with matter for prayer and excites us to it. When God has spoken to us, we must consider what we have to say to him upon it. Observe,