Vers. 5. Thou shalt bring downe the noise of the strangers, as the heate in a dry place: he will bring downe the song of the mightie, as the heate in the shadow in a cloud.
IF the Lord were not on our side, when vio∣lent men set themselues against vs, wee should be vtterly swallowed vp: for wee see how great the rage of the wicked is. Alas, if they be able to ouerturne stone walles, how can a poore man bee able to stand against them? This is added then to set forth the godnesse of almightie God, that we might know in what an ill case wee should be in, if God did not succour vs. The expositours take the similitude two waies: some thinke that as the vehemēt heat burnes vp the fields, which of themselues are dry and barren; so the wrath of God shall consume and burne vp the wicked: others translate, As the heat; and then the sense is; Howsoeuer the wicked relie vpon their power, and therefore are thus boisterous, the Lord notwithstanding will bring them downe in a moment, as if they were surprised with heat in a dry place.
But I take th•• sense to be otherwise: for hauing shewed how great the rage of the wicked is against the faithfull, he addes Lord thou wilt humble them. But how? He alludes vnto the deluge; which similitude he vsed be∣fore, Chap. 24.18. Thou wilt bring downe their heat, saith hee, which otherwise must needes consume vs: euen as the raine fal∣ling from heauen, cooles the heate which would burne vp the fields for want of moi∣sture. And thus the text hangs well together; whereas the other exposition is constrai∣ned, and offers violence to the very letter, as they say.
The latter part of the verse is expounded diuers waies: some translate the word Zemir, Seede: others, a Roote: as if the Prophet had said, The Lord will not onely cut off the wicked, but will plucke them vp by the verie rootes. This were probable, if the similitude of heat would beare it: and therefore those who turne it song, cry, or, waste; in my iudge∣ment, doe come neerest the Prophets mea∣ning, albeit they touch it not fully. Well, he confirmes the former sentence; to wit, that the violence or cry of the wicked, who proudly exalt themselues, shall suddenly fall, euen as the heat of the Sunne when anie raine followes: which is signified by the sha∣dow of the cloud.