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Verse 25. The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: but hee will establish the border of the widow.
THE drift of this sentence is to shew that the safety of no mans state doth stand in his greatnesse, nor perill of ru∣ine in his smalnesse; but that Gods displeasure doth cut off the wicked how strong soeuer; and his fauour protecteth the godly though neuer so feeble. The Lord will destroy] at one time or other, at once or by degrees, either by the wonted meanes of his plagues and iudgements, or by some immediate stroke from his owne hand: [hee will root out (as the word signifieth) and vtterly ouerthrow: [the house of the proud] themselues, their seed, substance, estimation, and what∣soeuer belongeth vnto them: [but he will establish] defend and maintaine [the borders of the widow] those liuings and possessi∣ons, or whatsoeuer else pertaineth to poore helplesse per∣sons, of any sort, which want power to resist their oppres∣sors. Yet is it not so to be vnderstood, as though they that were without friends, were also alwaies without wrongs, (for we read, and heare, and see the contrary continually) but that it is not in any mans power to spoile them at his pleasure: and when they are oppressed, he will take their cause into his hands, in iustice and anger to punish their aduersaries, and by grace and prouidence to recompence them. This is the sense of the opposition.
The Lord will destroy the house of the mighty, when they grow to be proud; and establish the borders of the Widowes and weake ones, when they shew themselues humble. The former part, concerning the fall of the proud, hath beene handled, Chap. 11. 2. and fit occasion will be offered for the latter in the 23. Chapter, verse 10. following. Where an ad∣monition is giuen, that we remooue not the ancient bands, nor enter into the fields of the fatherlesse because hee that redeemeth them is mightie, and he will defend their cause against them.