Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 57:11

11 And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared , that thou hast lied , and hast not remembred me ▪ nor laid it to thy heart ? have not I held my peace even of old , and thou fearest me not !

And what or who are they, the fear of whom drives thee to these wicked and desperate courses? Are they not men, weak and mortal Creatures, such as wholly depend upon me, and can do nothing to thee either against me or without me?

That thou hast dealt thus disloyally and perfidiously with me, and sought for such foreign assistances, contrary to my command, and thy solemn Covenant.

Hast thou forgotten all those great things which I have done for thee, and all those Promises which I have made to thee, and constantly performed, when thou hast not grosly violated the conditions upon which they were made.

Or thus, nor set me upon thine heart, as these very words are rendred Cant. 8. 6. And so this is a repetition of what is said in the foregoing clause in other words. The sense is, Thou hast not seriously and affectionately considered what I am, how all-sufficient, and faithful, and gracious, for then thou wouldest not have distrusted or disobeyed me.

Have not I forborn to reprove and punish thee for this and for thy other sins, from time to time, ever since thou wast my People, that by this goodness I might oblige thee to love me, and to cleave unto me?

Or, therefore thou dost not fear or regard me. Thus thou abusest mine indulgence and long-suffering, taking occasion from thence to despise me.