+I. Idolatry is still the sin of our race.+ It is not confined to "heathen" lands. There is no need in this land for a proclamation of the first commandment. For what is idolatry in the essence? It is loving and trusting some being or thing more than God. Every man's god is what he lives for. Hence the declaration that "covetousness is idolatry;" it is _one_ form of the widespread sin. +II. The confidence of men in their idols is still limitless and exultant.+ Every idolater is persuaded that that which he lives for is worth living for; this is the conviction of the miser, the ambitious man, &c. +III. The time is at hand when the falsity of this confidence shall be exposed.+ There are coming upon those who cherish it calamities amid which they will seek in vain for comfort from their "idols." How often this is verified in daily life! In the withered, desolate condition of those who have forsaken the Lord how awfully is their folly demonstrated! +IV. Yea, there is a day appointed in which all idolaters and their idols shall be consumed together.+ In the day of judgment the worshippers of Dagon, of Astarte, of Baal, and of Brahm will not be the only persons on whom utter destruction shall come: those who have made gold their confidence, &c., shall be burned up, together with their "gods." The objects of their trust shall be as powerless as is "tow" to resist flame, and they themselves shall be but as "sparks," swept away by the blast of the Divine indignation. _Application._--1. The day of judgment is a great reality; it is no mere dream of theologians, it is A TREMENDOUS FACT with which we shall soon be brought face to face. 2. This fact should govern us in selecting the object of our supreme love and trust. 3. It should prevent us from envying those who have forsaken the Lord, because of the temporary prosperity in which they are rejoicing.[4] 4. It should make us earnest in our endeavours to reclaim them from their apostacy while the day of Divine long-suffering and mercy still continues. FOOTNOTES: [1] In verse 29 is an instance of what seemed to Lowth's classical taste a corrupt reading--"They shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired." But this variation of the persons of the verb is not unusual in Hebrew, and certainly no corruption. Indeed, if we look at Psalm xci., which is very artistically constructed, we shall see reason to think that what jars so harshly on a classically trained ear was a beauty to the Hebrew poets.--_Strachey._ "Which ye have desired." He was speaking of "the sinners," he suddenly turns round to the men of his own generation, and says, "_You_ are the men who are thus storing up shame and confusion."--_Kay._