Ver. 9
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly
That "fear him", as the Syriac version renders it; or that "rightly
worship", as the Arabic; such as Noah and Lot, men that know God in
Christ spiritually and experimentally; that believe in him, love
him, fear him, worship him in spirit and truth, and live soberly,
righteously, and godly. This verse is a conclusion from the
preceding instances and examples, respecting both the mercy and
justice of God; the mercy of God in delivering the godly and
righteous "out of temptations"; by which are meant, not the
temptations of Satan to sin, distrust, and despondency, though the
Lord knows how, and is both able and willing to, and does deliver
them from them; but afflictions and tribulations, such as Noah and
Lot were exposed to; and which are so called, because they try the
graces, particularly the faith and patience of the godly; and to
deliver from these is the Lord's work: he grants his presence in
them; he supports under them; he sanctifies them to them, and in
his own time delivers out of them; for he knows how, and by what
means, and when to do it, and is both able and willing: he has
determined to do it, for the nature, measure, and duration of
afflictions are fixed by him, and in his providence he does do it,
as the instances before given prove.
And to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be
punished.
This is that part of the conclusion from the above premises,
respecting the justice of God; and by "the unjust" are designed,
persons without a righteousness, and that are full of all
unrighteousness, and take pleasure in it, and live unrighteous
lives, committing acts of injustice, both with respect to God and
men; and the Lord, that has reserved the fallen angels in chains
of darkness unto judgment, knows how to reserve "in prison", as
the Arabic version renders it, the souls of those in hell, and
their bodies in the grave "unto the day of judgment"; of the last
and general judgment, when Christ shall judge both quick and
dead, and bring every secret thing to light, which that day shall
declare, God has appointed to judge the world in; in order "to be
punished" in soul and body, with everlasting and complete
destruction, which, as yet, is not. This phrase, "the day of
judgment", is used in Judith and is a Jewish one.
``Woe to the nations that rise up against my kindred! the Lord
Almighty will take vengeance of them in the day of judgment, in
putting fire and worms in their flesh; and they shall feel them,
and weep for ever.'' (Judith 16:17)