2. A term of endearment —
[This seems the more particular view in which the name is given to God's people in the text. Just as, in reference to his dear Son, God says, " Behold my servant whom I uphold, mine elect, in whom my soul delightethh," so he speaks of his people here, as feeling complacency and delight in them. In many other passages also the term " elect" seems to be used as expressive of the peculiar interest which God takes in all that relates to his believing people : " Who will lay any thing to the charge of God's elect?" " Shall not God avenge his own elect ? " " For the elect's sake those days (of trouble to Jerusalem) shall be shortened." And, " God will send his angels (at the last day) to gather together his elect."]
But, notwithstanding their dearness to God, we have but too much reason to consider,
II. The straits to which they may be reduced —
It is evidently implied, that as the Israelites in their journey from Egypt must have perished for want of water, if God had not miraculously interposed for their relief; so all his people coming through the wilderness of this world, are at times reduced to dif- ficulties, from whence none but God himself can deliver them. This happens to them by means of,
1. Afflictions —
[The people of God are, for the most part, " a poor and afflicted people." That they have peculiar supports and con- solations, we shall soon shew : but inasmuch as they have all
c 1 Sam. ii. 27, 28. <* Ps. lxxviii. 70, 71.
e Actsix. 15. Gal. i. 15, 16. * 2 Thess. ii. 13.
8 Matt. xx. 23. & Isai. xlii. 1.