He shall come as an Eagle

He shall come as an Eagle.

Luther upon the place thinks this Prophesie meant against Judah, because of the naming of the House of the Lord, as follows after. And then this Eagle must be understood of Nebuchadnezzer, who is called an Eagle in Ezekiel 17:3 and Jeremiah 48:40. But rather I think it to be meant of the Assyrian, for the Prophet here is prophesying against the ten Tribes, and he seems to take away the two great confidences that they had whereby they hoped that they were not in so great danger.

The first was, that they had made a league with Egypt which was nigh hand, as for the Assyrian he was a great way off, and there was not so much danger to be thought of the Assyrians.

Secondly: As they imagined they had the house of the Lord with them, and did worship the true God. Now the Prophet takes away these two, He shall come as an Eagle, against the House of the Lord: that is, the Assyrian, Salmanesser he is called an Eagle, and because he was to come with an Army, therefore an Eagle; (and it may be his Ensign might be an Eagle) you know the parts of Armies are called Wings, and so is compared to an Eagle, to shew to them that their danger is not so far off as they imagin. He shall come as an Eagle, that is swiftly, with a mighty force and vehemency; and he shall have an Eagles spirit, an Eagles eye: the Eagle is quick sighted, and the spirit of an Eagle is not easily daunted: and yet it is observable that in the Law the Eagle was an unclean bird, though the Eagle the King of Fowls, and of a brave spirit, yet he was unclean, God would not have the Eagle offered in sacrifice, but rather the Dove, God many times does not regard Eagles spirits, those that sore aloft and fly on high, but he does receive Dove-like spirits, such as are of meek and quiet spirits.

But he shall come as an Eagle swiftly, that is upon the prey before it is aware.

Men flatter themselves when danger is at any distance from them, if it be not just upon them, then think themselves safe, but God can bring evil suddenly and iresistably upon them. In Isaiah 5:26, He will lift up an Ensign to the Nations from far, and will hiss to them from the end of the earth: and behold, they shall come with speed swiftly. Gualter upon this place applies it to the Turks coming into some part of Germany, they were come on a sudden from the uttermost part of Europe, yes from Asia, and so Spain and Secily, and Italy; God, to punish the contempt of the Gospel, brought them suddenly upon them. However the Lord has delivered us hitherto from forreign Nations, we think our selves secure because God has put work enough into their hands for the present, the Danes, French, Spaniards, but how easily is it for the Lord in an instant when there is no fear of them at all, to bring them swiftly.

Secondly, All the swiftness, and fierceness and quick-sightedness, and spirit of an enemy is from the Lord: if an enemy be swift in his course, and quick-sighted and fierce, and has a strong spirit we are to attribute this from the Lord.

Thirdly, Wicked men in satisfying their rage and malice, they are as Eagles; much more should we be in our service, we should not be slow: if they be to satisfie their rage as Eagles, we should imitate them in this to be much more so in the service of God. But it follows,