Verse 2

VER. 2.

The flour and the wine press shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her.

As when a Father sees his admonitions not regarded by a stubborn child he does withdraw his allowance from him; and sometimes you will deal so with your little children as they shall go to bed without their suppers, to shew your displeasure against them; so God deals here, you have had many admonitions, now I will withdraw your allowance.

The flour and the wine-press] He does not say, the field but the flour, I will let them bring their corn to the flour; and he does not say, the vine, but the wine-press; the notes are these.

God often lets wicked men come near the enjoyment of a mercy, and then cuts it off: as many times the saints come near afflictions, and when they are at the very brink of afflictions then deliverance comes to them.

Secondly, God does use to strike wicked men in those things that their hearts are most set upon. They would have their flour and wine-press to afford to them plenty, in that thing God strikes them. Now observe it, whether in God's ways that are against you God does not strike you especially in that which your hearts are most set upon, if he does, know there's the finger of God, and God would have you take special notice of it.