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I. THE CHARACTER OF MANY OF THE POOR AS HERE DESCRIBED.

1. Their obstinacy in sin was owing to their ignorance.

(1)  Of religion.

(2)  Of God's providences.

2. Their ignorance was in great measure occasioned by their poverty.

(1)  This deprived them of education.

(2)  All their thoughts and cares are about their worldly wants.

(3)  They absent themselves from God's house because of poor attire.

(4)  They associate with persons like-circumstanced and like-minded, who encourage one another in neglect of religion.

(5)  They thereby lose all self-respect, sin impudently, and "glory in their shame."

II. THE CHARACTER OF THE GREAT AS HERE DESCRIBED.

1. They had a better knowledge of religion than the poor.

2. They acted as bad as the poor, or worse.

3. Their conduct was chiefly owing to their greatness.

(1)  Lifted up with pride, they resented admonition.

(2)  They think religion is only to restrain the vulgar, not to bind those in rank.

(3)  They shrink from showing reverence for God and being exact in religious observances.

(4)  Worldly things have mischievous influence upon their hearts.

(5)  Flattered by others, they forget or but formally pay homage to God.

(6)  They mind earthly things, neglecting the culture and interests of the soul.Application —

1. Learn what is the most important and profitable knowledge.

2. The advantages of being placed in the middle condition of life (Proverbs 30:8).

3. What an excellent charity it is to furnish the poor with the means of knowledge.

(Job Orton, D. D.)

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KJV: O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.

WEB: O Yahweh, don't your eyes look on truth? You have stricken them, but they were not grieved. You have consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than a rock. They have refused to return.