7828. Verse 1. Against the devil and his gang, that he attacks the Church Verse 1. The "plunderer"* is the devil, and his gang, each member of the gang plundering in his own way. "You who deal treacherously" is also the devil, his gang being not only his spirits, but also people on earth. He provokes the Church, that is, those from the Church, without any reason, only because of a vicious character. For those who are from the Church of God the Messiah, in the heavens and on the earth, are not attacking him, but seeking in various ways to bend his gang toward goodness, but he is still eager to ravage and kill the innocent, and even little children. This is plain to me, by the Divine mercy of God the Messiah, from such manifold experience, that I can declare it on the grounds of lengthy experience alone, as I have been with so many different spirits who have attacked me in numerous ways, and indeed, without reason, etc. etc. [Good; Evil; Spirit] But in the end, "they will be plundered." Here the prophet is repeating the same words, for the law of retaliation reigns: as anyone does, so it shall be done to him. This is the cause of many events with the people of Jacob, as, for instance, that they had to attack the enemy by lying in ambush [see WE 5905], etc. etc.

7863. From the above [WE 7854-62], it is evident that this whole Chapter [Is. 40] concerns God the Messiah and His Coming, which is described [verses 1-11]. * KJV has "that spoilest," A. Acton, "waster," for the Latin "vastans."