Isaiah 22:18

He will surely violently turn and toss the like a ball

Shebna’s doom

To this unfamilied intruder, who had sought to establish himself in Jerusalem, after the manner of those days, by hewing himself a great sepulchre, Isaiah brought sentence of violent banishment: “Behold, Jehovah will be hurling, hurling thee away, thou big man, and crumpling, crumpling thee together.

He will roll, roll thee on, thou rolling stone, like a ball thrown out On broad, level ground; there shalt thou die, and there shall be the chariots of thy glory, thou shame of the house of thy lord. And I thrust thee from thy post, and from thy station do they pull thee down.” This vagabond was not to die in his bed, nor to be gathered in his big tomb to the people on whom he had foisted himself. (Prof. G. A. Smith, D. D.)

Shebna’s doom

For him, like Cain, there was a land of Nod; and upon it he was to find a vagabond’s death. (Prof. G. A. Smith, D. D.)

Shebna’s ejection

The ideas suggested are those of violence, rapidity, and distance. (J. A. Alexander.)

Retribution

Those that, when they are in power, turn and toss others, will be justly turned and tossed themselves when their day shall come to fall. Many that have thought themselves fastened like a nail may come to be tossed like a ball, for here have we no continuing city. Shebna thought his place too strait for him, he had no room to thrive; God will, therefore, send him into “a large country,” where he shall have room to wander, but never find the way back again. (M. Henry.)

The irresistibleness of God’s judgments

Learn--

I. THE EASE WITH WHICH GOD EFFECTS HIS JUDGMENTS.

II. THE UTTER USELESSNESS OF ANY RESISTANCE TO THE DIVINE JUDGMENTS. As surely as a ball must follow the line of projection, so surely must we go whither the judgments of God carry us.

III. THE AWFULNESS OF FALLING INTO THE HANDS OF THE LIVING GOD. (W. Manning.)