_THE DOLEFUL JUDGMENTS OF GOD UPON THE LAND. A REMNANT WILL JOYFULLY PRAISE HIM. GOD IN HIS JUDGMENTS SHALL ADVANCE HIS KINGDOM._ _Before Christ 715._ THE third book of the prophesies of Isaiah, beginning with this chapter, and extending to the 36th, is divided into three discourses. The FIRST, co... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, &C.— The first section of the first discourse, contained, in this chapter, is twofold: the first member, which properly explains the judgments of God upon a corrupt people, extends to the middle of the 16th verse. The second, wherein also the judgment of God upon the enemies of the church is... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAND SHALL BE UTTERLY EMPTIED, &C.— As the public calamities coming upon the land were to be repeated at various times, and in various manners, the sacred writer has accommodated his discourse to these calamities, and divided it into various articles and gradations, whereof this is the second; a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EARTH MOURNETH AND FADETH AWAY— The _earth_ and the _world,_ here spoken of, mean Judaea and the land of Syria. Heathen writers frequently speak of particular provinces and countries under the name of _orbis, orbis habirabilis,_ and _orbis terrarum._ The _haughty people of the land,_ or _the hei... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EARTH ALSO IS DEFILED, &C.— This verse describes, as in a parenthesis, the causes of the divine judgment upon the land, and shews us the true scene of the prophesy: the principal cause is the shedding of innocent blood, as well of their brethren, as of the professors of the true religion, agains... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE HATH THE CURSE DEVOURED THE EARTH— This verse contains the fourth gradation, and is well illustrated by Zechariah 5:1; Zechariah 5:11. The phrase _are burned,_ refers to the internal consumption and decay. See Job 30:30. Psalms 69:3. The meaning of the prophet is, that the principal inhabi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NEW WINE MOURNETH— In this fifth gradation we have a fine and pathetic description of a once flourishing land, entirely ruined and desolated by a destructive enemy. There is no difficulty in the words, nor in the fact, which is most notorious from history; for at this period, says the author of... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CITY OF CONFUSION, &C.— We have here the sixth gradation, which requires no other comment than to be compared with the history, Genesis 3:45, &c. See also ch. Isaiah 16:8 which will explain the phrase, _There is a crying for wine in the streets. Wine_ here denotes the matter of joy and mirth, as... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THUS IT SHALL BE— Or, _But yet thus shall it be in the middle of the land among the people, like as upon the threshing of the olive, and as the gleaning of grapes,_ &c. [see chap. Isaiah 17:6.] Isaiah 24:14. _They shall lift up their voice; they shall sing, for the majesty of Jehovah,_ &c. Isa... [ Continue Reading ]
Isaiah 24:16. _From the extremity of the land we hear songs, "To the righteous glory."_ These words contain the alleviation of the preceding judgment; and their reference to the history of the Maccabees is abundantly plain. The sum of them is this, "It shall come to pass, that while the whole land o... [ Continue Reading ]
FEAR, AND THE PIT, AND THE SNARE— The prophet proceeds to set forth the judgment itself, with its various gradations, the first of which is contained in these verses. The meaning is, that it should be a time of extreme straits and difficulties in which every one should be so surrounded with various... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EARTH IS UTTERLY BROKEN DOWN— The prophet here, in the most chosen metaphorical expressions, describes a mighty earthquake, by which the land of Asia, Syria, Judaea, depressed by the divine judgments, should be vehemently shaken. The 20th verse should be rendered in the present tense, like the 1... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY— The prophet continues to describe the terrible judgments of God, whereby the profane, the hypocrites, and the persecutors of the true religion, should be punished about the same time wherein we fix the scene of this prophesy. By _the host of the high ones on hi... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE MOON SHALL BE CONFOUNDED— In this verse we have the alleviation or consequence of this judgment, with respect to the church. The simple sense of the words is plain, namely, that at the time, or after the time, wherein God should take vengeance upon the enemies of his people, his kingdom, re... [ Continue Reading ]