Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Isaiah
Book: Isaiah
Chapter: 8
Overview:
Exhortations and warnings.
(1-8) Comfort for those who fear
God.
(9-16) Afflictions to idolaters.
(17-22)
1-8 The
Prophet is to write
On a large
Roll, or
On a metal
Tablet, words which meant, "Make speed to spoil, hasten to the
prey:" pointing out that the Assyrian
Army should come with
speed, and make great spoil. Very soon the riches of
Damascus
and of
Samaria, cities then secure and formidable, shall be
taken away
By the
King of
Assyria. The
Prophet pleads with the
promised
Messiah, who should appear in that land in the
Fulness
of time, and, therefore, as
God, would preserve it in the mean
time. As a gentle
Brook is an apt emblem of a mild government,
So an overflowing torrent represents a conqueror and tyrant. The
invader's success was also described
By a
Bird of prey,
stretching its wings over the whole land. Those who reject
Christ, will find that what they
Call liberty is the basest
slavery. But
No enemy shall pluck the believer out of
Emmanuel's
Hand, or deprive him of his heavenly inheritance.
9-16 The
Prophet challenges the enemies of the Jews. Their
efforts would be vain, and themselves broken to
Pieces. It
concerns us, in time of trouble, to watch against all such fears
as
Put us upon crooked
Courses for our own security. The
believing fear of
God preserves against the disquieting fear of
Man. If we thought rightly of the greatness and
Glory of
God, we
should see all the power of our enemies restrained. The
Lord,
who will be a
Sanctuary to those who trust in him, will be a
Stone of stumbling, and a
Rock of
Offence, to those who make the
Creature their fear and their
Hope. If the things of
God be an
Offence to us, they will undo us. The
Apostle quotes this as to
all who persisted in unbelief of the
Gospel of
Christ, 1Pe
2:8. The crucified
Emmanuel, who was and is a Stumbling-
Stone
and
Rock of
Offence to unbelieving Jews, is
No less
So to
Thousands who are called Christians. The preaching of the
Cross
is foolishness in their esteem; his doctrines and precepts
offend them.
17-22 The
Prophet foresaw that the
Lord would hide his
Face;
but he would look for his return in favour to them again. Though
not miraculous signs, the children's names were memorials from
God, suited to excite attention. The unbelieving Jews were prone
to seek counsel in difficulties, from diviners of different
descriptions, whose foolish and sinful ceremonies are alluded
to. Would we know how we may seek to our
God, and come to the
knowledge of his mind? To the
Law and to the
Testimony; for
there you will see what is good, and what the
Lord requires. We
must speak of the things of
God in the words which the Holy
Ghost teaches, and be ruled
By them. To those that seek to
familiar spirits, and regard not
God's
Law and
Testimony, there
shall be horror and misery. Those that go away from
God, go out
of the way of all good; for fretfulness is a
Sin that is its own
Punishment. They shall despair, and see
No way of relief, when
they
Curse God. And their fears will represent every thing as
frightful. Those that shut their eyes against the
Light of
God's
Word, will justly be left to
Darkness. All the miseries that
ever were felt or witnessed
On Earth, are as nothing, compared
with what will overwhelm those who leave the words of
Christ, to
follow delusions.