Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
<< Isaiah 7 | Isaiah 8 | Isaiah 9 >>
(Read all of Isaiah 8)
Chapter Contents
Exhortations and warnings. (1-8) Comfort for those who fear God. (9-16) Afflictions to idolaters. (17-22)Commentary on Isaiah 8:1-8
(Read Isaiah 8:1-8)
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.Commentary on Isaiah 8:9-16
(Read Isaiah 8:9-16)
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, 1 Peter 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.Commentary on Isaiah 8:17-22
(Read Isaiah 8:17-22)
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.Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
<< Isaiah 8 | Isaiah 9 | Isaiah 10 >>
(Read all of Isaiah 9)
Chapter Contents
The Son that should be born, and his kingdom. (1-7) The judgments to come upon Israel, and on the enemies of the kingdom of Christ. (8-21)Isaiah 8 (New King James Version)
Isaiah 8
New King James Version (NKJV)
Assyria Will Invade the Land
8 Moreover the Lord said to me, “Take a large scroll, and write on it with a man’s pen concerning Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.[a] 2 And I will take for Myself faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.”
3 Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me, “Call his name Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz; 4 for
before the child shall have knowledge to cry ‘My father’ and ‘My
mother,’ the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be taken
away before the king of Assyria.”5 The Lord also spoke to me again, saying:
6 “Inasmuch as these people refused
The waters of Shiloah that flow softly,
And rejoice in Rezin and in Remaliah’s son;
7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up over them
The waters of the River,[b] strong and mighty—
The king of Assyria and all his glory;
He will go up over all his channels
And go over all his banks.
8 He will pass through Judah,
He will overflow and pass over,
He will reach up to the neck;
And the stretching out of his wings
Will fill the breadth of Your land, O Immanuel.[c]
The waters of Shiloah that flow softly,
And rejoice in Rezin and in Remaliah’s son;
7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up over them
The waters of the River,[b] strong and mighty—
The king of Assyria and all his glory;
He will go up over all his channels
And go over all his banks.
8 He will pass through Judah,
He will overflow and pass over,
He will reach up to the neck;
And the stretching out of his wings
Will fill the breadth of Your land, O Immanuel.[c]
9 “Be shattered, O you peoples, and be broken in pieces!
Give ear, all you from far countries.
Gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces;
Gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces.
10 Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing;
Speak the word, but it will not stand,
For God is with us.”[d]
Give ear, all you from far countries.
Gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces;
Gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces.
10 Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing;
Speak the word, but it will not stand,
For God is with us.”[d]
Fear God, Heed His Word
11 For the Lord spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying:
12 “Do not say, ‘A conspiracy,’
Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy,
Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.
13 The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow;
Let Him be your fear,
And let Him be your dread.
14 He will be as a sanctuary,
But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense
To both the houses of Israel,
As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble;
They shall fall and be broken,
Be snared and taken.”
Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy,
Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.
13 The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow;
Let Him be your fear,
And let Him be your dread.
14 He will be as a sanctuary,
But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense
To both the houses of Israel,
As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble;
They shall fall and be broken,
Be snared and taken.”
16 Bind up the testimony,
Seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait on the Lord,
Who hides His face from the house of Jacob;
And I will hope in Him.
18 Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me!
We are for signs and wonders in Israel
From the Lord of hosts,
Who dwells in Mount Zion.
Seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait on the Lord,
Who hides His face from the house of Jacob;
And I will hope in Him.
18 Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me!
We are for signs and wonders in Israel
From the Lord of hosts,
Who dwells in Mount Zion.
19 And when they say to you, “Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
21 They
will pass through it hard-pressed and hungry; and it shall happen, when
they are hungry, that they will be enraged and curse their king and
their God, and look upward. 22 Then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they will be driven into darkness.
Footnotes:
- Isaiah 8:1 Literally Speed the Spoil, Hasten the Booty
- Isaiah 8:7 That is, the Euphrates
- Isaiah 8:8 Literally God-With-Us
- Isaiah 8:10 Hebrew Immanuel
Commentary on Isaiah 9:1-7
(Read Isaiah 9:1-7)
The Syrians and Assyrians first ravaged the countries here mentioned,
and that region was first favoured by the preaching of Christ. Those
that want the gospel, walk in darkness, and in the utmost danger. But
when the gospel comes to any place, to any soul, light comes. Let us
earnestly pray that it may shine into our hearts, and make us wise unto
salvation. The gospel brings joy with it. Those who would have joy, must
expect to go through hard work, as the husbandman, before he has the
joy of harvest; and hard conflict, as the soldier, before he divides the
spoil. The Jews were delivered from the yoke of many oppressors; this
was a shadow of the believer's deliverance from the yoke of Satan. The
cleansing the souls of believers from the power and pollution of sin,
would be by the influence of the Holy Spirit, as purifying fire. These
great things for the church, shall be done by the Messiah, Emmanuel. The
Child is born; it was certain; and the church, before Christ came in
the flesh, benefitted by his undertaking. It is a prophecy of him and of
his kingdom, which those that waited for the Consolation of Israel read
with pleasure. This Child was born for the benefit of us men, of us
sinners, of all believers, from the beginning to the end of the world.
Justly is he called Wonderful, for he is both God and man. His love is
the wonder of angels and glorified saints. He is the Counsellor, for he
knew the counsels of God from eternity; and he gives counsel to men, in
which he consults our welfare. He is the Wonderful Counsellor; none
teaches like him. He is God, the mighty One. Such is the work of the
Mediator, that no less power than that of the mighty God could bring it
to pass. He is God, one with the Father. As the Prince of Peace, he
reconciles us to God; he is the Giver of peace in the heart and
conscience; and when his kingdom is fully established, men shall learn
war no more. The government shall be upon him; he shall bear the burden
of it. Glorious things are spoken of Christ's government. There is no
end to the increase of its peace, for the happiness of its subjects
shall last for ever. The exact agreement of this prophecy with the
doctrine of the New Testament, shows that Jewish prophets and Christian
teachers had the same view of the person and salvation of the Messiah.
To what earthly king or kingdom can these words apply? Give then, O
Lord, to thy people to know thee by every endearing name, and in every
glorious character. Give increase of grace in every heart of thy
redeemed upon earth.Commentary on Isaiah 9:8-21
(Read Isaiah 9:8-21)
Those are ripening apace for ruin, whose hearts are unhumbled under
humbling providences. For that which God designs, in smiting us, is, to
turn us to himself; and if this point be not gained by lesser judgments,
greater may be expected. The leaders of the people misled them. We have
reason to be afraid of those that speak well of us, when we do ill.
Wickedness was universal, all were infected with it. They shall be in
trouble, and see no way out; and when men's ways displease the Lord, he
makes even their friends to be at war with them. God would take away
those they thought to have help from. Their rulers were the head. Their
false prophets were the tail and the rush, the most despicable. In these
civil contests, men preyed on near relations who were as their own
flesh. The people turn not to Him who smites them, therefore he
continues to smite: for when God judges, he will overcome; and the
proudest, stoutest sinner shall either bend or break.Isaiah 9 (New King James Version)
Isaiah 9
New King James Version (NKJV)
The Government of the Promised Son
9 Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed,
As when at first He lightly esteemed
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
And afterward more heavily oppressed her,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
In Galilee of the Gentiles.
2 The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.
As when at first He lightly esteemed
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
And afterward more heavily oppressed her,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
In Galilee of the Gentiles.
2 The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation
And increased its joy;[a]
They rejoice before You
According to the joy of harvest,
As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden
And the staff of his shoulder,
The rod of his oppressor,
As in the day of Midian.
5 For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle,
And garments rolled in blood,
Will be used for burning and fuel of fire.
And increased its joy;[a]
They rejoice before You
According to the joy of harvest,
As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden
And the staff of his shoulder,
The rod of his oppressor,
As in the day of Midian.
5 For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle,
And garments rolled in blood,
Will be used for burning and fuel of fire.
6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
The Punishment of Samaria
8 The Lord sent a word against Jacob,
And it has fallen on Israel.
9 All the people will know—
Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria—
Who say in pride and arrogance of heart:
10 “The bricks have fallen down,
But we will rebuild with hewn stones;
The sycamores are cut down,
But we will replace them with cedars.”
11 Therefore the Lord shall set up
The adversaries of Rezin against him,
And spur his enemies on,
12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind;
And they shall devour Israel with an open mouth.
And it has fallen on Israel.
9 All the people will know—
Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria—
Who say in pride and arrogance of heart:
10 “The bricks have fallen down,
But we will rebuild with hewn stones;
The sycamores are cut down,
But we will replace them with cedars.”
11 Therefore the Lord shall set up
The adversaries of Rezin against him,
And spur his enemies on,
12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind;
And they shall devour Israel with an open mouth.
For all this His anger is not turned away,
But His hand is stretched out still.
But His hand is stretched out still.
13 For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them,
Nor do they seek the Lord of hosts.
14 Therefore the Lord will cut off head and tail from Israel,
Palm branch and bulrush in one day.
15 The elder and honorable, he is the head;
The prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail.
16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err,
And those who are led by them are destroyed.
17 Therefore the Lord will have no joy in their young men,
Nor have mercy on their fatherless and widows;
For everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer,
And every mouth speaks folly.
Nor do they seek the Lord of hosts.
14 Therefore the Lord will cut off head and tail from Israel,
Palm branch and bulrush in one day.
15 The elder and honorable, he is the head;
The prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail.
16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err,
And those who are led by them are destroyed.
17 Therefore the Lord will have no joy in their young men,
Nor have mercy on their fatherless and widows;
For everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer,
And every mouth speaks folly.
For all this His anger is not turned away,
But His hand is stretched out still.
But His hand is stretched out still.
18 For wickedness burns as the fire;
It shall devour the briers and thorns,
And kindle in the thickets of the forest;
They shall mount up like rising smoke.
19 Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts
The land is burned up,
And the people shall be as fuel for the fire;
No man shall spare his brother.
20 And he shall snatch on the right hand
And be hungry;
He shall devour on the left hand
And not be satisfied;
Every man shall eat the flesh of his own arm.
21 Manasseh shall devour Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh;
Together they shall be against Judah.
It shall devour the briers and thorns,
And kindle in the thickets of the forest;
They shall mount up like rising smoke.
19 Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts
The land is burned up,
And the people shall be as fuel for the fire;
No man shall spare his brother.
20 And he shall snatch on the right hand
And be hungry;
He shall devour on the left hand
And not be satisfied;
Every man shall eat the flesh of his own arm.
21 Manasseh shall devour Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh;
Together they shall be against Judah.
For all this His anger is not turned away,
But His hand is stretched out still.
But His hand is stretched out still.
Footnotes:
- Isaiah 9:3 Following Qere and Targum; Kethib and Vulgate read not increased joy; Septuagint reads Most of the people You brought down in Your joy.
No comments:
Post a Comment