727 lines
34 KiB
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727 lines
34 KiB
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Isaiah XXI].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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"Prophecy, Rapture,hope,bible map,bible maps, God, tribulation,Second Coming,Christ,large print bible,commentary,complete">
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<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC23020.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC23022.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>I S A I A H.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have a prophecy of sad times coming, and heavy
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burdens,
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I. Upon Babylon, here called "the desert of the sea," that it should be
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destroyed by the Medes and Persians with a terrible destruction, which
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yet God's people should have advantage by,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:1-10">ver. 1-10</A>.
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II. Upon Dumah, or Idumea,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:11,12">ver. 11, 12</A>.
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III. Upon Arabia, or Kedar, the desolation of which country was very
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near,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:13-17">ver. 13-17</A>.
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These and other nations which the princes and people of Israel had so
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much to do with the prophets of Israel could not but have something to
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say to. Foreign affairs must be taken notice of as well as domestic
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ones, and news from abroad enquired after as well as news at home.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Isa21_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa21_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa21_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa21_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa21_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa21_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa21_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa21_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa21_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa21_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Doom of Babylon.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 714.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the
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south pass through; <I>so</I> it cometh from the desert, from a
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terrible land.
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2 A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer
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dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam:
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besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.
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3 Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken
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hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was
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bowed down at the hearing <I>of it;</I> I was dismayed at the seeing
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<I>of it.</I>
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4 My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my
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pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.
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5 Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink:
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arise, ye princes, <I>and</I> anoint the shield.
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6 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let
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him declare what he seeth.
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7 And he saw a chariot <I>with</I> a couple of horsemen, a chariot
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of asses, <I>and</I> a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently
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with much heed:
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8 And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the
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watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:
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9 And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, <I>with</I> a couple of
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horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen;
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and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the
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ground.
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10 O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have
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heard of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared
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unto you.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We had one burden of Babylon before
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+13:1-22"><I>ch.</I> xiii.</A>);
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here we have another prediction of its fall. God saw fit thus to
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possess his people with the belief of this event by line upon line,
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because Babylon sometimes pretended to be a friend to them (as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+39:1"><I>ch.</I> xxxix. 1</A>),
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and God would hereby warn them not to trust to that friendship, and
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sometimes was really an enemy to them, and God would hereby warn them
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not to be afraid of that enmity. Babylon is marked for ruin; and all
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that believe God's prophets can, through that glass, see it tottering,
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see it tumbling, even when with an eye of sense they see it flourishing
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and sitting as a queen. Babylon is here called the <I>desert</I> or
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<I>plain of the sea;</I> for it was a flat country, and full of lakes,
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or loughs (as they call them in Ireland), like little seas, and was
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abundantly watered with the many streams of the river Euphrates.
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Babylon did but lately begin to be famous, Nineveh having outshone it
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while the monarchy was in the Assyrian hands; but in a little time it
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became the lady of kingdoms; and, before it arrived at that pitch of
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eminency which it was at in Nebuchadnezzar's time, God by this prophet
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plainly foretold its fall, again and again, that his people might not
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be terrified at its rise, nor despair of relief in due time when they
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were its prisoners,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+5:3,Ps+37:35,37">Job v. 3; Ps. xxxvii. 35, 36</A>.
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Some think it is here called a <I>desert</I> because, though it was now
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a populous city, it should in time be made a desert. And
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<I>therefore</I> the destruction of Babylon is so often prophesied of
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by this evangelical prophet, because it was typical of the destruction
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of the man of sin, the great enemy of the New-Testament church, which
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is foretold in the <I>Revelation</I> in many expressions borrowed from
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these prophecies, which therefore must be consulted and collated by
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those who would understand the prophecy of that book. Here is,</P>
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<P>
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I. The powerful irruption and descent which the Medes and Persians
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should make upon Babylon
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>):
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They will come <I>from the desert, from a terrible land.</I> The
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northern parts of Media and Persia, where their soldiers were mostly
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bred, was waste and mountainous, terrible to strangers that were to
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pass through it and producing soldiers that were very formidable.
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<I>Elam</I> (that is, Persia) is summoned to go up against Babylon,
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and, in conjunction with the forces of Media, to besiege it. When God
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has work of this kind to do he will find, though it be in a desert, in
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a terrible land, proper instruments to be employed in it. These forces
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come <I>as whirlwinds from the south,</I> so suddenly, so strongly, so
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terribly, such a mighty noise shall they make, and throw down every
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thing that stands in their way. As is usual in such a case, some
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deserters will go over to them: <I>The treacherous dealers will deal
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treacherously.</I> Historians tell us of Gadatas and Gobryas, two great
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officers of the king of Babylon, that went over to Cyrus, and, being
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well acquainted with all the avenues of the city, led a party directly
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to the palace, where Belshazzar was slain. Thus with the help of the
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<I>treacherous dealers the spoilers spoiled.</I> Some read it thus:
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<I>There shall be a deceiver of that deceiver, Babylon, and a spoiler
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of that spoiler,</I> or, which comes all to one, <I>The treacherous
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dealer has found one that deals treacherously, and the spoiler one that
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spoils,</I> as it is expounded,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+33:1"><I>ch.</I> xxxiii. 1</A>.
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The Persians shall pay the Babylonians in their own coin; those that by
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fraud and violence, cheating and plundering, unrighteous wars and
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deceitful treaties, have made a prey of their neighbours, shall meet
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with their match, and by the same methods shall themselves be made a
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prey of.</P>
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<P>
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II. The different impressions made hereby upon those concerned in
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Babylon.
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1. To the poor oppressed captives it would be welcome news; for they
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had been told long ago that Babylon's destroyer would be their
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deliverer, and therefore, "when they hear that Elam and Media are
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coming up to besiege Babylon, <I>all their sighing will be made to
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cease;</I> they shall no longer mingle their tears with Euphrates'
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streams, but resume their harps, and smile when they remember Zion,
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which, before, they wept at the thought of." For the sighing of the
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needy the God of pity will arise in due time
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+12:5">Ps. xii. 5</A>);
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he will break the yoke from all their neck, will remove the rod of the
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wicked from off their lot, and so make their sighing to cease.
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2. To the proud oppressors it would be a grievous vision
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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particularly to the king of Babylon for the time being, and it should
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seem that he it is who is here brought in sadly lamenting his
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inevitable fate
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>):
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<I>Therefore are my loins filled with pain; pangs have taken hold upon
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me, &c.,</I> which was literally fulfilled in Belshazzar, for that very
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night in which his city was taken, and himself slain, upon the sight of
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a hand writing mystic characters upon the wall <I>his countenance was
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changed and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins
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were loosed and his knees smote one against another,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+5:6">Dan. v. 6</A>.
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And yet that was but the beginning of sorrows. Daniel's deciphering the
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writing could not but increase his terror, and the alarm which
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immediately followed of the executioners at the door would be the
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completing of it. And those words, <I>The night of my pleasure has he
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turned into fear to me,</I> plainly refer to that aggravating
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circumstance of Belshazzar's fall that he was slain on that night when
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he was in the height of his mirth and jollity, with his cups and
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concubines about him and a thousand of his lords revelling with him;
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that night of his pleasure, when he promised himself an undisturbed
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unallayed enjoyment of the most exquisite gratifications of sense, with
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a particular defiance of God and religion in the profanation of the
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temple vessels, was the night that was turned into all this fear. Let
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this give an effectual check to vain mirth and sensual pleasures, and
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forbid us ever to lay the reins on the neck of them--that we know not
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what heaviness the mirth may end in, nor how soon laughter may be
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turned into mourning; but this we know that for all these things God
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shall bring us into judgment; let us therefore mix trembling always
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with our joys.</P>
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<P>
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III. A representation of the posture in which Babylon should be found
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when the enemy should surprise it--all in festival gaiety
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
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"Prepare the table with all manner of dainties. Set the guards; let
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them watch in the watch-tower while we eat and drink securely and make
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merry; and, if any alarm should be given, the princes shall arise and
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anoint the shield, and be in readiness to give the enemy a warm
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reception." Thus secure are they, and thus do they gird on the harness
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with as much joy as if they were putting it off.</P>
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<P>
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IV. A description of the alarm which should be given to Babylon upon
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its being forced by Cyrus and Darius. The Lord, in vision, showed the
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prophet the watchman set in his watch-tower, near the watch-tower, near
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the palace, as is usual in times of danger; the king ordered those
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about him to post a sentinel in the most advantageous place for
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discovery, and, according to the duty of a watchman, let <I>him declare
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what he sees,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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We read of watchmen thus set to receive intelligence in the story of
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David
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+18:24">2 Sam. xviii. 24</A>),
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and in the story of Jehu,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+9:17">2 Kings ix. 17</A>.
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This watchman here discovered a chariot with a couple of horsemen
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attending it, in which we may suppose the commander-in-chief to ride.
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He then saw another chariot drawn by asses or mules, which were much in
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use among the Persians, and a chariot drawn by camels, which were
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likewise much in use among the Medes; so that (as Grotius thinks) these
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two chariots signify the two nations combined against Babylon, or
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rather these chariots come to bring tidings to the palace; compare
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+51:31,32">Jer. li. 31, 32</A>.
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<I>One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet
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another, to show the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one
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end</I> while he is revelling at the other end and knows nothing of the
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matter. The watchman, seeing these chariots at some distance,
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<I>hearkened diligently with much heed,</I> to receive the first
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tidings. And
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>)
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<I>he cried, A lion;</I> this word, coming out of a watchman's mouth,
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no doubt gave them a certain sound, and everybody knew the meaning of
|
||
|
|
it, though we do not know it now. It is likely that it was intended to
|
||
|
|
raise attention: he that has an ear to hear, let him hear, as when a
|
||
|
|
lion roars. Or <I>he cried as a lion,</I> very loud and in good
|
||
|
|
earnest, the occasion being very urgent. And what has he to say?
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. He professes his constancy to the post assigned him: "<I>I stand, my
|
||
|
|
lord, continually upon the watch-tower,</I> and have never discovered
|
||
|
|
any thing material till just now; all seemed safe and quiet." Some make
|
||
|
|
it to be a complaint of the people of God that they had long expected
|
||
|
|
the downfall of Babylon, according to the prophecy, and it had not yet
|
||
|
|
come; but withal a resolution to continue waiting; as
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+2:1">Hab. ii. 1</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower,</I> to see
|
||
|
|
what will be the issue of the present providences.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He gives notice of the discoveries he had made
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Here comes a chariot of men with a couple of horsemen,</I> a vision
|
||
|
|
representing the enemy's entry into the city with all their force or
|
||
|
|
the tidings brought to the royal palace of it.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
V. A certain account is at length given of the overthrow of Babylon. He
|
||
|
|
in the chariot <I>answered and said</I> (when he heard the watchman
|
||
|
|
speak), <I>Babylon has fallen, has fallen;</I> or God answered thus to
|
||
|
|
the prophet enquiring concerning the issue of these affairs: "It has
|
||
|
|
now come to this, Babylon has surely and irrecoverably fallen.
|
||
|
|
Babylon's business is done now. <I>All the graven images of her gods he
|
||
|
|
has broken unto the ground.</I>" Babylon was the mother of harlots
|
||
|
|
(that is, of idolatry), which was one of the grounds of God's quarrel
|
||
|
|
with her; but her idols should now be so far from protecting her that
|
||
|
|
some of them should be broken down to the ground, and others of them,
|
||
|
|
that were worth carrying way, should go into captivity, and be a burden
|
||
|
|
to the beasts that carried them,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+46:1,2"><I>ch.</I> xlvi. 1, 2</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
VI. Notice is given to the people of God, who were then captives in
|
||
|
|
Babylon, that this prophecy of the downfall of Babylon was particularly
|
||
|
|
intended for their comfort and encouragement, and they might depend
|
||
|
|
upon it that it should be accomplished in due season,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The title the prophet gives them in God's name: <I>O my threshing,
|
||
|
|
and the corn of my floor!</I> The prophet calls them <I>his,</I>
|
||
|
|
because they were his countrymen, and such as he had a particular
|
||
|
|
interest in and concern for; but he speaks it as from God, and directs
|
||
|
|
his speech to those that were Israelites indeed, the faithful in the
|
||
|
|
land. Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) The church is God's floor, in which the most valuable fruits and
|
||
|
|
products of this earth are, as it were, gathered together and laid up.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) True believers are the corn of God's floor. Hypocrites are but as
|
||
|
|
the chaff and straw, which take up a great deal of room, but are of
|
||
|
|
small value, with which the wheat is now mixed, but from which it shall
|
||
|
|
be shortly and for ever separated.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) The corn of God's floor must expect to be threshed by afflictions
|
||
|
|
and persecutions. God's Israel of old was afflicted from her youth,
|
||
|
|
often under the plougher's plough
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+129:3">Ps. cxxix. 3</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and the thresher's flail.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) Even then God owns it for his threshing; it is his still; nay, the
|
||
|
|
threshing of it is by his appointment, and under his restraint and
|
||
|
|
direction. The threshers could have no power against it <I>but what was
|
||
|
|
given them from above.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The assurance he gives them of the truth of what he had delivered to
|
||
|
|
them, which therefore they might build their hopes upon: <I>That which
|
||
|
|
I have heard of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel</I>--that, and
|
||
|
|
nothing else, that, and no fiction or fancy of my own--<I>have I
|
||
|
|
declared unto you.</I> Note, In all events concerning the church, past,
|
||
|
|
present, and to come, we must have an eye to God both as the Lord of
|
||
|
|
hosts and as the God of Israel, who has power enough to do any thing
|
||
|
|
for his church and grace enough to do every thing that is for her good,
|
||
|
|
and to the words of his prophets, as words received from the Lord. As
|
||
|
|
they dare not smother any thing which he has entrusted them to declare,
|
||
|
|
so they dare not declare any thing as from him which he has not made
|
||
|
|
known to them,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+11:23">1 Cor. xi. 23</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Isa21_11"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Isa21_12"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Watchman Interrogated.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 714.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman,
|
||
|
|
what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
|
||
|
|
12 The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night:
|
||
|
|
if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This prophecy concerning Dumah is very short, and withal dark and hard
|
||
|
|
to be understood. Some think that Dumah is a part of Arabia, and that
|
||
|
|
the inhabitants descended from Dumah the sixth son of Ishmael, as those
|
||
|
|
of Kedar
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:16,17"><I>v.</I> 16, 17</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
from Ishmael's second son,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+25:13,14">Gen. xxv. 13, 14</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Others, because Mount Seir is here mentioned, by Dumah understand
|
||
|
|
Idumea, the country of the Edomites. Some of Israel's neighbours are
|
||
|
|
certainly meant, and their distress is foretold, not only for warning
|
||
|
|
to them to prepare them for it, but for warning to Israel not to depend
|
||
|
|
upon them, or any of the nations about them, for relief in a time of
|
||
|
|
danger, but upon God only. We must see all creature confidences
|
||
|
|
failing us, and feel them breaking under us, that we may not lay more
|
||
|
|
weight upon them than they will bear. But though the explication of
|
||
|
|
this prophecy be difficult, because we have no history in which we find
|
||
|
|
the accomplishment of it, yet the application will be easy. We have
|
||
|
|
here,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. A question put by an Edomite to the watchman. Some one or other
|
||
|
|
<I>called out of Seir,</I> somebody that was more concerned for the
|
||
|
|
public safety and welfare than the rest, who were generally careless
|
||
|
|
and secure. As the man of Macedonia, in a vision, desired Paul to come
|
||
|
|
over and help them
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:9">Acts xvi. 9</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
so this man of Mount Seir, in a vision, desired the prophet to inform
|
||
|
|
and instruct them. He calls not many; it is well there are any, that
|
||
|
|
all are not alike unconcerned about the things that belong to the
|
||
|
|
public peace. Some out of Seir ask advice of God's prophets, and are
|
||
|
|
willing to be taught, when many of God's Israel heed nothing. The
|
||
|
|
question is serious: <I>What of the night?</I> It is put to a proper
|
||
|
|
person, the <I>watchman,</I> whose office it is to answer such
|
||
|
|
enquiries. He repeats the question, as one in care, as one in earnest,
|
||
|
|
and desirous to have an answer. Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) God's prophets and ministers are appointed to be watchmen, and we
|
||
|
|
are to look upon them as such. They are as watchmen in the city in a
|
||
|
|
time of peace, to see that all be safe, to knock at every door by
|
||
|
|
personal enquiries ("Is it locked? Is the fire safe?"), to direct those
|
||
|
|
that are at a loss, and check those that are disorderly,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+3:3,5:7">Cant. iii. 3; v. 7</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They are as watchmen in the camp in time of war,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:7">Ezek. xxxiii. 7</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They are to take notice of the motions of the enemy and to give notice
|
||
|
|
of them, to make discoveries and then give warning; and in this they
|
||
|
|
must deny themselves.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) It is our duty to enquire of the watchmen, especially to ask again
|
||
|
|
and again, <I>What of the night?</I> for watchmen wake when other
|
||
|
|
sleep.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] What time of the night? After a long sleep in sin and security, is
|
||
|
|
it not time to rise, high time to awake out of sleep?
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+13:11">Rom. xiii. 11</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
We have a great deal of work to do, a long journey to go; is it not
|
||
|
|
time to be stirring? "Watchman, what o'clock is it? After a long dark
|
||
|
|
night is there any hope of the day dawning?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] What tidings of the night? <I>What from the night?</I> (so some);
|
||
|
|
"what vision has the prophet had to-night? We are ready to receive it."
|
||
|
|
Or, rather, "What occurs to night? What weather is it? What news?" We
|
||
|
|
must expect an alarm, and never be secure. The <I>day of the Lord will
|
||
|
|
come as a thief in the night;</I> we must prepare to receive the alarm,
|
||
|
|
and resolve to keep our ground, and then take the first hint of danger,
|
||
|
|
and to our arms presently, to our spiritual weapons.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The watchman's answer to this question. The watchman was neither
|
||
|
|
asleep nor dumb; though it was a man of Mount Seir that called to him,
|
||
|
|
he was ready to give him an answer: <I>The morning comes.</I> He
|
||
|
|
answers,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) By way of prediction: "There comes first a morning of light, and
|
||
|
|
peace, and opportunity; you will enjoy one day of comfort more; but
|
||
|
|
afterwards comes a night of trouble and calamity." Note, In the course
|
||
|
|
of God's providence it is usual that morning and night are
|
||
|
|
counterchanged and succeed each other. Is it night? Yet the morning
|
||
|
|
comes, and the day-spring knows his place,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+30:5">Ps. xxx. 5</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Is it day? Yet the night comes also. If there be a morning of youth and
|
||
|
|
health, there will come a night of sickness and old age; if a morning
|
||
|
|
of prosperity in the family, in the public, yet we must look for
|
||
|
|
changes. But God usually gives a morning of opportunity before he sends
|
||
|
|
a night of calamity, that his own people may be prepared for the storm
|
||
|
|
and others left inexcusable.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) By way of excitement: <I>If you will enquire, enquire.</I> Note,
|
||
|
|
It is our wisdom to improve the present morning in preparation for the
|
||
|
|
night that is coming after it. "<I>Enquire, return, come.</I> Be
|
||
|
|
inquisitive, be penitent, be willing and obedient." The manner of
|
||
|
|
expression is very observable, for we are put to our choice what we
|
||
|
|
will do: "<I>If you will enquire, enquire;</I> if not, it is at your
|
||
|
|
peril; you cannot say but you have a fair offer made you." We are also
|
||
|
|
urged to be at a point: "If you will, say so, and do not stand pausing;
|
||
|
|
what you will do do quickly, for it is no time to trifle." Those that
|
||
|
|
return and come to God will find they have a great deal of work to do
|
||
|
|
and but a little time to do it in, and therefore they have need to be
|
||
|
|
busy.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Isa21_13"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Isa21_14"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Isa21_15"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Isa21_16"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Isa21_17"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Doom of Arabia.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 714.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>13 The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye
|
||
|
|
lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.
|
||
|
|
14 The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him
|
||
|
|
that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.
|
||
|
|
15 For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and
|
||
|
|
from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
|
||
|
|
16 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year,
|
||
|
|
according to the years of a hireling, and all the glory of Kedar
|
||
|
|
shall fail:
|
||
|
|
17 And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of
|
||
|
|
the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of
|
||
|
|
Israel hath spoken <I>it.</I>
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Arabia was a large country, that lay eastward and southward of the land
|
||
|
|
of Canaan. Much of it was possessed by the posterity of Abraham. The
|
||
|
|
<I>Dedanim,</I> here mentioned
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
descended from Dedan, Abraham's son by Keturah; the inhabitants of Tema
|
||
|
|
and Kedar descended from Ishmael,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+25:3,13,15">Gen. xxv. 3, 13, 15</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Arabians generally lived in tents, and kept cattle, were a hardy
|
||
|
|
people, inured to labour; probably the Jews depended upon them as a
|
||
|
|
sort of a wall between them and the more warlike eastern nations; and
|
||
|
|
therefore, to alarm them, they shall hear <I>the burden of Arabia,</I>
|
||
|
|
and see it sinking under its own burden.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. A destroying army shall be brought upon them, with a sword, with
|
||
|
|
<I>a drawn sword,</I> with <I>a bow</I> ready <I>bent,</I> and with all
|
||
|
|
the <I>grievousness of war,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It is probable that the king of Assyria, in some of the marches of his
|
||
|
|
formidable and victorious army, took Arabia in his way, and, meeting
|
||
|
|
with little resistance, made an easy prey of them. The consideration of
|
||
|
|
the grievousness of war should make us thankful for the blessings of
|
||
|
|
peace.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. The poor country people will hereby be forced to flee for shelter
|
||
|
|
wherever they can find a place; so that <I>the travelling companies of
|
||
|
|
Dedanium,</I> which used to keep the high roads with their caravans,
|
||
|
|
shall be obliged to quit them and <I>lodge in the forest in Arabia</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and shall not have the wonted convenience of their own tents, poor and
|
||
|
|
weather-beaten as they are.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
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<P>
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III. They shall stand in need of refreshment, being ready to perish for
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want of it, in their flight from the invading army: "<I>O you
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inhabitants of the land of Tema!</I>" (who probably were next
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neighbours to the companies of Dedanim) "<I>bring you water</I>" (so
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the margin reads it) "<I>to him that is thirsty,</I> and <I>prevent
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with your bread those that flee,</I> for they are objects of your
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compassion; they do not wander for wandering sake, nor are they reduced
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to straits by any extravagance of their own, but <I>they flee from the
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sword.</I>" Tema was a country where water was sometimes a scarce
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commodity (as we find,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+6:19">Job vi. 19</A>),
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and we may conclude it would be in a particular manner acceptable to
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these poor distressed refugees. Let us learn hence.
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1. To look for distress ourselves. We know not what straits we may be
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brought into before we die. Those that live in cities may be forced to
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lodge in forests; and those may know the want of necessary food who now
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eat bread to the full. Our mountain stands not so strong but that it
|
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may be moved, rises not so high but that it may be scaled. These
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Arabians would the better bear these calamities because in their way of
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living they had used themselves to hardships.
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2. To look with compassion upon those that are in distress, and with
|
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all cheerfulness to relieve them, not knowing how soon their case may
|
||
|
|
be ours: "<I>Bring water to those that are thirsty,</I> and not only
|
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|
|
give bread to those that need and ask it, but prevent those with it
|
||
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that have need; give it to them unasked." Those that do so shall find
|
||
|
|
it remembered to their praise, as (according to our reading) it is here
|
||
|
|
remembered to the praise of the land of Tema that they did bring water
|
||
|
|
to the thirsty and relieved even those that were on the falling
|
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|
side.</P>
|
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<P>
|
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|
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|
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IV. All that which is the glory of Kedar shall vanish away and fail.
|
||
|
|
Did they glory in their numerous herds and flocks? They shall all be
|
||
|
|
driven away by the enemy. It seems they were famous about other nations
|
||
|
|
for the use of the bow in battle; but their archers, instead of foiling
|
||
|
|
the enemy, shall fall themselves; and <I>the residue of their
|
||
|
|
number,</I> when they are reduced to a small number, <I>shall be
|
||
|
|
diminished</I>
|
||
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|
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|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>);
|
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|
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|
||
|
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their mighty able-bodied men, and men of spirit too, shall become very
|
||
|
|
few; for they, being most forward in the defence of their country, were
|
||
|
|
most exposed, and fell first, either by the enemies' sword or into the
|
||
|
|
enemies' hand. Note, Neither the skill of archers (though they be ever
|
||
|
|
so good marksmen) nor the courage of mighty men can protect a people
|
||
|
|
from the judgments of God, when they come with commission; they rather
|
||
|
|
expose the undertakers. That is poor glory which will thus quickly come
|
||
|
|
to nothing.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
V. All this shall be done in a little time: "<I>Within one year
|
||
|
|
according to the years of a hireling</I> (within one year precisely
|
||
|
|
reckoned) this judgment shall come upon Kedar." If this fixing of the
|
||
|
|
time be of no great use to us now (because we find not either when the
|
||
|
|
prophecy was delivered or when it was accomplished), yet it might be of
|
||
|
|
great use to the Arabians then, to awaken them to repentance, that,
|
||
|
|
like the men of Nineveh, they might prevent the judgment when they were
|
||
|
|
thus told it was just at the door. Or, when it begins to be fulfilled,
|
||
|
|
the business shall be done, be begun and ended in one year's time. God,
|
||
|
|
when he please, can do a great work in a little time.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
VI. It is all ratified by the truth of God
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"<I>Thus hath the Lord said to me;</I> you may take my word for it that
|
||
|
|
it is his word;" and we may be sure no word of his shall fall to the
|
||
|
|
ground. And again
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>The Lord God of Israel hath spoken it,</I> as the God of Israel, in
|
||
|
|
pursuance of his gracious designs concerning them; and we may be sure
|
||
|
|
<I>the strength of Israel will not lie.</I></P>
|
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