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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Isaiah XXV].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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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. XXV.</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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After the threatenings of wrath in the foregoing chapter we have here,
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I. Thankful praises for what God had done, which the prophet, in the
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name of the church, offers up to God, and teaches us to offer the like,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+25:1-5">ver. 1-5</A>.
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II. Precious promises of what God would yet further do for his church,
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especially in the grace of the gospel,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+25:6-8">ver. 6-8</A>.
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III. The church's triumph in God over her enemies thereupon,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+25:9-12">ver. 9-12</A>.
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This chapter looks as pleasantly upon the church as the former looked
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dreadfully upon the world.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Isa25_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa25_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa25_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa25_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa25_5"> </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>A Song of Praise.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 718.</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 O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, thou <I>art</I> my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise
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thy name; for thou hast done wonderful <I>things; thy</I> counsels of
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old <I>are</I> faithfulness <I>and</I> truth.
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2 For thou hast made of a city a heap; <I>of</I> a defenced city a
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ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be
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built.
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3 Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of
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the terrible nations shall fear thee.
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4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the
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needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the
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heat, when the blast of the terrible ones <I>is</I> as a storm
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<I>against</I> the wall.
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5 Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in
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a dry place; <I>even</I> the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the
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branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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It is said in the close of the foregoing chapter that the <I>Lord of
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hosts shall reign gloriously;</I> now, in compliance with this, the
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prophet here speaks of <I>the glorious majesty of his kingdom</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:12">Ps. cxlv. 12</A>),
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and gives him the glory of it; and, however this prophecy might have an
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accomplishment in the destruction of Babylon and the deliverance of the
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Jews out of their captivity there, it seems to look further, to the
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praises that should be offered up to God by the gospel church for
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Christ's victories over our spiritual enemies and the comforts he has
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provided for all believers. Here,</P>
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<P>
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I. The prophet determines to praise God himself; for those that would
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stir up others should in the first place stir up themselves to praise
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God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+25:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>):
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"<I>O Lord! thou art my God,</I> a God in covenant with me." When God
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is punishing <I>the kings of the earth upon the earth,</I> and making
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them to tremble before him, a poor prophet can go to him, and, with a
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humble boldness, say, <I>O Lord! thou art my God,</I> and therefore
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<I>I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name.</I> Those that have the
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Lord for their God are bound to praise him; for <I>therefore</I> he
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took us to be his people <I>that we might be unto him for a name and
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for a praise,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+13:11">Jer. xiii. 11</A>.
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In praising God we exalt him; not that we can make him higher than he
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is, but we must make him to appear to ourselves and others than he
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does. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+15:2">Exod. xv. 2</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. He pleases himself with the thought that others also shall be
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brought to praise God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+25:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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"<I>Therefore,</I> because of the <I>desolations thou hast made in the
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earth</I> by thy providence
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:8">Ps. xlvi. 8</A>)
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and the just vengeance thou hast taken on thy and thy church's enemies,
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<I>therefore shall the strong people glorify thee</I> in concert,
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<I>and the city</I> (the metropolis) <I>of the terrible nations fear
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thee.</I>" This may be understood,
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1. Of those people that have been strong and terrible against God.
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Those that have been enemies to God's kingdom, and have fought against
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the interests of it with a great deal of strength and terror, shall
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either be converted, and glorify God by joining with his people in his
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service, or at least convinced, so as to own themselves conquered.
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Those that have been the terror of the mighty shall be forced to
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tremble before the judgments of God and call in vain to rocks and
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mountains to hide them. Or,
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2. Of those that shall be now made strong and terrible for God and by
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him, though before they were weak and trampled upon. God shall so
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visibly appear for and with those that fear him and glorify him that
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all shall acknowledge them a strong people and shall stand in awe of
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them. There was a time when <I>many of the people of the land became
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Jews, for the fear of the Jews fell upon them</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+8:17">Esther viii. 17</A>),
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and when those that knew their God were strong and did exploits
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+11:32">Dan. xi. 32</A>),
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for which they glorified God.</P>
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<P>
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III. He observes what is, and ought to be, the matter of this praise.
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We and others must exalt God and praise him; for,
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1. He has done wonders, according to the counsel of his own will,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+25:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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We exalt God by admiring what he has done as truly wonderful, wonderful
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proofs of his power beyond what any creature could perform, and
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wonderful proofs of his goodness beyond what such sinful creatures as
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we are could expect. These <I>wonderful things,</I> which are new and
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surprising to us, and altogether unthought of, are according to his
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<I>counsels of old,</I> devised by his wisdom and designed for his own
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glory and the comfort of his people. All the operations of providence
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are according to God's eternal counsels (and those faithfulness and
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truth itself), all consonant to his attributes, consistent with one
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another, and sure to be accomplished in their season.
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2. He has in particular humbled the pride, and broken the power, of the
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mighty ones of the earth
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+25:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>):
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"<I>Thou hast made of a city,</I> of many a city, <I>a heap</I> of
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rubbish. Of many a defenced city, that thought itself well guarded by
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nature and art, and the multitude and courage of its militia, thou hast
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made a ruin." What created strength can hold out against Omnipotence?
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"Many a city so richly built that it might be called a <I>palace,</I>
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and so much frequented and visited by persons of the best rank from all
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parts that it might be called a <I>palace of strangers,</I> thou hast
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made to be no city; it is levelled with the ground, and not one stone
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left upon another, and it shall never be built again." This has been
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the case of many cities in divers parts of the world, and in our own
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nation particularly; cities that flourished once have gone to decay and
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are lost, and it is scarcely known (except by urns or coins digged up
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out of the earth) where they stood. How many of the cities of Israel
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have long since been heaps and ruins! God hereby teaches us that
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<I>here we have no continuing city</I> and must therefore seek one to
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come which will never be a ruin or go to decay.
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3. He has seasonably relieved and succoured his necessitous and
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distressed people
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+25:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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<I>Thou has been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy.</I>
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As God weakens the strong that are proud and secure, so he strengthens
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the weak that are humble and serious, and stay themselves upon him.
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Nay, he not only makes them strong, but he is himself their strength;
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for in him they strengthen themselves, and it is his favour that is the
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<I>strength of their hearts.</I> He is a <I>strength to the needy in
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his distress,</I> when he needs strength, and when his distress drives
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him to God. And, as he strengthens them against their inward decays, so
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he shelters them from outward assaults. He is <I>a refuge from the
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storm</I> of rain or hail, and <I>a shadow from the</I> scorching
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<I>heat</I> of the sun in summer. God is a sufficient protection to his
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people in all weathers, hot and cold, wet and dry. The armour of
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righteousness serves both <I>on the right hand</I> and <I>on the
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left,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:7">2 Cor. vi. 7</A>.
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Whatever dangers or troubles God's people may be in, effectual care is
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taken that they shall sustain no real hurt or damage. When perils are
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most threatening and alarming God will then appear for the safety of
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his people: <I>When the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm
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against the wall,</I> which makes a great noise, but cannot overthrow
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the wall. The enemies of God's poor are terrible ones; they do all they
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can to make themselves so to them. Their rage is like a blast of wind,
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loud, and blustering, and furious; but, like the wind, it is under a
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divine check; for God <I>holds the winds in his fist,</I> and God will
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be such a shelter to his people that they shall be able to stand the
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shock, keep their ground, and maintain their integrity and peace. A
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storm beating on a ship tosses it, but that which beats on a wall never
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stirs it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+76:10,138:7">Ps. lxxvi. 10; cxxxviii. 7</A>.
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4. That he does and will shelter those that trust in him from the
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insolence of their proud oppressors
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+25:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
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<I>Thou shalt,</I> or thou dost, <I>bring down the noise of
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strangers;</I> thou shalt abate and still it, as <I>the heat in a dry
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place</I> is abated and moderated <I>by the shadow of a cloud</I>
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interposing. <I>The branch,</I> or rather the son or triumph, <I>of the
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terrible ones shall be brought low,</I> and they shall be made to
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change their note and lower their voice. Observe here,
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(1.) The oppressors of God's people are called <I>strangers;</I> for
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they forget that those they oppress are made of the same mould, of the
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same blood, with them. They are called <I>terrible ones;</I> for so
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they affect to be, rather than amiable ones: they would rather be
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feared than loved.
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(2.) Their insolence towards the people of God is noisy and hot, and
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that is all; it is but the noise of strangers, who think to carry their
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point by hectoring and bullying all that stand in their way, and
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talking big. <I>Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+46:17">Jer. xlvi. 17</A>.
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It is like the heat of the sun scorching in the middle of the day; but
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where is it when the sun has set?
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(3.) Their noise, and heat, and all their triumph, will be humbled and
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brought low, when their hopes are baffled and all their honours laid in
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the dust. The branches, even the top branches, of the terrible ones,
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will be broken off, and thrown to the dunghill.
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(4.) If the labourers in God's vineyard be at any time called to
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<I>bear the burden and heat of the day,</I> he will find some way or
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other to refresh them, as with the shadow of a cloud, that they may not
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be pressed above measure.</P>
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<A NAME="Isa25_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa25_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa25_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Blessings of the Gospel.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 718.</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>6 And in this mountain shall the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> of hosts make unto all
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people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of
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fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.
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7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering
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cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all
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nations.
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8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT> will
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wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people
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shall he take away from off all the earth: for the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath
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spoken <I>it.</I>
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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If we suppose (as many do) that this refers to the great joy which
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there should be in Zion and Jerusalem when the army of the Assyrians
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was routed by an angel, or when the Jews were released out of their
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captivity in Babylon, or upon occasion of some other equally surprising
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deliverance, yet we cannot avoid making it to look further, to the
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grace of the gospel and the glory which is the crown and consummation
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of that grace; for it is at our resurrection through Christ that the
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saying here written <I>shall be brought to pass;</I> then, and not till
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then (if we may believe St. Paul), it shall have its full
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accomplishment: <I>Death is swallowed up in victory,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+15:54">1 Cor. xv. 54</A>.
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This is a key to the rest of the promises here connected together. And
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so we have here a prophecy of the salvation and the grace brought unto
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us by Jesus Christ, into which <I>the prophets enquired and searched
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diligently,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+1:10">1 Pet. i. 10</A>.</P>
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<P>
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I. That the grace of the gospel should be a royal feast for all people;
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not like that of Ahasuerus, which was intended only to show the
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grandeur of the master of the feast
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+1:4">Esther i. 4</A>);
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for this is intended to gratify the guests, and therefore, whereas all
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<I>there</I> was for show, all <I>here</I> is for substance. The
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preparations made in the gospel for the kind reception of penitents and
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supplicants with God are often in the New Testament set forth by the
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similitude of <I>a feast,</I> as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+22:1">Matt. xxii. 1</A>,
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&c., which seems to be borrowed from this prophecy.
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1. God himself is the Master of the feast, and we may be sure he
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prepares like himself, as becomes him to give, rather than as becomes
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us to receive. <I>The Lord of hosts</I> makes this feast.
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2. The guests invited are <I>all people,</I> Gentiles as well as Jews.
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<I>Go preach the gospel to every creature.</I> There is enough for all,
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and whoever will may come, and partake freely, even those that are
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gathered out of the highways and the hedges.
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3. The place is <I>Mount Zion.</I> Thence the preaching of the gospel
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takes rise: the preachers must begin at Jerusalem. The gospel church is
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the Jerusalem that is above; there this feast is made, and to it all
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the invited guests must go.
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4. The provision is very rich, and every thing is of the best. It is a
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<I>feast,</I> which supposes abundance and variety; it is a continual
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feast to believers, it is their own fault if it be not. It is <I>a
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feast of fat things and full of marrow;</I> so relishing, so
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nourishing, are the comforts of the gospel to all those that feast upon
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them and digest them. The returning prodigal was entertained with the
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fatted calf; and David has that pleasure in communion with God with
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which his soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness. It is a feast
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<I>of wines on the lees,</I> the strongest-bodied wines, that have been
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kept long upon the lees, and then are well refined from them, so that
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they are clear and fine. There is that in the gospel which, like wine
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soberly used, makes glad the heart and raises the spirits, and is fit
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for those that are of a heavy heart, being under convictions of sin and
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mourning for it, that they may drink and forget their misery (for that
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is the proper use of wine--it is a cordial for those that need it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:5,6">Prov. xxxi. 5, 6</A>),
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may be of good cheer, knowing that their sins are forgiven, and may be
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vigorous in their spiritual work and warfare, as a strong man refreshed
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with wine.</P>
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<P>
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II. That the world should be freed from that darkness of ignorance and
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mistake in the mists of which it had been so long lost and buried
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+25:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
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<I>He will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering</I> (the
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covering of the face) with which all people are covered (hood-winked or
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blind-folded) so that they cannot see their way nor go about their
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work, and by reason of which they wander endlessly. Their faces are
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covered as those of men condemned, or dead men. There is <I>a veil
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spread over all nations,</I> for they all sit in darkness; and no
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marvel, when the Jews themselves, among whom <I>God was known,</I> had
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a <I>veil upon their hearts,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+3:15">2 Cor. iii. 15</A>.
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But this veil the Lord will destroy, by the light of his gospel shining
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in the world, and the power of his Spirit opening men's eyes to receive
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it. He will raise those to spiritual life that have long been dead in
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trespasses and sins.</P>
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<P>
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III. That death should be conquered, the power of it broken, and the
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property of it altered: <I>He will swallow up death in victory,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+25:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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1. Christ will himself, in his resurrection, triumph over death, will
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break its bands, its bars, asunder, and cast away all its cords. The
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grave seemed to swallow him up, but really he swallowed it up.
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2. The happiness of the saints shall be out of the reach of death,
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|
which puts a period to all the enjoyments of this world, embitters
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them, and stains the beauty of them.
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3. Believers may triumph over death, and look upon it as a conquered
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enemy: <I>O death! where is thy sting?</I>
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4. When the dead bodies of the saints shall be raised at the great day,
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and their mortality swallowed up of life, then death will be for ever
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swallowed up of victory; and it is the last enemy.</P>
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<P>
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IV. That grief shall be banished, and there shall be perfect and
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endless joy: <I>The Lord God will wipe away tears from off all
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faces.</I> Those that mourn for sin shall be comforted and have their
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consciences pacified. In the covenant of grace there shall be that
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|
provided which is sufficient to counterbalance all the sorrows of this
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|
present time, to wipe away our tears, and to refresh us. Those
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particularly that suffer for Christ shall have consolations abounding
|
|
as their afflictions do abound. But in the joys of heaven, and nowhere
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short of them, will fully be <I>brought to pass this saying,</I> as
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that before, for there it is that God shall <I>wipe away all tears,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+7:17,21:4">Rev. vii. 17; xxi. 4</A>.
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And <I>there shall be no more sorrow,</I> because <I>there shall be no
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more death.</I> The hope of this should now wipe away all excessive
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tears, all the weeping that hinders sowing.</P>
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<P>
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V. That all the reproach cast upon religion and the serious professors
|
|
of it shall be for ever rolled away: <I>The rebuke of his people,</I>
|
|
which they have long lain under, the calumnies and misrepresentations
|
|
by which they have been blackened, the insolence and cruelty with which
|
|
their persecutors have trampled on them and trodden them down, <I>shall
|
|
be taken away.</I> Their righteousness shall be brought forth as the
|
|
light, in the view of all the world, who shall be convinced that they
|
|
are not such as they have been invidiously characterized; and so their
|
|
salvation from the injuries done them as such shall be wrought out.
|
|
Sometimes in this world God does that for his people which <I>takes
|
|
away their reproach from among men.</I> However, it will be done
|
|
effectually at the great day; for the <I>Lord has spoken it,</I> who
|
|
can, and will, make it good. Let us patiently bear sorrow and shame
|
|
now, and improve both; for shortly both will be done away.</P>
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<A NAME="Isa25_9"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa25_10"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa25_11"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa25_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Blessings of the Gospel.</I></FONT></TD>
|
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 718.</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>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this <I>is</I> our God; we
|
|
have waited for him, and he will save us: this <I>is</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; we
|
|
have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his
|
|
salvation.
|
|
10 For in this mountain shall the hand of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> rest, and
|
|
Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden
|
|
down for the dunghill.
|
|
11 And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as
|
|
he that swimmeth spreadeth forth <I>his hands</I> to swim: and he
|
|
shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their
|
|
hands.
|
|
12 And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he
|
|
bring down, lay low, <I>and</I> bring to the ground, <I>even</I> to the
|
|
dust.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is, I. The welcome which the church shall give to these blessings
|
|
promised in the foregoing verses
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+25:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>It shall be said in that day,</I> with a humble holy triumph and
|
|
exultation, <I>Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him!</I> Thus
|
|
will the deliverance of the church out of long and sore troubles be
|
|
celebrated; thus will it be as life from the dead. With such transports
|
|
of joy and praise will those entertain the glad tidings of the Redeemer
|
|
who looked for him, and for redemption in Jerusalem by him; and with
|
|
such a triumphant song as this will glorified saints <I>enter into the
|
|
joy of their Lord.</I>
|
|
|
|
1. God himself must have the glory of all: "<I>Lo, this is our God,
|
|
this is the Lord.</I> This which is done is his doing, and it is
|
|
marvellous in our eyes. Herein he has done like himself, has magnified
|
|
his own wisdom, power, and goodness. Herein he has done for us like our
|
|
God, a God in covenant with us, and whom we serve." Note, Our triumphs
|
|
must not terminate in what God does for us and gives to us, but must
|
|
pass through them to himself, who is the author and giver of them:
|
|
<I>This is our God.</I> Have any of the nations of the earth such a God
|
|
to trust to? No, <I>their rock is not as our rock. There is none like
|
|
unto the God of Jerusalem.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. The longer it has been expected the more welcome it is. "This is he
|
|
whom we have waited for, in dependence upon his word of promise, and a
|
|
full assurance that he would come in the set time, in due time, and
|
|
therefore we were willing to tarry his time; and now we find it is not
|
|
in vain to wait for him, for the mercy comes at last, with an abundant
|
|
recompence for the delay."
|
|
|
|
3. It is matter of joy unspeakable: "<I>We will be glad and rejoice in
|
|
his salvation.</I> We that share in the benefits of it will concur in
|
|
the joyful thanksgivings for it."
|
|
|
|
4. It is an encouragement to hope for the continuance and perfection of
|
|
this salvation: <I>We have waited for him, and he will save us,</I>
|
|
will carry on what he has begun; for <I>as for God,</I> our God, <I>his
|
|
work is perfect.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. A prospect of further blessings for the securing and perpetuating
|
|
of these.
|
|
|
|
1. The power of God shall be engaged for them and shall continue to
|
|
take their part: <I>In this mountain shall the hand of the Lord
|
|
rest,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+25:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
The church and people of God shall have continued proofs of God's
|
|
presence with them and residence among them: his hand shall be
|
|
continually over them, to protect and guard them, and continually
|
|
stretched out to them, for their supply. Mount Zion is <I>his rest for
|
|
ever;</I> here he will dwell.
|
|
|
|
2. The power of their enemies, which is engaged against them, shall be
|
|
broken. <I>Moab</I> is here put for all the adversaries of God's
|
|
people, that are vexatious to them; they <I>shall</I> all <I>be trodden
|
|
down</I> or threshed (for <I>then</I> they beat out the corn by
|
|
treading it) and shall be thrown out as <I>straw to the dunghill,</I>
|
|
being good for nothing else. God having <I>caused his hand to rest upon
|
|
this mountain,</I> it shall not be a hand that hangs down, or is folded
|
|
up, feeble and inactive; but he shall <I>spread forth his hands, in the
|
|
midst</I> of his people, <I>like one that swims,</I> which intimates
|
|
that he will employ and exert his power for them vigorously,--that he
|
|
will be doing for them on all sides,--that he will easily and
|
|
effectually put by the opposition that is given to his gracious
|
|
intentions for them, and thereby further and push forward his good work
|
|
among them,--and that on their behalf he will be continually active,
|
|
for so the swimmer is. It is foretold, particularly, what he shall do
|
|
for them.
|
|
|
|
(1.) <I>He shall bring down the pride</I> of their enemies (and Moab
|
|
was notoriously guilty of pride,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+16:6"><I>ch.</I> xvi. 6</A>)
|
|
|
|
by one humbling judgment after another, stripping them of that which
|
|
they are proud of.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He shall bring down <I>the spoils of their hands,</I> shall take
|
|
from them that which they have got by spoil and rapine. He shall bring
|
|
down the arms of their hands, which are lifted up against God's Israel;
|
|
he shall quite break their power, and disable them to do mischief.
|
|
|
|
(3.) He shall ruin all their fortifications,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+25:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
Moab has his walls, and his high forts, with which he hopes to secure
|
|
himself, and from which he designs to annoy the people of God; but God
|
|
shall <I>bring them all down, lay them low, bring them to the ground,
|
|
to the dust;</I> and so those who trusted to them will be left exposed.
|
|
There is no fortress impregnable to Omnipotence, no fort so high but
|
|
the arm of the Lord can overtop it and bring it down. This destruction
|
|
of Moab is typical of Christ's victory over death (spoken of
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+25:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
|
|
|
|
his spoiling principalities and powers in his cross
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:15">Col. ii. 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
his pulling down Satan's strong-holds by the preaching of his gospel
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+10:4">2 Cor. x. 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
and his reigning till all his enemies be <I>made his footstool,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+110:1">Ps. cx. 1</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
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