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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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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. IX.</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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The prophet in this chapter (according to the directions given him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+3:10,11"><I>ch.</I> iii. 10, 11</A>)
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saith to the righteous, It shall be well with thee, but Woe to the
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wicked, it shall be ill with him. Here are,
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I. Gracious promises to those that adhere to the law and to the
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testimony; while those that seek to familiar spirits shall be driven
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into darkness and dimness, they shall see a great light, relief in the
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midst of their distresses, typical of gospel grace.
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1. In the doctrine of the Messiah,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:1-3">ver. 1-3</A>.
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2. His victories,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:4,5">ver. 4, 5</A>.
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3. His government and dominion as Immanuel,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:6,7">ver. 6, 7</A>.
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II. Dreadful threatenings against the people of Israel, who had
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revolted from and were enemies to the house of David, that they should
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be brought to utter ruin, that their pride should bring them down
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:8-10">ver. 8-10</A>),
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that their neighbours should make a prey of them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:11,12">ver. 11, 12</A>),
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that, for their impenitence and hypocrisy, all their ornaments and
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supports should be cut off
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:13-17">ver. 13-17</A>),
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and that by the wrath of God against them, and their wrath one against
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another, they should be brought to utter ruin,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:18-21">ver. 18-21</A>.
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And this is typical of the final destruction of all the enemies of the
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Son of David and his kingdom.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Isa9_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa9_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa9_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa9_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa9_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa9_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa9_7"> </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>Judgment and Mercy; The Promise of Gospel Grace; The Promise of Messiah; The Titles of Messiah.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 740.</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 Nevertheless the dimness <I>shall</I> not <I>be</I> such as <I>was</I> in
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her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of
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Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more
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grievously afflict <I>her by</I> the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in
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Galilee of the nations.
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2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light:
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they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them
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hath the light shined.
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3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, <I>and</I> not increased the joy:
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they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, <I>and</I> as
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<I>men</I> rejoice when they divide the spoil.
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4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of
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his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
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5 For every battle of the warrior <I>is</I> with confused noise, and
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garments rolled in blood; but <I>this</I> shall be with burning <I>and</I>
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fuel of fire.
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6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the
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government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be
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called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting
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Father, The Prince of Peace.
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7 Of the increase of <I>his</I> government and peace <I>there shall
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be</I> no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to
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order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from
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henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> of hosts will
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perform this.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The first words of this chapter plainly refer to the close of the
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foregoing chapter, where every thing looked black and melancholy:
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<I>Behold, trouble, and darkness, and dimness</I>--very bad, yet not so
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bad but that <I>to the upright there shall arise light in the
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darkness</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+112:4">Ps. cxii. 4</A>)
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and <I>at evening time it shall be light,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+14:7">Zech. xiv. 7</A>.
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<I>Nevertheless it shall not be such dimness</I> (either not such for
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kind or not such for degree) as sometimes there has been. Note, In the
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worst of times God's people have a <I>nevertheless</I> to comfort
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themselves with, something to allay and balance their troubles; they
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are persecuted, but not forsaken
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:9">2 Cor. iv. 9</A>),
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sorrowful yet always rejoicing,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:10">2 Cor. vi. 10</A>.
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And it is matter of comfort to us, when things are at the darkest, that
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he who <I>forms the light and creates the darkness</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+45:7"><I>ch.</I> xlv. 7</A>)
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has appointed to both their bounds and set the one over against the
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other,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+4:4">Gen. iv. 4</A>.
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He can say, "Hitherto the dimness shall go, so long it shall last, and
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no further, no longer." </P>
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<P>
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I. Three things are here promised, and they all point ultimately at the
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grace of the gospel, which the saints then were to comfort themselves
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with the hopes of in every cloudy and dark day, as we now are to
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comfort ourselves in time of trouble with the hopes of Christ's second
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coming, though that be now, as his first coming then was, a thing at a
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great distance. The mercy likewise which God has in store for his
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church in the latter days may be a support to those that are mourning
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with her for her present calamities. We have here the promise,</P>
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<P>
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1. Of a glorious light, which shall so qualify, and by degrees dispel,
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the dimness, that it shall not be as it sometimes has been: <I>Not such
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as was in her vexation;</I> there shall not be such dark times as were
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formerly, <I>when at first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and
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Naphtali</I> (which lay remote and most exposed to the inroads of the
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neighbouring enemies), <I>and afterwards he more grievously afflicted
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the land by the way of the sea and beyond Jordan</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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referring probably to those days when <I>God began to cut Israel
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short</I> and to <I>smite them in all their coasts,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+10:32">2 Kings x. 32</A>.
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Note, God tries what less judgments will do with a people before he
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brings greater; but if a light affliction do not do its work with us,
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to humble and reform us, we must expect to be afflicted more
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grievously; for when God judges he will overcome. Well, those were dark
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times with the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, and there was <I>dimness
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of anguish in Galilee of the Gentiles,</I> both in respect of ignorance
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(they did not speak according <I>to the law and the testimony,</I> and
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then there was <I>no light in them,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+8:20"><I>ch.</I> viii. 20</A>)
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and in respect of trouble, and the desperate posture of their outward
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affairs; we have both together,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:3,5">2 Chron. xv. 3, 5</A>.
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<I>Israel has been without the true God and a teaching priest, and in
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those times there was no peace.</I> But the dimness threatened
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+8:22"><I>ch.</I> viii. 22</A>)
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shall not prevail to such a degree; for
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>)
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<I>the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.</I>
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(1.) At this time when the prophet lived, there were many prophets in
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Judah and Israel, whose prophecies were a great light both for
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direction and comfort to the people of God, who adhered to the law and
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the testimony. Besides the written word, they had prophecy; there were
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those that had shown them how long
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+74:9">Ps. lxxiv. 9</A>),
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which was a great satisfaction to them, when in respect of their
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outward troubles they <I>sat in darkness, and dwelt in the land of the
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shadow of death.</I>
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(2.) This was to have its full accomplishment when our Lord Jesus began
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to appear as a prophet, and to preach the gospel in the land of Zebulun
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and Naphtali, and in Galilee of the Gentiles. And the Old-Testament
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prophets, as they were witnesses to him, so they were types of him.
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When he came and dwelt in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali, then
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this prophecy is said to have been fulfilled,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:13-16">Matt. iv. 13-16</A>.
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Note,
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[1.] Those that want the gospel walk in darkness, and know not what
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they do nor whither they go; and they dwell in the land of the shadow
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of death, in thick darkness, and in the utmost danger.
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[2.] When the gospel comes to any place, to any soul, light comes, a
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great light, a shining light, which will shine more and more. It should
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be welcome to us, as light is to those that sit in darkness, and we
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should readily entertain it, both because if is of such sovereign use
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to us and because it brings its own evidence with it. Truly this light
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is sweet.</P>
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<P>
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2. Of a glorious increase, and a universal joy arising from it,
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>)
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"<I>Thou,</I> O God! <I>hast multiplied the nation,</I> the Jewish
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nation which thou hast mercy in store for; though it has been
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diminished by one sore judgment after another, yet now thou hast begun
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to multiply it again." The numbers of a nation are its strength and
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wealth if the numerous be industrious; and it is God that increases
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nations,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+12:23">Job xii. 23</A>.
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Yet it follows, "<I>Thou hast not increased the joy</I>--the carnal joy
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and mirth, and those things that are commonly the matter and occasion
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thereof. But, notwithstanding that, <I>they joy before thee;</I> there
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is a great deal of serious spiritual joy among them, joy in the
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presence of God, with an eye to him." This is very applicable to the
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times of gospel light, spoken of
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:2">v. 2</A>.
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Then God multiplied the nation, the gospel Israel. "And to him" (so the
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Masorites read it) "thou hast magnified the joy, to every one that
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receives the light." The following words favour this reading: <I>"They
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joy before thee;</I> they come before thee in holy ordinances with
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great joy'; their mirth is not like that of Israel under their vines
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and fig-trees (thou hast not increased that joy), but it is in the
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favour of God and in the tokens of his grace." Note, The gospel, when
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it comes in its light and power, brings joy along with it, and those
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who receive it aright do therein rejoice, yea, and will rejoice;
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therefore the conversion of the nations is prophesied of by this
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+67:4">Ps. lxvii. 4</A>),
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<I>Let the nations be glad, and sin for joy.</I> See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+96:11">Ps. xcvi. 11</A>.
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(1.) It is holy joy: <I>They joy before thee;</I> they rejoice in
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spirit (as Christ did,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+10:21">Luke x. 21</A>),
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and that is before God. In the eye of the world they are always as
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sorrowful, and yet, in God's sight, <I>always rejoicing,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:10">2 Cor. vi. 10</A>.
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(2.) It is great joy; it is <I>according to the joy in harvest,</I>
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when those who sowed in tears, and have with long patience waited for
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the precious fruits of the earth, reap in joy; and as in war men
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rejoice when, after a hazardous battle, <I>they divide the spoil.</I>
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The gospel brings with it plenty and victory; but those that would have
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the joy of it must expect to go through a hard work, as the husbandman
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before he has the joy of harvest, and a hard conflict, as the soldier
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before he has the joy of dividing the spoil; but the joy, when it
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comes, will be an abundant recompence for the toil. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+8:8,39">Acts viii. 8, 39</A>.</P>
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<P>
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3. Of a glorious liberty and enlargement
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>):
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"They shall rejoice before thee, and with good reason, <I>for thou hast
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broken the yoke of his burden,</I> and made him easy, for he shall no
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longer be in servitude; and thou hast broken <I>the staff of his
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shoulder and the rod of his oppressor,</I> that rod of the wicked which
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rested long on the lot of the righteous," as the Midianites' yoke was
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broken from off the neck of Israel by the agency of Gideon. If God
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makes former deliverances his patterns in working for us, we ought to
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make them our encouragements to hope in him and to seek to him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+83:9">Ps. lxxxiii. 9</A>.
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<I>Do unto them as to the Midianites.</I> What temporal deliverance
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this refers to is not clear, probably the preventing of Sennacherib
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from making himself master of Jerusalem, which was done, <I>as in the
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day of Midian,</I> by the immediate hand of God; and, whereas other
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battles were usually won with a great deal of noise and by the expense
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of much blood, this shall be done silently and without noise. <I>Under
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his glory God shall kindle a burning</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+10:16"><I>ch.</I> x. 16</A>);
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a <I>fire not blown shall consume him,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+20:26">Job xx. 26</A>.
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But doubtless it looks further, to the blessed fruits and effects of
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that great light which should visit those that sat in darkness; it
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would bring liberty along with it, <I>deliverance to the captives,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:18">Luke iv. 18</A>.
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(1.) The design of the gospel, and the grace of it, is to break the
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yoke of sin and Satan, to remove the burden of guilt and corruption,
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and to free us from the rod of those oppressors, that we might be
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brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Christ broke
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the yoke of the ceremonial law
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+15:10,Ga+5:1">Acts xv. 10; Gal. v. 1</A>),
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and delivered us <I>out of the hand of our enemies,</I> that we might
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<I>serve him without fear,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+1:74,75">Luke i. 74, 75</A>.
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(2.) This is done by the Spirit working like fire
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+3:11">Matt. iii. 11</A>),
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not as the battle of the warrior is fought, with confused noise; no,
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the weapons of our warfare are not carnal; but it is done with the
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Spirit of judgment and the Spirit of burning,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+4:4"><I>ch.</I> iv. 4</A>.
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It is done <I>as in the day of Midian,</I> by a work of God upon the
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hearts of men. Christ is our Gideon; it is his sword that doeth
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wonders.</P>
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<P>
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II. But who, where, is he that shall undertake and accomplish these
|
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great things for the church? The prophet tells us
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:6,7"><I>v.</I> 6, 7</A>)
|
|
|
|
they shall be done by the Messiah, <I>Immanuel,</I> that son of a
|
|
virgin whose birth he had foretold
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+7:14"><I>ch.</I> vii. 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
and now speaks of, in the prophetic style, as a thing already done: the
|
|
<I>child is born,</I> not only because it was as certain, and he was as
|
|
certain of it as if it had been done already, but because the church
|
|
before his incarnation reaped great benefit and advantage by his
|
|
undertaking in virtue of that first promise concerning the <I>seed of
|
|
the woman,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+3:15">Gen. iii. 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
As he was the Lamb slain, so he was the child born, <I>from the
|
|
foundation of the world,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+13:8">Rev. xiii. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
All the great things that God did for the Old-Testament church were
|
|
done by him as the eternal Word, and for his sake as the Mediator. He
|
|
was the Anointed, to whom God had respect
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+84:9">Ps. lxxxiv. 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
and it was for the Lord's sake, for the Lord Christ's sake, that God
|
|
caused his face to shine upon his sanctuary,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+9:17">Dan. ix. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
The Jewish nation, and particularly the house of David, were preserved
|
|
many a time from imminent ruin only because that blessing was in them.
|
|
What greater security therefore could be given to the church of God
|
|
then that it should be preserved, and be the special care of the divine
|
|
Providence, than this, that God had so great a mercy in reserve for it?
|
|
The Chaldee paraphrast understands it of the man that shall endure for
|
|
ever, even Christ. And it is an illustrious prophecy of him and of his
|
|
kingdom, which doubtless those that waited for the consolation of
|
|
Israel built much upon, often turned to, and read with pleasure.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. See him in his humiliation. The same that is <I>the mighty God</I>
|
|
is <I>a child born;</I> the ancient of days becomes an infant of a span
|
|
long; the <I>everlasting Father</I> is <I>a Son given.</I> Such was his
|
|
condescension in taking our nature upon him; thus did he humble and
|
|
empty himself, to exalt and fill us. He is born into our world. <I>The
|
|
Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.</I> He is given, freely given,
|
|
to be all that to us which our case, in our fallen state, calls for.
|
|
God so loved the world that he gave him. He is born <I>to us,</I> he is
|
|
given to us, us men, and not to the angels that sinned. It is spoken
|
|
with an air of triumph, and the angel seems to refer to these words in
|
|
the notice he gives to the shepherds of the Messiah's having come
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+2:11">Luke ii. 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Unto you is born, this day, a Saviour.</I> Note, Christ's being born
|
|
and given to us is the great foundation of our hopes, and fountain of
|
|
our joys, in times of greatest grief and fear.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. See him in his exaltation. This child, this son, this Son of God,
|
|
this Son of man, that is given to us, is in a capacity to do us a great
|
|
deal of kindness; for he is invested with the highest honour and power,
|
|
so that we cannot but be happy if he be our friend.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) See the dignity he is advanced to, and the name he has above every
|
|
name. He shall be called (and therefore we are sure he is and shall be)
|
|
<I>Wonderful, Counsellor, &c.</I> His people shall know him and worship
|
|
him by these names; and, as one that fully answers them, they shall
|
|
submit to him and depend upon him.
|
|
|
|
[1.] He is <I>wonderful, counsellor.</I> Justly is he called
|
|
<I>wonderful,</I> for he is both God and man. His love is the wonder of
|
|
angels and glorified saints; in his birth, life, death, resurrection,
|
|
and ascension, he was wonderful. A constant series of wonders attended
|
|
him, and, without controversy, great was the mystery of godliness
|
|
concerning him. He is the <I>counsellor,</I> for he was intimately
|
|
acquainted with the counsels of God from eternity, and he gives counsel
|
|
to the children of men, in which he consults our welfare. It is by him
|
|
that God has <I>given us counsel,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+16:7,Re+3:18">Ps. xvi. 7; Rev. iii. 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
He is the wisdom of the Father, and is made of God to us wisdom. Some
|
|
join these together: He is the wonderful counsellor, a wonder or
|
|
miracle of a counsellor; in this, as in other things, he has the
|
|
pre-eminence; none teaches like him.
|
|
|
|
[2.] He is <I>the mighty God--God, the mighty One.</I> As he has wisdom,
|
|
so he has strength, to go through with his undertaking: he is able to
|
|
save to the utmost; and such is the work of the Mediator that no less a
|
|
power than that of the mighty God could accomplish it.
|
|
|
|
[3.] He is <I>the everlasting Father,</I> or <I>the Father of
|
|
eternity;</I> he is God, one with the Father, who is from everlasting
|
|
to everlasting. He is the author of everlasting life and happiness to
|
|
them, and so is the Father of a blessed eternity to them. He is <I>the
|
|
Father of the world to come</I> (so the LXX. reads it), the father of
|
|
the gospel-state, which is put in subjection to him, not to the angels,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:5">Heb. ii. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
He was, from eternity, Father of the great work of redemption: his
|
|
heart was upon it; it was the product of his wisdom as <I>the
|
|
counsellor,</I> of his love as <I>the everlasting Father.</I>
|
|
|
|
[4.] He is <I>the prince of peace.</I> As a King, he preserves the
|
|
peace, commands peace, nay, he creates peace, in his kingdom. He is our
|
|
peace, and it is his peace that both keeps the hearts of his people and
|
|
rules in them. He is not only a peaceable prince, and his reign
|
|
peaceable, but he is the author and giver of all good, all that peace
|
|
which is the present and future bliss of his subjects.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) See the dominion he is advanced to, and the throne he has above
|
|
every throne
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The government shall be upon his shoulder</I>--his only. He shall
|
|
not only wear the badge of it upon his shoulder (the <I>key of the
|
|
house of David,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+22:22"><I>ch.</I> xxii. 22</A>),
|
|
|
|
but he shall bear the burden of it. The Father shall devolve it upon
|
|
him, so that he shall have an incontestable right to govern; and he
|
|
shall undertake it, so that no doubt can be made of his governing well,
|
|
for he shall set his shoulder to it, and will never complain, as Moses
|
|
did, of his being overcharged. <I>I am not able to bear all this
|
|
people,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+11:11,14">Num. xi. 11, 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
Glorious things are here spoken of Christ's government,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
[1.] That it shall be an increasing government. It shall be multiplied;
|
|
the bounds of his kingdom shall be more and more enlarged, and many
|
|
shall be added to it daily. The lustre of it shall increase, and it
|
|
shall shine more and more brightly in the world. The monarchies of the
|
|
earth were each less illustrious than the other, so that what began in
|
|
gold ended in iron and clay, and every monarchy dwindled by degrees;
|
|
but the kingdom of Christ is a growing kingdom, and will come to
|
|
perfection at last.
|
|
|
|
[2.] That it shall be a peaceable government, agreeable to his
|
|
character as the prince of peace. He shall rule by love, shall rule in
|
|
men's hearts; so that wherever his government is there shall be peace,
|
|
and as his government increases the peace shall increase. The more we
|
|
are subject to Christ the more easy and safe we are.
|
|
|
|
[3.] That it shall be a rightful government. He that is the Son of
|
|
David shall reign upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, which
|
|
he is entitled to. <I>God shall give him the throne of his father
|
|
David,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+1:32,33">Luke i. 32, 33</A>.
|
|
|
|
The gospel church, in which Jew and Gentile are incorporated, is the
|
|
holy hill of Zion, on which Christ reigns,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+2:6">Ps. ii. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
[4.] That it shall be administered with prudence and equity, and so as
|
|
to answer the great end of government, which is the establishment of
|
|
the kingdom: <I>He shall order it, and settle it, with justice and
|
|
judgment.</I> Every thing is, and shall be, well managed, in the
|
|
kingdom of Christ, and none of his subjects shall ever have cause to
|
|
complain.
|
|
|
|
[5.] That it shall be an everlasting kingdom: <I>There shall be no end
|
|
of the increase of his government</I> (it shall be still growing), no
|
|
end of the increase of the peace of it, for the happiness of the
|
|
subjects of this kingdom shall last to eternity and perhaps shall be
|
|
progressive <I>in infinitum--for ever.</I> He shall reign <I>henceforth
|
|
even for ever;</I> not only throughout all generations of time, but,
|
|
even when the kingdom shall be delivered up to God even the Father, the
|
|
glory both of the Redeemer and the redeemed shall continue eternally.
|
|
|
|
[6.] That God himself has undertaken to bring all this about: "<I>The
|
|
Lord of hosts,</I> who has all power in his hand and all creatures at
|
|
his beck, <I>shall perform this,</I> shall preserve the throne of David
|
|
till this prince of peace is settled in it; his <I>zeal</I> shall do
|
|
it, his jealousy for his own honour, and the truth of his promise, and
|
|
the good of his church." Note, The heart of God is much upon the
|
|
advancement of the kingdom of Christ among men, which is very
|
|
comfortable to all those that wish well to it; <I>the zeal of the Lord
|
|
of hosts</I> will overcome all opposition.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Isa9_8"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa9_9"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa9_10"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa9_11"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa9_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa9_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa9_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa9_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa9_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa9_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa9_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa9_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa9_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa9_21"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Threatenings against Judah; Threatenings against Israel.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 740.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon
|
|
Israel.
|
|
9 And all the people shall know, <I>even</I> Ephraim and the
|
|
inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of
|
|
heart,
|
|
10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn
|
|
stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change <I>them
|
|
into</I> cedars.
|
|
11 Therefore the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> shall set up the adversaries of Rezin
|
|
against him, and join his enemies together;
|
|
12 The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they
|
|
shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is
|
|
not turned away, but his hand <I>is</I> stretched out still.
|
|
13 For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them,
|
|
neither do they seek the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> of hosts.
|
|
14 Therefore the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> will cut off from Israel head and tail,
|
|
branch and rush, in one day.
|
|
15 The ancient and honourable, he <I>is</I> the head; and the
|
|
prophet that teacheth lies, he <I>is</I> the tail.
|
|
16 For the leaders of this people cause <I>them</I> to err; and
|
|
<I>they that are</I> led of them <I>are</I> destroyed.
|
|
17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men,
|
|
neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for
|
|
every one <I>is</I> a hypocrite and an evil doer, and every mouth
|
|
speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but
|
|
his hand <I>is</I> stretched out still.
|
|
18 For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the
|
|
briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the
|
|
forest, and they shall mount up <I>like</I> the lifting up of smoke.
|
|
19 Through the wrath of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> of hosts is the land darkened,
|
|
and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall
|
|
spare his brother.
|
|
20 And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he
|
|
shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they
|
|
shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:
|
|
21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: <I>and</I> they
|
|
together <I>shall be</I> against Judah. For all this his anger is not
|
|
turned away, but his hand <I>is</I> stretched out still.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here are terrible threatenings, which are directed primarily against
|
|
Israel, the kingdom of the ten tribes, Ephraim and Samaria, the ruin of
|
|
which is here foretold, with all the woeful confusions that were the
|
|
prefaces to that ruin, all which came to pass within a few years after;
|
|
but they look further, to all the enemies of the throne and kingdom of
|
|
Christ the Son of David, and read the doom of all the nations that
|
|
forget God, and will not have Christ to reign over them. Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The preface to this prediction
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The Lord sent a word into Jacob,</I> sent it by his servants the
|
|
prophets. He warns before he wounds. He sent notice what he would do,
|
|
that they might meet him in the way of his judgments; but they would
|
|
not take the hint, took no care to turn away his wrath, and so it
|
|
lighted upon Israel; for no word of God shall fall to the ground. It
|
|
fell upon them as a storm of rain and hail from on high, which they
|
|
could not avoid: <I>It has lighted upon them,</I> that is, it is as
|
|
sure to come as if come already, and all the people shall know by
|
|
feeling it what they would not know by hearing of it. Those that are
|
|
willingly ignorant of the wrath of God revealed from heaven against sin
|
|
and sinners shall be made to know it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The sins charged upon the people of Israel, which provoked God to
|
|
bring these judgments upon them.
|
|
|
|
1. Their insolent defiance of the justice of God, thinking themselves a
|
|
match for him: "They <I>say, in the pride and stoutness of their
|
|
heart,</I> Let God himself do his worst; we will hold our own, and make
|
|
our part good with him. If he ruin our houses, we will repair them, and
|
|
make them stronger and finer than they were before. Our landlord shall
|
|
not turn us out of doors, though we pay him no rent, but we will keep
|
|
in possession. If the houses that were built of bricks be demolished in
|
|
the war, we will rebuild them with hewn stones, that shall not so
|
|
easily be thrown down. If the enemy cut down the sycamores, we will
|
|
plant cedars in the room of them. We will make a hand of God's
|
|
judgments, gain by them, and so outbrave them." Note, Those are
|
|
ripening apace for ruin whose hearts are unhumbled under humbling
|
|
providences; for God will walk contrary to those who thus walk contrary
|
|
to him and provoke him to jealousy, as if they were stronger than he.
|
|
|
|
2. Their incorrigibleness under all the rebukes of Providence hitherto
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>The people turn not unto him that smiteth them</I> (they are not
|
|
wrought upon to reform their lives, to forsake their sins, and to
|
|
return to their duty), <I>neither do they seek the Lord of hosts;</I>
|
|
either they are atheists, and have no religion, or idolaters, and seek
|
|
to those gods that are the creatures of their own fancy and the works
|
|
of their own hands. Note, That which God designs, in smiting us, is to
|
|
turn us to himself and to set us a seeking him; and, if this point be
|
|
not gained by less judgments, greater may be expected. God smites that
|
|
he may not kill.
|
|
|
|
3. Their general corruption of manners and abounding profaneness.
|
|
|
|
(1.) Those that should have reformed them helped to debauch them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The leaders of this people</I> mislead them, and <I>cause them to
|
|
err,</I> by conniving at their wickedness and countenancing wicked
|
|
people, and by setting them bad examples; and then no wonder if those
|
|
that are led of them be deceived and so destroyed. But it is ill with
|
|
a people when their physicians are their worst disease. "<I>Those that
|
|
bless this people,</I> or <I>call them blessed</I> (so the margin reads
|
|
it), that flatter them, and soothe them in their wickedness, and cry
|
|
<I>Peace, peace, to them,</I> cause them to err; and those <I>that are
|
|
called blessed of them are swallowed up</I> ere they are aware." We
|
|
have reason to be afraid of those that speak well of us when we do ill;
|
|
see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+24:24,29:5">Prov. xxiv. 24; xxix. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Wickedness was universal, and all were infected with it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Every one is a hypocrite and an evil doer.</I> If there be any that
|
|
are good, they do not, they dare not appear, for every mouth speaks
|
|
folly and villany; every one is profane towards God (so the word
|
|
properly signifies) and an evil doer towards man. These two commonly go
|
|
together: those that fear not God regard not man; and then every mouth
|
|
speaks folly, falsehood, and reproach, both against God and man; for
|
|
<I>out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The judgments threatened against them for this wickedness of
|
|
theirs; let them not think to go unpunished.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. In general, hereby they exposed themselves to the wrath of God,
|
|
which should both devour as fire and darken as smoke.
|
|
|
|
(1.) It should devour as fire
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Wickedness shall burn as the fire;</I> the displeasure of God,
|
|
incurred by sin, shall consume the sinners, who have made themselves as
|
|
briers and thorns before it, and as the thickets of the forest,
|
|
combustible matter, which the wrath of the Lord of hosts, the mighty
|
|
God, will go through and burn together.
|
|
|
|
(2.) It should darken as smoke. The briers and thorns, when the fire
|
|
consumes them, shall <I>mount up like the lifting up of smoke,</I> so
|
|
that the whole land shall be darkened by it; they shall be in trouble,
|
|
and see no way out
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>):
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<I>The people shall be as the fuel of the fire.</I> God's wrath fastens
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upon none but those that make themselves fuel for it, and then they
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mount up as the smoke of sacrifices, being made victims to divine
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justice.</P>
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<P>
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2. God would arm the neighbouring powers against them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:11,12"><I>v.</I> 11, 12</A>.
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At this time the kingdom of Israel was in league with that of Syria
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against Judah; but the Assyrians, who were adversaries to the Syrians,
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when they had conquered them should invade Israel, and God would stir
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them up to do it, and join the enemies of Israel together in alliance
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against them, who yet had particular ends of their own to serve and
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were not aware of God's hand in their alliance. Note, When enemies are
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set up, and joined in confederacy against a people, God's hand must be
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acknowledged in it. Note further, Those that partake with each other in
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sin, as Syria and Israel in invading Judah, must expect to share in the
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punishment of sin. Nay, the Syrians themselves, whom they were now in
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league with, should be a scourge to them (for it is no unusual thing
|
|
for those to fall out that have been united in sin), one attacking them
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|
in the front and the other flanking them or falling upon their rear; so
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|
that they should be surrounded with enemies on all sides, who should
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<I>devour them with open mouth,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
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The Philistines were not now looked upon as formidable enemies, and the
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Syrians were looked upon as firm friends; and yet these shall devour
|
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Israel. When men's ways displease the Lord he makes even their friends
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to be at war with them.</P>
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|
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<P>
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3. God would take from the midst of them those they confided in and
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promised themselves help from,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:14,15"><I>v.</I> 14, 15</A>.
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Because the people seek not God, those they seek to and depend upon
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|
shall stand them in no stead. <I>The Lord will cut off head and tail,
|
|
branch and rush,</I> which is explained in the
|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:15">next verse</A>.
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(1.) Their magistrates, who were honourable by birth and office and
|
|
were the ancients of the people, these were <I>the head,</I> these were
|
|
the branch which they promised themselves spirit and fruit from; but
|
|
because these caused them to err they should be cut off, and their
|
|
dignity and power should be no protection to them when the abuse of
|
|
that dignity and power was the great provocation: and it was a judgment
|
|
upon the people to have their princes cut off, though they were not
|
|
such as they should have been.
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(2.) Their prophets, their false prophets, were <I>the tail</I> and the
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<I>rush,</I> the most despicable of all. A wicked minister is the worst
|
|
of all. A wicked minister is the worst of men. <I>Corruptio optimi est
|
|
pessima--The best things become when corrupted the worst.</I> The blind
|
|
led the blind, and so both fell into the ditch; and the blind leaders
|
|
fell first and fell undermost.</P>
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<P>
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4. That the desolation should be as general as the corruption had been,
|
|
and none should escape it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
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(1.) Not those that were the objects of complacency. None shall be
|
|
spared for love: <I>The Lord shall have no joy in their young men,</I>
|
|
that were in the flower of their youth; nor will he say, <I>Deal gently
|
|
with the young men for my sake;</I> no, "Let them fall with the rest,
|
|
and with them let the seed of the next generation perish."
|
|
|
|
(2.) Not those that were the objects of compassion. None shall be
|
|
spared for pity: He <I>shall not have mercy on their fatherless and
|
|
widows,</I> though he is, in a particular manner, the patron and
|
|
protector of such. They had corrupted their way like all the rest;
|
|
and, if the poverty and helplessness of their state was not an argument
|
|
with them to keep them from sin, they could not expect it should be an
|
|
argument with God to protect them from judgments.</P>
|
|
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|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. That they should pull one another to pieces, that every one should
|
|
help forward the common ruin, and they should be cannibals to
|
|
themselves and one to another: <I>No man shall spare his brother,</I>
|
|
if he come in the way of his ambition of covetousness, or if he have
|
|
any colour to be revenged on him; and how can they expect God should
|
|
spare them when they show no compassion one to another? Men's passion
|
|
and cruelty one against another provoke God to be angry with them all
|
|
and are an evidence that he is so. Civil wars soon bring a kingdom to
|
|
desolation. Such there were in Israel, when, <I>for the transgression
|
|
of the land, many were the princes thereof,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+28:2">Prov. xxviii. 2</A>.</P>
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|
<P>
|
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|
(1.) In these intestine broils, men <I>snatched on the right hand, and
|
|
yet were hungry</I> still, and did eat the <I>flesh of their own
|
|
arms,</I> preyed upon themselves for hunger or upon their nearest
|
|
relations that were as their own flesh,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
This bespeaks,
|
|
|
|
[1.] Great famine and scarcity; when men had pulled all they could to
|
|
them it was so little that they were still hungry, at least God did not
|
|
bless it to them, so that <I>they eat and have not enough,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hag+1:6">Hag. i. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Great rapine and plunder. <I>Jusque datum sceleri--iniquity is
|
|
established by law.</I> The hedge of property, which is a hedge of
|
|
protection to men's estates, shall be plucked up, and every man shall
|
|
think all that his own which he can lay his hands on (<I>vivitur ex
|
|
rapto, non hospes ab hospite tutus--they live on the spoil, and the
|
|
rites of hospitality are all violated</I>); and yet, when men thus
|
|
catch at that which is none of their own, they are not satisfied.
|
|
Covetous desires are insatiable, and this curse is entailed on that
|
|
which is ill got, that it will never do well.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) These intestine broils should be not only among particular persons
|
|
and private families, but among the tribes
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Manasseh shall devour Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh,</I> though they
|
|
be combined against Judah. Those that could unite against Judah could
|
|
not unite with one another; but that sinful confederacy of theirs
|
|
against their neighbour <I>that dwelt securely by them</I> was justly
|
|
punished by this separation of them one from another. Or Judah, having
|
|
sinned like Manasseh and Ephraim, shall not only suffer with them, but
|
|
suffer by them. Note, Mutual enmity and animosity among the tribes of
|
|
God's Israel is a sin that ripens them for ruin, and a sad symptom of
|
|
ruin hastening on apace. If Ephraim be against Manasseh, and Manasseh
|
|
against Ephraim, and both against Judah, they will all soon become a
|
|
very easy prey to the common enemy.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
6. That, though they should be followed with all these judgments, yet
|
|
God would not let fall his controversy with them. It is the heavy
|
|
burden of this song
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:12,17,21"><I>v.</I> 12, 17, 21</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched
|
|
out still,</I> that is,
|
|
|
|
(1.) They do nothing to turn away his anger; they do not repent and
|
|
reform, do not humble themselves and pray, none stand in the gap, none
|
|
answer God's calls nor comply with the designs of his providences, but
|
|
they are hardened and secure.
|
|
|
|
(2.) His anger therefore continues to burn against them and <I>his hand
|
|
is stretched out still.</I> The reason why the judgments of God are
|
|
prolonged is because the point is not gained, sinners are not brought
|
|
to repentance by them. <I>The people turn not to him that smites
|
|
them,</I> and therefore he continues to smite them; for when God judges
|
|
he will overcome, and the proudest stoutest sinner shall either bend or
|
|
break.</P>
|
|
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