Notes from Isaiah 24

It is agreed that here begins a new sermon, which is continued to the end of chap 27. And in it the prophet, according to the directions he had received, does, in many precious promises, "say to the righteous, It shall be well with them;’’ and, in many dreadful threatenings, he says, "Woe to the wicked, it shall be ill with them’’ (3:10,11); and these are interwoven, that they may illustrate each other. This chapter is mostly threatening; and, as the judgments threatened are very sore and grievous ones, so the people threatened with those judgments are very many. It is not the burden of any particular city or kingdom, as those before, but the burden of the whole earth. The word indeed signifies only the land, because our own land is commonly to us as all the earth. But it is here explained by another word that is not so confined; it is the world (v. 4); so that it must at least take in a whole neighbourhood of nations. 1. Some think (and very probably) that it is a prophecy of the great havoc that Sennacherib and his Assyrian army should now shortly make of many of the nations in that part of the world. Others make it to point at the like devastations which, about 100 years afterwards, Nebuchadnezzar and his armies should make in the same countries, going from one kingdom to another, not only to conquer them, but to ruin them and lay them waste; for that was the method which those eastern nations took in their wars. The promises that are mixed with the threatenings are intended for the support and comfort of the people of God in those very calamitous times. And, since here are no particular nations named either by whom or on whom those desolations should be brought, I see not but it may refer to both these events. Nay, the scripture has many fulfillings, and we ought to give it its full latitude; and therefore I incline to think that the prophet, from those and the like instances which he had a particular eye to, designs here to represent in general the calamitous state of mankind, and the many miseries which human life is liable to, especially those that attend the wars of the nations. Surely the prophets were sent, not only to foretel particular events, but to form the minds of men to virtue and piety, and for that end their prophecies were written and preserved even for our learning, and therefore ought not to be looked upon as of private interpretation. Now since a thorough conviction of the vanity of the world, and its insufficiency to make us happy, will go far towards bringing us to God, and drawing out our affections towards another world, the prophet here shows what vexation of spirit we must expect to meet with in these things, that we may never take up our rest in them, nor promise ourselves satisfaction any where short of the enjoyment of God.

In this chapter we have,
I. A threatening of desolating judgments for sin (v. 1-12),
to which is added an assurance that in the midst of them good people should be comforted (v. 13-15).

II. A further threatening of the like desolations (v. 16-22),
to which is added an assurance that in the midst of all God should be glorified.

Notes from Isaiah 23

This chapter is concerning Tyre, an ancient wealthy city, situated upon the sea, and for many ages one of the most celebrated cities for trade and merchandise in those parts of the world. The lot of the tribe of Asher bordered upon it. See Joshua. 19:29 , where it is called "the strong city Tyre.’’ We seldom find it a dangerous enemy to Israel, but sometimes their faithful ally, as in the reigns of David and Solomon; for trading cities maintain their grandeur, not by the conquest of their neighbours, but by commerce with them.

In this chapter is foretold,
   I. The lamentable desolation of Tyre, which was performed by Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldean            army, about the time that they destroyed Jerusalem; and a hard task they had of it, as appears Eze.        29:18 , where they are said to have "served a hard service against Tyre,’’ and yet to have no
       wages (v. 1-14).
  II. The restoration of Tyre after seventy years, and the return of the Tyrians out of their captivity to
       their trade again (v. 15-18).

Notes from Isaiah 22

We have now come nearer home, for this chapter is "the burden of the valley of vision,’’ Jerusalem; other places had their burden for the sake of their being concerned in some way or other with Jerusalem, and were reckoned with either as spiteful enemies or deceitful friends to the people of God; but now let Jerusalem hear her own doom.
This chapter concerns,

I. The city of Jerusalem itself and the neighbourhood depending upon it.
   Here is,
               1. A prophecy of the grievous distress they should shortly be brought into by Sennacherib’s invasion of the country and laying siege to the city (v. 1-7).
               2.  A reproof given them for their misconduct in that distress, in two things:
                        (1.) Not having an eye to God in the use of the means of their preservation (v. 8-11).
                        (2.) Not humbling themselves under his mighty hand (v. 12-14).

II. The court of Hezekiah, and the officers of that court.
             1. The displacing of Shebna, a bad man, and turning him out of the treasury (v. 15-19, v. 25).
             2. The preferring of Eliakim, who should do his country better service, to his place (v. 20-24).

Notes from Isaiah 21

In this chapter we have a prophecy of sad times coming, and heavy burdens,
 I. Upon Babylon, here called "the desert of the sea,’’ that it should be destroyed by the Medes and Persians with a terrible destruction, which yet God’s people should have advantage by (v. 1-10).
II. Upon Dumah, or Idumea (v. 11, v. 12).
III. Upon Arabia, or Kedar, the desolation of which country was very near (v. 13-17).
These and other nations which the princes and people of Israel had so much to do with the prophets of Israel could not but have something to say to. Foreign affairs must be taken notice of as well as domestic ones, and news from abroad enquired after as well as news at home.

Notes from Isaiah 20

This chapter is a prediction of the carrying away of multitudes both of the Egyptians and the Ethiopians into captivity by the king of Assyria.
Here is,
      I. the sign by which this was foretold, which was the prophet’s going for some time barefoot and almost naked, like a poor captive (v. 1-2).
     II. The explication of that sign, with application to Egypt and Ethiopia (v. 3-5).
    III. The good use which the people of God should make of this, which is never to trust in an arm of flesh, because thus it will deceive them (v. 6).

Notes from Isaiah 19

As Assyria was a breaking rod to Judah, with which it was smitten, so Egypt was a broken reed, with which it was cheated; and therefore God had a quarrel with them both. We have before read the doom of the Assyrians; now here we have the burden of Egypt, a prophecy concerning that nation,
      I. That it should be greatly weakened and brought low, and should be as contemptible among the nations as now it was considerable, rendered so by a complication of judgments which God would bring upon them (v. 1-17).
    II. That at length God’s holy religion should be brought into Egypt, and set up there, in part by the Jews that should flee thither for refuge, but more fully by the preachers of the gospel of Christ, through whose ministry churches should be planted in Egypt in the days of the Messiah (v. 18-25), which would abundantly balance all the calamities here threatened.

Notes from Isaiah 18

Whatever country it is that is meant here by "the land shadowing with wings,’’ here is a woe denounced against it, for God has, upon his people’s account, a quarrel with it.
     I. They threaten God’s people (v. 1, v. 2).
    II. All the neighbours are hereupon called to take notice what will be the issue (v. 3).
   III. Though God seem unconcerned in the distress of his people for a time, he will at length appear against their enemies and will remarkable cut them off (v. 4-6).
   IV. This shall redound very much to the glory of God (v. 7).