GOD’S GOODNESS TO THE CHURCH Isaiah 27:2. _In that day sing ye unto her_, &c. [1084] [1084] _Cowles_ only follows _Alexander_ in the rendering of these verses. _Birks_ translates: “In that day sing ye unto her. A vineyard of choice wine!” &c. _Cheyne_: “In that day—a pleasant vineyard—sing ye of i... [ Continue Reading ]
A SOLEMN DISCLAIMER Isaiah 27:4. _Fury is not in me_, &c. The figurative language in Isaiah 27:1 sets forth some powerful and terrible enemies of Israel—cruel, crafty, and bloodthirsty oppressors. But, terrible as they were to Israel, they were no more than “briers and thorns” in the way of Israel’... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FUTURE PROSPERITY OF ISRAEL Isaiah 27:6. _He shall cause them_, &c. [1093] [1093] Note the translation of this verse by Alexander and Delitzsch, in which Kay, Birks, and Cheyne concur. It did not often happen to ancient nations to rise into new vigour after being conquered and removed. Ancient... [ Continue Reading ]
THE AFFLICTIONS OF GOD’S PEOPLE Isaiah 27:7. _Hath He smitten him as He smote his smiter, or was he slain as his slayers were slain? In exact measure, when dismissing her, Thou didst contend with her; He scared her away with His rough blast in the day of the east wind. Therefore on these terms_ [or... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAY OF THE EAST WIND Isaiah 27:8. _In measure, when Thou sendest it forth, &c. (Margin)_. We have often complained of the bitterness and depressing effects of the “east wind.” In Bible lands it was scorching and destructive (Job 18:17; Job 27:21; Genesis 41:6). Israel is represented in this cha... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DOOM OF THE INCORRIGIBLE Isaiah 27:10. _Yet the defenced city, &c._ I. WHAT A WONDERFUL PICTURE! Proud Babylon so utterly overthrown that on its site cattle feed, and women gather dried sticks for firewood. What an astonishing faith that rendered it possible for any one even to conceive of such... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOSPEL TRUMPET Isaiah 27:13. _And it shall come to pass in that day that the great trumpet, &c._ The Jews had been scattered every-whither—some wandering in Assyria, and some exiled in Egypt; but their coming back, as by the call of a trumpet, is here predicted. The passage is strongly descrip... [ Continue Reading ]