_Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees_ CRIME UNDER COLOUR OF LAW The prophet has described the sins of Ephraim in a general manner; but on the mention of Judah he proceeds to denounce what we know from the whole tenor of his discourses he felt to be the worst form of the guilt of his own... [ Continue Reading ]
_And what will ye do in the day of visitation?_ THE DAY OF VISITATION In Scripture style the season in which God is pleased to draw near to a person or people, that He may accomplish various important purposes, is called a day of visitation. 1. Sometimes His visitation is intended to afford deliv... [ Continue Reading ]
_O Assyrian_ “O ASSYRIAN” “Ho Asshur,” the name both of the people and its national god. (_Prof. J. Skinner, D. D._) THE JUDGMENT OF THE WORLD POWER The leading idea of the passage is the contrast between the mission assigned to Assyria in the scheme of Jehovah’s providence, and the ambitious po... [ Continue Reading ]
_Howbeit he meaneth not so_ MAN PROPOSES, BUT GOD DISPOSES “He meaneth not so. ” 1. The wise God often makes even the sinful passions and projects of men subservient to His own great and holy purposes. 2. When God makes use of men as instruments in His hands to do His work, it is very common fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the Lord hath performed His whole work upon Mount Zion_ GOD’S TWO-SIDED PROVIDENCE 1. God designed to do good to Zion and Jerusalem by this providence. When God lets loose the enemies of His Church and people, and suffers them for a time to prevail, it is in order to the performing of some... [ Continue Reading ]
_For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it_ THE UNGODLINESS OF WORLDLY PURSUITS 1. Let us reflect on the total forgetfulness of God, and the unwillingness to recognise His power and presence, with which objects of human interest and ambition are frequently prosecuted and enjoyed. 2... [ Continue Reading ]
_And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people_ A PROUD BOAST OF UTTER SUBJUGATION The Assyrian conqueror has gathered all the earth as one gathers the eggs from which he has first driven off the terrified hen bird. But she would hover round her rifled nest and its plunderer with a tr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith?_ THE DIVINE SUPREMACY All the various orders of creatures, natural and supernatural, animate and inanimate, are under the control of the Divine Being, who uses them for the accomplishment of His own purposes. The Assyrians were not con... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the light of Israel shall be for a fire_ THE LIGHT OF ISRAEL A name of Jehovah, who was represented by the Shekinah glory. (_B. Blake, B. D._) THE COLLAPSE OF THE ASSYRIAN ENTERPRISE Isaiah’s genius supplies him with a splendid figure under which to depict the collapse of the Assyrian ente... [ Continue Reading ]
_They shall be as when a standard bearer fainteth_ A DIFFERENT RENDERING “As the pining away of a sick man,” better suits a connection in which there is no reference to battle. Assyria shall be utterly consumed. Thorns and thistles, lordly woods and fruitful fields shall alike perish; or, if any... [ Continue Reading ]
_The remnant shall return_ “A REMNANT SHALL TURN” (Isaiah 10:21):--Thus shall be fulfilled the prophecy embodied in the name of Isaiah’s son, Shear-jashub. (_Prof. J. Skinner, D. D._) A HAPPY CONVERSION Consider-- I. WHAT IS SAID OF THEIR FORMER ERROR. When it is said that they “shall no more... [ Continue Reading ]
_O My people, that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian_ FORBIDDEN FEAR It is against the mind and will of God that His people, whatever happens, should give way to that fear which has torment and amazement. They that dwell in Zion, where God dwells, and where His people attend Him, an... [ Continue Reading ]
_According to the slaughter of Midian_ ASSYRIA AND MIDIAN 1. As the hand of God was seen in the slaughter of the Midianites, so it was in the slaughter of the Assyrians. 2. As the Midianites were slain without loss of any of the Israelites, so were the Assyrians without any loss of the men of Ju... [ Continue Reading ]
_His burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder_ A PICTURESQUE REPRESENTATION OF THE INVASION OF JUDAH (Isaiah 10:28):--The description here given, when looked at aesthetically, is one of the most picturesque and magnificent representations that human poetry has ever produced. “He comes upon... [ Continue Reading ]