Isaiah 29:20

For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off: THE TERRIBLE ONE - namely, the persecutors among the Jewish nobles. THE SCORNER IS CONSUMED - (; ; .) ALL THAT WATCH FOR INIQUITY - not only commit iniquity, but watch for opportunities of committing it, and make it their whole study (see ; ; )....

20._For the violent man is brought to nought. _He states more clearly what we have already mentioned in the former verse, namely, that the restoration of the Church consists in this, that the Lord raises up those who are cast down, and has compassion on the poor. But that purification of the Church, of which we have already spoken, is first necessary; for so long as the Lord does not execute his judgment against the wicked, and the bad are mixed with the good, so as even to hold the highest place in the Church, everything is soiled and corrupted, God is not worshipped or feared, and even godliness is trampled under feet. When therefore the ungodly are removed or subdued, the Church is restored to its splendour, and the godly, freed from distresses and calamities, leap for joy. First, he calls them עריצים, (_gnărītzīm_,) “violent.” There are various interpretations of this word; but I thi...

17-24 The wonderful change here foretold, may refer to the affairs of Judah, though it looks further. When a great harvest of souls was gathered to Christ from among the Gentiles, then the wilderness was turned into a fruitful field; and the Jewish church, that had long been a fruitful field, became as a deserted forest. Those who, when in trouble, can truly rejoice in God, shall soon have cause greatly to rejoice in him. The grace of meekness contributes to the increase of our holy joy. The enemies who were powerful shall become mean and weak. To complete the repose of God's people, the scorners at home shall be cut off by judgements. All are apt to speak unadvisedly, and to mistake what they hear, but it is very unfair to make a man an offender for a word. They did all they could to bring those into trouble who told them of their faults. But He that redeemed Abraham out of his snares...

FOR THE TERRIBLE ONE - The violent one (עריץ _‛__ârı̂yts_), the oppressor, who had exercised cruelty over them. This, I suppose, refers to the haughty among the Jews themselves; to those who held offices of power, and who abused them to oppress the poor and needy. AND THE SCORNER - (see Isaiah 28:14, Isaiah 28:22). IS CONSUMED - Shall be entirely destroyed. AND ALL THAT WATCH FOR INIQUITY - That is, who anxiously seek for opportunities to commit iniquity....

EXPOSITION ISAIAH 29:1 A WARNING TO JERUSALEM. Expostulation is followed by threats. The prophet is aware that all his preaching to the authorities in Jerusalem (Isaiah 28:14) will be of no avail, and that their adoption of measures directly antagonistic to the commands of God will bring on the very evil which they are seeking to avert, and cause Jerusalem to be actually besieged by her enemies. In the present passage he distinctly announces the siege, and declares that it will commence within a year. ISAIAH 29:1 WOE TO ARIEL, TO ARIEL, THE CITY WHERE DAVID DWELT! "Ariel' is clearly a myst

FOR THE TERRIBLE ONE IS BROUGHT TO NOUGHT,.... Who before was so to the people of God; meaning not Sennacherib king of Assyria, but some formidable enemy or enemies under the Gospel dispensation; as the Scribes and Pharisees, and the Jewish sanhedrim; who were "violent" c, as it may be rendered, violent persecutors of the followers of Christ, the meek and poor before described; who were brought to nought, and their power ceased at the destruction of Jerusalem; and the Roman emperor, with all subordinate rulers and governors in the empire, who harassed the Christians in a terrible manner, but were at last brought to nought by Constantine, and their persecution ceased; and the Romish antichrist, who has been so terrible, that none could or dared oppose him; he in a little time will be brought to nought, and cease to be. The Septuagint version renders it, "the wicked one faileth"; and uses...

CHAPTER 29 The Second Woe Against Ariel and the Third Woe 1. _The fall of Ariel (Jerusalem) predicted (Isaiah 29:1)_ 2. _Their enemies dealt with by Jehovah (Isaiah 29:5)_ 3. _The people's condition: Blinded and religious formalists (Isaiah 29:9)_ 4. _The third woe (Isaiah 29:15)_ 5. _In that Day: joy and blessing for the meek and iniquity punished (Isaiah 29:17) _ Ariel means “the lion of God.” It is one of the names of Jerusalem. A great siege of Jerusalem is predicted. Neither Sennacherib's invasion nor the sie

THE TERRIBLE ONE. the tyrant....

Isaiah 29:15-24 A Messianic forecast The third "Woe" (Isaiah 29:15), directed against the political intrigue with Egypt, merely serves as a point of attachment for a glowing description of the regenerated Israel. The course of thought is as follows: The prophet, having unmasked the designs of the conspirators, expostulates with them for pitting their foolish plans against the purpose of the Almighty (Isaiah 29:15). Ere long, Jehovah will prove His power by a marvellous transformation of nature and society; the word of the Lord will be received by the people, now deaf and dumb to spiritual things; the poor and oppressed shall rejoice in their God ...

FOR THE TERRIBLE ONE, &C.— The _terrible_ and fierce were such as Herod Agrippa, who persecuted the apostles; the _scorners_ and blasphemous, such as those who reproached the apostles when filled with the Spirit, as being drunk with wine. The _watchers for iniquity,_ or _of iniquity_ were such as those priests and scribes, who consulted together to take Jesus by subtilty: they who _make a man an offender for a word,_ such as those who condemned Stephen for certain words imputed to him: those who _lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate,_ such as those who laid wait for Paul, after he had so fully reproved and baffled them; and lastly, they who _overturn the just for a thing of nought,_ for no cause, were such as they who put to death James the less, surnamed the Just, and others of the first Christians, against whom they could lay no just cause of offence. See Vitringa....