Isaiah 50:11

Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow. BEHOLD, ALL YE THAT KINDLE A FIRE, THAT COMPASS (YOURSELVES) ABOUT WITH SPARKS. In contrast to the godly (), the wicked, in times of darkness, instead of trusting in God, trust in themselves (kindle a light for themselves to walk by) (). The image is continued from , "darkness;" human devices for salvation (; ;...

11._Lo, all of you kindle a fire. _He upbraids the Jews with choosing to kindle for themselves their own light, instead of drawing near to the light of God. This passage has been badly expounded; and if we wish to understand its true meaning, we must attend to the contrast between the light of God and the light of men; that is, between the consolation which is brought to us by the Word of God and the empty words of comfort uttered by men, when by idle and useless things they attempt and toil to alleviate their distresses. Having formerly spoken of “light” and “darkness,” and having promised light to believers, who hear the voice of the Lord, he shews that the Jews had rejected this light, in order to kindle another light for themselves, and threatens that ultimately they shall be consumed by this light, as by a conflagration. Thus Christ upbraids the Jews with “rejoicing in John’s light,...

10,11 A child of God is afraid of incurring his displeasure. This grace usually appears most in believers when in darkness, when other graces appear not. Those that truly fear God, obey the voice of Christ. A sincere servant of God may for a long time be without views of eternal happiness. What is likely to be an effectual cure in this sad case? Let him trust in the name of the Lord; and let him stay himself upon the promises of the covenant, and build his hopes on them. Let him trust in Christ, trust in that name of his, The Lord our Righteousness; stay himself upon God as his God, in and through a Mediator. Presuming sinners are warned not to trust in themselves. Their own merit and sufficiency are light and heat to them. Creature-comforts are as sparks, short-lived, and soon gone; yet the children of this world, while they last, seek to warm themselves by them, and walk with pride an...

Verse Isaiah 50:11. _YE THAT KINDLE A FIRE_] The fire of their own kindling, by the light of which they walk with security and satisfaction, is an image designed to express, in general, human devices and mere worldly policy, exclusive of faith, and trust in God; which, though they flatter themselves for a while with pleasing expectations and some appearance of success, shall in the end turn to the confusion of the authors. Or more particularly, as Vitringa explains it, it may mean the designs of the turbulent and factious Jews in the times succeeding those of Christ, who, in pursuit of their own desperate schemes, stirred up the war against the Romans, and kindled a fire which consumed their city and nation. _THAT COMPASS_ YOURSELVES _ABOUT WITH SPARKS_ - "Who heap the fuel round about"] "מגוזלי megozeley, accendentes, Syr.; forte leg

BEHOLD, ALL YE THAT KINDLE A FIRE - This verse refers to the wicked. In the previous verse, the Messiah had called upon all the pious to put their trust in God, and it is there implied that they would do so. But it would not be so with the wicked. In times of darkness and calamity, instead of trusting in God they would confide in their own resources, and endeavor to kindle a light for themselves in which they might walk. But the result would be, that they would find no comfort, and would ultimately under his hand lie down in sorrow. The figure is continued from the previous verse. The pious who are in darkness wait patiently for the light which Yahweh shall kindle for them But not so with the wicked. They attempt to kindle a light for themselves, and to walk in that. The phrase, ‘that kindle a fire,’ refers to all the plans which people form with reference to their own salvation; all whi...

EXPOSITION This chapter seems to be made up of short fragments, which the collector, or collectors, of Isaiah's writings regarded as too precious to be lost, and which they consequently here threw together, though in reality they were detached utterances, and are not even connected in subject-matter. Verses 1-3 are a rebuke to the exiles for deeming themselves wholly rejected, and not rising to the occasion now that deliverance is at hand. Verses 4-9 carry on the account of "the Servant of the Lord" from Isaiah 49:12, further describing his humiliation, and declaring his steadfastness and his faith. Isaiah 49:10, Isaiah 49:11 are an exhortation to weak believers generally, and contain an encouragement and a

BEHOLD, ALL YE THAT KINDLE A FIRE,.... To enlighten and warm yourselves; who, rejecting Christ the Light of the world, and despising the glorious light of his Gospel, and loving darkness rather than light, set up the light of nature and reason as the rule of faith and practice; or the traditions and doctrines of men to be guided by; or their own righteousness for their justification before God, and acceptance with him: THAT COMPASS YOURSELVES ABOUT WITH SPARKS, that fly out of the fire kindled, or are struck out of a flint, which have little light and no heat, and are soon out; which may denote the short lived pleasures and comforts which are had from the creature, or from anything of a man's own: WALK IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR FIRE, AND IN THE SPARKS THAT YE HAVE KINDLED; an ironical expression, bidding them take all the comfort and satisfaction they could in their own works and doings, an...

Isaiah 50:1. _Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away?_ Sometimes, the headings to the Chapter s in our Bible give us the meaning of the passage. They are, of course, not inspired, and are merely put there by the translators but, sometimes, they are little comments upon the text. It is so in the heading of this chapter: «Christ sheweth that the dereliction of the Jews is not to be imputed to him, by his ability to save, by his obedience in that work, and by his confidence in that assistance,» so that the Lord Jesus here speaks to the Jewish Church. The great Redeemer, «the mighty One of Jacob,» thus speaks to his chosen people Israel: «Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away?» Isaiah 50:1. Or which of my cred

CHAPTER 50 The Servant Speaks of His Determination and Suffering (Isaiah 50:1 belong to the preceding chapter.) 1. _The cause of Zion's present desolation (Isaiah 50:1)_ 2. _The Servant's self-witness (Isaiah 50:4)_ 3. _His obedience and His suffering (Isaiah 50:5)_ 4. _His victorious triumph (Isaiah 50:7)_ 5. _The two classes: Those who fear Him and those who reject Him (Isaiah 50:10) _ The Suffering One is speaking. Little commen

ISAIAH 50:10 F. A LATE APPENDIX. The song (Isaiah 50:4) is applied to the conditions of a later time when the pious Jews were oppressed by their fellow-countrymen. Let the pious Jew hear (LXX) the Servant's voice, and despite his pitiful plight trust in Yahweh. Those who kindle the flames of persecution and strife shall become the victims of their own fire, and by His doom shall lie in a place of pain (Gehenna may be meant). ISAIAH 50:10_ a_. is not a question. Isaiah 50:11. gird. with: emend, set aflame....