Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Isaiah
Book: Isaiah
Chapter: 17
Overview:
Syria and
Israel threatened.
(1-11) The woe of
Israel's
enemies.
(12-14)
1-11 Sin desolates cities. It is strange that great conquerors
should take pride in being enemies to mankind; but it is better
that flocks should
Lie down there, than that they should harbour
any in open rebellion against
God and
Holiness. The strong holds
of
Israel, the kingdom of the ten tribes, will be brought to
ruin. Those who are partakers in
Sin, are justly made partakers
in ruin. The people had,
By sins, made themselves ripe for ruin;
and their
Glory was as quickly cut down and taken away
By the
enemy, as the
Corn is out of the
Field By the
Husbandman.
Mercy
is reserved in the midst of
Judgment, for a remnant. But very
few shall be marked to be saved. Only here and there one was
left behind. But they shall be a remnant made holy. The few that
are saved were awakened to return to
God. They shall acknowledge
his
Hand in all events; they shall give him the
Glory due to his
name. To bring us to this, is the design of his
Providence, as
he is our Maker; and the work of his
Grace, as he is the Holy
One of
Israel. They shall look off from their idols, the
creatures of their own fancy. We have reason to account those
Afflictions happy, which part between us and our sins. The
God
of our
Salvation is the
Rock of our strength; and our
forgetfulness and unmindfulness of him are at the bottom of all
Sin. The pleasant plants, and shoots from a foreign soil, are
expressions for strange and idolatrous
Worship, and the vile
practices connected therewith. Diligence would be used to
promote the growth of these strange slips, but all in vain. See
the evil and danger of
Sin, and its certain consequences.
12-14 The rage and force of the Assyrians resembled the mighty
waters of
The Sea; but when the
God of
Israel should rebuke
them, they would flee like
Chaff, or like a rolling thing,
before the whirlwind. In the
Evening Jerusalem would be in
trouble, because of the powerful invader, but before morning his
Army would be nearly cut off. Happy are those who remember
God
as their
Salvation, and rely
On his power and
Grace. The trouble
of the believers, and the prosperity of their enemies, will be
equally short; while the joy of the former, and the
Destruction
of those that hate and spoil them, shall last for ever.