Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Isaiah
Book: Isaiah
Chapter: 19
Overview:
Judgments upon
Egypt.
(1-17) Its deliverance, and the
Conversion of the people.
(18-25)
1-17 God shall come into
Egypt with his judgments. He will
raise up the causes of their
Destruction from among themselves.
When ungodly men escape danger, they are apt to think themselves
secure; but evil pursues sinners, and will speedily overtake
them, except they repent. The Egyptians will be given over into
the
Hand of one who shall rule them with rigour, as was shortly
after fulfilled. The Egyptians were renowned for
Wisdom and
science; yet the
Lord would give them up to their own perverse
schemes, and to quarrel, till their land would be brought
By
their contests to become an object of contempt and pity. He
renders sinners afraid of those whom they have despised and
oppressed; and the
Lord of hosts will make the workers of
iniquity a terror to themselves, and to each other; and every
object around a terror to them.
18-25 The words, "In that
Day," do not always refer to the
Passage just before. At a time which was to come, the Egyptians
shall speak the holy language, the
Scripture language; not only
understand it, but use it. Converting
Grace,
By changing the
Heart, changes the language; for out of the abundance of the
Heart the mouth speaks.
So many Jews shall come to
Egypt, that
they shall soon fill five cities. Where the
Sun was worshipped,
a place infamous for
Idolatry, even there shall be a wonderful
reformation.
Christ, the great
Altar, who sanctifies every
Gift,
shall be owned, and the
Gospel sacrifices of
Prayer and praise
shall be offered up. Let the broken-hearted and afflicted, whom
the
Lord has wounded, and thus taught to return to, and
Call
upon him, take courage; for He will heal their souls, and turn
their sorrowing supplications into joyful praises. The Gentile
nations shall not only unite with each other in the
Gospel Fold
under
Christ, the great
Shepherd, but they shall all be united
with the Jews. They shall be owned together
By him; they shall
all share in one and the same blessing. Meeting at the same
Throne of
Grace, and serving with each other in the same
business of religion, should
End all disputes, and unite the
hearts of believers to each other in holy
Love.