Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Isaiah
Book: Isaiah
Chapter: 46
Overview:
The idols could not save themselves, but
God saves his people.
(1-4) The folly of worshipping idols.
(5-13)
1-4 The
Heathen insulted the Jews, as if their idols
Bel and
Nebo were too hard for
Jehovah. But their worshippers cannot
help them; both the idols and the idolaters are gone into
Captivity. Let not
God's people be afraid of either. Those
things from which ungodly men expect safety and happiness, will
be found unable to save them from
Death and
Hell. The true
God
will never fail his worshippers. The history of the
Life of
every believer is a kind of abstract of the history of
Israel.
Our spiritual
Life is upheld
By his
Grace, as constantly as our
natural
Life By his
Providence. And
God will never leave them.
The Author will be the Finisher of their
Well-being, when,
By
decays, they need help as much as in infancy. This promise to
Israel, enfeebled and grown old as a nation, is applicable to
every aged follower of
Christ. When compassed about with
infirmities, and perhaps those around begin to grow weary of
you, yet I am He that I have promised to be, He that you would
have me to be. I will
Bear you up; carry you
On in your way, and
carry you home at last. If we learn to trust in and
Love him, we
need not be anxious about our remaining days or years; he will
still provide for us and watch over us, both as the creatures of
his power, and as new-created
By his
Spirit.
5-13 Here the folly of those who made idols, and then prayed to
them, is exposed. How does the profuseness of idolaters shame
the niggardliness of many who
Call themselves
God's servants,
but are for a religion which costs them nothing! The service of
Sin always costs a great
Deal.
God puts it to them what
senseless, helpless things idols are. Let, then, the Jews show
themselves men, avoiding such abominations. Many
Scripture
prophecies, delivered long ago, are not yet fulfilled; but the
fulfilling of some is an
Earnest that the
Rest will come to
pass. Nothing can help more to make us easy, than to be assured
that
God will do all his pleasure. Even those who know not and
mind not
God's revealed will, are called and used to fulfil the
counsels of his secret will.
Heaven and
Earth shall pass away,
sooner than one
Tittle of the
Word of God. Obstinate sinners are
addressed. Such were far from acceptance, but they were summoned
to hearken to the
Word of the
Lord. The
Salvation of a sinner
begins with a humble and contrite
Heart, that trembles at
God's
Word, with godly sorrow working true
Repentance, and
Faith in
his
Mercy, through the obedience unto
Death of our Divine
Surety.
Christ, as the Divine
Righteousness and
Salvation to his
people, would come in the appointed time. His
Salvation abides
in his
Church for all believers.