what does turn the battle to the gate mean
Poesy-by-Verse Bible Commentary
A spirit of justice for him who sits in judgment, A strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate.
New American Standard Version
Clarke's Commentary
Verse Isaiah 28:6. The battle to the gate - "The war to the gate of the enemy."] That is, who pursue the fleeing enemy fifty-fifty to the very gates of their own city. "But we were upon them fifty-fifty unto the inbound of the gate," 2 Samuel 11:23; that is, we drove the enemy dorsum to their own gates. See also 1 Samuel 17:52. The Targum says, The Messiah shall give the victory to those who go out to boxing, that he may bring them back to their ain houses in peace.
Bibliographical Data
Clarke, Adam. "Commentary on Isaiah 28:vi". "The Adam Clarke Commentary". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/isaiah-28.html. 1832.
Bridgeway Bible Commentary
28:one-33:24 HEZEKIAH AND THE ASSYRIANS
Before reading Chapters 28-33, readers should be familiar with the historical groundwork found in the introduction under the heading 'Judah's new policies under Hezekiah'. Hezekiah reversed the policies of his begetter Ahaz. Whereas Ahaz sought help from Assyria to oppose State of israel and Syria, Hezekiah sought help from Egypt to oppose Assyria. Isaiah opposed both policies alike. Religion in God, not reliance on foreign powers, is Judah's only promise for survival. The messages nerveless in these chapters were probably delivered by Isaiah during the three or four years from Hezekiah's revolt against Assyria to the miraculous rescue of Jerusalem in 701 BC.
Bad leadership and its results (28:1-29)
Although his rebukes are directed mainly confronting Judah, Isaiah opens the section with a short bulletin he in one case preached confronting Israel. (The reason for this, as Isaiah will shortly indicate out, is that the bulletin is now equally relevant to Judah.)
The nation's rulers are a lot of drunkards, who live only to savor themselves and do non care about the welfare of the people. Because they are heavy wine-drinkers, they are likened to a flourishing vineyard. A severe hailstorm (symbol of the Assyrian invasion) will now destroy the vineyard, and enemy soldiers volition trample the grapes underfoot (28:1-4). Nevertheless, the few who remain true-blue to God will not exist forsaken. God will give them his wisdom and strength, enabling them to come through the crisis successfully (5-vi).
At this signal Isaiah makes it manifestly that his prophecy against Israel applies likewise to Judah. Its leaders as well are drunkards, even the religious leaders (7-8). They are bellyaching at Isaiah for his persistent pedagogy, and indignantly inquire him if he thinks he is teaching children. They are tired of hearing his aforementioned simple message over and over, telling them to turn from their evil ways and trust in God (ix-10). Through Isaiah God has promised them truthful peace and perfect balance. If they reject to mind to these clear and unproblematic words, God volition speak to them in a dissimilar language, ane that they will not sympathize. That is, they will hear the foreign language of the Assyrian armies whom God sends against them to punish them (eleven-13).
Judah has made an understanding with Egypt to rebel against Assyria, just God sees it equally a rebellion against him. Information technology is like an agreement with the world of the expressionless instead of with the living God. Information technology is based on falsehood instead of on God'southward truth (xiv-fifteen). God is the just reliable foundation on whom Judah can build its hopes. If the Judeans trusted in him, they would not need to become running to Egypt for help (16). God will act in righteous judgment confronting his faithless people. Their alliance with Egypt will be as powerless against Assyria as a temporary shelter is against raging floodwaters (17-xviii).
Day and nighttime the ferocious Assyrian attack will go on. The people of Judah will observe that all their grooming has not been plenty to give them the comfort they hoped for (nineteen-20). In the place where David punished his enemies, David'south people will exist punished by their enemies. And the more they ignore Isaiah's warnings, the more difficult it will be for them to escape the punishment (21-22; cf. 1 Chronicles fourteen:11,i Chronicles 14:16).
A farmer knows from feel that he must use dissimilar methods of planting and threshing for dissimilar crops. God likewise uses unlike methods in his dealings with people, and his actions are always based on his perfect knowledge (23-29).
Bibliographical Information
Flemming, Donald C. "Commentary on Isaiah 28:6". "Fleming's Bridgeway Bible Commentary". https://world wide web.studylight.org/commentaries/bbc/isaiah-28.html. 2005.
Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible
And for a spirit of judgment - (compare the note at Isaiah 1:26; Isaiah 11:two). The sense of this passage is, that Jehovah would enlighten the judges of the state, so that they should understand what was right, and be disposed to practise it.
To him that sitteth in judgment - This is to be understood collectively, and means those who sat upon the bench of justice; that is, the magistracy in general.
And for strength to to them that plow the boxing to the gate - That is, to the very gate of their enemies; who not only repel their foes from their own urban center, but who drive them even to the gates of their own cities, and besiege them there. Thus 2 Samuel 11:23 : 'And nosotros were upon them fifty-fifty unto the inbound of the gate;' that is, we drove them back unto their own gates.
Bibliographical Information
Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Isaiah 28:six". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/isaiah-28.html. 1870.
Calvin's Commentary on the Bible
six. And for a spirit of judgment. He explains the manner in which the Lord will beautify that "remnant" with additional splendor; for he holds out instances of the true art of civil government, which mainly contributes to the upholding of nations. It consists chiefly of two things, counsel and forcefulness. The internal administration must be conducted past counsel and wisdom, and "strength" and force are needed against enemies who are without. Since therefore it is past these 2 defences that kingdoms and commonwealths defend and uphold their rank, he promises to his people the spirit of "wisdom" and "strength." At the same fourth dimension he shews that it is God who gives both, and that they ought not to be expected from any other; for magistrates volition not be able to rule and to administer justice in a city, and armed forces generals volition not be able to repel enemies, unless the Lord shall direct them.
Bibliographical Information
Calvin, John. "Commentary on Isaiah 28:6". "Calvin'due south Commentary on the Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/cal/isaiah-28.html. 1840-57.
Smith'south Bible Commentary
Affiliate 28 Affiliate 28. Now the prophet turns to the local present issues. He is now... he'southward gone off downward the road to the end of things. Now he comes back and he begins to speak of the Northern Kingdom, the major tribe was Ephraim at that place in the Northern Kingdom. And and then the nation of Israel is addressed as Ephraim, its major tribe.
Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fatty valleys of them that are overcome with wine! Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and stiff one, which equally a storm of hail and a destroying storm, as a overflowing of mighty waters inundation, shall cast down to the world with the hand. The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall exist trodden under anxiety ( Isaiah 28:1-3 ):
Then Isaiah is here predicting the invasion of the Northern Kingdom by Assyria. The Northern Kingdom was filled with pride. The Northern Kingdom was filled with prosperity. The fat valleys. The Northern Kingdom was filled with a careless attitude as people were seeking mirth and merriment and pleasure, rather than God, and judgment was hanging over their heads. And nevertheless they were giving themselves just to drunkenness. Here they were standing in a critical place in their history. They're about to be devoured past their enemies. The nation is at the end of the road. They're not going to go any further. And still the attitude of the people is non a serious attitude of repentance towards God and seeking God, merely it is an attitude of just seeking pleasure and just drinking and trying not to call up of the heavy judgment that was hanging over them.
It seems that people are always oblivious. That is, the general public is oblivious, though doom is hanging over it. Then information technology will be when Jesus comes. Jesus said, "Equally information technology was in the days of Noah, so shall it be at the coming of the Son of homo" ( Luke 17:26 ). For the days of Noah, the people were but eating, drinking, the aforementioned thing of but going on and pretending like there's nothing wrong. Not realizing that the judgment of God is hanging over them and they're virtually to exist destroyed. Right until the solar day that Noah went into the ark, the people were going on with just things as usual, drinking and partying and the whole thing. Until Noah was in the ark and information technology began to rain. And suddenly they woke up. But then it was too late.
At present here is Ephraim. Judgment is hanging over them simply they're going on in drunkenness. In their pride and all. And not until Sennacherib comes down with the Assyrian forces, and then it'due south too belatedly. Nosotros expect at the world today and we meet people that are merely and so oblivious to the impending judgment of God that is hanging over the earth today. Nosotros see all of these forces of evil. We see people and so outspoken with their evil, so brazen in their display of evil. Things that people used to be ashamed of and would seek to deny or hide from, now they are parading in the streets with banners. Advertising their sin. And we are ripening towards judgment. And the heavy paw of God is hanging over us and God's judgment is about to fall. And yet people seem to exist totally oblivious to it. Going on seeking pleasure. Going on in their pride. And seeking the prosperity non realizing that all of a sudden it's going to come and God's judgment is going to strike. So the sorry picture show of Ephraim and the prophet speaks out confronting it. Ephraim's going to exist trodden underfoot. And within three years from the time of this prophecy it happened. The great and glorious nation that God had favored and blessed was destroyed. And I really experience that the Us is in much the same position. A great and glorious nation which has been blest of God, but I believe that the heavy cloud of God's wrath hangs over us because of the things that nosotros take immune and promoted in this country. And it speaks of
The glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fatty valley, shall be a fading flower, and equally the jerky fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth information technology upwardly. In that day the LORD of hosts will exist for a crown of celebrity, and for a diadem of dazzler, unto the residue of his people ( Isaiah 28:4-five ),
But here they were glorying in the crown of glory of the fat valleys and and so along, simply they're going to exist wiped out. At present fifty-fifty those that were being warned by the prophet just made fun of the prophet.
Just they also have erred through wine, and through the strong drink they have gone out of the fashion; the priest and the prophet take erred through potent drink, they are swallowed up of vino, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in their vision, they stumble in their judgment ( Isaiah 28:seven ).
And God speaks out against the drinking and how it has perverted their minds. Muffled and dulled their senses. And has turned them out of their way bringing them into error. Causing them to err in their vision and in their judgment. Drinking, information technology seems, always clouds a person's vision and actually destroys good judgment. Destroys your inhibitions. People exercise the dumbest things when they're drunkard. Things that they would never do when they were sober. But it but ever messes upward your judgment. You don't have skilful judgment when you're drinking. And we recognize that. Our laws recognize that. That's why we have laws that you're non to drive when you've been drinking considering it messes up your vision. It messes upwards your judgment. And yet, here the people were they were giving themselves over to this. Messing up their lives. And God'south heavy hand when you need to have articulate insight, when you really need to see what's going on, y'all can't see because you're into the liquor. When you need to take good judgment and brand the right moves, you don't have the power to practise so. The liquor has clouded your minds. The prophet speaks very graphically of them.
For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, there isn't a clean place [around them] ( Isaiah 28:8 ).
But even so they mock at the prophet of God. They say to the prophet of God,
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to sympathize doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts ( Isaiah 28:9 ).
In other words, who is he going to teach? He ought to go downwards and teach the petty babies that have merely been weaned from the breasts. Permit him teach the preschoolers. Who is he going to teach? For his teaching
Precept is upon precept; line is upon line; here a niggling, there a lilliputian ( Isaiah 28:ten ):
But the prophet declares that God has declared:
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may crusade the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: nevertheless they would not hear ( Isaiah 28:11-12 ).
Now interesting this verse is couched in hither and y'all wonder what in the world is that verse about and what does it have to exercise with the context? Equally he'south talking about Ephraim and the judgment that is coming and the blurred vision and the distorted judgment because of their drinking and all. And their mockery of his teaching methods saying you ought to exist teaching kindergarteners for his teaching is so uncomplicated. Line upon line, precept upon axiom. And so out of the middle of this, "For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, 'This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing,' and withal they would not hear." At present, Paul the apostle in writing to the Corinthian church about the abuse of the souvenir of tongues, as he speaks to them of this gift of tongues, he picks out this footling verse and says this is what God was talking almost when in Isaiah He said, "For with stammering lips and some other natural language volition I speak to this people. And this is the residuum wherewith I will cause the weary to rest." Interesting. Paul picks that out and interprets that as a reference or a prophecy of the gift of speaking with other tongues that God would cascade out upon the church. And that the gift of speaking in tongues would be a restful experience to those who exercised it. "This is the balance wherewith I volition cause the weary to rest." And then it would exist a very restful feel to those who would exercise the use of that gift. Very interesting, very fascinating. And I take found that in my own devotional life, when I have a trouble and I don't know how to pray over a detail situation, or I have a trouble and I want to praise God and I experience a total inadequacy in English language, that as I begin to praise the Lord in the Spirit or I brainstorm to pray in the Spirit that information technology is such a restful feel. And I just find great rest in information technology. Slap-up peace in it. And so Paul picks this out as a prophecy concerning those that would exercise that souvenir in their personal devotional life that it would be simply a restful experience. And and so he gets right back into the subject again.
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon axiom, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a fiddling, and there a piddling; that they might become, and fall astern, and exist broken, and snared, and taken ( Isaiah 28:thirteen ).
In other words, information technology was so simple that they would stumble over information technology. They wouldn't hear it. They wouldn't obey it. And thus, they would be snared and taken.
Wherefore hear the discussion of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule the people ( Isaiah 28:xiv )
And information technology not only is Samaria, just now,
in Jerusalem. Because you have said, Nosotros have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall non come to us: for we have fabricated lies our refuge, and nether falsehood we have hid ourselves: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a rock, a tried rock, a precious corner rock, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not brand haste. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the collapse: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. And your covenant with expiry shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, and then you shall be trodden downwardly past information technology ( Isaiah 28:14-18 ).
Yous may say, "Well, we've made an agreement with hell or decease and we're in agreement with hell. Information technology'south not going to affect us. Yous warn us, you lot say judgment; not going to striking united states." And made refuge your lies. But God's going to sweep away your refuge and the judgment shall come up and you'll exist overthrown by information technology. Just in the midst of it, the Lord has set for a foundation a stone, a tried rock, a precious cornerstone. That's a sure foundation. That'south something that won't allow y'all down. That's something you tin can rest in. The sure foundation that God has established. Jesus Christ, the precious cornerstone which was set up at aught by the builders, but the Lord has made Him the chief cornerstone. Now these people are mocking the prophet. They said, "Hey human, don't try to scare the states with hell. Nosotros've got a covenant with hell. We got an agreement. Nosotros've made a covenant with death. And we're in agreement with hell. Information technology doesn't carp us." The prophet says, "Your covenant is non going to stand. It's gonna be broken.
For [he said] your bed is shorter than what you tin can stretch yourself upon it: and your coverings are narrower than what you tin wrap yourself in it ( Isaiah 28:20 ).
At that place are people who similar to mock God and like to scoff at the warnings of God. In that location are people who seek to find residue in philosophy. There are people who seek to find rest in religion. There are people who are seeking rest in liquor, in pleasure. There are people who are seeking balance in prosperity. Merely of all of these things information technology must exist said the bed is too short and the blankets are also narrow; you tin't discover real rest in these things. You lot'll never find satisfaction in prosperity. You'll never find peace in pleasure. In that location's but one identify of existent residual and peace and that is in the sure foundation that God has set. The precious cornerstone, Jesus Christ. The only place y'all'll ever really find rest is resting in Jesus. In His finished work for your salvation. Y'all'll never find rest in religion. Now here he speaks about the religious leaders getting drunk. And thus not seeing conspicuously, their judgment perverted. I think that drinking among the clergy is an abomination. Paul said to Timothy that if a man was to exist an overseer in the church building, that he was non to be given to wine. And I think that that applies to every minister of God. God said to Moses, "When Aaron and his sons come in before the altar, make sure that they haven't been drinking. For they must exist clean who bear the vessels of the Lord." There's an intimation that the two sons of Aaron that were killed by the fire of God that came out of the altar were killed because they were a picayune under the influence. When they saw the fire and got all excited, everybody was shouting and they grabbed the fiddling incense burners and took the coals off the fire and began to offer strange fire to God, the fire of God came out from the altar and consumed them. Their judgment was twisted because of their drinking. And thus the warning came after that. And after the death of the two sons, the word of the Lord came to Moses proverb, "Get unto Aaron and say unto him, 'Tell your sons and all that when they come up in before the Lord that they're not to be drinking.'" God doesn't want whatever service out of imitation stimulation, false fire. And so today people are trying to find residual in religious experiences and it is a tragedy that in that location are churches that volition tell y'all that y'all can rest in your infant baptism. "You don't have to worry most being saved. Were yous baptized when you were a baby? That's all it takes. Y'all were saved when y'all were baptized." The bed's besides short. Y'all tin can't rest in that. It takes more than having water sprinkled in your face and words mumbled over yous when you were a kid to relieve you. Information technology takes an active, believing, trusting organized religion in Jesus Christ to bring salvation. He that believeth shall find the rest. He'll not be making haste or in frenzy. Those who tell you that yous had an emotional experience twenty-five years ago, y'all came frontward in an altar call, and you wept, that that emotional experience is sufficient. You were saved. I don't care what happened to yous 20-five years ago; I want to know what is your present human relationship with God. You lot can't be saved by past experiences. Y'all are existence saved by your present relationship with Him. Past experiences are just that-past experiences. Unless they have been transmitted into my present relationship.
Paul the apostle speaks of his experience on the Damascus Road maxim, "Those things which were gain to me, I counted loss" ( Philippians 3:seven ). He was writing xxx years later to the Philippians. I counted them loss at that place on the Damascus Road. The whole past, homo, is junk. And he said, "Yea, doubtless, I do count them 30 years later as I'm writing to you now, those one-time things which were one time gain to me, which I counted loss on the road to Damascus, I still count them merely reject that I may know Him."
Just you see, a lot of people twenty-v years ago counted the old life as loss when they came to the cognition of Jesus Christ. But so in the meantime, they've gone right back. And they're living the old life. They're non serving the Lord. They're not walking with Jesus. They're not living in the Spirit. You lot ask them most their salvation, "Oh, I had the most glorious feel. I felt this glorious peace and this wonderful warmth that came all over me. And a tingling down my spine and I just sat in that location and wept before the Lord." What about now? "Oh well, you know, I haven't been to church building for years and I really don't see any need of having Christ in my life because, after all, I had that glorious experience then." Oh no, you tin't rest in some past experience. You need a vital, living relationship with Jesus today. Jesus said, "Abide in Me and let My words abide in you. For if any man abides not in Me, he is cutting off, bandage forth like a co-operative, and is withered; and men gather them together, and cast them into the fire" ( John xv:iv , John 15:6 ). "Abide in Me and let My words abide in you lot."
And then he goes on.
For the LORD shall rising up as in mount Perazim ( Isaiah 28:21 ),
That's where David at mount Perazim smote the Philistines and called the identify Perazim considering God made a breach there against the Philistines.
he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon ( Isaiah 28:21 ),
That'south where Joshua said, "Lord's day, stand still" ( Joshua x:12 ), in order that they might take enough fourth dimension to wipe out their enemies.
that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his acts, and his strange acts. Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be fabricated stiff: for I accept heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth. Give ye ear, and hear my vocalisation; hearken, to my speech. Doth non the plowman plow all day to sow? ( Isaiah 28:21-24 )
In other words, hasn't God made all of this preparation and volition He non go ahead and carry the affair through? And the whole idea is, yes, God will carry the whole matter through. "
Bibliographical Information
Smith, Charles Ward. "Commentary on Isaiah 28:vi". "Smith'southward Bible Commentary". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/csc/isaiah-28.html. 2014.
Dr. Constable's Expository Notes
The folly of Israel'due south leaders 28:1-6
The prophet began by exposing the folly of the leaders of the Northern Kingdom. He condemned them for their proud scoffing. The "woe" appears at showtime to exist confronting them solitary, but as the affiliate unfolds information technology becomes clear that Isaiah was pronouncing woe on the leaders of the Southern Kingdom fifty-fifty more.
Bibliographical Data
Constable, Thomas. DD. "Commentary on Isaiah 28:half dozen". "Dr. Constable'southward Expository Notes". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dcc/isaiah-28.html. 2012.
Dr. Constable's Expository Notes
"In that day," when Ephriam would fall, the Lord would besides preserve a remnant of the Northern Kingdom. He would be the true crown (king, cf. Isaiah xi:1-ix) of His people and a source of glory for them, in contrast to their present fading garlands (cf. Isaiah 28:i; Isaiah four:ii-6). He would also become the standard and facilitator of justice for their judges and the strength of their soldiers (cf. Isaiah 11:two). This does not mean that the faithful Ephraimites would turn on their enemies and defeat them, but that they would find in the Lord all that they had looked for previously in the wrong places. Note that this note of mercy concludes a pronouncement of judgment.
Bibliographical Information
Constable, Thomas. DD. "Commentary on Isaiah 28:6". "Dr. Lawman's Expository Notes". https://world wide web.studylight.org/commentaries/dcc/isaiah-28.html. 2012.
Gill'due south Exposition of the Whole Bible
And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment,.... That is, as the Lord would give honour and glory to the people in general, so wisdom and prudence, a spirit of judgment and discerning, to the king in particular, who sat on the throne of judgment to practise justice, and execute judgment amidst his subjects: though this need not be restrained to the king, but be applied to all the judges and magistrates in the state, who sat and heard causes and complaints brought before them, for which they should exist qualified by the Lord; and so Aben Ezra interprets information technology of the sanhedrim:
and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate; as wisdom is promised to the male monarch and judges of the state, so force of body and mind, valour and backbone, to the prince and his regular army; so that they should turn the battle, and cause their enemies to wing before them, and pursue them to the very gates of their cities, every bit Hezekiah did,
two Kings eighteen:8. The Syriac version is, "who turn the battle from the gate"; who, when besieged, sally out upon the besiegers, and drive them from their gates, oblige them to break upwards the siege, and fly before them. The Vulgate Latin version renders it, "and strength to them that return from war to the gate": that come home victorious to their own houses; and so the Targum,
"that he may give victory to them that become out in state of war, to return them in peace to their ain houses.''
Wisdom in the cabinet and courts of judicature, and courage in the camp, are ii great blessings to a nation, and serve much to explicate the glory and beauty before promised.
Copyright Statement
The New John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible Modernised and adapted for the computer by Larry Pierce of Online Bible. All Rights Reserved, Larry Pierce, Winterbourne, Ontario.
A printed copy of this work can be ordered from: The Baptist Standard Bearer, i Iron Oaks Dr, Paris, AR, 72855
Bibliographical Information
Gill, John. "Commentary on Isaiah 28:6". "Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/isaiah-28.html. 1999.
Henry'due south Complete Commentary on the Bible
| Ephraim Reproved and Threatened; The Punishment of Ephraim; The Degeneracy of Judah. | B. C. 725. |
1 Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading blossom, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! 2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong 1, which as a storm of hail and a destroying storm, every bit a flood of mighty waters inundation, shall bandage downward to the globe with the mitt. iii The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden nether feet: iv And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall exist a fading flower, and every bit the jerky fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it upward. 5 In that twenty-four hours shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, vi And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for force to them that turn the battle to the gate. seven But they besides have erred through wine, and through potent drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong potable, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the fashion through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. eight For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, then that at that place is no place make clean. Here, I. The prophet warns the kingdom of the ten tribes of the judgments that were coming upon them for their sins, which were soon later executed by the king of Assyria, who laid their country waste, and carried the people into captivity. Ephraim had his name from fruitfulness, their soil being very fertile and the products of it abundant and the best of the kind; they had a great many fat valleys (Isaiah 28:1; Isaiah 28:4), and Samaria, which was situated on a hill, was, equally it were, on the head of the fat valleys. Their country was rich and pleasant, and as the garden of the Lord: it was the glory of Canaan, as that was the glory of all lands; their harvest and vintage were the glorious beauty on the head of their valleys, which were covered over with corn and vines. At present notice, ane. What an ill use they fabricated of their plenty. What God gave them to serve him with they perverted, and abused, by making it the food and fuel of their lusts. (1.) They were puffed up with pride by it. The goodness with which God crowned their years, which should have been to him a crown of praise, was to them a crown of pride. Those that are rich in the globe are apt to be high-minded, 1 Timothy 6:17. Their rex, who wore the crown, was proud that he ruled over so rich a country; Samaria, their royal city, was notorious for pride. Perchance it was usual at their festivals, or revels, to wear garlands made upwards of flowers and ears of corn, which they wore in honour of their fruitful state. Pride was a sin that generally prevailed among them, and therefore the prophet, in his name who resists the proud, boldly proclaims a woe to the crown of pride. If those who wearable crowns be proud of them, allow them not call up to escape this woe. What men are proud of, exist it ever so mean, is to them equally a crown; he that is proud thinks himself as great as a king. Merely woe to those who thus exalt themselves, for they shall exist abased; their pride is the preface to their destruction. (two.) They indulged themselves in sensuality. Ephraim was notorious for drunkenness, and backlog of anarchism; Samaria, the head of the fat valleys, was full of those that were overcome with wine, were broken with it, then the margin. See how foolishly drunkards act, and no marvel when, in the very commission of the sin, they brand fools and brutes of themselves; they yield, [1.] To exist conquered by the sin; it overcomes them, and brings them into chains (two Peter two:19); they are led captive by it, and the captivity is the more shameful and inglorious because it is voluntary. Some of these wretched slaves have themselves endemic that there is not a greater drudgery in the earth than hard drinking. They are overcome not with the vino, but with the love of it. [2.] To be ruined by it. They are cleaved by wine. Their constitution is broken past information technology, and their health ruined. They are broken in the callings and estates, and their souls are in danger of being eternally undone, and all this for the gratification of a base lust. Woe to these drunkards of Ephraim! Ministers must bring the general woes of the give-and-take abode to detail places and persons. We must say, Woe to this or that person, if he exist a drunkard. There is a particular woe to the drunkards of Ephraim, for they are of God's professing people, and it becomes them worse than any other; they know better, and therefore should give a better case. Some make the crown of pride to vest to the drunkards, and to hateful the garlands with which those were crowned that got the victory in their wicked drinking matches and drank down the residual of the company. They were proud of their being mighty to beverage wine; but woe to those who thus glory in their shame. 2. The justice of God in taking away their enough from them, which they thus abused. Their glorious beauty, the plenty they were proud of, is just a fading bloom; it is meat that perishes. The near substantial fruits, if God blast them and accident upon them, are only fading flowers, Isaiah 28:i; Isaiah 28:1. God can easily accept away their corn in the season thereof (Hosea 2:9), and recover locum vastatum--ground that has been alienated and has run to waste material, those goods of his which they prepared for Baal. God has an officeholder fix to make a seizure for him, has one at his beck, a mighty and strong one, who is able to do the business, even the king of Assyria, who shall bandage downwards to the earth with the mitt, shall hands and around, and with the turn of a manus, destroy all that which they are proud of and pleased with, Isaiah 28:2; Isaiah 28:2. He shall throw it downwards to the ground, to be cleaved to pieces with a strong hand, with a mitt that they cannot oppose. Then the crown of pride, and the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under foot (Isaiah 28:3; Isaiah 28:3); they shall prevarication exposed to antipathy, and shall non be able to recover themselves. Drunkards, in their folly, are apt to talk proudly, and vaunt themselves most when they nearly shame themselves; but they thereby render themselves the more ridiculous. The beauty of their valleys, which they gloried in, will be, (ane.) Similar a fading flower (as before, Isaiah 28:i; Isaiah 28:ane); it volition wither of itself, and has in itself the principles of its own corruption; it will perish in time past its own moth and rust. (ii.) Like the hasty fruit, which, as soon as it is discovered, is plucked and eaten upwardly; then the wealth of this world, besides that it is apt to disuse of itself, is subject to be devoured past others equally greedily as the first-ripe fruit, which is earnestly desired, Micah seven:1. Thieves break through and steal. The harvest which the worldling is proud of the hungry eat upwards (Job 5:v); no sooner do they see the prey just they catch at it, and eat upwardly all they can lay their hands on. It is likewise easily devoured, as that fruit which, existence ripe before it has grown, is very small, and is soon eaten upwardly; and there being little of it, and that of petty worth, it is not reserved, but used immediately. II. He next turns to the kingdom of Judah, whom he calls the residual of his people (Isaiah 28:5; Isaiah 28:5), for they were but two tribes to the other x. one. He promises them God's favours, and that they shall be taken under his guidance and protection when the beauty of Ephraim shall exist left exposed to be trodden down and eaten up, Isaiah 28:5; Isaiah 28:half-dozen. In that day, when the Assyrian ground forces is laying Israel waste, and Judah might call up that their neighbour's house being on fire their own was in danger, in that day of treading down and perplexity, then God will be to the residual of his people all they need and can desire; non just to the kingdom of Judah, but to those of Israel who had kept their integrity, and, every bit was probably the case with some, betook themselves to the land of Judah, to exist sheltered by good king Hezekiah. When the Assyrian, that mighty one, was in State of israel as a tempest of hail, noisy and battering, as a destroying storm bearing downwardly all before it, particularly at sea, and every bit a flood of mighty waters overflowing the country (Isaiah 28:ii; Isaiah 28:2), then in that twenty-four hours will the Lord of hosts, of all hosts, distinguish past peculiar favours his people who have distinguished themselves past a steady and atypical adherence to him, and that which they well-nigh need he will himself be to them. This very much enhances the worth of the promises that God, covenanting to exist to his people a God all-sufficient, undertakes to be himself all that to them which they tin can want. (i.) He volition put all the credit and honour upon them which are requisite, not only to rescue them from contempt, but to proceeds them esteem and reputation. He volition be to them for a crown of glory and for a diadem of beauty. Those that wore the crown of pride looked upon God'southward people with disdain, and trampled upon them, for they were the song of the drunkards of Ephraim; but God volition so appear for them past his providence as to make it evident that they have his favour towards them, and that shall be to them a crown of glory; for what greater glory can whatever people accept than for God to admit them equally his own? And he will so announced in them, by his grace, as to arrive evident that they have his image renewed on them, and that shall be to them a diadem of dazzler; for what greater dazzler can any person have than the dazzler of holiness? Annotation, Those that have God for their God have him for a crown of glory and a diadem of dazzler; for they are fabricated to him kings and priests. (ii.) He will give them all the wisdom and grace necessary to the due discharge of the duty of their place. He will himself be a spirit of judgment to those that sit down in judgment; the privy counsellors shall be guided past wisdom and discretion and the judges shall govern by justice and equity. It is a great mercy to whatsoever people when those that are called to places of power and public trust are qualified for their places, when those that sit in judgment have a spirit of judgment, a spirit of government. (three.) He volition give them all the courage and disrespect requisite to carry them resolutely through the difficulties and oppositions they are likely to meet with. He volition be for forcefulness to those that plough the battle to the gate, to the gates of the enemy whose cities they congregate, or to their own gates, when they sally out upon the enemies that besiege them. The strength of the soldiery depends equally much upon God equally the wisdom of the magistracy; and where God gives both these he is to that people a crown of celebrity. This may well be supposed to refer to Christ, and and so the Chaldee paraphrast understands information technology: In that 24-hour interval shall the Messiah be a crown of celebrity. Simeon calls him the celebrity of his people State of israel; and he is made of God to us wisdom, righteousness, and strength. 2. He complains of the corruptions that were found among them, and the many corrupt ones (Isaiah 28:7; Isaiah 28:7): But they also, many of those of Judah, have erred through vino. At that place are drunkards of Jerusalem, as well as drunkards of Ephraim; and therefore the mercy of God is to exist so much the more admired that he has not blasted the glory of Judah equally he has washed that of Ephraim. Sparing mercy lays us under peculiar obligations when it is thus distinguishing. Ephraim'due south sins are found in Judah, and even so not Ephraim'due south ruins. They accept erred through wine. Their drinking to backlog is itself a practical fault; they retrieve to raise their fancy past it, only they ruin their judgment, and and then put a cheat upon themselves; they recall to preserve their wellness by it and assistance digestion, but they spoil their constitution and hasten diseases and deaths. It is also the occasion of a great many errors in principle; their understanding is clouded and their censor debauched by it; and therefore, to back up themselves in it, they espouse corrupt notions, and course their minds in favour of their lusts. Probably some were drawn in to worship idols past their love of the vino and strong potable which there was plenty of at their idolatrous festivals; and then they erred through wine, as Israel, for love of the daughters of Moab, joined themselves to Baal-peor. Three things are here observed as aggravations of this sin:-- (i.) That those were guilty of it whose business organization information technology was to warn others against it and to teach them better, and therefore who ought to have set a better instance: The priest and the prophet are swallowed up of wine; their role is quite drowned and lost in it. The priests, as sacrificers, were obliged past a detail police to be temperate (Leviticus 10:ix), and, as rulers and magistrates, it was not for them to drink vino, Proverbs 31:4. The prophets were a kind of Nazarites (as appears past Amos 2:eleven), and, as reprovers by office, were concerned to keep at the utmost distance from the sins they reproved in others; even so there were many of them ensnared in this sin. What! a priest, a prophet, a minister, and yet drunk! Tell it not in Gath. Such a scandal are they to their coat. (2.) That the consequences of it were very pernicious, not only by the sick influence of their example, simply the prophet, when he was drunk, erred in vision; the false prophets plainly discovered themselves to be then when they were in potable. The priest stumbled in judgment and forgot the police (Proverbs 31:v); he reeled and staggered equally much in the operations of his heed as in the motions of his body. What wisdom or justice can be expected from those that sacrifice reason, and virtue, and conscience, and all that is valuable to such a base lust as the love of stiff drink is? Happy art thou, O state! when thy princes consume and drink for forcefulness, and non for drunkenness, Ecclesiastes ten:17. (iii.) That the disease was epidemic, and the generality of those that kept whatsoever thing of a table were infected with it: All tables are total of vomit, Isaiah 28:8; Isaiah 28:8 . See what an odious thing the sin of drunkenness is, what an affront it is to human order; it is rude and ill-mannered enough to sicken the beholders, for the tables where they eat their meat are filthily stained with the marks of this sin, which the sinners declare every bit Sodom. Their tables are total of vomit, and so that the victor, instead of being proud of his crown, ought rather to be aback of information technology. It bodes ill to any people when then sottish a sin as drunkenness has become national. Copyright Statement Bibliographical Data
These files are public domain and are a derivative of an electronic edition that is bachelor on the Christian Classics Ethereal Library Website.
Henry, Matthew. "Complete Commentary on Isaiah 28:6". "Henry'south Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/mhm/isaiah-28.html. 1706.
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Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/isaiah/28-6.html