he Jews reproved for seeking aid from Egypt. (1-7) Judgements
in consequence of their contempt of God's word. (8-18) God's
mercies to his church. (19-26) The ruin of the Assyrian army,
and of all God's enemies. (27-33)
Verses 1-7: It was often the fault and folly of the Jews, that when
troubled by their neighbours on one side, they sought for
succour from others, instead of looking up to God. Nor can we
avoid the dreadful consequences of adding sin to sin, but by
making the righteousness of Christ our refuge, and seeking for
the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. Men have always been
prone to lean to their own understandings, but this will end in
their shame and misery. They would not trust in God. They took
much pains to gain the Egyptians. The riches so spent turned to
a bad account. See what dangers men run into who forsake God to
follow their carnal confidences. The Creator is the Rock of
ages, the creature a broken reed; we cannot expect too little
from man, or too much from God. Our strength is to sit still, in
humble dependence upon God and his goodness, and quiet
submission to his will.
Verses 8-18: The Jews were the only professing people God then had in
the world, yet many among them were rebellious. They had the
light, but they loved darkness rather. The prophets checked them
in their sinful pursuits, so that they could not proceed without
fear; this they took amiss. But faithful ministers will not be
driven from seeking to awaken sinners. God is the Holy One of
Israel, and so they shall find him. They did not like to hear of
his holy commandments and his hatred of sin; they desired that
they might no more be reminded of these things. But as they
despised the word of God, their sins undermined their safety.
Their state would be dashed in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Let us return from our evil ways, and settle in the way of duty;
that is the way to be saved. Would we be strengthened, it must
be in quietness and in confidence, keeping peace in our own
minds, and relying upon God. They think themselves wiser than
God; but the project by which they thought to save themselves
was their ruin. Only here and there one shall escape, as a
warning to others. If men will not repent, turn to God, and seek
happiness in his favour and service, their desires will but
hasten their ruin. Those who make God alone their confidence,
will have comfort. God ever waits to be gracious to all that
come to him by faith in Christ, and happy are those who wait for
him.
Verses 19-26: God's people will soon arrive at the Zion above, and then
they will weep no more for ever. Even now they would have more
comfort, as well as holiness, if they were more constant in
prayer. A famine of bread is not so great a judgment as a famine
of the word of God. There are right-hand and left-hand errors;
the tempter is busy courting us into by-paths. It is happy if,
by the counsels of a faithful minister or friend, or the checks
of conscience, and the strivings of God the Spirit, we are set
right when doubting, and prevented from going wrong. They shall
be cured of their idolatry. To all true penitents sin becomes
very hateful. This is shown daily in the conversion of souls, by
the power of Divine grace, to the fear and love of God. Abundant
means of grace, with the influences of the Holy Spirit, would be
extended to places destitute of them. The effect of this should
be comfort and joy to the people of God. Light, that is,
knowledge, shall increase. This is the light which the gospel
brought into the world, and which proclaims healing to the
broken-hearted.
Verses 27-33: God curbs and restrains from doing mischief. With a word
he guides his people into the right way, but with a bridle he
turns his enemies upon their own ruin. Here, in threatening the
ruin of Sennacherib's army, the prophet points at the final and
everlasting destruction of all impenitent sinners. Tophet was a
valley near Jerusalem, where fires were continually burning to
destroy things that were hurtful and offensive, and there the
idolatrous Jews caused their children to pass through the fire
to Moloch. This denotes the certainty of the destruction, as an
awful emblem of the place of torment in the other world. No
oppressor shall escape the Divine wrath. Let sinners then flee
to Christ, seeking to be reconciled to Him, that they may be
safe and happy, when destruction from the Almighty shall sweep
away all the workers of iniquity.
he Jews reproved for seeking aid from Egypt. (1-7) Judgements
in consequence of their contempt of God's word. (8-18) God's
mercies to his church. (19-26) The ruin of the Assyrian army,
and of all God's enemies. (27-33)