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Isaiah Chapter
Twenty-four
Isaiah 24
Chapter Contents
The desolation of the land. (1-12) A few shall be
preserved. (13-15) God's kingdom advanced by his judgments. (16-23)
Commentary on Isaiah 24:1-12
(Read Isaiah 24:1-12)
All whose treasures and happiness are laid up on earth
will soon be brought to want and misery. It is good to apply to ourselves what
the Scripture says of the vanity and vexation of spirit which attend all things
here below. Sin has turned the earth upside down; the earth is become quite
different to man
from what it was when God first made it to be his habitation.
It is
at the best
like a flower
which withers in the hands of those that
please themselves with it
and lay it in their bosoms. The world we live in is
a world of disappointment
a vale of tears; the children of men in it are but
of few days
and full of trouble
See the power of God's curse
how it makes
all empty
and lays waste all ranks and conditions. Sin brings these calamities
upon the earth; it is polluted by the sins of men
therefore it is made
desolate by God's judgments. Carnal joy will soon be at end
and the end of it
is heaviness. God has many ways to imbitter wine and strong drink to those who
love them; distemper of body
anguish of mind
and the ruin of the estate
will
make strong drink bitter
and the delights of sense tasteless. Let men learn to
mourn for sin
and rejoice in God; then no man
no event
can take their joy
from them.
Commentary on Isaiah 24:13-15
(Read Isaiah 24:13-15)
There shall be a remnant preserved from the general ruin
and it shall be a devout and pious remnant. These few are dispersed; like the
gleanings of the olive tree
hid under the leaves. The Lord knows those that
are his; the world does not. When the mirth of carnal worldlings ceases
the
joy of the saints is as lively as ever
because the covenant of grace
the
fountain of their comforts
and the foundation of their hopes
never fails.
Those who rejoice in the Lord can rejoice in tribulation
and by faith may
triumph when all about them are in tears. They encourage their fellow-sufferers
to do likewise
even those who are in the furnace of affliction. Or
in the
valleys
low
dark
miry places. In every fire
even the hottest
in every
place
even the remotest
let us keep up our good thoughts of God. If none of
these trials move us
then we glorify the Lord in the fires.
Commentary on Isaiah 24:16-23
(Read Isaiah 24:16-23)
Believers may be driven into the uttermost parts of the
earth; but they are singing
not sighing. Here is terror to sinners; the
prophet laments the miseries he saw breaking in like a torrent; and the small
number of believers. He foresees that sin would abound. The meaning is plain
that evil pursues sinners. Unsteady
uncertain are all these things. Worldly
men think to dwell in the earth as in a palace
as in a castle; but it shall be
removed like a cottage
like a lodge put up for the night. It shall fall and
not rise again; but there shall be new heavens and a new earth
in which shall
dwell nothing but righteousness. Sin is a burden to the whole creation; it is a
heavy burden
under which it groans now
and will sink at last. The high ones
that are puffed up with their grandeur
that think themselves out of the reach
of danger
God will visit for their pride and cruelty. Let us judge nothing
before the time
though some shall be visited. None in this world should be
secure
though their condition be ever so prosperous; nor need any despair
though their condition be ever so deplorable. God will be glorified in all
this. But the mystery of Providence is not yet finished. The ruin of the
Redeemer's enemies must make way for his kingdom
and then the Sun of
Righteousness will appear in full glory. Happy are those who take warning by
the sentence against others; every impenitent sinner will sink under his
transgression
and rise no more
while believers enjoy everlasting bliss.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Isaiah》
Isaiah 24
Verse 1
[1]
Behold
the LORD maketh the earth empty
and maketh it waste
and turneth it
upside down
and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.
The land — Of
Canaan.
Waste — He
will shortly make it waste
first by the Assyrians
and then by the Chaldeans.
Turneth —
Brings it into great disorder and confusion.
Verse 2
[2] And it shall be
as with the people
so with the priest; as with the
servant
so with his master; as with the maid
so with her mistress; as with
the buyer
so with the seller; as with the lender
so with the borrower; as
with the taker of usury
so with the giver of usury to him.
It shall be —
The approaching calamity shall be universal
without any distinction of persons
or ranks; the priests themselves having been partakers of the peoples sins
shall also partake with them in their plagues.
The seller —
The purchaser of lands shall have no more left than he that hath sold all his
patrimony; and all persons shall be made equal in beggary and slavery.
Verse 4
[4] The
earth mourneth and fadeth away
the world languisheth and fadeth away
the
haughty people of the earth do languish.
The world —
The land of Judea.
The majesty —
Not only common people
but the high and lofty ones.
Verse 5
[5] The
earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have
transgressed the laws
changed the ordinance
broken the everlasting covenant.
Defiled — By
the wickedness of its people.
The laws —
The laws of God.
Ordinance —
God's ordinances concerning his worship and service; the singular being put for
the plural.
Covenant —
The covenant made between God and Abraham
and all his posterity
which was
everlasting
both on God's part
who
upon the conditions therein expressed
engaged himself to be a God to them and to their seed forever; and on Israel's
part
who were obliged thereby to constant and perpetual obedience thro' all
generations.
Verse 6
[6] Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth
and they that dwell therein
are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned
and few men
left.
The curse —
The curse of God threatened to transgressors.
Burned —
Are consumed by the wrath of God
which is commonly compared to fire.
Verse 7
[7] The
new wine mourneth
the vine languisheth
all the merryhearted do sigh.
Mourneth —
Because there are none to drink it. Grief is ascribed to senseless creatures by
a figure usual in all authors.
Languisheth —
Because there are no people left to dress it
or gather its grapes.
The merry-hearted —
That made their hearts merry with wine.
Verse 8
[8] The
mirth of tabrets ceaseth
the noise of them that rejoice endeth
the joy of the
harp ceaseth.
Tabrets —
Which they used in their feasts.
The noise —
The word properly signifies a confused clamour
such as drunken men make.
Verse 9
[9] They
shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that
drink it.
Bitter —
Because of the fears and miseries wherewith it is mixed.
Verse 10
[10] The
city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up
that no man may come
in.
The city —
Jerusalem
and other cities; for the singular word may be here taken
collectively. A city of confusion or disorder
breaking all the laws and orders
which God had established among them.
Shut up —
Because the inhabitants are either dead
or gone into captivity.
Verse 11
[11]
There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened
the mirth of
the land is gone.
A crying —
Such was their gross sensuality and sottishness
that instead of crying for
their sins
they did only howl for their corn
and wine
and oil
Hosea 7:14.
Verse 13
[13] When
thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people
there shall be as
the shaking of an olive tree
and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is
done.
When —
When this judgment shall be executed
there shall be left a remnant; as there
are some few olives or grapes left after the vintage is over.
Verse 14
[14] They
shall lift up their voice
they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD
they
shall cry aloud from the sea.
They —
The remnant shall sing for the glorious power and goodness of God
manifested
in their deliverance.
The sea —
From the isles of the sea; from those parts beyond the sea into which
they were
carried captive.
Verse 15
[15]
Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires
even the name of the LORD God of
Israel in the isles of the sea.
In distress —
When you are in the furnace of affliction.
In the isles — In
remote countries
beyond the sea
which in scripture are commonly called isles.
Verse 16
[16] From
the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs
even glory to the
righteous. But I said
My leanness
my leanness
woe unto me! the treacherous
dealers have dealt treacherously; yea
the treacherous dealers have dealt very
treacherously.
From —
From all the parts of the earth in which the Jews are or shall be.
Songs — Of
joy and praise.
Glory —
Or
glory be to the righteous. The Lord
the righteous one.
But — In
the midst of these joyful tidings
I discern something which gives me cause of
lamentation.
My leanness — I
faint and pine away for grief
for the following reason.
Treacherously —
The Jews
who have been frequently guilty of great perfidiousness towards God
are now acting the same part. Even the Hebrew doctors expound this place of the
perfidiousness of some Jews in the times of the Messiah. And it is not strange
that so sad a sight made the prophet cry out
My leanness
etc. He repeats it
to shew the horridness of the crime.
Verse 17
[17]
Fear
and the pit
and the snare
are upon thee
O inhabitant of the earth.
The snare —
Great and various judgments
some actually inflicted
and others justly feared.
Verse 18
[18] And
it shall come to pass
that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall
into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken
in the snare: for the windows from on high are open
and the foundations of the
earth do shake.
Fleeth —
Upon the report of some terrible evil.
The foundations —
Both heaven and earth conspire against him. He alludes to the deluge of waters
which God poured down from heaven
and to the earthquakes which he often causes
below.
Verse 19
[19] The
earth is utterly broken down
the earth is clean dissolved
the earth is moved
exceedingly.
The earth —
This is repeated again
to shew the dreadfulness and
certainty of these
judgments
and to awaken the stupid Israelites.
Verse 20
[20] The
earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard
and shall be removed like a
cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall
fall
and not rise again.
A tent —
Which is easily and commonly carried from place to place.
Verse 22
[22] And
they shall be gathered together
as prisoners are gathered in the pit
and shall
be shut up in the prison
and after many days shall they be visited.
Gathered — By
God's special providence
in order to their punishment. And thus the
unbelieving Jews were generally gathered together at Jerusalem
to their solemn
feast
when Titus came and besieged
and destroyed them.
Shut up — As
malefactors
which are taken in several places
are usually brought to one
common prison.
After —
After the apostate Jews shall have been shut up in unbelief
and in great
tribulations for many ages together
they shall be convinced of their sin in
crucifying the Messiah
and brought home to God and Christ by true repentance.
Verse 23
[23] Then
the moon shall be confounded
and the sun ashamed
when the LORD of hosts shall
reign in mount Zion
and in Jerusalem
and before his ancients gloriously.
The sun —
All earthly powers and glories shall be obscured with the far greater splendor
of Christ
the king of kings
at whose feet even the kings of the earth shall
fall down and worship.
The Lord —
The Messiah
who
tho' man
yet is also God
and the Lord of hosts.
Shall reign —
Shall come in the flesh
and set up his kingdom
first in Jerusalem
and
afterward in all other nations.
Before —
Before his ministers
who are in some sort the courtiers of the King of Glory.
But the ancients are here put for the whole church
in whose name and for whose
service they act.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Isaiah》
24 Chapter 24
Verses 1-23
Verses 1-5
Behold
the Lord maketh the earth empty
“The earth
”
“The earth
” not the “land” (R.. marg.) of Judah or
Palestine. “The prophecy leaps far beyond all particular or national
conditions.” (J. Skinner
D. D.)
The sources and consequences of anarchy
I. THE FATAL
CONSEQUENCES OF ANARCHY. Of these we may be convinced
by viewing the greatness
of the blessings which anarchy destroys. Happy the prince
happy the people
when lawful government is well established
wisely administered
duly honoured
and cheerfully obeyed! The persons
characters
and properties of the innocent
are protected; good order is preserved; and the duties of every different
situation
employment
and rank are faithfully discharged. The political body
is healthy and safe. Distinguished genius and penetration
improved in wisdom
by careful attention and long experience
are as eyes to the community: while
the hands of the mechanic and labourer supply its necessities. These blessings
are interrupted when the power of such a government is suspended; and
when it
is destroyed
they cease. Anarchy
by levelling all ranks
transgresses a great
law of nature
and of the God of nature; and stops a chief source of social
happiness. Where abilities
dispositions
situations
and enjoyments differ
power and influence cannot be equal. A land
where there is no order
is a land
of darkness and of the shadow of death. A community
which hath no eyes and
guides
must wander and perish in the paths of destruction and misery.
II. THE SOURCES OF
ANARCHY
in rulers
or subjects
transgressing the laws
and neglecting the
maxims
which reason or revelation prescribes
for securing the happiness and
peace of society.
1. Anarchy is occasioned by violating the laws which prescribe
patriotism
public spirit
love of liberty
and regard to the rights of
mankind.
2. Neglect of the maxims of wisdom
taught by reason or Scripture
is
sometimes the immediate
and sometimes the remote
source of anarchy.
3. Anarchy is occasioned
and the power of preventing or removing it
diminished
by rulers and subjects transgressing the precepts of industry and frugality.
4. Anarchy is occasioned by neglect of the laws of reason and
revelation
which prescribe peaceableness and union. Every kingdom divided
against itself is brought to desolation.
5. Anarchy is occasioned by transgressing the great laws of religion.
Religion produces the most perfect union: for it inspires
with the same
general principle of action
supreme regard to the glory of God
unfeigned
affection to our neighbour
and a willingness to sacrifice
whatever in its own
nature opposes
or
through peculiar circumstances
becomes incompatible with
these. (J. Erskine
D. D.)
National desolation
I. THE NATURE OF
THE CALAMITY WHICH SHOULD COME UPON THE LAND--the emptiness or desolation of
the earth. This is one of the rods which God holds over the heads of people
to
make them stand in fear of Hun Leviticus 26:19; Deuteronomy 28:38).
II. THE AUTHOR OR
EFFICIENT CAUSE OF SUCH DESOLATION is God. It does not happen by say blind
chance.
III. THE MEANS OR
SECOND CAUSES whereby God makes a land waste. Pestilence
sword
fire
unseasonable weather
noxious creatures
etc.
IV. THE MERITORIOUS
CAUSE (verse 5). (W. Reading
M. A.)
Verse 2
And it shall be
as with the people
go with the priest
The mutual assimilation of minister and people
The minister makes the people and the people make the minister.
I. THE MINISTER’S
INFLUENCE.
1. As a preacher and teacher--upon the conceptions of truth and duty
the understanding of the Word of God
and the practical conduct of the people.
2. As a man
in his own example and life.
3. As a pastor
in his pastoral intercourse with his flock.
4. As a public leader of reforms
etc.
II. THE PEOPLE’S
INFLUENCE.
1. In getting him audience. Giving him their own ears and attention
and gathering in others.
2. In making him eloquent. Gladstone says
“Eloquence is pouring back
on an audience in a shower what is first received from the audience in vapour.”
3. In making him spiritual. They can encourage him to spiritual
growth and culture; to earnest and edifying preaching. They can pray for him
and help him to feel that they want and wish only spiritual food.
4. In making him a power for good. Aristotle says
“Truth is what a
thing is in itself
in its relations and in the medium through which it is
viewed.” Goethe says
“Before we complain of the writing as obscure we must
first examine if all be clear within.” In the twilight a very plain manuscript
is illegible. So the attitude of a hearer largely limits the power of a
preacher; the cooperation of a Church member may indefinitely increase the effectiveness
of a pastor’s work. (Homiletic Review.)
Preachers affected by their congregations
A few years ago
after a minister had been preaching in a Wesleyan
chapel not far from my house
one of the older officials of the circuit began
to talk to him of the glories of a past generation
and said with some fervour
“Ah
sir
there were great preachers in those days.” “Yes
” was the reply of
the minister
“and there were great hearers in those days.” The answer was a
wise and just one. If preachers form and discipline their congregations
it is
equally true that congregations form and discipline their preachers. (R. W.
Dale
LL. D.)
As with the buyer
so with
the seller
Buying and selling
Buying and selling are of very ancient date. The earliest instance
we read of occurs in the history of Abraham. The purchase made was a burying
place; and is connected with the death of Sarah
Abraham’s wife. Various
nations and states have distinguished themselves at different times by their
trade and commerce. In ancient times we may enumerate Arabia
Egypt
and
especially Tyre--the crowning city where “merchants were princes--where
traffickers were the honourable of the earth.” In more moderntimes we may
mention Greece
Rome
Venice
the Hanse
Spain
Portugal
and above all Great
Britain. Well might Napoleon Buonaparte call us a nation of shopkeepers. (R.
W. Overbury.)
The relative duties of buyers and sellers
I. POINT OUT SOME
OF THE EVILS BY WHICH THE RELATION BETWEEN BUYER AND SELLER IS VIOLATED. This
relation is violated by every violation of those two important principles that
lie at the foundation of all society--justice and truth. Justice consists in
giving everyone his due; and truth or veracity in keeping our engagements
and
avoiding lying and dissimulation. These principles and the relative duties
arising out of them are violated--
1. By the practice of any and every kind of fraud in the transaction
of business.
2. By the contracting of debts without any reasonable prospect of
being able to pay them.
3. Another way in which the relation between buyers and sellers is
violated is
by making ourselves responsible for the debts of others
when we
are not in possession of sufficient capital to warrant it.
4. By the very prevalent practice of underselling. Where does the
injury fall? First
upon the poor operatives
who labour day and night by the
sweat of their brow
to furnish conveniences and luxuries for the higher ranks
of society
whilst their labour is remunerated at a price that hardly keeps
them and their families from starving. The other party upon whom the injury
falls is other tradesmen in the same line
who
shrinking from the use of such
unscrupulous and oppressive means of realising large profits
lose either a
part or the whole of their custom.
II. SHOW THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE SUBJECT.
1. In a secular view. The permanent prosperity of our trade
and
consequently the temporal welfare of society depend upon the principles which
pervade our business transactions. Every deviation from right principles
inflicts injury somewhere
and in proportion to the extent of that deviation
contributes to augment the sum of national distress. Nations
as such
are
punished in this life--individuals hereafter. An invisible Being
too little
recognised in the marts of trade
presides over our national affairs
and
distributes or withholds national blessings in proportion as the principles of
eternal truth and justice are practically acknowledged.
2. In a religious view. It has been well said
that “a Christian is
the highest style of man.”
Verse 5
The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof
The earth polluted by sin
The inhabitants of the earth pollute it by their sins: the children
of Israel defiled God’s land by filling His inheritance with the carcasses of
their abominable things
with their idolatries
with their wicked inventions
and corrupt ways.
(R. Macculloch.)
Transgression
“They have transgressed the laws” of nature
of conscience
and of
nations--the ceremonial
judicial
and moral laws
delivered to them by Jehovah
Himself. These laws
stamped by the sacred authority of the one great Lawgiver
which they ought to have religiously observed
they presumptuously transgressed
omitting to do what He required and committing what He had forbidden. (R.
Macculloch.)
The earth cursed for man’s sake
The Bible gives no support to the theory that matter itself is
evil. God created all things; “and God saw everything that He had made; and
behold
it was very good.” When
therefore
we read in the Bible that the earth
is cursed
we read that it is cursed for man’s sake; when we read of its
desolation
it is as the effect of man’s crime. (G. A. Smith
D. D.)
The everlasting covenant
The covenant is that with Noah
and the law that against bloodshed
(Genesis 9:5-6). (A. B. Davidson
LL.
D.)
Verse 15
Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires
Glorifying the Lord in the fires
The suffering child of God will glorify Him in the fires--
I.
BY
ACKNOWLEDGING HIS POWER. The same Almighty One who fed Elijah
in the terrible
days of dearth
and who delivered Daniel from the power of the lions
still
watches over and provides for His people.
II. BY RECOGNISING
HIS WISDOM. He knows (as no short-sighted mortal can) when it is safe for us to
enjoy prosperity
and when it is needful for our soul’s health to endure
disappointment and trouble.
III. BY A FRANK
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF HIS GOODNESS. If Our Heavenly Father had ceased to feel an
interest in our welfare
He would not have employed the means to do us good. (J.
N. Norton.)
I. WHO ARE
EXPECTED TO GLORIFY THE LORD.
1. “to glorify” is exemplified in 1 Chronicles 29:10-18. Then the
wicked cannot do that (Job 20:5).
2. But the Church triumphant does (Revelation 7:11-12).
3. And the Church militant ought to have this one aim. Let us take as
an example
St. Paul (Philippians 3:10-14).
The Lord glorified by His suffering people
II. WHAT THE FIRES
ARE IN WHICH WE GLORIFY GOD.
1. Determined self-humiliation
etc.; duties unpleasant
but
religious.
2. Personal troubles are often perplexing. Faith is given
not to
annihilate these
but to endure them.
3. Others’ trials.
4. Our bodily afflictions.
5. Amongst the hottest “fires” are fiery darts. Paul was thus tried.
6. Enmity against our beloved Church. Foes within and without.
7. Fear of death.
III. BUT ONE IS EVER
PRESENT IN THE FIRES.
1. In them once
alone.
2. Leads others safely through.
IV. THE FIRES ARE
BURNING BY GOD’S PERMISSION. Like powerful remedies of surgeon or physician.
1. To manifest His chosen.
2. To purify.
3. To strengthen. Opposition invigorates. (W. W. Tyler.)
How to honour God in trouble
“Whether ye eat
or drink
or whatsoever ye do
do all to the
glory of God.” What an extensive admonition is this! And yet even this does not
include the whole of God’s claim upon us. We are required to honour Him
not
only in all we do
but in all we suffer.
I. THE STATE HERE
SUPPOSED. “In the fires.” Stripped of metaphor
the passage supposes a state of
suffering. In this state we may be found--
1. As men. “Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.”
2. As Christians. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.”
II. THE DUTY HERE
ENJOINED. “Glorify ye the Lord in the fires.” The glory of God is essential or
declarative. We cannot add to the former. But
“the heavens declare the glory
of God.” All His works praise Him. How? By the impressions and displays of His
perfections; by showing us what He is
and what He deserves. Thus
Christians
are appointed to “show forth the praises”--virtues--excellences--“of Him who
hath called them
” etc.; which is done by their language and their lives.
Hence
we glorify God in our afflictions when we verbally and practically
acknowledge--
1. His agency.
2. His rectitude. He is “righteous in all His ways
and holy in all
His works.”
3. His wisdom.
4. His goodness.
5. His power.
III. THE REASONS.
1. Because you have the finest opportunity. The scene naturally
awakens attention. Nothing is so impressive as the graces of a
Christian in trouble.
2. The obligations you are under to the blessed God.
3. Hope should influence you. “Verily there is a reward for the
righteous.” (W. Jay.)
Glorifying God in affliction
“There never was such affliction as mine
” said a poor sufferer
restlessly tossing on a sick bed
in a city hospital. “I don’t think there ever
was such a racking pain.” “Once
” was faintly uttered from the next bed. The
first speaker paused for a moment
and then began
in a still more impatient
tone: “Nobody knows what I pass through; nobody ever suffered more pain.”
“One
” was again whispered from the adjoining bed. “I take it you mean
yourself
poor soul! but--Oh! not myself--not myself
” exclaimed the other
her
pale face flushing as if some wrong had been offered
not to herself but to
another. There was a short pause
and then the sweet
gentle voice uttered the
sacred words
“When they had platted a crown of thorns
they put it upon His
head
and a reed in His right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him
and
mocked Him
saying
Hail
King of the Jews! And they spit upon Him
and took
the reed
and smote Him on the head. And when they came unto a place called
Golgotha
they gave Him vinegar to drink
mingled with gall. And they crucified
Him. And
about the ninth hour
Jesus cried with a loud voice
saying: My God
My God
why hast Thou forsaken Me?” The voice ceased
and the nurse handed a
cup of barley water
flavoured with a grateful acid
to the lips of both
sufferers. “Thank you
nurse
” said the last speaker. “They gave Him gall to
eat
and vinegar to drink.” “She is talking about Jesus
” said the other sick
woman
“but talking about His sufferings can’t mend mine.” “But it lightens
hers
” said the nurse. “I wonder how?” Hush!” said the nurse. The gentle voice
began: “Surely He hath borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows. He was
wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities: the
chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.”
Verily
even in the midst of affliction and suffering God’s true children will
learn to glorify Him. (J. N. Norton.)
Galileo’s recognition of God in his blindness
How touching that saying of blind Galileo
“It has pleased God
that it shall be so
and it must please me too.” (J. N. Norton.)
“The fires”
The term “fires” is a local designation meaning the east
as the
land of sunrise
or of dawning light
and so standing in opposition to the
west
which is represented in the next clause as “the isles of the sea.” The
deliverance is one that calls for a chorus of praise from one end of the earth
to the other. (T. W. Chambers
D. D.)
Verse 17
Fear and the pit
and the snare
are upon thee
Fear
and the pit
and the snare
The expressions here used seem to have formed a proverbial saying
as appears from their being repeated by the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 48:43-44).
They allude to the different methods of taking wild beasts that were anciently
in use. The fear
or terror
was a line strung with feathers of different
colours
which was so constructed as to flutter in the air and to make a
terrifying noise
that frightened the beasts into the pit
or the snare
that
was prepared for them. The pit was digged deep in the ground
and covered over
with boughs or turf
in order to deceive them
that they might fall into it
unawares. The snare was composed of nets
enclosing a large space of ground
that the wild beasts were known to haunt
which was drawn gradually narrower
until they were at last entangled and shut up. Our prophet
addressing himself
to the inhabitants of the earth
declares
that calamities corresponding to
each of these ways of destroying wild beasts
were to seize upon them
and that
they should be so ordered
that those who escaped one sort would be arrested by
another. (R. Macculloch.)
Verses 18-20
The foundations of the earth do shake
The religious improvement of earthquakes
(preached in 1756):--The works of Creation and Providence were
undoubtedly intended for the notice and contemplation of mankind
especially
when God “comes out of His place
” that is
departs from the usual and stated
course of His providence to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their
iniquities; then it becomes us to observe the operation of His hands with fear
and reverence.
To this the Psalmist repeatedly calls us: “Come
behold the works of the Lord
what desolations He hath made in the earth.” “Come
and see the works of God;
He is terrible in His doing toward the children of men.” This world is a state
of discipline for another; therefore chastisements of various kinds and degrees
are to be enumerated among the ordinary works of Providence--pain
sickness
losses
bereavements
disappointments. But when these are found too weak and
ineffectual for their reformation; or when
from their being so frequent and
common
men begin to think them things of course
and not to acknowledge the
Divine hand in them; then the universal Ruler uses such signal and
extraordinary executioners of His vengeance
as cannot but rouse a slumbering
world
and render it sensible of His agency. These extraordinary ministers of
His vengeance are generally these four: the Famine
Sword
Pestilence
and
Earthquakes.
I. Let the
majestic and terrible phenomenon of earthquakes put you in mind of THE MAJESTY
AND POWER OF GOD AND THE DREADFULNESS OF HIS DISPLEASURE.
II. This desolating
judgment may justly lead you to reflect upon THE SINFULNESS OF OUR WORLD.
III. This melancholy
event may carry your minds gratefully to reflect upon THE PECULIAR KINDNESS OF
HEAVEN towards our country
in that it was not involved in the same
destruction.
IV. That which I
would particularly suggest to your thoughts from the devastations of the late
earthquake
is THE LAST UNIVERSAL DESTRUCTION OF OUR WORLD AT THE FINAL
JUDGMENT. Of this
an earthquake is both a confirmation to human reason
and a
lively representation (S. Davies
M. A.)
“Removed like a cottage”
(Isaiah 24:20):--“Swayeth to and fro like
a hammock.” Such is the more literal rendering. The hammock (the same word as
in Isaiah 1:8) is still used throughout the
East by the night-watchers of vineyards. (Sir E. Strachey
Bart.)
──《The Biblical Illustrator》