Matthew Henry Commentary Isaiah 21
Matthew Henry Commentary
Isaiah 21
Matthew Henry Commentary
Isaiah 21
"The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it cometh from the wilderness, from a terrible land. A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous man dealeth treacherously, and the destroyer destroyeth. Go up, O Elam; besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease. Therefore are my loins filled with anguish; pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman in travail: I am pained so that I cannot hear; I am dismayed so that I cannot see. My heart fluttereth, horror hath affrighted me; the twilight that I desired hath been turned into trembling unto me. They prepare the table, they set the watch, they eat, they drink: rise up, ye princes, anoint the shield. For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman: let him declare what he seeth: and when he seeth a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of asses, a troop of camels, he shall hearken diligently with much heed. And he cried as a lion: O Lord, I stand continually upon the watch-tower in the day-time, and am set in my ward whole nights; and, behold, here cometh a troop of men, horsemen in pairs. And he answered and said, Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the graven images of her gods are broken unto the ground. O thou my threshing, and the grain of my floor! that which I have heard from Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you." — Isaiah 21:1-10 (ASV)
Babylon was a flat country, abundantly watered. The destruction of Babylon, so often prophesied by Isaiah, was typical of the destruction of the great enemy of the New Testament church, foretold in the Revelation. To the poor oppressed captives it would be welcome news; to the proud oppressors it would be grievous. Let this check vain mirth and sensual pleasures, for we do not know in what heaviness the mirth may end.
Here the alarm is given to Babylon, when overcome by Cyrus. A donkey and a camel seem to be the symbols of the Medes and Persians. Babylon's idols will be so far from protecting her that they will be broken down. True believers are the grain of God's floor; hypocrites are only like chaff and straw, with which the wheat is now mixed, but from which it will be separated.
The grain of God's floor must expect to be threshed by afflictions and persecutions. God's Israel of old was afflicted. Even then God acknowledges it is still His. In all events concerning the church, past, present, and to come, we must look to God, who has power to do anything for His church, and grace to do everything that is for her good.
Isaiah 21:11–12 God's prophets and ministers are like watchmen in the city in a time of peace, to ensure that all is safe. As watchmen in the camp in time of war, they are to warn of the movements of the enemy. After a long sleep in sin and security, it is time to rise, to awake out of sleep. We have a great deal of work to do, a long journey to go; it is time to be active.
After a long dark night, is there any hope of the day dawning? What news of the night? What is happening tonight? We must never be complacent. But many make curious inquiries of the watchmen. They would willingly have intricate questions solved, or difficult prophecies interpreted; but they do not inquire into the state of their own souls, about the way of salvation, and the path of duty.
The watchman answers by way of prophecy. There comes first a morning of light, and peace, and opportunity; but afterward comes a night of trouble and calamity. If there is a morning of youth and health, there will come a night of sickness and old age; if a morning of prosperity in the family or in public life, we must still expect changes. It is wise for us to make good use of the present morning, in preparation for the night that is coming after it.
Inquire, return, come. We are urged to do it quickly, for there is no time to waste. Those who return and come to God will find they have a great deal of work to do, and only a little time to do it in.
"The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedanites. Unto him that was thirsty they brought water; the inhabitants of the land of Tema did meet the fugitives with their bread. For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war. For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Kedar shall fail; and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be few; for Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath spoken it." — Isaiah 21:13-17 (ASV)
The Arabians lived in tents and kept cattle. A destroying army will be brought upon them and make them an easy prey.
We do not know what straits we may be brought into before we die. Those may come to know the lack of necessary food who now eat bread to the full. Neither the skill of archers nor the courage of mighty men can protect from the judgments of God. That is poor glory, which will thus quickly come to nothing.
Thus has the Lord said to me; and no word of his will fall to the ground. We may be sure the Strength of Israel will not lie. Happy are those only whose riches and glory are out of the reach of invaders; all other prosperity will speedily pass away.
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