Matthew Henry Commentary


Matthew Henry Commentary
"Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah; who swear by the name of Jehovah, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness (for they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; Jehovah of hosts is his name): I have declared the former things from of old; yea, they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them: suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass; therefore I have declared it to thee from of old; before it came to pass I showed it thee; lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them. Thou hast heard it; behold all this; and ye, will ye not declare it? I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, which thou hast not known. They are created now, and not from of old; and before this day thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them. Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from of old thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou didst deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb." — Isaiah 48:1-8 (ASV)
The Jews prided themselves on their descent from Jacob and claimed Jehovah as their God. They took pride in Jerusalem and the temple, yet there was no holiness in their lives. If we are not sincere in our religion, we only take the name of the Lord in vain.
Through prophecy, they were shown how God would deal with them long before it happened. God has said and done enough to prevent people's boasting about themselves, which makes the sin and ruin of the proud even worse; sooner or later, every mouth will be stopped, and all will become silent before Him.
We are all born children of disobedience. Where original sin exists, actual sin will follow. Does not the conscience of everyone witness to the truth of Scripture? May the Lord test us and make us doers of the word.
"For my name`s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. Behold, I have refined thee, but not as silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, for mine own sake, will I do it; for how should [my name] be profaned? and my glory will I not give to another. Hearken unto me, O Jacob, and Israel my called: I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. Yea, my hand hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spread out the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together. Assemble yourselves, all ye, and hear; who among them hath declared these things? He whom Jehovah loveth shall perform his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm [shall be on] the Chaldeans. I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him; I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous." — Isaiah 48:9-15 (ASV)
We ourselves have nothing to plead with God as a reason for Him to show mercy on us. It is for His praise, to the honor of His mercy, to spare.
His bringing people into trouble was to do them good. It was to refine them, but not as silver is refined—not as thoroughly as people refine silver. If God should take that course, they are all dross, and, as such, might justly be put away. He accepts them as refined only in part.
Many have been brought home to God as chosen vessels, and a good work of grace begun in them, in the furnace of affliction. It is a comfort to God's people that God will secure His own honor and therefore work deliverance for them.
And if God delivers His people, He cannot be at a loss for instruments to employ. God has formed a plan in which, for His own sake and the glory of His grace, He saves all who come to Him.
"Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; from the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord Jehovah hath sent me, and his Spirit. Thus saith Jehovah, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am Jehovah thy God, who teacheth thee to profit, who leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. Oh that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea: thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the grains thereof: his name would not be cut off nor destroyed from before me. Go ye forth from Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans; with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth: say ye, Jehovah hath redeemed his servant Jacob. And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts; he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them; he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out. There is no peace, saith Jehovah, to the wicked." — Isaiah 48:16-22 (ASV)
The Holy Spirit qualifies for service; and those whom God and His Spirit send may speak boldly. This is to be applied to Christ. He was sent, and He had the Spirit without measure. Those whom God redeems, He teaches; He teaches them to profit by affliction, and then makes them partakers of His holiness. Also, by His grace He leads them in the way of duty; and by His providence He leads them in the way of deliverance.
God did not afflict them willingly. If their sins had not turned them away, their peace would have always been flowing and abundant. Spiritual enjoyments are always joined with holiness of life and regard to God's will. It will make the misery of the disobedient the more painful, to think how happy they might have been. And here, assurance is given of salvation out of captivity.
Those whom God designs to bring home to Himself, He will take care of them, so that they will lack nothing for their journey. This is applicable to the grace laid up for us in Jesus Christ, from whom all good flows to us, as the water flowed to Israel out of the rock, for that Rock was Christ. The spiritual blessings of redemption, and the rescue of the church from antichristian tyranny, are here pointed to. But whatever changes take place, the Lord warned impenitent sinners that no good would come to them; that inward anguish and outward trouble, which spring from guilt and from the Divine wrath, must be their portion forever.
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