FOR FAIR USE EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES

Link of article or video : http://www.christnotes.org/commentary.php?b=23&c=30&com=mhc

Hello all,

Today, while praying for guidance for the studies that I have been presenting and confirmation that I am doing what He is leading me to do, I opened the Bible to Isaiah chapter 30. Upon reading the whole chapter I discovered that it has much to do with my other studies, and the state of affairs in the world today. Therefore, I looked for a good commentary on this chapter, and found a Matthew Henry commentary which expounds nicely on its contents.

The Lord is so amazing in how He answers our prayers and helps us to stay in His will. I hope you enjoy this study, as I feel it has much to tell us about what is happening in our world today. It speaks about Sudden Destruction and Glorious Redemption and how both will be happening at the same time. I pray we can all stay focused on our glorious redemption, as this end time drama of the ages, unfolds.

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Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Isaiah 30

(Note: I will provide the verses from the chapter that will be addressed as the commentary unfolds, and capitalize some important points.)

Chapter Contents

The Jews reproved for seeking aid from Egypt. (1-7) Judgments 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)

Commentary on Isaiah 30:1-7

(Read Isaiah 30:1-7)

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Isa 30:1
“Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:”

Isa 30:2
“That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!”

Isa 30:3
“Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.”

Isa 30:4
“For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.”

Isa 30:5
“They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.”

Isa 30:6
“The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and FIERY FLYING SERPENT, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.”

Isa 30:7
“For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.”
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It was often the fault and folly of the Jews, that when troubled by their neighbors on one side, they sought for succor 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 pain 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.


Commentary on Isaiah 30:8-18

(Read Isaiah 30:8-18)

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Isa 30:8
“Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for THE TIME TO COME FOR EVER AND EVER:”

Isa 30:9
“That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:”

Isa 30:10
“Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, SPEAK UNTO US SMOOTH THINGS, prophesy deceits:”

Isa 30:11
“Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.”

Isa 30:12
“Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:”

Isa 30:13
“Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, WHOSE BREAKING COMETH SUDDENLY AT AN INSTANT.”

Isa 30:14
“And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.”

Isa 30:15
“For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.”

Isa 30:16
“But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift”

Isa 30:17
“One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: TILL YE BE LEFT AS A BEACON UPON THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN, AND AS AN ENSIGN ON AN HILL.”

Isa 30:18
“And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: BLESSED ARE THEY THAT WAIT FOR HIM.”
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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 favor 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.


Commentary on Isaiah 30:19-26

(Read Isaiah 30:19-26)

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Isa 30:19
“For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.”

Isa 30:20
“And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:”

Isa 30:21
“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”

Isa 30:22
“Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.”

Isa 30:23
“Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.”

Isa 30:24
“The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.”

Isa 30:25
“And there shall be upon every high mountain and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters IN THE DAY OF THE GREAT SLAUGHTER, WHEN THE TOWERS FALL.”

Isa 30:26
“Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.”
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God's people will soon arrive at the Zion above, and then they will weep no more forever. 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 penitent 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.


Commentary on Isaiah 30:27-33

(Read Isaiah 30:27-33)

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Isa 30:27
“Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:”

Isa 30:28
“And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be A BRIDAL IN THE JAWS OF THE PEOPLE, CAUSING THEM TO ERR.”

Isa 30:29
“Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel.”

Isa 30:30
“And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and HAIL STONES.”

Isa 30:31
“For through the voice of the LORD shall the ASSYRIAN be beaten down, which smote with a rod.”

Isa 30:32
“And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the LORD shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it.”

Isa 30:33
“For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.”
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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.

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These chapters speak of the end time fiery flying serpent, the Assyrian, and the day of great slaughter when the towers will fall. When destruction shall happen in an instant and all sinners will seek to flee the Judgment of the Lord. Also, of how even some of the people of God, will choose to hear smooth teachings, instead of the truth of His Holy Word.

Yet at the same time, it speaks of God’s elect that will be saved and become as beacons upon a hill, shining the light of the Gospel to the broken hearted.

We must be reminded that our only strength and salvation is found in the Lord. As dark as things are getting in the world, they are getting brighter and stronger for the Lord’s beloved. As the darkness comes upon the wicked, the pure light of the Lord will fill His people. As sudden destruction draws near so does our glorious redemption and blessed hope.

LET US REJOICE IN THE LORD OF OUR SALVATION AND STAND FIRM IN HIS LOVE AND READY TO POUR IT ON THIS DARK WORLD!!

May the Lord Bless you all with His Grace and Truth,

JESUS IS ALL AND EVERYTHING!!

Patti C.

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