Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

ISAIAH - CHAPTER 29

A NECESSARY DISCIPLINE

Vs. 1-4: ZION TO BE BROUGHT LOW BY HER ENEMIES

1. "Ariel" is Jerusalem "the city of David" (2 Samuel 5:7; 2 Samuel 5:9; 1 Kings 2:10; 1 Kings 3:1), and appears to mean "the hearth of God" (Ezekiel 43:15-16 R.V.) - though most regard it more poetically as "lion of God"; it is both His dwelling-place (Psalms 76:2) and altar (Isaiah 31:9).

a. Here the altar-fires were kept burning continually- ritualistic sacrifices offered year-to-year - though the hearts of the people were not in them, (vs. 9, 13; Isaiah 1:14; Isaiah 5:12).

b. In her distress Jerusalem will be as an altar (Ariel) unto God -covered with the blood of her own citizens, (vs. 2, Isaiah 3:26; La 2:5).

2. The Lord pictures Himself as encamped round about Jerusalem - laying siege and raising forts against her, (vs. 3).

a. This will soon come through the instrumentality of Sennacherib; again under Nebuchadnezzar and Titus.

b. But, the ultimate fulfillment awaits a siege that threatens annihilation just prior to the second coming of our Lord, (Luke 19:43-44; comp. Zechariah 14).

3. The city will be reduced to utter helplessness - so weakened that her voice is represented as whispering out of the dust, (vs. 4).

Vs. 5-8: THE HOSTILE PURPOSE OF THE ENEMY TO BE FRUSTRATED

1. In Judah’s hour of extremity the Lord will again prove Himself to be her hope and help - driving her enemies, as small dust; the terrible oppressors, as chaff, before Him, (vs. 5; 17:13; vs. 20; Isaiah 13:11; Isaiah 25:3-5; Isaiah 49:25).

2. The routing of the enemy will be "at an instant, suddenly", (cf. Isaiah 17:14; Isaiah 47:11).

3. The voice of the Lord speaks through: thunder, earthquake, noise, storm, tempest and "the flame of devouring fire", (vs. 6; comp. Psalms 29; Exodus 9:23; Exodus 9:29; Exodus 9:33; Exodus 19:16-20; Exodus 20:18-19; 1 Samuel 7:10; 1 Samuel 12:15-18; 2 Samuel 22:14-15; Psalms 18:13-14; Revelation 11:13; Revelation 11:19; Revelation 16:18).

4. Because Jehovah is faithful, the purpose of the enemy will be thwarted, (vs. 7-8; Micah 4:11-12).

a. Jerusalem will, henceforth, look back upon their threatenings as a bad dream that did not come true, (cs. 7; Isaiah 17:14).

b. And the enemy is likened to a dreamer who, hungry and thirsty, feasts upon all sorts of delicacies and drinks his fill; yet, when he awakens, he is empty and faint.

c. This is the lot of all those nations that fight against Jerusalem, (Zechariah 12:9; Isaiah 54:17).

1. If they receive Isaiah’s prophecy with amazed incredulity, they will surely be astounded by the event itself, (vs. 9).

2. They must not deceive themselves any longer about their spiritual wickedness; they are blind only because they REFUSE TO SEE! (Matthew 13:15; Acts 28:26-28).

3. But, since they have chosen darkness, God will give them their fill of it!

a. He has poured upon them a spirit of deep sleep, (vs. 10; Isaiah 6:9-10; Romans 11:7-10; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12) shutting the eyes of their prophets, (Micah 3:5-6), and covering the heads of their seers, (Micah 3:7).

b. Thus, the vision (the word of the Lord) became unto all of them as a sealed book which none could understand, (vs. 11-12; Isaiah 8:16; Daniel 12:4; Daniel 12:9).

4. So addicted were these hypocrites to their formalistic, heartless "precepts of men"; that they Were beyond the reach of help until brought to see their spiritual bankruptcy - an impossibility apart from God’s "marvelous work" of judgment, (vs. 13; Isaiah 65:7; Hosea 1:5-6).

5. Therefore, the wisdom and understanding of their wise men perished, (vs. 14; comp. Isaiah 44:24-25; Jeremiah 8:8-9; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; Proverbs 1:20-33; Romans 1:18-32).

6. A special "woe" is upon the presumptuous perverseness of these god-players who turn things upside down - imagining that their secret plans to lean on Egypt for support are hidden from God’s view, (vs. 15-16; comp. Isaiah 28:15; Isaiah 45:9; Isaiah 47:10; Isaiah 57:11-13; Ezekiel 8:12; Jeremiah 8:4-7; Romans 9:19-21).

Vs. 17-24: AN ULTIMATE RESTORATION IS ASSURED

1. The prophet forsees the curse lifted and the land restored to fruitfullness, (vs. 17; comp. Amos 9:13; Ezekiel 34:26-27; Joel 3:18; Hosea 2:21-23; Zechariah 8:12; Ezekiel 36:8; Ezekiel 36:29-30; Ezekiel 36:35).

2. That will be a day of blessedness for all, (vs. 18-19; Isaiah 35:1-9; Isaiah 60:13-17) wherein:

a. Hearing is restored to the deaf, (Isaiah 35:5-6; Isaiah 42:6-7).

b. Sight is restored to the blind, (Isaiah 32:3; Proverbs 20:12; Psalms 119:18).

c. The meek and poor are made to rejoice in Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, (Isaiah 11:4; Isaiah 61:1; Matthew 5:5; Matthew 11:29; Isaiah 14:32; Isaiah 25:4; Matthew 11:1-6; James 2:5).

3. The enemies of the righteous will be utterly cut off in that day, (vs. 20-21; vs. 5; Isaiah 28:14; Isaiah 10:1-2; Amos 5:10-12; Isaiah 32:7) - the ultimate "terrible one" being Anti-christ "the man of sin and son of perdition" himself, (2 Thessalonians 2:3-8; Isaiah 11:4; Revelation 2:16; Revelation 19:15).

4. Thus, the Redeemer of Abraham (Isaiah 41:8; Isaiah 51:2) declares that Jacob shall not be ashamed or afraid in the final day of God’s wrath, (vs. 22).

5. Rather, He will sanctify the Holy one of Jacob (Isaiah 5:16; Isaiah 8:13), and stand in awe of the God of Israel, when he sees his children (both natural and spiritual) standing in his midst - all of them the work of the Lord’s hands, (Isaiah 49:14-23; Isaiah 60:4; Romans 11:5-7; Romans 11:11-26).

6. Those who once "erred in spirit" (manifesting a haughty and rebellious attitude) will then understand; those who formerly murmured will receive instruction with joyfullness - the days of their rebellion will be over, (vs. 24; 2 Corinthians 7:2).