Isaiah 2

Notes

Ver. 2-5. In the apostolic and spiritual periods, the firmly established and never to be changed gospel church shall, in all kingdoms, be erected in the most visible manner, and people shall, by the faith and profession of Jesus Christ, enter into it as members. They shall earnestly stir up one another to attend upon the ordinances, and learn and embrace the doctrines of salvation, which began to be published at Jerusalem. And under conviction, conversion, and gracious government, Jesus Christ shall introduce spiritual peace and holy exercises, and even civil concord and virtuous industry, among the nations where murderous wars and idleness had long prevailed.—And may you, Jews, excited by your own preachers and by the Gentiles, cheerfully join yourselves, and partake of these blessed oracles, instructions, and comforts of the Lord Jesus Christ. 6-9. Provoked by their confederacies, and by their mingling themselves with the heathen; their imitation of the Chaldeans on the east and Philistines on the west in magic and divination; and by their insatiable heaping up of wealth, multiplication of horses and chariots, and of idols, and the worship thereof by all ranks,—the Lord has rejected the Jewish nation, and will not suffer them to escape unpunished. 10-17. Notwithstanding all the possible efforts they may make to escape his indignation, the Lord shall through his active providence find them, however high in station, mighty in power, abundant in wealth and trade, or comely in appearance. 18-21. Convinced of the vanity of their idols, they shall renounce them, or, desperately fleeing from the judgments of God, shall cast them from them.

Ver. 2. The last days. The meaning and commencement of the 'last days' is fixed by Peter, Ac. 2. 16-21, by means of the prophetic marks delivered by Joel, ch. 2. 28-32, within which days Joel places the restoration of the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, ch. 3. 1. C.

Ver. 4. This prediction from ver. 2-4 is in exact correspondence with that in ch. 1. 26, 27. But the first prediction commences with the period when the country was overrun by enemies, and utterly impoverished and ruined, ch. 1. 7-9; whereas this prediction commences a little farther back, when this land was yet 'full of silver and gold,' no end of their treasures, no end of their chariots, ch. ii.: but rapidly advances to the same period of ruin, first in prophecy, ch. 2. 12-17, and in fulfilment, ch. 3. 1-8. C.

Reflections.—No dispensations of grace must be looked for after that which we at present enjoy. No oppression can hinder the flourishing of the church when the Lord rises up for her help: and no darkness nor error can hide her when Jesus manifests forth his glory. No remarkable fellowship with Christ must be expected but in the way of going upward. And it is comfortable that, amidst the present corruptions and contentions in the Christian church, we may look backward in remembrance of mighty things done by the Lord; and may look forward in hope of the church's still greater enlargement, purity, and peace. How delightful will it be when every one shall provoke his neighbour to learn the truths of Jesus, embrace his person, and serve him in the beauties of holiness!—But, alas! the guilt, the plagues which corrupt professors entail on themselves by intimacy with carnal and profane men, and even by their insatiable desire of that which is good in itself, or by inordinate dependence thereon! It is impossible, either by flight or resistance, to save either ourselves or our idols when God attempts to destroy. In order to glorify him, pride must be debased and idols dethroned. And to wean or tear our affections from earthly things, the earth itself, and its works, must be dissolved or burned up. But, alas! what havoc must be made before men can be affrighted from their idols! and what grace must be exerted before they penitently turn from them!