THE DESCRIPTION OF THE DAY OF THE LORD . The prophet, now, having announced that God is about to visit his people in anger ( Isaiah 2:10 , Isaiah 2:11 ), proceeds to describe in highly rhetorical language the visitation itself, read more
The terrors of the day of the Lord. Every visitation of man by God is typical of his coming to judgment. "That day" is, in its deepest and truest sense, the day whereon Christ shall come again to judge both the quick and the dead. Of "that day and that hour knoweth no man" ( Matthew 24:36 ); and the terror is increased by the mystery. The prophet sees God descend to judge Israel. The particular features are local; but through them may be discerned without much difficulty the... read more
The day of judgment. Here follows a grand picture, in which a few simple thoughts are set. I. THE DAY OF JEHOVAH . This stands for any and every epoch of clearer light which reveals the relative worth of things. False estimates of life and its objects have become by custom fixed. The imagination has been under a delusion. A false idea of greatness and goodness has become so fixed that nothing but a revolution will subvert it. The criticism of words may be defied; but the... read more
Upon all the cedars of Lebanon . It is usual to take this metaphorically; and no doubt men are often compared to trees in Scripture ( Psalms 1:3 ; Jeremiah 17:8 ; Job 8:16 , Job 8:17 ), and "cedars of Lebanon" especially are symbols of the great and proud ones ( Ezekiel 31:3 ). But it has been well observed that either all the details of the description in the text must be taken literally, or all of them metaphorically, and that the mention of such objects as "ships of... read more
Mountains … hills . It is Sennacherib's boast that he "came up to the height of the mountains" ( Isaiah 37:24 ). read more
Upon every high tower . Uzziah and. Jotham had, both of them, paid much attention to fortifications, and had especially "built towers," both at Jerusalem and in other parts of Judaea ( 2 Chronicles 26:9 , 2 Chronicles 26:10 ; 2 Chronicles 27:4 ). Isaiah means to pour contempt on these indications of "trust in an arm of flesh," and to say that they will be of no avail when the time of calamity arrives. Every fenced wall. "On the wall of Ophel" Jotham had "built much" ( 2 Chronicles... read more
All the ships of Tarshish. "Ships of Tarshish" meant originally "ships built to sail to Tarshish;" but was used by the later writers for ships of a certain class or size ( 1 Kings 22:48 ; Psalms 48:7 ; Ezekiel 27:25 ). Tarshish was Tartessus, in Spain, and voyages thither were regarded as long and dangerous (Herod; 1.163). Consequently, the ships which were built for the Tartessian trade were of unusual size and strength. Uzziah had "built [ i.e. rebuilt] Elath," in the eastern arm... read more
The loftiness of man . This verse interrupts the sequence of the thoughts somewhat awkwardly. It is a sort of refrain (see Isaiah 2:11 ; and for the use of refrains in Hebrew poetry, see Exodus 15:1 , Exodus 15:21 ; Psalm evil. 8, 15, 21, 31), and perhaps comes in for rhythmical reasons, to the detriment of the sense. read more
The day ... - This expression evidently denotes that the Lord would inflict severe punishment upon every one that was lofty. Such a severe infliction is called “the day of the Lord of hosts,” because it would be a time when “he” would particularly manifest himself, and when “he” would be recognized as the inflicter of that punishment. “His” coming forth in this manner would give “character” to that time, and would be the prominent “event.” The punishment of the wicked is thus freguently called... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 2:12-17
The Lord's day for the proud. Any time of specific judgment or mercy is in the Scriptures called a "day of the Lord." The day of the Lord has come for the antediluvian world, for Sodom, for the Canaanites, for Babylon, for Israel. It is ever coming to nations, in the corruption or the calamity that follow on national sin. It will come as long as the world endures; that is, so long as God needs, by external judgments, to mark the evil of sin. The sin of all others that calls for a "day of the... read more