Isaiah 29:11-14 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:11

The vision of all ; i.e. "the entire vision"—all that Isaiah has put before them in verses 1-8. As the words of a book that is sealed ; rather, the words of a letter (marginal rendering) or writing . Written documents were often sealed up to secure secrecy, the sealing being done in various ways. When the writing was on a clay tablet, it was often enclosed in a clay envelope, so that the document could not be read till the outer clay covering was broken. Rolls of papyrus or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:11

God's Word a sealed Book. Reference is to the prophecies of Isaiah, which were evidently circulated in writing among the people; but, by reason of prevailing hypocrisy, pride, and obstinacy, they were not understood—they were like a sealed book (compare the figure in Revelation 5:2 ). The connection of the text may be stated thus: "The hearers stare in astonishment at a prophecy seemingly so out of relation to facts. The prophet warns them that, if they willfully deaden their spiritual... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:12

Him that is not learned ; i.e. "that cannot read writing." Even in our Lord's day the ordinary Jew was not taught to read and write. Hence the surprise of the rulers at his teaching the people out of the Law ( John 7:15 , "How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?"). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:13

Wherefore the Lord said ; rather, moreover the Lord said . This people draw near me with their mouth. Samaria had been punished for open idolatry and flagrant neglect of Jehovah ( 2 Kings 17:7-17 ). Jerusalem had not gone these lengths. She still, in profession, clung to the worship of Jehovah, and had even recently accepted a purification of religion at the hand of Hezekiah, who had "removed the high places," and cut down the groves, and broken in pieces the brazen serpent," because... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:13

Insincerity. "Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me." Sincerity is the life of devotion. Eloquence in prayer is execrable if the heart be worldly and vain. Here we have Divine insight into man's soul. I. HERE IS THE BENDED KNEE WITHOUT THE PROSTRATE HEART . Reverential manner and sacred solemnities of speech may deceive others, but with God all hearts are open, all desires known.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:13

Lip-service; or, the peril of losing the heart out of our piety. There was a time when Israel rendered heart-service to God. There was a life in the Mosaic system. Taking a figure from the sacrifice which Noah offered as consecrating a regenerate earth unto God, there was "a savor of a sweet smell" to rise up to God. The reproach of Isaiah is that the sacrifice was left, but the savor was gone; the husk was left, but the kernel was gone; the form was left, the heart was gone; the voice... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:13-14

God's hatred of mere lip-service Lip-service is offensive to God on two accounts. I. IT IS DISHONORING TO HIMSELF . It implies, either that he has not the power of reading the heart and of perceiving when worship is rendered to him sincerely and when feignedly, or that he does not care which kind of homage he receives, whether adoration is offered to him really or formally. In the one case he must be considered as a Being of very limited power and capacity; in the other, as a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:13-16

A RENEWAL OF WARNING . The inability of the Jews to comprehend Isaiah's threatening prophecies probably arose in part from their accomplishment seeming to be inconceivable, since they ran counter to the covenant promises made by God to Israel. Isaiah is therefore instructed to inform them that it was a most marvelous and almost inconceivable thing that God was now purposing to do, yet a thing justified by their hypocrisy (verse 13) and their rebellion (verses 15, 16). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:13-16

Lip-service and dissimulation. I. THE SEMBLANCE WITHOUT THE REALITY OF RELIGION . To "draw men" is a Scripture phrase full of expressiveness for true worship. To draw near to God is to assume our holiest mood of feeling; it is to humble one's self in the presence of the Highest and Holiest. The distance between ourselves and the Supreme is not to be overcome by an effort of thought; it is in the sphere of intelligence that that distance is most deeply felt, which mere thought... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:13-17

The Church which God condemns. Here is— I. A CHURCH CONDEMNED OF GOD . It has four characteristics of which the Lord complains. 1. Unspiritual worship . "This people draw near me with their mouth," etc. ( Isaiah 29:13 ). The service of the lip without the homage of the heart is an unacceptable sacrifice to God (see Psalms 50:1-23 .; Psalms 78:36 , Psalms 78:37 ; Isaiah 50:1-11 .; Ezekiel 33:31 ; Matthew 15:8 , Matthew 15:9 ; John 4:24 ). To take sacred... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:11

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:11

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:13-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:13-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:13-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:13-17

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