12. Man has had many days: "the day of the Lord" shall come at last, beginning with judgment, a never-ending day in which God shall be "all in all" (1 Corinthians 15:28; 2 Peter 3:10). every—not merely person, as English Version explains it, but every thing on which the nation prided itself. read more
The results of trusting in people 2:5-22This emphasis is a major one in Isaiah 1-39, and the prophet introduced it at this point. Many in his day-and this is still true today-preferred to trust in strong people, especially nations, rather than in the Lord.The prophet’s first exhortation 2:5In view of what the nations will do eventually, Isaiah appealed to the house of Jacob (Israel) to do the same thing immediately, namely: walk in the Lord’s light (presence and truth). Commit to following the... read more
The proud and lofty people would eventually try to hide from God’s judgment of them when He exalts Himself in the day of His reckoning (see Isaiah 2:12). Having boasted in earthly resources (Isaiah 2:6-8), they now have only the earth to turn to (cf. Isaiah 1:24). Contrast the nations that the Lord will accept in the future (Isaiah 2:4)."In preaching as he does here, Isaiah is going contrary to modern psychological theories which assert that it is unwise and even wrong to use fear as a motif in... read more
The effect of the problem: humiliation 2:10-21Isaiah 2:10-21 are a poem on the nature and results of divine judgment. Note the repetition of key words and phrases at the beginnings and ends of the sections and subsections. This section breaks down as follows:The Lord is exalted over man and the world (Isaiah 2:10-17)The fact that the Lord is exalted and man is humbled (Isaiah 2:10-11)The demonstration that the Lord is exalted over every exalted thing (Isaiah 2:12-17)The Lord is exalted over... read more
Everyone, not just the Israelites, who exalts himself against the Lord will suffer humiliation. The Lord’s day of reckoning (Isaiah 2:12) is any day in which He humbles the haughty, but it is particularly the Tribulation-in which He will humble haughty unbelievers. Isaiah used nature and the works of man to symbolize people (cf. Isaiah 1:30; Isaiah 6:13; Isaiah 9:10; Isaiah 10:33 to Isaiah 11:1; Isaiah 44:14; Isaiah 60:16). Here several of these symbols represent the spiritual pride of Israel... read more
2-4. occur also with a few slight variations in Micah 4:1-4. The passage appears to be borrowed in Isaiah, because (a) it suits its context better in Micah, and (b) it is more complete in Micah, Micah 4:4 being a part of it. If Isaiah is quoting from Micah, the latter prophet must have spoken the words before the occasion referred to in Jeremiah 26:18. Both prophets may be quoting from some ancient and well-known prediction regarding the future of Zion.2. In the last days] RV ’in the latter... read more
Isaiah’s Preaching early in the Reign of AhazIsaiah 2-4 are closely connected, and Isaiah 5 is generally thought to belong to the same period, though it probably represents discourses delivered rather later. There are two points which serve as indications of date: (a) The influx of foreign fashions, both in religion (Isaiah 2:6, Isaiah 2:8) and in common life (Isaiah 3:16-23, where the difficulty of explaining the names for the various articles of female attire from the Hebrew suggests that the... read more
(10) Enter into the rock.—The limestone caverns of Palestine were natural asylums in times of terror and dismay (Judges 6:2; Judges 15:8; 1 Samuel 13:6; 1 Samuel 14:11; 1 Samuel 24:3; 1 Kings 18:4). Here, as in Micah 1:4, we may probably trace the impression left by the earthquake under Uzziah (Amos 1:1), when the people fled in terror from the city (Zechariah 14:5). Isaiah foresees the recurrence of a like panic in the future. read more
(11) The lofty looks of man . . .—Better, the lofty looks of the mean man . . . the haughtiness of the great man. The self-assertion which is the essential element of pride may be found at the opposite extremes of social life.The Lord alone shall be exalted . . .—The verb, as in Psalms 46:7; Psalms 46:11 (see margin and text of Authorised Version), implies the image of a rock-citadel, towering in its strength, and offering the one safe asylum in a time of danger. (Comp. also Psalms 61:2.) read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 2:11
11. lofty looks—literally, "eyes of pride" ( :-). humbled—by calamities. God will so vindicate His honor "in that day" of judgments, that none else "shall be exalted" ( :-). read more