Isaiah 29:18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 29:17-24

Those that thought to hide their counsels from the Lord were said to turn things upside down (Isa. 29:16), and they intended to do it unknown to God; but God here tells them that he will turn things upside down his way; and let us see whose word shall stand, his or theirs. They disbelieve Providence: ?Wait awhile,? says God, ?and you shall be convinced by ocular demonstration that there is a God who governs the world, and that he governs it and orders all the changes that are in it for the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 29:18

And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book ,.... That is, in the Gospel day, or times of the Gospel dispensation, when that should be preached to the Gentiles; who before were deaf, but now should be made to hear, and be willing to hear, and hear so as to understand the doctrines contained in the Scriptures, the prophecies of them concerning the Messiah; even the words of that book that is sealed to the Jews, and could not be read, neither by the learned nor unlearned among... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:17-24

A RENEWAL OF PROMISE . God's judgment ( Isaiah 29:14 ), whatever it is, will pass. In a little while there will be a great change. The lowly will be exalted, the proud abased. From the "meek" and "poor' will be raised a body of true worshippers, who will possess spiritual discernment ( Isaiah 29:18 ), while the oppressors and "scorners" will be brought to naught. When Isaiah expected this change is uncertain; but he holds out the hope of it here, as elsewhere so frequently ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:17-24

Religious revivals. It is sometimes supposed that religious revivals are modern inventions, concessions to the weakness of the degenerate man of the nineteenth century; and no doubt there have been features in many so-called "revivals" which have justified this view of them. But, in point of fact, revivals, if we follow out the history of religion, are found to be movements which have belonged to all ages, and without which it appears more than probable that religion in this world would... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:17-24

A time of regeneration. A time of refreshing and of renewal is, notwithstanding all the gloom of preceding pictures, at hand. I. THE CHANGE IN NATURE . "One of Isaiah's most characteristic ideas is a future transformation of nature corresponding to that of man" (Cheyne). The forest will be turned into the garden-land. Lebanon stands for the wild or uncultivated land (cf. Isaiah 10:18 , Isaiah 10:34 ). The passage in Isaiah 32:15 is parallel. When God again begins to bless... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:18

In that day — i.e; when that time comes— shall the deaf hear the words of the book ; the spiritually deaf shall have their ears opened, many of them, and shall not only hear, but understand, the words of Scripture addressed to them by God's messengers. No particular "book" is intended— sepher being without the article, but the words of any writing put forth with Divine authority. The eyes of the blind shall see also out of obscurity. Men shall shake off the "deep sleep" ( Isaiah... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:18-24

The hour of revival. I. ITS CHARACTERISTICS . 1. The spirit of docility . Those once deaf now " hear the words of the book" ( Isaiah 29:18 ); " They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine" ( Isaiah 29:24 ). It is one of the surest signs of the presence of God's Spirit that the attitude of insensibility or of captiousness is exchanged for the desire to learn the will of God—that those who once held aloof... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 29:18

Shall the deaf hear the words of the book - They who now have the law and do not understand it, the people who seem to be deaf to all that God says, shall hear and understand it.Shall see out of obscurity ... - That is, the darkness being removed, they shall see clearly the truth of God, and discern and love its beauty. Their eyes are now blinded, but then they shall see clearly. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 29:18-19

Isaiah 29:18-19. In that day, &c. In these two verses we have the first happy consequence of Lebanon’s becoming a fruitful field, “the spiritual blessings of light and understanding in divine things, and of joy and consolation to be diffused among the Gentiles, formerly deaf and blind.” The deaf hear the words of the book That is, the truths of divine revelation are declared to the heathen, and their ears are opened to hear, and their hearts to understand them. And the eyes of the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 29:1-124

God saves Jerusalem (29:1-24)Isaiah then presents a frightening picture of the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem (called ‘Ariel’ in RSV and NIV, and ‘God’s altar’ in GNB). The people think that their city is safe and that the cycle of annual festivals will go on indefinitely. Suddenly, they find their lives threatened by a terrible siege. Throughout the city people are distressed and humiliated, as the doomed city cries out to God, as it were, from the grave (29:1-4).The enemy armies think their... read more

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