Isaiah 54:16-17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 54:11-17

Very precious promises are here made to the church in her low condition, that God would not only continue his love to his people under their troubles as before, but that he would restore them to their former prosperity, nay, that he would raise them to greater prosperity than any they had yet enjoyed. In the foregoing chapter we had the humiliation and exaltation of Christ; here we have the humiliation and exaltation of the church; for, if we suffer with him, we shall reign with him. Observe,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 54:16

Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire ,.... Into which he puts his iron to soften it, that he may beat it, and form it into what shape he pleases; which descriptive clause is added to show that it is a blacksmith that is intended, and to distinguish him from the carpenter and mason, of whom this word is also used, who deal, the one in wood, and the other in stone, and neither of which requires fire: now the Lord observes, to the comfort of his people, surrounded... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 54:17

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper ,.... All weapons of war, as the Targum, which are made with a design to hurt and destroy the people of God, shall be rendered useless; not one of them shall prosper to the advantage of their enemies, or so as to answer their design; nor to the hurt and prejudice, ruin and destruction, of the saints: and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment ; that shall raise any calumny upon thee, or bring any charge against thee, or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 54:1-17

The future of the Church. "The person addressed is the ideal Zion, who is practically identical with the ideal or spiritual Israel." I. HER FRUITFULNESS . Nothing to an Israelitish mind can suggest more forcibly the idea of desolation and sorrow in a nation or spiritual community than the childless woman. Historically , the restored exiles may be referred to; physically and to some extent spiritually Israelites, but, while on a foreign soil, and unbaptized with the Spirit,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 54:11-17

THE GLORY OF THE NEW JERUSALEM , AND THE HAPPINESS OF ITS INHABITANTS . Hitherto Israel has been addressed; now the direct object of address is Jerusalem. The eye of the prophet passes, however, with a glance, from the actual present to the far-distant future, and sees the Zion of God in her heavenly setting, all bedecked with precious stones, as she was seen by the exile of Patmos more than seven centuries later ( Revelation 21:16-21 ). After briefly describing the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 54:16

Behold, I have created , etc. The Church is encouraged to fear no danger by being reminded that all power to do hurt is from God. Whether it be the smith that forges a weapon, or the waster that destroys and lays waste whole countries, or any other worker of woe to man, all are equally brought into being, and sustained in life, by God. None can do a hurt that God does not allow. The smith that bloweth the coals . In ancient times the smith worked his metal into shape by the help of a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 54:16

The Divine control of evil forces. "I have created the waster to destroy." This is an assurance which we, with our theological notions of the sphere of Satan, find it very difficult to realize. We cannot associate God directly with the forces that work evil Even if we get so far as to say that God permits evil, and overrules it for good, we cannot see that he actually sends the evil and arranges the evil, which is as truly his angel, his messenger, as any form of good is. Perhaps the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 54:17

No weapon … every tongue. Whether weapons are used against Israel, or whether she is attacked, as in Sennacherib's time, by "the tongue that speaketh proud things" ( Isaiah 36:4-20 ; Isaiah 37:10-13 ), the result will he the same. She will triumph over her enemies, and condemn them or put them to shame. Her security is her righteousness , which she derives from Jehovah (comp. Isaiah 45:24 , Isaiah 45:25 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 54:17

Man's righteousness is of God. Whatever there is in man of goodness, virtue, sound or right feeling, high aspiration, spiritual strength, comes to him from the Almighty, from whence descends "every good gift and every perfect gift" ( James 1:17 ). Original righteousness was from God ( Genesis 1:27 , Genesis 1:31 ). When man fell, and "corrupted his way," recovery was impossible, unless God both devised a method by which it should be possible, and also superintended the working of his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 54:17

The heritage of faithful service. From the beginning to the end of the Scriptures the service of God is represented as the only wise course for men to take. All paths of disobedience are spoken of as ways of folly as well as of sin. It is godliness that has the promise of all things, here and hereafter. The heritage of the holy is very variously defined, the most remarkable definition being that given by our Lord in reply to Peter. In the text we have it presented to us as a continual... read more

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