Isaiah 9:1-4

Divine judgments specially upon Israel, Isaiah 9:1-4.

Does this prophecy treat of judgments historically inflicted; or does it view events in space, not in time, as in chaps. iv and v? The latter is the more probable, if the apparent usage with Isaiah is to decide. The perspective peculiarity prevailingly attaches to his prophecies. The near future is seen in clear sketches, with a commingling of the present and the past in the entire picture. The more remote future shades away with diminishing features into increasing obscuration, but always with reference to the furthest and highest limit, namely, the complete fulness of Messiah’s kingdom. Here the picture is of successive judgments befalling Israel without improving it; some in the past, some in the present, and some in the future, but represented in single groups, with the time element little regarded.