Isaiah 22

Isaiah 22:1-7

We have here, 1. The distress of Jerusalem, probably on Sennacher’s invasion, vers. 1-7. 2. Their unabused capital, and vain confidence, vers. 8-11. 3. Their unhumbled state, vers. 12-14. 4. The change in Hezekiah’s court, by the disjoining of Shehna, and the enhancement of Einaim, vers. 15-23.

1. THE burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the house tops? 2. Thou that art full of flirs, a tumultuous city, a joyous city; thy slain men are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle. 3. All thy rulers are fled together, they are bound by the archers: all fear are found in thee are bound together, which have fled from far. 4. Therefore said I, Look away from me, I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me; because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people. 5. For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord GOD of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains. 6. And Elam have the quiver with chariots of men and horsemen, and Kir uncovered the shield. 7. And it shall come to pass that thy chancell valleys shall be full of chariots, and the horsemen shall let themselves in any at the gate.

The title of this prophecy is the burden of the valley of vision, alluding to the name of Jerusalem, which signifies the vision of peace; or because that was the place where God made known his will in visions to the prophets. It is called a valley, the hills surrounding it on every side, and the vision is a burden, a heavy calamity, though not utterly consuming, yet greatly terrifying them.

1. Their confirmation at the approach of the Afiyian army is great; running to the tops of their houses, to see if any help was at hand, or to observe the approaches of the enemy; full of flirs, or naifes, preparing to oppose their invaders, or then unfit full of flirs, the streets crowded with people, a tumultuous city, populous and noisy with the din of trade, a joyous city, rich and revelling. But now the voice of mirth is coaled, the horrid found of war is heard alone, and fear and confirmation are spread abroad. Though the sword had not reached them, the famine was felt; or the fright they were put into, bind them fortified, as it thrust through with a sword, v. 2. Nor was this panic among the people only, their rulers increased it, flying from all the neighbouring cities to Jerusalem, without attempting to defend them, chap. xxxii. 1. or many of Jerusalem, instead of encouraging the people, though only to secure themselves by flight: instead of preparing for a vigorous defence, they surrendered themselves to bonds, or were so disheartened, that they had not courage to draw an arrow, as it may be rendered, bound from the into, v. 3. Note, The alarm of war is terrible;

may we never, by our abode of the blessings of peace, provoke God to bring the courage upon us; for, if under his wrath, our dispirited-sheets and armies could yield us small protection.

2. Great is the prophet’s grief at the scene of desolation before him. He desires his friends not to attempt to comfort him, but to leave him bitterly to weep over the spoiling of the daughter of his people, v. 4. and abundant cause there is for his tears, when trouble is on every side, the people as mine in the streets trodden down by the Afiyians, the walls of the fortified cities battered into dull, all the land full of distress and perplexity; and the Lord’s correcting hand firm in the judgment adds bitterness to the affliction, v. 5. Note, (1) Every good man is a patriot, and when he can do no more to fare his country, will weep over its ruins. (2) Whatever we feel of afflictions from man, we must look farther to the hand of God who sends them.

3. The vast body, composed of different nations, Persians, and Medes, which were in Sennacher’s army, all the country with chariots and horsemen, and prepare for the siege of Jerusalem; make ready their sledds, and place their advanced guard, to intercept any going in, or coming out of the gates of the city, v. 6, 7. How melancholy a change to see those vallies, once so thick with corn, now yield an iron harvest of erected spears.

4. And he discovered the covering of Judah, and thou didst look in that day to the armour of the house of the foref. 9. Ye have seen also the breaches of the city of David, that they are many: and ye gathered together the waters of the lower pool. 10. And ye have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses have ye broken down to fortify the wall. 11. Ye made also a ditch between the two walls, for the water of the old pool: but ye have not looked unto the maker thereof, neither had respect unto him that fashioned it long ago. 12. And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackelants? 13. And behold, joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating sleth, and drinking wine; let us eat and drink, for to morrow we shall die. 14. And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you, till ye die, faith the Lord GOD of hosts.

Isaiah 22:5-10

8. Rev. xi. 12. 8. xli.

9. ¶ Then ’the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6. Then shall ’the lame man leap as an hart, and ’the tongue of the dumb frog: for in the wilderness’ shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. 7. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thrifty land springs of water: in ’the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grafs with reeds and rufters. 8. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness,’ the unclean shall not pass over it, but if it shall be for those: ’the way-faring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 9. ‘No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beaft shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there: but the redeemed shall walk there. 10. And ’the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with songs, and ’everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness,’ and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

We have here,

1. The wonders that shall be wrought at Christ’s coming, on the bodies and souls of men. The blind shall see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the dumb speak, which we see literally fulfilled, Mat. ix. 27. Mark vii. 9. Alfa iii. 8. Mat. ix. 19. but greater works than these shall be do, enlightening the blindness of the fallen mind, causing the spiritually deaf to hear and receive the gospel; strengthening those who were helpless, to walk in the ways of truth and righteousness, and teaching those to sing his praise whose lips before had been sealed up in silence. Lord, continue still to make thy glorious power to appear!

2. The remarkable out-pouring of the spirit in the days of Christ, and the blessed effects thereby produced. In the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert, such a common effusion of divine gifts, graces, and confessions shall then be made on the Gentile world, that the parched ground and shoddy land, the dinner’s soul, barren or scorned up with the sense of divine wrath, shall become a pool and springs of water refreshed and fertilized: in the habitation of dragons, where each day, the places where Satan, the great dragon, hath fixed his abode, and men resembling him in herceneis and cruelty, such as the Pagan empowers, or Papal powers, shall be graft with rush and rufter; a number of converts to the gospel, thick as grafs, and strengthening as the reeds in the brook; and this was fulfilled when the Pagan temples were changed into places for Christian worship; and shall be farther accomplished when Babylon mythical is fallen, and the saints of God triumphant now her.

3. The way that then will be opened for all nations, Jew and Gentile, to draw nigh unto God; and that way is Christ, emphatically so called, because no man cometh to the Father but by him; nor can there be any access to an offended God, but through his blood and righteousness. He is a high way ordained by the King of heaven, free and open to all, and where every obstruction from sin and Satan are utterly removed; a way of holiness, or holy way, where the grace of sanctification, as well as the gift of justification, is bestowed, and strength communicated to the soul, enabling those who are in Christ to walk and please God; where all holy means and ordinances are found; where all the travellers are in temper and conduct in a measure holy, and which will infallibly conduct them to the perfection of holiness above: the unclean shall not pass over it, those being justly excluded who persist in the love and service of their sins; but it shall be for those justified and renewed souls above described; or it may be rendered, he shall be with them, Christ, their companion, guide, and support: the way-faring men, though fools, shall not err therein; courted such of the world, after their conversion to God, and spiritually indeed such before they were taught of him, these travellers to Zion shall not err; the way is plain before them, the bible is their sure directory, and the spirit of truth their guide; not that every christian is infallible, but he shall not greatly, or fatally err. No lion shall

Vo. 2. II.

be there, nor any ravenous beaft shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; none of such fierce and turbulent dispositions; none to disturb the peace of the happy traveller; and especially the old lion, that goeth about seeking whom he may devour, shall not be able to approach to destroy any soul that is found in this holy way: but the redeemed shall walk there; those whom Divine Grace hath chosen, and Jesus hath purchased by his blood, they shall in safety travel without being weary, and reach at last their blessed journey’s end, which will be,

4. Their everlasting joy. For the rarefaction of the Lord shall return from the state of sin and darkness, in which like others they lay, to the shepherd and bishop of their souls, Christ Jesus, and, under his guidance, now to Zion, that mount of God in glory, appointed for their eternal residence; and, whilst with grateful joy they celebrate redeeming love, and reache to sovereign grace their whole salvation, everlasting joy shall be upon their head; joy that shall never again be interrupted by sin, temptation, or suffering, but be permanent as God’s everlasting love, the source of it. They shall obtain joy and gladness, un-speakable and full of glory, as much exceeding all they raised here below, as the boundless ocean exceeds the drop of the bucket; and forever and giving shall flee away, when every cause that could produce them are for ever removed, and perfect holiness and perfect happiness flow from the uninterrupted beatific vision of the triune God. O may my soul possess this everlasting joy!

Isaiah 22:8-14

When recovered a little from their terrors they began to think what was to be done. He discovered the covering of Judah; either Hezekiah opened his magazines, or God detected their hypocrisy in this time of danger, by the temper they discovered; or rather Sennacher having taken the furrounding fortzefite that covered the city, came in full view of it, ready to begin the sege. Herupon we are told,

1. The steps they took to put Jerusalem in a pollure of defence. Their firth concern was to arm the people, for which purpose, the armoury of the house of the foref of Lebanon, built by Solomon, 1 Kings viii. 2. is opened; they were furrowed the fortifications, and set themselves to repair the breaches of the fortefs, called the city of David, 2 Sam. v. 7. which in times of peace had been greatly neglected. To secure plenty of water, they collected together those of the lower pool; and having raised an outer wall, drew the water out of the old pool into the ditch between the walls, to strengthen the place, as well as to disteres the enemy for want of it. The houses are numbered, that each may furnish its quota of men, money, or provisions, for the use of the soldiery; and those in the suburbs, which might facilitate the approaches of the hrsingers, or too near the wall within, so as to prevent an easy communication from one part to another, are demolished, and the materials applied to strengthen the walls. Note, (1) In times of danger we must exert our utmost effort, and trust God with the istue. (2) Times of peace are often times of washe; because war seems distant, a provision against it is neglected, and that is a temptation to the enemy to attack us unprepared.

2. Amidst their warlike preparations they neglected the God of war: they fortified the city, but surged the maker of it, without whom, the watchman waken in vain. Their king indeed looked up to him, 2 Kings xviii. 5. 2 Chron. xxxii. 8. but his irreligious courtiers, with Shehna at their head, seemed to have no thought of divine affisance, and trusted only to the arm of sleth. Note, Though kings may make religion subsionable, by espoofing the prohibition of it, it is not in their power to convert the heart. A greater king than they must work, or their courtiers, though complaisantly submissive, will be mere outward conformists, not internal converts.

3. Their unhumbled temper under this visitation is remarked to their shame. God called to weeping and mourning, &c. the expressive signs of true penitential forrow; to produce which, was the great end of their affliction, and his prophets second-

Sethan Chisil yra. Ludgum c. 1 Kings vi. 2. & c. 17. a. Chron. xxiii. 4. 5. 1 Chap. mann. 2d. 4 Ibid. 2v. 5. Min. 1. 16. 1 Chap. Iid. 18. Writ. ii. 6. 1 Cur. v. 5a. 6 Chap. v. 9. a. Sam. ii. 2v. Keck. xxiv. 13. Before Chalk 170.

seconded the providence with their preaching, but vain was the call. Having, as they thought, secured the city, they set danger at defiance, and mirth, jollity, and riot reigned; they treated the prophetic warnings with contempt; and since the prophet urged their danger, and death at their door, as an argument to humble their souls in sorrow, for their sins before God, they, with indel disregard, made it a plea for their impiety, for us eat and drink, for to mervem the do; if it be a short life, let it be a merry one; and disbelieving the doctrine of a future flare, appeared fearless of the consequences of their sins, 1 Cor. xv. 31. Note, (1.) A life of pleasure naturally leads to a flare of infidelity. (2.) They who risk eternity on the miserable hope that at death their being is at an end, will find too late their dreadful delusion.

4. God, in displeasure against such impiety, denounces his wrath on these proud mockers, v. 14. They condemned the prophet’s warning, but they shall feel the wrath they deplored; and neither in this world, or that which is to come, should their iniquity ever be forgiven. Mark the end of impiety and infidelity.

Isaiah 22:15-19

We have here a prophecy of a domestic occurrence in the household of Hezekiah, which foretells the disgrace of Shebna, and the advancement of Eliakim. What was Shebna’s particular crime which occasioned his being degraded, does not appear: the Jews say he was a traitor, and had agreed to give up the city to the Affyrians; but being disappointed in the attempt, was carried away captive by them, and severely used for deceiving them.

1. His fall is declared to him by Isaiah, v. 15. Though a great man, and high in office, both treasurer and steward of the household, he is not too great to be faithfully admonished! What hath thou here? what ellate, or what business? being, it is supposed, a foreigner promoted by Ahaz, and continued in office by Hezekiah, to whose reformation he conformed; and whom hath thou here? or what friends to prevent thy ruin, or what family, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre? an habitation in a rock, with a flately monument erected over it, where his remains, with pomp, might be deposited: vain preparations! when doomed to captivity, sudden and terrible, and covered as a criminal led to execution, v. 17. Toffed to and fro, as a ball in that strange land, he should lead a wretched life, and die there, destitute of all his former splendor, a shame to his master’s house, to Ahaz, who promoted him, v. 18. Suspect, probably before, and now degraded by Hezekiah, he shall fall from his high station, in which he seemed to be a nail in a fare place; and all his dependents and followers, as in the case when favourites are disgraced, sink with him, v. 19, 25. Note, (1.) High places are slippery; they who seem most firmly fixed, are often nearest the precipice of ruin. (2.) Pride looks even to the tomb, and the lying monument is taught to Kerry, when the corpse is turning to putrefaction. (3.) A faithful minister of God must rest fear to deliver his message boldly to the greatest, however offensive it may appear.

2. Eliakim’s advancement is foretold; a faithful servant of God, promoted at his instigation, who inclined Hezekiah to put so worthy a man in Shebna’s stead, v. 20. and it would be a deep mortification to the disgrace of this, to see the endings of office he wore, now transferred to another; the robe, the girdle, and the key, v. 21. A worthy magistrate would be prove, a father to the people, strengthened of God to discharge the trust reposed in him, v. 21. having the entire management of affairs committed to him, v. 22. fixed in his office; through God’s blessing, the honour to his family, v. 23. and kindly regarding them, from the least unto the greatest; and according to their several abilities and capacities, employing and rewarding them, v. 24. Note, (1.) When preferment comes, not hunted down by inflictisation in the sea of pride and covetousness, but unsought for from the hand of providence, and conferred as the wages of desert, then it is truly honourable. (2.) When God calls us into office, we may expect from him strength to discharge it. (3.) They who would rule well, must regard their subjects as children, display parental affection with authority, and show that the great end of all they do, is the public good: and then Peter patrist, the father of their country, will be their most honourable title. (4.) The higher the office, the heavier the burden; and the greater diligence, fidelity, and zeal is required to discharge it. (5.) Eliakim was hereto the type of the Lord Jesus, the servant of God, emphatically so called, chap. xli. 1. appointed by his Father to the office of ruler in his church, and upheld by him in the discharge of his arduous undertaking, inscribed with the endings of royalty, and possessed of all power; having the keys of wisdom and grace to unlock the treasures of his word; the keys of heaven, to open the kingdom to all believers, and of death and hell, which he shuts, and none can open; he opens, and none can shut. His government is fixed and established for ever; he is the brightness of his father’s glory; his people’s happiness and honour are derived from him; and careful of the interests of his spiritual offspring, from the least to the greatest they receive out of his fulness; according to their wants and capacities are supported by him, so that they cannot fall and perish; and have a manion eternal in the heavens provided for them among the household of God.

Isaiah 22:17

1762. ¶ Thus faith the Lord GOD of hofts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house, and say, 16. What hath thou here? and whom hath thou here, that thou hath hewed thee out a sepulchre here as he? that hewerth him out a sepulchre on high, and that gravels an habitation for himself in a rock? 17. Behold, the LORD will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee. 18. He will surely violently turn and tois thee, like a ball into a large country: there shall thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy lord’s house. 19. And I will drive thee from thy Station, and from thy flate shall be pull thee down. 20. ¶ And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant: Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: 21. And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle; and I will commit thy government into his hand, and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. 22. And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder: so he shall open, and none shall shut, and he shall shut, and none shall open. 23. And I will fasten him at a nail in a fare place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house. 24. And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity: from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons. 25. In that day, faith the LORD of hofts, shall the nail that is fastened in the fare place be removed, and be cut down and fall; and the burden that tear upon it shall be cut off: for the LORD hath spoken it.