Isaiah 27

Isaiah 27:1

Tyrannical oppression, strong, furious, crafty, and mischievous, are likened to leviathans, serpents, dragons, &c. especially if they dwelt near such animals, as the kings of Assyria, Egypt, and Babylon, did. 2, 3. The reformed Jewish nation and gospel church is likened to a vineyard bringing forth the choicest vines; because, being planted, watered, and protected, by God, they abounded in good works

Isaiah 27:4

Though I was angry with them, mine anger is turned away through Christ: but, if hypocrites in the church, or profane persons without it, offer to contend with me, they may expect to be quickly destroyed. 5, 6. Jews and true church members shall, as reconciled through Christ, be firmly settled, and shall increase in numbers and glory

Isaiah 27:7-9

Nor will God afflict his own people in the same wrathful and ruinous manner as he does their heathen and antichristian enemies; but will so mitigate their troubles as that they may be able to bear them; and make them means of stirring them up to repentance and reformation, particularly in detenting and destroying their idolatrous altars, groves, and images. 10, 11. Nevertheless, to punish the stupidity and blindness of the present generation, and their imitators in wickedness, the defenced cities shall be laid desolate, and the palaces become pastures for flocks and herds. The whole country shall be exposed to the ravage of the most weak and contemptible enemies. 12, 13. By the providence of God, and proclamation of Cyrus, the Jews shall be brought back to their own land from Chaldea and from Egypt, and shall build the temple, and restore the worship of God, at Jerusalem. In the latter days they shall be gathered from the east and west, north and south, and shall embrace the Christian faith. And from every quarter shall God, in the apostolic and millennial periods, gather men to the church and worship of Jesus Christ

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXVII.—No enemy is too strong for God to deal with: and his remarkable deliverances tune his people’s hearts to praise him.—Being infinitely dear and precious to him, his church can never fail, nor any true member totally or finally fall from grace. He, as reconciled in Christ, delights to reconcile the world to himself, and bless men with all spiritual blessings in him: but it is infinitely hazardous to set ourselves in opposition to him. Never are our troubles on earth so sharp, but it is a mercy that they are not heavier; and when God inflicts one sore judgment he ordinarily restrains another. Whatever the saints lose in their troubles their enemies lose more in the end. Troubles must either destroy the sin or the sinner. And, if mitigated troubles be merciful, mortified ones are much more so. How provoking to God, and ruinous to men, is ignorance of God under the means of knowledge and grace! But how marvellous is it that, by the most terrible outward calamities, he should pave the way to remarkable mercies, and that the ruin and scattering of nations should introduce a gathering to Jesus Christ and his worship, nay, to his heavenly mansions! And, notwithstanding all the opposition of hell and earth, not one elect soul shall come short either of grace here or glory hereafter