Isaiah 9

Isaiah 9:1-7

The distress of Judah, under the Assyrian ravages of the Chaldean captivity, shall not be so dismal and lasting as the captivity of the ten tribes. They shall quickly be surprised with a glorious deliverance, a vast increase, amazing consolations, and perfect freedom from bondage: for God, to pave the way for the incarnation and kingdom of his Son, shall, not by the common forms of war, but by a fearful plague, destroy their Assyrian or other enemies. And as God has debased Canaan by the repeated invasions of heathen troops, so he will glorify it by the instructive and comforting gospel ministrations of his Son and his apostles. Multitudes shall be converted to Christ, and great shall be their spiritual joy, freedom, and victories over their lusts, through the influence of the Holy Ghost: for the Son of God, born in our nature, and given to us, having all power given him in heaven and in earth, shall manifest himself in his wonderful excellencies, offices, and relations, in the erection and government of the gospel church; JEMOYAN’s love to him and his people, and zeal for his own glory, shall secure the accomplishment of this

Isaiah 9:8-10

The Lord has denounced a threatening against the Israelites, the accomplishment of which they shall quickly feel, who proudly boast that, though the Assyrians have demolished their houses, they will build better ones. 11, 12. The Lord shall stir up the Assyrians, together with the enlisted Syrians on the east, and the Philistines on the west, (who had lately assisted them against Judah) and they shall make an almost utter end of them; and, after all, the judgments of God shall be further inflicted upon them

Isaiah 9:18

Their outrageous wickedness has fitted them for ruin, and shall be punished in the destruction of both small and great

Isaiah 9:19-21

Amidst their terrible distress they shall restlessly plunder, oppress, and murder, one another

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. IX.—God ordinarily tries men with lesser judgments before he inflicts such as are more severe. But it bodes well to a place when God sends to it the light of the gospel. And no load of adversity is so heavy, but Christ’s presence can alleviate, and his power deliver from it. Thrice happy are those ignorant sinners whose minds he enlightens in the knowledge of himself! They may enjoy much solid and spiritual joy, freedom, and victory, even when they weep and lament. Unbounded are the excellencies, high the dignities, sweet the relations, and savoury the names, of that humanist whom God has freely given to us sinful men! O the infinite zeal of JIHOVAH to honour his Son, and to promote the welfare of his church! Rejoice in these things, my soul, and again rejoice. God shall make every opposer effectually to know the power of his wrath. But those ripen fast for ruin who continue proud and impenitent under great distress; and whom neither cords of love can draw, nor afflicting gods can drive, to their duty. Hypocrisy towards God, and villany towards men, ordinarily meet together. And none are in God’s sight more abominable miscreants than unfaithful ministers. But general concurrence in wickedness issues in general calamities upon all ranks. And often they whom we make our partners in sin, or in whom we have trusted, are made the distinguished instruments of our ruin