Isaiah 21

Isaiah 21:1

Or a fool - Who will undo all that I have done, and turn the effects of my wisdom into instruments of his folly. Some think he had such an opinion of Rehoboam.

Isaiah 21:2

Despair - I gave myself up to despair of ever reaping that satisfaction which I promised to myself.

Isaiah 21:3

Wisdom - Who uses great industry, and prudence, and justice too, in the use and management of his affairs. To a man - Who has spent his days in sloth and folly. A great evil - A great disorder in itself, and a great torment to a considering mind.

Isaiah 21:4

For what - What comfort or benefit remains to any man after this short and frail life is once ended?

Isaiah 21:5

Sorrows - Full of sorrows. Tho’ he took great and unwearied pains all his days, yet the toils of his body were accompanied with vexation of mind. His heart - Because his sleep was broken with perplexing cares.

Isaiah 21:6

Enjoy - That he should thankfully take, and freely and chearfully enjoy the comforts which God gives him. It was - A singular gift of God.

Isaiah 21:7

More than I - Therefore he could best tell whether they were able of themselves, without God’s special gift, to yield a man content, in the enjoying of them. Who can pursue them with more diligence, obtain them with more readiness, or embrace them with more greediness?

Isaiah 21:8

Wisdom - To direct him how to use his comforts aright; that so they may be blessings, and not curses to him. Joy - A thankful contented mind. To heap up - He giveth him up to insatiable desires, and wearisome labours, that he may leave it to others, yea to such as he least desired, to good and virtuous men.

Isaiah 21:10

A season - A certain time appointed by God for its being and continuance, which no human wit or providence can alter. And by virtue of this appointment of God, all vicissitudes which happen in the world, whether comforts or calamities, come to pass. Which is here added to prove the principal proposition, That all things below are vain, and happiness is not to be found in them, because of their great uncertainty, and mutability, and transitoriness, and because they are so much out of the reach and power of men, and wholly in the disposal of God. Purpose - Not only natural, but even the voluntary actions of men, are ordered and disposed by God. But it must be considered, that he does not here speak of a time allowed by God, wherein all the following things may lawfully be done, but only of a time fixed by God, in which they are actually done.

Isaiah 21:11

To die - And as there is a time to die, so there is a time to rise again, a set time when they that lie in the grave shall be remembered.

Isaiah 21:12

To kill - When men die a violent death. To heal - When he who seemed to be mortally wounded is healed.

Isaiah 21:13

To weep - When men have just occasion for weeping.

Isaiah 21:14

Stones - Which were brought together in order to the building of a wall or house. To embrace - When persons perform all friendly offices one to another.

Isaiah 21:15

To life - When men lose their estates, either by God’s providence, or by their own choice. To cast away - When a man casts away his goods voluntarily, as in a storm, to save his life, or out of love and obedience to God.

Isaiah 21:16

To rent - When men rend their garments, as they did in great and sudden griefs.

Isaiah 21:17

To love - When God stirs up love, or gives occasion for the exercise of it.