Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Isaiah Ch.34 / 66 Ch.s
ISA:34
* God's vengeance against the enemies of his church. (1-8) Their
desolation. (9-17)
#1-8 Here is a prophecy of the wars of the Lord, all which are
both righteous and successful. All nations are concerned. And as
they have all had the benefit of his patience, so all must
expect to feel his resentment. The description of bloodshed
suggests tremendous ideas of the Divine judgments. Idumea here
denotes the nations at enmity with the church; also the kingdom
of antichrist. Our thoughts cannot reach the horrors of that
awful season, to those found opposing the church of Christ.
There is a time fixed in the Divine counsels for the deliverance
of the church, and the destruction of her enemies. We must
patiently wait till then, and judge nothing before the time.
Through Christ, mercy is exercised to every believer,
consistently with justice, and his name is glorified.
#9-17 Those who aim to ruin the church, can never do that, but
will ruin themselves. What dismal changes sin can make! It turns
a fruitful land into barrenness, a crowded city into a
wilderness. Let us compare all we discover in the book of the
Lord, with the dealings of providence around us, that we may be
more diligent in seeking the kingdom of God and his
righteousness. What the mouth of the Lord has commanded, his
Spirit will perform. And let us observe how the evidences of the
truth continually increase, as one prophecy after another is
fulfilled, until these awful scenes bring in more happy days. As
Israel was a figure of the Christian church, so the Edomites,
their bitter enemies, represent the enemies of the kingdom of
Christ. God's Jerusalem may be laid in ruins for a time, but the
enemies of the church shall be desolate for ever.