Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 8. He will swallow up death] He, by the grace of God, will taste death for every man. Heb. ii. 9. Probably, swallow up death, and taste death, in both these verses, refer to the same thing: Jesus dying instead of a guilty world. These forms of speech may refer to the punishment of certain criminals; they were obliged to drink a cup of poison. That cup which every criminal in the world must have drunk, Jesus Christ drank for them; and thus he swallowed up death: but as he rose again from the dead, complete victory was gained.
From these three verses we learn:- I. That the Gospel is a plenteous provision: "I will make a feast for all people." II. That it is a source of light and salvation: "I will destroy the veil. I will abolish death. and bring life and immortality to light." III. That it is a source of comfort and happiness: "I will wipe away all tears from off all faces." As in the Arabic countries a covering was put over the face of him who was condemned to suffer death, it is probable that the words in ver. 7 may refer to this. The whole world was condemned to death, and about to be led out to execution, when the gracious Lord interposed, and, by a glorious sacrifice, procured a general pardon.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- The desolation of the land. (Is. 24:1-12) A few shall be preserved (Is. 24:13-15) God's kingdom advanced by his judgments. (Is. 24:16-23)
Is. 24:1-12 All whose treasures and happiness are laid up on earth will soon be brought to want and misery. It is good to apply to ourselves what the Scripture says of the vanity and vexation of spiri which attend all things here below. Sin has turned the earth upsid down; the earth is become quite different to man, from what it was when God first made it to be his habitation. It is, at the best, like flower, which withers in the hands of those that please themselves with it, and lay it in their bosoms. The world we live in is a world of disappointment, a vale of tears; the children of men in it are but of few days, and full of trouble, See the power of God's curse, how is makes all empty, and lays waste all ranks and conditions. Sin bring these calamities upon the earth; it is polluted by the sins of men therefore it is made desolate by God's judgments. Carnal joy will soo be at end, and the end of it is heaviness. God has many ways to imbitter wine and strong drink to those who love them; distemper of body, anguish of mind, and the ruin of the estate, will make stron drink bitter, and the delights of sense tasteless. Let men learn to mourn for sin, and rejoice in God; then no man, no event, can tak their joy from them.
Is. 24:13-15 There shall be a remnant preserved from the general ruin and it shall be a devout and pious remnant. These few are dispersed like the gleanings of the olive tree, hid under the leaves. The Lor knows those that are his; the world does not. When the mirth of carna worldlings ceases, the joy of the saints is as lively as ever, becaus the covenant of grace, the fountain of their comforts, and the foundation of their hopes, never fails. Those who rejoice in the Lor can rejoice in tribulation, and by faith may triumph when all abou them are in tears. They encourage their fellow-sufferers to d likewise, even those who are in the furnace of affliction. Or, in the valleys, low, dark, miry places. In every fire, even the hottest, in every place, even the remotest, let us keep up our good thoughts of God. If none of these trials move us, then we glorify the Lord in the fires.
Is. 24:16-23 Believers may be driven into the uttermost parts of the earth; but they are singing, not sighing. Here is terror to sinners the prophet laments the miseries he saw breaking in like a torrent; an the small number of believers. He foresees that sin would abound. The meaning is plain, that evil pursues sinners. Unsteady, uncertain ar all these things. Worldly men think to dwell in the earth as in palace, as in a castle; but it shall be removed like a cottage, like lodge put up for the night. It shall fall and not rise again; but ther shall be new heavens and a new earth, in which shall dwell nothing but righteousness. Sin is a burden to the whole creation; it is a heav burden, under which it groans now, and will sink at last. The hig ones, that are puffed up with their grandeur, that think themselves ou of the reach of danger, God will visit for their pride and cruelty. Le us judge nothing before the time, though some shall be visited. None in this world should be secure, though their condition be ever s prosperous; nor need any despair, though their condition be ever s deplorable. God will be glorified in all this. But the mystery of Providence is not yet finished. The ruin of the Redeemer's enemies mus make way for his kingdom, and then the Sun of Righteousness will appea in full glory. Happy are those who take warning by the sentence agains others; every impenitent sinner will sink under his transgression, an rise no more, while believers enjoy everlasting bliss _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew בלע1104 המות4194 לנצח5331 ומחה4229 אדני136 יהוה3069 דמעה1832 מעל5921 כל3605 פנים6440 וחרפת2781 עמו5971 יסיר5493 מעל5921 כל3605 הארץ776 כי3588 יהוה3068 דבר׃1696
