Chapter 40:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 Song of Solomon Jeremiah
Isaiah 40
Concise Complete
The preaching of the gospel, and glad tidings of the
coming of Christ. (1-11) The almighty power of God. (12-17) The folly of
idolatry. (18-26) Against unbelief. (27-31)
Verses 1-11 All
human life is a warfare; the Christian life is the most so; but the struggle
will not last always. Troubles are removed in love, when sin is pardoned. In the
great atonement of the death of Christ, the mercy of God is exercised to the
glory of his justice. In Christ, and his sufferings, true penitents receive of
the Lord's hand double for all their sins; for the satisfaction Christ made by
his death was of infinite value. The prophet had some reference to the return of
the Jews from Babylon. But this is a small event, compared with that pointed out
by the Holy Ghost in the New Testament, when John the Baptist proclaimed the
approach of Christ. When eastern princes marched through desert countries, ways
were prepared for them, and hinderances removed. And may the Lord prepare our
hearts by the teaching of his word and the convictions of his Spirit, that high
and proud thoughts may be brought down, good desires planted, crooked and rugged
tempers made straight and softened, and every hinderance removed, that we may be
ready for his will on earth, and prepared for his heavenly kingdom. What are all
that belongs to fallen man, or all that he does, but as the grass and the flower
thereof! And what will all the titles and possessions of a dying sinner avail,
when they leave him under condemnation! The word of the Lord can do that for us,
which all flesh cannot. The glad tidings of the coming of Christ were to be sent
forth to the ends of the earth. Satan is the strong man armed; but our Lord
Jesus is stronger; and he shall proceed, and do all that he purposes. Christ is
the good Shepherd; he shows tender care for young converts, weak believers, and
those of a sorrowful spirit. By his word he requires no more service, and by his
providence he inflicts no more trouble, than he will strengthen them for. May we
know our Shepherd's voice, and follow him, proving ourselves his sheep.
Verses 12-17 All
created beings shrink to nothing in comparison with the Creator. When the Lord,
by his Spirit, made the world, none directed his Spirit, or gave advice what to
do, or how to do it. The nations, in comparison of him, are as a drop which
remains in the bucket, compared with the vast ocean; or as the small dust in the
balance, which does not turn it, compared with all the earth. This magnifies
God's love to the world, that, though it is of such small account and value with
him, yet, for the redemption of it, he gave his only-begotten Son,
john 3:16. The services of
the church can make no addition to him. Our souls must have perished for ever,
if the only Son of the Father had not given himself for us.
Verses 18-26
Whatever we esteem or love, fear or hope in, more than God, that creature we
make equal with God, though we do not make images or worship them. He that is so
poor, that he has scarcely a sacrifice to offer, yet will not be without a god
of his own. They spared no cost upon their idols; we grudge what is spent in the
service of our God. To prove the greatness of God, the prophet appeals to all
ages and nations. Those who are ignorant of this, are willingly ignorant. God
has the command of all creatures, and of all created things. The prophet directs
us to use our reason as well as our senses; to consider who created the hosts of
heaven, and to pay our homage to Him. Not one fails to fulfil his will. And let
us not forget, that He spake all the promises, and engaged to perform them.
Verses 27-31 The
people of God are reproved for their unbelief and distrust of God. Let them
remember they took the names Jacob and Israel, from one who found God faithful
to him in all his straits. And they bore these names as a people in covenant
with Him. Many foolish frets, and foolish fears, would vanish before inquiry
into the causes. It is bad to have evil thoughts rise in our minds, but worse to
turn them into evil words. What they had known, and had heard, was sufficient to
silence all these fears and distrusts. Where God had begun the work of grace, he
will perfect it. He will help those who, in humble dependence on him, help
themselves. As the day, so shall the strength be. In the strength of Divine
grace their souls shall ascend above the world. They shall run the way of God's
commandments cheerfully. Let us watch against unbelief, pride, and
self-confidence. If we go forth in our own strength, we shall faint, and utterly
fall; but having our hearts and our hopes in heaven, we shall be carried above
all difficulties, and be enabled to lay hold of the prize of our high calling in
Christ Jesus.
Chapter 40:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 Song of Solomon Jeremiah
Genesis
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