Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Isaiah
Book: Isaiah
Chapter: 22
Overview:
The siege and taking of
Jerusalem.
(1-7) The wicked conduct of
its inhabitants.
(8-14) The displacing of
Shebna, and the
promotion of
Eliakim, applied to the
Messiah.
(15-25)
1-7 Why is
Jerusalem in such terror? Her slain men are not
slain with the
Sword, but with
Famine; or, slain with fear,
disheartened. Their rulers fled, but were overtaken. The
servants of
God, who foresee and warn sinners of coming
miseries, are affected
By the prospect. But all the horrors of a
City taken
By storm, faintly
Shadow forth the terrors of the
Day
of wrath.
8-14 The weakness of
Judah now appeared more than ever. Now
also they discovered their
Carnal confidence and their
Carnal
security. They looked to the fortifications. They made sure of
water for the
City. But they were regardless of
God in all these
preparations. They did not care for his
Glory in what they did.
They did not depend upon him for a blessing
On their endeavours.
For every
Creature is to us what
God makes it to be; and we must
Bless him for it, and use it for him. There was great contempt
of
God's wrath and
Justice, in contending with them.
God's
design was to humble them, and bring them to
Repentance. They
walked contrary to this. Actual disbelief of another
Life after
this, is at the bottom of the
Carnal security and brutish
sensuality, which are the
Sin, the shame, and ruin of
So great a
part of mankind.
God was displeased at this. It is a
Sin against
the remedy, and it is not likely they should ever repent of it.
Whether this unbelief
Works By presumption or despair, it
produces the same contempt of
God, and is a token that a
Man
will perish wilfully.
15-25 This message to
Shebna is a reproof of his pride, vanity,
and security; what vanity is all earthly grandeur, which
Death
will
So soon
End! What will it avail, whether we are laid in a
magnificent tomb, or covered with the green sod? Those who, when
in power, turn and toss others, will be justly turned and tossed
themselves.
Eliakim should be
Put into
Shebna's place. Those
called to places of trust and power, should seek to
God for
Grace to enable them to do their duty.
Eliakim's advancement is
described. Our
Lord Jesus describes his own power as
Mediator,
Re 3:7, that he has the
Key of
David. His power in the kingdom
of
Heaven, and in ordering all the affairs of that kingdom, is
absolute. Rulers should be fathers to those under their
government; and the honour men bring unto their families,
By
their
Piety and usefulness, is more to be valued than what they
derive from them
By their names and titles. The
Glory of this
world gives a
Man No real worth or excellence; it is but hung
upon him, and it will soon drop from him.
Eliakim was compared
to a
Nail in a sure place; all his family are said to depend
upon him. In eastern houses, rows of large spikes were built up
in the walls. Upon these the moveables and utensils were hung.
Our
Lord Jesus is as a
Nail in a sure place. That soul cannot
perish, nor that concern fall to the ground, which is
By Faith
hung upon
Christ. He will set before the believer an open door,
which
No Man can shut, and bring both body and soul to eternal
Glory. But those who neglect
So great
Salvation will find, that
when he shutteth none can open, whether it be shutting out from
Heaven, or shutting up in
Hell for ever.