Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Isaiah » Chapter 54 » Verse 11

Isaiah 54:11 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

11 O thou afflicted, H6041 tossed with tempest, H5590 and not comforted, H5162 behold, I will lay H7257 thy stones H68 with fair colours, H6320 and lay thy foundations H3245 with sapphires. H5601

Cross Reference

1 Chronicles 29:2 STRONG

Now I have prepared H3559 with all my might H3581 for the house H1004 of my God H430 the gold H2091 for things to be made of gold, H2091 and the silver H3701 for things of silver, H3701 and the brass H5178 for things of brass, H5178 the iron H1270 for things of iron, H1270 and wood H6086 for things of wood; H6086 onyx H7718 stones, H68 and stones to be set, H4394 glistering H6320 stones, H68 and of divers colours, H7553 and all manner of precious H3368 stones, H68 and marble H7893 stones H68 in abundance. H7230

Jeremiah 30:17 STRONG

For I will restore H5927 health H724 unto thee, and I will heal H7495 thee of thy wounds, H4347 saith H5002 the LORD; H3068 because they called H7121 thee an Outcast, H5080 saying, This is Zion, H6726 whom no man seeketh after. H1875

Isaiah 60:15 STRONG

Whereas H8478 thou hast been forsaken H5800 and hated, H8130 so that no man went through H5674 thee, I will make H7760 thee an eternal H5769 excellency, H1347 a joy H4885 of many H1755 generations. H1755

Lamentations 1:1-2 STRONG

How doth the city H5892 sit H3427 solitary, H910 that was full H7227 of people! H5971 how is she become as a widow! H490 she that was great H7227 among the nations, H1471 and princess H8282 among the provinces, H4082 how is she become tributary! H4522 She weepeth H1058 sore H1058 in the night, H3915 and her tears H1832 are on her cheeks: H3895 among all her lovers H157 she hath none to comfort H5162 her: all her friends H7453 have dealt treacherously H898 with her, they are become her enemies. H341

Lamentations 1:16-17 STRONG

For these things I weep; H1058 mine eye, H5869 mine eye H5869 runneth down H3381 with water, H4325 because the comforter H5162 that should relieve H7725 my soul H5315 is far H7368 from me: my children H1121 are desolate, H8074 because the enemy H341 prevailed. H1396 Zion H6726 spreadeth forth H6566 her hands, H3027 and there is none to comfort H5162 her: the LORD H3068 hath commanded H6680 concerning Jacob, H3290 that his adversaries H6862 should be round about H5439 him: Jerusalem H3389 is as a menstruous woman H5079 among them.

Lamentations 1:21 STRONG

They have heard H8085 that I sigh: H584 there is none to comfort H5162 me: all mine enemies H341 have heard H8085 of my trouble; H7451 they are glad H7797 that thou hast done H6213 it: thou wilt bring H935 the day H3117 that thou hast called, H7121 and they shall be like H3644 unto me.

Ezekiel 1:26 STRONG

And above H4605 the firmament H7549 that was over their heads H7218 was the likeness H1823 of a throne, H3678 as the appearance H4758 of a sapphire H5601 stone: H68 and upon the likeness H1823 of the throne H3678 was the likeness H1823 as the appearance H4758 of a man H120 above H4605 upon it.

Ezekiel 10:1 STRONG

Then I looked, H7200 and, behold, in the firmament H7549 that was above the head H7218 of the cherubims H3742 there appeared H7200 over them as it were a sapphire H5601 stone, H68 as the appearance H4758 of the likeness H1823 of a throne. H3678

Ezekiel 40:1-42 STRONG

In the five H2568 and twentieth H6242 year H8141 of our captivity, H1546 in the beginning H7218 of the year, H8141 in the tenth H6218 day of the month, H2320 in the fourteenth H702 H6240 year H8141 after H310 that the city H5892 was smitten, H5221 in the selfsame H6106 day H3117 the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 was upon me, and brought H935 me thither. In the visions H4759 of God H430 brought H935 he me into the land H776 of Israel, H3478 and set H5117 me upon a very H3966 high H1364 mountain, H2022 by which was as the frame H4011 of a city H5892 on the south. H5045 And he brought H935 me thither, and, behold, there was a man, H376 whose appearance H4758 was like the appearance H4758 of brass, H5178 with a line H6616 of flax H6593 in his hand, H3027 and a measuring H4060 reed; H7070 and he stood H5975 in the gate. H8179 And the man H376 said H1696 unto me, Son H1121 of man, H120 behold H7200 with thine eyes, H5869 and hear H8085 with thine ears, H241 and set H7760 thine heart H3820 upon all that I shall shew H7200 thee; for to the intent H4616 that I might shew H7200 them unto thee art thou brought H935 hither: declare H5046 all that thou seest H7200 to the house H1004 of Israel. H3478 And behold a wall H2346 on the outside H2351 of the house H1004 round about, H5439 and in the man's H376 hand H3027 a measuring H4060 reed H7070 of six H8337 cubits H520 long by the cubit H520 and an hand breadth: H2948 so he measured H4058 the breadth H7341 of the building, H1146 one H259 reed; H7070 and the height, H6967 one H259 reed. H7070 Then came H935 he unto the gate H8179 which looketh H6440 toward H1870 the east, H6921 and went up H5927 the stairs H4609 thereof, and measured H4058 the threshold H5592 of the gate, H8179 which was one H259 reed H7070 broad; H7341 and the other H259 threshold H5592 of the gate, which was one H259 reed H7070 broad. H7341 And every little chamber H8372 was one H259 reed H7070 long, H753 and one H259 reed H7070 broad; H7341 and between the little chambers H8372 were five H2568 cubits; H520 and the threshold H5592 of the gate H8179 by H681 the porch H197 of the gate H8179 within H1004 was one H259 reed. H7070 He measured H4058 also the porch H197 of the gate H8179 within, H1004 one H259 reed. H7070 Then measured H4058 he the porch H197 of the gate, H8179 eight H8083 cubits; H520 and the posts H352 thereof, two H8147 cubits; H520 and the porch H197 of the gate H8179 was inward. H1004 And the little chambers H8372 of the gate H8179 eastward H1870 H6921 were three H7969 on this side, H6311 and three H7969 on that side; H6311 they three H7969 were of one H259 measure: H4060 and the posts H352 had one H259 measure H4060 on this side and on that side. And he measured H4058 the breadth H7341 of the entry H6607 of the gate, H8179 ten H6235 cubits; H520 and the length H753 of the gate, H8179 thirteen H7969 H6240 cubits. H520 The space H1366 also before H6440 the little chambers H8372 was one H259 cubit H520 on this side, and the space H1366 was one cubit H520 on that side: and the little chambers H8372 were six H8337 cubits H520 on this side, and six H8337 cubits H520 on that side. He measured H4058 then the gate H8179 from the roof H1406 of one little chamber H8372 to the roof H1406 of another: the breadth H7341 was five H2568 and twenty H6242 cubits, H520 door H6607 against door. H6607 He made H6213 also posts H352 of threescore H8346 cubits, H520 even unto the post H352 of the court H2691 round about H5439 the gate. H8179 And from the face H6440 of the gate H8179 of the entrance H2978 unto the face H6440 of the porch H197 of the inner H6442 gate H8179 were fifty H2572 cubits. H520 And there were narrow H331 windows H2474 to the little chambers, H8372 and to their posts H352 within H6441 the gate H8179 round about, H5439 and likewise to the arches: H361 and windows H2474 were round about H5439 inward: H6441 and upon each post H352 were palm trees. H8561 Then brought H935 he me into the outward H2435 court, H2691 and, lo, there were chambers, H3957 and a pavement H7531 made H6213 for the court H2691 round about: H5439 thirty H7970 chambers H3957 were upon the pavement. H7531 And the pavement H7531 by the side H3802 of the gates H8179 over against H5980 the length H753 of the gates H8179 was the lower H8481 pavement. H7531 Then he measured H4058 the breadth H7341 from the forefront H6440 of the lower H8481 gate H8179 unto the forefront H6440 of the inner H6442 court H2691 without, H2351 an hundred H3967 cubits H520 eastward H6921 and northward. H6828 And the gate H8179 of the outward H2435 court H2691 that looked H6440 toward H1870 the north, H6828 he measured H4058 the length H753 thereof, and the breadth H7341 thereof. And the little chambers H8372 thereof were three H7969 on this side and three H7969 on that side; and the posts H352 thereof and the arches H361 thereof were after the measure H4060 of the first H7223 gate: H8179 the length H753 thereof was fifty H2572 cubits, H520 and the breadth H7341 five H2568 and twenty H6242 cubits. H520 And their windows, H2474 and their arches, H361 and their palm trees, H8561 were after the measure H4060 of the gate H8179 that looketh H6440 toward H1870 the east; H6921 and they went up H5927 unto it by seven H7651 steps; H4609 and the arches H361 thereof were before H6440 them. And the gate H8179 of the inner H6442 court H2691 was over against the gate H8179 toward the north, H6828 and toward the east; H6921 and he measured H4058 from gate H8179 to gate H8179 an hundred H3967 cubits. H520 After that he brought H3212 me toward H1870 the south, H1864 and behold a gate H8179 toward H1870 the south: H1864 and he measured H4058 the posts H352 thereof and the arches H361 thereof according to these measures. H4060 And there were windows H2474 in it and in the arches H361 thereof round about, H5439 like those windows: H2474 the length H753 was fifty H2572 cubits, H520 and the breadth H7341 five H2568 and twenty H6242 cubits. H520 And there were seven H7651 steps H4609 to go up H5930 to it, and the arches H361 thereof were before H6440 them: and it had palm trees, H8561 one H259 on this side, and another H259 on that side, upon the posts H352 thereof. And there was a gate H8179 in the inner H6442 court H2691 toward H1870 the south: H1864 and he measured H4058 from gate H8179 to gate H8179 toward H1870 the south H1864 an hundred H3967 cubits. H520 And he brought H935 me to the inner H6442 court H2691 by the south H1864 gate: H8179 and he measured H4058 the south H1864 gate H8179 according to these measures; H4060 And the little chambers H8372 thereof, and the posts H352 thereof, and the arches H361 thereof, according to these measures: H4060 and there were windows H2474 in it and in the arches H361 thereof round about: H5439 it was fifty H2572 cubits H520 long, H753 and five H2568 and twenty H6242 cubits H520 broad. H7341 And the arches H361 round about H5439 were five H2568 and twenty H6242 cubits H520 long, H753 and five H2568 cubits H520 broad. H7341 And the arches H361 thereof were toward the utter H2435 court; H2691 and palm trees H8561 were upon the posts H352 thereof: and the going up H4608 to it had eight H8083 steps. H4609 And he brought H935 me into the inner H6442 court H2691 toward H1870 the east: H6921 and he measured H4058 the gate H8179 according to these measures. H4060 And the little chambers H8372 thereof, and the posts H352 thereof, and the arches H361 thereof, were according to these measures: H4060 and there were windows H2474 therein and in the arches H361 thereof round about: H5439 it was fifty H2572 cubits H520 long, H753 and five H2568 and twenty H6242 cubits H520 broad. H7341 And the arches H361 thereof were toward the outward H2435 court; H2691 and palm trees H8561 were upon the posts H352 thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up H4608 to it had eight H8083 steps. H4609 And he brought H935 me to the north H6828 gate, H8179 and measured H4058 it according to these measures; H4060 The little chambers H8372 thereof, the posts H352 thereof, and the arches H361 thereof, and the windows H2474 to it round about: H5439 the length H753 was fifty H2572 cubits, H520 and the breadth H7341 five H2568 and twenty H6242 cubits. H520 And the posts H352 thereof were toward the utter H2435 court; H2691 and palm trees H8561 were upon the posts H352 thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up H4608 to it had eight H8083 steps. H4609 And the chambers H3957 and the entries H6607 thereof were by the posts H352 of the gates, H8179 where they washed H1740 the burnt offering. H5930 And in the porch H197 of the gate H8179 were two H8147 tables H7979 on this side, and two tables H7979 on that side, to slay H7819 thereon the burnt offering H5930 and the sin offering H2403 and the trespass offering. H817 And at the side H3802 without, H2351 as one goeth up H5927 to the entry H6607 of the north H6828 gate, H8179 were two H8147 tables; H7979 and on the other H312 side, H3802 which was at the porch H197 of the gate, H8179 were two H8147 tables. H7979 Four H702 tables H7979 were on this side, and four H702 tables H7979 on that side, by the side H3802 of the gate; H8179 eight H8083 tables, H7979 whereupon they slew H7819 their sacrifices. And the four H702 tables H7979 were of hewn H1496 stone H68 for the burnt offering, H5930 of a cubit H520 and an half H2677 long, H753 and a cubit H520 and an half H2677 broad, H7341 and one H259 cubit H520 high: H1363 whereupon also they laid H3240 the instruments H3627 wherewith they slew H7819 the burnt offering H5930 and the sacrifice. H2077

Matthew 8:24 STRONG

And, G2532 behold, G2400 there arose G1096 a great G3173 tempest G4578 in G1722 the sea, G2281 insomuch that G5620 the ship G4143 was covered G2572 with G5259 the waves: G2949 but G1161 he G846 was asleep. G2518

John 16:20-22 STRONG

Verily, G281 verily, G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 ye G5210 shall weep G2799 and G2532 lament, G2354 but G1161 the world G2889 shall rejoice: G5463 and G1161 ye G5210 shall be sorrowful, G3076 but G235 your G5216 sorrow G3077 shall be turned G1096 into G1519 joy. G5479 A woman G1135 when G3752 she is in travail G5088 hath G2192 sorrow, G3077 because G3754 her G846 hour G5610 is come: G2064 but G1161 as soon as G3752 she is delivered G1080 of the child, G3813 she remembereth G3421 no more G3765 the anguish, G2347 for G1223 joy G5479 that G3754 a man G444 is born G1080 into G1519 the world. G2889 And G2532 ye G5210 G3303 now G3568 therefore G3767 have G2192 sorrow: G3077 but G1161 I will see G3700 you G5209 again, G3825 and G2532 your G5216 heart G2588 shall rejoice, G5463 and G2532 your G5216 joy G5479 no man G3762 taketh G142 from G575 you. G5216

John 16:33 STRONG

These things G5023 I have spoken G2980 unto you, G5213 that G2443 in G1722 me G1698 ye might have G2192 peace. G1515 In G1722 the world G2889 ye shall have G2192 G2192 tribulation: G2347 but G235 be of good cheer; G2293 I G1473 have overcome G3528 the world. G2889

Acts 14:22 STRONG

Confirming G1991 the souls G5590 of the disciples, G3101 and exhorting them G3870 to continue G1696 in the faith, G4102 and G2532 that G3754 we G2248 must G1163 through G1223 much G4183 tribulation G2347 enter G1525 into G1519 the kingdom G932 of God. G2316

Acts 27:18-20 STRONG

And G1161 we G2257 being exceedingly G4971 tossed with a tempest, G5492 the next G1836 day they lightened the ship; G1546 G4160 And G2532 the third G5154 day we cast out G4496 with our own hands G849 the tackling G4631 of the ship. G4143 And G1161 when neither G3383 sun G2246 nor G3383 stars G798 in G1909 many G4119 days G2250 appeared, G2014 and G5037 no G3756 small G3641 tempest G5494 lay on G1945 us, all G3956 hope G1680 that we G2248 should be saved G4982 was G4014 then G3063 taken away. G4014

Ephesians 2:20 STRONG

And are built G2026 upon G1909 the foundation G2310 of the apostles G652 and G2532 prophets, G4396 Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 himself G846 being G5607 the chief corner G204 stone;

1 Peter 2:4-6 STRONG

To G4314 whom G3739 coming, G4334 as unto a living G2198 stone, G3037 disallowed G593 indeed G3303 of G5259 men, G444 but G1161 chosen G1588 of G3844 God, G2316 and precious, G1784 Ye G846 also, G2532 as G5613 lively G2198 stones, G3037 are built up G3618 a spiritual G4152 house, G3624 an holy G40 priesthood, G2406 to offer up G399 spiritual G4152 sacrifices, G2378 acceptable G2144 to God G2316 by G1223 Jesus G2424 Christ. G5547 Wherefore G1352 also G2532 it is contained G4023 in G1722 the scripture, G1124 Behold, G2400 I lay G5087 in G1722 Sion G4622 a chief corner G204 stone, G3037 elect, G1588 precious: G1784 and G2532 he that believeth G4100 on G1909 him G846 shall G2617 not be G3364 confounded. G2617

Revelation 11:3-10 STRONG

And G2532 I will give G1325 power unto my G3450 two G1417 witnesses, G3144 and G2532 they shall prophesy G4395 a thousand G5507 two hundred G1250 and threescore G1835 days, G2250 clothed in G4016 sackcloth. G4526 These G3778 are G1526 the two G1417 olive G1636 trees, and G2532 the two G1417 candlesticks G3087 standing G2476 before G1799 the God G2316 of the earth. G1093 And G2532 if any man G1536 G846 will G2309 hurt G91 them, G846 fire G4442 proceedeth G1607 out of G1537 their G846 mouth, G4750 and G2532 devoureth G2719 their G846 enemies: G2190 and G2532 if any man G1536 will G2309 hurt G91 them, G846 he must G1163 in this manner G3779 be killed. G615 These G3778 have G2192 power G1849 to shut G2808 heaven, G3772 that G3363 it rain G1026 G5205 not G3363 in G1722 the days G2250 of their G846 prophecy: G4394 and G2532 have G2192 power G1849 over G1909 waters G5204 to turn G4762 them G846 to G1519 blood, G129 and G2532 to smite G3960 the earth G1093 with all G3956 plagues, G4127 as often G3740 as G1437 they will. G2309 And G2532 when G3752 they shall have finished G5055 their G846 testimony, G3141 the beast G2342 that ascendeth G305 out of G1537 the bottomless pit G12 shall make G4160 war G4171 against G3326 them, G846 and G2532 shall overcome G3528 them, G846 and G2532 kill G615 them. G846 And G2532 their G846 dead bodies G4430 shall lie in G1909 the street G4113 of the great G3173 city, G4172 which G3748 spiritually G4153 is called G2564 Sodom G4670 and G2532 Egypt, G125 where G3699 also G2532 our G2257 Lord G2962 was crucified. G4717 And G2532 they G991 of G1537 the people G2992 and G2532 kindreds G5443 and G2532 tongues G1100 and G2532 nations G1484 shall see G991 their G846 dead bodies G4430 three G5140 days G2250 and G2532 an half, G2255 and G2532 shall G863 not G3756 suffer G863 their G846 dead bodies G4430 to be put G5087 in G1519 graves. G3418 And G2532 they that dwell G2730 upon G1909 the earth G1093 shall rejoice G5463 over G1909 them, G846 and G2532 make merry, G2165 and G2532 shall send G3992 gifts G1435 one to another; G240 because G3754 these G3778 two G1417 prophets G4396 tormented G928 them that dwelt G2730 on G1909 the earth. G1093

Revelation 12:13-17 STRONG

And G2532 when G3753 the dragon G1404 saw G1492 that G3754 he was cast G906 unto G1519 the earth, G1093 he persecuted G1377 the woman G1135 which G3748 brought forth G5088 the man G730 child. And G2532 to the woman G1135 were given G1325 two G1417 wings G4420 of a great G3173 eagle, G105 that G2443 she might fly G4072 into G1519 the wilderness, G2048 into G1519 her G846 place, G5117 where G3699 she is nourished G5142 for a time, G1563 G2540 and G2532 times, G2540 and G2532 half G2255 a time, G2540 from G575 the face G4383 of the serpent. G3789 And G2532 the serpent G3789 cast G906 out of G1537 his G846 mouth G4750 water G5204 as G5613 a flood G4215 after G3694 the woman, G1135 that G2443 he might cause G4160 her G5026 to be carried away of the flood. G4216 And G2532 the earth G1093 helped G997 the woman, G1135 and G2532 the earth G1093 opened G455 her G846 mouth, G4750 and G2532 swallowed up G2666 the flood G4215 which G3739 the dragon G1404 cast G906 out of G1537 his G846 mouth. G4750 And G2532 the dragon G1404 was wroth G3710 with G1909 the woman, G1135 and G2532 went G565 to make G4160 war G4171 with G3326 the remnant G3062 of her G846 seed, G4690 which G3588 keep G5083 the commandments G1785 of God, G2316 and G2532 have G2192 the testimony G3141 of Jesus G2424 Christ. G5547

Revelation 21:18-21 STRONG

And G2532 the building G1739 of the wall G5038 of it G846 was G2258 of jasper: G2393 and G2532 the city G4172 was pure G2513 gold, G5553 like G3664 unto clear G2513 glass. G5194 And G2532 the foundations G2310 of the wall G5038 of the city G4172 were garnished with G2885 all manner of G3956 precious G5093 stones. G3037 The first G4413 foundation G2310 was jasper; G2393 the second, G1208 sapphire; G4552 the third, G5154 a chalcedony; G5472 the fourth, G5067 an emerald; G4665 The fifth, G3991 sardonyx; G4557 the sixth, G1623 sardius; G4556 the seventh, G1442 chrysolite; G5555 the eighth, G3590 beryl; G969 the ninth, G1766 a topaz; G5116 the tenth, G1182 a chrysoprasus; G5556 the eleventh, G1734 a jacinth; G5192 the twelfth, G1428 an amethyst. G271 And G2532 the twelve G1427 gates G4440 were twelve G1427 pearls; G3135 every G1538 G303 several G1520 gate G4440 was G2258 of G1537 one G1520 pearl: G3135 and G2532 the street G4113 of the city G4172 was pure G2513 gold, G5553 as it were G5613 transparent G1307 glass. G5194

Psalms 129:1-3 STRONG

[[A Song H7892 of degrees.]] H4609 Many a time H7227 have they afflicted H6887 me from my youth, H5271 may Israel H3478 now say: H559 Many a time H7227 have they afflicted H6887 me from my youth: H5271 yet they have not prevailed H3201 against me. The plowers H2790 plowed H2790 upon my back: H1354 they made long H748 their furrows. H4618 H4618

Exodus 3:2 STRONG

And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 appeared H7200 unto him in a flame H3827 of fire H784 out of the midst H8432 of a bush: H5572 and he looked, H7200 and, behold, the bush H5572 burned H1197 with fire, H784 and the bush H5572 was not consumed. H398

Exodus 3:7 STRONG

And the LORD H3068 said, H559 I have surely H7200 seen H7200 the affliction H6040 of my people H5971 which are in Egypt, H4714 and have heard H8085 their cry H6818 by reason H6440 of their taskmasters; H5065 for I know H3045 their sorrows; H4341

Exodus 24:10 STRONG

And they saw H7200 the God H430 of Israel: H3478 and there was under his feet H7272 as it were a paved H3840 work H4639 of a sapphire stone, H5601 and as it were the body H6106 of heaven H8064 in his clearness. H2892

Exodus 28:17-20 STRONG

And thou shalt set H4390 in it settings H4396 of stones, H68 even four H702 rows H2905 of stones: H68 the first row H2905 shall be a sardius, H124 a topaz, H6357 and a carbuncle: H1304 this shall be the first H259 row. H2905 And the second H8145 row H2905 shall be an emerald, H5306 a sapphire, H5601 and a diamond. H3095 And the third H7992 row H2905 a ligure, H3958 an agate, H7618 and an amethyst. H306 And the fourth H7243 row H2905 a beryl, H8658 and an onyx, H7718 and a jasper: H3471 they shall be set H7660 in gold H2091 in their inclosings. H4396

Exodus 39:10-14 STRONG

And they set H4390 in it four H702 rows H2905 of stones: H68 the first row H2905 was a sardius, H124 a topaz, H6357 and a carbuncle: H1304 this was the first H259 row. H2905 And the second H8145 row, H2905 an emerald, H5306 a sapphire, H5601 and a diamond. H3095 And the third H7992 row, H2905 a ligure, H3958 an agate, H7618 and an amethyst. H306 And the fourth H7243 row, H2905 a beryl, H8658 an onyx, H7718 and a jasper: H3471 they were inclosed H4142 in ouches H4865 of gold H2091 in their inclosings. H4396 And the stones H68 were according to the names H8034 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 twelve, H8147 H6240 according to their names, H8034 like the engravings H6603 of a signet, H2368 every one H376 with his name, H8034 according to the twelve H8147 H6240 tribes. H7626

Deuteronomy 31:17 STRONG

Then my anger H639 shall be kindled H2734 against them in that day, H3117 and I will forsake H5800 them, and I will hide H5641 my face H6440 from them, and they shall be devoured, H398 and many H7227 evils H7451 and troubles H6869 shall befall H4672 them; so that they will say H559 in that day, H3117 Are not these evils H7451 come H4672 upon us, because our God H430 is not among H7130 us?

1 Kings 5:17 STRONG

And the king H4428 commanded, H6680 and they brought H5265 great H1419 stones, H68 costly H3368 stones, H68 and hewed H1496 stones, H68 to lay the foundation H3245 of the house. H1004

Psalms 34:19 STRONG

Many H7227 are the afflictions H7451 of the righteous: H6662 but the LORD H3068 delivereth H5337 him out of them all.

Exodus 2:23 STRONG

And it came to pass in process H1992 H7227 of time, H3117 that the king H4428 of Egypt H4714 died: H4191 and the children H1121 of Israel H3478 sighed H584 by reason of H4480 the bondage, H5656 and they cried, H2199 and their cry H7775 came up H5927 unto God H430 by reason of the bondage. H5656

Song of Solomon 5:14 STRONG

His hands H3027 are as gold H2091 rings H1550 set H4390 with the beryl: H8658 his belly H4578 is as bright H6247 ivory H8127 overlaid H5968 with sapphires. H5601

Isaiah 14:32 STRONG

What shall one then answer H6030 the messengers H4397 of the nation? H1471 That the LORD H3068 hath founded H3245 Zion, H6726 and the poor H6041 of his people H5971 shall trust H2620 in it.

Isaiah 28:16 STRONG

Therefore thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD, H3069 Behold, I lay H3245 in Zion H6726 for a foundation a stone, H68 a tried H976 stone, H68 a precious H3368 corner H6438 stone, a sure H3245 foundation: H4143 he that believeth H539 shall not make haste. H2363

Isaiah 49:14 STRONG

But Zion H6726 said, H559 The LORD H3068 hath forsaken H5800 me, and my Lord H136 hath forgotten H7911 me.

Isaiah 51:17-19 STRONG

Awake, H5782 awake, H5782 stand up, H6965 O Jerusalem, H3389 which hast drunk H8354 at the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 the cup H3563 of his fury; H2534 thou hast drunken H8354 the dregs H6907 of the cup H3563 of trembling, H8653 and wrung them out. H4680 There is none to guide H5095 her among all the sons H1121 whom she hath brought forth; H3205 neither is there any that taketh H2388 her by the hand H3027 of all the sons H1121 that she hath brought up. H1431 These two H8147 things are come H7122 unto thee; who shall be sorry H5110 for thee? desolation, H7701 and destruction, H7667 and the famine, H7458 and the sword: H2719 by whom shall I comfort H5162 thee?

Isaiah 51:21 STRONG

Therefore hear H8085 now this, thou afflicted, H6041 and drunken, H7937 but not with wine: H3196

Isaiah 54:6 STRONG

For the LORD H3068 hath called H7121 thee as a woman H802 forsaken H5800 and grieved H6087 in spirit, H7307 and a wife H802 of youth, H5271 when thou wast refused, H3988 saith H559 thy God. H430

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Isaiah 54

Commentary on Isaiah 54 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 54

The death of Christ is the life of the church and of all that truly belong to it; and therefore very fitly, after the prophet had foretold the sufferings of Christ, he foretels the flourishing of the church, which is a part of his glory, and that exaltation of him which was the reward of his humiliation: it was promised him that he should see his seed, and this chapter is an explication of that promise. It may easily be granted that it has a primary reference to the welfare and prosperity of the Jewish church after their return out of Babylon, which (as other things that happened to them) was typical of the glorious liberty of the children of God, which through Christ we are brought into; yet it cannot be denied but that it has a further and principal reference to the gospel church, into which the Gentiles were to be admitted. And the first words being understood by the apostle Paul of the New-Testament Jerusalem (Gal. 4:26, 27) may serve as a key to the whole chapter and that which follows. It is here promised concerning the Christian church,

  • I. That, though the beginnings of it were small, it should be greatly enlarged by the accession of many to it among the Gentiles, who had been wholly destitute of church privileges (v. 1-5).
  • II. That though sometimes God might seem to withdraw from her, and suspend the tokens of his favour, he would return in mercy and would not return to contend with them any more (v. 6-10).
  • III. That, though for a while she was in sorrow and under oppression, she should at length be advanced to greater honour and splendour than ever (v. 11, 12).
  • IV. That knowledge, righteousness, and peace, should flourish and prevail (v. 13, 14).
  • V. That all attempts against the church should be baffled, and she should be secured from the malice of her enemies (v. 14-17).

Isa 54:1-5

If we apply this to the state of the Jews after their return out of captivity, it is a prophecy of the increase of their nation after they were settled in their own land. Jerusalem had been in the condition of a wife written childless, or a desolate solitary widow; but now it is promised that the city should be replenished and the country peopled again, that not only the ruins of Jerusalem should be repaired, but the suburbs of it extended on all sides and a great many buildings erected upon new foundations,-that those estates which had for many years been wrongfully held by the Babylonian Gentiles should now return to the right owners. God will again be a husband to them, and the reproach of their captivity, and the small number to which they were then reduced, shall be forgotten. And it is to be observed that, by virtue of the ancient promise made to Abraham of the increase of his seed, when they were restored to God's favour they multiplied greatly. Those that first came out of Babylon were but 42,000 (Ezra 2:64), about a fifteenth part of their number when they came out of Egypt; many came dropping to them afterwards, but we may suppose that to be the greatest number that ever came in a body; and yet above 500 years after, a little before their destruction by the Romans, a calculation was made by the number of the paschal lambs, and the lowest computation by that rule (allowing only ten to a lamb, whereas they might be twenty) made the nation to be nearly three millions. Josephus says, seven and twenty hundred thousand and odd, Jewish War 6.425. But we must apply it to the church of God in general; I mean the kingdom of God among men, God's city in the world, the children of God incorporated. Now observe,

  • I. The low and languishing state of religion in the world for a long time before Christianity was brought in. It was like one barren, that did not bear, or travail with child, was like one desolate, that had lost husband and children; the church lay in a little compass, and brought forth little fruit. The Jews were indeed by profession married to God, but few proselytes were added to them, the rising generations were unpromising, and serious godliness manifestly lost ground among them. The Gentiles had less religion among them than the Jews; their proselytes were in a dispersion; and the children of God, like the children of a broken, reduced family, were scattered abroad (Jn. 11:52), did not appear nor make any figure.
  • II. Its recovery from this low condition by the preaching of the gospel and the planting of the Christian church.
    • 1. Multitudes were converted from idols to the living God. Those were the church's children that were born again, were partakers of a new and divine nature, by the word. More were the children of the desolate than of the married wife; there were more good people found in the Gentile church (when that was set up) that had long been afar off, and without God in the world, than ever were found in the Jewish church. God's sealed ones out of the tribes of Israel are numbered (Rev. 7:4), and they were but a remnant compared with the thousands of Israel; but those of other nations were so many, and crowded in so thickly, and lay so much scattered in all parts, that no man could number them, v. 9. Sometimes more of the power of religion is found in those places and families that have made little show of it, and have enjoyed but little of the means of grace, than in others that have distinguished themselves by a flourishing profession; and then more are the children of the desolate, more the fruits of their righteousness, than those of the married wife; so the last shall be first. Now this is spoken of as matter of great rejoicing to the church, which is called upon to break forth into singing upon this account. The increase of the church is the joy of all its friends and strengthens their hands. The longer the church has lain desolate the greater will the transports of joy be when it begins to recover the ground it has lost and to gain more. Even in heaven, among the angels of God, there is an uncommon joy for a sinner that repents, much more for a nation that does so. If the barren fig-tree at length bring forth fruit, it is well; it shall rejoice, and others with it.
    • 2. The bounds of the church were extended much further than ever before, v. 2, 3.
      • (1.) It is here supposed that the present state of the church is a tabernacle state; it dwells in tents, like the heirs of promise of old (Heb. 11:9); its dwelling is mean and movable, and of no strength against a storm. The city, the continuing city, is reserved for hereafter. A tent is soon taken down and shifted, so the candlestick of church privileges is soon removed out of its place (Rev. 2:5), and, when God pleases, it is as soon fixed elsewhere.
      • (2.) Though it be a tabernacle state, it is sometimes very remarkably a growing state; and, if this family increase, no matter though it be in a tent. Thus it was in the first preaching of the gospel; it was the business of the apostles to disciple all nations, to stretch forth the curtains of the church's habitation, to preach the gospel where Christ had not yet been named (Rom. 15:20), to leaven with the gospel those towns and countries that had hitherto been strangers to it, and so to lengthen the cords of this tabernacle, that more might be enclosed, which would make it necessary to strengthen the stakes proportionably, that they might bear the weight of the enlarged curtains. The more numerous the church grows the more cautious she must be to fortify herself against errors and corruptions, and to support her seven pillars, Prov. 9:1.
      • (3.) It was a proof of divine power going along with the gospel that in all places it grew and prevailed mightily, Acts 19:20. It broke forth, as the breaking forth of waters-on the right hand and on the left, that is, on all hands. The gospel spread itself into all parts of the world; there were eastern and western churches. The church's seed inherited the Gentiles, and the cities that had been desolate (that is, destitute of the knowledge and worship of the true God) came to be inhabited, that is, to have religion set up in them and the name of Christ professed.
    • 3. This was the comfort and honour of the church (v. 4): "Fear not, for thou shalt not be ashamed, as formerly, of the straitness of thy borders, and the fewness of thy children, which thy enemies upbraided thee with, but shalt forget the reproach of thy youth, because there shall be no more ground for that reproach.' It was the reproach of the Christian religion, in its youth, that none of the rulers or princes of this world embraced it and that it was entertained and professed by a despicable handful of men; but, after awhile, nations were discipled, the empire became Christian, and then this reproach of its youth was forgotten.
    • 4. This was owing to the relation in which God stood to his church, as her husband (v. 5): Thy maker is thy husband. Believers are said to be married to Christ, that they may bring forth fruit unto God (Rom. 7:4); so the church is married to him, that she may bear and bring up a holy seed to God, that shall be accounted to him for a generation. Jesus Christ is the church's Maker, by whom she is formed into a people-her Redeemer, by whom she is brought out of captivity, the bondage of sin, the worst of slaveries. This is he that espoused her to himself; and,
      • (1.) He is the Lord of hosts, who has an irresistible power, an absolute sovereignty, and a universal dominion! Kings who are lords of some hosts, find there are others who are lords of other hosts, as many and mighty as theirs; but God is the Lord of all hosts.
      • (2.) He is the Holy One of Israel, the same that presided in the affairs of the Old-Testament church and was the Mediator of the covenant made with it. The promises made to the New-Testament Israel are as rich and sure as those made to the Old-Testament Israel; for he that is our Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
      • (3.) He is and shall be called the Lord of the whole earth, as God, and as Mediator, for he is the heir of all things; but then he shall be called so, when the ends of the earth shall be made to see his salvation, when all the earth shall call him their God and have an interest in him. Long he had been called, in a peculiar manner, the God of Israel; but now, the partition wall between Jew and Gentile being taken down, he shall be called the God of the whole earth even where he has been, as at Athens itself, an unknown God.

Isa 54:6-10

The seasonable succour and relief which God sent to his captives in Babylon, when they had a discharge from their bondage there, are here foretold, as a type and figure of all those consolations of God which are treasured up for the church in general and all believers in particular, in the covenant of grace.

  • I. Look back to former troubles, and in comparison with them God's favours to his people appear very comfortable, v. 6-8. Observe,
    • 1. How sorrowful the church's condition had been. She had been as a woman forsaken, whose husband was dead, or had fallen out with her, though she was a wife of youth, upon which account she is grieved in spirit, takes it very ill, frets, and grows melancholy upon it; or she had been as one refused and rejected, and therefore full of discontent. Note, Even those that are espoused to God may yet seem to be refused and forsaken, and may be grieved in spirit under the apprehensions of being so. Those that shall never be forsaken and left in despair may yet for a time be perplexed and in distress. The similitude is explained (v. 7, 8): For a small moment have I forsaken thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee. When God continues his people long in trouble he seems to forsake them; so their enemies construe it (Ps. 71:11); so they themselves misinterpret it, ch. 49:14. When they are comfortless under their troubles, because their prayers and expectations are not answered, God hides his face from them, as if he regarded them not nor designed them any kindness. God owns that he had done this; for he keeps an account of the afflictions of his people, and, though he never turned his face against them (as against the wicked, Ps. 34:16), he remembers how often he turned his back upon them. This arose indeed from his displeasure. It was in wrath that he forsook them and hid his face from them (ch. 57:17); yet it was but in a little wrath: not that God's wrath ever is a little thing, or to be made light of (Who knows the power of his anger?), but little in comparison with what they had deserved, and what others justly suffer, on whom the full vials of his wrath are poured out. He did not stir up all his wrath. But God's people, though they be sensible of ever so small a degree of God's displeasure, cannot but be grieved in spirit because of it. As for the continuance of it, it was but for a moment, a small moment; for God does not keep his anger against his people for ever; no, it is soon over. As he is slow to anger, so he is swift to show mercy. The afflictions of God's people, as they are light, so they are but for a moment, a cloud that presently blows over.
    • 2. How sweet the returns of mercy would be to them when God should come and comfort them according to the time that he had afflicted them. God called them into covenant with himself when they were forsaken and grieved; he called them out of their afflictions when they were most pressing, v. 6. God's anger endures for a moment, but he will gather his people when they think themselves neglected, will gather them out of their dispersions, that they may return in a body to their own land,-will gather them into his arms, to protect them, embrace them, and bear them up,-and will gather them at last to himself, will gather the wheat into the barn. He will have mercy on them. This supposes the turning away of his anger and the admitting of them again into his favour. God's gathering his people takes rise from his mercy, not any merit of others; and it is with great mercies (v. 7), with everlasting kindness, v. 8. The wrath is little, but the mercies are great; the wrath is for a moment, but the kindness everlasting. See how one is set over against the other, that we may neither despond under our afflictions nor despair of relief.
  • II. Look forward to future dangers, and in defiance of them God's favours to his people appear very constant, and his kindness everlasting; for it is formed into a covenant, here called a covenant of peace, because it is founded in reconciliation and is inclusive of all good. Now,
    • 1. This is as firm as the covenant of providence. It is as the waters of Noah, that is, as that promise which was made concerning the deluge that there should never be the like again to disturb the course of summer and winter, seed-time and harvest, v. 9. God then contended with the world in great wrath, and for a full year, and yet at length returned in mercy, everlasting mercy; for he gave his word, which was as inviolable as his oath, that Noah's flood should never return, that he would never drown the world again; see Gen. 8:21, 22; 9:11. And God has ever since kept his word, though the world has been very provoking; and he will keep it to the end; for the world that now is is reserved unto fire. And thus inviolable is the covenant of grace: I have sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, as I have been, and rebuke thee, as I have done. He will not be so angry with them as to cast them off and break his covenant with them (Ps. 89:34), nor rebuke them as he has rebuked the heathen, to destroy them, and put out their name for ever and ever, Ps. 9:5.
    • 2. It is more firm than the strongest parts of the visible creation (v. 10): The mountains shall depart, which are called everlasting mountains, and the hills be removed, though they are called perpetual hills, Hab. 3:6. Sooner shall they remove than God's covenant with his people be broken. Mountains have sometimes been shaken by earthquakes, and removed; but the promises of God were never broken by the shock of any event. The day will come when all the mountains shall depart and all the hills be removed, not only the tops of them covered, as they were by the waters of Noah, but the roots of them torn up; for the earth and all the works that are therein shall be burned up; but then the covenant of peace between God and believers shall continue in the everlasting bliss of all those who are the children of that covenant. Mountains and hills signify great men, men of bulk and figure. Do these mountains seem to support the skies (as Atlas) and bear them up? They shall depart and be removed. Creature-confidences shall fail us. In vain is salvation hoped for from those hills and mountains. But the firmament is firm, and answers to its name, when those who seem to prop it are gone. When our friends fail us our God does not, nor does his kindness depart? Do these mountains threaten, and seem to top the skies, and bid defiance to them, as Pelion and Ossa? Do the kings of the earth, and the rulers, set themselves against the Lord? They shall depart and be removed. Great mountains, that stand in the way of the salvation of the church, shall be made plain (Zec. 4:7); but God's kindness shall never depart from his people, for whom he loves he loves to the end; nor shall the covenant of his peace ever be removed, for he is the Lord that has mercy on his people. Therefore the covenant is immovable and inviolable, because it is built not on our merit, which is a mutable uncertain thing, but on God's mercy, which is from everlasting to everlasting.

Isa 54:11-17

Very precious promises are here made to the church in her low condition, that God would not only continue his love to his people under their troubles as before, but that he would restore them to their former prosperity, nay, that he would raise them to greater prosperity than any they had yet enjoyed. In the foregoing chapter we had the humiliation and exaltation of Christ; here we have the humiliation and exaltation of the church; for, if we suffer with him, we shall reign with him. Observe,

  • I. The distressed state the church is here reduced to by the providence of God (v. 11): "O thou afflicted, poor, and indigent society, that art tossed with tempests, like a ship driven from her anchors by a storm and hurried into the ocean, where she is ready to be swallowed up by the waves, and in this condition not comforted by any compassionate friend that will sympathize with thee, or suggest to thee any encouraging considerations (Eccl. 4:1), not comforted by any allay to thy trouble, or prospect of deliverance out of it.' This was the condition of the Jews in Babylon, and afterwards, for a time, under Antiochus. It is often the condition of Christian churches and of particular believers; without are fightings, within are fears; they are like the disciples in a storm, ready to perish; and where is their faith?
  • II. The glorious state the church is here advanced to by the promise of God. God takes notice of the afflicted distressed state of his church, and comforts her, when she is most disconsolate and has no other comforter. Let the people of God, when they are afflicted and tossed, think they hear God speaking comfortably to them by these words, taking notice of their griefs and fears, what afflictions they are under, what distresses they are in, and what comforts their case calls for. When they bemoan themselves, God bemoans them, and speaks to them with pity: O thou afflicted, tossed with tempests, and not comforted; for in all their afflictions he is afflicted. But this is not all; he engages to raise her up out of her affliction, and encourages her with the assurance of the great things he would do for her, both for her prosperity and for the securing of that prosperity to her.
    • 1. Whereas now she lay in disgrace, God promises that which would be her beauty and honour, which would make her easy to herself and amiable in the eyes of others.
      • (1.) This is here promised by a similitude taken from a city, and it is an apt similitude, for the church is the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. Whereas now Jerusalem lay in ruins, a heap of rubbish, it shall be not only rebuilt, but beautified, and appear more splendid than ever; the stones shall be laid not only firm, but fine, laid with fair colours; they shall be glistering stones, 1 Chr. 29:2. The foundations shall be laid or garnished with sapphires, the most precious of the precious stones here mentioned; for Christ (the church's foundation), and the foundation of the apostles and prophets, are precious above any thing else. The windows of this house, city, or temple, shall be made of agates, the gates of carbuncles, and all the borders (the walls that enclose the courts, or the boundaries by which her limits are marked, the mere-stones) shall be of pleasant stones, v. 12. Never was this literally true; but it intimates,
        • [1.] That, God having graciously undertaken to build his church, we may expect that to be done for it, that to be wrought in it, which is very great and uncommon.
        • [2.] That the glory of the New-Testament church shall far exceed that of the Jewish church, not in external pomp and splendour, but in those gifts and graces of the Spirit which are infinitely more valuable, that wisdom which is more precious than rubies (Prov. 3:15), than the precious onyx and the sapphire, and which the topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal, Job 28:16, 19.
        • [3.] That the wealth of this world, and those things of it that are accounted most precious, shall be despised by all the true living members of the church, as having no value, no glory, in comparison with that which far excels. That which the children of this world lay up among their treasures, and too often in their hearts, the children of God make pavements of, and put under their feet, the fittest place of it.
      • (2.) It is here promised in the particular instances of those things that shall be the beauty and honour of the church, which are knowledge, holiness, and love, the very image of God, in which man was created, renewed, and restored. And these are the sapphires and carbuncles, the precious and pleasant stones, with which the gospel temple shall be enriched and beautified, and these wrought by the power and efficacy of those doctrines which the apostle compares to gold or silver, and precious stones, that are to be built upon the foundation, 1 Co. 3:12. Then the church is all glorious,
        • [1.] When it is full of the knowledge of God, and that is promised here (v. 13): All thy children shall be taught of the Lord. The church's children, being born of God, shall be taught of God; being his children by adoption, he will take care of their education. It was promised (v. 1) that the church's children should be many; but lest we should think that being many, as sometimes it happens in numerous families, they will be neglected, and not have instruction given them so carefully as if they were but few, God here takes that work into his own hand: They shall all be taught of the Lord; and none teaches like him.
          • First, It is a promise of the means of instruction and those means authorized by a divine institution: They shall all be taught of God, that is, they shall be taught by those whom God shall appoint and whose labours shall be under his direction and blessing. He will ordain the methods of instruction, and by his word and ordinances will diffuse a much greater light than the Old-Testament church had. Care shall be taken for the teaching of the church's children, that knowledge may be transmitted from generation to generation, and that all may be enriched with it, from the least even to the greatest.
          • Secondly, It is a promise of the Spirit of illumination. Our Saviour quotes it with application to gospel grace, and makes it to have its accomplishment in all those that were brought to believe in him (Jn. 6:45): It is written in the prophets, They shall be all taught of God, whence he infers that those, and those only, come to him by faith that have heard and learned of the Father, that are taught by him as the truth is in Jesus, Eph. 4:21. There shall be a plentiful effusion of the Spirit of grace upon Christians, to teach them all things, Jn. 14:26.
        • [2.] When the members of it live in love and unity among themselves: Great shall be the peace of thy children. Peace may be taken here for all good. As where no knowledge of God is no good can be expected, so those that are taught of God to know him are in a fair way to prosper for both worlds. Great peace have those that know and love God's law, Ps. 119:165. But it is often put for love and unity; and so we may take it. All that are taught of God are taught to love one another (1 Th. 4:9) and that will keep peace among the church's children and prevent their falling out by the way.
        • [3.] When holiness reigns; for that above any thing is the beauty of the church (v. 14): In righteousness shall thou be established. The reformation of manners, the restoration of purity, the due administration of public justice, and the prevailing of honesty and fair dealing among men, are the strength and stability of any church or state. The kingdom of God, set up by the gospel of Christ, is not meat and drink, but this righteousness and peace, holiness and love.
    • 2. Whereas now she lay in danger, God promises that which would be her protection and security.
      • (1.) God engages here that though, in the day of her distress, without were fightings and within were fears, now she shall be safe from both.
        • [1.] There shall be no fears within (v. 14): "Thou shalt be far from oppression. Those that have oppressed thee shall be removed, those that would oppress thee shall be restrained, and therefore thou shalt not fear, but mayest look upon it as a thing at a great distance, that thou art now in no danger of. Thou shalt be far from terror, not only from evil, but from the fear of evil, for it shall not come near thee so as to do thee any hurt or to put thee in any fright.' Note, Those are far from terror that are far from oppression; for it is as great a terror as can fall on a people to have the rod of government turned into the serpent of oppression, because against this there is no fence, nor is there any flight from it.
        • [2.] There shall be no fightings without. Though attempts should be made upon them to insult them, to invade their country, or besiege their towns, they should all be in vain, and none of them succeed, v. 15. It is granted, "They shall surely gather together against thee; thou must expect it.' The confederate force of hell and earth will be renewing their assaults. As long as there is a devil in hell, and a persecutor out of it, God's people must expect frequent alarms; but,
          • First, God will not own them, will not give them either commission or countenance; they gather together, hand joins in hand, but it is not by me. God gave them no such order as he did to Sennacherib, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, ch. 10:6. And therefore,
          • Secondly, Their attempt will end in their own ruin: "Whosoever shall gather together against thee, be they ever so many and ever so mighty, they shall not only be baffled, but they shall fall for thy sake, or they shall fall before thee, which shall be the just punishment of their enmity to thee.' God will make them to fall for the sake of the love he bears to his church and the care he has of it, in answer to the prayers made by his people, and in pursuance of the promises made to them. "They shall fall, that thou mayest stand,' Ps. 27:2.
      • (2.) That we may with the greatest assurance depend upon God for the safety of his church, we have here,
        • [1.] The power of God over the church's enemies asserted, v. 16. The truth is they have no power but what is given them from above, and he that gave them their power can limit and restrain them. Hitherto they shall go, and no further.
          • First, They cannot carry on their design without arms and weapons of war; and the smith that makes those weapons is God's creature, and he gave him his skill to work in iron and brass (Ex. 31:3, 4) and particularly to make proper instruments for warlike purposes. It is melancholy to think, as if men did not die fast enough of themselves, how ingenious and industrious they are to make instruments of death and to find out ways and means to kill one another. The smith blows the coals in the fire, to make his iron malleable, to soften it first, that it may be hardened into steel, and so he may bring forth an instrument proper for the work of those that seek to destroy. It is the iron age that is the age of war. But God has created the smith, and therefore can tie his hands, so that the project of the enemy shall miscarry (as many a project has done) for want of arms and ammunition. Or the smith that forges the weapons is perhaps put here for the council of war that forms the design, blows the coals of contention, and brings forth the plan of the war; these can do no more than God will let them.
          • Secondly, They cannot carry it on without men, they must have soldiers, and it is God that created the waster to destroy. Military men value themselves upon their great offices and splendid titles, and even the common soldiers call themselves gentlemen; but God calls them wasters made to destroy, for wasting and destruction are their business. They think their own ingenuity, labour, and experience, made them soldiers; but it was God that created them, and gave them strength and spirit for that hazardous employment; and therefore he not only can restrain them, but will serve his own purposes and designs by them.
        • [2.] The promise of God concerning the church's safety solemnly laid down, as the heritage of the servants of the Lord (v. 17), as that which they may depend upon and be confident of, that God will protect them from their adversaries both in camps and courts.
          • First, From their field-adversaries, that think to destroy them by force and violence, and dint of sword: "No weapon that is formed against thee (though ever so artfully formed by the smith that blows the coals, v. 16, though ever so skilfully managed by the waster that seeks to destroy) shall prosper; it shall not prove strong enough to do any harm to the people of God; it shall miss its mark, shall fall out of the hand or perhaps recoil in the face of him that uses it against thee.' It is the happiness of the church that no weapons formed against it shall prosper long, and therefore the folly of its enemies will at length be made manifest to all, for they are but preparing instruments of ruin for themselves.
          • Secondly, From their law-adversaries, that think to run them down under colour of right and justice. When the weapons of war do not prosper there are tongues that rise in judgment. Both are included in the gates of hell, that seek to destroy the church; for they had their courts of justice, as well as their magazines and military stores, in their gates. The tongues that rise in judgment against the church are as such as either demand a dominion over it, as if God's children were their lawful captives, pretending an authority to oppress their consciences, or they are such as misrepresent them, and falsely accuse them, and by slanders and calumnies endeavour to make them odious to the people and obnoxious to the government. This the enemies of the Jews did, to incense the kings of Persia against them, Ezra 4:12; Esth. 3:8. "But these insulting threatening tongues thou shalt condemn; thou shalt have wherewith to answer their insolent demands, and to put to silence their malicious reflections. Thou shalt do it by well-doing (1 Pt. 2:15), by doing that which will make thee manifest in the consciences even of thy adversaries, that thou art not what thou art represented to be. Thou shalt condemn them, that is, God shall condemn them for thee. He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, Ps. 37:6. Thou shalt condemn them as Noah condemned the old world that reproached him, by building the ark, and so saving his house, in contempt of their contempts.' The day is coming when God will reckon with the wicked men for all their hard speeches which they have spoken against him, Jude 15.

The last words refer not only to this promise, but to all that go before: This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord. God's servants are his sons, for he has provided an inheritance for them, rich, sure, and indefeasible. God's promises are their heritage for ever (Ps. 119:111); and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. God will clear up the righteousness of their cause before men. It is with him, for he knows it; it is with him, for he will plead it. Or their reward for their righteousness, and for all that which they have suffered unrighteously, is of God, that God who judges in the earth, and with whom verily there is a reward for the righteous. Or their righteousness itself, all that in them which is good and right, is of God, who works it in them; it is of Christ who is made righteousness to them. In those for whom God designs a heritage hereafter he will work righteousness now.