56:10 His {k} watchmen [are] blind: they are all ignorant, they [are] all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.(k) He shows that this affliction will come through the fault of the governors, prophets and pastors, whose ignorance, negligence, greed and obstinacy provoked God’s wrath against them. read more
THE MESSIAH REVEALED The thirty-two chapters deal particularly with the Person and work of the Messiah. Isaiah has sometimes been called the evangelical prophet because of the large space he gives to that subject a circumstance the more notable because of the silence concerning it since Moses. The explanation of this silence is hinted at in the lesson on the introduction to the prophets. In chapter 49, the Messiah speaks of Himself and the failure of His mission in His rejection by His... read more
Called to Sanctification Isaiah 56:0 The Lord says his salvation is near to come, and his righteousness is near to be revealed. The Lord takes no note of what we call time. We are the victims of that illusion. We talk of time as if it were of some importance in regard to God's movement; whereas a thousand years in God's sight are but as yesterday, and as a watch in the night; a thousand years are as one day, and one day is as a thousand years: the meaning being that we are to drop this sophism... read more
Who, or what are meant by beasts of the field, and dumb dogs, may not be so easy to determine; but we cannot be at a loss to apprehend the meaning of the word watchmen. The passage is very awful, and closeth in a very awful manner. Those who minister in holy things, may well ponder over such a striking scripture, connected as it is with the characters here spoken of. The beloved Apostle hath marked their end, Revelation 22:15 . Reader! let us turn our thoughts from the distressing view of... read more
Watchmen. Priests and prophets. (Calmet) --- We know (Haydock) only Jeremias who continued firm, Lamentations ii. 14. In the days of Christ, the corruption was not diminished. (Calmet) read more
9-12 Desolating judgments are called for; and this severe rebuke of the rulers and teachers of the Jewish church, is applicable to other ages and places. It is bad with a people when their shepherds slumber, and are eager after the world. Let us pray the Great Shepherd to send us pastors after his own heart, who will feed us with knowledge, that we may rejoice in his holy name, and that believers may be daily added to the church. read more
Isa_56:1 Isa_58:14 At the end of Isa 55.0 the wonderful prophetic strain, concerning the One who was to come forth as both the "Servant" and the "Arm" of the Lord, comes to an end. In chapter 56 the prophet had to revert to the state of things among the people to whom previously he addressed himself. He spoke in the name of the Lord and the fact that He called for equity and justice reveals that these excellent things were not being practised among the people. His salvation and righteousness... read more
The Neglect of Jehovah's Flock by its Shepherds v. 9. All ye beasts of the field come to devour, yea, all ye beasts In the forest! It is an ironical call to the enemies of the Church to take advantage of Israel's helplessness, since she is lying there without protection, her shepherds living a life of ease and indulgence. v. 10. His watchmen, the men on the lookout in the watch-tower of city or fold, in this case the prophets of Israel, are blind, the false teachers deliberately blinding... read more
IX.—THE NINTH DISCOURSEConcluding Word: The Mournful Present, which will not be Prevented by the Approach of the Glorious Future.Isaiah 56:10 to Isaiah 57:21.Isaiah is wont to set the present in the light of the future, in order to make an impression on it by the contrast. I appeal to chapters 2–5, and to my interpretation of Isaiah 2:5. Jeremiah also imitates Isaiah in this (Jeremiah 3:11 to Jeremiah 4:4). The sudden spring from the remotest, the glorious future into the mournful, immediate... read more
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Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Isaiah 56:9-12
Chapters 56:9-57:14 must be read continuously. CHAPTERS 56:9-57:21 The Condition of the Apostate Nation and the two Classes 1. The condition of the shepherds of Israel (Isaiah 56:9-12 ) 2. Apostate Israel (Isaiah 57:1-14 ) 3. The two classes (Isaiah 57:15-21 ) The final chapter of this second section corresponds to the last chapter of the first section (chapter 48). The sad condition of the people Israel is pictured. This is their national apostasy throughout this age, while strangers... read more