not enough to answer the intention. Those who rest in a righteousness of their own, will have
deceived themselves: the bed is too short, the covering too narrow. God will be glorified in the
fulfilling of his counsels. If those that profess to be members of God's church, make themselves
like Philistines and Canaanites, they must expect to be dealt with as such. Then dare not to ridicule
the reproofs of God's word, or the approaches of judgements.
Is. 28:23-29 The husbandman applies to his calling with pains and prudence, in all the works
of it according to their nature. Thus the Lord, who has given men this wisdom, is wonderful in
counsel, and excellent in his working. As the occasion requires, he threatens, corrects, spares, shows
mercy, or executes vengeance. Afflictions are God's threshing instruments, to loosen us from the
world, to part between us and our chaff, and to prepare us for use. God will proportion them to our
strength; they shall be no heavier than there is need. When his end is answered, the trials and
sufferings of his people shall cease; his wheat shall be gathered into the garner, but the chaff shall
be burned with unquenchable fire.
Chapter 29
Judgements on Jerusalem and on its enemies. (Is. 29:1-8) The senselessness and hypocrisy of
the Jews. (Is. 29:9-16) The conversion of the Gentiles, and future blessings for the Jews. (Is.
29:17-24)
Is. 29:1-8 Ariel may signify the altar of burnt-offerings. Let Jerusalem know that outward
religious services will not make men free from judgements. Hypocrites never can please God, nor
make their peace with him. God had often and long, by a host of angels, encamped round about
Jerusalem for protection and deliverance; but now he fought against it. Proud looks and proud
language shall be brought down by humbling providences. The destruction of Jerusalem's enemies
is foretold. The army of Sennacherib went as a dream; and thus the multitudes, that through
successive ages fight against God's altar and worship, shall fall. Speedily will sinners awake from
their soothing dreams in the pains of hell.
Is. 29:9-16 The security of sinners in sinful ways, is cause for lamentation and wonder. The
learned men, through prejudice, said that the Divine prophecies were obscure; and the poor urged
their want of learning. The Bible is a sealed book to every man, learned or unlearned, till he begins
to study it with a simple heart and a teachable spirit, that he may thence learn the truth and the will
of God. To worship God, is to approach him. And if the heart be full of his love and fear, out of
the abundance of it the mouth will speak; but there are many whose religion is lip-labour only.
When they pretend to be speaking to God, they are thinking of a thousand foolish things. They
worship the God of Israel according to their own devices. Numbers are only formal in worship.
And their religion is only to comply with custom, and to serve their own interest. But the wanderings
of mind, and defects in devotion, which are the believer's burden, are very different from the
withdrawing of the heart from God, so severely blamed. And those who make religion no more