Isaías 9

1 Pero no habrá más lobreguez para la que estaba en angustia. Como en tiempos pasados El trató con desprecio a la tierra de Zabulón y a la tierra de Neftalí, pero después la hará gloriosa por el camino del mar al otro lado del Jordán, Galilea de los gentiles.

2 El pueblo que andaba en tinieblas ha visto gran luz; a los que habitaban en tierra de sombra de muerte, la luz ha resplandecido sobre ellos.

3 Multiplicaste la nación, aumentaste su alegría; se alegran en tu presencia como con la alegría de la cosecha, como se regocijan los hombres cuando se reparten el botín.

4 Porque tú quebrarás el yugo de su carga, el báculo de sus hombros, y la vara de su opresor, como en la batalla de Madián.

5 Porque toda bota que calza el guerrero en el fragor de la batalla, y el manto revolcado en sangre, serán para quemar, combustible para el fuego.

6 Porque un niño nos ha nacido, un hijo nos ha sido dado, y la soberanía reposará sobre sus hombros; y se llamará su nombre Admirable Consejero, Dios Poderoso, Padre Eterno, Príncipe de Paz.

7 El aumento de su soberanía y de la paz no tendrán fin sobre el trono de David y sobre su reino, para afianzarlo y sostenerlo con el derecho y la justicia desde entonces y para siempre. El celo del SEÑOR de los ejércitos hará esto.

8 El Señor envía mensaje contra Jacob, y cae sobre Israel.

9 Y todo el pueblo lo sabe, es decir, Efraín y los habitantes de Samaria, los que con arrogancia y altivez de corazón afirman:

10 Los ladrillos han caído, pero con piedras labradas reedificaremos; los sicómoros han sido cortados, pero con cedros los reemplazaremos.

11 Por tanto el SEÑOR levanta adversarios de Rezín contra ellos, e incita a sus enemigos,

12 los arameos en el oriente y los filisteos en el occidente, que devoran a Israel a boca llena. Con todo eso no se aparta su ira, y aún está su mano extendida.

13 Pero el pueblo no ha vuelto al que los hirió, no han buscado al SEÑOR de los ejércitos.

14 El SEÑOR, pues, corta de Israel la cabeza y la cola, la hoja de palmera y el junco en un mismo día.

15 El anciano y venerable es la cabeza, y el profeta que enseña la mentira, es la cola.

16 Porque los que guían a este pueblo lo extravían; y los guiados por ellos son confundidos.

17 Por eso no se complace el Señor en sus jóvenes, ni se compadece de sus huérfanos ni de sus viudas; porque todos ellos son impíos y malhechores, y toda boca habla necedades. Con todo eso no se aparta su ira, y aún está su mano extendida.

18 Porque arde como fuego la impiedad, zarzas y espinos consume, y enciende la espesura del bosque; como remolino suben en columna de humo.

19 Por el furor del SEÑOR de los ejércitos es quemada la tierra, y el pueblo es como combustible para el fuego; el hombre no perdona a su hermano.

20 Cortan de un tajo lo que está a la derecha, pero aún tienen hambre, y comen lo que está a la izquierda, pero no se sacian; cada cual come la carne de su propio brazo.

21 Manasés devora a Efraín, y Efraín a Manasés, y ambos están contra Judá. Con todo eso no se ha apartado su ira, y aún está su mano extendida.

Isaías 9 Commentary

Chapter 9

The Son that should be born, and his kingdom. (1-7) The judgments to come upon Israel, and on the enemies of the kingdom of Christ. (8-21)

Verses 1-7 The Syrians and Assyrians first ravaged the countries here mentioned, and that region was first favoured by the preaching of Christ. Those that want the gospel, walk in darkness, and in the utmost danger. But when the gospel comes to any place, to any soul, light comes. Let us earnestly pray that it may shine into our hearts, and make us wise unto salvation. The gospel brings joy with it. Those who would have joy, must expect to go through hard work, as the husbandman, before he has the joy of harvest; and hard conflict, as the soldier, before he divides the spoil. The Jews were delivered from the yoke of many oppressors; this was a shadow of the believer's deliverance from the yoke of Satan. The cleansing the souls of believers from the power and pollution of sin, would be by the influence of the Holy Spirit, as purifying fire. These great things for the church, shall be done by the Messiah, Emmanuel. The Child is born; it was certain; and the church, before Christ came in the flesh, benefitted by his undertaking. It is a prophecy of him and of his kingdom, which those that waited for the Consolation of Israel read with pleasure. This Child was born for the benefit of us men, of us sinners, of all believers, from the beginning to the end of the world. Justly is he called Wonderful, for he is both God and man. His love is the wonder of angels and glorified saints. He is the Counsellor, for he knew the counsels of God from eternity; and he gives counsel to men, in which he consults our welfare. He is the Wonderful Counsellor; none teaches like him. He is God, the mighty One. Such is the work of the Mediator, that no less power than that of the mighty God could bring it to pass. He is God, one with the Father. As the Prince of Peace, he reconciles us to God; he is the Giver of peace in the heart and conscience; and when his kingdom is fully established, men shall learn war no more. The government shall be upon him; he shall bear the burden of it. Glorious things are spoken of Christ's government. There is no end to the increase of its peace, for the happiness of its subjects shall last for ever. The exact agreement of this prophecy with the doctrine of the New Testament, shows that Jewish prophets and Christian teachers had the same view of the person and salvation of the Messiah. To what earthly king or kingdom can these words apply? Give then, O Lord, to thy people to know thee by every endearing name, and in every glorious character. Give increase of grace in every heart of thy redeemed upon earth.

Verses 8-21 Those are ripening apace for ruin, whose hearts are unhumbled under humbling providences. For that which God designs, in smiting us, is, to turn us to himself; and if this point be not gained by lesser judgments, greater may be expected. The leaders of the people misled them. We have reason to be afraid of those that speak well of us, when we do ill. Wickedness was universal, all were infected with it. They shall be in trouble, and see no way out; and when men's ways displease the Lord, he makes even their friends to be at war with them. God would take away those they thought to have help from. Their rulers were the head. Their false prophets were the tail and the rush, the most despicable. In these civil contests, men preyed on near relations who were as their own flesh. The people turn not to Him who smites them, therefore he continues to smite: for when God judges, he will overcome; and the proudest, stoutest sinner shall either bend or break.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 9

This chapter contains a prophecy, partly of comfort to the church and people of God, against the calamities predicted in the preceding chapter Isa 8:1-22; and partly of punishment, to be inflicted upon the ungodly Israelites by their enemies. The comfort promised arises from the appearance of Christ, the great light, in some certain places of the land mentioned, said before to be afflicted, Isa 9:1,2 which would occasion a joy among them; illustrated by some similes, by the joy in harvest, and at the dividing of spoils, Isa 9:3 the cause of which is a deliverance from a burdensome yoke of tyranny and bondage, wrought in like manner as that by Gideon formerly; different from all other salvations, which are usually obtained with noise and blood, Isa 9:4,5 the author of which is the Messiah; who is described by his birth as man, and by his divine sonship as God; or by his person, having two natures united in him; and by the government devolved on him; and by his several names, which express the greatness and glory of his person and office; and by the increase and administration of his government, Isa 9:6,7 then follows a denunciation of judgment on Israel, Isa 9:8 the instruments of which are pointed at, Isa 9:11,12, and the persons described that should suffer, high and low, rich and poor, young and old, Isa 9:14,15,17 the reasons of it, their making light of former corrections, Isa 9:9,10 their impenitence and hardness under chastenings, Isa 9:13 their going astray by means of their leaders; and their hypocrisy and wickedness, Isa 9:16-18 all which would occasion the wrath of God to burn against them, and consume them, Isa 9:18,19 yea, through hunger and want of provisions, should destroy one another, Isa 9:20,21.