Isaías 30

1 ¡Ay de los hijos que se apartan, dice el SEÑOR, para hacer consejo, y no de mí, para cubrirse con cobertura, y no por mi Espíritu, añadiendo pecado a pecado

2 Parten para descender a Egipto, y no han preguntado palabra de mi boca, para fortificarse con la fuerza de Faraón, y poner su esperanza en la sombra de Egipto

3 Mas la fortaleza de Faraón se os tornará en vergüenza; y la esperanza en la sombra de Egipto en confusión

4 Cuando estarán sus príncipes en Zoán, y sus embajadores vinieron a Hanes

5 Todos se avergonzarán con el pueblo que no les aprovechará, ni les ayudará, ni les traerá provecho; antes les será para vergüenza, y aun para confusión

6 Carga de las bestias del Mediodía. Por tierra de aflicción y de angustia. Leones y leonas en ella. Basilisco y áspid volador, llevado sobre hombros de bestias sus riquezas, y sus tesoros sobre corcovas de camellos, a pueblo que no les aprovechará

7 Ciertamente Egipto en vano e inútilmente dará ayuda; por tanto yo le di voces, que su fortaleza sería estarse quietos

8 Ve, pues, ahora, y escribe esta visión en una tabla delante de ellos; y asiéntala en un libro, para que quede hasta el día postrero, para siempre, por todos los siglos

9 Que este pueblo es rebelde, hijos mentirosos, hijos que no quisieron oír la ley del SEÑOR

10 Que dicen a los que ven: No veáis; y a los profetas: No nos profeticéis lo recto, decidnos cosas halagüeñas, profetizad errores

11 Dejad el camino, apartaos de la senda, haced apartar de nuestra presencia al Santo de Israel

12 Por tanto, el Santo de Israel dice así: Porque desechasteis esta palabra, y confiasteis en violencia, y en perversidad, y sobre éstas edificasteis

13 por tanto, esta iniquidad os será como pared abierta que se va a caer, y como corcova en muro alto, cuya caída viene súbita y repentinamente

14 Y vuestro quebrantamiento, será como quebrantamiento de vaso de alfarero, que sin misericordia lo hacen pedazos; ni entre los pedazos se halla un tiesto para traer fuego del hogar, o para coger agua de un pozo

15 Porque así dijo el Señor DIOS, el Santo de Israel: En descanso y en reposo seréis salvos; en quietud y en confianza será vuestra fortaleza; y no quisisteis

16 Mas dijisteis: No, antes huiremos en caballos. Por tanto vosotros huiréis. Sobre corceles ligeros cabalgaremos; por tanto, serán más ligeros vuestros perseguidores

17 Un millar huirá a la amenaza de uno; a la amenaza de cinco huiréis vosotros todos; hasta que quedéis como mástil en la cumbre del monte; y como bandera de ejemplo sobre alguna colina

18 Por tanto, el SEÑOR os esperará para tener misericordia de vosotros, y por tanto será ensalzado teniendo de vosotros misericordia; porque el SEÑOR es Dios de juicio; bienaventurados todos los que a él esperan

19 Ciertamente el pueblo morará en Sion, en Jerusalén; nunca más llorarás; el que tiene misericordia tendrá misericordia de ti; al oír la voz de tu clamor te responderá

20 Mas el Señor os dará pan de congoja y agua de angustia; tu lluvia nunca más te será quitada, mas tus ojos verán tu lluvia

21 Entonces tus oídos oirán a tus espaldas palabra que diga: Este es el camino, andad por él; para que no echéis a la mano derecha, y para que no echéis a la mano izquierda

22 Entonces profanarás la cobertura de tus esculturas de plata, y la protección de tu vaciadizo de oro; las apartarás como trapo de menstruo; ¡Sal fuera! les dirás

23 Entonces dará lluvia a tu sementera, cuando sembrares la tierra; y pan del fruto de la tierra; y será fértil y grueso; y tus ganados en aquel tiempo serán apacentados en anchas dehesas

24 Tus bueyes y tus asnos que labran la tierra, comerán grano limpio, el cual será aventado con pala y zaranda

25 Y sobre todo monte alto, y sobre todo collado subido, habrá ríos, y corrientes de aguas, el día de la gran matanza, cuando caerán las torres

26 Y la luz de la luna será como la luz del Sol; y la luz del Sol siete veces mayor, como la luz de siete días, el día que soldará el SEÑOR la quebradura de su pueblo, y curará la llaga de su herida

27 He aquí que el nombre del SEÑOR viene de lejos: su rostro encendido, y grave de sufrir; sus labios llenos de ira; y su lengua, como fuego que consume

28 Y su Espíritu, como arroyo que sale de madre, partirá hasta el cuello, para zarandear a los gentiles con criba de vanidad; y poner freno que les haga errar en las quijadas de los pueblos

29 Vosotros tendréis canción, como en la noche en la cual se celebra Pascua; y alegría de corazón, como el que va con flauta, para venir al Monte del SEÑOR, al Fuerte de Israel

30 Y el SEÑOR hará oír la potencia de su voz; y hará ver el descender de su brazo, con furor de rostro, y llama de fuego consumidor, con dispersión, con avenida, y piedra de granizo

31 Porque Assur, que hirió con palo, con la voz del SEÑOR será quebrantado

32 Y en todo mal paso habrá báculo, que el SEÑOR hará hincar sobre él con tamboriles y vihuelas; y con fuerza del cielo peleará contra ella

33 Porque Tofet está diputada desde ayer para el rey de Babilonia, también está aparejada; la cual ahondó y ensanchó su hoguera de fuego, y mucha leña. El soplo del SEÑOR, como arroyo de azufre, que la encienda

Isaías 30 Commentary

Chapter 30

The Jews reproved for seeking aid from Egypt. (1-7) Judgements in consequence of their contempt of God's word. (8-18) God's mercies to his church. (19-26) The ruin of the Assyrian army, and of all God's enemies. (27-33)

Verses 1-7 It was often the fault and folly of the Jews, that when troubled by their neighbours on one side, they sought for succour from others, instead of looking up to God. Nor can we avoid the dreadful consequences of adding sin to sin, but by making the righteousness of Christ our refuge, and seeking for the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. Men have always been prone to lean to their own understandings, but this will end in their shame and misery. They would not trust in God. They took much pains to gain the Egyptians. The riches so spent turned to a bad account. See what dangers men run into who forsake God to follow their carnal confidences. The Creator is the Rock of ages, the creature a broken reed; we cannot expect too little from man, or too much from God. Our strength is to sit still, in humble dependence upon God and his goodness, and quiet submission to his will.

Verses 8-18 The Jews were the only professing people God then had in the world, yet many among them were rebellious. They had the light, but they loved darkness rather. The prophets checked them in their sinful pursuits, so that they could not proceed without fear; this they took amiss. But faithful ministers will not be driven from seeking to awaken sinners. God is the Holy One of Israel, and so they shall find him. They did not like to hear of his holy commandments and his hatred of sin; they desired that they might no more be reminded of these things. But as they despised the word of God, their sins undermined their safety. Their state would be dashed in pieces like a potter's vessel. Let us return from our evil ways, and settle in the way of duty; that is the way to be saved. Would we be strengthened, it must be in quietness and in confidence, keeping peace in our own minds, and relying upon God. They think themselves wiser than God; but the project by which they thought to save themselves was their ruin. Only here and there one shall escape, as a warning to others. If men will not repent, turn to God, and seek happiness in his favour and service, their desires will but hasten their ruin. Those who make God alone their confidence, will have comfort. God ever waits to be gracious to all that come to him by faith in Christ, and happy are those who wait for him.

Verses 19-26 God's people will soon arrive at the Zion above, and then they will weep no more for ever. Even now they would have more comfort, as well as holiness, if they were more constant in prayer. A famine of bread is not so great a judgment as a famine of the word of God. There are right-hand and left-hand errors; the tempter is busy courting us into by-paths. It is happy if, by the counsels of a faithful minister or friend, or the checks of conscience, and the strivings of God the Spirit, we are set right when doubting, and prevented from going wrong. They shall be cured of their idolatry. To all true penitents sin becomes very hateful. This is shown daily in the conversion of souls, by the power of Divine grace, to the fear and love of God. Abundant means of grace, with the influences of the Holy Spirit, would be extended to places destitute of them. The effect of this should be comfort and joy to the people of God. Light, that is, knowledge, shall increase. This is the light which the gospel brought into the world, and which proclaims healing to the broken-hearted.

Verses 27-33 God curbs and restrains from doing mischief. With a word he guides his people into the right way, but with a bridle he turns his enemies upon their own ruin. Here, in threatening the ruin of Sennacherib's army, the prophet points at the final and everlasting destruction of all impenitent sinners. Tophet was a valley near Jerusalem, where fires were continually burning to destroy things that were hurtful and offensive, and there the idolatrous Jews caused their children to pass through the fire to Moloch. This denotes the certainty of the destruction, as an awful emblem of the place of torment in the other world. No oppressor shall escape the Divine wrath. Let sinners then flee to Christ, seeking to be reconciled to Him, that they may be safe and happy, when destruction from the Almighty shall sweep away all the workers of iniquity.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 30

This chapter contains a complaint of the Jews for their sins and transgressions; a prophecy of their destruction for them; a promise of grace and mercy, and of happy times, to the saints; and a threatening of utter and dreadful ruin to the wicked. The Jews are complained of for their rebellion against God, their slighting his counsel and protection, their trust in Egypt, and application there for help; whither they went with their riches for safety, but in vain, it being contrary to the will and counsel of God, Isa 30:1-7 next follows a denunciation of ruin and destruction for these things, rebellion, and lying, and vain confidence, as well as for contempt of the word of God, which, that it might appear sure and certain, is ordered to be written in a book, Isa 30:8-12 and this ruin is signified by the sudden falling of a wall, and by the breaking of a potter's vessel into pieces, which can never be used more, Isa 30:13,14 and seeing they rejected the way of salvation proposed by the Lord, and took their own way, first destruction is threatened them, which should be very easily brought about, and become so general, that few should escape it, Isa 30:15-17 and then promises of grace and mercy are made to them that wait for the Lord, Isa 30:18 such as a dwelling place in Zion, hearing their prayers, granting them teachers to instruct them, and the riddance of idolatry from them, Isa 30:19-22 and also many outward blessings, as seasonable rain, good bread corn, fat pastures, good food for cattle, and fruitfulness of mountains and hills, Isa 30:23-25 likewise an amazing degree of spiritual light and glory, and healing of the Lord's people, Isa 30:26 and the chapter is concluded with a threatening Of God's wrath upon the Assyrian, expressed by various similes, as of an angry man, an overflowing torrent, a tempest of thunder, lightning, and hail, and the fire of Tophet, Isa 30:27-33.