Isaías 30

Ay de la nación obstinada

1 El SEÑOR ha dictado esta sentencia:«Ay de los hijos rebeldesque ejecutan planes que no son míos,que hacen alianzas contrarias a mi Espíritu,que amontonan pecado sobre pecado,

2 que bajan a Egipto sin consultarme,que se acogen a la protección de Faraón,y se refugian bajo la sombra de Egipto.

3 ¡La protección de Faraón será su vergüenza!¡El refugiarse bajo la sombra de Egipto, su humillación!

4 Aunque en Zoán tengan funcionarios,y a Janés hayan llegado sus mensajeros,

5 todos quedarán avergonzadospor culpa de un pueblo que les resulta inútil,que no les brinda ninguna ayuda ni provecho,sino solo vergüenza y frustración».

6 Esta es la sentencia que se ha dictado contra los animales del Néguev:Por tierra de dificultades y angustias,de leones y leonas,de víboras y serpientes voladoras,llevan ellos a lomo de burrolas riquezas de esa nación inútil,y sus tesoros, a lomo de camello.

7 La ayuda de Egipto no sirve para nada;por eso la llamo: «Rahab, la inmóvil».

8 Anda, pues, delante de ellos,y grábalo en una tablilla.Escríbelo en un rollo de cuero,para que en los días veniderosquede como un testimonio eterno.

9 Porque este es un pueblo rebelde;son hijos engañosos,hijos que no quieren escucharla ley del SEÑOR.

10 A los videntes les dicen:«¡No tengan más visiones!»,y a los profetas:«¡No nos sigan profetizando la verdad!Dígannos cosas agradables,profeticen ilusiones.

11 ¡Apártense del camino,retírense de esta senda,y dejen de enfrentarnoscon el Santo de Israel!»

12 Así dice el Santo de Israel:«Ustedes han rechazado esta palabra;han confiado en la opresión y en la perversidad,y se han apoyado en ellas.

13 Por eso su iniquidad se alzará frente a ustedescomo un muro alto y agrietado,a punto de derrumbarse:¡de repente, en un instante, se desplomará!

14 Su iniquidad quedará hecha pedazos,hecha añicos sin piedad, como vasija de barro:ni uno solo de sus pedazos servirápara sacar brasas del fuegoni agua de una cisterna».

15 Porque así dice el SEÑOR omnipotente, el Santo de Israel:«En el arrepentimiento y la calma está su salvación,en la serenidad y la confianza está su fuerza,¡pero ustedes no lo quieren reconocer!

16 Se resisten y dicen: “Huiremos a caballo”.¡Por eso, así tendrán que huir!Dicen: “Cabalgaremos sobre caballos veloces”.¡Por eso, veloces serán sus perseguidores!

17 Ante la amenaza de uno solo,mil de ustedes saldrán huyendo;ante la amenaza de cinco,huirán todos ustedes.Quedarán abandonadoscomo un mástil en la cima de una montaña,como una señal sobre una colina».

18 Por eso el SEÑOR los espera, para tenerles piedad;por eso se levanta para mostrarles compasión.Porque el SEÑOR es un Dios de justicia.¡Dichosos todos los que en él esperan!

19 Pueblo de Sión, que habitas en Jerusalén, ya no llorarás más. ¡El Dios de piedad se apiadará de ti cuando clames pidiendo ayuda! Tan pronto como te oiga, te responderá.

20 Aunque el Señor te dé pan de adversidad y agua de aflicción, tu maestro no se esconderá más; con tus propios ojos lo verás.

21 Ya sea que te desvíes a la derecha o a la izquierda, tus oídos percibirán a tus espaldas una voz que te dirá: «Este es el camino; síguelo».

22 Entonces profanarás tus ídolos enchapados en plata y tus imágenes revestidas de oro; los arrojarás como cosa impura, y les dirás: «¡Fuera de aquí!»

23 El SEÑOR te enviará lluvia para la semilla que siembres en la tierra, y el alimento que produzca la tierra será suculento y abundante. En aquel día tu ganado pacerá en extensas praderas.

24 Los bueyes y los burros que trabajan la tierra comerán el mejor forraje, aventado con bieldo y horquilla.

25 En el día de la gran masacre, cuando caigan las torres, habrá arroyos y corrientes de agua en toda montaña alta y en toda colina elevada.

26 Cuando el SEÑOR ponga una venda en la fractura de su pueblo y sane las heridas que le causó, brillará la luna como el sol, y será la luz del sol siete veces más intensa, como la luz de siete días enteros.

27 ¡Miren! El nombre del SEÑOR viene de lejos,con ardiente ira y densa humareda.Sus labios están llenos de furor;su lengua es como un fuego consumidor.

28 Su aliento es cual torrente desbordadoque llega hasta el cuello,para zarandear a las nacionesen la zaranda destructora.Pone en las quijadas de los pueblosun freno que los desvía.

29 Ustedes cantarán como en noche de fiesta solemne;su corazón se alegrará,como cuando uno sube con flautasa la montaña del SEÑOR,a la Roca de Israel.

30 El SEÑOR hará oír su majestuosa voz,y descargará su brazo:con rugiente ira y llama de fuego consumidor,con aguacero, tormenta y granizo.

31 La voz del SEÑOR quebrantará a Asiria;la golpeará con su bastón.

32 Cada golpe que el SEÑOR descargue sobre ellacon su vara de castigoserá al son de panderos y de arpas;agitando su brazo, peleará contra ellos.

33 Porque Tofet^[a] está preparada desde hace tiempo;está dispuesta incluso para el rey.Se ha hecho una pira de fuego profunda y ancha,con abundancia de fuego y leña;el soplo del SEÑOR la encenderácomo un torrente de azufre ardiente.

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.

Footnotes

• [a] "Tofet" . Lugar de incineración, cercano a Jerusalén.

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.