Isaías 9
Thomas Constable · Citado em PreceptAustin
Isaías 9
Constable has an interesting introduction to this chapter commenting that "In contrast to Ahaz, who refused to listen to and obey God, the Lord would raise up a faithful King (Ed: Referring to Jesus at His return as King of kings - Rev 19:16-note) Who would be born and reign in the future (the Millennium). This pericope (Ed: technical term for successive passages that together form a unit of coherent thought or deal with a common subject) climaxes the present section (Isaiah 7:1-9:7) dealing with the signs of God’s presence. Again a child (Isa 9:6,7) is the centerpiece of the prophecy and provides a sign and hope for the future. (Isaiah - Expository Notes) (Bolding added) But… no gloom… anguish - Strong contrast with the gloom and anguish of Isaiah 8:22. The gloom and anguish of Isaiah 8:23 probably refers to the Assyrian conquest of Israel in about 734-733BC, when Tiglath-Pileser III annexed much of Israel’s territory and making Samaria a virtual puppet state. Although this was still prophecy at the time Isaiah recorded it, the prophet's vision projects his thought from the present as if it had already come to pass. In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon and Abel-beth-maachah and Janoah and Kedesh and Hazor and Gilead and Galilean, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried them captive to Assyria. (2Ki 15:29). Comment: Jews were removed from their homelands by the Assyrians (Gentiles) and were replaced with Assyrians and other non-Jews (Gentiles). This set the stage for this area becoming a "melting pot" of Jews and Gentiles and helps understand the name of this area as Galilee of the Gentiles. The large percentage of Gentiles in Galilee explains why when Christ left Jerusalem to minister in Galilee, many questioned His move (Jn 7:41). The Pharisees went so far as to say "no prophet arises out of Galilee" (Jn 7:52). One wonders if these "learned" men had ever read Isaiah 9? More likely they had read Isaiah 9 but their eyes were blinded to the truth of its prophecy concerning the coming of the Messiah to this region! (cp 2 Co 3:12, 13, 3:14-note , 2 Co 3:15, 16-note, 2 Co 4:4-note) FUTURE FOCUS Motyer comments on Isaiah's moving in these opening verses from past anguish to future glory reminding all believers that "The eye of faith looks at all this but affirms that, real though it is, it is not the ‘real’ reality (Ed: Like Paul Harvey used to say this was not "the end of the story!"). As always, the people of God must decide what reading of their experiences they will live by (Ed: In other words, all believers live in the present but have a future hope which can serve as the anchor of our souls in the midst of "stormy times"… we must however receive this truth in humility so that God's Spirit can use it to renew our hearts and minds!) Are they to look at the darkness, the hopelessness, the dreams shattered and conclude that God has forgotten them (Ed: The Assyrian invasion and subsequent defeat would certainly suggest that might be the case, but Isaiah is saying it is not!)? Or are they to recall God's past mercies (Cf. 1Chr 21:13), to remember His present promises (Isaiah 9:1,2) and to make great affirmations of faith? (Cf. Ps 74:2-17; 77:6-16.) Isaiah insists here that hope (Ed: See word study on hope) is a present reality, part of the constitution of the ‘now’. The darkness is true but it is not the whole truth and certainly not the fundamental truth. (The Prophecy of Isaiah An Introduction Commentary 1993) THOUGHT: Beloved, what is your present reality - unemployment, sickness, wayward children, persecution for your faith, etc? If you are a follower of Christ, then take Paul's advice (actually these are commands in the present imperative, calling for us to make this our "lifestyle", our daily practice, the "general direction" of our lives) to seek and set our minds on the things above (Col 3:1-note, Col 3:2-note). This is not denying that you have present distress or saying that the distress is "fun", but it is choosing (by faith) to look "not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2Co 4:17-note, 2Co 4:18-note) In earlier (former) times He treated… He shall make it glorious - In context He refers to Jehovah. The earlier times would obviously include the times of the Assyrian invasion and eventual defeat (722BC) of the Northern Kingdom. God's prophetic promise however was that this land which was now experiencing gloom and anguish would not always be in darkness. The land of Zebulun (map) - Zebulun was the 10th son of Jacob, the 6th borne to him by Leah in Paddan-aram. Nothing is known of this patriarch's life, save in so far as it coincides with that of his brethren. For additional historical summary see entry for Zebulun Zebulun - 46v in Scripture - Ge 30:20; 35:23; 46:14; 49:13; Ex 1:3; Num 1:9, 30f; 2:7; 7:24; 10:16; 13:10; 26:26; 34:25; Deut 27:13; 33:18; Josh 19:10, 16, 27, 34; 21:7, 34; Jdg 1:30; 4:6, 10; 5:14, 18; 6:35; 12:12; 1Chr 2:1; 6:63, 77; 12:33, 40; 27:19; 2Chr 30:10f, 18; Ps 68:27; Isa 9:1; Ezek 48:26f, 33; Matt 4:13, 15; Rev 7:8 Zebulun… Naphtali - These were the two northeastern tribes of the land west of the Jordan and later came to be known as upper (Naphtali) and lower (Zebulun) Galilee.
Isaías 9
Constable adds that Isaiah 9:8-10:4 is written in the form of a poem which… consists of four strophes each ending with the refrain, “In spite of all this His anger does not turn away and His hand is still stretched out” (Isa 9:12, 17, 21; 10:4). The progression of thought is from pride (Isa 9:9-12) to flawed leadership (Isa 9:13-17) to selfishness (Isa 9:18-21) to social injustice (Isa 10:1-4). (Isaiah - Expository Notes) Lord - See study of Adonai - My Lord, My Master. The Lord now shifts from a hope filled description of the time of the Messiah's rule back to the punishment of God's people. A message (Literally "a word") - This is God's Word through His mouthpiece Isaiah and it is living and active, able to cut like a sword (Heb 4:12-note). Clearly this is a negative message (as emphasized by the words "against" and "falls on"). The Septuagint makes this even clearer for the English translation reads The Lord has sent death upon Jacob, and it has come upon Israel. In Isaiah 55 we see the supernatural, energetic aspect of God's Word, God Himself testifying… So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11) Comment: In the present case His Word will accomplish divine judgment on the Northern Kingdom, despite their failure to receive it personally The prophet Hosea alludes to the cutting power of God's Word writing… Therefore (see context Hos 6:1, 2, 3, 4) I have hewn (Hebrew = killed; Lxx = mown down, cut off) them in pieces by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth; and the judgments on you are like the light (NIV says lightning but others consider this a reference to the morning light or dawn - i.e., His judgments are as inescapable as light) that goes forth. (Ho 6:5) Comment: The Lord had sent messages of judgment and condemnation through His messengers, the prophets, which had the effect of "mowing down" those who were unfaithful to Jehovah. As J