Isaiah 27
BSB
The LORD’s Vineyard
(John 15:1–8)
1In that day the LORD will take His sharp, great, and mighty sword, and bring judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpent —Leviathan the coiling serpent—and He will slay the dragon of the sea. 2In that day:
“Sing about a fruitful vineyard.
3I, the LORD, am its keeper;
I water it continually.
I guard it night and day
so no one can disturb it;
4I am not angry.
If only thorns and briers confronted Me,
I would march and trample them,
I would burn them to the ground.
5Or let them lay claim to My protection;
let them make peace with Me—
yes, let them make peace with Me.”
6In the days to come, Jacob will take root.
Israel will bud and blossom
and fill the whole world with fruit.
7Has the LORD struck Israel as He struck her oppressors?
Was she killed like those who slayed her?
8By warfare and exile You contended with her
and removed her with a fierce wind,
as on the day the east wind blows.
9Therefore Jacob’s guilt will be atoned for,
and the full fruit of the removal of his sin will be this:
When he makes all the altar stones
like crushed bits of chalk,
no Asherah poles or incense altars
will remain standing.
10For the fortified city lies deserted—
a homestead abandoned, a wilderness forsaken.
There the calves graze, and there they lie down;
they strip its branches bare.
11When its limbs are dry,
they are broken off.
Women come and use them for kindling;
for this is a people without understanding.
Therefore their Maker has no compassion on them,
and their Creator shows them no favor.
12In that day the LORD will thresh from the flowing Euphrates to the Wadi of Egypt, and you, O Israelites, will be gathered one by one. 13And in that day a great ram’s horn will sound, and those who were perishing in Assyria will come forth with those who were exiles in Egypt. And they will worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.
Introduction
Isaiah 27
In this chapter the prophet goes on to show, I. What great things God would do for his church and people, which should now shortly be accomplished in the deliverance of Jerusalem from Sennacherib and the destruction of the Assyrian army; but it is expressed generally, for the encouragement of the church in after ages, with reference to the power and prevalency of her enemies. 1. That proud oppressors should be reckoned with (Isa 27:1). 2. That care should be taken of the church, as of God's vineyard (Isa 27:2, Isa 27:3). 3. That God would let fall his controversy with the people, upon their return to him (Isa 27:4, Isa 27:5). 4. That he would greatly multiply and increase them (Isa 27:6). 5. That, as to their afflictions, the property of them should be altered (Isa 27:7), they should be mitigated and moderated (Isa 27:8), and sanctified (Isa 27:9). 6. That though the church might be laid waste, and made desolate, for a time (Isa 27:10, Isa 27:11), yet it should be restored, and the scattered members should be gathered together again (Isa 27:12, Isa 27:13). All this is applicable to the grace of the gospel, and God's promises to, and providences concerning, the Christian church, and such as belong to it.
Cross-references: Isa 27:1 · Isa 27:2 · Isa 27:3 · Isa 27:4 · Isa 27:5 · Isa 27:6 · Isa 27:7 · Isa 27:8 · Isa 27:9 · Isa 27:10 · Isa 27:11 · Isa 27:12 · Isa 27:13