Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryIsaiah 27

The Doom of Persecutors; The Privilege of SaintsIn this passage, the prophet Isaiah sings about both God’s judgment and God’s mercy. He describes how God will deal with the enemies of His people and how He will protect and bless His church. The enemies are pictured as powerful and dangerous, but God is stronger and will defeat them. At the same time, God’s people are compared to a precious vineyard that He cares for and makes fruitful.v. 1: God will punish the great enemies of His people. In that day the Lord

v. 2-3: God’s people are like a vineyard that He watches over. A vineyard of red wine; I the Lord

v. 4-5: Even when God is angry with His people for their sins, He is ready to forgive them if they turn to Him. Fury is not in me—God desires reconciliation, not destruction (Isaiah 27:4-5 ). If anyone opposes God, it is useless, like thorns fighting fire. But if people come to God and take hold of His strength, He will make peace with them and accept them. This is a picture of the gospel: God offers peace through repentance and faith in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:24 ).

v. 6: God promises that His people will grow and fill the world with good fruit. He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit . After suffering and trials, God’s church will spread and prosper. Many people from all nations will join, and their lives will show the fruits of righteousness (Colossians 1:6; John 15:16 ).

Correction and CompassionIn this section, Isaiah sings about how God deals with His people. Sometimes God brings judgment to Israel, but even His correction is mixed with mercy. God’s punishments are just and measured, and His purpose is to bring His people back to Himself. Even when Jerusalem is destroyed or the people are scattered, God plans to gather and restore His faithful ones in the end.v. 7: God warns that He will punish Israel for their sins. Has he smitten him, as he smote those that smote him? . God’s people will be corrected, but not in the same way or with the same severity as their enemies. Even when God punishes His own, His purpose is different—He uses it to teach and restore, not to destroy. There is always a difference between the suffering of God’s people and the punishment of the wicked (Revelation 18:6 ).

v. 8: God’s discipline is careful and measured. In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it . God does not let His anger go too far. He limits the affliction, giving only what His people can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13 ). Even in the hardest times, God keeps control and holds back the full force of trouble.

v. 9: God’s purpose in affliction is to purge away sin. By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged . Hard times help God’s people turn away from their sins, especially idolatry. When they truly repent, they will destroy every idol as if smashing useless chalk-stones (Deuteronomy 7:5 ). Affliction is meant to separate us from sin and make us holy (Psalm 119:67 ).

v. 10-11: Jerusalem will become desolate for a time because the people did not understand or turn back to God. The defenced city shall be desolate…the boughs thereof are withered (Isaiah 27:10-11 ). Their land will be empty, and even the trees will be destroyed for firewood. This happened because the people lacked spiritual understanding and ignored God. When people refuse to listen and repent, even though God is their Maker, He will show them no favor.

v. 12-13: But God promises a future restoration. It shall come to pass…that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one (Isaiah 27:12 ). God will gather His scattered people from every land, calling each of them back personally. The great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come…to worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem (Isaiah 27:13 ). This points to both the return of the Jews from captivity and the gathering of all believers through the gospel and at the last day. The most important goal is to worship God together in His presence.