Behold, they shall surely gather together, [but] not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.
15. The verse is somewhat difficult. The rendering “gather together” can hardly be defended, and moreover it does not suit the construction (“against,” in the second line, is really “with”). The verb is perhaps best explained as a by-form of a root meaning to “stir up” (strife) or pick a quarrel (Pro 15:18). The sense would be: If (any) should stir up strife (it is) not of me; whosoever stirs up strife with thee shall fall &c. (see R.V. and marg.)
fall because of thee ] or perhaps “fall upon thee” to his own ruin (cf. ch. Isa 8:14 f.). R.V. marg. suggests “fall away to thee,” i.e. go over to thy side, which is the sense given by some of the ancient versions. The phrase has this meaning in Jer 21:9; Jer 37:14 (“fall away to the Chaldans”), but it is little appropriate in this verse.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Behold, they shall surely gather together – The idea in this verse is, that the enemies of the people of God would indeed form alliances and compacts against them, but it would not be under the divine direction, and they would not be able to prevail against the church. The word rendered here gather together ( gur) means properly to turn aside from the way; then to sojourn for a time; then to assemble against anyone. It seems here to refer to the gathering together of hostile forces to form an alliance, or to wage war. Great variety, however, has prevailed in the interpretation of the passage, but this seems to be the sense of it. Jerome renders it, Lo, a foreigner shall come who was not with me, the stranger shall hereafter be joined to thee, and seems to understand it of the proselytes that should be made. This sense is found expressly in the Septuagint, Lo, proselytes shall come to thee through me, and they shall sojourn with thee, and fly to thee The Chaldee renders it, Lo, the captivity of thy people shall be surely gathered unto thee, and in the end the kings of the people which were assembled to afflict thee, O Jerusalem, shall fall in the midst of thee. But the above seems to be the correct sense. Alliances would be formed; compacts would be entered into; leagues would be made by the enemies of the people of God, and they would be assembled to destroy the church. This has often been done. Formidable confederations have been entered into for the purpose, and deep-laid plans have been devised to destroy the friends of the Most High. See Psa 2:2 : The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against his Anointed. No small part of history is a record of the combinations and alliances which have been entered into for the purpose of driving the true religion from the world.
But not by me – Not under my direction, or by my command.
Shall fall for thy sake – Hebrew, alayk – Shall fall unto thee. Lowth, Shall come over to thy side. The phrase seems to mean that they should fall to them, that is, that they should lay aside their opposition, break up their alliances against the church, and come over to it. In proof of this interpretation, Rosenmuller appeals to the following places: 1Ch 12:19-20; 2Ch 15:9; Jer 21:9; Jer 39:9. The passage, therefore, looks to the future conversion of the enemies of the church to the true faith. It has, doubtless, been partially fulfilled in the conversion of nations that have been leagued against the gospel of the Redeemer. There was a striking fulfillment in the times that succeeded the persecutions of Christians in the Roman empire. After all the power of the empire had been enlisted in ten successive persecutions to destroy the church, the very empire that had thus opposed the church was converted to the Christian faith. In a still more signal manner will this be fulfilled when all the powers of the earth now leagued against the gospel shall be brought under the influences of the true religion.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Isa 54:15
Behold, they shall surely gather together
The adversaries of the Church defeated
The unwearied mischievous attempts of the adversaries of Gods people in the world, as they are made without God, so they shall end in shame to themselves.
I. THE ADVERSARIES OF GODS PEOPLE WILL BE UNWEARIEDLY ATTEMPTING MISCHIEF AGAINST THEM. They shall surely gather together. This is sure upon various grounds.
1. He who foreknows all their thoughts, inclinations and purposed from everlasting hath foretold it.
2. So long as there are any of the children of the devil out of hell, he will be inspiring them with malice against the Church of God on earth.
3. The very defeats and disappointments which the enemies of the Church receive make them renew their attempts with greater violence and fury. They are not the more disheartened, but the more exasperated.
4. The fearful expectation of future vengeance is a spur to their diligent use of all the present opportunities of sinning.
II. THESE ATTEMPTS ARE WITHOUT GOD. Not by Me.
1. The Churchs enemies can neither do nor contrive the doing of anything absolutely without God. No creature can subsist, no faculty can perform any of its operations, if Providence did not concur. All the plots which are formed beneath prove vain and fruitless unless there be permission given from above.
2. The enemies of the Church can do nothing effectually but as God really employs them to be the instruments of HIS just displeasure (Hab Psa 17:13-14; Isa 10:5; Isa 01:17; Isa 13:5).
3. The attempts of enemies against Gods people are, notwithstanding, without His approbation.
4. The attempts of enemies, when they have most success, are without Gods truly favourable presence.
5. The attempts of enemies at the time which the prophet here refers to will be without Gods assistance, and consequently without success.
III. THESE ATTEMPTS WILL ISSUE IN RUIN TO THEMSELVES. Whosoever shall gather together, etc.
1. The greatest attempt which was ever made by the devil against the Church, in the Person of Christ Himself, became the means of subverting his own kingdom.
2. The standing of the Churchs enemies is the most precarious and uncertain thing.
3. All that they have, or can have, to support and defend them, will not be sufficient when their appointed destruction comes (Isa 31:3).
4. The enemies of the Church are raised up for this purpose that God may honour himself upon them.
5. The greatest of enemies that the Church of God ever yet had have fallen, though once as likely to stand as any now or hereafter can be.
6. The present enemies of the Church have indeed begun to fall, which is a hopeful token that they shall surely fall.
IV. WHY SHALL THE ATTEMPTS OF THE ENEMIES OF GODS PEOPLE END THUS IN THEIR OWN RUIN? For thy sake.
1. Some read the words, They shall fall before thee, that thou mayest see it.
2. For thy sake cannot mean for thy merit, but for thy benefit.
3. For thy sake may mean, for the kindness and care which I bear to thee.
V. USE.
1. Security and distrust are sinful extremes and both to be avoided.
2. A people dear to God and peculiarly interested in Him, are in a far more blessed condition than all the earth besides.
3. The greatest danger which Gods people are or can be in, is when they engage God against them by sin, and provoke Him to favour their adversaries.
4. The obstructions of mercy are on our part, not on Gods.
5. The memorials of past mercies are to be preserved for our support in future difficulties. (T. Cruso.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 15. Shall fall for thy sake – “Shall come over to thy side.”] For yippol, twenty-eight MSS. (eight ancient) have yipal, in its more common form. For the meaning of the word in this place, see Jer 37:13.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
They shall surely gather together; it is true, there will not want some that shall combine and make an attempt against thee.
But not by me; as they do this without any such commission from me, as Sennacherib and Nebuchadnezzar had, Isa 10:6,7; Jer 25:9; so they shall not have my help in it, without which all their endeavours will be vain and unsuccessful.
Whosoever shall gather together to battle, as is manifest from the following words, of which kind of gathering this word is used, Psa 140:2, and elsewhere. Against thee, Heb. with thee. But to fight with a man is all one with fighting against him.
Shall fall for thy sake; for that respect and love which I bear to thee. Or before thee, as this particle is sometimes used, so as thine eyes shall behold it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
15. gather together, c.thatis, If it should happen that enemies “gather together”against thee (Ps 2:2), they willnot have been sent by Me (compare Ho8:4) as instruments of My wrath (nay, it will be with Mydisapproval) for “whosoever shall gather together,” c. (Ps59:3).
fall for thy sakerather,”shall come over to thy side” [LOWTH].Literally, “fall to thee” (Jer 21:9Jer 39:9). To be fullyfulfilled to Jerusalem hereafter (Zec14:16).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me,…. Not by the Lord, by his command or order to do his will, and execute his pleasure, which sometimes was the case, as in Sennacherib, Nebuchadnezzar, and others; but so it shall not be, when the enemies of Christ and his people gather together against them in the latter day; this will be by the means of three unclean spirits like frogs that will come out of the mouth of the dragon, beast, and false prophet; even spirits of devils, Popish priests, and Jesuits, who will instigate, stir up, and get together the antichristian kings of the earth to the battle of almighty God, Re 16:14. Aben Ezra, Kimchi, and Ben Melech, interpret them of Gog and Magog:
whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake; because of the love that I bear to thee, they shall not succeed, or do thee any hurt, but shall perish; or, “shall fall to thee” c; so far from doing thee any hurt, they shall come over to thee, and be on thy side; be joined to thee, as the Vulgate Latin version; that is, the remnant that shall escape, and be converted, and give glory to God,
Re 11:13 or rather, “shall fall before thee” d, in thy sight; or, as the Targum, in the midst of thee; which remarkably paraphrases the words thus,
“at the end the kings of the nations, which are gathered together to afflict thee, O Jerusalem, shall fall in the midst of thee;”
for the kings of the earth that shall be gathered together against Christ and his church shall fall in battle before them, and their flesh shall become meat for the fowls of the heaven; the beast and false prophet, in company with them, will be taken and cast alive into the lake of fire, and the remnant be slain with the sword of Christ,
Re 19:17.
c “ad te cadet”, Cocceius. d “Cotam te cadet”, Grotius, Gataker.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
15. Behold, he who assembleth shall assemble. The general import is, that, although many rise up for the purpose of overwhelming the Church, yet all their efforts and attacks shall fail; and he appears to promise God’s assistance not only against external foes, but against foes that are domestic and internal. Many “assemble” in the bosom of the Church, as if they wished to join themselves to her, but afterwards carry on internal war. These words are commonly translated, “By gathering he shall gather himself against thee,” and are generally understood to relate to all the enemies of the Church of every kind. That interpretation is most generally approved; nor do I object to it, provided that it be acknowledged to include the fraud, and ambush, and treachery by which the Church is attacked. Yet I have no doubt that here the meaning is the same as in Psa 2:1, namely, the conspiracies and insurrections of the Gentiles against Christ and the Church of God; for not a single nation only, but various nations rise up against, her.
It is probable, however, that here he expressly joins together domestic foes and those who from without had penetrated even into her bosom; for he says, In thee, Against thee, that is, “They shall attack thee within, in the midst of thee.” In a word, he shows that the Church will not enjoy such peace as not to be attacked by many adversaries. But it may be thought that these statements are contradictory; for he formerly said that she would be far from terror and oppression, and now he says that there shall be conspiracies within her bosom. I reply, the Prophet instantly added this, that believers might not promise to themselves a state of peace in the world, as if they had no annoyance to suffer from wicked men and hypocrites. The defense of the Church against oppression and slander shall be of such a kind as not to preserve her from carrying on uninterrupted war with enemies; for Satan will raise up against her every day new attacks, so that she can never be at rest. These words may therefore be regarded as a correction of the preceding statement, in order that believers may always carry their weapons of war, and may not promise to themselves repose.
Without me. A promise is added, that the Lord will nevertheless preserve them in the midst of dangers. Without God signifies “in vain” or “unsuccessfully;“ for he means that the attacks of wicked men, though they do their utmost (74) shall utterly fail. They rush forward with blind fury, but it is the Lord’s hand alone that gives prosperity. He alludes to what was formerly said, (Isa 41:25) that the Babylonians should come, under God’s guidance, to destroy Judea. At that time the people were ruined, because they had God for their enemy; but now, because “without God,” that is, without his guidance, the enemies shall attack her, they shall be ashamed and turn back. This is more fully expressed by what immediately follows —
He who shall assemble in thee shall fall against thee. That is, “All that he shall attempt against thee shall fall back on his own head. Though the whole world rise up against thee, it shall be crushed by its own weight.” The phrase, in thee, deserves notice; for when the Lord drives our enemies to a distance, we are confident, but if they come near us, we fall into despair. Therefore he says, “Although they penetrate even into thy bowels, the Lord will destroy them, and will deliver thee.”
(74) “ Encore qu’ils facent du pis qu’ils pourrent.” “Though they do the worst that they can.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(15) But not by me . . .Another contrast with Isaiahs experience. The power of Sargon and Sennacherib rested on the fact that they were instruments in Gods hands (Isa. 10:15; Isa. 37:26). Against the new Jerusalem no command would be given such as had been given to them.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
15. They shall surely gather together That is, enemies, or opposing companies. Compacts shall still be formed against Zion.
But not by me Not by my appointment. I may not hinder I may permit for a time.
Whosoever against thee shall fall for thy sake The scene presented seems to imply that Zion all along shall still have opposers. If God permits these oppositions, the spirit and power of his providence is, nevertheless, against them, and their opposition shall be ineffectual. Many opposers shall themselves fail and go to perdition, they having first fulfilled a permitted persecution to discipline Zion’s people, and thus strengthen their faith and fidelity. Others shall give up the strife and become friends of God: shall fall unto thee: a sense many of the later interpreters adopt. The Septuagint and Vulgate Versions, and some of the Targums, vary from this interpretation, but not seriously nor at all essentially. Since this day the Messianic period has advanced more than 2000 years further in history, and the interpretation has thus become general in its terms.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Isa 54:15-17. Behold, &c. The meaning of Isa 54:15 is this: “It shall come to pass, that enemies shall gather themselves together against, and oppose the church, but their endeavours shall become fruitless, and they shall fall.” God, by his providence, would so order it, (as it follows in the next verse,) that whatever enemies should rise up against the church, should not be able to do it any hurt, as rising up without his appointment against a church protected; for, behold, says he, I have created the smith, &c. Isa 54:16-17 which words contain the seal of the consolation. The state of the Christian church does not exclude enemies either within or without; nay, it is the lot of believers to enter into the kingdom of heaven through much tribulation: and it is a saying of our Lord, In the world ye shall have tribulation;but, he subjoins, be of good courage, I have overcome the world. He therefore teaches here, that no power, no opposition, should prevail against this church; that no affliction should happen to it without his very peculiar providence; that all the enemies of it were subject to his providence; and that while, according to the order of his providence, he suffers these enemies of his people to beat out their sanguinary counsels for the destruction of the church, and to rage against it, he himself at the same time provides the means by which they shall perish. In fine, that no one shall, by words or deeds, maliciously oppose the church, but he shall be covered with shame, and in the end condemned. Compare chap. Isa 45:7. It was a remarkable saying of Luther, founded upon these and the like promises, that, “though all the devils in hell should roar against him, yet should his doctrine, founded on the truth of the Gospel, continue for ever.” See Vitringa. The meaning of the last clause, sealing up these splendid promises, is, “these good things above promised are the lot or inheritance promised to the church, which true believers possess rightly and by covenant, through the merit of their Surety and Redeemer.”
REFLECTIONS.1st, Jerusalem, during her captivity, like a widow bereaved of her children, lamented her sad desolations; but when God restored her palaces, they were quickly repeopled, and they soon, under the divine blessing, increased exceedingly. But this prophesy more particularly relates to the Gospel church, and the quotation which the apostle makes, Galatians 4 is the sure key for the interpretation of it. We have here,
1. The low estate of the church, signified by a barren woman, or one desolate, bereft of husband and children; which may fitly represent her state when Christ came into the world, and till the day of Pentecost, when the Gentile nations were in great darkness; and among the Jews very few received the Gospel that he preached unto them: but this whole prophesy has particular reference to the reign of antichrist and to the glory of the latter days.
2. The joy arising from the glorious increase which should be made to the church by the preaching of the apostles, and in future times. More are the children of the desolate, the Gentiles, than the children of the married wife, in which relation the Jewish church had stood, and few of them, comparatively, believed. Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations; the visible church of old being reduced within so small a compass, but now, by the accession of the Gentile converts, it spreads on every side; therefore, spare not; lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; where the same image, of a tent, to which the church is compared before, is continued, and the ministers are especially called upon to spare no labour or pains, but to spread abroad the Gospel, and confirm the disciples, that they may grow stronger in faith, as they grow more numerous; and God promises to bless their labours abundantly. Note; (1.) It is matter of great joy to every true member of Christ, to see his kingdom flourish, and his Gospel preached. (2.) They who enjoy fewer means and ordinances, are yet often seen to exceed others in their growth in grace who profess much greater privileges. (3.) It will be the labour of every faithful soul, to lengthen the cords, and strengthen the stakes, to spread the knowledge of Christ, and build up each other on their most holy faith.
3. The Lord encourages his church against all fear and shame. Unlikely as such a work appeared, she may trust God’s promise, and wait confidently the accomplishment. For thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, &c. when her members were few, and none of the wise and noble embraced the Gospel; but quickly the scene was changed, when the Roman empire became Christian, and men of all ranks embraced the religion of Jesus.
4. The blessed author of this happy change is Christ, the Maker and husband of his church; for in these glorious and endeared relations he stands, able to the uttermost to protect and preserve her, as the Lord of Hosts; faithful to his promises, as the Holy One of Israel; and having universal dominion, as the God of the whole earth. Note; (1.) There is an union between Christ and believing souls nearer than that between husband and wife: they indeed are one body, but he that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit with him. (2.) If our Maker be our husband, then we are deeply bound in love and duty to approve our fidelity to him. (3.) Our Redeemer is mighty; and the more firmly we trust him, the more surely we shall stand.
2nd, We have comfort promised to the disconsolate church of God.
1. She is represented by a woman forsaken of her husband, either dead, or divorced by him and grieved at parting; and as a wife of youth refused, which made the separation more painful. And this may regard the state of the church, when, at the beginning, Christ was taken away by death, and the disciples were so disconsolate: or it describes the distress which ensued on the first publishing of the Gospel, when so many of the preachers and professors were cut off by the sword of persecution, which is signified by the little wrath, boiling wrath, as the word means, when God’s face was hid, and for a small moment he seemed to forsake his people. Note; (1.) Whatever we feel of chastisement, we must own it little in comparison of what we have deserved. (2.) We must not be discouraged under present afflictions, however sharp; they are but for a moment; a little faith and patience will bring us through them.
2. God promises a gracious return of mercy. With great mercies will I gather thee, from the dispersion during the persecutions, as was fulfilled in the days of Constantine, when the profession of Christianity was established peaceably throughout the Roman empire; and will soon be abundantly more so, yea, With everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer; all his dispensations, however dark for a season they may appear, are perfectly consistent with his love toward faithful souls. Note; (1.) It is purely of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, and not for any desert in us. (2.) Our present sufferings, however severe, are, comparatively with what we deserve, light and momentary; but they will be succeeded to every faithful soul by a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
3rdly, Glorious things are spoken of thee, O thou city of God! We have,
1. The church in distress. O thou afflicted, with persecutions without, and heretical teachers within: or, O thou indigent! for of the poor the church ever chiefly consisted; and tossed with tempest, as a feeble bark, ready to be swallowed up in the stormy billows; and not comforted; no kind friend to support, no magistrate to protect her from oppression, as was the case under the pagan emperors, and is still under the papal tyranny; but God will be his faithful people’s everlasting friend. Therefore,
2. He engages to raise up his church, a glorious church, and set it above the enmity of every foe.
[1.] He will raise it up a glorious church. The foundations, pavement, windows, gates, shall be of the most precious jewels, emblematical of Christ, and the gifts and graces of his Spirit, which should be abundantly dispensed; compared with which, all the splendour of this world’s brightest gems vanishes, as the stars before the rising sun. Particularly, 1. Divine wisdom shall be plentifully dispensed: All thy children shall be taught of the Lord; not only by the word and the ministry, but by the illumination of the Spirit of Truth, who shall lead them into all truths opening their understandings, and giving them that experimental knowledge of Jesus and his limitation, which no other teacher can communicate to the soul. 2. Abundance of peace shall be diffused. Great shall be the peace of thy children; internal peace of conscience from a sense of God’s love, external peace and harmony among believers, when, loving each other out of a pure heart fervently, all contentions and disputes shall be for ever banished. 3. In righteousness shalt thou be established; in the doctrine of justification through the infinite merit of Jesus; and in the practice of holiness, the blessed fruit and effect of it, which is the great ornament and support of the church, and without which it must quickly decay.
[2.] No foe shall be able to prevail against her; God will defend her, 1. From all fear and terror. Thou shalt be far from oppression, for thou shalt nor fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near thee. However great the fury and threatening of the oppressors, God will not only restrain their violence, but keep the minds of his people in perfect peace, while stayed upon him; and a great mercy it is to be delivered from the power of tormenting fear. 2. Every attempt made against them should end in the destruction of their enemies. Behold, they shall surely gather together: the enmity of Satan and the world is implacable against the saints, and they will seek to trouble their repose: but not by me; as they have God against them, their designs must prove abortive. Whosoever shall gather together against thee, shall fall for thy sake; be they never so mighty or numerous, they rush only on their own ruin; God in love to his people will cast them down. 3. As all the power which wicked men possess comes from God, he can, whenever he pleases, restrain the exercise of it. If the smith forges the military weapons, or the waster employs them to destroy, they are both the creatures of God, raised up by his providence, and subject to his over-ruling power; and therefore, whatever desolations they are permitted to work in the earth, they shall be restrained from hurting God’s people. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; all the secret contrivances, as well as the avowed opposition against God’s church, shall be disappointed. 4. Every accusation shall be refuted, to the confusion of the accuser. Every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment, either seeking to calumniate and blacken their character, to misrepresent them to the civil magistrate, to claim authority over their consciences, or to lay to their charge their sins at God’s bar, for which, according to the law, they must be cast and punished, thou shalt condemn, having a full answer to every accusation. Through the great Atonement God is satisfied; and by well-doing, the malicious insinuation of foolish men will be put to silence, and God, at least in the great day, will make our righteousness appear as the light, condemn the enemy and avenger, and give a verdict for his faithful people against every accuser.
Lastly, all these invaluable privileges are the heritage of the servants of the Lord. Not only here do they enjoy a part in present grace and protection, but look for an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, that fadeth not away; and, cleaving perseveringly to Christ their living Head in the way of holiness, their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord; they will acknowledge the whole as the free gift of God; and God will vindicate their cause and character, and give them the reward of the purchased possession, which their divine and glorious Saviour hath obtained for them.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Isa 54:15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, [but] not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.
Ver. 15. Behold, they shall surely (or sedulously) gather together,] a Heb., He shall, gathering, gather together, i.e., the enemies, as one man. Some understand it as heretics and hypocrites, who shall dwell together with the Church, so they render it; but shall be evil affected toward it, but to their own ruin,
Whosoever shall gather together against thee.
a Commorabuntur.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
they: i.e. the enemies of Israel (Psa 56:7; Psa 59:4).
shall fall = shall be overthrown (Compare Isa 8:14).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
they shall: Eze 38:8-23, Joe 3:9-14, Rev 16:14, Rev 19:19-21, Rev 20:8, Rev 20:9
shall fall: Isa 43:3, Isa 43:4, Isa 43:14, Psa 37:12, Psa 37:13, Zec 2:8, Zec 12:3, Zec 12:9, Zec 14:2, Zec 14:3
Reciprocal: Jos 9:2 – gathered 1Ki 20:16 – the thirty Isa 8:9 – Associate Isa 25:5 – shalt bring Isa 49:25 – I will contend Isa 54:17 – weapon Isa 60:12 – General Jer 30:16 – General Zec 1:20 – four Joh 11:15 – for
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Isa 54:15-17. Behold, they shall gather together It is true, some will combine, and make an attempt against thee. But not by me As they will do this without any such commission from me as Sennacherib and Nebuchadnezzar had, so they shall not have my help in it, without which all their endeavours will be in vain. Whosoever shall gather together To fight against, or persecute thee; shall fall for thy sake Through that respect and love which I bear to thee. Or, before thee, as the Hebrew may be rendered, so as thine eyes shall behold it.
Behold, I have created the smith, &c. Both the smith that makes warlike instruments, and the soldier that uses them, are my creatures, and totally at my command, and therefore they cannot hurt you without my leave. I have created the waster, &c. To destroy only whom and when I please. No weapon formed against thee shall prosper As they cannot do any thing against thee without my leave, so I assure thee I will not suffer them really to injure thee; and every tongue, &c., shalt thou condemn And I will deliver thee, not only from the fury of war, but also from the strife of tongues. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord This blessed condition is the portion allotted them by me. And their righteousness The reward of their righteousness; is of me I give it, and I will continue it to them.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
54:15 Behold, they shall surely assemble, [but] not by {n} me: whoever shall assemble {o} against thee shall fall for thy sake.
(n) And therefore will not prevail.
(o) Meaning, the domestic enemies of the Church, as are the hypocrites.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Whatever trouble might come to them would not come from God as discipline, as in former times. Moreover, God’s people would be able to overcome all their opponents. This indicates that conditions for the redeemed will not be completely placid at this time, as they will be in the eternal state where nothing offensive will assail God’s people. Isaiah rather described conditions during the first part of the renovation of all things, the Millennium. It seems that assault by enemies is not just a theoretical possibility that Isaiah raised to stress the security of believers, but a real possibility for two reasons. First, the prophet spoke of this hostility at some length (Isa 54:15-17). Second, he already said enough about the security of the redeemed, so raising the theoretical possibility of opposition is unnecessary and disturbing.