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| 1 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. |
Nevertheless – This verse should property be the last verse of chapter 8 (Leeser). R2550:1, R3686:1
The dimness shall not – There will be no gloom (RV). R3468:2
Be such as was – Omit these words (RV). R3468:2
In her vexation – In her that was in anguish (RV). R3468:2
Zebulun and ... Naphtali – The names of the principal districts of Ephraim. R3468:2
Grievously afflict – Hath he made it glorious. R3468:2
In Galilee – Jesus did most of his mighty works in these lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, called Galilee. R3468:3, R5135:5
Of the nations – Of the Gentiles. In Isaiah's time Galilee had been denuded of its Jewish population and had been settled by Gentile emigrants. R3468:3
Subsequently, outside of the Samaritan district, Galilee became repopulated by the Jews. R3468:3
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| 2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. |
The people – Applicable, first, to the people of Galilee; but also to all peoples who have had the eyes of their understanding opened during this Gospel age. R3468:5
Walked In darkness – Galilee, separated from the great religious center of their day, was in greater darkness than their brethren. R4557:1
The world has walked in the darkness of ignorance and superstition for 6,000 years. R1746:3
Seen a great light – Of divine truth. Local fulfilment was in Galilee, in the ministry of Jesus; but the real fulfilment lies in the future Millennial Kingdom. R5135:3, R2550:1
Which flared forth in Galilee, where the people were more amenable to the teachings of Jesus than many of their brethren in Judea. R4557:1
The light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor. 4:6) R2550:2
"The Sun of Righteousness shall arise." (Mal 4:2) R3686:1
Shadow of death – Fleshly Israel, under the condemnation of their Law covenant. R1746:6
The death-darkness that was upon the Gentiles. R4557:1
On the whole world, ever since the first transgression in Eden. "I walk through the valley of the shadow of death." (Psa. 23:4) R3468:6
In the deadly shade, properly a title of hades; those who are in hades, in darkness. R3686:4
The light shined – Will shine with special brilliancy first on fleshly Israel. R1746:6
As a lamp, to the class that now walk with the Lord. R3468:6
The light must shine upon every member of our race: "The true Light which (ultimately) lighteth every man that cometh into the world." (John 1:9) R3686:4
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| 3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. |
Thou hast multiplied – Israel; a reference to their gathering together again as a nation after the long dispersion; and the resurrection of their Ancient Worthies. R1747:1, R3469:2
Nominal spiritual Israel has phenomenally increased, but there are many false children (tares) there. R5135:6
Multiplication by resurrection of the world of mankind during the Millennium. R3686:5
The nation – The world of mankind under the new administration of the Millennial Kingdom. R2550:3
Not – Omit this word (RV, Leeser). R2550:3, R3686:5
Increased the joy – Their joy in their great deliverance is not yet accomplished. R3469:2
To the joy – The hilarious joy. R2550:4
The joy of Israel when the blessings of their restoration to divine favor are realized. R1747:1
In harvest – In the midst of plenty. R2550:4
In the Harvest of this age the faithful will rejoice. R5135:6
This is the joy of harvest, and such shall be the Church's joy. R303:5*
Divide the spoil – Dividing something which is not theirs by right, but which has fallen to them as a divine bounty. R3686:5
Dividing the fruits of victory. R2550:4
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| 4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. |
Yoke of his burden – Satan's yoke of sin, pain, sorrow and death. R3686:6
The burdensome yoke of creedal superstition will be broken. R5135:6
And the staff – Of affliction and slavery. R3686:6
Rod of his oppressor – The rod of the oppressor, Satan, will be broken as was Midian's by Gideon and his band. R5135:6, R536:5
Satan himself will be a captive. R2550:4
The heavy burden of oppression imposed upon Israel and the persecutions inflicted by their Gentile enemies during their exile will be broken. R1747:1
The day of Midian – When Gideon's band, typifying the Royal Priesthood, by letting their lights shine out, achieved a great victory upon the hosts of the enemy. R3686:6, R2550:5, R5135:6
Prefiguring the great victory for truth and righteousness through a time of trouble, eventuating in the release of all the oppressed. R3686:6
Picturing the deliverance by which the Lord will bring in the new dispensation, the hosts of sin being utterly discomfited by self-destruction in anarchy. R2550:5
The Midianites typified the world, the flesh and the devil. R4083:2
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| 5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. |
For every battle – Every ordinary battle. R2550:5
But this – This great time of trouble is described as being more severe, more intense, than all preceding troubles. R2550:5
With burning – The complete destruction of all the weapons of Satan and his associates. R3687:1
"He maketh wars to cease to the ends of the earth." (Psa. 46:9) R3469:3
Fuel of fire – A more furious destruction, best likened to a consuming of fuel in the fire. R2550:5
The world will be cleansed of every evidence of opposition to the divine government and the law of righteousness. R3687:1
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| 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. |
For – Because; an explanation of the process by which the foregoing gracious prophecy of blessing and release from the oppressor shall be accomplished. R3687:1, R2550:5
Unto us a child – This prophecy is a continuation of that in Isa. 7:14--"a virgin shall conceive and bear a son." R452:3
A prophecy of Jesus' birth. B227
The humble beginning and earliest manifestation of the Sun of Righteousness. R2550:1
Is born – The prophet takes a future standpoint. B227; R1970:1
The birth of Jesus was a gift of divine love. R5135:2
A son is given – The gift of God's dear Son. "God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son." (John 3:16) R2550:5, R5135:2
The great heavenly King, the Son of David. SM502:1
The Old Testament associates the works of the first and second advent together, as if they were one and the same-treating the Gospel age as a parenthesis. HG52:4
The government – The right to govern the world is his since he died on our behalf; but he awaits the Father's time for taking to himself his glorious power to reign. R5136:1
Upon his shoulder – The figurative epaulets of authority and honor will be upon the Lord Jesus. R3469:4
The responsibility falling upon him as a royal mantle from the heavenly Emperor, Jehovah. R3687:2, R2550:6
His name shall be – The many titles indicating various features of his greatness. SM502:1; CR113:4
In the eyes of those who rejected him. R1747:2
During the Millennial age. R3912:5
Called Wonderful – His is the most wonderful career and the most wonderful character of which we have any knowledge. Wonderful was his life amongst men; wonderful also was his resurrection. R3912:2
He is the most wonderful of all the Heavenly Father's family. E141
He is eventually to bear many titles in commemoration of the many wonderful offices he will fill and services he will accomplish. R5136:1
Wonderful love, condescension and grace, and wonderful exaltation, glory and power. R1747:4
His revelation to the world will be as the Wonderful One, the embodiment and expression of divine justice, love, wisdom and power. R5136:1, R2550:6
Counsellor – Whose instructions in righteousness will be respected by all the world of mankind seeking a return to divine favor and full restitution. R2550:6, R1747:4
The world's instructor. R5136:1
Guide, teacher, miraculous pattern. E46, E141
The leader, guide and instructor of his people. R3912:3
The mighty God – Very Mighty, Very Great--Mighty, Mighty One. R1515:4, R5136:1, R296:3
Ruler. "Arise, O God, judge the earth." (Psa. 82:8) E69; C126
The Father's representative, voice, mouthpiece, the well-beloved Son whom he has clothed with glory, honor and immortality and given all power in heaven and in earth. R3687:3
The whole body of Christ under his headship. R298:4
"Mighty to save." We need such a mighty Savior. "Able to save unto the uttermost all who come unto the Father through him." (Heb 7:25) R3912:3
The mighty powerful, and so he is, for to him the Father hath given all power in heaven and earth. (Matt 28:19; 11:27) R296:3
If angels were called Elohim, gods, if Elohim signifies a mighty one, surely he is above the other mighty ones, properly termed, the mighty Elohim, the one mighty amongst the mighty. R3912:3
Thus the devout Jews believed that he would set up an earthly kingdom at the first advent and, when he rode into Jerusalem, hailed him with glad Hosannas as their king. HG512:5
Everlasting Father – Father who gives everlasting life. E141; C126; CR113:4; CR472:2; OV124:6; OV321:5; Q207:T, R4832:1, R296:5, R5583:5
The successor of Adam, the temporary father of the race, who failed to give his posterity- life. Q722:1[Q722:1]; R3654:5, R3912:5
Age-lasting Father. OV321:5
This, in Hebrew, signifies just what it does in English-a father forever. R296:5[R296], R1855:2
The word "Savior" in the common language of Palestine, Syriac, spoken by the Lord and his disciples, means "Life-giver." (Luke 2:10, 11) R2407:3
He who was cut off childless becomes the everlasting Father. R1359:5, R1438:5
To all who obey him. R5136:4, R3912:6, R2116:3
Jesus, the successor of father Adam, the regenerator of the human family. Q722:1; R2833:5; E141, E142
As the giver of restitution life to the world by virtue of his own merit-his ransom sacrifice. R4556:6, R2833:5
If the Lord Jesus did not possess the right to an earthly life as an asset he could not regenerate the race. Q444:4; OV46:T
Life-giver of the world in the thousand-year day of the Messianic Kingdom. R5623:5, R5582:3, R5136:2
The Christ, Head and Body. T102; R298:1
The Church is his Bride and joint-heir, in contradistinction to the saved of the world of mankind who will be recognized as the children of Christ. R2652:3
All who would have life in the Millennial age must become children of Christ, begotten of truth. R1219:2
Of the Ancient Worthies also. "Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth." (Psa. 45:16) R4555:2
So Jesse will, in the "Times of Restitution," become the son of Christ who is called the "Root," or father, of Jesse. (Isa. 11:10) R1352:3
The world will be privileged to come into him, as their Father, by consecration. F698
"His seed also will I make to endure forever." (Psa. 89:36) R1936:5
"For the seed of the blessed of the Lord are they, and their offspring with them." (Isa. 65:23) R4411:5*
This will be the relationship of the great Mediator to all the people. R4840:6
Not to the Church, who are begotten of the Heavenly Father. R5136:4, R4840:6, R297:2, R1515:5, R3912:5, SM780:1
Some imply that the Church will be the mother. "Be thou the mother of thousands of millions." (Gen. 24:60) PD27/38, SM348:2
Prince of Peace – Messiah; Prince who establishes sure and lasting peace. OV118:4; E141
Not only making peace between God and man by the blood of his cross; but also by overthrowing all wrong and evil and establishing peace on the sure basis of holiness. B85
"Ye shall die ... like one of the princes." (Psa. 82:7) F724
The claim that present kingdoms are "kingdoms of our Lord and his Anointed" is a gross libel upon the true Kingdom and its "Prince of Peace." A269
The one whose reign will be undisputed and unmolested. R5136:4
Will not apply at the beginning of his reign when he will be breaking in pieces every human system out of accord with divine standards. R5136:4, R3687:4, R3912:6
He will put down, subdue, all enemies, all sin, all unrighteousness. R3687:4; Q752:T, Q812:2
His glorious reign will bring peace, joy and everlasting rest. R1747:4, R3912:6
Note the omission of "Jehovah" from these titles. E46
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| 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. |
Of the increase – The continuous success. R3687:6
The Kingdom will be spreading for the thousand years. R4974:2, R5183:2
Extending over all the nations and families of the earth. R453:3
The great redemptive work was the foundation for all his future work. R5136:1
His government – The right to rule the world is his since he died, but he awaits the Father's time for taking to him self his glorious power to reign. R5136:1
And peace – His government shall be at peace, and in control of all. R453:3, R3470:2
Certainly did not come to pass during the eleven centuries of the Papal vicegerency. R5853:4
Shall be no end – It will conquer everything before it. Nothing shall stop it. R4974:2, R5183:2, R5136:4, R3470:1
Throne of David – Inheritance and royalty are reckoned through the mother as well as the father; Jesus' mother was a daughter of David. R453:1, R944:4
God established his kingdom in the hand of David, first over Judah (type of all fleshly Israel); and secondly over Israel as a whole (type of the whole world). R453:6
The Messiah was to be the seed of David, according to the prophets; and the genealogical records as given by Matthew and Luke prove that Jesus was the son of David. R944:1
Type of the authority of the glorified Christ; Messiah's Kingdom. B255; R5136:4
As David sat upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord, the greater than David, Messiah, will sit upon the throne of the Kingdom of Jehovah. R5136:5, R3687:5
To establish It – It has been overturned ever since the days of Zedekiah. R3687:4
With judgment – With punishments for wrong-doing and rewards for right-doing. R3687:5
Zeal – Love. R5136:5
Of the LORD – Jehovah, showing that he is not the one referred to in the previous verse. E46; R3687:5
Will perform this – Will accomplish this prophecy; operating through Messiah. E46; R5136:5
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| 8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel. |
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| 9 And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart, |
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| 10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars. |
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| 11 Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together; |
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| 12 The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. |
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| 13 For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts. |
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| 14 Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day. |
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| 15 The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. |
The head – Babylon's laws emanate from their heads or rulers instead of the true Head of the Church. R295:2, R365:4
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| 16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. |
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| 17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. |
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| 18 For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke. |
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| 19 Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother. |
Fuel of the fire – The Day of Vengeance. D527
Spare his brother – It used to be considered proper to sell an enemy bread. Now it is not. This is the spirit of anarchy and it will spread from nations to individuals. OV419:4
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| 20 And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm: |
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| 21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. |
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