24 Therefore , as a tongue of fire consumes stubble And dry grass collapses into the flame , So their root will become like rot and their blossom blow away as dust ; For they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel . 25 On this account the anger of the Lord has burned against His people , And He has stretched out His hand against them and struck them down . And the mountains quaked , and their corpses lay like refuse in the middle of the streets . For all this His anger is not spent , But His hand is still stretched out. 26 He will also lift up a standard to the distant nation , And will whistle for it from the ends of the earth ; And behold , it will come with speed swiftly . 27 No one in it is weary or stumbles , None slumbers or sleeps ; Nor is the belt at its waist undone , Nor its sandal strap broken . 28 Its arrows are sharp and all its bows are bent ; The hoofs of its horses seem like flint and its chariot wheels like a whirlwind . 29 Its roaring is like a lioness , and it roars like young lions ; It growls as it seizes the prey And carries it off with no one to deliver it. 30 And it will growl over it in that day like the roaring of the sea . If one looks to the land , behold , there is darkness and distress ; Even the light is darkened by its clouds .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 5:24-30
Commentary on Isaiah 5:24-30
(Read Isaiah 5:24-30)
Let not any expect to live easily who live wickedly. Sin weakens the strength, the root of a people; it defaces the beauty, the blossoms of a people. When God's word is despised, and his law cast away, what can men expect but that God should utterly abandon them? When God comes forth in wrath, the hills tremble, fear seizes even great men. When God designs the ruin of a provoking people, he can find instruments to be employed in it, as he sent for the Chaldeans, and afterwards the Romans, to destroy the Jews. Those who would not hear the voice of God speaking by his prophets, shall hear the voice of their enemies roaring against them. Let the distressed look which way they will, all appears dismal. If God frowns upon us, how can any creature smile? Let us diligently seek the well-grounded assurance, that when all earthly helps and comforts shall fail, God himself will be the strength of our hearts, and our portion for ever.