Isa 29:17 | KingComments | STEP | The LORD will exhibit their folly. At His coming, He will reverse the reverse and set things right again ( ). He does so through the remnant. He will make the forests of the Lebanon fertile and make the fertile field a forest. In other words: He will work a total reversal of things. He will do so after “just a little while” of the great tribulation (cf. ). That is what “on that day” ( ) connects to. That is the period that the Lord Jesus will reign publicly over the earth, a period that is still to come. Then He will make sure that the (spiritually) deaf will be able to hear the Scriptures and that the (spiritually) blind will be able to see ( ). That is the time when no one has to say to the other ‘know the LORD’, for they will all know Him, from the least of them to the greatest of them ( ). Deafness and blindness are the two characteristics of the spiritual state of the people of Israel (cf. ; ). What He does to a remnant is in contrast to the judgment of hardening and blinding that He brings on the mass ( ). This remnant consists of “the afflicted” and “the needy” ( ). They have become that because they have learned it from the LORD Himself, Who is the Lord Jesus ( ). They will rejoice in “the LORD” and in “the Holy One of Israel”. So it is now. The afflicted and the needy, or the meek and the poor, are they among the believers who are aware of their spiritual need. They have the greatest joy in the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit ministers the glory of Christ especially to them ( ; ; ). At that time, “the ruthless”, that is the Assyrians, and “the scorner”, that is the man of sin, the antichrist, will be eliminated ( ). Their taunting, God degrading language will no longer be heard. “All who are intent on doing evil”, all those who follow them and are therefore animated by the same evil, that is, the wicked mass, will be exterminated. The corruptness of their mind is manifested in their rejection and distortion of all that is just and right ( ). “The gate” is the place of justice and government ( ; ). The basis of blessing for the remnant, “the house of Jacob,” is the covenant of the LORD with Abraham, whom He redeemed from his heathen environment ( ; ). Once the house of Jacob – that is, all twelve tribes – has been freed from shame and violence, it will rejoice in all the redeemed children who have been spared by the work of the LORD’s hands ( ). Jacob and his children will sanctify “My Name”, which is the Name of the LORD, that is make His Name great above all names. The Name of the LORD will be sanctified when Israel returns to his land and is restored (cf. ; ). In the same way, they will also sanctify “the Holy One of Jacob”, exalt that Name above all names as incomparable. They will also stand in awe of “the God of Israel”. These three Names relate to one Person: the Lord Jesus. Besides physical ailments such as deafness and blindness ( ), the remnant will also be cured of illnesses of their mind ( ). Instead of an erring mind they will have the right insight and instead of being animated by a grumbling mind that complains about the in their eyes difficult or foolish teachings of God’s Word, they will gladly accept instruction from God’s Word. At last the moment has come for them to return to the LORD and the veil or covering that is still there at the time of reading the Old Testament will be removed ( ). This will find its glorious fulfillment in the realm of peace.

‏ Isaiah 29:17

Joy for the Afflicted and Needy

The LORD will exhibit their folly. At His coming, He will reverse the reverse and set things right again (Isa 29:17). He does so through the remnant. He will make the forests of the Lebanon fertile and make the fertile field a forest. In other words: He will work a total reversal of things.

He will do so after “just a little while” of the great tribulation (cf. Isa 10:25). That is what “on that day” (Isa 29:18) connects to. That is the period that the Lord Jesus will reign publicly over the earth, a period that is still to come. Then He will make sure that the (spiritually) deaf will be able to hear the Scriptures and that the (spiritually) blind will be able to see (Isa 35:5-6). That is the time when no one has to say to the other ‘know the LORD’, for they will all know Him, from the least of them to the greatest of them (Jer 31:34). Deafness and blindness are the two characteristics of the spiritual state of the people of Israel (cf. Isa 6:9 ; Isa 42:19; Mt 12:22 ; Mt 11:5).

What He does to a remnant is in contrast to the judgment of hardening and blinding that He brings on the mass (Isa 29:11-12). This remnant consists of “the afflicted” and “the needy” (Isa 29:19). They have become that because they have learned it from the LORD Himself, Who is the Lord Jesus (Mt 11:28-29). They will rejoice in “the LORD” and in “the Holy One of Israel”.

So it is now. The afflicted and the needy, or the meek and the poor, are they among the believers who are aware of their spiritual need. They have the greatest joy in the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit ministers the glory of Christ especially to them (Isa 61:1; Zep 3:12; Mt 5:3 ; 5).

At that time, “the ruthless”, that is the Assyrians, and “the scorner”, that is the man of sin, the antichrist, will be eliminated (Isa 29:20). Their taunting, God degrading language will no longer be heard. “All who are intent on doing evil”, all those who follow them and are therefore animated by the same evil, that is, the wicked mass, will be exterminated. The corruptness of their mind is manifested in their rejection and distortion of all that is just and right (Isa 29:21). “The gate” is the place of justice and government (Deu 21:19-21; Rth 4:1).

The basis of blessing for the remnant, “the house of Jacob,” is the covenant of the LORD with Abraham, whom He redeemed from his heathen environment (Isa 29:22; Isa 51:2). Once the house of Jacob – that is, all twelve tribes – has been freed from shame and violence, it will rejoice in all the redeemed children who have been spared by the work of the LORD’s hands (Isa 29:23).

Jacob and his children will sanctify “My Name”, which is the Name of the LORD, that is make His Name great above all names. The Name of the LORD will be sanctified when Israel returns to his land and is restored (cf. Mt 6:9; Eze 36:20-24). In the same way, they will also sanctify “the Holy One of Jacob”, exalt that Name above all names as incomparable. They will also stand in awe of “the God of Israel”. These three Names relate to one Person: the Lord Jesus.

Besides physical ailments such as deafness and blindness (Isa 29:18), the remnant will also be cured of illnesses of their mind (Isa 29:24). Instead of an erring mind they will have the right insight and instead of being animated by a grumbling mind that complains about the in their eyes difficult or foolish teachings of God’s Word, they will gladly accept instruction from God’s Word. At last the moment has come for them to return to the LORD and the veil or covering that is still there at the time of reading the Old Testament will be removed (2Cor 3:14-16). This will find its glorious fulfillment in the realm of peace.