Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 43:20
The beast of the field shall honor me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, [and] rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
20. Even the wild beasts shall honour Jehovah, unconsciously, through their joy at the abundant supply of water.
the dragons and the owls ] Render as R.V. the jackals and the ostriches. see on ch. Isa 13:21-22.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The beast of the field shall honor me – The sense of this passage is plain, and the image is highly poetical and beautiful. God would pour such copious floods of waters through the waste sandy deserts to supply his people, that even the wild beasts would be sensible of his abundant goodness, and would break forth into thanksgiving and praise for the unusual supply.
The dragons – (See the note at Isa 13:22). The Septuagint renders the word used here ( tannyn), by seirenes – sirens – among the ancients a marine monster that was fabled to use sweet and alluring tones of music. It is probable, however, that the Septuagint understood here some species of wild-fowl which responded to one another. The Syriac translator here interprets it as denoting some wild animal of the canine species – a wood-dog.
And the owls – Margin, as Hebrew, Daughters of the owl, or ostrich (see the note at Isa 13:21).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Isa 43:20
The beast of the field shall honour Me
Hope respecting the profanest persons
I have sometimes laid hold of this text, and have been comforted by it concerning the conversion of the very worst of men.
Some people say, What is the good of going among blasphemers and profane persons with the Word of God? Well, if the beast of the field, and the dragons, and the owls shall honour Him, we need never think of leaving any of the sons of men to perish. It is not what they are, but what God is, that should give us confidence concerning them. (C. H.Spurgeon.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 20. The beast of the field shall honour me – “The wild beast of the field shall glorify me”] The image is elegant and highly poetical. God will give such an abundant miraculous supply of water to his people traversing the dry desert in their return to their country, that even the wild beasts, the serpents, the ostriches, and other animals that haunt those arid regions, shall be sensible of the blessing, and shall break forth into thanksgiving and praises to him for the unusual refreshment which they receive from his so plentifully watering the sandy wastes of Arabia Deserta, for the benefit of his people passing through them.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The beast of the field shall honour me; shall have cause, if they had abilities, to honour and praise me for their share in this mercy. Possibly the beast of the field may mystically signify the Gentiles, whom the Jews reputed as beasts, and who were as destitute of all saving knowledge as the beasts which perish, yet should become the Lords people, as they seem to be called, Isa 43:21. The dragons; which live in dry and barren deserts, and are very thirsty, and therefore more sensible of this mercy.
To give drink to my people; to whom these waters were principally designed, but the beasts fared better for their sakes. Thus Christ was primarily sent to the lost sheep of Israel, Mat 15:24; yet the Gentiles, there compared to dogs, fared better for the children, picking up some crumbs of their bread; and the Jews generally rejecting Christ, the Gentiles came in their stead.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
20. beastimage of idolaters,defiled with blood and pollutions, dwelling like dragons, &c., inthe wastes of Gentile ignorance: even they shall be converted. Orelse, literally, such copious floods of water shall be given by Godin the desert, that the very beasts shall (in poetic language) praisethe Lord (Ps 148:10)[JEROME].
dragons“serpents,”or else jackals (see on Isa 13:22).
owlsrather,”ostriches.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons, and the owls,…. Which is not to be understood literally of these creatures, who as they had honoured the Lord, when Israel passed through the wilderness, so would again in their way praise the Lord, when they came through the deserts from Babylon, for giving them water to drink in such dry and thirsty places, to which there may be an allusion; but spiritually of the Gentiles, compared to those creatures for the savageness, fierceness, and stupidity of them, and who were reckoned by the Jews no other than as the beasts of the field; who should honour and glorify God for the Gospel brought unto them, and for his grace and mercy bestowed on them:
because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert; as before; [See comments on Isa 43:19]; because of the plenty of divine grace, and the means of it:
to give drink to my people, my chosen; to refresh and comfort the hearts of his people, whom he had chosen out from among the Gentiles, and now would call them by his grace, and set them a thirsting after Christ, and salvation by him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
20. The beast of the field shall honor me. He adorns the preceding statement; for, amidst such a desperate condition of affairs, it was proper that magnificent language should be employed in extolling the power of God, that words might supply what seemed to be wanting in the reality. The meaning is, that the power of God will be so visible and manifest, that the very beasts, impressed with the feeling of it, shall acknowledge and worship God. This prediction corresponds to the song,
“
The sea saw and fled, Jordan was driven back. The mountains leaped like rams, and the hills like lambs. At the face of the Lord the earth trembled.” (Psa 114:3.)
Isaiah here ascribes the same feeling to brute animals, because by a secret impulse they shall be constrained to retire, so as to allow his people to pass safely. And yet the cause assigned is more extensive, that they will stand still, as if in astonishment, when they see the miracles. In a word, God declares that he will not suffer his people, in their journey homeward, to be destitute of the means of subsistence, but describes in exaggerated language his love toward the Jews, that by the height of their hope they may rise above the world. When we hear these statements, let us also not measure the power of God by the nature of things, but let us be exalted by faith above all that can be seen or known.
My people, my chosen. That these wretched exiles may not be driven from the hope of heavenly grace and assistance, he reminds them of their adoption; as if he had said, that amidst this ruinous and melancholy condition they still continued to be the people of God, because he who once chose them does not change his purpose. Accordingly, whenever we need to be excited to cherish favorable hope, let us remember God’s calling; for, although we are unworthy, still it ought to be reckoned enough that the Lord has deigned to bestow on us so great an honor.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
DISCOURSE: 933
GODS KINDNESS TO HIS PEOPLE
Isa 43:20. I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
THE mercies of God which are daily, and, as it were, hourly renewed, demand at our hands a constantly increasing tribute of praise and thanksgiving. Former benefits are not to be forgotten: yet it is allowable, and even proper, that those which have been recently vouchsafed to us should so occupy the mind, as, for a time, almost to exclude from our minds the immediate recollection of those which have been formerly bestowed. The Prophet Jeremiah says, Behold, the days come, that they shall no more say, The Lord liveth, which brought up the Children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, but the Lord liveth which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all the countries whither I had driven them [Note: Jer 23:7-8.]. Thus in the verses before our text, God says, Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old: behold, I will do a new thing. The particular thing here predicted, is, the deliverance of the Jews from Babylon, together with their preservation in the dry and barren wilderness, through which they must pass in their way to Judea. But that deliverance would never have been represented as so superior to that which they had experienced from Egypt, had it not typified a far more glorious redemption, which they were taught to expect through the intervention of the Messiah. This it is (even the spiritual redemption by Christ, together with the aids and consolations of the Holy Spirit) to which the text principally refers; and for which, not the owls and dragons of the wilderness, but the more stupid and ferocious Gentiles shall honour God for ever.
In discoursing on these words, we shall consider,
I.
The designation given to Gods people
The minds of many almost revolt at the very mention of the word elect, or chosen. But though we by no means approve of bringing forward the subject of election on every occasion, yet, as it is frequently mentioned in the Scriptures, and strongly asserted in the Articles of our Church, we ought not to pass over it, when it comes plainly and unavoidably before us. The word chosen is used in the text,
1.
As a term of distinction
[No one can doubt but that Gods people are often spoken of by the term of Gods elect: the only doubt is, what that term imports. Now all will confess that it imports a choice of nations to the enjoyment of national privileges. In this sense God chose the Jewish nation, and took them out from the midst of a people greater and mightier than they, and gave them his statutes and judgments, when all other nations were left to follow their own ways. And this he did, not on account of any merit in them, but purely on account of his own good pleasure, irrespective of any goodness in them, either seen or foreseen [Note: Deu 7:7-8; Deu 9:4-6.]. It is no less clear, that the term is also applied to individual persons chosen to particular situations of trust and honour. Levis appointment to the priesthood [Note: 1Sa 2:27-28.], Davids to the government of Israel [Note: Psa 78:70-71.], and Sauls to the apostleship [Note: Act 9:15. Gal 1:15-16.], are unquestionable proofs of Gods having exercised his own sovereign will in the selection of individuals to posts of temporal dignity; I may add too, of unspeakable spiritual advantage. These things being admitted, it seems strange that any one can doubt, but that the term elect denotes yet further a choice of particular persons to eternal life. The people of God are not merely called elect, but are expressly said to have been from the beginning chosen unto salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth [Note: 2Th 2:13.]. And for them in particular is heaven reserved; insomuch that Jesus Christ himself cannot grant heaven to any but those, for whom it was before prepared of the Father [Note: Mat 20:23.].]
2.
A term of endearment
[This seems the more particular view in which the name is given to Gods people in the text. Just as, in reference to his dear Son, God says, Behold my servant whom I uphold, mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth [Note: Isa 42:1.], so he speaks of his people here, as feeling complacency and delight in them. In many other passages also the term elect seems to be used as expressive of the peculiar interest which God takes in all that relates to his believing people: Who will lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? Shall not God avenge his own elect? For the elects sake those days (of trouble to Jerusalem) shall be shortened. And, God will send his angels (at the last day) to gather together his elect.]
But, notwithstanding their dearness to God, we have but too much reason to consider,
II.
The straits to which they may be reduced
It is evidently implied, that as the Israelites in their journey from Egypt must have perished for want of water, if God had not miraculously interposed for their relief; so all his people coming through the wilderness of this world, are at times reduced to difficulties, from whence none but God himself can deliver them. This happens to them by means of,
1.
Afflictions
[The people of God are, for the most part, a poor and afflicted people. That they have peculiar supports and consolations, we shall soon shew: but inasmuch as they have all the common feelings of humanity, they must find afflictions grievous to them, exactly as others do. Even the most eminent saints have at times been ready to sink under their burthens. Behold David on the death of his rebellious son, Absalom; how bitterly he bewailed his loss [Note: 2Sa 18:33.]! See Hezekiah under the pressure of what he supposed to be an incurable disease; how he mourned like a dove, and his eyes failed with looking upward [Note: Isa 38:10-14.]! Thus it is with many under the loss of dear relatives, or the pressure of embarrassed circumstances, or the agonies of an acute disorder: they are ready to faint under their trials, and to be weary even of life itself [Note: See Psa 107:5; Psa 107:10; Psa 107:18; Psa 107:26-27; Psa 38:1-8; Psa 42:7 and Job 10:1.].]
2.
Persecutions
[Fitly is persecution compared to the scorching heat of the meridian sun, We are told what fatal effects it produces on those who have no root of grace in themselves [Note: Mat 13:6; Mat 13:21.]; and the most steadfast Christians are exhorted to consider Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest they should be weary and faint in their minds [Note: Heb 12:3.]. Even the Apostle Paul himself was sometimes cast down [Note: 2Co 4:8-9.], and needed peculiar supports from heaven [Note: Act 18:9-10. See also Psa 143:3-8.]. And though we are not now exposed to all those cruelties which the first Christians endured, yet there are many and heavy trials to be borne by all who will live godly in Christ Jesus: and he must be a faithful labourer, who supports without fainting the burthen and heat of the day.]
3.
Temptations
[It is not without reason that the weapons with which Satan assaults the believer are represented as fiery darts; for when injected into the soul, they set the whole man, as it were, on fire, and the poison of them altogether drinks up our spirits [Note: Job 6:4.]. Who has ever known what it is to be haunted with atheistical and blasphemous thoughts; or what, to be harassed with doubts about the truth of Christianity, or what, to be tormented with apprehensions of having committed the sin against the Holy Ghost: who that has ever felt the almost irresistible impulses of corruption, aided by the dreadful workings of despair; who, in short, is in any respect acquainted with the wiles of Satan, and the depths of his own depravity; and has not been constrained to cry, Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me!?]
But these troubles shall only bring them to the enjoyment of,
III.
The mercies reserved for them
As once God made the rivers and the sea to become dry land, so will he open rivers in the dry and thirsty wilderness. He will supply the wants of his drooping and dejected people: he has treasured up for them an inexhaustible fund of consolation,
1.
In the promises of his Gospel
[What wells of salvation are opened in the holy Scriptures! and with what unspeakable joy do thirsting souls draw water out of them! A believing application of one single promise to the soul is more reviving, even in the most disconsolate state, than any cup of water can possibly be to one perishing with thirst. Let, for instance, that consoling declaration which was made to Paul, when he complained so bitterly of the thorn in his flesh, and of the buffetings of Satan; let that promise, I say, come home in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, and the very same effects will instantly follow; our tears will be wiped away, and all our complaints be changed into triumphant exultations [Note: 2Co 12:9-10. See this further promised, Hos 2:14-15 and exemplified, Psa 32:2-7.].]
2.
In the communications of his grace
[It is principally with a view to increase and strengthen their graces, that God permits his people to experience so many troubles. He chooses them in the furnace of affliction, and by means of the fire he purges away their dross, that they may come forth as gold. Blessed is the testimony which David bears to this truth [Note: Psa 138:3.]: and every believer will esteem his trials most richly recompensed, when he finds that they have wrought in him an increase of patience, experience, and hope [Note: Rom 5:3-4.].]
3.
In the manifestations of his love
[Never does God vouchsafe such visits to his people, as when they are suffering for his sake, and in obedience to his will. He will draw nigh unto them, and manifest himself unto them as he does not unto the world, and will give them the witness of the Spirit, as an earnest of their everlasting inheritance. Thus, if their afflictions abound for Christ, their consolations are made to abound by Christ [Note: 2Co 1:5.]. Now in the Lords favour is life; and his loving-kindness is better than life: when therefore a sense of his love is shed abroad in the heart, it little concerns them by what means so great a blessing has been imparted: whatever they may have endured to prepare them for it, they will not hesitate to say, It is good for me that I have been afflicted.]
Application
[Is there any afflicted soul that cannot find consolation in God? He is only like Hagar, who had a fountain close to her, while she was expecting nothing but death [Note: Gen 21:15-19.]: let him therefore, though in darkness, stay himself upon his God [Note: Isa 50:10]. Sooner or later, shall all who wait on God be refreshed and comforted [Note: Isa 40:27-31; Isa 41:17-18; Isa 44:3; Isa 49:10.].].
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 43:20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, [and] rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
Ver. 20. The beasts of the field shall honour me, ] i.e., In their kind they shall. So shall brutish and savage persons when tamed and turned by the word of God’s grace. The malignities of all creatures are in man; as Plato a also observed, In doloso enim est vulpes, in crudeli leo, in libidinoso amica lute sus, &c. Gregory, b by dragons, here understands profane and carnal people; by owls or ostriches, hypocrites. These being converted shall sing hallelujahs to God; but let them take heed that they turn not, with the dog, to their own vomit again, &c. 2Pe 2:22 For,
a De Rep., lib. iii.
b Mor., lib. xxxi. cap. 5.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
I give waters, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exo 17:6).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
beast: Isa 11:6-10, Psa 104:21, Psa 148:10
owls: or, ostriches, Heb. daughters of the owl
to give: Isa 43:19, Isa 41:17, Isa 48:21, Isa 49:10, Isa 55:1, Isa 55:2, Jer 31:9, Joe 3:18, Joh 4:10, Joh 4:14, Joh 7:37-39, Rev 21:6, Rev 22:17
my chosen: Isa 65:15, 1Ch 16:13, Psa 33:12, Mar 13:20, 1Pe 2:9, Rev 17:14
Reciprocal: Exo 17:6 – that the people Num 20:8 – bring forth Num 21:16 – Gather Jdg 6:39 – dry 2Ki 3:17 – Ye shall not Job 38:26 – on the wilderness Psa 36:8 – and thou Psa 78:15 – General Psa 103:22 – all his works Psa 135:4 – the Lord Psa 145:10 – All thy Psa 148:7 – ye dragons Isa 30:25 – upon every high Isa 32:2 – rivers Isa 35:6 – for Isa 41:18 – General Isa 44:3 – floods Eze 47:8 – and go down Hab 3:10 – the deep Act 28:4 – beast 1Co 10:4 – did
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Isa 43:20. The beast of the field shall honour me Shall have cause, if they had abilities, to honour and praise me for their share in this mercy; the dragons, &c. Which live in dry and barren deserts. The image, says Bishop Lowth, is elegant and highly poetical. God will give such an abundant, miraculous supply of water to his people traversing the dry desert, in their return to their country, that even the wild beasts, the serpents, the ostriches, and other animals that haunt those adust regions, shall be sensible of the blessing, and shall break forth into thanksgiving and praises to him for the unusual refreshment which they receive from his so plentifully watering the sandy wastes of Arabia Deserta, for the benefit of his people passing through them.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
43:20 The {u} beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, [and] rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
(u) They will have such abundance of all things as they return home, even in the dry and barren places, that the very beasts will feel my blessings and will acknowledge them: much more men ought to be thankful for the same.