Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 60:12
For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, [those] nations shall be utterly wasted.
12. Comp. Zec 14:17-18. The verse is objected to by Duhm and Cheyne on account of its prosaic character and unrhythmical structure, and also because it violates the strophic arrangement which these writers find in the chapter. It certainly seems to intrude awkwardly between Isa 60:11 and Isa 60:13.
shall be utterly wasted ] The verb applies strictly to the lands rather than to the peoples (see the notes on ch. Isa 37:18).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For the nation and kingdom – Perhaps this is given as a reason for What is said in the previous verse – that kings and their subjects should come to Zion and embrace the true religion, because if it were not done they would perish. This is certainly one reason why sinners hasten to embrace the Saviour; and when this truth becomes deeply impressed on a community, it is one of the means of a revival of religion. An apprehension of danger; a certain anticipation of ruin if the gospel is not embraced; a conviction that there is salvation in no other, is often a means of leading people to seek the Saviour.
That will not serve thee – That will not become the servant of the church of God: that is, that will not promote its interests, obey its laws, and maintain the true religion.
Shall perish – This is applied particularly here to a nation and a kingdom. The idea is, that no nation can flourish that does not obey the law of God, or where the worship of the true God is not maintained. History is full of affecting illustrations of this. The ancient republics and kingdoms fell because they had not the true religion. The kingdoms of Babylon, Assyria, Macedonia, and Egypt; the Roman empire, and all the ancient monarchies and republics, soon fell to ruin because they had not the salutary restraints of the true religion, and lacked the protection of the true God. France east off the government of God in the Revolution, and was drenched in blood. It is a maxim of universal truth, that the nation which does not admit the influence of the laws and the government of God must be destroyed. No empire is strong enough to wage successful war with the great Yahweh; and sooner or later, notwithstanding all that human policy can do, corruption, sensuality, luxury, pride, and far-spreading vice, will expose a nation to his displeasure, and bring down the heavy arm of his vengeance.
There is no truth of more vital interest to this nation (America) than this; no declaration in any ancient writing expressive of the course of events in this world, that hangs with note portentous interest over this republic, than that the nation that will not serve god shall perish. As a nation, we have nothing else to depend on but our pubic virtue, our intelligence, our respect for the laws of heaven. Our defense is not to be in standing armies – but in God, as our living and everwatchful protector and friend. Our hope is not in a vast navy, in strong ramparts, in frowning battlements, but in the favor of the Most High. No martial array, no strong fortresses, no line-of-battle-ships, can save a nation that has cast off the government of God, and that is distinguished for the violation of treaties and for oppression, bribery, and corruption. The nation that violates the Sabbath; that tramples on the rights of unoffending men and women; that disregards the most solemn compacts; and that voluntarily opens upon itself the floodgates of infidelity and vice, must expect to meet with the displeasure of the Almighty. And it is as true of an individual as it is of a nation. Of any human or angelic being; of any association or combination of human beings or angels that does not obey God, it is true that they shall be utterly destroyed.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Isa 60:12
For the nation and kingdom that will not serve Thee shall perish
The character and doom of a corrupt nation
I.
THE CHARACTER OF A CORRUPT NATION. The text implies–
1. That there is a certain course of human life which the Bible recognizes as serving the Lord.
2. That nations as well as individuals are bound to pursue that course. There is no sentiment more common, none more philosophically absurd, none more morally pernicious than this: that communities of men are relieved from obligations which are binding upon individuals.
II. THE DOOM OF A CORRUPT NATION. They shall perish, yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.
1. The doom is most calamitous. It shall perish.
(1) Perish as to their national existence. Their commerce shall waste away; their government shall be dissolved; all the institutions they glory in shall die out. The whole land shall be desolate as an old castle, Many great nations have thus died. Where are the empires of the Pharaohs, the Belshazzars, the Alexanders and the Caesars? They have perished, they have utterly wasted.
(2) But there is a more solemn sense still in which nations perish, that is, in a spiritual sense. They shall lose their souls. Not their existence, not their consciousness, not their memories; but their mercies, their friendships, their hopes, their heaven, their God.
2. The doom is most certain. It is here threatened with emphasis–they shall perish, yea, etc. All analogy indicates its certainty. Our subject explains–
(1) National convulsions.
(2) The true method of promoting national stability. (Homilist.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
That will not serve thee; do offices of kindness; so is the word used, Isa 19:23; or rather, that will not submit to Christs sceptre.
Shall perish; shall be no more sui juris, but subdued to thee; and as refusing subjection to Christ, shall perish everlastingly; as they all perished in the deluge that were not in the ark: they that should be saved were added to the church, Act 2:47; Rev 21:24.
Utterly wasted, Heb. wasting be wasted, viz. by the sword: accordingly we read of many victories in Josephus that the Jews obtained, and in the Book of the Maccabees, as a fulfilling of this prophecy; but this doth principally relate to the spiritual Jerusalem, and this seems to anticipate an objection, If the gates stand continually open, we shall be in danger of enemies. Not so, saith he, for they shall either serve thee or perish.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. Forthe reason which willlead Gentile kings and people to submit themselves; fear of the Godin Israel (Zec 14:17).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish,…. That will not serve the Lord Christ, and worship him with his church and people; that will not be obedient to the laws and ordinances of his house; but appoint another head over them, the pope of Rome; and make other laws, and set up other ordinances, rejecting the authority of Christ, the rule of his word, and the order of his churches:
yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted; even all the antichristian states, when the vials of God’s wrath will be poured out upon them; see Zec 14:17.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
12. For the nation and kingdom. The Prophet dwells largely on confirming the hearts of believers, that they may not doubt that the restoration shall be such as he has described. Those events were altogether incredible; and we ourselves, though we have obtained abundant confirmation of them from the actual event, (for they have been made manifest to the eyes of all,) yet, unless we are guided by the Spirit of the Lord, could hardly conceive of them in our mind. He shows, therefore, that there is no reason why the Jews should doubt as to the restoration of the temple, because the Gentiles will aid them to the utmost of their power But here Isaiah looks at something higher than the building of the visible temple; for he intends to speak of that obedience which kings and nobles and the common people render to the Church when they promote, as far as they are able, pure doctrine.
Shall perish. He goes still farther, and confirms his statement the more by declaring that “the kingdoms and nations which will not serve the Church shall be destroyed.” And if so dreadful a punishment was pronounced against those who did not aid the Church, what shall we say of the tyrants who rush upon her with furious attack, and labor with all their might to destroy her? If careless and slothful men do not pass unpunished, does not a fearful vengeance await the ungodly, who disturb and overturn the work of the Lord?
The nations, I say, shall be utterly destroyed. What he had said in the singular number he immediately repeats in the plural, in order to show that even the whole world, if it be involved in the same guilt, shall likewise perish; for their multitude will not be able to prevent all who are estranged from God from perishing, and ungodly men will have no excuse for throwing obstacles in each other’s way, or for encouraging each other to impiety and wickedness. Kings and nations are said, as we have already seen, to “serve the Church;” not that she exercises any dominion over them, but because God has committed to her the scepter of his word by which he rules.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
NECESSITY OF RELIGION TO THE WELL-BEING OF A NATION
Isa. 60:12. The nation and kingdom that will not serve Thee shall perish, &c.
I. True religion is essential to the welfare of a nation. But what is human welfare? What is that state to which we can, with full satisfaction, attach the idea of well-being? In a wordwhat is happiness, that object which all desire, and seek and strive to obtain, &c.? Legislation, &c., will not affect the solid welfare of a nation. Facts confirm what reason had anticipated, that true religion is the only foundation of a nations welfare. The reasons of the fact arise from the very nature of the case in the operation of moral causes. What the religion of the Gospel teaches and does, &c.
II. By what means may we most effectively endeavour to realise the welfare of our country, and that as the fruit of its religion? All Christians are called to promote the conversion of sinners, the more expansive holiness of believers, and the universal glory of their Lord: in a word, to make the nation Christian, by making the persons who compose the nation such. Respecting the selection and applica-of the particular methods for this purpose, the new Testament allows very great latitude provided that grand principles be preserved
(1) Spirituality;
(2) simplicity;
(3) liberty.J. P. Smith, D.D., LL.D.: Pulpit Memorials, pp. 5975.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
12. Nation and kingdom Even at the height of Messianic triumphs it would seem resistance was occasionally made. So in the New Testament, at the so-called millennial periods, the conquests of the true religion will not fully prevail till after long unsuccessful struggles.
Shall perish Final resistance will end disastrously. This is the providential law, till the last enemy shall be conquered. Absolute peril awaits all who resist God.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Here Jesus is evidently spoken of, agreeably to that prophecy, Psa 72:11 ; and the Lord himself very solemnly confirmed the same truth, Luk 19:27 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 60:12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, [those] nations shall be utterly wasted.
Ver. 12. For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish. ] They are utterly out then, who hold that men may be saved in what religion soever, so be it they lead an honest life. And Pope Julius III is justly accused of sacrilege for stamping money with his own image and this inscription, “The nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish.”
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the nation. shall perish. This is still future.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Isa 41:11, Isa 54:15, Psa 2:12, Dan 2:35, Dan 2:44, Dan 2:45, Zec 12:2-4, Zec 14:12-19, Mat 21:44, Luk 19:27, Rev 2:26, Rev 2:27
Reciprocal: Jos 10:24 – put your feet 2Sa 22:44 – head Ezr 6:12 – destroy Psa 2:9 – General Psa 29:1 – Give Isa 2:2 – and all Jer 12:17 – if Dan 2:34 – which Dan 7:14 – that all Dan 7:18 – the saints Dan 7:27 – and all Mic 4:3 – and rebuke Hag 2:22 – overthrow Zec 9:10 – his dominion Zec 12:3 – in that Zec 14:9 – the Lord Zec 14:17 – that
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
60:12 For the nation and {m} kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, [those] nations shall be utterly wasted.
(m) He shows that God has given all power and authority here in earth for the use of his Church, and that they who will not serve and profit the same will be destroyed.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Any nation that does not submit to Israel’s greatness in this time will suffer destruction. Thus worship of the Lord and thanksgiving for Israel’s mediatory ministry will be voluntary, and some may not choose to submit.