The Impact of the Song

Pastor Bill Farrow

Isaiah 27:4

⁴Fury is not in Me. Who would set briers and thorns Against Me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together.

Fury is not in me - That is, I am angry with Israel no more. He had punished his people by removing them to a distant land. But although he had corrected them for their faults, yet he had not laid aside His affection as a Father.

Who would set - Hebrew, ‘Who would give me.’ Great perplexity has been felt in regard to the interpretation of this passage. The whole sentence must refer either to the people of God, or to his enemies. If to his people, it would be an indication that they were like briers and thorns, and that if his fury should rage they would be consumed, and hence, he calls upon them (Isa. 27:5) to seize upon his strength, and to be at peace with him. If it refers to his enemies, then it expresses a wish that his enemies were in his possession; or a purpose to go against them, as fire among thorns, and to consume them if they should presume to array themselves against his vineyard. This latter I believe to be the true sense of the passage.

The phrase ‘who would set me,’ or in Hebrew, ‘who will give me,’ may be indicating strong desire; and may be thus paraphrased: ‘I retain no anger against my people. I have indeed punished them; but my anger has ceased. I shall now defend them. If they are attacked by foes, I will guard them. When their foes approach, “I desire, I earnestly wish,” that they may be in my possession, that I may destroy them - as the fire rages through briers and thorns.’ It expresses a firm determination to defend his people and to destroy their enemies, unless (Isa. 27:5), which he would prefer, they (His enemies and the enemies of His people) should repent, and be at peace with him.

Briers and thorns against Me in battle - His enemies, and the enemies of his people (compare the notes at Isa. 9:17; 10:17). It is likely that the phrase is used here to denote enemies, because briers and thorns are so great enemies to a vineyard by impeding growth and fertility and, additionally, they burn easily and fiercely when set ablaze.

I would go through them - Or, rather, I would go against them in battle to destroy them.

I would burn them together - As fire devours the thorns and briers; that is, I would completely destroy them.

By way of application, we might apply this concept to all men.  Though God does contend and has contended with his people, yet, upon their submission, he will be reconciled to them, v. 4, 5. Fury is not in him towards his vineyard; though he meets with many things in it that are offensive to him, yet he does not seek advantages against it, nor is extreme to mark what is amiss in it. It is true if he find in it briers and thorns instead of vines, and they be set in battle against him (as indeed that in the vineyard which is not for him is against him), he will tread them down and burn them; but otherwise, "If I am angry with my people, they know what course to take; let them humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and so take hold of my strength with a sincere desire to make their peace with me, and I will soon be reconciled to them, and all shall be well.’’ God sees the sins of his people and is displeased with them; but, upon their repentance, he turns away his wrath. This may very well be construed as a summary of the doctrine of the gospel, with which the church is to be watered every moment.

Here is a quarrel supposed between God and man; for here is a battle fought, and peace to be made. It is an old quarrel, ever since sin first entered. It is, on God’s part, a righteous quarrel, but, on man’s part, most unrighteous.