Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.
Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass (yourselves) about with sparks. In contrast to the godly (Isaiah 50:10), the wicked, in times of darkness, instead of trusting in God, trust in themselves (kindle a light for themselves to walk by) (Ecclesiastes 11:9). The image is continued from Isaiah 50:10, "darkness;" human devices for salvation (Proverbs 19:21; Proverbs 16:9; Proverbs 16:25) are like the spark that goes out in an instant in darkness (cf. Job 18:6; Job 21:17, with Psalms 18:28).
Sparks - not a steady light, but blazing sparks extinguished in a moment.
Walk in the light of your fire ... ye shall lie down in sorrow - not a command, but implying that as surely as they would do so, they should he down in sorrow (Jeremiah 3:25). In exact proportion to mystic Babylon's previous "glorying" of herself shall be her sorrow (Matthew 25:30; Matthew 8:12; Revelation 18:6-7).
Remarks: The Lord hath for a time "put away," not permanently 'divorced,' Israel, whom He has betrothed to Himself spiritually. He therefore still has the conjugal right of a Husband over her, and can take her back to Him on her submission. It was indeed meet sad that 'when He came' the nation was not willing to accept His proffered salvation. Yet notwithstanding their past unbelief, His 'hand is not shortened, that it cannot redeem' them from their bondage, and their dispersion. He can and will repeat upon their past enemy all the judgments that were inflicted on Egypt. He will "dry up" the fountain of the enemy's resources, and "clothe the heavens with blackness." Messiah has been given by the Father "the tongue of the learned" in heavenly science, qualifying Him to "speak a word in season to him that is weary." His own experimental knowledge in suffering, the smiting, the shame, and the spitting which He endured, all enable Him to sympathize with in suffering, the smiting, the shame, and the spitting which He endured, all enable Him to sympathize with His people in affliction, as no other can.