ISAIAH CHAPTER 62 A prayer of the watchmen for the church in confidence of God's gracious designs and promises to it. FOR ZION'S SAKE, viz. the church's sake; Zion and Jerusalem being both put for the church, HEBREWS 12:22. WILL I NOT HOLD MY PEACE: these seem to be the words of the prophet, strongl... [ Continue Reading ]
THY RIGHTEOUSNESS: see what is said in the foregoing verse: some read, thy _Just One_, viz. Jesus Christ. _Kings_, those that were wont to scorn thee, shall now be taken with the admiration of thy glory. THOU SHALT BE CALLED BY A NEW NAME, which the mouth of the Lord shall name; not the seed of Abra... [ Continue Reading ]
A CROWN OF GLORY; an expression to set forth the dignity of her state. IN THE HAND OF THE LORD, i.e. either as placed upon thee by God's hand, that he will dispose of or dispense to thee; a usual form of speech in Scripture, as HAGGAI 1:1, by the hand of Haggai: so ZECHARIAH 1:1. Or, _in the hand of... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT NO MORE BE TERMED FORSAKEN; as a woman forsaken by her husband, contemptible, and of low esteem. NEITHER SHALL THY LAND, i.e. the inhabitants of the land, a metonymy of the subject, ANY MORE BE TERMED DESOLATE; though it be now almost void of inhabitants, it shall be impeopled again. THOU... [ Continue Reading ]
AS A YOUNG MAN MARRIETH A VIRGIN: this is delivered as a demonstration of what was said in the close of the 4th verse; and it is said _young_ and _virgin_ to note their suitableness; not _old_ and _young_, but such as may delight each in other, signifying that mutual content that would be in all par... [ Continue Reading ]
WATCHMEN; understand by these, either, 1. _Angels_, as they are called, DANIEL 4:13,23. Or 2. _Magistrates_: see ISAIAH 56:10, or rather, 3. _Ministers_. When once the church shall be restored again, God will undertake for its safety and protection, partly by magistracy, and partly by ministry, whom... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE HIM NO REST; the same with the foregoing verse, and very acceptable to God, LUKE 11:8. TILL HE ESTABLISH, AND TILL HE MAKE JERUSALEM A PRAISE IN THE EARTH, by sending the Messiah and those labourers into his vineyard, whereby the church may be established and settled on sure foundations, and so... [ Continue Reading ]
This and the next verse are much to the same purpose, wherein the prophet, to encourage them to their industrious endeavours, tells them that the Lord had SWORN to see to the prosperity of Jerusalem; and he names the HAND, to signify his faithfulness, as the giving of our hand notes our fidelity; an... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT HAVE GATHERED IT, i.e. the wine mentioned in the former verse, that have brought it from their several vineyards, and laid it in their cellars, every one shall eat the fruit of his own labours; thou shalt not sow, and another reap, as formerly. AND PRAISE THE LORD; they themselves shall pr... [ Continue Reading ]
GO THROUGH, GO THROUGH THE GATES; it is doubled by way of emphasis: q.d. Make haste to your own land; as if Cyrus should say, Get you out of captivity as soon as you will, ISAIAH 48:20. Or it may intimate an invitation issued out from them at Jerusalem to those that were scattered about in the capti... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD HATH PROCLAIMED: this may be understood of Cyrus's proclamation, being thereunto directed by God: see 2 CHRONICLES 36:22, &c. TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, i.e. to Jerusalem, or the church: the sum of which proclamation is in the, following words. THY SALVATION COMETH; either, 1. The time of it... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL CALL THEM, The holy people; or, they shall be called, or they shall be, a peculiar, separate people, ISAIAH 4:3. SOUGHT OUT; or, one found that was lost: see EZEKIEL 34:16. Or, sought _out_, or _for_, or one in great esteem, one that the Gentiles should seek to join themselves withal, so... [ Continue Reading ]