ISAIAH CHAPTER 63 Christ's victory over his enemies, ISAIAH 63:1, and mercy towards his church; in judgment remembering mercy, ISAIAH 63:7. The church's prayer and complaint in faith, ISAIAH 63:15. In these two verses either the prophet, as in some vision or ecstasy, is put probably upon inquiry by... [ Continue Reading ]
Having inquired of the person, now he inquires the reason of his habit being thus sprinkled.... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE TRODDEN THE WINEPRESS, i.e. I have destroyed the enemies of my people, I have crushed them as grapes are crushed; this being a usual metaphor to describe the utter destruction of a people, PSALMS 44:5 ISAIAH 25:10 REVELATION 14:19,20; and the easiness of doing it, no more than to crush a bunc... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAY OF VENGEANCE, designed and purposed by me to take vengeance on the enemies of my church; or particularly the posterity of Esau. DAY and YEAR is all one, save the latter may have some respect to the length of their captivity. IS IN MINE HEART; or, _was_ in my heart; a desire of execution, PSA... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WAS NONE TO HELP; not that he needed it, for help implies a defect of power, or wisdom, or wealth, or opportunity, &c.; but to see what men would do, in regard his people needed it; therefore the standing or not standing by his people is the same thing with standing or not standing by him, JUD... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE THEM DRUNK: the Hebrew often expresseth calamities by a cup of wine, or strong drink, by which the distressed persons are made drunk, PSALMS 75:8 ISAIAH 51:21,22; they go as it were to and fro, not knowing what to do with themselves; and in special drunk with their own blood, ISAIAH 49:26 REVEL... [ Continue Reading ]
Whether this ought to be the beginning of a new chapter, or no, is not material; but certainly here begins a new matter, which contains the prophet's prayer, either in his own name or the church s, to the end of ISA 64; wherein he begins with mentioning the great kindnesses that God had shown the Je... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE SAID, viz. within himself of old, when he made a covenant with our fathers, and brought them out of Egypt, SURELY THEY ARE MY PEOPLE, in covenant; though they are unworthy of me, yet I cannot but look upon them as my people. Their enemies would persuade themselves, O they are not God's people... [ Continue Reading ]
IN ALL THEIR AFFLICTION HE WAS AFFLICTED; because of all the afflictions they endured in Egypt: this notes the sympathy that is in Christ, he having the same Spirit in him that the church hath, and her Head and Father. Or, _In all their afflictions_ no _affliction_; so the words may be read; their a... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY REBELLED: many of their rebellions we read of in Exodus and Numbers in their travels. The Lord tells Moses that they had tempted him ten times, and therefore severely threatens them, NUMBERS 14:22,23. There were three principal times of their rebellion: 1. In the wilderness, where they murmure... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN, or yet, HE REMEMBERED: this relates either, 1. To the people, and then he is collectively taken; and so it looks like the language of the people in Babylon, and must be read, he _shall remember_. Or, 2. It may look back to their condition in the wilderness; and thus they may properly say, Wh... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RIGHT LAND, viz. the strength and power that God gave to Moses, expressed by the _right hand_, that being usually esteemed the stronger, PSALMS 16:8, PSALMS 20:6. Or, the rod in his right hand; by which understand also all the wonders that he did for them in Egypt. WITH HIS GLORIOUS ARM; or that... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT LED THEM THROUGH THE DEEP; showing that God did not dry up shallow places, but the very depth of the sea, the very channel, which is the deepest part. Or, between those heaps of waters that stood up as a wall on each side of them, which might make it seem terrible, and therefore it is ascribed... [ Continue Reading ]
AS A BEAST GOETH DOWN INTO THE VALLEY; a laden beast goeth warily and gently down the hill: or, as a beast goeth down to the valley for grass, that being a mountainous country: or GOING DOWN FOR GOING ALONG; so the word is used ISAIAH 38:8; noting the evenness of their passage; or alluding to their... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOK DOWN FROM HEAVEN: now they, or the prophet, begin to pray, and expostulate with God, and to argue both from the goodness of his nature, and from the greatness of his works that he had done. God sees every where and every thing, but he is said to LOOK down from heaven, because there is his thron... [ Continue Reading ]
DOUBTLESS THOU ART OUR FATHER: thus they urge God with that relation he stands in unto them, ZECHARIAH 2:10; therefore we as thy children expect the bowels and compassions of a father. THOUGH ABRAHAM, he who was our father after the flesh, though he be dead, and so ignorant of our condition. AND ISR... [ Continue Reading ]
MADE US TO ERR FROM THY WAYS, commandments. It is the language of the godly among them being troubled, and therefore complaining that so gracious a Father should leave them to such exigences. MADE US TO SIN by withdrawing thy Spirit and leaving us to ourselves, PSALMS 81:12. It is not to be understo... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PEOPLE OF THY HOLINESS; or, thy holy people, as being set apart for his servants; _holiness_ being to be understood for a covenant separation from other people. BUT A LITTLE WHILE. i.e. 1. Comparatively to the promise, which was for ever, though they had possessed it about one thousand four hun... [ Continue Reading ]
WE ARE THINE; we continue so; we are in covenant which they never were; and thus it is an argument they use with God to look upon them. Or, the word _thine_, being not in the text, some do otherwise interpret it; We are even in the same condition we were in at first, either in Egypt, or Ur of the Ch... [ Continue Reading ]