Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. Ver. 1. _Arise._] Thou, O my Church, that now liest _in pulvere vastitatis,_ as a forlorn captive, rouse up thyself, change both thy countenance and condition; _Tanquam libera ac laeta ad novum nuncium; _ up, and loo... [ Continue Reading ]
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. Ver. 2. _For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth._] As once it did Egypt, Exo 10:21 when there was light in the land of Goshen. So is th... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Ver. 3. _And the Gentiles shall come to thy light._] The apostles, those shining luminaries, were Christ's Dαδουχοι, holding forth the light of life to all people, as Simeon said. Luk 2:34-35 And we may well say, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at [thy] side. Ver. 4. _Lift up thine eyes._] As from a watchtower; for so Zion signifieth. _ All they gather themselves together, &c._]... [ Continue Reading ]
Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. Ver. 5. _Then thou shalt see and flow together._] Or, Thou shalt break forth as a river; or, Thou shal... [ Continue Reading ]
The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD. Ver. 6. _The multitude of camels shall cover thee,_] _i.e., _ Of such peoples as usually ride upon cam... [ Continue Reading ]
All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory. Ver. 7. _All the flocks of Kedar,_] _i.e., _ The Kedarenes and Nebateans with their flocks, whereo... [ Continue Reading ]
Who [are] these [that] fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? Ver. 8. _Who are these that fly as a cloud?_] Which flieth more swiftly than any bird, and covereth the sky far and near. _Deus bone, quam multi catervatim accurrunt!_ saith the Church here; wonderful! what trooping and tread... [ Continue Reading ]
Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. Ver. 9. _Surely the isles shall wait for me._] They shall come of... [ Continue Reading ]
And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee. Ver. 10. _And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls._] By preaching and writing for the truth, as did many famous Greek and... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that [men] may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and [that] their kings [may be] brought. Ver. 11. _Therefore shall thy gates be open continually._] Such shall be thy spiritual security, and so great the... [ Continue Reading ]
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 hone... [ Continue Reading ]
The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. Ver. 13. _The glory of Lebanon._] The best cedars there, in allusion to the building of the material temple by Solomon,... [ Continue Reading ]
The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. Ver. 14. _The sons also of them that afflicted thee._] When... [ Continue Reading ]
Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through [thee], I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. Ver. 15. _Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated._] The primitive Christians suffered _Odio humani generis,_ saith Tacitus, _a_ through the general ha... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD [am] thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. Ver. 16. _Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles._] _Satiaberis divitiis populorum,_ saith the Chaldee. Thou shal... [ Continue Reading ]
For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness. Ver. 17. _For brass I will brlng gold,_] _i.e., _ I will beautify my Church with far greater gifts of my Spirit than now. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. Ver. 18. _Violence shall no more be heard in thy land._] The full accomplishment of this is not to be expected here. _ But thou shalt call thy wal... [ Continue Reading ]
The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Ver. 19. _The sun shall be no more._] God shall be thy sun and shield, thy solace and safety. Psa 84:11 The light of hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. Ver. 20. _Thy sun shall no more go down._] Thy joy shall no man take from thee; thou shalt have a habitual cheerfulness.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy people also [shall be] all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. Ver. 21. _Thy people also shall be all righteous._] Professional saints at least they shall all be, - saints by calling; some of them also shall... [ Continue Reading ]
A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time. Ver. 22. _A little one shall become a thousand._] Three thousand were added to the Church in one day, Act 2:41 five thousand in another. Act 4:4 _Homo ille tricubitalis,_ as Chrysostom call... [ Continue Reading ]