1_Hearken to me, ye that follow righteousness. _The Prophet now exhorts the Jews not to despair because they are few in number; for they had been cut down and diminished to such a degree that they appeared to be on the eve of being reduced to nothing, while there was little or no hope of any to succ... [ Continue Reading ]
2._For I called him alone. _This application plainly shews what was the design of this exhortation of the Prophet. It was to encourage the hearts of believers to cherish the hope of a better condition. He says that he “called him _one _or _alone,” _not only because he had none along with him, when h... [ Continue Reading ]
3._Surely Jehovah will comfort Zion. _The Prophet shews that in the person of Abraham there was exhibited an example which applies to all ages; for, as the Lord suddenly produced from one man so numerous an offspring, so he will also people his Church by wonderful and unknown methods, and not once o... [ Continue Reading ]
4._Attend to me, my people. _There are good reasons why the Lord so frequently demands that he shall be heard. We know by experience how slow we are to hear him, especially in adversity; and even when we would have great need of consolation, we reject it by our impatience, and faint. Each of us, the... [ Continue Reading ]
5._My righteousness is near. _He confirms the former doctrine. The “righteousness” of the Lord has relation to men, who know by experience that he is “righteous.” While the people were oppressed by cruel bondage, they knew, indeed, that they were justly punished for their sins; but they might wonder... [ Continue Reading ]
6._Lift up your eyes toward heaven. _When we see so great changes in the world, we are apt to think that the Church comes within the influence of the sanhe violent motion; and therefore we need to have our minds elevated above the ordinary course of nature; otherwise, the salvation of the Church wil... [ Continue Reading ]
7._Hearken to me. _Because wicked men, when they enjoy prosperity, laugh at our faith, and ridicule our distresses and afflictions, on this account the Prophet exhorts believers to patience, that they may not dread their reproaches or be dismayed by their slanders. The reason assigned is, that their... [ Continue Reading ]
8._But my righteousness shall continually endure. _Because the believing servants of God must endure many reproaches and slanders from the enemies of the word, the Prophet exhorts and encourages them to bear it courageously. It frequently happens that we are more deeply moved by the contumely and in... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Awake, awake. _Here the Prophet instructs us, that, when God cheers us by his promises, we ought also to pray earnestly that he would perform what he has promised. He does not comfort us in order to render us slothful, but that we may be inflamed with a stronger desire to pray, and may continuall... [ Continue Reading ]
10._Which dried up the sea. _Though Isaiah does not relate all the miracles which God performed when he brought out his people from the bondage of Egypt, yet he intended to include in a few words all that are related by Moses, that the Jews, having been briefly addressed, might consider the various... [ Continue Reading ]
11_Therefore the redeemed by Jehovah shall return. _He now describes more plainly what he had briefly remarked; for, after having related the magnificent works of God, by which he formerly displayed his power in Egypt, in order to deliver his people, he concludes that neither the sea, nor the lofty... [ Continue Reading ]
12._I, I am. _Here the Lord not only promises grace and salvation to the Jews, but remonstrates with them for refusing to believe him, and for valuing his power less than they ought. It is exceedingly base to tremble at the threatenings of men to such a degree as to care nothing about God’s assistan... [ Continue Reading ]
13._And hast forgotten Jehovah thy Maker. _It is not enough to imagine that there is some God, but we ought to acknowledge and embrace him as ours. When he calls him “Maker,” this must not be understood to refer to universal creation, but to spiritual regeneration, as we have already explained under... [ Continue Reading ]
14._The exile hasteneth to be loosed. _This verse is expounded in various ways; for some think that it refers to Cyrus, and take the word, צעה _(tzoeh) _(28) in a transitive sense, and explain it to mean, “Causing to migrate.” (29) But it is more customary to interpret it as meaning one who is impri... [ Continue Reading ]
15._And I am Jehovah thy God. _Again the Lord declares his power; for so great is the unbelief and sluggishness of men, that, although it is frequently declared, yet the very smallest temptation shews that they are not fully convinced of it. They quickly fall back upon themselves, when they are hard... [ Continue Reading ]
16._And I have put my words in thy mouth. _He again retums to the doctrine which he had formerly stated, namely, that the Lord comforts his Church: “I, I am he that comforteth you,” (ver. 12.) So he now says that he put into the mouth of the prophets what they should say. Hence we may infer that the... [ Continue Reading ]
17._Awake, awake. _The Church was about to endure grievous calamities, and therefore he fortifies her by consolation, and meets a doubt which might arise, that the Jews, being now oppressed by tyrants, saw no fulfillment of these promises. The meaning therefore is, that the Church, though afflicted... [ Continue Reading ]
18._There is no one to guide her. _He describes the sorest calamity of the Church; for the heaviest and sorest of all undoubtedly is, that she receives no sympathy or consolation from her own children. This accumulated misery is described by him, in order that, though her condition be desperate, she... [ Continue Reading ]
19._These two things have happened to thee. _Nearly the same thing was already asserted concerning Babylon, “These two things shall befall thee suddenly in one day, childlessness and widowhood.” (Isaiah 47:9.) But here Isaiah promises to the Church that there shall eventually be a different issue;... [ Continue Reading ]
20._Thy sons have fainted. _He describes more fully the lamentable and wretched condition of the Church, when he says that her children he prostrate. A mother cannot be visited with any grief more bitter than to have her children slain before her eyes, and not one or two of them, but so great a numb... [ Continue Reading ]
21._Therefore now hear this. _He now shews more plainly the reason why he spoke of the calamities of the Church. It was, that believers might be fully persuaded that they would obtain consolation from God, though they were reduced to the extremity of distress. But why does he call the Church _wretch... [ Continue Reading ]
22._Thus saith Jehovah. _Not at random does the Prophet add to the name Jehovah three epithets, namely, that he is the _Lord _or Defender of his Church, that he is _God, _and lastly, that he is her _Avenger. _We ought always to consider what is the nature of our relation to God; for he addresses us... [ Continue Reading ]
23._And I will put it into the hand of thy oppressors. _This is another part of the consolation, in which he promises that the Lord will not only deliver the Church from those heavy distresses, but will also lay upon her enemies the calamities with which she is afflicted. If therefore we are afflict... [ Continue Reading ]