_THE JOYFUL FLOURISHING OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM. THE WEAK ARE ENCOURAGED
BY THE VIRTUES AND PRIVILEGES OF THE GOSPEL._
_Before Christ 713._
THE prophet in this chapter, containing the 2nd section of his 3rd
discourse, sets forth the jubilee of the church, upon the downfall of
its enemies, together wit... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WILDERNESS, &C.— There can be no doubt of the connection of this
chapter with that preceding. Comp. Isaiah 35:4 with Isaiah 35:8 in
that chapter. The most joyful, prosperous, and glorious things are
here predicted, concerning the state of the church after the judgment
upon Edom, in such figurati... [ Continue Reading ]
STRENGTHEN YE THE WEAK HANDS— These words seem rightly to be
understood as an address of the prophet to the teachers of the church
of that time whereof he speaks, exhorting them, from the promise of
the certain deliverance and glorious restoration of the oppressed and
afflicted church, to comfort th... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE EYES OF THE BLIND SHALL BE OPENED— After a parenthesis in
the two preceding verses, the prophet continues his discourse, and
more particularly sets forth those privileges of the church which
should constitute its dignity and felicity. These privileges
undoubtedly are spiritual; and though t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IN THE WILDERNESS, &C.— The prophet here gives us another
specimen of the wonderful change in the nature of things with respect
to their spiritual state; not only the weak, those who were devoid of
comfort, and thirsting for grace among the people of God—who were
like a _desart,_ shall at this t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AN HIGHWAY, &C.— According to Vitringa the meaning of this verse
is, that the rule of faith and morals, according to which the Israel
of God must walk, shall be so clearly and fully shewn at this time
from the word of God, that men of the most simple and uncultivated
understandings, lovers of th... [ Continue Reading ]
NO LION SHALL BE THERE, &C.— The prophet in these verses continues
the figure, expressing, _first,_ that this way for the ransomed should
not only be plain, but free from all kinds of danger; the meaning
whereof is, that they who at that time professed and possessed the
true religion should be safe... [ Continue Reading ]