Isaiah 51 - Introduction

An exhortation, after the pattern of Abraham, to trust in Christ, by reason of his comfortable promises, of his righteous salvation, and man's mortality. Christ, by his sanctified arm, defendeth his people from the fear of man: he bewaileth the afflictions of Jerusalem, and promiseth deliverance.

Before Christ 712.

THE second section of this discourse, containing the Messiah's consolation of his church, is divided into two parts. The first part contains a general consolation; the foundation whereof is laid in the origin of their nation, in Abraham and Sarah; Isaiah 51:1. The latter part contains a particular consolation; drawn, first, from the calling of the Gentiles, to be enlightened with the doctrine of the Messiah, Isaiah 51:4.; secondly, from the abolition of the old oeconomy, and the firm duration of the new, Isaiah 51:6.; thirdly, from the weakness and destruction of the enemies opposing the church, first, Jews, Isaiah 51:7.; secondly, Gentiles, and particularly the Romans; which should end in the foundation of the new oeconomy, Isaiah 51:12. An apostrophe of a chorus of believers is inserted in the midst, Isaiah 51:9 wherein they pray that the Messiah would exert the same power in procuring for his church the inheritance of the world, which he had formerly exerted in delivering it from Egypt, and procuring for it the inheritance of Canaan.