INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 60. As, in the two preceding Chapter s, the hypocrisy and formality, the profaneness and immorality, that should abound in the latter day, and even among professors of religion, are prophesied of; so, in this, a very ample account is given of latter daylight and glory; of bot... [ Continue Reading ]
ARISE, SHINE,.... The Targum adds, "O Jerusalem"; and so the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions; and no doubt but the church of God is here addressed: and by what follows it seems to be the Jewish church, as distinct from the Gentiles, since they are said to come to it, the Jews, now con... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR, BEHOLD, THE DARKNESS SHALL COVER THE EARTH, AND GROSS DARKNESS THE PEOPLE,.... Like that which covered the land of Egypt, when there was light in Goshen: and this may be meant either of the darkness of ignorance, idolatry, superstition, false doctrine, and false worship, that should cover the f... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE GENTILES SHALL COME TO THY LIGHT,.... To the Gospel, preached in the midst of her; and to Christ, who is her light and into her church state, and partake of the prosperity and happiness of it. The Targum is, "and nations shall walk in thy light;'' and so in Revelation 21:24, where it is in... [ Continue Reading ]
LIFT UP THINE EYES ROUND ABOUT, AND SEE,.... The Gentiles and kings coming to Christ and his church; the vast number of converts flocking from all parts of the world to join themselves to the church of Christ, and to behold the wonderful work of God among the Jews now converted. The Targum is, "lif... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THOU SHALT SEE, AND FLOW TOGETHER,.... That is, when thou seest thy sons and daughters flocking to thee from all parts, there will be a flow of joy in thee, like the stream of a river; or thine heart will beat and flutter within thee, through surprise and joy, when thou seest such a numerous co... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MULTITUDES OF CAMELS SHALL COVER THEE, THE DROMEDARIES OF MIDIAN AND EPHAH,.... That is, multitudes of people riding on these creatures from the parts mentioned, which, abounded with them, should come and cover or fill Jerusalem, and the places about it. Midian was a son of Abraham by Keturah, a... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE FLOCKS OF KEDAR SHALL BE GATHERED UNTO THEE, THE RAMS OF NEBAIOTH SHALL MINISTER UNTO THEE,.... Nebaioth and Kedar were the sons of Ishmael, Genesis 25:13, Ishmael's twelve sons, of which Nebaioth was the eldest, inhabited all the country from Euphrates to the Red sea, calling it the Nabaten... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO ARE THESE THAT FLY AS A CLOUD,.... Referring to the vast number of converts before mentioned, who are compared to a "cloud" for the number of them, covering Judea as the clouds do the heavens; and for their elevation and situation, being raised from an earthly to a heavenly state; called with a... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY THE ISLES SHALL WAIT FOR ME;.... The Targum is, "for my Word.'' The Messiah, and his coming. The isles of Great Britain may more especially be intended, who, as they waited for his Gospel, and readily received it, and embraced it, as soon as it was brought to them, which was very early; so... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SONS OF STRANGERS SHALL BUILD UP THY WALLS,.... The sons of the people; or Gentiles, as the Targum; who were strangers from the covenants of promise, and aliens from the commonwealth of Israel; strangers to God and Christ, and the Spirit of Christ, and to the Gospel, and all that is good; ye... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE THY GATES SHALL BE OPEN CONTINUALLY,.... This is expressive both of the peaceable state of the church, that she shall be in no danger, nor fear of enemies; there being none to hurt and destroy in all the holy mountain; and therefore under no concern to keep her gates shut; see Ezekiel 38:1... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE NATION AND KINGDOM THAT WILL NOT SERVE THEE SHALL PERISH,.... That will not serve the Lord Christ, and worship him with his church and people; that will not be obedient to the laws and ordinances of his house; but appoint another head over them, the pope of Rome; and make other laws, and set... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GLORY OF LEBANON SHALL COME UNTO THEE,.... Which are the trees that grew upon it, especially the cedars, for which it was famous, as well as the other trees after mentioned. Now, as these were brought into Solomon's temple, and used in the building of that, 1 Kings 6:9, so such shall come of the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SONS ALSO OF THEM THAT AFFLICTED THEE SHALL COME BENDING UNTO THEE,.... The posterity of the Jews, who persecuted the first Christian churches, even those who say they are Jews and are not; these shall be convinced of the truth of the Christian religion, and be converted to it, and shall come an... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREAS THOU HAST BEEN FORSAKEN,.... Seemingly forsaken of God; thought to be so by herself, which was matter of complaint; and by her enemies, which to them was matter of joy; the Lord not appearing for her immediate relief, and for her deliverance out of the hands of her persecutors: AND HATED: o... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT ALSO SUCK THE MILK OF THE GENTILES,.... Partake of their riches and wealth; so the Targum, "and ye shall be satisfied with the substance of the people:'' or drink of the sincere milk of the word of the Gospel, which Gentiles have been favoured with for many ages; for this seems to have... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BRASS I WILL BRING GOLD, AND FOR IRON I WILL BRING SILVER, AND FOR WOOD BRASS, AND FOR STONES IRON,.... By "wood and stones" may be meant the Old Testament dispensation; by the "brass and iron" the present Gospel dispensation; and by "silver and gold" the latter day glory; by "silver" the spirit... [ Continue Reading ]
VIOLENCE SHALL NO MORE BE HEARD IN THY LAND,.... It shall be no more committed; no instances of it will be heard of, or any complaints concerning it; neither public nor private oppression: antichristian persecution will now be at an end; those that destroyed the earth with violence and oppression sh... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SUN SHALL BE NO MORE THY LIGHT BY DAY,.... Here begins the account of the sinless, pure, and perfect state of the church in the personal reign of Christ, even the New Jerusalem church state, as appears from the use of these very words, in the description of that state, Revelation 21:23 where it... [ Continue Reading ]
THY SUN SHALL NO MORE GO DOWN,.... This is a different sun from the former; this is the church's sun, and no other than the sun of righteousness, Christ Jesus; who has his risings and settings now, at least, in the apprehensions of his people; he sometimes withdraws himself, and is gone; and then re... [ Continue Reading ]
THY PEOPLE ALSO SHALL BE ALL RIGHTEOUS,.... That is, the church's people, or the members of the church; otherwise the Lord's people, who are truly so, always were, and ever will be, all righteous; but so have not always been the members of the churches; when Israel was the church of God, they were n... [ Continue Reading ]
A LITTLE ONE SHALL BECOME A THOUSAND,.... A small family, a little handful of people in all ages, scattered up and down in the world, of no esteem and account in it, being all gathered together, that ever were in the world, will appear to be thousands and millions, and such a number as no man can nu... [ Continue Reading ]