INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 62 This chapter is a continuation of the prophecy of the glory of the church in the latter day. The prophet expresses his earnest desire for it, and his full assurance of it, Isaiah 62:1 which should lie in a new name, by which she should be called, and in her being a gloriou... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR ZION'S SAKE WILL I NOT HOLD MY PEACE, AND FOR JERUSALEM'S SAKE I WILL NOT REST,.... By Zion and Jerusalem, the church in Gospel times is meant, as it often is in this book, and elsewhere; see Hebrews 12:22, for whose glory, prosperity, and safety, a concern is here expressed. Some take them to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE GENTILES SHALL SEE THY RIGHTEOUSNESS,.... The innocence of her case, and the justness of her cause, and the vengeance took on her enemies, all being so clear as before declared; as well as her justifying righteousness, which being published in the Gospel to the Gentiles, they shall see it, e... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT ALSO BE A CROWN OF GLORY IN THE HAND OF THE LORD,.... The church and her members are glorious in themselves, through the righteousness of Christ put upon them; through the grace of Christ wrought in them; and through the honour they are raised unto, being made kings and priests unto God,... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALL NO MORE BE TERMED FORSAKEN,.... That is, of the Lord her God, as she had seemed to be to others, and thought to be so by herself, Isaiah 49:14, not having so much of his gracious presence as is desirable; sensible communion with him being withheld; the word and ordinances not owned and bl... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR AS A YOUNG MAN MARRIETH A VIRGIN, SO SHALL THY SONS MARRY THEE,.... As a young man, having married a virgin, possesses and enjoys her, and lives and dwells with her in great harmony and love, having a delight and complacency in her, there being a suitableness in her person and age; so those that... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE SET WATCHMEN UPON THY WALLS, O JERUSALEM,.... Not angels, as Jarchi; nor kings, as Kimchi; nor princes and civil magistrates, as others; nor the mourners in Zion, as Aben Ezra; but ministers of the Gospel; as the prophets of the Old Testament are called watch men, Isaiah 21:11, so ministers o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GIVE HIM NO REST,.... Not let him alone, as he desired that Moses would, but wrestle with him as Jacob did, and not let him go without the blessing; be importunate with him, as the widow with the unjust judge; and be incessant in prayer: UNTIL HE ESTABLISH; his church; which, though founded by... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD HATH SWORN BY HIS RIGHT HAND, AND BY THE ARM OF HIS STRENGTH,.... By Christ, say some, who is the arm of the Lord, the power of God, by whom he made the world, and upholds all things; but though he sometimes is said to swear unto him, and concerning him, yet is never said to swear by him; r... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY THAT HAVE GATHERED IT SHALL EAT IT, AND PRAISE THE LORD,.... That is, the corn; they who have manured the land, sowed seed in it, reaped it when ripe, gathered it in its season; these shall eat the fruit of their labours, and praise the Lord for it, acknowledge his bounty and goodness to th... [ Continue Reading ]
GO THROUGH, GO THROUGH THE GATES,.... Open them, and keep them open for persons to enter in; meaning not the gates of Jerusalem, which those in it should open for the reception of the Jews returning from Babylon, though there may be an allusion to it; but the gates of the church in the latter day, w... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THE LORD HATH PROCLAIMED UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD,.... This is not to be interpreted of the proclamation by Cyrus, giving liberty to the people of the Jews to return to their own land, for that did not reach to the end of the world; but of the proclamation of the Gospel, which, as when firs... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL CALL THEM THE HOLY PEOPLE,.... For whom the way is prepared, to whom the standard is lifted up, and the proclamation made, and who upon it are gathered in to Christ the Saviour, and to the church: these shall be called, by men that know them, have a spirit of discerning, and are capab... [ Continue Reading ]