Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: Ver. 1. _Yet now hear._] Hear a word of comfort after so terrible a thunder crack. Isa 43:28 But there it is bare "Jacob" and "Israel" who are threatened; here it is "Jacob my servant," and "Israel whom I have chosen"; it is "Jeshuru... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, [which] will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. Ver. 2. _Thus saith the Lord that made thee._] See on Isaiah 43:1; Isaiah 43:7; Isaiah 43:21, and observe how this chapter runneth paralle... [ Continue Reading ]
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: Ver. 3. _For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty._] Or, Upon the thirsty place; hearts that hunger and thirst after righteousness. Mat 5:... [ Continue Reading ]
And they shall spring up [as] among the grass, as willows by the water courses. Ver. 4. _As willows by the water courses._] Not only as the grass, but by a further growth, as the willows, which are often looped, _sed ab ipso vulnere vires sumunt,_ but soon thrust forth new branches; and though cut... [ Continue Reading ]
One shall say, I [am] the LORD'S; and another shall call [himself] by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe [with] his hand unto the LORD, and surname [himself] by the name of Israel. Ver. 5. One shall say, I am the Lord's.] When God seemeth to cry out, Who is on my side? who? then the tru... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I [am] the first, and I [am] the last; and beside me [there is] no God. Ver. 6. _Thus saith the Lord._] Here and in the subsequent verses we have an evident and excellent testimony of the unity of the true God, and vanity o... [ Continue Reading ]
And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. Ver. 7. _And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it?_] These are alleged by God as arguments or demonstrat... [ Continue Reading ]
Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared [it]? ye [are] even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, [there is] no God; I know not [any]. Ver. 8. _Have I not told thee from that time?_] Ever since I made thee mine ancient people, well affected to o... [ Continue Reading ]
They that make a graven image [are] all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they [are] their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. Ver. 9. _And their delectable things._] Their idols and puppets, which they so dearly affect and take so great... [ Continue Reading ]
Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image [that] is profitable for nothing? Ver. 10. _Who hath formed a god that is profitable for nothing?_] _q.d,_ Who but a madman? ειδωλομανης, such as was Julian the apostate, called therefore Idolian by some. “ _Quis furor est, quae tanta animas dementia... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they [are] of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; [yet] they shall fear, [and] they shall be ashamed together._ Ver. 11. _Behold all his fellows._] His fellow fools. _ Shall be ashamed._] They may be, well enough, o... [ Continue Reading ]
The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint. Ver. 12. _The smith with the tongs, &c._] He lively setteth forth the weakness of the wo... [ Continue Reading ]
_The carpenter stretcheth out [his] rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house._ Ver. 13. _The carpenter stretcheth out his rule._]... [ Continue Reading ]
He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish [it]. Ver. 14. _He heweth him down cedars._] Choice wood, yet but wood. _Qualis igitur inde Deus consurgat?_ And the rain d... [ Continue Reading ]
Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth [it], and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth [it]; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. Ver. 15. _Then shall it be for a man to burn._] The chips at least shall, and t... [ Continue Reading ]
_He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth [himself], and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:_ Ver. 16. _He burneth part thereof in the fire._] Which is to far better purpose than the other part made into an... [ Continue Reading ]
And the residue thereof he maketh a god, [even] his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth [it], and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou [art] my god. Ver. 17. _He falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it._] Do not Papists even the same, whatever they pretend in defence... [ Continue Reading ]
They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; [and] their hearts, that they cannot understand. Ver. 18. _They have not known nor understood._] How should they, say, when infatuated and given up to an injudicious mind, or reprobate sense, as those? Rom 1:28... [ Continue Reading ]
And none considereth in his heart, neither [is there] knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten [it]: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the sto... [ Continue Reading ]
_He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, [Is there] not a lie in my right hand?_ Ver. 20. _He feedeth on ashes,_] _i.e,_ He seeketh comfort of his idol, but findeth as little as he doth nourishment who feedeth upon ashes. _ A seduced h... [ Continue Reading ]
Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou [art] my servant: I have formed thee; thou [art] my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. Ver. 21. _Remember these, O Jacob and Israel,_] _i.e., _ Remember these abominable idolaters, and enjoy their madness: learn wisdom by their folly.... [ Continue Reading ]
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. Ver. 22. _I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins._] God blotteth out, or wipeth away, the thick cloud as well as the cloud, eno... [ Continue Reading ]
Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done [it]: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel. Ver. 23. _Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it._] It is usual bo... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I [am] the LORD that maketh all [things]; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; Ver. 24. _Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer._] All this God had said oft before, see Isaiah 42:5; b... [ Continue Reading ]
That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise [men] backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; Ver. 25. _That frustrateth the tokens of the liars._] Their false prognostics of the long lastingness of the Babylonian empire, and therefore no likelihood of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:_ Ver. 26. _That confirmeth the word of his servant,_] _i.e., _ Of... [ Continue Reading ]
That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers: Ver. 27. _That saith to the deep, Be dry,_] _i.e., _ That will put it into the heart of Cyrus to dry up Euphrates, and so to take Babylon; which, according to some, is here called the deep or abyss, because situated in a plain well water... [ Continue Reading ]
That saith of Cyrus, [He is] my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. Ver. 28. _That saith of Cyrus._] One hundred and seventy years, at least, before he was born. _ Thou art my shepherd,_] _i.e.... [ Continue Reading ]