Thus saith the LORD, Where [is] the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors [is it] to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away. Ver. 1. Where is the bill of your mother's... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore, when I came, [was there] no man? when I called, [was there] none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because [there is] no water, and dieth... [ Continue Reading ]
I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering. Ver. 3. _I clothe the heavens with blackness._] I did so in that three days' darkness in Egypt, Exo 10:21-22 and shall do so again at the time of my passion. I can therefore, doubtless, deliver you, not only from Babylon, but... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to [him that is] weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. Ver. 4. _The Lord God._] Heb., The sovereign self-being. _ Hath given me._] Me, Isaiah; but mu... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back._ Ver. 5. _The Lord God hath opened mine ear._] Removing all lets, and making the bore bigger, as it were, thereby speaking home to my heart, and making me morigerous and obedient, against all affronts and misusa... [ Continue Reading ]
I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. Ver. 6. _I gave my back to the smiters._] _Ecce pro impio pietas flagellatur, &c., _ saith Ambrose. _a_ "Behold the man" (as Pilate once said), "the just" man scourged "for the... [ Continue Reading ]
For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. Ver. 7. _For the Lord God will help me._] And again, Isaiah 50:9, "Behold, the Lord God will help me." This lively hope held head above water "Hope... [ Continue Reading ]
Isaiah 50:8 [He is] near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who [is] mine adversary? let him come near to me. Ver. 8. _He is near that justifieth me,_] _i.e., _ God the Father will shortly clear up mine innocence, and declare me to be the son of God (my only crime... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who [is] he [that] shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up. Ver. 9. _Behold, the Lord God will help me._] See Isaiah 50:7 . _ Who is he that shall condemn me._] _a_ If Libanius could say of his friend Basil (though of... [ Continue Reading ]
Who [is] among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh [in] darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. Ver. 10. _Who is among you that feareth the Lord?_] This question implieth that there were not many such amon... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass [yourselves] about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks [that] ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow. Ver. 11. _Behold, all ye that kindle a fire._] That instead of relying upon God, wo... [ Continue Reading ]