1._The righteous man hath perished. _Isaiah continues his subject; for, after having shown how fearlessly hypocrites indulge in their luxuries, and with what impudence they despise the word of God, he likewise complains that they do not consider the works of God. We have been placed here, as in a sp... [ Continue Reading ]
2._Peace shall come. _The Prophet describes what shall be the condition of believers in death; for the wicked, who think that there is no life but the present, imagine that good men have perished; because in death they see nothing but ruin. For this reason he says that “Peace shall come,” which is m... [ Continue Reading ]
3.And draw near, ye sons of the sorceress. After having spoken of the happy and peaceful death of good men, he breaks out with very great vehemence against the wicked, who did not cease to lead a base and shameful life, and were not moved by the death of believers. As he had said that good men enjoy... [ Continue Reading ]
4._On whom have ye made sport? _The Prophet shows that there is no reason why the Jews should boast so proudly on the pretense of their birth, seeing that they mocked at God and the prophets. They thought that they had to deal with men, when they rejected the word; as we see that wicked men in the p... [ Continue Reading ]
5._Inflaming yourselves. _Others render it, “Taking delight” or “consolation;” but the Prophet makes use of a metaphor which is often found in Scripture, and which is exceedingly adapted to the present subject; for the Lord compares the ardor by which idolaters are hurried along to the love of a har... [ Continue Reading ]
6._Amidst polished stones, _or, _in parts of the valley. _He continues the same subject, and reproves in various ways the superstitions which abounded in Judea; for no place was altogether free from idolatry. There were no rocks, no rivers, no valleys, no corner whatever, in which they had not erect... [ Continue Reading ]
7._Upon a lofty and high mountain. _He again repeats that metaphor at which we have formerly glanced. Superstitious persons commit fornication with their idols, because, by forsaking the simplicity of the word, they violate the bond of that holy marriage into which God has entered with them, and pro... [ Continue Reading ]
8._Behind the door. _He dwells largely on the crime of which we have already spoken, that the people may no longer flatter themselves in their inventions. It is probable that Isaiah alludes to the words of Moses, by which God commanded them to have the Law continually placed before them, to attach i... [ Continue Reading ]
9._And thou wentest to the king with ointment. _Here the Prophet censures another vice closely allied to the former; for ungodliness begets various errors, and leads into grievous and intricate distresses those minds which are frivolous and destitute of the fear of God; for it is proper that they wh... [ Continue Reading ]
10._Thou art wearied. _He means that men undertake superfluous and useless labors, when they do not follow God. They vex themselves in vain, as has been already said; for nothing that is attempted in opposition to God can ever be successful. Besides, he wittily ridicules the wicked practices of thos... [ Continue Reading ]
11._And whom hast thou worshipped and feared? _Here he breaks out more vehemently against the Jews, because they were destitute of the fear of God, though they boasted of their holiness and sheltered themselves under an empty title of religion. Not only do hypocrites flatter themselves in their supe... [ Continue Reading ]
12._I will declare thy righteousness. _The Prophet affirms that the Lord will no longer endure what he formerly endured, and that henceforth he must follow a different method. He calls it ironically “their righteousness;“ for he means by it all the wickedness and all the errors by which they were st... [ Continue Reading ]
13._When thou shalt cry, let thy troops deliver thee. _He states more fully what he had slightly touched in the former verse, that, when they shall come to close quarters, they shall be ashamed; for the potential mood, “Let them deliver,” amounts to saying, “They will not do it.” He alludes to what... [ Continue Reading ]
14._And he shall say, Prepare, prepare. _Because this promise, that they who hoped in the Lord should possess the land, might be thought ridiculous, (for soon afterwards they were to be driven out of it,) for the sake of believers that still remained, there is added this second promise, by which he... [ Continue Reading ]
15._For thus hath spoken the High and Lofty One. _He confirms the former statement about the restoration of the people from captivity. But this verse may be explained in two ways; either that the Prophet meets the doubt which might spring up in the hearts of good men, and thus compares things which... [ Continue Reading ]
16._Because not for ever will I strive. _He continues the same doctrine; for it was difficult to persuade them of this, seeing that during that painful captivity they perceived that God was their enemy, and could scarcely obtain any taste of the grace of God, by which their hearts might be encourage... [ Continue Reading ]
17._For the iniquity of his lust. _Here he complains of the obstinate wickedness of the people, and shows that the Lord had very good reason for punishing him in this manner; so that there can be no complaint of his immoderate cruelty. בצעו (_betzagno_) is translated by some “lust,” and by others “c... [ Continue Reading ]
18._I have seen his ways. _(115) Here the Lord, on the contrary, magnifies his mercy, because he is gracious to that people, though obstinate and rebellious, and anticipates them by his grace and mercy. As if he had said, “I labored to bring back this people to repentance by my chastisements, becaus... [ Continue Reading ]
19._I create the fruit of the lips. _This is an explanation of the former statement, or of the manner in which the Lord will give consolation to this people. It is, because he will promise and offer _peace _to them; for by “the fruit of the lips” he means that he will cause them to hear the glad tid... [ Continue Reading ]
20._But the wicked. _Having formerly spoken of the “peace” which good men shall enjoy, he threatens that the wicked, on the contrary, shall have continual war and incessant uneasiness and distress of heart; in order that good men may value more highly the excellent blessing of “peace,” and next, tha... [ Continue Reading ]
21._There is no peace to the wicked. _He confirms the preceding statement, namely, that in vain shall the reprobate endeavor to seek peace, for everywhere they will meet with war. It is God who threatens war, and therefore there can be no hope of “peace.” Wicked men would indeed wish to enjoy peace,... [ Continue Reading ]