This chapter properly consists of two parts. The first comprises the first three verses, and contains a statement of the reasons why the Jews had been rejected and punished. They are to be regarded as in exile in Babylon. It might be alleged by some of the unbelieving among them, that the calamitie... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD - To the Jews in Babylon, who were suffering under his hand, and who might be disposed to complain that God had dealt with them with as much caprice and cruelty as a man did with his wife, when he gave her a writing of divorce, and put her away without any just cause. WHERE IS TH... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE, WHEN I CAME, WAS THERE NO MAN? - That is, when I came to call you to repentance, why was there no man of the nation to yield obedience? The sense is, that they had not been punished without warning. He had called them to repentance, but no one heard his voice. The Chaldee renders this, ‘W... [ Continue Reading ]
I CLOTHE THE HEAVENS WITH BLACKNESS - With the dark clouds of a tempest - perhaps with an allusion to the remarkable clouds and tempests that encircled the brow of Sinai when he gave the law. Or possibly alluding to the thick darkness which he brought over the land of Egypt (Exodus 10:21; Grotius).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD GOD HATH GIVEN ME - This verse commences a new subject, and the deliverer is directly introduced as himself speaking. The reasons why this is supposed to refer to the Messiah, have been given in the analysis to the chapter. Those reasons will be strengthened by the examination of the partic... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD GOD HATH OPENED MINE EAR - This is another expression denoting that he was attentive to the import of the divine commission (see Psalms 40:6). AND I WAS NOT REBELLIOUS - I willingly undertook the task of communicating the divine will to mankind. The statement here is in accordance with all... [ Continue Reading ]
I GAVE MY BACK TO THE SMITERS - I submitted willingly to be scourged, or whipped. This is one of the parts of this chapter which can be applied to no other one but the Messiah. There is not the slightest evidence, whatever may be supposed to have been the probability, that Isaiah was subjected to an... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD GOD WILL HELP ME - That is, he will sustain me amidst all these expressions of contempt and scorn. SHALL I NOT BE CONFOUNDED - Hebrew, ‘I shall not be ashamed;’ that is, I will bear all this with the assurance of his favor and protection, and I will not blush to be thus treated in a ca... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IS NEAR THAT JUSTIFIETH ME - That is, God, who will vindicate my character, and who approves what I do, does not leave nor forsake me, and I can with confidence commit myself and my cause to him (see the note at Isaiah 49:4). The word justify here is not used in the sense in which it is often in... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD GOD WILL HELP ME - (See Isaiah 50:7). In the Hebrew this is, ‘The Lord Jehovah,’ as it is in Isaiah 50:7 also, and these are among the places where our translators have improperly rendered the word יהוה _y__e__hovâh_ (Jehovah) by the word ‘God.’ WHO IS HE THAT SHALL CONDEMN ME? - If Yahwe... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IS AMONG YOU THAT FEARETH THE LORD? - This whole prophecy is concluded with an address made in this verse to the friends of God, and in the next to his enemies. It is the language of the Messiah, calling on the one class to put their trust in Yahweh, and threatening the other with displeasure an... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, ALL YE THAT KINDLE A FIRE - This verse refers to the wicked. In the previous verse, the Messiah had called upon all the pious to put their trust in God, and it is there implied that they would do so. But it would not be so with the wicked. In times of darkness and calamity, instead of trusti... [ Continue Reading ]