_The wilderness and solitary place_, &c. As the land of the church's enemies, which had enjoyed many external blessings and comforts, shall be turned into a desolate wilderness, as was declared in the foregoing chapter, so, on the contrary, Emmanuel's land, or the seat of God's church and people, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice_ Great shall be the prosperity and felicity of God's church in these gospel days. Spiritual blessings are often set forth under the emblems of fruitfulness and plenty, as the reader may see, Isaiah 4:2; Isaiah 30:23; Isaiah 32:15, and elsewhere. _The glory o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Strengthen ye the weak hands_ Ye prophets and ministers of God, comfort and encourage his people, who are now ready to faint, with hopes of that salvation which, in due time, he will work for them. The prophet mentions _hands_ and _knees_, because the strength or weakness of any man eminently appea... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened_ The poor Gentiles, who before were blind and deaf, shall now have the eyes and ears of their minds opened to see God's works, and to hear and receive his word. And, in token hereof, many persons who are literally and corporally blind and deaf, shall have... [ Continue Reading ]
_And a highway shall be there, and a way_ The _highway_ and _the way_ are not to be taken for two different ways, but for one and the same way, even a cast-way, which is both raised ground, as the former Hebrew word מסלול signifies, _and a way_ for persons to travel in, as the latter word here used... [ Continue Reading ]
_No lion shall be there_, &c. It shall not only be a plain, but a safe way. They that keep close to God in this way, keep out of the reach of Satan, the roaring lion: that wicked one toucheth them not; nor shall any of their other spiritual enemies be suffered to destroy, subdue, or bring them into... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the ransomed of the Lord_ They whom God shall rescue from their captivity and slavery in Babylon, say some; _shall return and come to Zion_ Shall be restored to their own land, from whence they had been carried captive. But the following expressions are far too magnificent and emphatical to be... [ Continue Reading ]