_But now, thus saith the Lord_ But, notwithstanding thy gross insensibility under former judgments, for which I might justly send far heavier calamities upon thee, yet I will deal mercifully with thee. _That created thee, O Jacob_, &c. Who made thee his people, and that in a manner as miraculous as... [ Continue Reading ]
_I gave Egypt for thy ransom_ Some think this was fulfilled when God smote the firstborn and others in Egypt, and afterward drowned Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea, for the safety and benefit of his people. But it is more “commonly referred to the time of Sennacherib's invasion; who, when he was... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will bring thy seed from the east_, &c. Although the Jews, for their sins, shall be carried captives out of their own land northward and eastward into Babylon, and the adjacent countries; and others of them shall flee southward and westward, and shall there pine away in their iniquities, as I hav... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bring forth the blind people_, &c. O ye idolatrous Gentiles, bring forth your false gods, which have eyes but see not, and ears but hear not. _Let the people be assembled_ To plead the cause of their idols with me. _Who among them can declare this_ This wonderful work of mine in bringing my people... [ Continue Reading ]
_Besides me there is no saviour_ None that can and does save his worshippers: wherein is implied, that the false gods were not only weak and unable to save those that trusted in them, but also were their destroyers, as being the great cause of their ruin. _I have declared, and have saved_ I first fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_For your sake I have sent to Babylon_ I have sent Cyrus, and the Medes and Persians with him, to war against Babylon, to this very end, that he might deliver you out of captivity, and restore you to your land, according to my promise. _I have brought down_ From that height of power and glory to whi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which maketh a way in the sea_, &c. Who, as he formerly made a way for Israel through the Red sea, will, in a no less wonderful manner, remove all impediments out of the way of his people when they return from Babylon. _Which bringeth forth_ Or, rather, _who brought forth, the chariots_, &c. That i... [ Continue Reading ]
_Remember ye not the former things_ But although your former deliverance out of Egypt was in itself a most glorious work, which you ought always to remember and consider; yet this other work, of your deliverance out of Babylon, and those blessings which shall follow upon it, and particularly that of... [ Continue Reading ]
_The beast of the field shall honour me_ Shall have cause, if they had abilities, to honour and praise me for their share in this mercy; _the dragons_, &c. Which live in dry and barren deserts. “The image,” says Bishop Lowth, “is elegant and highly poetical. God will give such an abundant, miraculou... [ Continue Reading ]
_But thou hast not called upon me_ Thou hast grossly neglected, or very negligently and hypocritically performed the duties of my worship. _Thou hast been weary of me_ Thou hast not esteemed my service to be a privilege, as in truth it is, but as a burden and a bondage. “The connection is: But thou,... [ Continue Reading ]
_I, even I_ Whom thou hast thus despised, and wearied, and provoked to destroy thee; _am he that blotteth out thy transgressions_ Out of my book, in which they were all written, to be read unto thee, and charged upon thee at a future day. Sins are often compared to debts, (Matthew 6:12, &c.,) writte... [ Continue Reading ]
_Put me in remembrance_ Of thy good deeds and merits. _Let us plead together_ I give thee free liberty to urge all thou canst in thy own behalf. _Declare thou, that thou mayest be justified_ Bring forward all thou canst, in order to thy justification, and declare on what ground thou expectest to be... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy first father hath sinned_ Some think that Urijah, who was high-priest in the time of Ahaz, is here especially meant: see 2 Kings 16:10. But it is more probable that the expression is put for their forefathers collectively; and so he tells them, that as they were sinners, so also were all their... [ Continue Reading ]