_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 ]