_Awake, awake, put on strength_ God orders his church to do that which she entreated him to do, Isaiah 51:9. And because his word is with power, and what he commands he in certain cases effects, this is a prediction and promise what he should do, that she should _awake_ or _arise_ out of her low est... [ Continue Reading ]
_My people went down into Egypt_ Where they had protection and sustenance, and therefore owed subjection to the king of Egypt. And yet when he oppressed them I punished him severely, and delivered them out of his hands. _And the Assyrian oppressed them_ The king of Babylon, who is called _the king o... [ Continue Reading ]
_How beautiful_ How exceeding precious and acceptable; _upon the mountains_ Of Judea, to which these glad tidings were brought; _are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings_ Tidings, first, Of the release of the Jews from captivity in Babylon; and, secondly, Of the redemption and salvation of man... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice_ Partly to give notice to all people of these glad tidings, and partly by way of exultation, to sing forth the praises of God for this glorious season and exercise of mercy. If we consider this passage as referring to the deliverance from Babylon, by the watch-m... [ Continue Reading ]
_Break forth into joy_ Break forth in joyful praises; _ye waste places of Jerusalem_ That is, all parts of Jerusalem, for it was all in ruins, and all parts of Judea, which lay desolate and waste during the captivity: an emblem of the desolate and barren state of the church when the Lord, for her si... [ Continue Reading ]
_Depart ye, go ye out from thence_ Out of Babylon into your own land, that there I may meet with you, and bless you, and perform those further and greater things for you which I have promised to do there. And this invitation was the more necessary, because God foresaw that a great number of the Jews... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, my servant_, &c. This is the beginning of a new prophecy, continued from hence to the end of the next chapter, which, as has been justly observed by many, both ancient and modern interpreters, should have begun here. “The subject of Isaiah's prophecy, from the fortieth chapter inclusive, ha... [ Continue Reading ]
_As many were astonished at thee_ At thee, O my servant: were struck with wonder at his glorious endowments, at the excellence and power of his doctrine, and his miraculous works, or rather, at his humiliation. _His visage was so marred_, &c. Christ, in respect of his birth, breeding, manner of life... [ Continue Reading ]