“The very remarkable passage,” says Bishop Lowth, “with which this chapter begins, seems to be in a manner detached from the rest, and to stand singly by itself; having no immediate connection with what goes before, or with what follows, otherwise than as it may pursue the general design, and stand... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore art thou red_, &c. The dialogue is continued, and the prophet or the church, having inquired concerning the person, now inquires why his habit has been thus sprinkled and stained. _I have trodden the wine-press alone_ I have destroyed the enemies of my people, I have crushed them as grape... [ Continue Reading ]
_I looked, and there was none to help_ “Things were come to that extremity, that there was no appearance of succour by any human means. Those who, by their office and character, ought to have stood up in defence of oppressed truth and righteousness, even they, contrary to what might have been justly... [ Continue Reading ]
“The remaining part of this chapter” says Bishop Lowth, “with the whole chapter following, contains a penitential confession and supplication of the Israelites in their present state of dispersion, in which they have so long marvellously subsisted, and still continue to subsist, as a people; cast ou... [ Continue Reading ]
_For he said_ Namely, within himself, of old, when he made a covenant with our fathers, and brought them out of Egypt; _Surely they are my people_ In covenant with me: though they are unworthy of me, yet I cannot but look upon them as my people. _Children that will not lie_ That will keep my covenan... [ Continue Reading ]
_But they rebelled_ Revolted from him and, as it were, took up arms against him, many instances of which we find in their history; _and vexed_, or _grieved, his Holy Spirit_ With their unbelief and murmuring, and continual proneness to idolatry, as well as by their repeated acts of obstinacy and dis... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then_, or _yet, he remembered the days of old_ “God is here represented by an elegant figure, as recollecting with himself what he had done for his people, and using that as a motive why he should still own and defend them. The same argument is used by Moses: see the margin. _Moses and his people_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Look down from heaven_ In this excellent and pious prayer of the first-fruits of the converted Jews, in which they entreat God, for his grace and mercy, to behold them with an eye of compassion, they argue both from the goodness of his nature, and from the greatness of the works which he had former... [ Continue Reading ]
_O Lord, why hast thou made us to err_ Suffered us to err; _from thy ways_ Thy commandments. _And hardened our heart from thy fear_ That is, the fear of thee? Why hast thou withdrawn thy grace, and left us to our own hardness of heart? See on Isaiah 6:10. _Return for thy servants' sake_ Be reconcile... [ Continue Reading ]