_THE OFFICE OF CHRIST, GRACED WITH MEEKNESS AND CONSTANCY. THE FATHER'S PROMISE TO HIM. AN EXHORTATION TO PRAISE GOD FOR HIS GOSPEL. HE REPROVETH THE PEOPLE OF INCREDULITY._ _Before Christ 712._ THE second sermon of the fourth part of Isaiah's prophesy is contained in this and the following chapte... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD MY SERVANT, WHOM I UPHELD— _Whom I will uphold._ Lowth. Or, _Whom I receive._ The discourse of God is continued, of the Father pointing out the Son, as the teacher of the Gentiles expected for so many ages, about to recal them from idolatry and superstition, and to enlighten them with the mos... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL NOT CRY, &C.— This beautiful passage sets forth not only the method of this great teacher's instruction, but also the kind and quality of that instruction. Indeed, there is so close an affinity between these, that the one involves the other; for the manner of teaching ought to be conformabl... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL NOT FAIL, NOR BE DISCOURAGED— These words are to be referred to the success of this great teacher's doctrine; who, with admirable diligence and patience, without any remission of zeal or labour, should go on calmly and deliberately in its establishment, nor depart from the undertaking, till... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH GOD— The prophet here continues the address of God to the Messiah, and that in a very lofty and magnificent manner. _First,_ the Messiah is animated to continue his course with alacrity and spirit, amid the many difficulties which his enemies would throw in his way, since God, by his sove... [ Continue Reading ]
SING UNTO THE LORD, &C.— The nations are here, in the most elegant manner, exhorted to praise and extol Jehovah, for the singular blessing conferred upon them, by calling them to his truth, and enlightening them with his grace. There is nothing difficult in the passage, though it will be greatly ill... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD SHALL GO FORTH, &C.— JEHOVAH _shall march forth like a hero; like a mighty warrior shall he rouse his vengeance; He shall cry aloud; he shall shout amain; he shall exert his strength against his enemies._ Lowth. These words are so connected with those preceding, as to contain the argument o... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE LONG TIME HOLDEN MY PEACE— These words contain a declaration of the divine counsel; wherein God teacheth, that, by calling the Gentiles to his communion, he should effect a great change in the world; so that its whole oeconomy should, receive a new and different form. The whole discourse is m... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR, YE DEAF, &C.— The prophet, having foretold the future illumination and conversion of the Gentiles, and the abolition of idolatry, takes an occasion thence to reprove the Jews for their blindness and stupidity in the great concerns of religion. See ch. Isaiah 2:5. &c. The meaning of the apostro... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IS BLIND, BUT MY SERVANT; &C.— As it might be doubted who were the _blind_ and _deaf_ mentioned in the preceding verse, the prophet here points them out. "I have exhibited (says God) the Gentiles in the foregoing discourse as _blind_ and _deaf,_ to be enlightened by the doctrine of the Messiah,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD IS WELL PLEASED— _Jehovah took delight in him for his righteousness sake; he hath magnified him by his law, and made him honourable._ Vitringa. The meaning of the passage is very clear from this translation. God, in every reproof of his people, is careful to shew that the fault of their abe... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THIS IS A PEOPLE ROBBED, &C.— It was reasonably to be expected, that the Jews, blessed with so great privileges, would have been greatly honoured and respected: but, abusing those privileges, their case and situation has been in various periods what the prophet describes in this verse, and the s... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE HE HATH POURED, &C.— The force and elegance of the metaphor in this verse is very great. Of all natural evils which affect the human mind, which arouse and awaken it, none do so with greater quickness than _fire;_ than a mighty flame, encompassing a man on every side. No sleep, no lethargy... [ Continue Reading ]