_GOD CALLETH CYRUS FOR HIS CHURCH'S SAKE: BY HIS OMNIPOTENCE HE CHALLENGETH OBEDIENCE: HE CONVINCETH THE IDOLS OF VANITY BY HIS SAVING POWER._ _Before Christ 712._ SEE the analyses on ch. Isaiah 44:6. The second section of this discourse is divided into two parts: The _first part_ respects the ove... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD— See ch. Isaiah 41:2. Cyrus is called _the Lord's anointed;_ that is to say, appointed by the divine counsel to perform God's good pleasure, and furnished for that purpose by the divine providence with the necessary endowments. _Whose right hand I have holden,_ should rather be r... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR JACOB MY SERVANT'S SAKE— The prophet here gives us the reasons why God shewed such favour to a prince addicted to the Pagan superstition of his country, and ignorant of the true God; that he prospered all his undertakings, and gave success to all his enterprises. These causes were _particular_ a... [ Continue Reading ]
DROP DOWN, YE HEAVENS, FROM ABOVE— _Drop down,_ &c. _and let the clouds pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and all kinds of salvation flourish; and let righteousness shoot forth together,_ &c. Vitringa is of opinion, that this strongly-figurative passage refers primarily to the blessings c... [ Continue Reading ]
WOE UNTO HIM THAT STRIVETH— _Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker; the potsherd with the potter: Shall the clay,_ &c.? The greater number of interpreters are of opinion, that this reproof refers to the impious and malevolent censurers of God among the Jewish people, who, dissatisfied with their... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD— _Thus,_ &c.—_They ask me of things to come: Would ye then give me commands concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands?_ As much as to say, "You, hypocrites, inquire into the future fate of the church, and ask and consult my prophets concerning it: Would you therefor... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD, &C.— This illustrious prophesy contains an apostrophe to Jerusalem, or to the company of returning exiles, and without all doubt relates some joyful consequence of the deliverance foretold; which consequence immediately respects religion; and the meaning of the sentence is, that... [ Continue Reading ]
VERILY, THOU ART A GOD— The church or chorus of believers which are here introduced cry out, and interrupt, as it were, the divine discourse with exultation; which may be divided into three articles. The _first_ explains the nature of God, with respect to his ways, and the order of his counsels and... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD— The Almighty here renews his discourse to the proselytes of the nations, to confirm them in their belief of the true religion, and to eradicate all the prejudices of idolatry from their minds. A preface suitable to the scope of the discourse is prefixed, consisting of two ar... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOK UNTO ME, AND BE YE SAVED— The _proselytes_ of the nations were invited to embrace the faith of the true God; but that seemed too narrow and confined; for what forbids all nations without distinction, delivered from the error of idolatry, to believe in the true God, and to worship him alone? The... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE SWORN BY MYSELF— _I have sworn by myself; the word of truth is gone out of my mouth, a word which shall not return,—That,_ &c. These are the words of the Son of God, declaring the purpose of grace, to illuminate all nations without distinction with the light of the Gospel, and to bring them t... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY, SHALL ONE SAY, &C.— The discourse of the Son of God is here continued. He declares more fully the sum of the oath mentioned in the preceding verse; that is, he explains the purpose of grace concerning the manner, the means, and the cause of that salvation which was to be offered to all natio... [ Continue Reading ]