_THE CALLING OF THE GENTILES. THE JEWS, FOR THEIR INCREDULITY, IDOLATRY, AND HYPOCRISY, ARE REJECTED. A REMNANT WILL BE SAVED. JUDGMENTS ON THE WICKED, AND BLESSINGS ON THE GODLY. THE BLESSED STATE OF THE NEW JERUSALEM._ _Before Christ 698._ THIS chapter, containing the third section of the fifth... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM SOUGHT, &C.— _I am made known to those that asked not for me,_ &c. Lowth. You observe here the Divinity introduced, urging an argument of his grace, in calling the Gentiles to his communion, and soon after complaining of the obstinate disobedience of the refractory Jews, who had for so long a t... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT SACRIFICETH IN GARDENS, &C.— The superstition of the Jews is here reproved: the passage is not to be understood literally, but mystically (see ch. Isaiah 66:17.); the prophet herein figuratively setting forth their shameful and detestable deviation from the true faith and the practice of holine... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH SAY, STAND BY THYSELF, &C.— In the following section, ch. Isaiah 66:5 the crime of hypocrisy as here is decried, and every reader will easily recognize in both places the Pharisees and their followers. See Luke 18:10. There cannot be a more lively description of spiritual pride and hypocritica... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, IT IS WRITTEN, &C.— The first words of this passage allude to the subsequent sentence. _Behold, it is written before me;_ "It is absolutely written and determined in the divine court, that such shall be your punishment." Bishop Warburton observes upon the 7th verse, that the execution of the... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD, &C.— _Thus,_ &c. _as when one findeth a good grape in the cluster, and sayeth, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it,_ &c. Lowth. See ch. Isaiah 10:22 where a promise similar to this is given. The proposition of divine grace, respecting the faithful, is contained in the 8th ve... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE ARE THEY THAT FORSAKE THE LORD, &C.— _But,_ &c. _Who prepare a table for Gad_ [_the sun_], _and serve_ or _fill up a drink-offering to Meni_ [_the moon_]. The prophet here renews his reproach against the apostate and covenant-breaking Jews, who, forsaking Jehovah, that is to say, separating t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE SHALL LEAVE YOUR NAME, &C.— Vitringa reads, _Ye shall leave your name for an oath to my chosen:_ the meaning, says he, is, that the punishment and calamity of these apostates should be so remarkable, that in the forms of swearing men should take their example from the severity of the divine j... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR, BEHOLD, I CREATE, &C.— Vitringa observes, that these expressions signify a new and better form of religion, to be introduced into the church, the old and inferior one being abolished. It is plain, from what follows, that the prophet here foretels a future and highly-improved state of religion a... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE SHALL BE NO MORE THENCE AN INFANT OF DAYS, &C.— _No more shall there be an infant short-lived; nor an old man who hath not fulfilled his days: for he that dieth at an hundred years, shall die a boy; and the sinner that dieth at an hundred years shall be deemed accursed._ Lowth. The prophet in... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR AS THE DAYS OF A TREE ARE THE DAYS OF MY PEOPLE— The prophet here describing another privilege of the church in these happy days, says, that the faithful at this time shall _plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them._ He subjoins: _They shall not plant, that another may eat,_ which might happen... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS— Behold here an excellent blessing, the truest seal of divine favour and paternal love. We have observed in the analysis, that the closest conjunction of heaven and earth, that is to say, of God and men, is expressed in this verse; wherein the readiness and goodness of God... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WOLF AND THE LAMB SHALL FEED TOGETHER— The meaning is, that the church at this time shall be free from all internal and external enemies: the _wolves_ and _lions,_ mystically so called, being either destroyed by the power of God, or, they who formerly were such being softened and changed by the... [ Continue Reading ]