INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 56 This chapter contains a prophecy of the conversion of the Gentiles, and their accession to the church, and of the corrupt state of the church afterwards, especially of its rulers, which brought in men comparable to wild beasts to devour. It begins with an exhortation to th... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD, KEEP YE JUDGMENT, AND DO JUSTICE,.... Observe the word of the Lord, which comes from the God of judgment, is the best informer of the judgment, and the only rule of faith and practice; and which should be kept in the heart, mind, and memory, be held fast, and abode by; and so li... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT DOTH THIS,.... That does justice, and keeps judgment; he hereby exercises a good conscience both towards God and men; he enjoys communion with God in his ways, worship, and ordinances, he attends unto, and has an evidence of his right to eternal happiness: AND THE SON OF MAN... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER LET THE SON OF THE STRANGER,.... A Gentile, that is so by birth, the son of one that is an alien from the commonwealth of Israel, a stranger from the covenants of promise, and so had no right to come into the congregation of the Lord under the former dispensation; but now the middle wall of... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD UNTO THE EUNUCHS THAT KEEP MY SABBATHS,.... That fear and serve the Lord; religiously observe all times of divine worship, and walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord; show regard to all the institutions of the Gospel, and perform all religious exercises, priv... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN TO THEM WILL I GIVE IN MINE HOUSE AND WITHIN MY WALLS,.... The Targum is, "in the house of my sanctuary, and in the land of the house of my Shechinah;'' meaning the temple at Jerusalem, in the land of Judea; but a Gospel church state is here meant, which is the house of God; the materials of... [ Continue Reading ]
ALSO THE SONS OF THE STRANGER THAT JOIN THEMSELVES TO THE LORD,.... Having answered the objection and removed the discouragement of the eunuch, he now returns to the sons of the stranger, who also join themselves to the Lord, as the eunuch had done; see Isaiah 56:4 and who do this, TO SERVE HIM, AN... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN THEM WILL I BRING TO MY HOLY MOUNTAIN,.... The church, called a "mountain" for its height, visibility, and immovableness; see Isaiah 2:2, especially for the latter; the true members of it being such who are interested in the unchangeable love of God, in the immovable grace of election, in the u... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD GOD, WHICH GATHERETH THE OUTCASTS OF ISRAEL, SAITH,.... Not the outcasts of literal Israel, the captives in Babylon, and elsewhere; but of spiritual Israel, and who are cast out, not by the Lord, but by the men of the world; who cast out their names as evil, who call them outcasts, and acco... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL YE BEASTS OF THE FIELD, COME TO DEVOUR,.... Which may be understood either literally of savage beasts being called to devour the slain, signifying a great slaughter that should be made, like that in Revelation 19:17 to which the fowls of the heaven are invited, as to a supper; and so Kimchi int... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS WATCHMEN ARE BLIND,.... A sad character of watchmen; who, of all men, ought to have good sight, to see who is coming, to discover an enemy, to discern approaching danger, and so be capable of giving notice thereof. This some apply to the Scribes and Pharisees, who are often called blind guides,... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, THEY [ARE] GREEDY DOGS,.... Or "strong of soul" y; of great appetites, and are never satisfied: or "strong of body"; the soul is sometimes put for the body; large bodied, fat bellied men, such as the priests, monks, and friars, that live upon the fat of the land; gluttons, epicures, men of a ca... [ Continue Reading ]
COME YE, SAY THEY,.... Either to their fellow bishops and priests, when got together, jovially carousing; or to the common people, encouraging them in luxury and intemperance: I WILL FETCH WINE; out of his cellar, having good store of it, and that of the best, hence called "priests' wine"; and so,... [ Continue Reading ]