CHAP. XLII. V. 1-4. When spiritual bless-liever; though it be only as the offensive
ings are predicted under the veil of temporal deliverances: some passages will accord best to the type, and others to the antitype: thus Cyrus, and the redemption of the Jews from captivity, are in this place lost sight of, that the Messiah and his salvation may be brought into full view. The natural import of the words, 'as well as the authority of the New Testa
smoke from the stalks of the flax, when it does not break forth into a flame: and he will bring forth every man's judgment, with most perfect agreement to the truth of his case and character. 'He shall instruct those that oppose them'selves with all meekness and gentleness; he 'shall patiently "endure the contradictions of 'sinners against himself;" and not, in an angry
'ment, do plainly determine this and many or clamorous manner, vindicate himself
'other texts, here and in the following chap'ters, to an evangelical sense: the Holy Spirit 'taking occasion, from the deliverance of the 'Jews out of their captivity, to give the proph'et a view of a more glorious redemption, 'which should be accomplished by the Messias.' Lowth. 'St. Matthew has applied it directly to 'Christ; nor can it, with justice or any proprie'ty, be applied to any other person or character whatever.' Bp . Lowth . (Note, Matt . 12:1421.)-He was in the form of God, and took upon him the form of a Servant." ( Marg . Ref . a.- Notes , 49:3-6. 52:13-15. 53:11,12. Zech . 3:8.) Being upheld by the divine power in his human nature, he "finished the work which was given him to do." He is the first Elect of God, for his own sake, and to be the Head of the church; and all others are elect in him: (Note, Eph . 1:3-8.) in his person, righteousness, and mediation, the Father is well pleased and greatly delighted; "the Holy Spirit
'against their calumnies. He will have a ten'der regard for afflicted consciences, and such 'as are bowed down under the burden of their 'sins: and where the least spark of grace ap'pears, he will not quench it, but take the 'utmost care to keep it alive and improve it.' Lowth . In his personal ministry, and in that of his servants, he met with many and formidable difficulties, and powerful opposition; and both he and they were treated with much contempt, enmity, and cruelty: but nothing could induce him to leave his work unfinished, or discourage him in it, till he had established judgment, (or the truth, righteousness, and worship of JEHOVAH,) in the earth; and the most distant nations, accepting his salvation, submitted to his authority, and waited his righteous commands. This has hitherto been accomplished, only in part; but "he will not fail, nor be discouraged," till it be more completely effected throughout the whole earth.
discourage
3,7. Jer. 23:5,6. 33:15,16.
Rom. 3:25,26. Heb. 1:8,9. 7: 2,26.
q 1. 41:13.
49:8. Matt. 26:28. Luke 1: 69-72. Rom. 15:8,9. 2 Cor.
1:20. Gal. 3:15-17.
6. 9:15. 12:21. 13:20.
s 49:6. 51:4,5. 60:1-3.
Heb. 8:
Luke 2:
32. John 8:12. Acts 13:47.
26:23. 1 Pet. 2:9.
t 16. 29:18. 35:5. Ps. 146:8. Matt. 11:5. Luke 24:45. John 9:39. Acts 26:18. 2 Cor. 4:6. Eph. 1:17,18. Rev. 3:18.
u 22. 9:2. 49:9. 61:1. Ps. 107:10 16. 146:7. Zech. 9:11,12. Luke 4:18-21. 2 Tim. 2:20. Heb. 2:14,15.
John 8:58.
y 48:11. Ex. 20:3-5.34:14. John 5:23.
z Gen. 15:12-16. Josh. 21:45. 23:14,15. 1 Kings 8:15-20. 11:36.
a 41:22,23. 43:19. 44:7,8. 46:9,10. John 13:19. 1 Pet. 1:10-12. 2 Pet. 1:19-21.
b 24:14-16.44:23. 49:13.65:14. Ps. 33:3. 96:1-3.98:1-4. 117: Rom. 15:9-11. Rev. 5:9. 14:3. c Ps. 107:23-32.148:1-14.150:
V. 5-7. JEHOVAH before spake of his beloved Son and "righteous Servant;" here he immediately addresses him. He, the great Creator of heaven and earth, and the Author and Preserver of the lives and souls of all men, declares that he had called, or appointed, the predicted Messiah, "in righteousness;" that is, to manifest his righteousness in the salvation of sinners, to fulfil his faithful engagements to his church, and to support the cause of righteousness on earth.
Upholding and preserving him, he would give him to be the Surety, the Foundation, and the very Substance, of the new covenant; and the pledge and security of all the covenanted blessings to his people Israel: and likewise to be the Fountain of knowledge, holiness, and happiness to the Gentiles: in order that he might open those understandings which Satan had blinded, through pride, prejudice, and ignorance; and set at liberty from the bondage of sin, those who had been confined in it, as in a noisome and dark dungeon; that they might enjoy the light, liberty, and comfort of his service. (Marg.
Ref. Notes, 49:5,6. 55:1-3. 61:1-3. Zech. 9:11. Mal. 3:1-4. Luke 2:25-32. Acts 26:16-18. Heb . 13:20,21.)
V. 8, 9. (Note, Ex . 3:2-6.) JEHOVAH here again addresses mankind in general, declaring his essential glory and excellency, and that he would not give the honor and worship which belonged to him to any other; either fallen angels, or graven images, or even the most VOL. IV.
Kedar doth inhabit: & let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.
12 Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise in the islands.
[Practical Observations.]
13 The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up k jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.
14 I have long time holden my peace. I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and & devour at once.
15. I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.
16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; PI will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
f 60:7. Gen. 25:23. Ps.120:5. | n 2:12-16. 11:15,16, 44:27. 50:2. g Jer. 21:13. 48:28. 49:16. Ob. 3. h 24:15,16. 66:18,19. Ps. 22:27. 96:3-10.117: Rom. 15:9-11. Rev. 5:9,10.7:9-12. 159:16-19 63:1-4. Ex. 15:1
Ps. 18:7. 107:33,34. 114:3-7. Jer. 4:24. Nah. 1:4-6. Hab. 3:6-10. Hag. 2:6. Zech. 10: 11. Rev. 6:12-17. 8:7-12. 11:13. 16:12,18. 20:11.
ο 29:18,24. 30:21. 32:3. 35:5,8. 48:17. 54:13. 60:1,2,19,20. Jer. 31:8,9. Luke 1:78,79.
p 41:3. Josh. 3:4.
q 40:4. 45:2, Ec. 1:15. 7:13. Luke 3:5.
Heb. into straightness.
r Ps. 94:14. Jer. 32:39-41. Rom. 5:8-10. 8:29-31. 2 Thes. 2:13,14. 1 Pet. 1:3-5.
excellent and exalted of creatures: for no limitation can be admitted in so general a declar ation.-But, as we are commanded "to honor :he Son, even as we honor the Father," we are sure he is more than Man or Creature, even one with the Father, in the unity of the divine nature. (Note, John 5:20-23.)-It is also added, that as the ancient prophecies received their accomplishment, new predictions were delivered, for the confirmation of true religion, through successive generations. ( Notes , 41:21-24,26. 44:6-8.)
V. 10-12. The prophet, animated by the glorious subject, calls on the nations, even to the ends of the earth, and every remote region which navigation has discovered, with all their inhabitants, and the navigators themselves, to sing praises to JEHOVAH. And he exhorts those dark and barren regions, which are like the Arabian deserts, or the uncultivated top of a rock or mountain, to give glory and praise to him for the blessings of his salvation. ( Marg . Ref . Notes , 24:13-16. 44:23. 49:9-13, v. 13. 55:12,13.) 'The expressions 'here, and in the parallel texts, denote the joy 'to be so great and universal, that even the 'inanimate parts of the creation ... are exhorted to bear a part in the general chorus.' Lowth. - Such exhortations imply predictions, that thus it would be at the time appointed. Indeed the latter part of this passage is future: - "The wilderness and the cities thereof shall lift their voice, &c."
[145
17 They shall be turned back, they is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in the Lord's servant?
graven images, that say to the molten 20 Seeing many things, but thou ohimages, Ye are our gods.
18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who
V. 13-17. The prophet seems at first to speak, but the LORD Soon resumes the subject. Numerous and confederated enemies would obstruct his purpose of converting the Gentiles, and destroying idolatry: but he would, as a mighty warrior, warrior, with tremendous indigna- indignation, intimidate and destroy them.
He had long "suffered the nations to walk in their own ways," and idolatry and iniquity to prevail: (Note, Acts 14:11-18, v. 16.) but at the appointed period he would break silence, and with the most vigorous exertions of almighty power, and vehement convulsions in providence, he would ruin his enemies, and effect his great designs. ( Note , 59:16-19.) 59:16-19.) The unbelieving Jews would indeed crucify the Redeemer, and obstruct the gospel; but he would turn their cultivated mountains into a waste, and make their rivers and pools dry land; that is, he would deprive them of their privileges, and cast them off from being his people. ( Notes , 29:17-19. 35:5-7, 2. 7.) But he would bring the blind and benighted Gentiles into his church, by methods of which they had no previous knowledge; and lead thein in the paths of truth, peace, and holiness, to which they had been entire strangers: he would afford them abundant light and instruction, open the eyes of their understandings, make their way plain and pleasant to them, and not cast them off from being his people. ( Notes , 5-7.
Acts 26:16-18. Eph . 5:8-14. 1 Pet . 2:9,10.)-This I suppose to be the prophetical meaning of this passage: but it has also a spiritual meaning, applicable to every believer. And this union of the prophetical and spiritual meaning forms one of the greatest beauties and excellences of this part of scripture; and exceedingly illustrates the divine wisdom by which it was dictated. ( P.
O. 13-25.)-The calling of the Gentiles would also be attended with the defeat and confusion of idolaters. ( Notes , 41:1-7.) This was remarkably the case in the primitive ages of Christianity: but the prophecy will have a more notable completion, when antichristian, as well as pagan, image-worshippers shall be confounded, put to shame, and perish for
ever.
servest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.
21 The LORD is a well pleased for his righteousness' sake; bhe will magnify the law, and make * it honorable.
y 1:3. 48:6-8. Num. 14:22. Deut. 4:9. 29:24. Neh. 9:10. -17. Ps. 106:7-13. 107:43. John 11:47-50. 11:37-40.
z 58:2. Jer. 42:2-5. 31. Mark 6:19,20. 22-27.
a 1:24-27. 46:12,13. -12. Dan. 9:24-27.
Ez. 33:
Acts 28:
Ps. 85:9 Matt.
3:17. 17:5. John 8:29. 15:10. Rom. 3:25,26. 2 Cor. 5:19-21. Ps. 40:3. Matt. 3:15. 5:1720. Rom. 3:31. 7:12. 8:3,4. 10% 4. Gal. 3:13,21. 5:22,23. Heb. 8:10. 1 John 3:4,5.
* Or, him. John 13:31,32. 17: 4,5.
selves so perfect, so wise and righteous, that they needed no instructer, and no repentance, and despised others; they were given up to judicial blindness and obduracy. (Notes, Jer. 5:20-25. 6:10,11. Matt . 15:12-14.16:1-4. Rom . 2:17-24.) The Jews, in our Savior's time, saw indeed numerous miracles to prove his mission, yet they did not observe them to any good purpose: and though they attended on his ministry, as opening their ears to his word; yet they they neither believed nor obeyed him. ( Marg . Ref .)-The Ref .) 'The word,' (rendered "he that is perfect,") is meshullam in the Hebrew; 'whence the Arabic Mussulman is derived, a title the Mahometans give to themselves.' Lowth . See article in Golius.
'S CO
مسلم
V. 21. This verse is variously interpreted. Some explain it of the willingness which the LORD had always shewn, to fulfil his covenant and promises to Israel, for the sake of shewing himself faithful and just; and thus to magnify and honor his word. (Note, Ps. 138:2.)"The LORD took delight in this people for his 'righteousness' sake; he hath given them an 'excellent law, and thereby made them honor'able." Deut . 4:6-8. Their law, if they had 'kept close to it, would have been both their ornament and defence.' Lowth .
But these interpretations seem foreign to the subject of the prophecy, which is allowed to relate to the Messiah, and the conduct of the Jews in rejecting him: nor does it appear that the original can be made to bear this construction; but the verse may be thus rendered: "The LORD is well pleased, because of his" (the Messiah's) "righteousness. He" (the Messiah) "will magnify and render honorable the law." -Christ "brought in an everlasting righteousness;" believers are "made the righteousness of God in him;" his name is "the LORD Our righteousness." ( Notes , 45:23-25. Jer . 23:6,7.
Dan . 9:24. 2 Cor . 5:18-21, v . 21.) Thus the holy law of God is established in honor and authority, both as to its precept and sanction. In him, the righteous Servant, the Chosen of God, "his soul delighteth." ( Note , 1-4.) "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased;" "he always did those things which pleased" the Father. This accords entirely with the New Testament, and with the scope of the prophecy. The Messiah is the grand subject of the chapter; and seems here intended, though not expressly named. (1 John 3:16.
Gr.) While the Jewish rulers and teachers blindly rejected and crucified him, as an opposer and violator of the divine law, God was "well pleased" on account of his righteousness,
V. 18-20. The Lord here calls the Gentiles, who had been deaf to his voice, and blind to his glory, to hear and see; not without reference to the miracles of Christ. ( Note , 35:5-7, v . 5,6.) Or, as some think, he upbraids the Jews with their blindness and obstinate unbelief. That nation gloried in being the servants and worshippers of JEHOVAH: yet not only others of them, but the priests, prophets, and rulers, who were his messengers to the people, were become more blind and deaf than even the Gentiles: and whilst they deemed them-because he magnified the law, by his infinitely
22 But this is a people robbed and 24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and
spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they dare hid in prison-houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; forta spoil, and none saith, Restore.
23 Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken, and hear for the $time to come?
с 1:7. 36:1.52:4,5, 56:9. Jer. 50: 17. 51:34,35. 52:4, &c. Luke 19:41-44.21:20-24.
Or, insnaring all the young men of them.
d See on 7.-14:17.45:13. Ps. 102:20. Jer. 52:31.
↑ Heb. a treading. 51:23. Deut.
28:29-33. Ps. 50:22,
Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.
25 Therefore she hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned
e 1:18-20.48:18. Lev. 26:40 him, yet he laid it not to heart .
42.
Deut. 4:29-31. 32:29. Prov. 1:22,23. Jer. 3:4-7,13. Mic. 6:9, Matt. 21:28-31. Acts 3:19,22,23. 1 Pet. 4:2,3. Heb. after-time.
valuable obedience unto death, as well as by his holy doctrine: so that, for the sake of his righteousness and atonement, salvation was freely preached to the Jews first, and then to the Gentiles. Fentiles. And when the Jews put put it from them, God "took pleasure for his righteousness' sake, to magnify" and honor "his law," by inflicting on them deserved punishment. This connects the verse with those which follow, and shews the whole chapter to be a regular and connected prediction of the coming of Christ, and the events which followed, in the conversion of the Gentiles and the rejection of the Jews, without any direct reference to other events. ( Marg . Ref .)
V. 22-25. These verses evidently predict the punishment inflicted on the nation of Is
f 10:5,6. 45:7. 47:6. 50:1,2. 59:1, |g Lev. 26:15,&c. Ps. 79:5.6. 2.63:10. Deut. 28:49. $2:30. Ez. 7:8,9. 20:34. 22:21,22. Nah. Judg. 2:14. 3:8. 10:7. 2 Chr. 1:6. Rev. 16:1,&c. 15:6. 36:17. Ps. 106:40-42. Jer. 5:15. 25:8,9. Lam. 1:14, 18. Am. 3:6. Matt. 22:7.
h 9:13. Jer. 5:3. Hos. 7:9. Rev. 9:18-21.16:9. i 57:11. Mal. 2:2.
ment in the earth, and bring all the nations under the sun to welcome his salvation, and "wait for his law."-Whilst his lowliness and compassion cheer our drooping hearts, and animate our feeble efforts to serve him, with the assurance that he will accept, assist, and comfort the feeblest and most distressed of those who believe in him; we should copy his example, and avoid all harshness and ostentation; we should learn to pity the tempted, to "strengthen the weak hands, to confirm the feeble knees, and comfort those that are of a fearful heart;" not being discouraged, or led to give up useful designs, because of obstacles and ill-treatment; "not weary of well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."-How gracious was the Lord, the eter
rael, for all their sins, but especially for obsti-nal Creator and Governor of the world, when
nate enmity to Christ and the gospel. To avenge this crime Jerusalem was given up to the Romans; and the Jews have been robbed and spoiled, hunted as wild beasts into a snare, imprisoned, enslaved, and preyed upon, for nearly eighteen hundred years, without deliverer or avenger: whereas seventy years' captivity expiated the national guilt of their idolatry; and the Lord delivered them, and restored them to their own land. ( Note , Gen. 49:10.) -As the Jews, from age to age, read this chapter, the Lord calls upon them to reflect on their condition, and the cause and Author of it, and inquires, "who among them will hearken for the time to come." Nor can they assign any other reason for their long-continued miseries, except the hot displeasure of JEHOVAH; nor any so evident cause of that hot displeasure, as their rejection of the promised
instead of sending a powerful avenger among his rebellious creatures, lhe commissioned his beloved Son to be our Surety, and to mediate a new covenant of peace for all those who believe in him; and to bring poor blinded and enslaved sinners of the Gentiles, into the glorious liberty and marvellous light of his gospel! How great is his wisdom in rendering this merciful salvation honorable to his justice, and the grand, or indeed the exclusive method of effecting and maintaining godliness and holiness on earth! May his Spirit attend his word to open the eyes of sinners in every place, and to turn them "from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God" and righteousness: and surely we should consider our abilities, wealth, or influence to be best laid out, in promoting that blessed cause, for which the Redeemer shed his precious blood; that God
Messiah. But though he has thus "poured in all things may be glorified, and that idola
upon them the fury of his anger," is become their tremendous enemy, and consumes them with his fiery indignation; yet they "know not, and lay it not to heart!" and their insensibility forms as striking a demonstration of the truth of the scripture, as their desolate and unprecedented situation. ( Notes , 18-20. Hos . 7:810.)
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
V. 1-12.
All the deliverers of God's people, and all his servants, have been subjects, and many of them types, of his "beloved Son" and "elect Servant, whom he upholdeth, and in whom he delighteth."-Would we make our "calling and election sure," and have the Father delight over us for good; we must behold and hear, believe and obey, Christ: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him:" we must come through his mediation, receive from his fulness, and be directed
Let us then
try, and impiety, and wickedness may be sup- pressed and exterminated. We have now no reason to expect more prophecies; but we en- joy the benefit of that accumulated evidence, which arises from the completion of former prophecies from age to age. abound in songs of praise, even in "this isle of the sea," the extensive navigation of which never brought over so rich a freight, as when it landed the scriptures, and the preachers of the gospel, on our shores; for at that time this country was more devoid of spiritual knowl- edge and grace, than the scorched plains of Kedar ever were of vegetable treasures. Let then the Redeemer's name resound through our cities, villages, plains, and mountains; and let our merchants and sailors give glory to the Lord, and declare his praise, and concur their efforts, with that of all the other inhab- itants of our island, in conveying the same in- estimable treasure, to all those, who yet "sit
by him in the ways of truth and righteousness. in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide May he, without failure or delay, place judg-their feet into the way of peace."
a 7,15,21. 42,21,24. Ps. 100:3. 102:18. Jer. 31:3. Eph. 2:10. b 14. 35:9,10. 41:14. 44:6,22-24. 48:17. 54:4,5. 62:12. 63:16. Ex. 15:13. Jer. 50:34. Tit. 2:14. Rev. 5:9.
с 44:5. 45:4.49:1. Ex. 33:17. d Ex. 19:5,6. Deut. 32:9. Ez. 16:8. Zech. 13:9. Mal. 3:17.
2 Tim. 2:19. Heb. 8:8-10. e 8:7-10. 11:15,16. Ex. 14:29. Josh, 3:15-17. Ps. 66:10,12. Am. 9:8,9. Matt. 7:25-27. Heb. 11:29.
f 41:10,14. Deut. 31:6-8. Josh. 1:5,9. Ps. 23:4. 46:4-7.91:15. Matt. 1:23. 2 Cor. 12:9,10. 2 Tim. 4:17,22.
V. 13-25.
the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
3 For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
4 Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
g Dan. 3:25-27. Zech. 13:9. Mal. 3:2,3. 4:1. Luke 21:12- 18. 1 Cor. 3:13-15. Heb. 11: 33-38. 1 Pet. 4:12,13. h 30:11. 41:14. 45:15,21. 49:26. 60:16. Hos. 13:4. Tit. 2:10 -14. 3:4-6. Jude 25.
i Ex. 10:7. 2 Chr. 14:9-14. Prov. 11:8. 21:18.
k Ex. 19:5,6. Deut. 7:6-8.14:
2. 26:18. 32:9-14. Ps. 135:4. Mal. 3:17. Tit. 2:14. 1 Pet. 2:9.
1 Gen. 12:2. Ps. 112:9. John 5:44. 1 Pet. 1:7.
m Jer. 31:3. Hos. 11:1. Mal. 1:2. John 16:27. 17:23,26. Rev. 3:9.
* Or, person.
NOTES.