Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
The Offices of Messiah. ISAIAH LXT, LXII. Prayers for Zion's EcsforatUm.
bright-coloured garments, indicative of thankfulness, instead of those that indicate despondency, as sac Kcloth (John 10.20). trees of rigliteousjiess — Hebrew, terebinth trees; symbolical of men strony in righteousness, instead of being, as heretofore, bowed down as a reed with sin and calamity (ch. 1. 29, 30 ; 42. 3; 1 Kings 11. 15; Psalm 1. 3; 92.
The sun and moon, the brightest objects by day and night, shall be eclipsed by the surpassing glory of God manifesting Himself to thee (ch. 30. 20; Zechariah 2. 5; Revelation 21.23; 22. 5). 20* There shall be no national and
Kpiritual obscuration again as formerly (Joel 2.10; Amos
8. 9). mourning . . . ended—(Ch. 25. 8 ; Revelation 21. 4.) 81. all righteous—(Ch. 4.3; 52.1; Revelation 21. 27.) inherit . . . land—(Ch. 49. 8 ; 54. 3 ; 65. 9 ; Psalm 37. U, 2:2 ; Matthew 5. 5.) brancli of my planting—(Ch. 61. 3 ; Psalm 92.
12-14 ; Jeremiah 17. 8). planting of . . . Lord {Note, ch.
60. 21.) that he might be glorified—(John 15. 8.) 1. old wastes—Jerusalem and the cities of Judah which long lay in ruins {Note, ch. 58. 12). 5. stand—shall wait on you as servants (ch. 14. 1, 2 ; 60, 10).' 6. But ye—as contrasted with the " strangers." Ye shall have no need to attend to your flocks and lands : strangers will do that for you ; your exclusive business will be the service of Jeho.vah as Hi« " priests" (Exodus 19. 6, which remains yet to be realized ;.13; Matthew 15. 13.) work of my liancls—the converted
Israelites (ch. 29. 23 ; 45. 11). that I may be glorified—the final end of all God's gracious deg,lings (ch. 49. 3; 61. 3). 33.
little one—even one, and that the smallest in number and rank, shall be multiplied a thousandfold in both respects (Micah 5. 2; Matthew 13. 31, 32). his time—not our time; we might wish to hasten it, but it will come in the due time, as in the case of Jesus' first coming (Galatlans 4. 4); so in that of the restoration of Israel and the conversion of the world (ch. 66. 8; Habakkuk 2. 3; Acts 1. 7; Hebrews cf. as to the spiritual Israel, ch. 60. 21 ; 1 Peter 2. 5, 9; Revelation 1. 6; 5. 10). ministers- (Ezekiel 44. 11.) eat . . riclies of . . . Gentiles—(Ch. 60. 5-11.) In their glory . . . boast yourselves—rather, " in their splendour ye shall be substituted in their stead;" lit., ye shall substitute? your-
10.37). CHAPTEE LXI.
selves. [Maurer.] 7. double—Instead of your past share, ye shall have not merely as much, but "double" as much
Ver. 1-11. Messiah's Offices : Restoration of IsKAEL. Messiah announces His twofold commission to bring gospel-mercy at His first coming, and judgments on unbelievers and comfort to Zion at His second coming (v. 1-9) ; the language can be applied to Isaiali, cornforting by his prophecies the exiles in Babylon, only in a subordinate sense. 1. Is upon me; because . . . hath anointed me — quoted by Jesus as His credentials in preaching (Luke 4. 18-21). The Spirit is upon me in preachreward (ch. 40. 2; Zechariah 9. 12; cf. the third clause in this verse), confusion—rather, 'humiliation, or contumely, rejoice—They shall celebrate witli jubilation their' portion. [MAtJRER.] Transition from the second to the third person, in their land — marking the i\!ference to literal Israel, not to the Church at large, everlasting joy—(Ch.
35. 10. ) 8. judgment—justice, which requires that I should restore my people, and give them double in compensa tion for their sufferings, robbery for bunit ol Tering—rather, from a diiferent Hebrew root, the spoil of iNiQUlxy. [HORSLEY.] So in Job 5. 6. Hating, as I do, the rapine, combined with iniquity, perpetrated on my people by their ing, because Jehovah hath anointed me from the womb (Luke 1. 35), and at baptism, with the Spirit "without measure," and permanently "abiding" on me (ch. 11. 2; John 1. 32; 3. 34; Psalm 45. 7 ; with which cf. 1 Kings 1. 39,. enemies, I will vindicate Isiael. direct . . . \^ork In truth—rather, "I will give them the reivard of their luork"
40; 10. 16; Exodus 29. 7), "Anointed" as Messiah, Prophet, Priest, and King, good tidings— as the word gospel means, tlie meek—rather, " the poor," as Luke 4. 18 hath
(cf. Margin, ch. 40. 10; 49. 4; 02. 11) in faithfulness. 9. known — honourably; shall be illustrious (Psalm 07. 2). , people—rather, peopto. seed ... blessed—(Ch. 05. 23.) 10. Zion (D. 3) gives thanks for God's returning favour (cf. Luke 1. 46, 47; Habakkuk 3. J8). salvaiion . . . rigliteousness—Inseparably connected together. The "robe" it, i.e., those afflicted with calamity, poor in circumstances and in spirit (Matthew 11. 5). proclaim liberty (John 8. 31-36.) Language drawn from the deliverance of the Babylonian captives, to describe the deliverance from sin and death (Hebrews 2. 15;) also from the "liberty proclaimed" to all bond-servants on the year of jubilee {v. 2; Leviticus 25. 10 ; Jeremiah 34. 8, 9). opening of tlie prison —The Hebrew rather is, "the most complete opening," viz., of the eyes to them that are bound, i. e., deliverance from prison, for captives are as it were blind in the darkness of prison (ch. 14. 17; .3-5. 5; 42. 7). [Ewald.] So Luke 4. ISand LXX. interpret it. Luke 4. 18, under inspiration, adds to this, for the fuller explanation of the single clause in the Hebrew, "to set at liberty them that are bruised;" thus expressing the double "opening" implied, viz., tliat of the eyes (John 9. 39), and that of the prison (Romans 6. 18; 7.
is a loose mantle thtown over the other parts of the dress (Psalm 132. 9, 16; 149. 4; Revelation 21. 2; 19. 8). decketh himself with ornaments — rather " maketh himself a priestly head-dress," i. e., a magnificent head-dress, such as was worn by the high priest, viz., a mitre and a plate, or crown of gold worn in front of it. [Aquila, <fcc.] Appropriate to the "kingdom of priests," dedicated to the ofl'eriug of spiritual sacrifices to God continually (Exodus 19.
6; Revelation 5. 10; 20. 6). jewels— rather, ornaments in general. [Barnes.J 11. (Ch. 45. 8; 55. 10, 11 ; Psalm 72. 3;
85. 11. ) bud—the tender shoots, praise-(Ch-. 60. 18 ; 62. 7.) CHAPTER LXII.
24, i'); Hebrews 2. 15). His miracles were acted parables. %. acceptable year—the year of jubilee on which "liberty was proclaimed to the captives" {v. I; 2 Corinthians 0. 2). day of vengeance—The "acceptable time of grace" is a "year;" the time of "vengeance" but "a day" (so ch. 34. 8; B3. 4; Malachi 4. 1). Jesus (Luke 4. 20, 21) "closed the book" before this clause; for the interval from His fii-st to His second coming is "the acceptable year;" "the day of vengeance" will not be till He comes again (2 Thessalonians 1. 7-9). our God—The saints call Him " our God :"
Ver. 1-12. iNTERCE.ssoRY Prayers for Zion's Restoration, .accompanying God's pxsomises of it, as the appointed means of accomplishing it. 1. 1 — the prophet,, as representative of all the praying people of God who love and intercede for'Zion (cf. u. 6, 7; Psalm 102.
13-17), or else Messiah (cf. v. 6). So Messiah is represented as unfainting in His eftbrts for IHs people (ch. 42. 4; 50. 7), rigliteousness tliereof—not its own inherently, but imputed to it, for its restoration to God's favour: hence "salvation" answers to it in the parallelism. "Judah" is to be " saved" through " the Lord our (Judali's and I lie Church's) righteousness" (Jeremiah Zi. 6). as brlg Utness — properly the bright shining of the rising sun (ch. 00. 19; 4. 5; 2 Samuel Zi. 4; Proverbs 4. 18). lamp — blazing torch. 8!. (Ch. II. 10; 42. 1-0; 49. 7, 22, 23 ; 00. 3, 5, 10). new name—expression of thy new and improved conditioiu u. 4), the more valuable and lasting as being conferred by Jeliovah himself (V. 12 ; ch. 6.5. 15 ; Revelation 2. 17 ; 3. 12). s'. (Zfcchariah for He Cometh to "avenge" them (Revelation 6. 10; 19. 2). all that mourn—the " all" seems to include the spiritual Israelite mourners, as well as the literal, who are in v. 3 called " them that mourn in Zion," and to whom ch. 57. 18 refers. 3. To appoint ... to give—The double verb, with the one un<l the same accusative, imparts glowing vehemence tothestyle. beauty for ashes—There isaplay on the sound and mianing of the Hebrew words, peer, epher, lit., " ornamental head-dress" or tiara (E/.ekiel 24. 17), worn In times of joy, instead of a head-dress of " ashes," east on the head in mourning (2 Samuel 13. 19). oil of joy—perfumed ointment was poured on the guests at joyous feasts (Psalm 2.S. 5; 45. 7, 8; Amos 6. 6). On occasions of grief its use was laid iislde (2 Samuel 14. 2). garment of praise-
9. 10). In . . . hand of . ; . Lord—As a crown is worn ou the hiad, not "in the hand," hand must here tie figurative for "under the Lord's jwoeciou" (cf. Deuteronomy 33. 3), "All His saints are in thy luuul." His people are in Hi»
TJte OJJice of the Ministers. ISAIAH LXIII. Messiah coming as the Avenger ness—answer of Messiah. I, who have in faithfulness given a promise of deliverance, am now about to fulfil it. Ratlier, speak OF righteousness (ch. 45. 19; 46. 13); salvation being meant as the result of His " rigliteousness." [MacKER.] save—the same Messiah that destroys the uhbeliever saves the believer. 3The propliet asks, why His garinents are "dyed" and "red?" winefat—ratlier, the tvine-press, wherein the grapes were trodden with the feet; hand at the same time that they are " a crown of glory" to Ilim (Revelation 6.2; 19.12); reciprocally, //e is "acrbwn of glory and a diadem of beauty" to them (ch. 28. 5; ef. Malachi 3. 17). 4. be termed—6e " forsaken," so as that that term could be applicable to thee. Heplizi-bali—(2 Kings 21, 1), the name of Hezeklah's wife, a type of Jerusalem, as Hezekiah was of Messiah (ch. 32. 1): "my delight is in her." BeulaU—"Thou art married." See the same contrast of Zion's past and future state under the same figure (ch. 54. 4-6 ; Revelation 21. 2, 4). land . . . innrrled—to Jehovah as its Lord and Husband : implying not only ownership, but protection on the part of the Owner. [HORSI-EY.J 5. tliy sons — Rather, changing the points, which are of no authority in Hebrew, "thy builder" or "restorer," i. e., God; for in the parallel clause, and in tlie juice would stain the garment of him who trod tliem (Revelation 14. 19, 20; 19, 15). The image was appropriate, as tlie country round Bozrah abounded in grapes. This final blow inflicted by Messiah and His armies (Revelation 19. i;?-15) shall decide His claim to the kingdoms usurped by Satan, and by the "beast," to whom .Satan delegates his power. It will be a day of judgment to the hostile Gentiles, as His first coming was a day of judgment to the unbelieving Jews. 3. Reply of Messiali. For the image, see Lamentations 1. 15. He "treads the winepress" here not as a sufferer, but as an inflicter of vengeance, will tread . . . shall be . . . will stain rather preterites, "I trode . . . trampled . . . was sprinkled ... I stained." blood lit., spirted juice of the grape, pressed out by treading. [Gesenius.] 4. is—ratlier, xuti. Tliis assigns the reason why He has thus destroyed tho foe (Zephaniah 3. 8). my redeemed—my people to be redeemed, day . . . year—here, as in ch. 34. 8; 61. 2, tho time of "vengeance" is described as a "day;" that ol grace and of "recompense" to the "redeemed," as a "year." 5. The same words as in ch. 59. 16, except that
V. 4, God is implied as being "married" to her; whei'eas her "sons" could hardly be said to marry their mother; and in ch. 4!). 18, they are said to be her bridal ornamenta, not her husband. The plural form, builders, is used of God in reverence as "husbands" {note, ch. 54. 5). over the bi-ide—in the possession of the bride (ch. &5. 19; Jeremiah
32. 41; Zephaniah 3. 17). 6. I—Isaiah speaking in the person of the Messiah, watchman upon . . . walls image from the watches set upon a city's wall to look out for the approach of a messenger with good tidings (ch. 52.
7, 8); the good tidings of the i lurn of the Jewish exiles from Babylon, prefiguring t»ie return from the present dispersion (cf. ch. 21. 6-11; 56. 10; Ezeklel 3. 17 ; 33. 7). The watches in the East are announced by a loud cry to mark the vigilance of the watchmen, ye that . . . mention tliere it is His "righteousness," here it Is His " fury," which is said to have upheld Him. 6. Rather, preterites, "I trod down . . . made them drunk." The same imago occurs ch. 51. 17, 21-23; Psalm 75. 8; Jeremiah 25. 26,27 will bringdown . . . strength to . . . earth—rather,"* spilled their lite-blood (the same Hebretv words as in v. 3) on the earth." [Lowth and LXX.] 7. Israel's penitential confession and praj'er for restoration (Psalm 102. 17, 20), extending from this verse to the end of ch. 64. lovingkindnesses . . . praises . . , mercies . . . loving-klnd> nesses—the plurals, and the repetitions imply that language is inadequate to express the full extent of God's goodness, us—the dispersed Jews at the lime just preceding their final restoration, honse of Israel—of all ages ; God was good not merely to the Jews now dispersed, but to Isr.ael in every age of its history. 8. he—Jehovah "said." i. e., thought, in choosing them as His covenantpeople; so "said" (Psalm 95. 10). Not that God was ignorant that the Jews would not keep fai til with Him; but God is here said, according to human modes of thought to say within Himself what He might naturally have ex pected, as the result of His goodness to the Jews; thus the enormity of their unnatural perversity is ttie more vividly set fortli. lie-prove false to me (cf. Psalm 44. 17). so—in virtue of His having chosen them. He became tlieir Savioxtr. So the " therefore" (Jeremiah 31. 33). His eternal choice is the ground of His actually saving men (Ephesians 1. 3, 4). 9. he was afflicted English Version reads the Hebrew as the Keri {Margin) does, "There was affliction to Him." But the CliPtib (text) reads, "There was jio aflllction" (the change in Hebrew being onlj' of one letter), f. c, "In all thoir afHIctions there was no (utterly overwhelming), . . I<ord Hebrew, ye that are the Lord's remembrancers ; God's servants who'by their prayers " put God in remembrance" of His promises (ch. 43. 26); we are required to remind God, as if God could, which He cannot, /ojv/ci His promises (Psalm 119. 49; Jeremiah 14. 21). 7. no rest—i7ebrew, "silence;" keep not sWence yourselves, nor let Him rest In silence. Cf. as to Messiah himself, "I will not hold. . . peace . . . not rest" (v. J); Messiah's watchmen (v. 6,
7) imitate Him (v. 1) in intercessory "prayer without ceasing" for Jerusalem (Psalm 122. 6; 51. 18); also for the spiritual Jerusalem, the Cliurch (Luke 18. 1,7 ; Romans 1. 9). a praise (?rote, ch. 61. 11 ; Zephaniah 3. 20.) 8. sworn by. . . right hand—His mighty instrumentof accomplishing Kis will (cf. ch.4.5. 23; Hebrews 6. 13). sonsof . . . stranger Foreigners shall no more rob th,ee of the fruit of thy labours fcf. ch. 65. 21, 22). 9. eat . . . and praise—not consume it on their own lusts, and without thanksgiving, drink It in . . . courts—They who have jra Wiereti the vintage shall drink it at tlie feasts held in the courts surroundin,q; tlie temple (Deuteronomy 12. 17,18; 14. 23, &c.). 10. What Isaiah in the person of Messiah had engaged in (d. 1) unrestingly to seek, and what the watchmen were nnrestingly to pray for (v. 7), and what Jehovah solemnly promised {v. 8, 9), is now to be fulfilled ; the Gentile nations are commanded to "go tlirough the gates'' (either of their own cities [Roskmmuller] or of Jerusalem [MaurekD, in order to remove all obstacles out of "the way of the people" (Israel) {note, 57. 14; 40. 3; 52. 10-12). standard—for the dispersed Jews to rally round, with a view to thoir return (ch. 49. 22; 11. 12). 11. salvation—embodied in the Saviour (see Zechariah 9.9). Ills worU—rather, recompeiise
(ch. 40. 10). 12. Sought out Sought after and highly prized by Jehovah ; answering to " not forsaken" in tlie parallel clause; no longer abandoned, but loved; Image from a wife {v. 4; Jeremiah 30. 14).
affliction" [Gesenius]; or, for "Hardly had an affliction belallen them, when the angel of His presence saved thom" [MaurerI ; or, as best suits the parallelism, "In all their straits there was no straitness in Mis goodness to them" [Hoxtbigant]' (Judges 10. 16; Micah 2. 7; 2 Corintliians 6. 12). angel of his presence— of His face,
CHAPTER LXIII.
r. c, who stands before Him continually; Messiah (Exodus 14. 19; 23. 20, 21; Proverbs 8. 30), language applicable to no creature (Exodus 32.34; 33.2,14; Nuniliers 20.16; Malachl 3.1). bare them—(Ch. 46. .3, 4; 40.11; Exodus
Ver. 1-19. Messiah coming as the Avenger, in answer to His Peoi'le's Prayers. Messiah, approaching .Jerusalem after having avenged His people on His and their enemies, Is represented under imagery taken from the destruction of "Edom," the type of tlie last and most bitter foes of God and His people (see ch. 34. 5, Ac). 1. Who—the question of the prophet in prophetic vision, dyed—scarlet witli blood {v. 2, 3; Revelation 19. 13). Hoirah — (A'o/ff, ch. .34. 6.) travelling—rather, stately; lit., Ihrowinff back the head [Gesbnius.J speak In rlghteous500
19. 4; Deuteronomy 32. 11, 12.) 10. vexed—grieved (Psalm
78. 40; 95.10; Acts 7. 51 ; Ephesians 4. 30; Hebrews 8. 10,
17). he fought—rather, "He it was that fought," viz., tha angel of His presence [HoiiSLEY] (Lamentations 2. 5). 11 remembered-Notwithstanding their perversity. He forgot not iris covenant of old, therefoi-e He did not wholly forsake them (Leviticus 26. 40-42, 44, 45; Psalm 106. 45, 46);