Westminster Annotations, Isaiah · Chapter 42
CHAP. XLII.
Vers. 1. MY servant] Christ, Matth. 12. 18 so called in regard of his humane nature and office of mediatourship. Chap. 49. 3. & 53. 11. Phil. 2. 7. on whom are all the promises of God founded, and ratified in him. 2 Cor. 1. 20.
whom I uphold] With whom I am, to strengthen, support, and enable to the work, which I have assigned him unto. Chap. 49. 5, 8. & 53. 10. John 16. 32.
in whom my soul delighteth] Or, I delight; as Chap. 1. 14. Who alone is acceptable to me; Matth. 3. 17. & 17. 5. and no means of reconcilement, free accesse to me, and gracious accept…nce with me, but by him. John 14. 6. Ephes. 1. 4, 6. & 2. 14. 18.
I have put my Spirit upon him] Chap. 11. 2. & 61. 1. John 3. 34.
be shall bring forth judgement to the Gentiles] He shall be their Governour; calling, and ruling them, by his Word and Spirit. Psal. 2. 8. & 110. 2. Chap. 2. 3. 4. & 49. 6.
V. 2. He shall not crie, &c.] He shall not come with noise and pomp; as the manner of worldly princes is. Zech. 9. 9. Matth. 12. 19. & 21. 5.
V. 3. A bruised reed shall he not break] He shall not deal harshly with weak and feeble ones; but support and comfort them. Chap. 40. 11.
the smoaking flax] Or, dimly burning week. Chap. 43. 17. shall he not quench] Heb. quench it; as Psal 1. 3. The candle-week that is almost out, and burneth but dimly, like one that hath well-neer lost his eye-sight, (Gen. 27. 1. 1 Sam. 3. 2. Zech. 11. 17.) he will not extinguish, but raise, trim, snuffe, supply, and make to burn brighter. Exod. 27. 21. 1 Sam. 3. 3.
he shall bring forth judgement unto truth] Though he favour the weak; yet will he not spare the wicked; but judge according to truth and equitie. Exod. 23. 2, 3, 6. Levit. 19. 15. Chap. 11. 3. 4.
V. 4. nor be discouraged] Heb. broken. Eccl. 12. 6.
till he have set judgement in the earth] Till he have set all things in right and good order.
the isles shall wait for his law] The isles, or, lands; vers. 10. Chap. 41. 1. & 51. 5. Lands for people, nations; as Chap. 37. 18. The Gentiles shall willingly embrace his doctrine. Act. 2. 42. & 13. 48. & 14. 1.
V. 5. he that, &c.] The Almighty God; who created heaven and earth. Gen. 1. 1. Chap. 40. 26. 28.
created the heavens] Chap. 48. 13. Zech. 12. 1.
stretched them out] As a curtain, or canopie: Psalm. 104. 2. Chap. 40. 22.
spread forth the earth] Made it appear above the waters, under which it lay as drowned before. Gen. 1. 9. Psalm. 136. 6. Chap. 44. 24. 2 Pet. 3 3.
that which cometh out of it] Heb. the off-spring of it. Chap. 34. 1.
giveth breath] The breath of life. Gen. 2. 7. Prov. 24. 27. Job 33. 4.
V. 6. called thee] My sonne, and servant. Psal. 2. 8. vers. 1. Heb. 5. 4, 5.
in righteousnesse] In a just course; or, in faithfulnesse; to fulfill my promise. Chap. 1. 27. & 41. 2. & 46. 13. Act. 13. 23, 32, 33.
withhold thine hand] To direct and assist thee. Psal. 16. 8. Chap. 41. 13. & 45. 1.
for a covenant of the people] To be a Mediatour between me and my people, the Jews. Chap. 49. 8. Rom. 15. 8. Heb. 7. 22. & 12 24.
for a light of the Gentiles] To be a Saviour of the Gentiles, by bringing them out of spirituall darknesse into the light of grace and life. Chap. 9. 2. & 49. 6, 9. Luke 2. 32. Act. 13. 47. & 26. 18. Col. 1. 13.
V. 7. To open the blinde eyes] To illighten their mind▪ with the sound knowledge of saving truth. Chap. 35. 5. Act. 26. 18. 2 Cor. 4. 4, 6. Eph. 1. 18. Rev. 3. 18.
to bring out the prisoners] To deliver them ftom the thraldome of sin and Satan. Chap. 61. 1. Luke 4. 18. Rom. 6. 6, 14. & 7. 24, 25. Gal. 1. 4. Col 1. 13. 2 Timoth. 2. 26. Tit. 2. 14. Hebrews 2. 14, 15.
that sit in darknesse] Like close prisoners in a dungeon, into which light hath no accesse. Chap. 9. 2. Luke 1. 79.
the prison-house] Heb. house of restraint. 1 King. 22. 27. Jer. 37. 4. vers. 22.
V. 8. the LORD, that is my name] Jehovah. Psal. 83. 18. the name whereby I will in more speciall manner be known to my people, by making good all my gracious promises to them for their good. See Exod 6. 3.
my glory will I not give to another] I will not suffer my glory to be diminished; as it would be, if I should fail in the performance of my promise, and thereby give idolaters occasion to advance their idols above me. Chap. 48. 11.
V. 9. the former things are come to passe] As in times past I have been true in promises; so will I be for time to come. Josh. 1. 5. & 23. 3, 5. 1 King. 8. 23-25.
V. 10. a new song] An excellent one, or, of a new matter; such as formerly hath not been. Chap. 43. 19. Jer. 31. 22. Psal. 33. 3. & 6. 1. & 98. 1.
that go down to the sea] That use shipping. Psal. 107. 23. Let all praise God every where, both by sea and by land. Psalm. 96. 11, 12.
all that is therein] Heb. the fulnesse thereof. Chap. 34. 1.
the isles] Or, lands. vers. 4.
V. 11. Let the wildernesse, &c.] Chap. 35. 1.
Kedar] The Arabians, or Ishmaelites. Gen. 25. 13. Chap. 21. 17.
the rock] Or, Petra. Chap. 16. 1.
the top] Heb. Head. Chap. 2. 1.
of the mountains] Even those that are most savage; as those mountains usually were. Jer. 3. 2.
V. 12. the islands] Or, lands, countreys. Vers. 10.
V. 13. he shall stirre up jealousie] To shew his zeal for his Church, and his might in saving and preserving it. Psal. 78. 65.
a man of warre] Heb. warres. 1 Chron. 28. 3.
rore] Amos 1. 2. & 3. 8.
prevail] Or, behave himself mightily: or, play the valiant man. Job 15. 25.
V. 14. holden my peace] Forborn executing judgement, and taking vengeance in behalf of my people. Psal. 50. 21. & 83. 1.
now will I crie like a travelling woman] I will now hasten the execution of it with all speed, without further delay; as if I travelled and were in pain, untill it were executed. Chap. 1. 24. & 65. 6. Luke 12. 50.
destroy and devour] Heb. swallow, or sup up. Chap. 25. 8. & 28. 4. An allusion to ravenous wilde beasts, that suddenly shallow down what they have slain; or, slay and swallow at once. Psalm. 124. 3.
V. 15. drie up] Chap. 50. 2.
I strnds] Or, drie lands. Jer. 47. 4. vers. 10.
V. 16. the blinde] My poor people, that are in much grief and perplexity. Psal. 6. 7. & 31. 9. & 38. 10. or, that were by nature blinde, though illightened now by grace. John 9. 13, 17. Ephes. 5. 8. Chap. 43. 8.
by a way that they knew not] I will lead them a new way; the way to peace and life; Luke 1. 79. Heb. 10. 20. a way, they never went before; (as Jer. 16. 13.) or, that they were never acquainted with before. Rom. 15. 20. John 14. 6.
make darknesse light before them] Furnish them with light, going before them, as I did the Israelites in their passage to Canaan. Exod. 13. 21.
crooked things streight] Heb. into streightnesse. Romove all impediments that might hinder their free passage. Chap. 40. 4. & 45. 2.
unto them] Or, for them. Chap. 26. 12.
V. 17. turned back] As men forced to flee, or that turn their faces away for shame. Psalm. 40. 14. & 129. 5. See Psalm. 97. 7. Chap. 1. 29. & 44. 11. & 45. 16.
V. 18. ye deaf, &c.] Ye among mine own people, that continue still spiritually deaf and blinde, notwithstanding the meanes of grace afforded you; or that are voluntarily such. Ezek. 12. 2.
V. 19. my servant] Israel: that should have most light, and best sight, in regard of my law. Psal 147. 19, 20. Rom. 3. 1, 2. & 11. 25. 2 Cor. 3. 14.
my messenger] The Priests; unto whom Gods word was committed, both to hear it themselves, and to declare it to others. Deut. 33. 10. Mal. 2. 7, 8. Chap. 28. 7.
he that is perfect] The Priests and Prophets, that should be perfect and unblamable, that they might be lights and types to others, 1 Tim. 3. 2. & 4. 12. Tit. 2. 7. but were blinde and bad guides, Chap. 3. 12. & 56. 10, 11. Matth. 15. 14. & 23. 16, 19. Or, he that hath been recompensed and rewarded, 1 Sam. 2. 4. 19. upon whom God hath bestowed many blessings: to wit, the Jewish people. Exod. 19. 4, 5. Deut. 4. 7. Amos 3. 2.
V. 20. Seeing, &c.] Deut. 29. 3, 4. Chap. 6. 9.
many things] So many of Gods wonderfull works wrought, either in, or for his Church. Deut. 4. 3. & 11. 7. Psal. 106. 7.
but] Heb. and. as Chap. 29. 13.
observest not] Rom. 2. 20-23.
opening the ears] As if they did hearken, and desired to hear. Chap. 58. 2. Jer. 42. 2, 3, 5, 6. Ezek. 14. 1. 3. & 33. 30. 31.
but] Heb. and.
heareth not] No more observe, or regard, then as if they heard not at all: Ezek. 33. 32. or, hear with the outward ear, but not with the inward; of which Chap. 50. 4, 5.
V. 21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousnesse sake, he will magnifie the law, and make it honourable] Gods pleasure is to magnifie his Law and honour it, as well by execution of judgement upon the transgressours of it, as by making good his promises unto those that observe it. Deut. 33. 2. & 32. 47. & 29. 19, 20. Or, God set his love and affection on this people; Deut. 7. 7. & 33. 3. and honoured them, by bestowing on them, and committing unto them, his Law. Deut. 4. 8. Psal. 147. 19. 20. Chap. 43. 4. Rom. 2. 1, 2.
is well pleased] Or, delighted in him. Psal. 149. 4. Chap. 62. 4.
his righteousnesse] His justice: or, his fidelitie, vers. 6. in fulfilling his promises made to their fathers. Deut. 7. 8.
he will magnifie the law] Or, to magnifie; or, that he magnifie: as Psal. 9. 20. Or, he magnified and dignified him with his law: as Psal. 17. 13, 14.
it] Or, him.
V. 22. But] Heb. And: as Chap. 53. 5. vers. 19.
robbed] Because they regard not the blessing of Gods word and grace vouchsafed them and tendred unto them, but wilfully shut their eyes and stop their ears against either, God will expose them to direption and thraldome without relief or release. Chap. 28. 13.
spoiled] Or, troden down Chap. 17. 14.
they are all of them snared in holes] Or, in snaring all the young men of them: as Chap. 40. 30. Taken, as birds or beasts in snares and pit-falls. Psal. 35. 7. Chap. 24. 17. Lam. 4. 20. Ezek. 17. 20. & 19. 4. 8, 9.
prison-houses] Heb. houses of restraints; or, persons restrained. Vers. 7.
a spoil] Heb. a treading. Jer. 30. 16.
V. 23. hearken, and hear] To reform himself, and for time to come grow wiser and better by the present afflictions; considering from whom, and for what they come. Jer. 9. 12. Mic. 6. 9. Or, to grow wiser and more wary, by looking backward on judgements formerly inflicted. Vers. 24. Josh. 22. 17. Nehem. 13. 18. Zech. 1. 5, 6.
for the time to come] Heb. for the after-time: or, for backward. Chap. 1. 4.
V. 24. for] Or, because; or, yet: as Chap 9. 1.
V. 25. the fury of his anger] Or, his wrath with fervour, or, f… ry, as vers. 21.
the strength of battell] Or, warre: that is, forain forces of great strength sent in upon him. Chap. 21. 15. & 36. 2.
it hath set him on fire round about] Wasted his countrey with fire and sword; and set all on a light fire. Chap. 9. 18. 19.
he knew not] He taketh no notice of it. Hos. 7. 9. such was their extream stupiditie; not sensible of Gods judgements present upon them. Jer. 5. 3.