Westminster Annotations, Isaiah · Chapter 40
CHAP. XL.
Vers. 1. COmfort ye] Consolation of the Church, by promises of Preservation and Restitution: beginning with an Exhortation to the Ministers of God, by giving notice thereof to comfort Gods people.
V. 2. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem] Heb. to the heart of Jerusalem. Gen. 34. 3. Hos. 2. 14.
her warfare is accomplished] Or, appointed time. Job 7. 1. and 14. 14. The time of her affliction is neer expired.
double] A large, full, sufficient measure of chastisements. Chap. 61. 7. Jer. 16. 18. and 17. 18.
V. 3. of him that crieth] Of the Prophets: but more specially of John the Baptist. Mal. 3. 1. Matth. 3. 3. Mark. 1. 3. Luk. 3. 4. Joh. 1. 23.
in the wildernesse, Prepare ye the way of the LORD] Or, In the wildernesse prepare ye the way of the Lord. Or, a way for the Lord. In the wildernesse, that is, in the wast places; by which Gods people were to passe under his conduct in their return from captivitie; as in their travelling toward Canaan. Psal. 68. 7. Chap. 41. 18, 19. and 43. 19, 20. Jer. 31. 9.
make streight] Or, eaven: lay levell. Chap. 26. 7.
a high-way] Or, a causey. Chap. 35. 8.
for our God] As is wont to be done for great Princes and their retinue, by herbingers and workmen sent before, when they are to remove, or to journey to some remote place.
V. 4. Every valley shall be exalted, &c.] The way shall be levelled and made eaven for their easier and more convenient passage; and all lets and impediments removed. Chap. 11. 15, 16. and 42. 16. and 49. 11. Zech. 4. 7.
shall be made streight] Or, a streight place.
plain] Or, a plain place: a plain, or vale. Ezek. 3. 23. and 37. 1.
V. 5. the glory of the LORD,] The glory of Gods merciemercy and bountie to his people: of his power, in protecting and preserving them; and of his truth and fidelitie, in performance of his promises made unto them. Or, Christ, the Sonne of God, full of glory and majestie. Joh. 1. 14.
all flesh shall see] The deliverance shall be so strange, and so great, that notice shall be taken of it throughout the whole world. Psal. 97. 6. Chap. 33. 13. and 66. 18.
for the mouth, &c.] Chap. 1. 20.
V. 6. The voice] Of God speaking to the Prophet. 1 King. 19. 12, 13.
All flesh is grasse] Job. 14. 2. Psal. 102. 11. and 103. 15. 1 Pet. 1. 24.
all the goodlinesse] Heb. goodnesse, Prov. 19. 22. and 20. 6. or, gracefulnesse; or, grace; or, glory. Exod. 33. 19, 22. All the wisdom, power, beautie, favour, worldly and naturall endowments of it.
V. 7. because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it] Or, when the breath of the Lord bloweth upon it. The spirit of God shall discover the vanitie of all humane excellency. Psal. 39. 5. Or, it is all soon blasted and withered, if God do but blow upon it, vers. 24. Psal. 103. 16. Hag. 1. 9.
V. 8. the word of our God shall stand for ever] Meaning, that albeit through the frailtie of mans nature many of the Jewish people might perish, and so not partake of the deliverance promised; yet Gods promise should be fulfilled, and those that remained, feel and enjoy the fruit of it. Rom. 3. 3. and 9. 6. and 11. 1, 5. Or, the word of God either herein, or in ought else, doth never fail, nor that which is by it wrought on the soul thereby regenerate. See Psal. 119. 89. Matth. 5. 18. Mark. 13. 31. Joh. 8. 51. 1 Pet. 1. 25. 2 Joh. 2.
V. 9. O Ziou, that bringest good tidings] Or, O thou, that tellest good tidings to Ziou. Chap. 52. 7.
get thee up into the high mountain] Or, unto an high mountain. To publish this benefit through the whole world. Rom. 10. 18.
O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings] Or, O thou, that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem.
lift up thy voice with strength] Cry with all thy might, as loud as ever thou art able, that as many as may be, may hear thee. Psal. 29. 4. 1 Chron. 25. 5.
Behold your God] Is come to save you; as by temporall deliverance out of Babylon, so spiritually by Christ. Matth. 11. 28. & 18. 11.
V. 10. with strong hand] Chap. 8. 11. Or, against the strong. Chap. 49. 24. Luk. 11. 21, 22.
his arm shall rule for him] His power, Chap. 51. 5. and 53. 1. and 63. 16. sufficient of it self to effect his own work and will, Psal. 115. 3. shall overcome and oversway all opposition. Chap. 41. 2. and 59. 16. Rev. 6. 2.
his reward is with him] Chap 62. 11. Rev. 22. 12.
his work] Or, recompence for his work. Chap. 49. 4.
V. 11. feed his flock] Ezek. 34. 23. Joh. 10. 11.
gather] Or, take up. Psal. 27. 10.
bosome] Or, lap. Chap. 49. 22.
gently lead those that are with young] Or, that give suc…. Psal. 78. 71. 1 Sam. 6. 7. He will shew exceeding great care of, and kindnesse to the weak and tender-hearted ones. Gen. 33. 13. Chap. 42. 3. Matth. 11. 28.
V. 12. Who] Who but God? or, who besides him? Prov. 30. 4.
hath measured &c.] Gods incomparable and infinite power and greatnesse; ready to be employed for the succour and safegard of his; opposed here to the poornesse, basenesse and impotencie of idols and images.
the waters] The main Ocean. Gen. 1. 9, 10.
in the hollow of his hand] Or, palm. or, fist. 1 King. 20. 10. Prov. 30. 4.
meted out heaven with the span] A speech borrowed from builders or carpenters, that use to mete out their work, sometime by rule, and sometime by hand. Chap. 44. 13. and 46. 13.
in a measure] Heb. a tierce; or, cup of three: a drinking, or quaffing cup, as appeareth, Psal. 80. 5. So called, as may be conjectured, because it contained so much as might well make three ordinary draughts; or as much as three of those cups, that usually they drank off at one draught. Or, it may be, a cup with three eares, or three feet: a cup, it seemes, of the larger size.
V. 13. Who, &c.] Job 21. 22. and 36. 22, 23. Wisd. 9. 13. Rom. 11. 34. 1 Cor. 2. 16.
directed the spirit of the LORD, &c.] His infinite wisdom, for the same purpose mentioned, 2 Pet 2. 9.
his counseller] Heb. man of his counsell. Or, his man of counsell. Psal. 119. 24.
V. 14. With whom took he counsel] From whom received he any information, or direction, either for the framing of the world, or for the ruling and ordering of it being now framed? As kings use to do with their counsellers of State in matters of great moment, or neer concernment. 2 Chron. 30. 2. Est. 1. 13.
instructed him] Heb. made him understand. Psal. 119. 27.
understanding] Heb. understandings. Psal. 78. 72. any manner of understanding. as Chap. 27. 11.
V. 15. the nations, &c.] This is further added, to teach them, neither to fear man, nor to trust in any but God onelyonly. Chap. 51. 7, 8, 12. Psal. 62. 8. 9. and 146. 3, 4.
as a drop of a bucket] That hangeth on it, when it is drawn up; or that falleth beside, or stayeth behind, when the water is poured out, and yet diminisheth not the measure.
dust of the balance] That hangeth on the scale, and yet altereth not the weight; or stayeth in it, after the spice, weighed in it, is powred out: a thing of no considerable worth, or weight. Psal. 62. 9.
the isles] Or, countries. Chap. 41. 1.
V. 16. Lebanon] All the cedars and other trees that grow on that spacious mountain. Psal 29. 6. and 104. 16. Chap. 37. 24.
sufficient for a burnt-offering] No creature, or matter, is sufficient to furnish a service of God, answerable to his infinite greatnesse. Chap. 66. 1.
V. 17. as nothing] Dan. 4. 35.
lesse then nothing, and vanitie] Psal. 62. 9.
V. 18. To whom &c.] Spoken to strengthen them against idolatry, though never so pompously set out; that they might be tempted unto in Babylon. Chap. 44. 21. Jer. 10. 1-13. Dan. 3. 1, 2.
liken] Or, resemble. vers. 24. Act. 17. 29.
compare unto him] Or, set him up? or, fit him with? Chap. 65. 11.
V. 19. The workman] Or, brasier: or, founder. See Chap. 41. 6. and 44. 12. Jer. 10. 3.
melteth] Chap. 44. 10.
a graven image] An image to be afterward graven and polished, of brasse, or some baser metall which for more state and shew, he further causeth to be overlaid with gold.
the goldsmith] Heb. finer. Judg. 17. 4.
spreadeth it over with gold] Beateth out gold into thin plates; and therewith covereth it. Jer. 10. 9.
casteth silver chains] Wherewith to fasten it unto some post, or to some staple in the wall; that it may not fall, or stirre, but stand bolt upright. Chap. 41. 7. and 46. 7. Jer 10. 5.
V. 20. so impoverished that he hath no oblation] Heb. is poor of oblation. The eagernesse of idolaters; who though so poor that they want necessaries, will finde wherewith to furnish themselves with some idol. Chap. 44. 12.
chooseth a tree] Because he wanteth matter of better worth.
workman] Or, carpenter: or, ca…ver. Chap. 41. 7.
V. 21. from the beginning] Heb. head. Chap. 41. 4.
not understood from the foundations of the earth] Have ye not, if not Gods word to instruct you, yet his works to inform you of his majestie and greatnesse? Job 22. 7-10. Psal. 19. 1, 2. Rom. 1. 20.
V. 22. It is he that sitteth] Or, Him that sitteth. Or, That it is he, that sitteth. as vers. 28. to wit, God, who sitteth as Lord of the whole world, with his throne in heaven, and his foot-pace on earth. Chap. 66. 1.
as grashoppers] Numb. 13. 33. Or, locusts. 2 Chron. 7. 13.
stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain] Psal. 104. 2. Chap. 42. 5.
V. 23. bringeth the princes to nothing] Job 12. 21. Psal. 107. 40.
V. 24. Yea they shall not be planted, &c.] Or, So that they are, as if they had not been planted, nor sowen, nor their stocke taken root: though they seemed to have taken, like oakes, or cedars, never so deep rooting before. Psal. 32. 35, 36. Ezek. 31. 3-14.
and he shall also blow upon them] Or, yea let him but blow upon them. A blast onelyonly of his breath is sufficient to blow them away, and to confound them. Vers. 7. Chap. 59. 19. Zech. 4. 6.
as stubble] Chap. 41. 2. Jer. 13. 24.
V. 25. To whom, &c.] Vers. 18.
liken] Or, resemble.
or shall I be equall] Or, that I should be like it? Pro. 26. 4. Ch. 53. 2
V. 26. on high] To the heavens; the starry skie. Chap. 51. 6.
these things] The starres; that numberlesse host. Gen. 15. 5.
bringeth out their host by number] Like a chieftain, that mustereth his souldiers, and assigneth each one his place and station. Job 38. 37. Psal. 147. 4.
not one fatleth] But appeareth in his place, as ready prest to do God his generall service, whensoever he shall thereunto appoint him. Chap. 48. 13. Jud. 5. 20.
V. 27. Why sayest thou] He rebuketh the Jews for their distrust of Gods providence, as if he had forsaken and forgotten them in their troubles. Chap. 49. 14.
My way is hid from the LORD] God taketh no notice of those things that befall me; no more then as if they were concealed from his sight. Gen. 4. 14. Psal. 31. 22. & 94. 7.
my judgement is passed over from my God] He regardeth not to right the wrong done me: it is past from him. as Jer. 8. 13.
V. 28. Hast thou not known] Or, Doest thou not know? Are ye now to learn that, that hath so oft been told and taught you?
the creatour of the ends of the earth fainteth not] That God, both created at first, and still ruleth the world, without toil or travell: and is able therefore, having all power, both to deliver you, when he seeth good, Chap. 63. 1. and mean-while to support and keep you from fainting or failing, be ye never so feeble of your selves. Ver. 29. 31.
no searching of his understanding] Psal. 147. 5. Chap. 55. 8, 9. Rom. 11. 33. And men therefore must patiently abide; and not curiously scan the causes of his delay in their afflictions, or presumptuously tax him for the same. Chap. 8. 17. & 30. 18.
V. 29. giveth power to the faint] Making his might to appear in mans weaknesse. 2 Cor. 12. 9. and enabling those to do any thing, Phil. 4. 13. who of themselves can do nothing. Joh. 15. 5. 2 Cor. 3. 5. & 4. 7. & 10. 4-6.
V. 30. the youths] Such as trust to their own strength. Psal. 20. 8. & 33. 16. & 52. 7. Amos 2. 14.
shall utterly fall] Heb. stumbling stumble.
V. 31. renew their strength] Heb. change, or, double (Job 14. 7. & 29. 20.) their strength. Chap. 41. 1. They shall have a new supply of strength, to enable them to bear up and hold out, when they seem utterly spent. 2 Cor. 1. 8, 9.
as eagles] That flie strongly, and soar aloft. Job 39. 30. Psal. 103. 3. Jer. 49. 16.
they shall walk and not faint] They shall be enabled to persist and persevere to the end. Mat. 24. 13. 2 Cor. 4. 16. Phil. 1. 6. 2 Tim. 4. 18.