Westminster Annotations, Isaiah · Chapter 45
CHAP. XLV.
Vers. 1. HIs anointed] Cyrus; so called, because by God assigned to be the deliverer of his people. So 1 King. 19. 15, 16. Chap. 61. 1. See Chap. 44. 28.
whose right hand I have holden] Or, strengthened. or, do hold, or strengthen. Psal. 89. 21. Chap. 41. 10, 13. & 42. 6. to enable him to that work, that I intend to doe by him, Chap. 46. 11.
to subdue nations] Psal. 144. ….
and I will loose] Or, to loose. Heb. open. Chap. 5. 27.
the loins of kings] By striking them with the sword, through the loins; where wounds are deadly, Deut. 32. 11. and where the seat of strength is, Job 40. 16. Nahum 2. 1. Or, by smiting them with terrour, and pain thence proceeding, Ezek. 21. 6. Dan. 5 6. Chap. 21. 3. Nahum. 2. 10. Or, by loosing the girdle, the emblem of strength, from their loins, Job 12. 18. Chap. 11. 5. & 22. 21. and 23. 10. vers. 5.
the two-leaved gates] Such as great cities and palaces are wont to have▪ Deut. 3. 5. Mal. 1. 10. See Chap. 13. 2.
and the gates shall not be shut] Or, that the gates be not shut. as Josh. 24. 9. Mal. 1. 9. That all may flie open before him, Act. 12. 10.
V. 2. I will go before thee] To conduct thee, Chap. 58. 8. Exod. 13. 21.
make the crooked places streight] Or, uneaven wayes eaven. To remove all impediments out of thy way, Chap. 40. 4. & 42. 16. vers. 13.
I will break in pieces the gates of brasse, &c.] No strength shall be able to withstand thee, or keep thee out, Psal. 107. 16. Prov. 18. 19.
V. 3. the treasures of darknesse, &c.] The rich treasures, as of other kingdomes, so of Babylon especially, Jer. 50. 37. & 51. 13. that have a long time been laid up, and lien out of sight; but thou shalt now seise on, and receive as a reward for thy work done for me and my people, Ezek. 29. 18,—20.
that thou mayest know] Not that he knew God so, as to worship him aright, vers. 4. but to take notice, that God had ordained him to such a work, and enabled him thereunto, 2 Cor. 36. 23. Ezra 1. 2.
which call thee by thy name] See Chap. 44. 28. vers. 1. 4.
V. 4. For Jacob my servants sake] Not for thy worth, or any thing in thee; but out of my love to my people, Chap. 43. 4.
I have surnamed thee] I ha…e taken speciall notice of thee, Exod. 33. …, 17. Chap. 43. 1. Joh. 10. 3. Or, have given thee an other name, then at first thou hadst; as Gen. 17. 5, 15. & 32. 28. Joh. 1. 42. For at first he was called Spaco, some say, which signifieth a dog; after, Cyrus, by▪ a more honourable name, when he came to the kingdome, Chap. 44. 28. So Herodotus lib. 1. & Justin. lib. 1.
though thou hast not known me] Or, when thou didst not know me. vers. 5.
V. 5. I am the LORD, &c.] Deut. 4. 35, 39. & 32. 39. Chap. 44. 8.
I girded thee] I gave thee power and might, Chap. 11. 5. & 22. 21. Psal. 18. 32. though thou little thoughtest on me, or who i… was, that did so prosper and strengthen thee, vers. 1. 2. Or, when as yet thou knewest nothing at all of me; though afterward thou didst, vers. 3.
though thou hast not known me] Or, when thou knewest me not. as Chap. 43. 12. Jer. 34. 1. vers. 4.
V. 6. they may know] Or, it might be known. Chap. 59. 19. Mal. 1. 11.
the west] Heb. evening coast. Psal. 113. 3. Chap. 43. 5.
V. 7. I form the light, and create darknesse] I send warre and peace; prosperitie and adversitie, Psal. 94. 11. & 112. 4. Lam. 3. 37, 38. as by the motions of the celestiall bodies I make the ayer either lightsome or dark, Psal. 19. 1, 2. & 74. 16. & 104. 20. Jer. 31. 35. & 33. 20.
create evill] Amos 3. 6.
V. 8. ye heavens] He calleth upon the heavens, to be instruments▪ of the furtherance of Gods work in the just and due performance of his promise to his people; by the deliverance of them, and the destruction of their enemies, Josh. 10. 13. Judg. 5. 20. 1 Sam. 7. 10. Psal. 18. 9,—14. & 85. 11.
I the LORD have created it.] Or, created him. The work is mine, Psal. 109. 27. Or, I have made Cyrus for it, Chap. 44. 28.
V. 9. Wo unto him that striveth with his maker] Spoken, either to curb and restrain their impatience, who in their afflictions murmur against God, refusing to wait his leisure and abide his pleasure: teaching that man should cope and contend with his mate, and not quarell with God, 2 King. 6. 33. Chap. 58. 2. Or, to check and control the pride and arrogancie of the enemies of Gods people, who made account to make their part good against God, Chap. 10. 11. & 37. 10.
shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, &c.] Chap. 29. 16. and 64. 8. Jer. 18. 6. Rom 9. 20.
thy work, He hath no hands] Or, there are not hands for thy work. Thy work is not exactly done. Or, Thou wantest abilitie to go through with it.
V. 11. Ask me of things to come concerning my sonnes and concerning the work of mine hands command ye me] Or, Ask of me things to come; concerning my sonnes, and concerning the work of my hands will ye command me? or, enjoyn, or, order me? as Chap. 38. 1. and 48. 5. for so are members of the text distinguished in the Hebrew. Seek to me for the accomplishment of my promises concerning my people and their deliverance, and ye shall not fail of what ye desire or require. I shall be as ready to doe you service, as if you had me at command: as Josh. 10. 14. ye shall be as sure to obtain what ye ask, as if ye had me at command, 1 Joh. 5. 14. 15. Or, Seek to me for information concerning things to come, and not to your idols, that are not able to inform you of ought in this kind, Chap. 41 22. & 44. 7. but presume not to injoyn, or appoint me, what I shall do concerning the deliverance of my people, and those things that for their sakes I intend to effect. Chap. 44. 7. that it may answer to vers. 9. 10.
V. 12. I have made the earth] Psal. 102. 25. Vers. 18. Chap. 48. 13.
created man] Gen. 1. 27.
stretched out the heavens] Psal. 104. 2. Chap. 42. 5.
all their host] The starres, Gen. 2. 1. Deut. 4. 19.
have I commanded] Or, do I command. Chap. 40. 26.
V. 13. I have raised him up in righteousnesse] Cyrus; to shew the faithfulnesse of my promise, in the deliverance of my people, Chap. 41. 2. and 42. 6. vers. 23.
direct] Or, make streight. Or, level all his wayes. Give him free passage and successe in all his undertakings, and facilitate for him all his designs, vers. 2.
he shall build my city] Give order for the building of Jerusalem, 2 Chron. 36. 22, 23. Ezr. 1 1,—3. Chap. 44. 28. as Act. 7. 47.
my captives] Heb. my captivity▪ as Chap. 20. 4. My people remaining in captivitie under the Chaldeans.
not for price, nor reward] Freely; without ransome, or any hard conditions.
V. 14. The labour] The fruit of their labour; their wealth gotten by it, Psal. 128. 2. Jer. 3. 24.
Egypt, &c.] The people, that are tributarie to the Persians, as the Egyptians, Ethiopians, and Arabians, shall be commanded to contribute towards the building of my Temple, Ezra 1. 4. and 7. 21, 22.
Ethiopia] Heb. Cush. Chap. 20. 3.
the Sabeans] A people of Arabia, of the posteritie of Cush, Gen. 10. 27.
men of stature] Heb. measure. or, dimension. 1 Chron. 11. 23. and 20. 6.
they shall come over] Whereas they were thine enemies before, they shall now seek, and submit unto thee: fulfilled principally in Christ and his Church, Psal. 45. 12. and 72. 9, - 11. Chap. 49. 23. and 60. 10, 12▪ 14. Rev. 3. 9.
God is in thee] Zech. 8. 23. 1 Cor. 14. 25.
there is none else] Vers. 21.
V. 25. thou art a God that hidest thy self] Thou doest for some time with-draw thy self in thy peoples afflictions, Psal. 10. 1. Isa. 57. 17. and they must therefore with patience waite for their deliverance; though a while it be delayed: for they that so do, shall not repent of their patience, but shall be delivered; when the wicked and idol-worshippers shall be destroyed, Chap. 8. 17. and 30. 18. and 44. 11.
V. 17. in the LORD] Or, by the Lord.
an everlasting salvation] Heb. a salvation of ages. or, eternities. as Chap. 26. 4. Dan. 9. 24. See Chap. 54. 6, 8.
ye shall not be ashamed] Joel 2. 26, 27.
world without end] Heb. unto age of eternitie.
V. 18. created the heavens] Vers. 12. Gen. 1. 1.
he formed it to be inhabited] By man, Psal. 115. 16. but chiefly for his Church.
there is none else] Vers. 14. 21, 22.
V. 19. I have not spoken in secret] Chap. 48. 16. But in publike, openly, Deut. 5. 22. & 30. 11. Jer. 3. 12. Joh. 18. 20.
in a dark place of the earth] As do the false gods, that give in dark tearms uncertain answers. Or that speak in dark corners, out of the ground, Chap. 8. 19. & 29. 4.
Seek ye me] Psal. 27. 8. vers. 11.
in vain] Not in vain; because I make good, what I promise them; whatsoever worldlings think of it, Job 21. 15. and 22. 17. Mal. 3. 14.
speak righteousnesse] Chap. 63. 1.
V. 20. ye that are escaped of the nations] Ye of the Gentiles, who before were strangers, Ephes. 2. 12. Col. 1. 21. now come your selves, and incite one another to come in to me, Chap. 2. 2, 3. Zech. 8. 21, 22.
they have no knowledge] Chap. 44. 18.
set up the wood, &c.] Chap. 46. 7.
pray unto a god that cannot save] Chap. 44. 17. Jer. 2. 27. Hose. 4. 12.
V. 21. Tell ye, &c.] Chap. 41. 22, 23, 28.
who hath declared, &c.] Chap. 41. 26. & 48. 14.
from that time] Heb. from then. Chap. 16. 13. & 44. 8.
there is no God else beside me] Vers. 14. 18. Chap. 44. 8. Hos. 13. 4.
V. 22. Look unto me, and be ye saved] He calleth the Gentiles, …y the eye of faith, to look after him, that they may be saved by him; and not after their idols, which cannot save them, Psal. 34. 5. Chap. 17. 7, 8. Joh. 6. 40.
V. 23. the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousnesse] Or, out of my righteous mouth. as Chap. 41. 10. What I have uttered, shall be faithfully and certainly fulfilled and performed, vers. 13. Psal. 89. 34. Chap. 48. 3.
shall not return] It shall not be revoked and reversed; or return without effect, Chap. 55. 11.
that unto me, &c.] That the knowledge, and acknowledgement of me, by submission to me, and worship done me, shall passe through the whole world, Psal. 2. 8, 9. Rom. 14. 11. Phil. 2. 10.
every knee shall bow] They shall not serve me in heart onelyonly, but declare it also by externall expressions and profession; as 1 King. 19. 18.
every tongue shall swear] Swear by me: or swear allegeance to me. See Chap. 19. 18. & 48. 1.
V. 24. Surely, shall one say, In the LORD have I righteousnesse and strength] Or, Surely he shall say of me, In the Lord is all righteousnesse and strength. The faithfull shall finde, feel and freely confesse it, that all their righteousnesse and spirituall abilitie is from God, Zech. 12. 5. Joh. 15. 5. 2 Cor. 3. 5. Phil. 2. 13. and 3▪ 9. and 4. 13.
righteousnesse] Heb. righteousnesses. as Chap. 27. 11. Mic. 6. 5.
all that are incensed against him] Against God, Psal. 2. 1. & 92. 9. Or against his Church, Chap. 41. 11.
V. 25. In the LORD] Jesus Christ, Jer. 23. 6. & 33. 16. 1 Cor. 1. 30. 2 Cor. 5. 21.
all the seed of Israel] The spirituall seed of Jacob, Psal. 24. 6. the Israel of God, Rom. 11. 26. Gal. 6. 16.
be justified] Be freed from, and discharged of the guilt of their sinnes, Act. 10. 43. & 13. 37, 38. Rom. 3. 24, 25.
and shall glory] In him, and not in themselves, Rom. 3. 27. Jer. 9. 24. 1 Cor. 1. 31. Gal. 6. 14.