Westminster Annotations, Isaiah · Chapter 49
CHAP. XLIX.
Vers. 1. LIsten] Chap. 41. 1.
O Isles] Or, lands, countreys. Chap. 20. 6. Jerem. 47. 2.
The LORD hath called me] The Lord Jesus Christ; in whom all Gods promises are both made, and made good; 2 Cor. 1. spoken here, as in his person, to assure the faithfull, that they shall be fulfilled.
from the bowels of my mother] From the time of his manifestation in the flesh. Psal. 2. 7. vers. 5. Jer. 1. 5. Gal. 1. 15. Luk. 2. 9. 25, 26.
hath he made mention of my name] He named me, before I was born. Matth. 1. 21. Luk. 1. 31. Or, he recorded, entred it upon record. Chap. 12. 4.
V. 2. he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword, &c.] By sword and shaft is signified the power and efficacie of the doctrine of Christ. Psal. 45. 3, 5. Chap. 11. 4. & 51. 16. Act. 2. 37. Eph. 6. 17. Hebr. 4. 12. Rev. 1. 16. & 6. 2.
in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me] God hath taken me into his protection. Num. 14. 9. Psal. 17. 8. & 31. 20. & 91. 1, 2. Chap 51. 16.
made me a polished shaft] That pierceth quicker and deeper, then one rustie, or unpolished. Ezek. 21. 21. as a forbished sword. Ezek. 21. 9.
V. 3. Thou ar… my servant] Chap. 42. 1.
O Israel] Or, Israel it is, in whom I will be glorified by thee.
Israel] Christ; so called, because the head of the elect, and one with them; who are therefore called Christ. Galat. 3. 16. 1 Cor. 12. 12. Or, the bodie of the faithfull, Rom. 11. 26. Gal. 6. 16. in the salvation of whom by Christ, God will be glorified. Chap. 46. 13. Eph. 1. 6, 12, 14. Or, the people of the Jews, unto whom Christ was first and principally sent, as before he had been promised. Matth. 4. 23, 24. & 10. 6. Luke 24. 47. Act. 13. 23, 32, 33. 46. & 28. 25.
V. 4. I have laboured in vain] Christ complaineth of the small fruit of his labour among his own people. Chap. 53. 1. & 65. 2. Matth. 8. 10. & 23. 37. John 1. 11. & 5. 40. 43. & 12. 37. 38.
my judgement is with the LORD] Yet this is his comfort, that his work is known to God, approved by him, and accepted of him; whatsoever the issue be in regard of others. 1 Cor. 3. 8. & 15. 58. 2 Cor. 2. 15.
my work] Or, my reward. Chap. 40. 10.
V. 5. that formed me from the womb] Vers. 1.
though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious] Or, that Israel may be gathered to him, and I may be glorious, &c. That I may bring home to God his people that are now estranged, having strayed away from him. Matth 15. 24. & 18. 11. Or, albeit the Jews, for the main body of them, refuse me and my doctrine; yet will God assist me in it, and glory shall accrue both to him and me by it. John 5. 30, 37. & 6. 38. & 7. 16, 18. & 16. 32. & 12. 28. & 17. 4, 5.
be not gathered] Or, will not be gathered. Matth. 23. 37.
V. 6. It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant, &c.] Or, Art thou lighter, then that thou shouldest, &c. It is too small a matter for thee to save the Jewish people alone: I have a greater work for thee to effect then that. John 11. 52. 1 John 2. 2. Or, do the Jewish people think so meanly of thee, as if thou wert not able to work their deliverance? 1 Sam. 10. 27. Chap. 53. 2, 3. Mark. 6. 3. John▪ 1 46. & 7. 27, 52.
to raise up the tribes of Jacob] To repair the ruines of Gods Church in that people. Vers. 8. Chap. 44. 26. & 58. 12. Or, to save Gods elect, whom he hath a speciall care of, among them. Deut. 32. 10. Matth. 24. 22 24. Rom. 11. 2. 4. 5. Jude 1.
the preserved] Or, reserved; or, desolations. Chap. 65. 4.
for a light to the Gentiles] To preach salvation to them. Chap. 42. 6. & 51. 4. Luke 2. 32. Act. 13. 47. & 22. 21. & 26. 17, 18.
my salvation unto the end of the earth] Psal. 98. 3.
V. 7. the redeemer of Israel] Chap. 48 17.
to him whom man despiseth] Or, to him that is despised in soul; or, whose person is despised. Chap. 43. 4. Christ; who in mans eye seemeth contemptible. Psal. 22. 6, 7. Chap. 52. 14. & 53. 2, 3.
the nation] This nation; the Jewish people. Act 3. 14.
a servant of rulers] Used basely, and in a servile manner by them. Matth. 26. 67. Luke 23. 11. John 19 1, 2, 5.
Kings shall see and arise] The greatest potentates shall submit themselves to his scepter. Psal. 72. 10, 11. & 110. 2, 5. and in token of reverence arise before him. Lev. 19 32. Judg. 3. 20. 1 King. 2. 19. Job 29. 8.
princes also] Or, princes, (to wit, shall arise) and shall worship.
the holy One of Israel] Chap. 1. 4.
and he shall choose thee] Or, who hath chosen thee; to be the Saviour of his people. Chap. 43. 10.
V. 8. In, &c.] Chap. 61. 2. 2 Cor. 6. 2. Psal. 69. 13.
an acceptable time] Heb. a time of good will.
have I heard] Or, answered. Chap. 65. 24.
thee] Jesus Christ: whom he would hear and help for the salvation of his Church. Vers. 2. 5. John 11. 42. & 17. 9, 15.
I will preserve thee] Chap. 42. 1, 6.
for a covenant] To be the Mediatour of the new covenant; Heb. 7. 12. & 8. 6. Or, to make good by thee the promises made to my people, concerning their deliverie out of captivitie; performed corporally by Cyrus, Chap. 41. 13. spiritually by Christ. 2 Cor. 1. 20. Chap. 61. 1, 2.
to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages] Or, to raise up (Vers. 6.) the land, (Chap. 6. 12.) &c. To settle the state of my people, by bringing them out of captivitie, and seating them again in their land, that lay waste before. Vers. 6. chap. 51. 3. Job 33. 10, 11. Ezek. 36. 3, 4, 34, 35. a type of the restitution and establishment of the Church by Christ.
V. 9. to the prisoners] Captives in Babylon, chap. 42. 7. & 51. 14. and others bound fast in the bands of sinne and death. chap. 61. 1. Psalm. 107, 10. John 8. 31, 32, 34. Col. 1. 13. 2 Timoth. 2. 26.
in darknesse] In dark dungeons. chap 42. 7, 22. Psal. 88. 6.
they shall feed in the wayes] Want no provision by the way in their return; alluding to the drift of cattell, that graze on the commons they passe by.
V. 10. They shall not hunger nor thirst, &c.] They shall not faint by the way; nor be troubled with such inconveniences, as travellers are wont to be molested with; chap. 48. 21. Psal. 105. 37, 39. & 121. 6. Rev. 7. 16.
he that hath mercy on them shall lead them] God will conduct them, as he did the Israelites in the wildernesse; and no necessaries shall be wanting unto them. Psal. 23. 1, 2, 3. chap. 41. 18, 19. & 43. 19.
V. 11. I will make all my mountains a way] I will remove all impediments, that might hinder their passage: chap. 40. 4. and 51. 10.
my high wayes shall be exalted] Or, my causeys (chap. 19. 23.) shall be heighthned: chap. 35. 8.
V. 12. the…e shall come from farre] From the East, the Sunne-rising: chap. 41. 25.
from the west] Heb. the sea. Josh. 16. 6, 8. the mid-land sea lying West of them.
from the land of Sinim] Towards the South of Judah. Gen. 10. 17. from all parts of the world shall men come to Christ: vers. 18. chap. 41. 25. & 43. 5, 6. Matth 8. 11.
V. 13. Sing, O heavens] Chap. 44. 23. & 55. 12.
the LORD hath comforted his people] Chap. 40. 1. & 51. 3. & 52. 9.
V. 14. Zion said] Gods people bemoaning themselves in the time of their long and tedious affliction. Chap. 40. 27. Psal. 13. 1. & 22. 1. & 31. 22. & 88. 14.
V. 15. that she should not have compassion] Heb. from having compassion: as Chap. 50. 2.
yea, they may forget] Or, though they should forget.
will I not forget] Chap. 44. 21. Jer. 31. 20.
V. 16. I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands] That I may not forget thee. Cant. 2. 6.
thy walls are continually before me] Mine eyes are upon thy wals now demolished, …am. 2. 7, 8. to minde me of the raising of them again. Chap. 44. 28. & 60. 10, 18.
V. 17. Thy children shall make haste] Or, thy builders. Ezek. 27. 4. Thy children shall return speedily. Chap. 51. 14. Or, thy walls shall be speedily raised again; and those that razed them, and wasted thee, expelled and destroyed. Vers. 26.
V. 18. Lift up thine eyes] Chap. 60. 4.
all these gather themselves together] Vers. 12.
thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, &c.] The chief ornament▪ of the Church are the multitudes of her children, gathered by the Word, and guided by the Spirit. Prov. 17. 6. Act. 4. 32.
as a bride doth] Chap. 61. 10.
V. 19. thy waste and thy desolate places] Heb. wastnesses and desolations. Ezra 9. 9.
the land of thy destruction] Or, thy destroyed land; Heb. thy land of destruction; as Chap. 19. 18.
that swallowed thee up] Or, destroyed thee. Chap. 3. 12. & 19. 3. & 25. 7. Jer. 51. 34, 44. A metaphore, from ravenous beasts, that devour what they destroy. Gen. 37. 33. Psal. 124. 3. Jon. 1. 17. Chap. 42. 14.
shall be farre away] Being either driven out of thy land, or destroyed in it. Vers. 17. Chap. 29. 20.
V. 20. The children which thou shalt have] Zech. 10. 10.
after thou hast lost the other] Being cut off; Jer. 31. 15. or cast off, for their incredulitie. Rom. 11. 15, 20.
the place is too strait] Chap. 54. 2.
V. 21. I was left alone] As a widow, without husband; for so she seemed to be, during the time of her captivitie. Chap. 54. 1, 2. & 62. 4.
V. 22. Behold, I will lift up mine hand.] Chap. 60. 4. & 66. 20.
to the Gentiles] This great number shall consist, not of Jews alone, but of Gentiles also adjoyned to them. Vers. 6. Revel. 7. 9.
set up my standard] The ministerie of the Word. Chap. 2. 2, 3. & 11. 12. & 40. 9. John 12. 32. Gal. 3. 1.
in their arms] Heb. bosome; or, lap. Neh. 5. 13. Psal. 129. 7. Chap. 40. 11.
V. 23. Kings shall be thy nursing-fathers, &c.] Heb. nourishers. 2 King. 10. 1. Being converted by the Word, they shall imploy their power and authoritie for the good and safety of the Church. Chap. 60. 6, 7, 16.
their Queens] Heb. Princesses; Sarahs. Gen. 17. 15. they shall be such to thee, as Sarah was to Isaac. Gen. 21. 7.
lick up the dust of thy feet] Stoop so low to thee, as if they adored, or would lick up the very dust under thy feet. Psal. 72. 9.
they shall not be ashamed] Psal. 34. 22. Chap. 28. 16. & 30. 18.
that wait for me] That with faith and patience expect me, and salvation to be wrought by me. Luke 2. 25, 38.
V. 24. Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawfull captive delivered] Heb. the captivitie of the just. An objection made; as if the Chaldeans, with whom Gods people were in captivitie, were of great strength; and seemed to have them in just possession, as by right of conquest.
V. 25. Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away] Whereunto is answered, that none is stronger then God. Luke 11. 21, 22. nor hath juster title to them then he. Chap. 50. 1, 2.
the captives, &c.] Heb. captivitie. Psal. 126. 1.
of the terrible] Or, tyrannie. Chap. 51. 23.
V. 26. I will feed them that oppresse thee, with their own flesh] I will cause them to destroy one another. See Chap. 9. 20. and 19. 2.
they shall be drunken with their own blood] Revel. 14. 20. & 16. 6.
as with sweet wine] Or, new wine. Pro. 3. 10. Chap. 24. 7.
all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour] Chap. 60. 16.
thy redeemer] Vers. 7.
the mighty One of Jacob] Chap. 1. 24.