Westminster Annotations, Isaiah · Chapter 54
CHAP. LIIII.
Vers. 1. SIng, O barren] The Church, which receiveth benefit by Christ and his death; Chap. 53. 10-12. either of the Jews returned from captivitie, during which she seemed barren, as a lone woman, without hope of issue: Chap. 49. 21. Or, of the Gentiles, called by the ministerie of the Gospell; See Galat. 4. 27. who before were barren of all good. Chap. 29. 17. Ephes. 2. 1-3, 12.
crie aloud] Heb. crie shrill. Chap. 12. 6.
that didst not travail with childe] That didst not yet bring forth children to God, by the ministerie of the Word, which thou wantedst. Psal. 147. 20. Or, that broughtest forth but few, in comparison of what thou now shalt. Chap. 49. 6. Vers. 5.
more are the children of the desolate, &c.] More have been under the Gospell converted to God of the Gentiles, formerly barren; then of the Jews, who were sometime fruitfull. Rom. 9. 26, 27, 30. Rev. 7. 4. 9. 1 Sam. 2. 5.
V. 2. Enlarge the place of thy tent] So many should come in, that she should seem to want room to receive them. Chap. 49. 20, 21. & 60. 4, 5.
stretch forth the curtains] Of which their tents consisted; to the dwelling wherein is here alluded. Jer. 4. 20. & 49. 29.
lengthen thy cords] Wherewith those curtains were fastned. Jer. 10. 20.
strengthen thy stakes] Or, pins; whereunto they are fastened therewith. Exod. 27. 19.
V. 3. the desolate cities to be inhabited] Chap. 49 8. & 51. 3.
V. 4. Fear not] Chap. 43. 1. & 44. 8.
thou shalt forget] Be no more affected with it, then as if it had never been. Prov. 31. 5, 7. John 16. 21.
the shame of thy youth] Thy first affliction and bondage in Egypt. Exod. 1. 11. 13, 14.
the retroach of thy widowhood] Thy captivity in Babylon. Psal. 137. 1-3. Chap. 49. 21. & 50. 1.
V. 5. thy Maker] The first founder of thee, and thy state. Psal. 149. 2. Deut. 32. 15, 18. Chap. 43. 1. & 44. 2. The word is here in the plurall number; as Psalm. 149 2. Job 35. 10. See the note there.
is thine husband] Hath joyned himself in marriage to thee. Hos. 2. 19, 20. Eph. 5. 25-27, 32. Chap. 62. 5.
the LORD of hosts is his name] Or, whose name is the Lord of hosts. Chap. 47. 4. & 48. 2. Luk 1. 32.
thy redeemer] Chap. 49. 7, 26.
the God of the whole earth shall he be called] Not of the Jews alone; but of all nations in the world. Chap. 56. 3, 7. Rom. 3. 29, 30. & 10. 12, 13.
shall he be called] Or, shall he be. Chap. 4. 3. & 56. 7.
V. 6. the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken, &c.] God will reunite thee unto him; and make thee as dear to him, as a young wife, taken in time of youth; Prov. 5. 18. Joel 1. 8. Mal. 2. 14. though he had cast thee off for a time; Jer. 3. 1, 12. Chap. 62. 4. and seemed to have divorced thee. Chap. 50. 1. Or, as dear as thou wast to him, what time he first took thee. Jer. 2. 2. Ezek. 16. 8.
a wife of youth] Or, a young wife.
when thou wast refused] Or, though, &c. as Chap. 16. 12. and 53. 8.
V. 7. For a small moment, &c.] God, as he is slow to wrath, Exod. 34. 6. Num 14. 18. so short in it, and in the expressions of it, to his; but more free and full in his mercy and goodnesse to them. Psal. 30. 5. & 103. 9, 17. Chap. 26. 20. & 60. 10.
V. 8. I hid my face from thee] Withdrew the wonted expressions of my favour from thee. Deut. 32. 20. Psal. 27. 9. & 30. 7. Chap. 8. 17. & 57. 17. A speech borrowed from those, that refuse to look on, or admit to sight one, whom they disaffect, or make shew to be displeased with. 2 Sam 14. 24, 28, 32. 2 King. 3. 14.
with everlasting kindnesse] Heb. kindnesse of perpetuitie. Jerem. 31. 3.
V. 9. this is as the waters of Noah unto me] As sure, as the covenant made with Noah concerning the inundation of the world. Gen. 9. 11.
that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth] Heb. from the waters of Noah passing over the earth.
have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee to rebuke thee] Heb. from being wroth with thee, and from rebuking thee. I have by oath bound my self from it; as Chap. 49. 15. & 50. 2. from being wroth with thee, or rebuking thee, so as to destroy thee. Psal. 9. 5.
V. 10. the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindnesse shall not depart from thee] Sooner shall the one be, then the other. Chap. 51. 6. Psal. 46. 3. Jerem. 31. 35-37. and 33. 25, 26.
the covenant of my peace] Or, my covenant of peace. Ezek. 34. 25. & 37. 26. Of reconcilement to thee.
that hath mercy on thee] For it is of meer mercy, whatsoever God in this kinde doth. Psalm. 6. 4. & 106. 45. Ephes. 2. 4, 5. Tit. 3. 5.
V. 11. thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted] Though thine estate be at present never so forlorn, helplesse and hopelesse; yet will I in time to come make it most glorious. Chap. 51. 17, 18. & 52. 1, 2.
I will lay thy stones with fair colours] The spirituall excellency of the Church under Christ, described by an hyperbolicall similitude of a goodly, costly, stately structure. Revel. 21. 11-21. 1 Chron. 29. 2.
thy foundations with sapphires] Rev. 21. 19.
V. 12. thy windows of agates] Or, Pyropus; or, Chrysoprase. Ezek. 27. 16. a stone bright and transparent.
pleasant stones] Heb. stones of desire; or, delight. as Malac. 3. 12.
V. 13. all thy children shall be taught of the LORD] By the outward ministerie of his Word, and inward cooperation of his Spirit. Jer. 31. 34. Joh. 6. 45. 2 Cor. 13. 3. 1 Cor. 2. 10. 1 John 2. 20, 27.
great shall be the peace of thy children] Their prosperitie and welfare. Psal. 37. 11. & 119. 165. Chap. 48. 18. & 52. 7.
V. 14. In righteousnesse shalt thou be established] In stabilitie, firmnesse and faithfulnesse; that thou mayest stand fast for ever. Psal. 111. 7, 8. & 125. 1, 2. Mat. 16. 18.
for thou shalt not fear] Or, that thou mayest not fear.
for it shall not come near thee] Or, that it may not come near thee. Psal. 91. 7. Prov. 1. 33.
V. 15. they] Thine adversaries.
shall surely gather together] Or, eagerly; or, busily gather together. Heb. gathering together. Mic. 2. 12.
not by me] As Hos. 8. 4. And therefore shall not prevail. Num. 13. 32, 33. 2 Chron. 13. 12. Chap. 8. 9.
whosoever shall gather together against thee, shall fall for thy sake] Heb. with thee against thee, (that gather themselves against thee, to sight with thee; as Psal. 59. 3. & 140. 3.) shall fall. Their attempts against thee, shall tend to their own ruine, and end in their own overthrow. Psal. 37. 12-15. Chap. 10. 34.
V. 16. I have created the smith] All things, being Gods creatures, are at his command and pleasure, guided and swayed by him; nor can do ought further then he giveth power and leave. Psal. 119. 91. John 19. 11.
that bringeth forth an instrument for his work] For his own work, for himself to work with; or for warrier, waster, or destroyer to use.
I have created the waster to destroy] I have wicked men to be instruments of my wrath, to execute the same by devastation of countreys and destruction of people. Prov. 16. 4. Isa. 10. 5, 6.
V. 17. No weapon that is formed against thee] Made to be imployed against thee: A defective speech; as Chap. 38. 17, 21.
every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement] That shall stand up (as Psal. 1. 5.) to accuse thee, or charge thee with ought. Chap. 50. 8. Rom. 8. 33.
thou shalt condemn] Shalt have the better of them; Psalm. 109. 6, 7. convince them, yea condemn them of falshood. Deut. 25. 1. & 19. 17-19.
the heritage of the servants of the LORD] Their portion. Job 20. 29. & 27. 13. & 31. 2.
their righteousnesse is of me] I justifie, defend, assoil them my self. Psal. 37. 6. Rom. 8. 33. 2 Cor. 5. 21.