Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Isaiah · Chapter 35 – Chapter 36
CHAP. XXXV.
Ver. 1. THe wilderneſſe, and the ſolitary place ſhall be glad for them] The Edomites, and other enemyes have had their part: It hath been ſufficiently ſaid, Woe unto the wicked, it ſhall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands ſhall be given him. And now the Prophet is bidden to ſay to the Righteous (to tell him ſo from the Lord) that it ſhall be well with him; for the reward of his hands ſhall be given him, Iſa. 3.10, 11. The wilderneſſe and the deſart, that is, the poor people of God that have been oppreſſed and ſlighted in this world, ſhall be reſtored into a happy and flouriſhing eſtate: the Church ſhall have her Halcyons under Hezekiah, but eſpecially under Chriſt, She ſhall have it both in temporals and ſpirituals, ver. 2.
Ver. 2. The glory of Lebanon ſhall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel, &c.] Outward bleſſings ſhall be heaped upon Gods people: even all that heart can wiſh, or need require.
They ſhall ſee the glory of the Lord] Spiritual bleſſings in heavenly things in Chriſt Jeſus ſhall be conferred upon them alſo: even every good gift and perfect giving from the Father of lights,
Qui icturatos intexit floribus hortos,
Quique jubet rutilis albeſcere lilia campis.
Ver. 3. Strengthen ye the weak hands] q. d. Chear up, my hearts, be of good courage, and God ſhall ſtrengthen your hearts, all ye that hope in the Lord. Comfort ye alſo one another with theſe words, and build up each other on your moſt holy Faith; and I will ſhew you how, and in what termes you ſhall do it.
Ver. 4. Say to them that are of a fearful heart] Inconſideratis; to them that conſider not the Promiſes, but forget the conſolations, Heb. 12.5. ſo poring upon their ſins, that they ſee not their Saviour.
Behold your God will come with vengeance] He will tread Satan under your feet ſhortly, Rom. 16.20.
Even your God with a recompence] Diabolo par pari retribuet Chriſtus, ſaith Hierom: Chriſt will be even with the devil: He had got one of Chriſts Diſciples (Judas:) and (to cry quittance) Chriſt gat one of his, Paul. Cyprian was wont thus to comfort his hearers, Veniet Antichriſtus, ſed ſuperveniet Chriſtus, Antichriſt will come, but Chriſt will not be long behind him.
Ver. 5. Then the eyes of the blind ſhall be opened] This was fulfilled corporally in cures wrought by Chriſt, Mat. 4.27. and 11.5. &c. and ſpiritually in the preaching of the Goſpel by the efficacy of his ſpirit, Act. 26.18. and 16.14. Apollonius Tyanaeus could never do ſuch miracles, nor any other. This ſheweth that Jeſus of Nazareth was the true Meſſiah.
Ver. 6. Then ſhall the lame man leap as an hart] As that impotent man did, Act. 3.8. and thoſe Loripedes, Heb. 12.13.
And the tongue of the dumb ſing] As good old Zacharies did, Luk. 1. Not ſo much for his ſpeech reſtored, or his ſon received, as for his Saviour now at hand: and as did thoſe that ſang, He hath done all things well; he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to ſpeak, Mac. 7.37. yea to utter the great things of God, and to ſpeak good of his name. Lo here, ſaith Luther, miracles to confirm the Goſpel to be of God, againſt thoſe that deride his Miniſters, ſaying, They cannot make ſo much as a lame horſe ſound: For all they in whoſe hearts it taketh effect, of blind are made to ſee, of deaf to hear, of lame to go, and of dumb to ſpeak.
For in the wilderneſſe ſhall waters break out] This and that which followeth in the next verſe, Junius maketh to be the matter of their ſong, viz. the grace of God abundantly communicated to his Church. See Joh. 7.38, 39. The Jews dream that when their Meſſiah cometh, the red ſea ſhall again be divided and the rock cloven, much water guſhing out, &c. Thus they work themſelves into the fooles Paradiſe of a ſublime dotage, by miſunderſtanding this text.
Ver. 7. And the parched ground, &c.] See on ver. 6.
Ver. 8. And an high-way ſhall be there] i. e. In the Church of Chriſt: and a way] foreign, the Kings high-way to Heaven, arcta & ampla: latet & lucet.
The way of holineſſe] Or, the way of the Sanctuary.
But it ſhall be for thoſe] Thoſe Beneficiaries of Chriſt mentioned ver. 5, 6. the ranſomed of the Lord, ver. 10.
The wayfaring men though fooles] Simple Chriſtians.
Shall not erre] Miſſe their way, or miſcarry in it.
Ver. 9. No Lyon ſhall be there] The Devil (that roaring Lyon) nor his actuaries, tyrants and hereticks, ſhall haunt theſe holy high-wayes: God will preſerve his people from all deveratory evils (as Tertullian calleth them) 2 Theſ. 3.3. that wicked one (the devil) ſhall not once touch them, 1 John 5.18. ſo as to thruſt his deadly ſting into them.
Ver. 10. And the ranſomed of the Lord] Thoſe happy ones, Deut. 33.29.
Shall return] To the Lord from whom they had deeply revolted.
Tantum gaudebimus quantum amabimus. Tantum amabimus quantum cognoſcemus. Aug.With ſongs] As they were wont to do in their ſacred ſolemnities.
And everlaſting joy upon their heads] As an unfadable crown, 1 Pet. 1.5. and 5. 4. they ſhall paſſe from the jawes of death to the joyes of heaven.
Joy and gladneſſe] i. e. Outward and inward, ſay ſome.
And ſorrow, and ſighing] Their joyes ſhall be ſincere, and conſtant,
CHAP. XXXVI. and CHAP. XXXVII.
FOr theſe two Chapters, ſee 2 King. 18, and 19. with the Notes. See alſo 2 Chron. 32.