Isaiah 40

Isaiah 40:1

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.

Isaiah 40:2

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem] Heb. to the heart of Jerusalem. Genesis 34:3. Hosea 2:14.

her warfare is accomplished] Or, appointed time. Job 7:1. and Job 14:14. The time of her affliction is neer expired.

double] A large, full, sufficient measure of chastisements. Chap. 61. 7. Jeremiah 16:18. and Jeremiah 17:18.

Isaiah 40:3

of him that crieth] Of the Prophets: but more specially of John the Baptist. Malachi 3:1. Matthew 3:3. Mark 1:3. Luke 3:4. John 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. Psalms 68:7. Chap. 41. 18, 19. and 43. 19, 20. Jeremiah 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.

Isaiah 40:4

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. Zechariah 4:7.

shall be made streight] Or, a streight place.

plain] Or, a plain place: a plain, or vale. Ezekiel 3:23. and Ezekiel 37:1.

Isaiah 40:5

the glory of the LORD,] The glory of Gods mercie 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. John 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. Psalms 97:6. Chap. 33. 13. and 66. 18.

for the mouth, &c.] Chap. 1. 20.

Isaiah 40:6

The voice] Of God speaking to the Prophet. 1 King. 19. 12, 13.

All flesh is grasse] Job 14:2. Psalms 102:11. and Psalms 103:15. 1 Peter 1:24.

all the goodlinesse] Heb. goodnesse, Proverbs 19:22. and Proverbs 20:6. or, gracefulnesse; or, grace; or, glory. Exodus 33:19; Exodus 33:22. All the wisdom, power, beautie, favour, worldly and naturall endowments of it.

Isaiah 40:7

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. Psalms 39:5. Or, it is all soon blasted and withered, if God do but blow upon it, vers. 24. Psalms 103:16. Hag. 1. 9.

Isaiah 40:8

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. Romans 3:3. and Romans 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 Psalms 119:89. Matthew 5:18. Mark 13:31. John 8:51. 1 Pet. 1. 25. 2 Joh. 2.

Isaiah 40:9

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. Romans 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. Psalms 29:4. 1 Chronicles 25:5.

Behold your God] Is come to save you; as by temporall deliverance out of Babylon, so spiritually by Christ. Matthew 11:28. and Matthew 18:11.

Isaiah 40:10

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, Psalms 115:3. shall overcome and oversway all opposition. Chap. 41. 2. and 59. 16. Revelation 6:2.

his reward is with him] Chap 62. 11. Revelation 22:12.

his work] Or, recompence for his work. Chap. 49. 4.

Isaiah 40:11

feed his flock] Ezekiel 34:23. John 10:11.

gather] Or, take up. Psalms 27:10.

bosome] Or, lap. Chap. 49. 22.

gently lead those that are with young] Or, that give suc. Psalms 78:71. 1 Samuel 6:7. He will shew exceeding great care of, and kindnesse to the weak and tender-hearted ones. Genesis 33:13. Chap. 42. 3. Matthew 11:28.

Isaiah 40:12

Who] Who but God? or, who besides him? Proverbs 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. Genesis 1:9-10.

in the hollow of his hand] Or, palm. or, fist. 1 Kings 20:10. Proverbs 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, Psalms 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.

Isaiah 40:13

Who, &c.] Job 21:22. and 36. 22, 23. Wisd. 9. 13. Romans 11:34. 1 Corinthians 2:16.

directed the spirit of the LORD, &c.] His infinite wisdom, for the same purpose mentioned, 2 Peter 2:9.

his counseller] Heb. man of his counsell. Or, his man of counsell. Psalms 119:24.

Isaiah 40:14

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. Psalms 119:27.

understanding] Heb. understandings. Psalms 78:72. any manner of understanding. as Chap. 27. 11.

Isaiah 40:15

the nations, &c.] This is further added, to teach them, neither to fear man, nor to trust in any but God onely. Chap. 51. 7, 8, 12. Psalms 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. Psalms 62:9.

the isles] Or, countries. Chap. 41. 1.

Isaiah 40:16

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.

Isaiah 40:17

as nothing] Daniel 4:35.

lesse then nothing, and vanitie] Psalms 62:9.

Isaiah 40:18

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. Acts 17:29.

compare unto him] Or, set him up? or, fit him with? Chap. 65. 11.

Isaiah 40:19

The workman] Or, brasier: or, founder. See Chap. 41. 6. and 44. 12. Jeremiah 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. Judges 17:4.

spreadeth it over with gold] Beateth out gold into thin plates; and therewith covereth it. Jeremiah 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. Jeremiah 10:5.

Isaiah 40:20

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, caver. Chap. 41. 7.

Isaiah 40:21

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. Romans 1:20.

Isaiah 40:22

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] Numbers 13:33. Or, locusts. 2 Chronicles 7:13.

stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain] Psalms 104:2. Chap. 42. 5.

Isaiah 40:23

bringeth the princes to nothing] Job 12:21. Psalms 107:40.

Isaiah 40:24

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 onely of his breath is sufficient to blow them away, and to confound them. Vers. 7. Chap. 59. 19. Zechariah 4:6.

as stubble] Chap. 41. 2. Jeremiah 13:24.

Isaiah 40:25

To whom, &c.] Vers. 18.

liken] Or, resemble.

or shall I be equall] Or, that I should be like it? Proverbs 26:4. Ch. 53. 2

Isaiah 40:26

on high] To the heavens; the starry skie. Chap. 51. 6.

these things] The starres; that numberlesse host. Genesis 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. Psalms 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.

Isaiah 40:27

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. Genesis 4:14. Psalms 31:22. & Psalms 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 Jeremiah 8:13.

Isaiah 40:28

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] Psalms 147:5. Chap. 55. 8, 9. Romans 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.

Isaiah 40:29

giveth power to the faint] Making his might to appear in mans weaknesse. 2 Corinthians 12:9. and enabling those to do any thing, Phil. 4. 13. who of themselves can do nothing. John 15:5. 2 Corinthians 3:5. & 2 Corinthians 4:7. & 10. 4-6.

Isaiah 40:30

the youths] Such as trust to their own strength. Psalms 20:8. & Psalms 33:16. & Psalms 52:7. Amos 2:14.

shall utterly fall] Heb. stumbling stumble.

Isaiah 40:31

renew their strength] Heb. change, or, double (Job 14:7. & Job 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. Psalms 103:3. Jeremiah 49:16.

they shall walk and not faint] They shall be enabled to persist and persevere to the end. Matthew 24:13. 2 Corinthians 4:16. Philippians 1:6. 2 Timothy 4:18.