Isaiah 45

Isaiah 45:1

two-leaved gates] Such as great mens houses and Palaces are wont to have.

Isaiah 45:7

and create evil] Specialy to the Babylonians.

Isaiah 45:8

Drop down] A command of a Blessing from God: That Gods mercy and goodnesse should so manifestly and plentifuly appear in the deliverance of his people, and disposing all things for their behoof; as if the heavens, and the earth, were full of blessings for them, even of righteousnesse, and salvation.

Isaiah 45:9

woe to him that] A curb to restraine the impatiencie of some, that murmured at their miseries, and at the delay of their deliverance. Or, against the Babylonians, that would strive, even against God himself, to keep his people in perpetual slavery. And many other passages of Gods providence, concerning the affaires of those times, might be, which flesh and blood would be over-prone to be quarrelling with God about, and controuling his carriage of them.

Isaiah 45:11

Ask me] Or by interrogation; will ye presume to appoint and direct me, what I shall do, and how I shall carry matters concerning the disposition and ordering of my people? Or positively; seek to me for these things, concerning my sonnes; and not to Idols.

Isaiah 45:13

Raised him up] Cyrus.

build my Citie] Give order for it; and the Temple especialy, Ezra I. 1.

Isaiah 45:14

shall come over unto thee] How, and by whom, they should be furnished with supply of all requisite commodities, Ezra I. 4. and chap. VII. 21, 22.

Some expound this whole passage of Cyrus himself; That because he had dealt so freely with Gods people, God would therefore give him, as a reward, the wealth of those rich Kingdomes, and Countries, which together with Babylon, of whom they formerly held, at the fall of that State, fell also into his hands.

surely God is in thee] Or, with thee, with Cyrus typicaly; with Christ realy: And he, in his Church.

Isaiah 45:15

verily] Esay here admires the hidden depth of Gods dispensations, in the passages of his providence. And men ought not therefore to take upon them, to control and censure him therein.

Isaiah 45:19

I have not spoken in secret] As your false gods deliver their Oracles: But plainly.

Isaiah 45:20

Assemble your selves] Ye that escaped the sword of Cyrus; ye Chaldeans, and other Nations; seeing now how much God is able to do for his people; how little their Idols for those that served them.

Isaiah 45:22 Look unto me] Leaving Idols, betake your selves unto me, who am the only true God, and able to save you, ver. 16, 17.

Isaiah 45:23

unto me every knee shall bow] And it is your wisest course therefore, to come willingly in unto me, ver. 22. Psal. II. 8, 10. The Apostle, Rom. IV. 11. applyeth this text to the last judgement, which is a thing herein necessarily included.

Isaiah 45:25

be justified] God approving their innocencie, and unjust sufferings at the hands of their enemies; notwithstanding their pretences in doing justice upon them on Gods behalf, for their sinnes; and therefore they took them as lawful prize. God would clear them, deliver them: and punish their enemies.