Isaiah 54

Chap. LIV. Ver. 1—17. The Jewish Church called to rejoice in her great accession of converts from the Gentiles.—‘* The Church of God under the Old Testament, confined within the narrow bounds of the Jewish nation, and still more so, in respect of the very small number of true believers, and which sometimes seems to be deserted by God her husband; is the barren woman, that did not bear, and was desolate: she is exhorted to rejoice, and to express her joy in the strongest manner, on the reconciliation of her husband to her, and on the accession of the Gentiles to her family.”’ (Bp. Lowth.) This accession had before been strongly predicted; ((Isaiah 49:20-21).) and when she is here called upon (ver.

4. to forget the shame of her youth, and the reproach of her widowhood, we understand (with Abp. Secker) by the former, her slavery in Egypt, and by the latter, her captivity in Babylon. When it is predicted that her walls shall be rebuilt with precious, instead of common stones, it must, at the least, imply an increase of beauty and glory unprecedented, and forming a type of heaven and the celestial paradise. (Compare (Revelation 20:18-21).)

Notes on the verses

Chap. LIV. Ver. 9. As the waters of Noah, &c.—Lowth, ‘“‘ The same will I do now, as in the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters,” &c. Ver. 11. I will lay thy stones with fair colours.—" In cement and vermilion.’”’ [These seem to be general images, says Bishop Lowth, to express beauty, magnificence, purity, strength, and solidity, agreeable to the ideas of eastern nations; and to have never been intended to be strictly scrutinized, or minutely and particularly explained, as if they had each of them some precise moral or spiritual meaning.]—Bagster. d Ver. 12. Windows of agates.—Lowth, ‘Battlements of rubies.”——Thy borders of pleasant stones.—Lowth, ‘‘The circuit of thy walls of precious Ver.

16. Behold, I have created, &c.—{That is, says Bishop Stock, “the maker of the weapon, and the soldier who wields it, are alike my work and can do nothing without my leave and guidance.”}—Bagster. Ver. 17. Their righteousness.—Lowth, “Justification.” Chap. LV. Ver. 4. Given him.—Unquestionably the Messiah. Compare (Isaiah 42:6); also (Acts 13:34); Ver. 5. A nation that thou knowest not.—This was repeatedly fulfilled in the calling of the Gentiles. e f a» Ver. 12. Break forth into singing.—These are highly poetical images, to express a state attended with joy and exultation. Ver. 13. Instead of the thorn, &c.—{These likewise are general poetical images; expressing a great and happy change for the better.}—Bagster.