Isaiah 62

Chap. LXII. Ver. i—12. Promises of Judah’s restoration.— Isaiah opens this chapter with announcing his determination to persevere in prayer for Zion and Jerusalem, and expresses Priests and Levites, who kept watch day and night in the purlieus of the temple, and whom he calls “the Lord’s Remembrancers,” to unite with him in prayers for her prosperity. (See (Psalms 130:6). cxxxiv.) Then, after reciting the Lord’s oath and promise for their restoration, as if he had already seen them setting out from Babylon, he calls upon them to prepare the way, and lift up a standard to encourage their return. But the application of the concluding verses to our Saviour when on earth, by the Evangelists, plainly shows that these chapters had a farther reference than to any temporal salvation; and that all these temporal promises were typical of blessings spiritual and eternal; and that Jerusalem restored on earth was typical of the “Jerusalem above, which is the mother of us all.” (See (Matthew 21:5). (John 12:15). (Galatians 4:26). Book of us all.” (See (Matthew 21:5). (John 12:15). (Galatians 4:26).)

Chap. LXII. Ver. 1—19. The triumph of Messiah, and deliverance of the Church.— “In the first six verses of this appearance, after having crushed his enemies, like grapes in the wine-press. The comparison suggests a tremendous idea of the wrath of omnipotence, which its unhappy objects can no more resist than the grapes can resist the treader. Indeed, there is so much pathos, energy, and sublimity in this remarkable passage, as hardly any thing can be conceived to exceed. The period to which it refers is, probably, the same with that predicted in Revelations, chapter xix., some parts of which (ver. 13) are expressed in the same terms, and are generally understood of the fall of Antichrist and his followers, of which the destruction of Babylon, Edom or Bozrah, may be considered as an emblem.

“The remaining part of this chapter, with the whole of the following, contain a penitential confession and supplication of the Jews, as uttered in their present dispersion, apparently deserted and rejected by the God of their fathers. They begin (ver. 7) with acknowledging the great mercies of God to them for the renewal of them; beseech him to remember his former kindness; plead their relation to him; confess their wickedness and obstinacy; entreat his forgiveness, and deplore their miserable situation.” Dr. J. Smith.

Notes on the verses

Chap. LXII. Ver. 1. Until the righteousness thereaf—Lowth, “* Until her righteousness break forth as a strong light, and her salvation as a blazing fire.” Ver. 5. As a young man marrieth a virgin.—Sir J. Chardin says, in the East, youths marry only virgins, and widowers, widows. Orient. Cust. No. 274.—So shall thy sons marry thee—i.e. obtain possession of thy land, as a husband claims possession of his wife. Ver. 6. Set watchmen.—Watches in the East, observes Dr. Lowth, even to this day, are performed by a loud cry, from time to time, of the watchmen, “and that very frequently, to mark the time, and in order to show that they themselves are constantly attentive to their duty. Hence the watchmen are said by the Prophet, ((Isaiah 52:8),) ‘to lift up their voice;’ and here they are commanded, “not to keep silence;” and the greatest reproach to them is, “that they are dumb dogs; they cannot bark; dreamers, sluggards, loving to slumber,” ((Isaiah 56:10).) “The watchmen in the camp of the caravans,” says Tavernier, “go their rounds crying one after another, ‘God is one, He is merciful;’ and often add, ‘Take heed to yourselves.’” —Bagster. Ver. 11. Thy salvation cometh.—See (Isaiah 40:9-10), and note. All the ancient versions read, “Saviour.”