Isaiah 37

— our God.] This being spoken of HIM, of whom John the Baptist was to be the forerunner; and the application having been afterwards expressly made by the Baptist to our Lord Jesus; (see John i. 23;) it is evident that He is the person to whom the Prophet attributes the incommunicable name of Jehovah, and styles Him “our God.” Wogan. 5. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.] Here it is most evident, that the Prince, whose way is to be prepared, can be no other than the Messiah, that great Prince or Potentate who is the general subject of all the Prophets: “the glory of the Lord” foretold in future times to be manifested to the Gentiles, or to “all flesh,” can point out nothing but his glorious days, which are elsewhere drawn out under the like stupendous characters. Bp. Lowth, Dr. Berriman. The Prophet then introduces a voice, commanding him to make a solemn proclamation, ver. 6—8. The import of it is, that the people, the flesh, is of a vain temporary nature; that all its glory fadeth, and is soon gone: but that the word of the Lord endureth for ever. What is this, but a plain opposition of the flesh to the spirit; of the carnal Israel to the spiritual; of the temporary Mosaick economy to the eternal Christian dismountain; || O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

Isaiah 37:2

2.—she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.] Double in proportion to God’s usual severity in punishing men’s sins; see Jer. xvi. 18; Dan. ix. 12: or some take the word “sins” for the punishments due to sin, (as it is often used,) and understand this as a promise of ample recompense for the effects of past displeasure, on the reconciliation of God to his returning people. Compare chap. lxi. 7; Job xlii. 10. W. Lowth, Bp. Lowth.

Isaiah 37:3

3. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, &c.] “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness,” the Baptist applies to himself; as describing a preacher faithfully delivering the word of God in a desert and uncultivated place,

The preaching of John Baptist. The preaching of the apostles. Before CHRIST about 712. Or, a straight place. Or, a plain place. b Job 14. 2. Ps. 102. 11. S. 102. 15. Jam. 1. 10.

Isaiah 37:9

9. O Zion, that bringest good tidings, &c.] The marginal reading gives a much better sense; compare also chap. xli. 27; lii. 7. W. Lowth. The Hebrew participle, rendered “thou that tellest,” is in the feminine gender; and the office of announcing and celebrating such glad tidings, as are here spoken of, belonged peculiarly to women; Exod. xv. 20, 21; Judges xi. 34; 1 Sam. xviii. 6, 7. Bp. Lowth. See note at Ps. lviii. 11. 10, 11. Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, &c.] This is to be understood of Christ. The words, “his reward is with him,” compared with Rev. xvii. 12; and “he shall feed his flock like a shepherd,” compared with the passage of St. John referred to in the margin, are sufficient indications of the Person intended. Dr. Waterland. With ver. 10, we may compare also Matt. xvi. 27. The expressions in ver. 11, eminently belong to Christ, and represent the gentleness He shall use to the weak ones of his flock, giving them instruction as they are able to bear it, and taking all possible care to bring back stragglers to his fold: as appears by the many allusions in the New Testament to this and similar passages in the Old. W. Lowth. 12. Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, &c.] Here begins a lofty description of God’s Almighty power, shewing that He is great above all his works, and able to do beyond what we can think or conceive; the design of it is, to persuade the people to put their whole trust in Him, to rest assured that He is able to perform who promises, and withal to arm them Before CHRIST about 712. Or, O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem. Or, against the strong. of Chap. 62. Or, reconquered for his work. of Ezek. 31. John 10. 11. Or, that give suck. Heb. a fierce.