Isaiah 32
DortA prophesy concerning the Kingdom of Christ, vers.1. and a relation of the benefits which he shall bestow upon his church, 2 etc. A threatening against the secure and careless women, 9 and against the whole land, 12 which shall be laid wast, 14. Therefore the Prophet speaketh again of the kingdom of Christ, and sheweth what be should work in the hearts of the elect by the holy ghost, 15, etc. Threatenings against the wicked. 19. A speech made to the Teachers or Ministers of the new Testament, 20.
1. Behold, a King shall reign in righteousness,] By this King is meant Christ Jesus. But some do understand by this King, king Hezekiah, forasmuch as he was type and figure of Christ. Compare Psal.45.7. Zach.9.9.] and the Princes [that is, the Ministers of this King in his spiritual kingdom] shall rule according to judgement [to wit, by the word of God.]
2. And (that) man, [To wit, Jesus Christ] shall be [to wit, unto believers] as a covering against the wind [that is, as a place where a ma may hide & cover himself from the wind. The meaning is, the Messiah shall be the true refuge of all the elect. By wind in this place is meant the wind of spiritual temptation, and all manner of persecution. Compare Math.7.25,27.] and an hiding-place against the flood as water brooks in a dry place, [that is, he shall bring strong comfort or consolation to the distressed, by the powerful working of the holy ghost. Compare these words with Mat.5.6. Joh.4.10,14. And 7.37,38,39. [as the shadow of a heavy rock in a thirsty. [or weary land: to wit, weary and faint for thirst. See Psal.143.6. Prov.25.25. above chap.29.8.]
3. And the eyes of them that see, [That is, the eyes of the faithful who shall be all enlightened of God, below chap.54.13. See also above chap.29.18. and 30.] shall not look back, [that is, shall not look elsewhere, nor look amiss. Understand withal, but they shall diligently look up to God. Others, not be anointed or bedaubed, or dazzle, or be dim, or dark] and the ears of them that hear shall hearken [to wit, unto that which the Lord saith. See Mat.7.28. Luke 4:22.]
4. And the heart of the rash [or of the imprudent. Heb. Of them that make haste. So below chap.35.vers.4.] shall understand knowledge: and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak distinctly [Heb. Neatly, to wit, words.]
5. The fool shall no more be called liberal: neither shall the covetous be (any more) called bountiful [or giving liberally or bountifully. The Hebrew word doth also sometimes signify rich, as Job 34:19. The meaning is, vices or evil deeds shall go on more under the name of virtues, but they shall by the preaching of the Gospel be discovered, and be sharply reproved: evil shall be called evil, and good shall be called good.]
6. For a fool speaketh folly, [But he will be a fool that etc. And so in the sequel] and his heart doth iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and ulter error [that is, false doctrine, which leadeth a man aside from the way of salivation, and bringeth him into error] against the LORD, to leave the soul of the hungry empty, [that is, to hinder men from coming to the knowledge of the truth of God: Understanding by the soul of the hungry, all them that have an earnest desire and longing to know heavenly and soul-saving truth. Compare Mat.5.6. Joh.6.32. etc.] and to cause the thirsty to lack drink [Heb. The dark of the thirsty: that is, the drink which ought to be given to the thirsty, or which the thirsty hath need of or lacketh, or which he wisheth and desireth.]
7. And a churls whole furniture is evil: [The words of this verse are a description of the Churl or miser. (A churls whole furniture &c.) or working-tools, working instrumental are evil. That is, his counsels and devices, dealings, weight, measure, etc. Are altogether hurtful. Coveteousness is the root of all evil, 1 Tim.6.10.] he deviseth shameful devices. See Job 21. The Annotat. On vers.27.] to mar the miserable with false speeches, and judgement when the poor speaketh. [The meaning is that the churl or covetous person regardeth not the words which the poor alledge in their own behalf and defence, but that he doth still as boldly wrest and pervert judgement. Others, yea even when the poor speeketh that which is right; that is, although he be in the right in that which he saith. Others, when the needy speaketh with judgement; that is, with reason and understanding.]
8. But a liberal man [As above ver.5,6.] deviseth [or, acteth designs, or purposeth, intendeth] liberalities, and standeth upon liberalities. [that is, he id diligent to shew love and liberality to his neighbour.]
9. Rise up, [To wit, to the honour of the word of God. See Genes.49.33. and Jud.3.20. or, rise up, to wit, out of the sleep of sin, namely to prevent the sore plagues wherewith the Lord doth threaten you] ye women at rest [or , careless, secure, presumptuous women, which are at present voluptuous and wanton, feeling and suffering at present no evil or inconvenience at all. Some do understand by the women here, the cities that were in the land of Judah; and by the daughters (mentioned in the following words) the villages that is, the inhabitants of those cities and villages] hear my voice: the daughters that are so secure, give ear unto my sayings.
10. Many days above a year shall ye, [Ye, to wit, who are at present so quiet and careless] be troubled, [to wit, by reason of the fearful plagues that God shall send upon you. (Many days above a year, &c.) That is, many years one after another, or many years together, to wit, seventy years; for so long did the Babylonish captivity last. Some extend it further, to wit, to the last destruction or desolation of the Jews. Compare Hos.3.4.] ye (daughters) which are so secure, for the vintage shall fail, there shall come no gathering. [This is that which God threateneth, Levit.26.ver.34. and 43. (the vintage shall fail,) that is, cease, shall not be. Heb. Is out, or, faileth: that is, it shall surely fail. (there shall come no gathering.) The meaning is, the land shall be so wasted and destroyed, that there shall be nothing to be had or gathered from it.]
11. Tremble ye (women) at rest, [As above vers.9.] be troubled (ye daughters) that are so secure, strip ye, [or, put off your clothes: to wit, your usual gay apparel] and make ye bare, and grid (sacks) about your loins. [As if he said, the time is now at hand that ye shall be fain to put off your gay and costly apparel, and instead thereof, shall be fain to put on sacks, or mourning garments. See above chap.3.vers.24.]
12. Men shall lament for the breasts, [That is, because the Children have nothing to suck: the breasts of the Mothers being dried up by reason of the great hunger or famine. Some are of opinion, that here by breasts are to be understood the Fields and Vines (as it followeth in the Text) which are like to breasts, out of which food or nourishment for necessity is sucked or drawn: and then this is the sense or meaning, as the Children shall have no milk, so neither shall grown men have either meat or drink] for the desirable fields, for the fruitful vines.
13. Upon the Land of my people shall the thorn (and) the brier come up: yea upon all the houses of Joy: [That is, upon all places where the houses have stood, wherein they were wont to be jovial and merry: [or all those houses should be burnt down and destroyed by the Enemy. See 2 Kings 25:9. & 2 Chron.36.19.] (in the City that leapeth with joy. [That is, Jerusalem. See above chap.22.vers.2.]
14. For the Palace [To wit, the Kings Palace] shall be forsaken, [or, stand empty] the ship [or, the multitude of the City shall cease, [or, be lift] Ophel, [See 2 Chron.27.3. and the Annotat. There, and chap.33. vers.14. and Nehem.3.26. and 11.21.] and the watch-towers [Heb. Watch-tower: called, Nehem.3.26. the tower sticking out] shall be for dens, [that is, for places where no men, but snakes and toads shall dwell] forever, [that is, a long while] a joy of wild Asses, which love to be in desert places, shall find good pasture there.]
15. Until the spirit [To wit, the holy Ghost, whom the Messiahs will send unto us from the Father. See Luke 24:49. Joh.14.26.] be poured out [Heb. Be made bare. Because the bottom of a vessel is made bare when the water is poured out of it] upon us from on high: [That is, from Heaven] then shall the wilderness become a fruitful field, [or, land, medow. Heb. Become a Carmel. See the Annotat. 2 Kings 19:23. and Jerem.2.on vers.7. and above chap.29.17. The meaning is, that those that are by nature useless and unserviceable for any thing that is good they shall be made useful and serviceable, especially the Gentiles] and the fruitful field shall be counted for a Forest. [that is, the land of Juda, and the people of the Jews, which are here called the fruitful field, because God called them, and did chose and receive them for his own people before the Gentiles, and because the Law of God was and continued long among them; shall be as it were a desert, and barren, like a wilderness or forest. Compare above, chap.29.17.]
16. And judgement shall dwell in the wilderness, [That is, the Gentiles which were formerly like a wilderness, they shall turn unto the Lord, and live according to his Laws and Commandments, being justified and sanctified] and righteousness shall remain, [or, dwell, or, abide with the habitation] in the fruitful field: That is, in the Church of Believers, both Jews and Gentiles. See above chap.29.on vers.17.]
17. And the work [Or, the thing made, or formed: that is, the fruit. See Psal.1.3.] of righteousness shall be peace: [To wit, peace of Conscience, Rom.5.1.] and the working of righteousness wrought out] shall be quietness and security forever.
18. And my people shall dwell in an habitation of peace [The Prophet doth in this eighteenth verse deliver in other words the very same matter whereof he had spoken in the 15,16, & 17.verses. B y peace in this place is to be understood the peace of Conscience which believers enjoy under the protection of their chief or supreme shepherd the Messiah] and in well secured dwellings, and in still quite places: or, in quiet rest, or, in great stillness (and) quietness.
19. But it shall hail where they go down into the forest, [That is God will cause his judgements to come upon the forest, that is, upon wild, savage, disobedient men. Compare Josh.10.11. Ezek.38.22. Rev.8.7. and 16.21. Some take it thus; that the hail, that is, the Plague or judgement shall do as little harm as if it fell upon a forest, where it can doe but little harm. Others render the words thus, it shall hail in the descent, or, going down, or, in the lowermost (part) of the Forrest. As if the Prophet should say, where a man was wont to be protected from the hail, there shall it (to wit, the hail) pierce through to the very bottom, or lowermost part of all. Others, so that the Forrest shall fall down. Compare Deut.38.52.] and the City shall be low, in a low place. [That is, rebellious Jerusalem, together with all disobedient and unthankful persons shall be humbled and brought low. See above vers.14. and compare Matth.11.23.]
20. Blessed are ye that sow besides all waters, [Here the Prophet turneth himself to all faithful Teachers and Ministers of the Word, and he compareth them to happy and fortunate Husbandmen, who tilling a watery or fruitful field, look for a good crop in Harvest: as if he had said, Blessed and Happy are ye that preach the Word of God with joy in the Church of God, which in Christs time shall be gathered in all places of the world, and which shall bring forth much fruit, as a field that lieth by the water side. Compare further, Psal.72.on ver.16. & Luke 8:11. Some understand by the waters, all kind of Nations, (as elsewhere besides) to whom the Gospel in the time of the New Testament should be preached] that send forth thither the Ox and the Ass: [that is, ye that till the fruitful field, forasmuch as ye may certainly look for much profit and benefit from thence: for in the land of Juda the Oxen and the Asses do draw the Plough, and did Husbandry-work, or tilled the ground: and understand hereby the foot of the Ass and the Ox, the Ass and the Ox themselves.]