Isaiah 51

The Lord comforteth his people, and exhorteth them to faith and patience, verse 1, etc. promising o deliver them 4. And that speedily, 5. And that his salvation shall be constant and permanent, 6. But that men are corruptible and transitory, 8. A prayer of the afflicted godly for help and deliverance, 9. Which the Lord promiseth them; 11. Reproving likewise the weakness of their faith, 12. A description of the power of God, 15. To help them, 16. Taking the bitter cup away from them, 17 and 22 and giving it to their enemies, 23.

1. Hearken to me ye that pursue after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock (whence) ye are hewn, and to the hollowness of the well (whence) ye are digged. [These are the words of God unto his Church, comforting her in her grief and heaviness, wherewith she was possessed when she beheld and considered the small number of believers, (look unto the rock) that is, unto Abraham, whose body was promise that he should beget Isaac, Rom.4.19. See Psal.90. the Annotat. On ver.2. (whence ye are hewn,) that is, brought forth by my power, (and to the hollowness of the pit (whence) ye are digged.) Understand here Sarah that was barren, and whose body or stand here Sarah that was barren, and whose body or womb was dead by reason of old age, when she conceived Isaac, Rom.4.19.]

2. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah (that) here you: [This is an exposition of the words immediately foregoing] for I called him when he was (yet) alone, [or when he was (yet) onely, Heb. When he had no hopes of getting children. See Rom.4.19.] and I blessed him, and I multiplied him. The meaning is, as I made Abraham and Sarah, though they were both old and decrepit, to be a great nation: so will I also wonderfully increase and augment my Church, though the Jews at the present are a contemptible and sore afflicted people.]

3. For the Lord shall comfort Zion, [That is, his people, the Christian Church: or those that shall return out of the Babylonian captivity] he shall comfort all her desolate places, [to comfort here is as much to say as to build up, and to restore; all her, to wit, Zions desolate places. Heb. Her desolations. The meaning is, the Lord shall call the Gentiles instead of the unbelieving Jews. Compare Rom.11.11. Gal.4.27.] etc. he shall make her wilderness [that is, the small number of believing Jews] like Eden, [that is, like the garded of Eden, which is called Paradise. See Gen.8.2. the Lord shall by his efficacious & powerful calling, plant the elect Gentiles in his Church] and her desert like the garden of the Lord; [that is, like Paradise. Or understand here by the garden of the Lord, an exceeding fair garden. It is the same that was said immediately before in other words] joy and gladness shall be found therein, [to wit, in the Church of God] thanksgiving and a voice of singing.

4. Hearken unto me, my people, and my men, incline (your) ear unto me: for a law [Or doctrine; to wit, the doctrine of the Gospel, as above chap.2.vers.3.] shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgement [consisting therein, that all that believe in Christ are justified, and obtain pardon of all their sins. Others my judgement; that is, my doctrine, which I prescribe as a law, or judgement, or statute unto my people] to rest [to wit, in my Church which is the pillar and ground of Truth. 1 Tim.3.15.] for a light of the nations, [that is, for that end and purpose that it might shine unto the elect of divers nations, enlightening them with the saving knowledge of God. Compare Luke 2:32. Act.13.46,47.]

5. My righteousness [That is, my gracious redemption, which I will work for my people by their Saviour Jesus Christ, according to my promise] is near, my salvation goeth forth. [or, shall appear. That is, my salvation which I shall give unto mine elect is, my salvation which I shall give unto mine elect is made manifest] and mine arms shall judge the nations: [that is, I will by my divine power bring the nations to obedience] the Isles [that is, the strange, or foreign nations. See above chap.41.1. and 42.4. and 60.9.] shall wait upon me, and on mine arm [that is, on my help and assistance. See below chap.53.1.] shall they hope.

6. Lift up your eyes to the heaven, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heaven shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and the inhabitants thereof shall die in like manner: [To wit, as smoke and a garment do perish and decay] but my salvation shall be [that is, abide. See Psal.37.on ver.18.] forever. [So below vers.8.etc. my righteousness shall not be broken. [or shall not fail. So below ver.8, etc. The meaning is, heaven and earth shall indeed perish, but the Gospel, and the salvation of the people of God shall abide firm and constant forever. Some take it thus, though such great and horrible changes and alterations shall happen in the world, as if heaven and earth should perish, yet notwithstanding I will keep and preserve my Church, and give here that which I have promised her. Compare Psal.102.27. and above chap.34.4.]

7. Hearken unto me ye that know righteousness, [That is to say here, virtue and godliness (ye that know righteousness,) that is, ye that love it, and employ or busy your selves in it, as Psal.1.6.] the people in whose heart is my Law: [as being the rule and square according to which men are to order and regulate their lives] fear not the reproach of men, [that is, the reproach which is offered you by men. Compare Psal.118.6. below ver.12.] neither he astonished at their reviling’s [to wit, at the reviling’s of mortal men; that is, to say here, of the wicked that are your enemies.]

8. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment [See above chapter 50.9.] and the little worm shall eat them up like wool: [That is, like a woollen cloth or garment. This little worm called in Latina Blatta, is a sort of little worms that are frequently in wool] but my righteousness shall before ever, [as above vers.6.] and my salvation from generation of generations. See above ver.6.]

9. Awake, awake, [Or rise up, rise up] put on strength thou arm of the LORD: awake as in the former days, (as) in the generations of old: [this the people of God speak beseeching God that he would manifest his power, and deliver them as he had formerly delivered their fathers out Egypt, as is further exprest in the following words.] art thou [thou mighty arm of God] not it that hast hewn out Rahab? [as a stone is hewn out of the rock; that is to say here, hast violently plucked up Rahab out from the number of the living. By Rahab is meant Egypt. And understand here Pharaoh with all his host. See Psal.87.4. and 89.11.] that hast wounded the sea-Dragon? [or whale; that is, King Pharaoh. See Psal.73.13,14. Above chap.27.1. Ezek.29.3. (that hast wounded etc.) or hast afflicted, grieved and plagued him, to wit, when thou did cast him and drown him in the red sea, Exod.14.21.]

10. Art thou not be that hast dried the sea, the waters of the great deep? That hast made [Heb. Hast set] the depths of the sea for a way that the redeemed [that is, the children of Israel that are redeemed and delivered from the hands of the Egyptians] pass through it?

11. So shall the redeemed of the LORD [Or the ransomed of the Lord; that is, those for whom the Lord hath paid a ransom, and so delivered them. Some understand this of the redemption or deliverance from the Babylonian captivity; others, from the power of the Devil; some of both. See above chap.35.10. where the same words are mentioned that are mentioned here] return and come with shouting unto Zion, and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: [to wit, 10.2. Tim.4.8.] they shall take hold of [or, overtake joy and gladness, sorrow and sighing shall-flee away.

12. I, I am be [Heb. The Lord speaketh again] that comfort you,] To wit, O Zion, ye Church of Believers] who art thou that shouldest be afraid of man that shall die? [or, must die. As if the Lord had said, Wherefore then are ye so faint-hearted my people? Surely ye know not the Lords power, that defendeth and protecteth you, seeing ye are so fearful and afraid of mortal men] and of the (child) of man (that) shall be made hay? [Heb. (that) shall be given, or set (as) hay; that is, that shall be cut down, and that shall wither and fade as bay doth. See above chap.40.6. and 1. Pet.1.24.]

13. And forge test the LORD that made thee, [To wit, his people and honourable. Compare Psal.100.vers.3.] that hath spread out the heavens, [See Job.9.8. Psal.104.2. above chap.40.22. and 42.and 44.20.] hath founded the earth? And art afraid continually all the day, because of the fury of the distresser, [of wicked men, of the Tyrant, of the persecution, and also of the devil] when he prepareth himself to destroy: where is then the fury of the distresser? As if he had said, the persecutors [even the devils themselves shall not prevail any more against thee. This shall not be fully accomplished until the day of judgement. Others take these words thus, as if the Prophet had said, Seest thou not how, that all the threatenings of thine enemies are come to nought? Therefore thou hast had no cause to be so sore afraid. Of the word distresser, see the former note.]

14. The wandering captive shall hastily be loosed; [Oth. He that goeth about in exile shall be quickly delivered; to wit, as well from the bands of Tyrants, as from the bands of the devil; that is, from sins. Some understand this also of the deliverance from the Babylonian captivity:] and he shall not die in the pit. [that is, in the Babylonian captivity: or, in the den or pit of misery] neither shall his bread [that is, his necessary food] fail (him.)

15. For I am the LORD thy God, that cleaveth [Or, renteth, divideth. Others moveth. See Job 26:12. Je.31.25.] the sea, (so) that the waves thereof roar, the LORD of Hosts is his Name.

16. And I put my words in thy mouth, [Some conceive that this is spoken to Christ; (Compare chap.49.2,3.) Others, that it is spoken to his Church] and cover thee under the shadow of mine hand: [That is, I take thee under my protection] to plant the heaven, and lay the foundation of the earth, [to wit, by the doctrine which I have put in thy mouth. That is, to comfort the elect with the hope of eternal life, which they shall possess and enjoy in the new world. Compare herewith, below chap.65.17. and 66.22. 2 Pet.3.13.] and to say unto Zion, [that is, to the universal Church] thou art my people.

17. Awake, awake, stand up, Jerusalem, [O ye people of God. See Gal.4.26. Heb.12.22. As if he had said, lift up your eyes unto God, and take courage, and put your confidence in his gracious promise. Compare below chap.52.1. thou that hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury, [that is, that hast been sorely afflicted and chastened by the means of Tyrants. See Job 21.on ver.20. See Likewise Psal.60. the Annotations on ver.5. and Psalms 75:9. Jeremiah 25:15,16. (that hast drunk at the hand of the Lord etc.) that is, the cup which thou hast received at the hand of the Lord. (the cup of his fury) that is, the judgements which thou hast received at the hand of an angry God] thou hast drunken the dregs of the cups of trembling, [See Psal.60.on vers.5.] (yea) sucked (them) out. [Heb. Wring, or crushed (them) out.]

18. There is none of all the children [That is, all the Jews that were born and bred up in Jerusalem] (whom) she [to wit, the City of Jerusalem; that is, the Congregation or Church or captive Jews] hath brought forth, that leadeth her greatly, neither is (there) any of all the children that she hath brought up, that taketh her by the hand, [here the Lord relateth the miserable condition of his Church, before he had appeared unto her with his grace and help, and had sent Christ into the world: as likewise the state and condition of the Church under the dominion of Antichrist and cruel persecution of Tyrants. Compare Mat.9.36, etc. 2 Thes.2.11. Revel.12.3. (there is none of all the children (whom) she hath brought forth that leadeth her gently) to wit, with true comfortable doctrine. Here the LORD complaineth of false teachers, that had gotten the upper hand both in the time of the sad estate of the Church, and in the time when Christ came in the flesh, as also afterward in the time of Antichrist] (neither) is (there) any of all the children that she hath brought up, that taketh her by the hand) that is, that affordeth spiritual help and comfort unto her. Or that undertaketh to deliver her from the Babylonian captivity.]

19. These two things are come unto thee, [To wit, that thou hast been persecuted by enemies, and hast received no comfort at the hand of thy rulers, as is said ver.18. but others are of opinion, that it suiteth better with that which followeth ver.20. Compare above chap.47.9.] who hath compassion on thee? [or who lamenteth thee? [or who lamenteth thee? That is, who comforteth thee? As Job 2:11.] there is desolation, and breaking, and famine, and the sword; (by) whom shall I comfort thee? [the meaning is, whose example shall I alledge to compare thy misery unto? Making it appear unto thee that there have been others that have been as sorely plagued and punished as thy self? Others, wherewith. Others by whom shall I cause thee to be comforted?

20. They children [O Jerusalem, that is, thy inhabitants or thy citizens] are fallen into a swoom, [for as much as they are smitten down by their enemies] they lie before in all the streets; [Heb. At the head of all the streets, that is, at the entry of all the streets] as a wild ox or bullock in the net, [Heb. Of the net, or of the snare, that is, which is snared in the net, and which therefore cannot help nor deliver himself] they are full of the fury of the LORD, [that is, of judgement which proceedeth from the wrath and fury of the Lord. This is the cause of their trouble and misery] of the rebuke of thy God, [that is, of judgement or punishment; as above chap.50.ver.2.]

21. Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted; and thou drunken, but not with wine. [But with adversity and misery. Or understand withal, but with the cup of the Lords fury or indignation, as ver.17.]

22. Thus saith thy Lord, the LORD, and thy God, (who) will plead the cause of his people, [Heb. Who will plead his peoples cause. The meaning is, the LORD will undertake to maintain and defend the cause of his people against their enemies] behold I take the cup of giddiness out of thine hand, the dregs of the cup of my fury, thou shalt henceforth drink it no more. As if the Lord should say, seeing no man is able to help thee, therefore I will help thee.]

23. But I will put it into the hand of them that grieved thee, [Or, caused sorrow unto thee. Others, that afflicted thee] that said unto thy soul, bow down that we may go over (thee): [that is, that boldly and presumptuously oppressed thee, seeking to bow thee down to the very ground, and utterly to destroy thee] and thou didst lay thy back down as the ground, and as a street to them that went over it. [Figurative kind of speeches.]