Isaiah 54

The benefits which the LORD would bestow on the Church of the new Testament, and a prophesy that he would greatly increase and enlarge the same, ver.1, &c. embracing her as his loving spouse with everlasting grace and favour, 5. Adorning her most glorifying with the gifts of the holy ghost; 11 and that he would protect her against her enemies, 14. It is God that governeth all things, 16 for the good of his elect, 17.

1. Sing cheerfully thou barren, (that) didst not bear, make a sound with joyful singing, and shout, thou (that) hadst no travelling pangs: [Here the prophet speaketh to the church of believing Jews, that should live at the time when the Gospel should begin to be preached, as may be gathered from Gal.chap.4.vers.27.where these words are quoted, (thou barren) so he calleth the church that was in the world when Christ came in the flesh, in regard of the small number and increase of believers. (that didst not bear) That is, didst bear very seldom, or few children; to wit, children of God, of the seed of the word of God. Compare Joh.1.12,13. And 1 Pet.1.23. The number of believing Gentiles was much greater, then the number of believing Jews. See Joh.1.11. Rom.9.27, &c.] for the children of the solitary [or, of the desolate, that is, of the Jewish Church, which Christs time was small in number, in comparison of the great number of the Jews that were released] are more then the children of the married (wife), [that is, of the ancient Church of the Jews, whom God first called, and took her as it were in marriage unto himself] saith the LORD.

2. Enlarge the place of thy tent, [To wit, that those that are converted of the Gentiles may find room with thee. This is spoken according to the manner or custom of the ancients in the land of Canaan, that dwelled in tents; intimating that the Church of the New Testament should greatly increase, and spread it self wide abroad, multiplying exceedingly on all sides. See above chap.49.19,20.] and let them spread out the curtains of thine habitations, [or, tabernacles] hinder it not: [or, keep them not back, or strain them not] make thy cords long, [or, ropes, wherewith the tents were stretched out] and put thy stakes [or, nails, whereunto the ropes were fastened] fast in. [Or, strengthen thy stakes.]

3. For thou shalt break forth [To wit, into a multitude of Children] on the right hand, and on the left: [the meaning is, there shall be found even among the Gentiles, and in those places where there were no Churches in former time, many believers and true members of the Christian Church] and thy seed [that is, thy offspring, or posterity; to wit, thy spiritual children] shall inherit the Gentiles, [that is, the land of the Gentiles. That is, the Gentiles shall also by the Gospel, which shall go forth from Zion, be made the children of God, and shall be added unto thee] and they [to wit, thy posterity] shall make the desolate cities [That is, those Cities wherein formerly no children of God dwelt] to be inhabited.

4. Fear not, [To wit, because of thy barrenness, which was counted in former time a great reproach] for thou shalt not be ashamed; neither blush, for thou shalt not be put to shame: But thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and thou shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. [Thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, &c. That is, the ignomity and reproach that befell thee in times pasts; to wit, when thou for thy sins wast delivered up to bondage unto the Egyptians. Others take it in this sense, as if the Prophet had said, the glory and happiness whereunto thou shalt be advanced, shall cause thee to forget all the misery and sorrow that thou didst formerly endure, when thou wast as it were a desolate virgin, or poor widow]

5. For thy maker is thine husband, [Heb. Thy makers is thine husband. Compare this phrase with Gen.23.on ver.13.] The LORD of hosts is his Name: and the holy One of Israel is thy Redeemer, [Understand withal, and also he shall be called indeed] God of the whole earth, [Not onely the God of the Jews, but also of all others Nations, yea of the whole world, 1 Joh.2.2. in regard that his Church should be spread abroad and dispersed throughout the whole world]

6. For the LORD hath called thee [First, out of the Babylonian captivity; Secondly, out of the spiritual kingdom of Sin and Satan, unto his own kingdom] as a woman forsaken, and grieved in spirit: yet thou art the wife of youth, [that is, as a wife whom a man hath married in his youth, as Prov.5.18. That is, thou wast very dear and precious to me aforetime, and art so still for the Patriarchs sake] though thou wast despised, saith thy God.

7. For a small moment have I forsaken thee: [understand withal the last words of the next verse, saith the LORD thy redeemer] but with great compassions will I gather thee.

8. In a little wrath I have hid my face from thee, [See of this phrase Job 13. The Annotat. On vers.24.] for a moment: [See the Annotat. Psal.30.on vers.6. That is, in a wrath that did not last long Others, I hid my face from thee for a little season, in the moment of mine anger] but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

9. For that shall be unto me as the waters of Noah, [The meaning is, that which I now spake concerning my grace and mercy towards thee, it shall be as sure and certain, as that which I heretofore spake after the universal deluge which was in Noah’s time. See Gen.9.11.] when I swore, [or, to whom I sware] that the waters of Noah [that is, the waters that came in his time] should do no more go over the earth: so have I in his time] should no more go over the earth: so have I sworn that I will be no more angry with thee, [to wit, so grievously, as that I should utterly reject thee, and wholly bereave thee of my grace and favour. This is to be understood of the elect children of God, who are the true members of the Church] nor rebuke thee. [To wit, so sorely, that I should utterly destroy thee.]

10. For the mountains shall depart, [O may, or can depart. Others, for though the mountains should be removed, &c.] and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, [the meaning is, my mercy and kindness towards my Church shall last forever, and remain constant and immutable, though in the world all things should be turned upside down neither shall the covenant of my peace [that is, the covenant whereby I have promised peace, (that is, eternal salvation) unto thee] be removed. Compare this with the words of Christ, Matth.24.35.] saith the LORD that hath compassion on thee.

11. Thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, [understand here by this tempest: first, the Babylonian captivity: and secondly, the great desolation by Antiochus in the time of the Machebees; and further, the spiritual combat, affliction, and persecution of the Church in general. Rom.11.28,29.] disconsolate: or, comfortless] behold, I will lay stones most beautifully, [that is, I will build thee again far more gloriously then thou wast before. This must be understood of a spiritual reparation or building up of the elect, which is begun in this life by the preaching of the Gospel, and the glorious gifts of the holy Ghost, Eph.4.11, &c. and shall be finished and perfected in the life to come, Revel.21.10, &c. Heb. Cause thy stones to lie down with, or in ornament] and I will lay thy foundation on Saphirs.

12. And I will make thy glass-windows Chrystal (windows), [Or, I will make thy windows of Chrystal, or, of Agates, or, of Pearls] and thy gates of rubies; [or, of carbuncles] and all thy borders of pleasant stones. [Or, of delightful, acceptable stones. [Heb. Of stones of delight or of acceptance.]

13. And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD, [All the children of the Church are taught outwardly by the word, and inwardly by the holy ghost; Jerem.31.34. See Joh.6.45.] and the peace [that is, happiness, salvation, as ver.10.] of thy children shall be great. [Or manifold]

14. Thou shalt be established by righteousness: [To wit, by the righteousness of God, whereby he defendeth and protecteth his children. Or, understand here that righteousness wherewith God endueth and adorneth his children, and which flourisheth and aboundeth among them] be far from oppression, for thou shalt not fear: [that is, thou shalt not be oppressed, and shall have no cause to fear oppressed, which thou mightiest suffer at the hands of thine enemies] and (for) from terror, [or from destruction] for it [to wit, fear or terror, that is, those things that might frighten thee, or make thee afraid] shall not come near thee.

15. Behold, they shall surely gather themselves, [Others, (but) who so gathereth himself against thee in thee; that is, in thy land; meaning the traitors of the land. Others, behold there shall (some) sojourn [with thee] (but) not by me [that is, without my command] whosoever shall gather himself against thee, he shall fall for thy sake, [or shall fall before thee, that is, shall perish or be confounded. Others (but) whosoever shall sojourn with thee against thee, he shall be to fall: or he that gathereth himself with thee, being against thee, shall fall.]

16. Behold, I have created the smith (that bloweth up the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth the instrument for his work: also I have created the destroyer to destroy. [The meaning is, I govern all things by my providence. No smith were able to make any weapons or instruments of war, nor were any enemy able therewith to destroy the land, unless I had so decreed and ordained it before. (that bloweth up the coals in that fire) or that bloweth up the Cole-fire (and that bringeth forth the instrument for his work; to wit, for the destroyers work, who intendeth somewhat against thee, or hath some plot or design against thee. Others, for his work; to wit, the smiths work. (also I have created the destroy, or as far as I suffer him to destroy, or cut off.]

17. All (Or every) instrument that is prepared against thee shall not prosper, and all (or every) tongue (that) shall rise up in judgement against thee, thou shalt condemn: [The meaning is, none shall be able to hinder or hurt thee, but thou shalt overcome and conquer all through Christ that loveth thee, Rom.8.37. All (or every) instrument that is prepared against thee) to wit, by the enemies of the Church (and all (or every) tongue that riseth up in judgement against thee, to wit, to contend, or plead with thee, thou shalt condemn) that is, convince, that they have wronged thee and falsely accused thee] this is the heritage of the LORDS servants, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD, [righteousness is here as much to say, as judgement, or defence and protection, which is a fruit of the righteousness of God. See above chap.48.18. Others understand here by righteousness, the reward of righteousness, or the right that belongeth to the Lords servants, which is this, that I do defend and protect them against all unjust power and violence.]