Isaiah 62
DortThe prophet foretelleth the happy and glorious state of the Christian church, ver. 1, which shall be married unto Christ, 4 and he will furnish her with faithful watchmen, 6 and give her rest and peace, 8 and increase her by the conversion of the Gentiles, 10
1. For Zions sake i will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem sake i will not be quiet: [or, not rest] until the righteousness thereof come forth as brightness and the salvation thereof as torch that burneth [these are the words of the prophet Isaiah, both in his own name and in the name of other Prophets and Ministers of God] (for Zion’s sake) that is, for the churches, on the people of Gods sake, which is straightway called Jerusalem, a type of the church of the new Testament, Hebrews 12:22. Revel.14.1 and 21.2. (i will not hold my peace) that is, i will not cease to preach unto his church the comfortable promises that god hath revealed unto me. See Psal.122.6 and 2 Tim.4.2. (until the righteousness thereof) to wit, of the city of Jerusalem; that is of church.(come forth as a splendour,) Or, a rise, Heb. Go forth; to wit, as the sun goeth out of his chamber when he ariseth. See Psal.19.6. (and the salvation thereof as a torch that burneth) this meaning, until Christ, who is our righteousness and our Saviour, be revealed unto the world.]
2. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, [To wit, that righteous, O Zion, or Jerusalem, wherewith thou shalt be adorned by thy bridegroom Christ Jesus] and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, [that is, thou shalt be renewed and brought into a better estate then thou wast in before, and this new and better estate shall be the cause of the new name. They that are by nature children of wrath, Ephes.2.3 shall be grace be called children of god, 1 Job.3.1 and such in whom he taketh pleasure or delight, ver.4 this name no man knoweth but he that recieveth it, Revel. 2.17.] which the mouth of the Lord shall expressly name. [See of the Hebrews word, Gens.30 on vers.28]
3. And thou shalt be a beautiful crown in the hand of the Lord, [That is, thou shalt be most dear and precious unto the Lord. See Exodus 19:5. (in the hand of the Lord) that is, thou shalt be preserved and protected by God. See Deut.33.3. Job 13:28,29.] and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. [Understand here by the royal diadem, or mitre, the royal Priesthood whereof Peter Speaketh, 1 Pet.2.9.]
4. It shall no more be said unto thee, the forsaken one [to wit, of God her bridegroom, as if thou wart no more his bride, or his people, or his people. See above chap.60.15.] Neither shall it be said anymore to thy land, the desolate. [Heb. Desolation; that is, desolate. See Hos.1.10 1 Peter 2:10] but thou shalt be called, My delight is in her, [that is, God hath a delight in her to wit, in Jerusalem] and thy land, [which the lord had given thee to dwell in. Or, thy land; that is, the inhabitants of thy land] the betrothed: [that is, inhabited] for the Lord hath a delight in thee, and thy land shall be betrothed. [That is thy land shall be inhabited, as wife dwelleth with her husband.]
5. For (as) a young man marrieth a virgin, (so) shall thy children marry thee: [to wit, O thou land. Or, among you with the, O thou Church] and (as) the bridegroom rejoyceth over the bride, (s0) shall thy God rejoice over thee. [Christ is often in scripture called a bridegroom and his church a bride, Job.3.24. Revel. 21. Ver. 2,9. Whose mutual love and joy is related, and 4.1,
6. I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, [this is the Lord Speaketh. (Watchmen) that is, Prophets, shepherds, teachers, such as have the care of souls. See above chapter 21.11. Ezek.3.17. and 33.7. Revel. 21.12 and 18.14.] which all the day and all the night continually shall not hold their peace: [But they shall continually preach the word, and hold forth the promises of God. See ver.1.] O ye that cause the Lord to be remembered, [Or, O ye mention-makers, or, O ye mentioners of the Lord. This is the Prophet speaketh unto the teachers of the Gospel] let no silence be with you. [But witness constantly, and preach boldly the truth.]
7. And keep not silence before him, [To wit, the Lord, Heb, give him, or before him no silence] until he make Jerusalem a praise upon earth. [the meaning is, Give not over preaching and entering and entreating, but persevere in prayer, yea be urgent and importunate with God, until thou be heard, until God send forth labourers into his harvest, Matth. 9.38 and until he bless their labour, 1 Cor. 3.6. (until he maketh Jerusalem a praise upon earth) that is, put her in such a condition, that must one must praise her.]
8. the Lord hath sworn by his right hand, [that is, by his own power; that is by himself, having no gain the prophets words] and by the arm of his strength: [that is, by his strong arm] if i shall any more give [O Jerusalem] thy corn to be (for) meat for thine enemies, and if the strangers [Heb, the children of the stranger] shall drink thy new for the which thou hast laboured: [the meaning is, surely i will not deliver thee up to the will of thine enemies and persecutors. See of this kind of oath, Numb chap.14. the Annotat. On ver. 23.. (if i shall any more give thy corn (for) meat for thine enemies) God doth often threaten that strangers and enemies of his people should for his people sins eat the fruits of their land, as Deut., 28. Ver.30,33,51. Which often times happened so indeed, Judg.6.3,4. Eccles.6,1,2. This must be understood to be likewise contained among the curses of the law, which are taken away by Christ, Galat. 3.13. see likewise Psal.128.2 and 1 cor.15.58.]
9. But they that shall gather it in, [Heb, the gatherers in of it; to wit, of the corn] they shall eat it, and they shall praise the Lord: and they that shall gather it, [Heb, the gatherers, or bringers of it together’ to wit, of the new wine] they shall drink it in the courts of my sanctuary. [That is, with public thanksgivings, which they shall perform unto the Lord in his Church for his mercies. A phrase borrowed from the Priests that did eat the hallowed flesh in the court of the Tabernacle, and afterward in the Court of the temple. See Levit. 6.16 and 10.18. Ezek.42.14]
10. Go throw, go throw, throw the gates, prepare the way of the people: exalt a path, remove the stones, left up a stranded unto the nations. [this is a speech made to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, exhorting them to set the City-gates wide open and to make the ways fairs and clean, that the gentiles, that should in great multitudes join themselves unto the church of Christ, might find an open and clean path. See above chapter 51.14. others prepare the way for the people, (exalt, exalt a path) whereby they may be brought and enter in unto, O ye Citizens of Jerusalem; that is, unto the Christian church, see above chap.40.3. (take away the stones) or, cleanse from stones. See above chap.57.14. the meaning is, remove all impediments and stumbling-blocks out of the way, Rom. chapter Ver.13, 13.21. (lift up a standard unto the nations.) that is, preach the gospel openly. See above chap.11.12. and 49.22.]
11. behold, the lord hath caused to be heard [to wit, by the preaching of the gospel. See rom.10.18. and he hath caused to be heard; to wit, that which followeth here, say,] unto the end of the earth, say unto the daughter of Zion, [that is, to the people of Zion; that is, to Church of God, as Zach, 9.9 Math.21.5. Job 12:15.] Behold, thy salvation cometh: [that is, thy deliverance and redemption cometh. Or thy saviour and redeemer, to wit, Jesus, that delivereth his people from their sins, Math he will give to all them that serve him faithfully. Above chapter 40.10. Revel.22.12 see psal.127. on verse 3] is with him, and his wages [Heb. His work; that is, his wages. See above chap.40 on vers 10 and Levit.19.13] is before his face.
12. And they shall call them [To wit, the faithful that shall join themselves to the church of Christ, both from the Jews and from the Gentiles] the holy people, [Heb. The people of holiness] the redeemed of the Lord] and thou] O Zion, thou church of God] shalt be called the sought one, [The Hebrew word, which some do put in the text, signifieth the sought one, or sought after, or, cared for. To wit, whom God of his grace and mercy hath visited and gathered again whereas she had been before forsaken and scattered a while for her sins. See above chapter 54.6,7 and the Annotat. Deut.11 on ver. 12.] the city which is not forsaken. [Or, the unforsaken city.