Imatges de pàgina
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3. And forgettest the LORD thy maker, hat hath stretched forth the heavens, and aid the foundations of the earth? and ast feared continually every day, because f the fury of the oppressor, as if he were eady to destroy? and where is (d) the Fury of the oppressor? 14. The capive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, nd that he should not die in the pit, nor hat his bread should fail. 15. But I m (c) the LORD thy God, that divided he sea (ƒ), whose waves roared: the LORD of hosts is his name. 16. And I have put my word (g) in thy mouth, and have covered thee (b) in the shadow of nine hand, that I may (i) plant the heavens and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, "Thou art my people." 17. Awake, awake (k), stand ip, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at he hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of

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(ƒ) v. 15: The sea," i. e. "the Red Sea ;" in alluding to that signal instance of his wer and protection.

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(g) v. 16. “Put my word, &c." i. e. " thee my law;" another instance of peculiar /our. "What nation was there so great, that had statutes and judgments so righteous, as the law God set before his people?" Deut. iv. The superiority of the Mosaic law, the wism of its regulations, and their peculiar fitness r the then state of the Israelites, is admirably ustrated in Dr. Greaves's excellent lectures pon the Pentateuch.

(b) v. 16. " Covered thee, &c." i. e. "In thy march to Canaan," a strong mode of xpressing God's protection: so Is. xlix. 2. In the shadow of his hand hath he hid me." (i) v. 16. " May," rather "might." The llusion seems to be the original establishment of the people of Israel after their deliverance rom Egypt." Planting the heavens," and laying the foundation of the earth," are figurative expressions for establishing a government. Mede 448, 449. 616.

(k) v. 17. "Awake, awake, &c." After suggesting the true way of obtaining deliverance, an animated appeal to rouse them to resort to it.

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"the cup () of trembling, and wrung them 18. There is none to guide her among all the sons (m) whom she hath "brought forth: neither is there any that "taketh her by the hand, of all the sons "that she hath brought up. 19. These "two things are come unto thee: who "shall be sorry for thee? desolation (n), and "destruction, and (n) the famine, and the "sword: by whom (0) shall I comfort thee? 20. Thy sons have fainted, they lie at "the head of all the streets, as a wild bull "in a net: they are full of the fury of "the LORD, the rebuke of thy God. "21. Therefore hear now this, thou "afflicted, and drunken, but not with "wine (p); 22. Thus saith thy Lord, the "LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the

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cause of his people, "Behold, I have "taken (9) out of thine hand the cup of "trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury, thou shalt no more drink it

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or lead her: They, abject and amazed, lie at "the head of every street, overwhelmed with "the greatness of their distress: like the oryx "intangled in a net, in vain struggling to rend "it, and escape. This is poetry of the first "order, sublimity of the highest proof."

(m) v. 18. "None to guide her amongst all the sons, &c." It is from God alone therefore she can have deliverance.

(n) v. 19. "Desolation, &c." i. c.“ deso"lation by famine," and "destruction by the "sword," "and famine," or rather " even "famine."

(o) v. 19. "By whom, &c." or rather "who shall comfort thee?" who but God: who accordingly gives them comfort, verse 22. 23.

(p) v.21. "Not with wine," but with misery and the cup of trembling as much overpowered with distress, as a drunken man is with wine,

(q.) v. 22.

"I have taken, &c." this may

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refer to times not yet arrived: when the Jews shall have adopted the means referred to in verse 15. of turning with their whole hearts unto God. See Isaiah xi. II.

(r) A prophetic account of the backwardness of man to believe that Christ was the Messiah, of the simplicity of his appearance, his rejection, treatment, and passion, of the cause and object of his sufferings, to make an atonement for the sins of man, and to procure man's redemption, of his burial, and future exaltation. The account is so plain and circumstantial that it looks almost like a history of what had happened, rather than a prophecy of what would happen, and yet is there no doubt of its existence long before our Saviour's appearance. Dr. Hales has given a translation of it with Notes, 2 Hales 440. many parts of it are commented upon explained and illustrated in Dr. Magee's valuable work Atonement and Sacrifice.

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(s) v. 1. "Who hath believed ;" an intimation that there would be a disinclination, not a readiness, to believe. This passage is referred to by St. John, John xii. 37. 38. "Though "he had done so many miracles before them, "yet they believed not on him, that the saying "of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled," (or so that the saying was fulfilled) "which he "spake, "Lord, who hath believed our report, "and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been "revealed;" and by St. Paul, Rom. x. 16.

But they have not all obeyed the gospel, for "Esaias saith, "Lord, who hath believed our "report."

(t) v. I. "Our report." i. e. the " report "mentioned, Isaiah lii. 7.." of him that bring"of "eth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that

bringeth good tidings of good, that pub"lisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, thy "God reigneth." See Rom. x. 15.

(u) v. I. "The arm of the Lord." "The "means God should use to bring salvation unto "man." It alludes to a passage in the preceding chapter, Isaiah lii. 10. announcing the deliverance by the Messiah, "The Lord hath made

"arm of the LORD (u) revealed? 2. Forx) "he (y) shall grow up (z) before him as a "tender plant (a), and as a root(a) out ofa "dryground: he hath no form(a) nor come"liness: and when we shall see him, there "is no beauty (a) that we should desire him. 3. He is despised (b) and rejected of "men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted "with grief and we hid (c) as it were "our faces from him; he was despised,

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"(or makes) bare his holy arm in the eyes d "all the nations, and all the ends of the wor "shall see the salvation of our God." Th meaning therefore is, who will believe at ha coming that in Jesus Christ is fulfilled the report "thy God reigneth ;" and who will derstand, or to whom will it be known, that in him hath the Lord made bare his holy am, to display his salvation to the ends of the earth

(x) v. 2. "For, &c." The reasons why belief is not readily given; because he has to grandeur, pomp, or outward marks of great ness, nothing the worldly-minded this at

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(y) v. 2. "He," i. e. " the Messa ferred to in the preceding chapter, s. 13. "Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, "shall be exalted, and extolled, and be very "high."

(z) v. 2. "Grow up, &c." Referring per haps to (as it was undoubtedly verified in the humility of his birth, parentage, and early life. The reputed son of a carpenter, Matt. Y 56.-Mark vi. 3; laid in a manger up his birth, because there was no room in the Lu. ii. 7; and afterwards living with Joseph carpenter, and Mary, and subject unto them Luke ii. 51.

(a) v. 2. "As a tender plant;" "a rost "out of a dry ground;" "no form or come "liness; "no beauty, &c." All figurate expressions to denote the want of external and attraction.

(b) v. 3. "Despised." This is not only prophecy which foretells the scar the Messiah should experience; he is referred to Is. xlix. 7. as❝ him whom man despiseth, "whom the nations abhorreth;" and in the prophetic Psalm (Ps. xxii. 6.) he is represents as saying of himself " I am a worm and no 66 a very scorn of men, and the outcast of the "people, &c."

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(c) v. 3. "Wehid, &c." i. e. «he was treated as one of whom men are ashamed, from whom they turn their face." The marginal readi : in the Bible, which Bp. Lowth and Dr. H follow is, "He hid as it were his face f

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us," i. e." he was as one who was ashamed to shew his face."

(d) v. 4. "Borne," i. e. " taken upon himself, had upon his shoulders." Dr. Magee ad Dr. Hales think the reading should be, removed our diseases," which would make e reference to it in Matt. viii. 17. much ore natural." He healed all that were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet," " himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." I Magee, 13 to 436.

(e) v. 4. "Smitten of God, and afflicted," "smitten and afflicted of God," Dr. Hales. That it was God's visitation; that he had deserved by his own sins all he suffered.” F(ƒ) v.5.

66 But, &c." rather "but it was for our transgressions he was wounded, it was for our iniquities, &c." St. Paul speaks f Christ as him," who was delivered for our offences, Rom. iv. 25." "Who gave himself for our sins, Gal. i. 4. who died for our sins, 1 Cor. xv. 3. ;" and St. Peter says of im, that he "bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed: for ye were as sheep going astray. 1 Pet. ii. 24."

(g) v. 5. "Of our peace," i. e. "by which our peace, our reconciliation to God, was to be obtained."

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(i) v. 6. “We," i. e. " mankind," "the whole human race."

(k) v. 6. "Laid on him, &c." By the Levial law, the high priest was to take a goat, d lay his hands upon the goat's head, and nfess over him all the iniquities of the people, d then the goat was to bear upon him all eir iniquities. See Lev. xvi. 21. 22. The ws therefore would well understand what was tant by laying on the Messiah the sins of all e world.

() v.7. "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted," or, according to Bp. Lowth, Pole, ad others, “it (i. e. satisfaction for the ini

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"quity of us all) was exacted, and he was "made answerable, or made to answer." In the Hebrew the pronoun he is not expressed before the first verb, it is before the second : and the word rendered "He" in some passages stands for God, and is the very word which is rendered It in the famous prophecy, Gen. iii. 15. "It shall bruise thy head." See ante, 617. note on Is. xli. 4.

(m) v. 7. "Opened not his mouth." Though it was not to be expected that this was to be fulfilled to the letter, yet how nearly was it so in our Saviour's instance? When the high priest said unto Jesus, " Answerest thou "nothing, he held his peace ;" and though he gave an answer when adjured by the high priest in that solemn form, "I adjure thee by "the living God," the reason probably was, because to a question so put, no Jew could innocently refuse an answer. See Matt. xxvi. 62 to 64. Though he admitted to Pilate that he was the king of the Jews, when he was accused before him by the chief priests and elders, he "answered nothing, insomuch that "Pilate marvelled greatly. Matt. xxvii. 11 to

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14. and Mark v. 2 to 5." St. Peter says of him," when he was reviled, he reviled not "again; when he suffered, he threatened not. "I Pet. ii. 23." and instead of calling for vengeance whilst he was in the agonies of the cross his language was, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. Luke xxiii. 34." () v. 7. "He is brought &c." the passage the Eunuch was reading, when Philip joined him, and converted him. Acts viii. 26 to 38.

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(o) v. 8. "Prison," or "custody." Dr. Hales. (p) v. 8. "From prison and from judge"ment," so that it was to be a judicial act, on which the rulers would have time to deliberate; it was not to proceed from accident or sudden passion. The chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled together, and consulted that they might take Jesus, and kill him. Matt. xxvi. 3. 4. When they took him, they led him away, first to Annas, and be sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. John xviii. 13. 24. At Caiaphas's the scribes and elders were assembled, and

"clare (q) his generation? for he was cut "off out of the land of the living: for (r) "the transgression of my people (s) was he "stricken. 9. And he made his grave (t) "with the wicked (t), and with the rich (u) "in his death, because (x) he had done no "violence, neither was any deceit in his "mouth. 10. Yet it pleased the LORD "to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: "when thou shalt make (y) his soul an "offering for sin, he shall see his seed (z), " he shall prolong his days, and the plea<< sure of the LORD shall prosper in his

many witnesses were examined: from thence he was led bound unto the hall of judgment, where Pilate sat: Pilate shewed great unwillingness to sentence him to death, but was repeatedly pressed to it by the chief priests and Jews: he went out twice from the judgment hall to them to intimate that he found no cause of death in him; he sent him to Herod, that he also might examine him: and he was three times in the judgment hall, and at last in the judgment seat, in a place called the pavement, before he yielded to their importunities. John xviii. 28. 33.-John xix. 4. 9. 13.—Lu. xxiii. 4 to 16. His crucifixion therefore was at the pressing instance of the rulers of the people, the result of consultation and plan, after he had been many hours in custody; their consideration was awakened by Pilate's opposition, and it was under a judicial sentence; so that it was by judgment that he was taken off his crucifixion too followed immediately upon the judgment, there was no interval: so that in that respect also it is true of him, that he was taken "from judgment."

(q) v. 8." Declare, &c." i. e. "describe the wickedness of the men of that genera"tion." 2 Lightfoot 680. 1112.-Dr. Hales.Dr. Lowth.-and see Parkhurst's Hebr. Dict. (r) v. 8. "For," or rather "by ;"" it was to be their sinful act ;" the object of his suffering for the sins of men was sufficiently expressed before.

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(s) v. 8. "My people," i. e. " the Jews." (t) v.9. "Made his grave," i. e. " died " "with the wicked" and what is the history as to Jesus Christ? "Then were there two "thieves crucified with him, one on the right "hand, and another on the left. Matt. xxvii. 38.

(u) v. 9. "And with the rich, &c." or rather "but with the rich was his tomb. Schindler 171. Dr. and Bp. Lowth and Dr. Hales. And when our Saviour was crucified,

"hand. 11. He shall see (a) of the travail "of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by "his knowledge (6) shall my righteous ser"vant justify (c) many (d); for he shall "bear their iniquities. 12. Therefore "will I (e) divide him (ƒ) a portion with "the great, and he shall divide the spoil "with the strong: because he hath "poured (g) out his soul unto death: and " he was numbered (b) with the transgres "sors, and he bare the sin of many, and "made intercession (i) for the transg "sors."

Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man, begged the body of Jesus, and wrapped it in a clean line cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock. Matt. xxvii. 57 to 60.

(x) v. 9. For "because" Dr. and Bp. Lowth and Dr. Hales read "although," and com nect this with the following verse," although he "had done no violence, neither was there y "deceit in his mouth; yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him, he put him to grief." (y) v. 10. "Shalt make" or " shalt have "made," 1 Magee 227 to 230.

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(*) v. 10. "His seed, &c." or rather "a "seed, that shall prolong their days."

(a) v. 11. "See," i. e. "see the fruits of, "the good effects."

(b) v. 11. "His knowledge" i. e. "the "knowledge of him."

(c) v. 11. "Justify" i. e. " put in the situ "ation of just men: of men who have no s "for which to answer."

(d) v. 11. "Many" not all mankind.
(e) v. 12. " I," i. e. “God.”

(ƒ) v. 12. "Divide him, &c." or "allot "him multitudes for his portion, and he shall "have the mighty for his spoil," i. e. he shal have followers and worshippers without number.

(g) v. 12. Read" Because he poured, "and was numbered, &c." " and bare, fc." 2 Hales 441. assigning the reason why God was to divide him a portion with the great, &c.

(b) v. 12. "Numbered, &c. this page our Saviour distinctly applies to himself, Luke xxii. 37. "This that is written must yet be "accomplished in me," " and he was reckoned "among the transgressors."

(i) v. 12. "Made intercession, &c." the firs instance occurred whilst Christ was yet upon the cross, "Father forgive them, for they know "not what they do," Luke xxiii. 34. T whole of this account, so singular and so cumstantial, so utterly impossible to be

CHAP. LV. (k)

Treevery, O every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters (1), and he (m) at hath no money; come ye buy and eat, a, come, buy wine and milk without oney, and without price. 2. Wherere do ye spend money for that which is t bread (n)? and your labour for that hich satisfieth (n)not? hearken diligently to me, and eat ye that which is good (0), id let your soul delight itself in fatness(0). . Incline your ear and come unto me : ear, and your soul (p) shall live, and I ill make an everlasting covenant with ou, even the sure mercies of David (q).

Behold, I have given him (r) for a itness to the people (r), a leader and ommander to the people (r). 5. Behold,

of guess or conjecture, was accurately to the letter fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and it ever been fulfilled in any other? and yet is but one of the many prophecies which blish the proof that he was the true Messiah. aw then can it have happened that the Jews re resisted this evidence? St. Paul in the rit of prophecy, gives the answer: because lindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the gentiles be come in. Rom. xi. 25." When they shall search the scripknes, when they shall turn to God, and iously and with humility endeavour to find the truth, we have the sure word of scripfe that they shall look upon him whom they have pierced, Zech. xii. 10. and Rev. i. 7." all Israel shall be saved, Rom. xi. 26." (k) An invitation to all mankind, gentiles as ll as Jews, to faith and repentance; and asrances of pardon and blessings to all believers. "Waters," i. e. "of life; spiritual (1) v. I. meat and drink; what will support and invigorate the soul." Our Saviour enlarges upon this ea, John vi. 27.33.35. "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life. The bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 1 am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst ;" and see John vi. 53 to 8. and John vii. 37 to 39. So John iv. 14. Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst." (m) v. 1. " And he," 66 or even he," money is not necessary for this purchase. (n) v. 2. "Not bread," and "satisfieth not,"

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"thou (s) shalt call a nation that thou "knowest not, and nations that knew not "thee (s), shall run unto thee, because of "the LORD thy God, and for the holy One "of Israel; for he hath glorified (t) thee. "6. Seek ye the LORD while he be "found (u), call ye upon him while he is 7. Let the wicked forsake his "way, and the unrighteous man his "thoughts: and let him return unto the "LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; "and to our God, for he will abundantly "pardon. 8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts (x), neither are your ways

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my ways, saith the LORD. 9. For as the "heavens are higher than the earth, so are

my ways higher (y) than your ways, and "my thoughts than your thoughts. 10. For as the rain cometh down, and

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"what hath no spiritual nourishment, will not "feed the soul."

(0) v. 2. "Is good," and "fatness," "what "hath in it the true goodness, nutriment for the "" soul."

(p) 0.3. "Your soul," it is for that I will provide.

(q) v. 3. "The sure mercies of David," i. e. "the gospel dispensation," the blessings to be procured for man by the Messiah, which were promised to David, who was a type of Christ.

(r) v. 4. "Him," i. e. the Messiah," "the "people," i. e. " the nations," "the gentiles," "all mankind.”

(s) v. 5. "Thou," and "thee," i. e. "the "Messiah." The meaning is, that the nations who have not practised or known the true worship of God, shall be converted to christianity, and embrace the true religion. See ante, Is. ii. 2. and Is. ii. 10.

() v. 5. "Hath glorified," i. e. " shall glo"rify," the perfect for the future; it being as certain as though it had already happened.

(u) v.6. "While he may be found," and "whilst he is near," to intimate, that if the opportunity is not seized, when it occurs, it may never be again offered. The same intimation is given, Prov. i. 24. ante, and in the parable of the ten virgins, Matt. xxv. I to 12. (x) v.8. "My thoughts are not as your "thoughts," i. e. (probably) 66 upon the sub. jects of mercy and pardon God greatly differs "from man: man cannot easily grant a full and "free forgiveness to him who hath offended "him: God can."

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(y) v. 9. "Higher," i. e. "more excellent, 66 more exalted, kinder, more benevolent, more merciful."

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