1The righteous are exhorted by the example of Abraham to trust in God, who will comfort his church. 4The certainty of his salvation. 7The reproach of men should not be feared by the righteous. 9A call upon God's arm to exert itself as of old in redeeming his church. 12The vanity of fearing man, and distrusting his Maker's power. 17The prophet bewaileth the afflictions of Jerusalem, 21and promiseth deliverance.
1HEARKEN1 to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto 2the rock whence ye are 3hewn, and to the hole of the pit 4whence ye are digged.
1 These are the words of God unto His congregation, comforting her in her grief and heaviness wherewith she was overcome, when she considered the small number of believers.
2 That is, Abraham, whose body was dead by reason of old age, when he received the promise that he would beget Isaac, Rom. 4:19. See the annotation at Psalm 90 on verse 2.
3 That is, brought forth by My power.
4 Understand here Sarah, who was barren and whose body or womb was dead by reason of old age when she conceived Isaac, Rom. 4:19.
25Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for 6I called 7him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.
5 This is an exposition of the words immediately before.
6 The meaning is: As I made Abraham and Sarah, though they were both old and decrepit, to be a great nation, as such will I likewise wonderfully increase and augment My church, though the Jews at present are a contemptible and sore afflicted people.
7 Or, when he was yet only. Hebr. when he was one, that is, when he had yet no children, yea, had no hopes of getting children. See Rom. 4:19.
3For the LORD shall comfort 8Zion: he will 9comfort all her waste places; and he will make 10her wilderness 11like Eden, and her desert 12like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found 13therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
8 That is, His people, the christian church; or, those who shall return out of the Babylonian captivity.
9Comfort here is as much to say as to build up, and to restore all her, namely, Zion’s, desolate places. Hebr. her desolations. The meaning is: The Lord shall call the Gentiles in place of the unbelieving Jews. Compare Rom. 11:11; Gal. 4:27.
10 That is, the small number of believing Jews.
11 That is, like the garden of Eden, which is called Paradise. See Gen. 2:8; that is, the Lord shall, by His efficacious and powerful calling, plant the elect from the Gentiles in His church.
12 That is, like Paradise; or, understand hereby the garden of the Lord an exceeding fair garden. It is the same that was said immediately before in other words.
13 Namely, in the church of the Lord.
4¶Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for 14a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my 15judgment 16to rest 17for a light of the people.
14 Or, doctrine, namely, the doctrine of the Holy Gospel, as Isa. 2:3.
15 Consisting therein, that all who believe in Christ are justified, and obtain pardon of all their sins. Others: my judgment, that is, My doctrine, which I prescribe as a law unto My people.
16 Namely, in My church, which is the pillar and ground of the truth, 1 Tim. 3:15.
17 That is, for that end and purpose that it might shine unto the elect of several nations, enlightening them with the saving knowledge of God. Compare Luke 2:32; Acts 13:46, 47.
518My righteousness is near; 19my salvation 20is gone forth, and 21mine arms shall judge the people; 22the isles shall wait upon me, and 23on mine arm shall they trust.
18 That is, My gracious redemption, which I will work for My people by their Savior Jesus Christ, according to My promise.
19 That is, My salvation, which I shall give unto Mine elect, is made manifest.
20 Or, shall appear.
21 That is, I will by My Divine power bring the nations to obedience.
22 That is, the foreign nations. See Isa. 41:1; 42:4; 60:9.
23 That is, on My help and assistance. See Isa. 53:1.
6Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for 24the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die 25in like manner: but 26my salvation shall be for ever, and 27my righteousness shall 28not be abolished.
24 The sense 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 would perish, yet notwithstanding I will keep and preserve My church, and give her that which I have promised her. Compare Psalm 102:26; Isa. 34:4.
25 Namely, as smoke and a garment do perish and decay.
26 Also verse 8. Further be, that is, remain. See Psalm 37 on verse 18.
27 Also verse 8. Further be, that is, remain. See Psalm 37 on verse 18.
28 Or, shall not fail.
7¶Hearken unto me, ye that 29know 30righteousness, the people ina whose heart is 31my law; fearb ye not the reproach 32of men, neither be ye afraid of 33their revilings.
29 That is, ye who love it, and employ yourselves in it, as Psalm 1:6.
30 That is to say here: piousness and godliness.
a Psalm 37:31.
31 As being the rule and directive, according to which men are to order their life.
b verse 12; Psalm 118:6.
32 That is, the reproach which is afflicted upon you by men.
33 Namely, of mortal men, that is here to say: of the wicked, who are your enemies.
8For thec moth shall eat them up like a garment, and 34the worm shall eat them 35like wool: but 36my righteousness shall be for ever, and 37my salvation 38from generation to generation.
c Isa. 50:9.
34 This is a sort of little worms which are frequently in wool.
35 That is, as a woolen garment.
36 As verse 6.
37 As verse 6.
38 Hebr. for generation of generations.
9 ¶ 39Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art 40thou not it that hath 41cut 42Rahab, and 43wounded 44the dragon?
39 Or, rise up, rise up. The people of God speak this, beseeching God that He would manifest His power and would deliver them as He had formerly delivered their fathers out of Egypt.
40 Thou mighty arm of God.
41 As a stone is hewn out of the rock. This is here to say: Hast violently plucked up out from the number of the living.
42 That is, Egypt. Understand here Pharaoh with all his host. See Psalm 87:4; 89:10.
43 Or, hast afflicted, namely, when thou didst cast and drowned him in the Red Sea, Exod. 14:27.
44 Or, whale, that is, king Pharaoh. See Psalm 74:13, 14; Isa. 27:1; Ezek. 29:3.
10Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; thatd hath 45made the depths of the sea a way for 46the ransomed to pass over?
d Isa. 43:16.
45 Hebr. hast set.
46 That is, the children of Israel, who were delivered from the hands of the Egyptians.
11Therefore 47the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy 48shall be upon their head: they shall 49obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
47 Or, the ransomed, that is, those for whom the Lord has 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 Isa. 35:10; where the same words are mentioned which are mentioned here.
48 Namely, as a beautiful crown or garland. See Isa. 35:10; 2 Tim. 4:8.
49 Or, overtake.
1250I, even I, am he that comforteth 51you: 52who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of ae man that 53shall die, and of the son of man 54which shall be made as grass;
50 Here the Lord speaks again.
51 Namely, O Zion, ye congregation of believers.
52 As if the Lord said: Why then, My people, are ye so faint-hearted? Surely ye know not the Lord’s power, which defends and protects you, seeing ye are so fearful and afraid of mortal men.
e verse 7; Psalm 118:6.
53 Or, must die.
54 Hebr, that shall be given or set as hay, that is, that shall be cut down, and that shall wither and fade as the hay. See Isa. 40:6; 1 Peter 1:24.
13And forgettest the LORD 55thy maker, thatf hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury 56of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? 57and where is the fury 58of the oppressor?
55 Namely, of His people, and honorable. Compare Psalm 100:3.
f Job 9:8; Psalm 104:2; Isa. 40:22; 42:5; 44:24.
56 Of wicked men, of the tyrant, of the persecutors and also of the devil.
57 As if He said: The persecutors (even the devils) shall not prevail anymore against you. This shall not be fully accomplished until the day of judgment. Others take these words thus, as if the prophet said: Do you not see how that all the threats of your enemies are come to nought? Therefore you have had no cause to be thus afraid.
58 Of wicked men, of the tyrant, of the persecutors and also of the devil.
1459The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die 60in the pit, nor that 61his bread should fail.
59 Other, He that goeth about in exile shall be quickly delivered, namely, 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.
60 That is, in the Babylonian captivity, or, in the den or pit of misery.
61 That is, his necessary food.
15But I am the LORD thy God, that 62divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name.
62 Or, rented, cleaved. Other, moved. See Job 26:12; Jer. 31:35.
16And 63I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have 64covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, 65that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto 66Zion, Thou art my people.
63 Some conceive that this is spoken to Christ (compare Isa. 49:2, 3), others think that it is spoken to His church.
64 That is, I take thee under My protection.
65 Namely, 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 Isa. 65:17; 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13.
66 That is, to the catholic church, as verse 3.
17 ¶ 67Awake,g awake, stand up, O 68Jerusalem, which hast 69drunk 70at the hand of the LORD 71the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup 72of trembling, and 73wrung them out.
67 Lift up your eyes unto God, and take courage, and put your confidence in His gracious promise.
g Isa. 52:1.
68 O, ye people of God. See Gal. 4:26; Heb. 12:22.
69 That is, who has been sorely afflicted and chastened by the means of tyrants. See Job 21 on verse 20. See likewise the annotation at Psalm 60 on verse 3: Psalm 75:8; Jer. 25:15, 16.
70 That is, the cup which thou has received at the hand of the Lord.
71 That is, the punishments which thou hast received at the hand of an angry God
72 See Psalm 60 on verse 3.
73 Hebr. pressed them out.
18There is none 74to guide her 75among all the sons whom 76she hath brought forth; neither is there any 77that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up.
74 Namely, with true comfortable doctrine. Here the Lord complains of false teachers who had gotten the upper hand both in the time of the sad state of the church, and in the time when Christ came in the flesh, as also afterward in the time of antichrist.
75 That is, of all the Jews who were born and raised in Jerusalem. Here the Lord relates 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; Rev. 12:3.
76 Namely, the city of Jerusalem, that is, the congregation or church, or the imprisoned Jews.
77 That is, who affords spiritual help and comfort to her. Or, who undertakes to deliver her from the Babylonian captivity.
1978Theseh two things are come unto thee; 79who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: 80by whom shall I comfort thee?
78 Namely, that thou hast been persecuted by enemies, and hast received no comfort at the hand of thy rulers, as is said in verse 18; but others are of the opinion that it suits better with that which follows in verse 20.
h Isa. 47:9.
79 Or, who lamenteth thee? That is, who comforteth thee? As Job 2:11.
80 The meaning is: Whose example shall I allege to compare thy misery?, making it appear to thee that there have been others who have been as sorely plagued and punished as thyself? Other, wherewith; other, by whom shall I cause thee to be comforted?
2081Thyi sons 82have fainted, they lie 83at the head of all the streets, as 84a wild bull 85in a net: they are full 86of the fury of the LORD, 87the rebuke of thy God.
81 O Jerusalem, that is, your inhabitants, or your citizens.
i Lam. 2:11, 12.
82 Forasmuch as they are smitten down by their enemies.
83 Or, in front of all the streets. Hebr. at the head of all the streets, that is, at the entry of all the streets.
84 Or, ox.
85 Hebr. of the net, or, of the snare, that is, which is snared in the net, and which therefore cannot help nor deliver himself.
86 Of the punishment which proceeds from the wrath and fury of the Lord. This is the cause of their fear.
87 That is, the punishment, as Isa. 50:2.
21¶Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but 88not with wine:
88 But with adversity and misery; or, understand herewith: but with the cup of the Lord’s wrath, as verse 17.
22Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God 89that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, 90I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:
89 Hebr. that will plead his people’s cause. The meaning is: The Lord will undertake to maintain and defend the cause of His people against their enemies.
90 As if the Lord said: Seeing no man is able to help thee, therefore I will help thee.
23But I will put it into the hand of them 91that afflict thee; 92which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.
91 Or, caused sorrow unto thee. Other, that oppressed thee.
92 That is, who boldly and presumptuously oppressed thee, seeking to make thee to bow down to the very ground, and utterly to destroy thee. Figurative kind of speech.