1The calling of the Gentiles, and the rejection of the Jews for their unbelief, idolatry, and hypocrisy. 8A remnant shall be saved. 11Judgments shall be for the wicked, but blessings for the godly. 17The blessed state of the new Jerusalem.
1I AM 1sought of them 2that asked not for me; I am found 3of them that sought me not: I said, 4Behold me, behold me, unto a nation 5that was not called by my name.
1 Or, found. Hebr. properly sought. Understand herewith and found, as it is said Rom. 10:20. This the Lord speaks, and it is a prophecy concerning the calling of the Gentiles and the rejection of the Jews. See this phrase, namely, seeking for seeking and finding, Eccl. 3:6, and compare Gen. 12 on verse 15.
2 Hebr. that asked not.
3 That is, of the Gentiles, who were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel. See Eph. 2:12.
4 That is, I offer Myself for your good, namely, in and by the preaching of the Holy Gospel.
5 Understand here also the Gentiles who were in times past were not called the people of God. See Rom. 9:24, 25, 26.
2I have spread out 6my hands all the day unto a 7rebellious people, which walketh 8in a way that was not good, 9after their own thoughts;
6 That is, I have caused the Jews to be continually called and instructed by the preaching of the prophets, and afterward by the apostles, but they laid it not to heart. When the Holy Scripture says that men spread forth or stretch out their hands, it signifies praying, as Exod. 9:29; 1 Kings 8:22. See the annotation there. But when it is said that God spreads forth His hands, it signifies preaching, as here, and Prov. 1:24. See the annotation there.
7 See Isa. 1 on verse 23. The apostle Paul, following the Greek translators, renders it: unto a disobedient and gainsaying people, and he say that this is spoken to Israel, Rom. 10:21.
8 As Psalm 36:4. The word way is used sometimes in Holy Scripture for religion, as Acts 18:25, 26; 22:4.
9 It is said in Psalm 94:11 that the thoughts of man are vanity itself. See likewise Psalm 81:12.
3A people that provoketh 10me to anger continually 11to my face; that sacrificeth 12in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars 13of brick;
10 Namely, by their idolatry and abominations. See Deut. 32:16.
11 That is, openly, boldly, impudently, contrary to God’s commandment, Exod. 20:3. See Job 1:11.
12 Namely, under green trees, after the manner of idolaters. See Isa. 1:29; 66:17.
13 That is, upon idolatrous altars, which were made of bricks, despising God’s golden altar, which Solomon had caused to be made, 1 Kings 7:48.
4Which remain 14among the graves, and lodge 15in the monuments, 16which eat swine's flesh, and 17broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
14 To inquire of the dead for the living, Isa. 8:19, which is an abomination in the sight of God, Deut. 18:11, 12. See Isa. 2:6; 8:19.
15 That is, according to the opinion of some, among the idols or images of false gods, which kept and protect nothing, but were to be kept and watched lest they would be stolen; but others understand it of dead bodies, which those, who had skill in the magic art, were wont to keep and to tarry with them in the night time to ask counsel of them. Other, they pass the night in the desert places, or, in safeguarded graves.
16 Against the express command of God, (as being an unclean thing), Lev. 11:7; Deut. 14:8.
17 That is, broth of the flesh of beasts that were forbidden, which were an abomination unto the Lord, when a man did eat them. Other, pieces of unclean, or stinking, or rotten flesh is in their vessels. See the annotation Lev. 7:18; but under the above recited abominations must here be understood all manner of transgressions against the law of God.
5Which 18say, 19Stand by thyself, come not near to me; 20for I am 21holier than thou. These 22are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth 23all the day.
18 Namely, to the prophet who wants to reprove them and to exhort them to repentance.
19 That is, stay away from me, come not near to me, be anxious about yourself.
20 They are the words of boasters and hypocrites, disdaining others, as if they themselves were very holy men, whereas they indeed were most unclean. See Prov. 30:12; Luke 18:11; Rom. 2:17, etc.
21 Or, holy, in comparison with regard to yourself.
22 That is, they are very loathsome unto Me, therefore will I consume them in My wrath. Other, They are a smoke in mine anger, that is, they deserve a great punishment, which shall also befall them in Mine anger. Thus smoke is likewise taken for great punishment Isa. 14:31; Rev. 18:9, 18; 19:3, and elsewhere besides.
23 That is, burning continually; so that this is to be understood of hell fire, which burns always, Mark 9:45, 46, 48.
6Behold, 24it 25is written before me: 26I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense 27into their bosom,
24 Namely, the idolatrous disposition of the Jews, whereof is spoken immediately later.
25 Namely, that it may not be forgotten; I will surely punish it in due time. See Exod. 17:14; Deut. 32:34; see the annotation there. Jer. 17:1.
26 Understand this keeping of silence not so much of being silent in words, as to keep oneself quiet in deed, as Judges 18:9. See there the annotation. See also the annotation 1 Kings 22 on verse 3.
27 That is, abundantly, in full measure, as Psalm 79. See the annotation at Psalm 79 on verse 12.
7Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and 28blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore 29will I measure 30their former work into their bosom.
28 Or, have despised, namely, by their false worship. See Psalm 106:20, 21.
29 That is, I shall punish them, as they have truly deserved in causing Me unto wrath.
30 Or, their first wages, namely, which they have deserved by their evil deeds. See Isa. 40 on verse 10; 62:11.
8¶Thus saith the LORD, 31As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy 32it not; for 33a blessing is in it: so will I do 34for my servants’ sakes, 35that I may not destroy them all.
31 Here the Lord shows that when any man is minded to pluck up a vine, because it bears not good fruit, yet he spares it if he finds but some good grapes upon it, so likewise shall the Lord spare the small remnant of Israelites, because of the small number of His elect. Compare herewith Isa. 17 on verse 6; Rom. 11:5.
32 Namely, the grape.
33 That is, good wine, proceeding from the blessing of God, and for which He is to be blessed and praised.
34 That is, because of the godly among the Jews, who serve Me faithfully.
35 That is, that I may not destroy all the people. Other, that I may not destroy all.
9And I will 36bring forth a 37seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah 38an inheritor 39of my mountains: and mine elect 40shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.
36 Or, bring out, namely, first out of the Babylonian captivity, and secondly, out of the spiritual captivity of the devil.
37 That is, some few, as Rom. 9:29. See Isa. 1:9 with the annotation. The meaning is: I will increase and bless My church.
38 That is, a small company that shall possess and inherit the mountains.
39 That is, of the land of Judah, which is mountainous. The churches or congregations of believers, and thereafter the Kingdom of heaven, are typified by the mountainous land of Canaan, especially by mount Zion. See Ezek. 36:1, etc.
40 Namely, the land, as Mat. 5:5, or Jerusalem, as verse 19.
10And 41Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and 42the valley of Achor 43a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.
41 That is, their flocks shall feed in spiritual places, by which words is signified the abundance of blessings which the church and every member thereof would receive from God; for, Sharon was a fruitful and pleasant valley. See 1 Chron. 5:16; 27:29; Cant. 2:1; Isa. 33:9.
42 This was also a fruitful valley, situated by Jericho. See Joshua 7:26; Hosea 2:15.
43 Or, a resting place for oxen, or a place where cattle shall lie down and rest.
11¶But ye are they that forsake the LORD, 44that forget my holy mountain, that 45prepare a table for that 46troop, and 47that furnish the drink offering 48unto that number.
44 Or, ye that forget my holy mountain, that is, My temple and the true worship of God, which ought to be exercised in My temple. He speaks to the unbelieving Jews. See Rom. 10:21. See also Psalm 106:21.
45 The meaning is: After ye have performed your idolatrous offering, ye sit down at the table and eat of such offerings.
46 The Hebrew word rendered here signifies a band, troop, an heap or host; see Gen. 30:11. Some understand here the host of heaven, the sun, the moon and stars. Compare Jer. 7:18; 8:2; 19:13. Others retain the word Gad in the text, and understand thereby the one Jupiter, the other Mars, others Fortuna, others the sun, others the entire company of false gods.
47 Or, the minglers, as Prov. 23:20.
48 That is, to the honor of the stars, which are many in number. Hebr. lameni. Some retain this word in the text, as if it were the name of some idol. Others take it to be a certain number of stars altogether, and render it: for as many as may be numbered, namely, unto as many idols as it is possible for any to number, that is, unto a very great number. Some understand by this word the moon.
1249Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye 50shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I 51called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.
49 Or, Go to, I will number you, etc. This has respect to the word number, verse 11. The meaning is: Go to, inasmuch as ye trespass in number, I will likewise punish you in number, and as many as I do number, shall perish by the sword.
50 That is, ye must bow down and stretch out your necks unto those who shall kill you.
51 Namely, by the mouth of My prophets, by whom I caused My will to be declared unto you. Compare herewith Prov. 1:24; Isa. 66:4; Jer. 7:13, 27; Mat. 23:34.
13Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants 52shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants 53shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:
52 Understand here by eating and drinking the enjoying of the good gifts of God. See Psalm 36 on verse 8. See also Lev. 26:10.
53 The same as the 52nd annotation.
14Behold, my servants shall sing 54for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
54 Hebr. for goodness of heart, that is, for joy. See Judges 16 on verse 25.
15And ye shall leave your name 55for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay 56thee, and call his servants by 57another name:
55 Or, for an oath. Oftentimes oaths were made of wishing of evil, or with cursing. In Num. 5:21 it is said an oath of cursing. See there the annotations. The form of such oaths of cursing was: The Lord make thee as this or that man; as appears in Jer. 29:22. That is, let those plagues and curses light upon thee, which have lighted on this or that man by the just judgment of God. See on the contrary the form of blessing of this or that man Gen. 48:20.
56 That is, everyone among you.
57 That is, they shall be no more called Israelites, but Christians, Acts 11:26. See Gen. 32:28. Sometimes a new name also signifies a new and better condition, as Isa. 62:2. See the annotation there.
16That he 58who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself 59in the God of truth; and he 60that sweareth in the earth shall swear 61by the God of truth; because 62the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.
58 That is, whosoever shall wish all good things, happiness and prosperity to himself. See Deut. 29 on verse 19.
59 That is, in the true God. Other, in the God Amen, or in the God of amen, whereby is meant our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the true God and eternal Life, 1 John 520; and He is called the Amen, Rev. 3:14, and in Him shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves, Gen. 22:18.
60 Swearing an oath is a part of God’s worship. See Psalm 63 on verse 11.
61 The same as the 59th annotation.
62 That is, as well the miseries which My people have endured as the causes thereof, namely, their sins.
17¶For, behold, 63I create new heavens and 64a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come 65into mind.
63 Hebr. I am creating, that is, I am ready to create. See also verse 18. The meaning is: I will renew all things in Christ, or, I will so renew and repair the entire state of the church as if so be I created a new heaven and a new earth. This indeed was partly performed at the first coming of Christ, by the preaching of the Holy Gospel, and the working of the Holy Ghost, Who was richly imparted unto the faithful of the New Testament, but it shall be fully accomplished in the second coming of the Lord, when He shall take up His church into the kingdom of heaven. See Isa. 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13; Rev. 21:1.
64 That is, the earthly Gentiles shall be made as new by the calling to the knowledge of the Holy Gospel. See Psalm 97:1; 98:3, 4; Rev. 21:2.
65 That is, into the heart, or in remembrance. See the annotation at Jer. 3 on verse 16; Jer. 7 on verse 31.
18But be ye glad and rejoice for ever 66in that which I create: for, behold, 67I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and 68her people a joy.
66 Or, over that which I create. Other, rejoice ye forever, ye whom I create new, namely, in Christ Jesus. See Psalm 102:18; Eph. 2:10.
67 That is, I will fill My church and all the members thereof with everlasting and heavenly joy, for, here mention is made of the heavenly Jerusalem.
68 Namely, the people of the city of Jerusalem.
19And 69I will rejoice 70in Jerusalem, and joy 71in my people: and 72the voice of weeping shall be no more heard 73in her, nor the voice of crying.
69 See Isa. 62:5.
70 That is, because of. Compare Deut. 28:63.
71 That is, because of. Compare Deut. 28:63.
72 For all tears shall be wiped away from their eyes. See Isa. 25:8; 30:19; Rev. 7:17; 21:4.
73 In Jerusalem, namely, in the heavenly Jerusalem.
2074There shall be no more thence 75an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled 76his days: for the child shall die 77an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
74 Or, From thence, namely, from or out of Jerusalem.
75 Or, a suckling child, as Isa. 49:15. Hebr. a suckling of days, that is, an infant, or a child which dies when it is but a year old; for, days signify sometimes a year, as 1 Sam. 2:19, where it is said: the offer of days for the yearly offering.
76 Namely, those days which belong to a common age.
77 Hebr. an hundred years son, or a son of an hundred years. See the annotation at Gen. 5 on verse 32. Also later: a sinner a son of an hundred years. As for the meaning of this entire verse, the same is spiritual, and seems to be this: That age shall be far different than now at present, today many die while they are yet children; others when they are somewhat old, as at 60 or 70 years of age, but few who live out their full age and attain to an hundred years. But then it shall happen to the one as to the other, to the young as to the old. They shall all fill up their days. This he confirms thus: For a young man, being an hundred years old, shall die, that is, a child shall not die as a child, but it shall fill up the full time of its life, but a sinner of an hundred years shall be accursed, that is, a child shall be happier in the Kingdom of Christ than an old man in the kingdom of the world; for, a child shall in the Kingdom of Christ attain to a happy perfection of life, but in the kingdom of the world, a sinner, when he shall seem to have attained to the perfection of life, shall be accursed. Others take it and expound it thus: Thence shall no more be a suckling (or infant) of days, nor an old man, whose days shall not be filled; but a sinner of an hundred years shall be accursed, that is, the longer he shall live, unto more curses he shall be subject.
21And 78they 79shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
78 Namely, My servants, verse 13.
79 That is, they shall be made to rejoice with all manner of blessings of God. Compare Lev. 26:4-13; Deut. 28:3, etc. Howbeit, under temporal blessings, which God promises in the law, must here and elsewhere be understood spiritual and eternal blessings.
2280They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for 81as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall 82long enjoy the work of their hands.
80 This verse shows that they shall be freed from those curses which the law threatens to the disobedient, Deut. 28:30.
81 That is, firm, stable, permanent. See Psalm 52:8; 92:12.
82 Or, make old, or make perpetual, that is, they shall long enjoy the work of their hands, because they shall live long.
23They shall not labour 83in vain, nor bring forth 84for trouble; 85for they are 86the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and 87their offspring with them.
83 Or, unto vanity. See Lev. 26:16-20.
84 Namely so, that their children would be slain by the enemies or be carried away captive. See Deut. 28:32-41.
85 Or, but they shall be.
86 That is, the children.
87 That is, their children’s children. See Isa. 44:3.
24And it shall come to pass, that 88before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
88 For God knows of what we have need before we pray, Mat. 6:8. See Psalm 145:18, and see an example Gen. 24:15.
2589The wolf and the lamb shall feed 90together, and 91the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and 92dust shall be the serpent’s 93meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.
89 That is, cruel, wicked men shall be changed, and become as little children; see Isa. 11:6, 7, 8, 9; Mat. 18:3.
90 Hebr. as one.
91 The Hebrew word signifies properly a ferocious lion.
92 The meaning is: The serpent shall lie hidden in her holes, and shall not seek to hurt any, but shall be content to eat dust, as God had appointed, Gen. 3:14.
93 Hebr. her bread.