geneva - Isaiah:49-53

geneva@Isaiah:49:1 @ Listen, to me O isles; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called (note:)This is spoken in the person of Christ, to assure the faithful that these promises should come to pass: for they were all made in him and in him would be performed.(:note) me from This is meant of the time that Christ would be manifested to the world, as in (Psa_2:7). the womb; from the body of my mother hath he made mention of my name.

geneva@Isaiah:49:2 @ And he hath made my mouth like a sharp (note:)By the sword and shaft, he signifies the virtue and efficacy of Christ's doctrine.(:note) sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he God has taken me to his protection and defence: this chiefly is meant of Christ, and may also be applied to the ministers of his word. hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

geneva@Isaiah:49:3 @ And said to me, Thou [art] my servant, O (note:)By Israel is meant Christ, and all the body of the faithful, as the members and their head.(:note) Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

geneva@Isaiah:49:4 @ Then I said, I have (note:)Thus Christ in his members complains that his labour and preaching take no effect, yet he is contented that his doings are approved by God.(:note) laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing, and in vain: [yet] surely my judgment [is] with the LORD, and my work with my God.

geneva@Isaiah:49:5 @ And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb [to be] his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, (note:)Though the Jews refuse my doctrine, yet God will approve my ministry.(:note) yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.

geneva@Isaiah:49:6 @ And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give (note:)To declare my gospel to the Gentiles, as in (Isa_42:6; Act_13:47; Luk_2:32).(:note) thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation to the end of the earth.

geneva@Isaiah:49:7 @ Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, [and] his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a (note:)Meaning, the Jews whom tyrants kept in bondage.(:note) servant of rulers, Kings shall see and The benefit of their deliverance will be so great, that great and small will acknowledge it, and revere God for it. arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, [and] the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.

geneva@Isaiah:49:8 @ Thus saith the LORD, (note:)Thus he speaks of his Church when he would show his mercy toward it, (2Co_6:2).(:note) In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give Meaning, Christ alone. thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the Signifying that before Christ renewed the earth by his word, there is nothing but confusion and disorder. earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

geneva@Isaiah:49:9 @ That thou mayest say to the (note:)To them who are in the prison of sin and death.(:note) prisoners, Go forth; to them that [are] in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their Being in Christ's protection, they will be safe against all dangers, and free from fear of the enemies. pastures [shall be] in all high places.

geneva@Isaiah:49:10 @ They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy (note:)Meaning, that there would be nothing in their way from Babylon that would hinder or hurt them: but this is accomplished spiritually.(:note) on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

geneva@Isaiah:49:11 @ And I will make all my mountaines, as a way, and my paths shalbe exalted.

geneva@Isaiah:49:12 @ Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of (note:)Meaning, the south country, so that Christ will deliver his from all the parts of the world.(:note) Sinim.

geneva@Isaiah:49:13 @ Sing, O (note:)Read (Isa_44:23).(:note) heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

geneva@Isaiah:49:14 @ But Zion said, The LORD hath (note:)He objects what the faithful might say in their long affliction and answers to comfort them with a most proper comparison and full of consolation.(:note) forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.

geneva@Isaiah:49:15 @ Can a woman forget her childe, & not haue compassion on the sonne of her wombe? Though they should forget, yet wil I not forget thee.

geneva@Isaiah:49:16 @ Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of [my] (note:)Because I would not forget you.(:note) hands; thy Meaning, the good order of policy and discipline. walls [are] continually before me.

geneva@Isaiah:49:17 @ Thy children shall make (note:)I have continual care to build you up again and to destroy your enemies.(:note) haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth from thee.

geneva@Isaiah:49:18 @ Lift up thy eyes around, and behold: all these gather themselves together, [and] come to thee. [As] I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely (note:)He shows what are the ornaments of the Church: to have many children, who are assembled by the word of God, and governed by his Spirit.(:note) clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them [on thee], as a bride [doeth].

geneva@Isaiah:49:19 @ For thy desolations, and thy waste places, and thy land destroied, shall surely be now narow for them that shall dwell in it, and they that did deuoure thee, shalbe farre away.

geneva@Isaiah:49:20 @ The children of thy barennesse shall say againe in thine eares, The place is straict for mee: giue place to me that I may dwell.

geneva@Isaiah:49:21 @ Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten mee these, seeing I am baren and desolate, a captiue and a wanderer to and fro? And who hath nourished them? Beholde, I was left alone: whence are these?

geneva@Isaiah:49:22 @ Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up my hand to the (note:)He shows that Christ will not only gather this great number from the Jews but also from the Gentiles.(:note) Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in [their] arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon [their] shoulders.

geneva@Isaiah:49:23 @ And kings (note:)Meaning, that kings will be converted to the gospel, and bestow their power and authority for the preservation of the Church.(:note) shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow to thee with [their] face toward the earth, and lick up the Being joined with the Church, they will humble themselves to Christ their head, and give him all honour. dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.

geneva@Isaiah:49:24 @ Shall the prey be (note:)He makes this as an objection as though the Chaldeans were strong, and had them in just possession.(:note) taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?

geneva@Isaiah:49:25 @ But thus saith the LORD, (note:)This is the answer to their objection, that no one is stronger than the Lord, neither has a more just title to them.(:note) Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

geneva@Isaiah:49:26 @ And I will feed them that oppress thee with (note:)I will cause them to destroy one another as in (Jdg_7:22; 2Ch_20:22; Isa_19:2).(:note) their own flesh; and they shall be drunk with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD [am] thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

geneva@Isaiah:50:1 @ Thus saith the LORD, Where [is] the (note:)Meaning, that he has not forsaken her, but through her own opportunity as in (Hos_2:2).(:note) bill of your mother's divorcement, Who would declare that I have cut her off: meaning, that they could show no one. whom I have put away? or which of my creditors [is it] Signifying, that he sold them not for any debt or poverty, but that they sold themselves to sins to buy their own lusts and pleasures. to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

geneva@Isaiah:50:2 @

geneva@Isaiah:50:3 @ I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make (note:)As I did in Egypt in token of my displeasure, (Exo_10:21).(:note) sackcloth their covering.

geneva@Isaiah:50:4 @ The Lord GOD hath given (note:)The prophet represents here the person and charge of them that are justly called to the ministry by God's word.(:note) me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to [him that is] To him that is oppressed by affliction and misery. weary: he awakeneth morning by morning, he awakeneth my ear to hear As they who are taught, and made meet by him. as the learned.

geneva@Isaiah:50:5 @ The Lord God hath opened mine eare and I was not rebellious, neither turned I backe.

geneva@Isaiah:50:6 @ I gave my back to the (note:)I did not shrink from God for any persecution or calamity. By which he shows that the true ministers of God can look for no other recompense of the wicked, but after this sort, and also that is their comfort.(:note) smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

geneva@Isaiah:50:7 @ For the Lord God will helpe me, therefore shall I not bee confounded: therefore haue I set my face like a flint, and I knowe that I shall not be ashamed.

geneva@Isaiah:50:8 @ Hee is neere that iustifieth mee: who will contend with me? Let vs stande together: who is mine aduersarie? let him come neere to me.

geneva@Isaiah:50:9 @ Beholde, the Lord God will helpe me: who is he that can condemne me? loe, they shall waxe olde as a garment: the mothe shall eate them vp.

geneva@Isaiah:50:10 @

geneva@Isaiah:50:11 @ Behold, all ye that kindle (note:)You have sought consolation by your own devises, and have refused the light and consolation which God has offered: therefore you will remain in sorrow and not be comforted.(:note) a fire, that surround [yourselves] with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks [that] ye have kindled. This shall ye have of my hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.

geneva@Isaiah:51:1 @ Hearken to me, (note:)He comforts the Church, that they would not be discouraged for their small number.(:note) ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look to the That is, to Abraham, of whom you were begotten, and to Sarah of whom we were born. rock [from which] ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit [from which] ye were dug.

geneva@Isaiah:51:2 @ Consider Abraham your father, and Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

geneva@Isaiah:51:3 @ For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness (note:)As plentiful as paradise, (Gen_2:8,9).(:note) like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found in it, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

geneva@Isaiah:51:4 @ Hearken to me, my people; and give ear to me, O my nation: for a (note:)I will rule and govern my Church by my word and doctrine.(:note) law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.

geneva@Isaiah:51:5 @ My (note:)The time that I will accomplish my promise.(:note) righteousness [is] near; my salvation is gone forth, and my My power and strength. arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on my arm shall they trust.

geneva@Isaiah:51:6 @ Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the (note:)Forewarns them of the horrible changes and mutations of all things, and how he will preserve his church in the midst of all these dangers.(:note) heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall become old like a garment, and its inhabitants shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

geneva@Isaiah:51:7 @ Hearken vnto me, ye that know righteousnesse, the people in whose heart is my Lawe. Feare ye not the reproche of men, neither be ye afraide of their rebukes.

geneva@Isaiah:51:8 @ For the mothe shall eate them vp like a garment, & the worme shall eate them like wool: but my righteousnesse shalbe for euer, and my saluation from generation to generation.

geneva@Isaiah:51:9 @ Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, (note:)He puts them in remembrance of his great benefit for their deliverance out of Egypt, that by it they might learn to trust in him constantly.(:note) in the generations of old. [Art] thou not that which hath cut Meaning, Egypt, (Psa_87:4). Rahab, [and] wounded the That is, Pharaoh, (Eze_29:3). dragon?

geneva@Isaiah:51:10 @ Art not thou the same, which hath dried the Sea, euen the waters of the great deepe, making the depth of the Sea a way for the redeemed to passe ouer?

geneva@Isaiah:51:11 @ Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall (note:)From Babylon.(:note) return, and come with singing to Zion; and everlasting joy [shall be] upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

geneva@Isaiah:51:12 @ I, euen I am he, that comfort you. Who art thou, that thou shouldest feare a mortall man, and the sonne of man, which shalbe made as grasse?

geneva@Isaiah:51:13 @ And forgettest the Lorde thy maker, that hath spred out the heauens, and layde the foundations of the earth? and hast feared continually all the day, because of the rage of the oppressour, which is readie to destroy? Where is now the rage of the oppressour?

geneva@Isaiah:51:14 @ The captive exile (note:)He comforts them by the short time of their banishment: for in seventy years they were restored and the greatest empire of the world destroyed.(:note) hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail.

geneva@Isaiah:51:15 @ And I am the Lorde thy God that deuided the Sea, when his waues roared: the Lord of hostes is his Name.

geneva@Isaiah:51:16 @ And I have put my words in thy (note:)Meaning, of Isaiah and of all true ministers who are defended by his protection.(:note) mouth, and have covered thee in the shadow of my hand, that I may plant the That all things may be restored in heaven and earth, (Eph_1:10). heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say to Zion, Thou [art] my people.

geneva@Isaiah:51:17 @ Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drank at the hand of the LORD the (note:)You have been justly punished and sufficiently as (Isa_40:2) and this punishment in the elect is by measure, and according as God gives grace to hear it: but in the reprobate it is the just vengeance of God to drive them to an insensibleness and madness, as (Jer_25:15-16).(:note) cup of his fury; thou hast drank the dregs of the cup of trembling, [and] wrung [them] out.

geneva@Isaiah:51:18 @ There is none to guide her among all the sonnes, whome she hath brought foorth: there is none that taketh her by the hand of all the sonnes that she hath brought vp.

geneva@Isaiah:51:19 @ These two (note:)Of which the one is outward as of the things that come to the body, as war, and famine and the other is inward, and belongs to the mind: that is, to be without comfort: therefore he says «How will you be comforted?»(:note) [things] have come to thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?

geneva@Isaiah:51:20 @ Thy sonnes haue fainted, and lye at the head of all the streetes as a wilde bull in a nette, and are full of the wrath of the Lorde, and rebuke of thy God.

geneva@Isaiah:51:21 @ Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunk, but (note:)But with trouble and fear.(:note) not with wine:

geneva@Isaiah:51:22 @ Thus saith thy Lorde God, euen God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Beholde, I haue taken out of thine hande the cuppe of trembling, euen the dregges of the cuppe of my wrath: thou shalt drinke it no more.

geneva@Isaiah:51:23 @ But I will put it into their hande that spoile thee: which haue said to thy soule, Bowe downe, that wee may goe ouer, and thou hast layde thy bodie as the grounde, and as the streete to them that went ouer.

geneva@Isaiah:52:1 @ Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no (note:)No wicked tyrant, who will subvert God's true religion and oppress the conscience.(:note) more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.

geneva@Isaiah:52:2 @ Shake thyself from the (note:)Put off the garments of sorrow and heaviness and put on the apparel of joy and gladness.(:note) dust; arise, [and] sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

geneva@Isaiah:52:3 @ For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for (note:)The Babylonians paid nothing to me for you: therefore I will take you again without ransom.(:note) nothing; and ye shall be redeemed without money.

geneva@Isaiah:52:4 @ For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went (note:)When Jacob went there in times of famine.(:note) down in times past into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian The Egyptians might pretend some reason to oppress my people because they went there and remained among them, but the Assyrians have no title to excuse their tyranny by, and therefore I will punish them more than I did the Egyptians. oppressed them without cause.

geneva@Isaiah:52:5 @ Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nothing? they that rule over them make them to wail, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day [is] (note:)That is, by the wicked, who think that I have no power to deliver them.(:note) blasphemed.

geneva@Isaiah:52:6 @ Therefore my people shal know my Name: therefore they shall know in that day, that I am he that doe speake: beholde, it is I.

geneva@Isaiah:52:7 @ How (note:)Signifying that the joy and good tidings of their deliverance would make their affliction in the mean time more easy: but this is chiefly meant of the spiritual joy, as in (Nah_1:15; Rom_10:15).(:note) beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that proclaimeth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that proclaimeth salvation; that saith to Zion, Thy God reigneth!

geneva@Isaiah:52:8 @

geneva@Isaiah:52:9 @ O ye desolate places of Ierusalem, bee glad and reioyce together: for the Lorde hath comforted his people: he hath redeemed Ierusalem.

geneva@Isaiah:52:10 @ The LORD hath made (note:)As ready to smite his enemies and to deliver his people.(:note) bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

geneva@Isaiah:52:11 @

geneva@Isaiah:52:12 @ For ye shall not go out (note:)As your fathers did out of Egypt.(:note) with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel [will be] your rear guard.

geneva@Isaiah:52:13 @ Behold, my (note:)Meaning Christ, by whom our spiritual deliverance would be wrought of which this was a sign.(:note) servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.

geneva@Isaiah:52:14 @ As many were astonished at thee; his visage was so (note:)In the corrupt judgment of man, Christ in his person was not valued.(:note) marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

geneva@Isaiah:52:15 @ So (note:)He will spread his word through many nations.(:note) shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their In sign of reverence, and as being astonished at his excellency. mouths at him: for [that] which had not been told them shall they see; and [that] which they had not heard shall they By the preaching of the gospel. consider.

geneva@Isaiah:53:1 @ Who (note:)The prophet shows that very few will receive their preaching from Christ, and from their deliverance by him, (Joh_12:38; Rom_10:16).(:note) hath believed our report? and to whom is the Meaning, that no one can believe but whose hearts God touches with the virtue of his Holy Spirit. arm of the LORD revealed?

geneva@Isaiah:53:2 @ For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a (note:)The beginning of Christ's kingdom will be small and contemptible in the sight of man, but it will grow wonderfully and flourish before God.(:note) root out of a dry Read (Isa_11:1). ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him.

geneva@Isaiah:53:3 @ He is despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with (note:)Which was by God's singular providence for the comfort of sinners, (Heb_4:15).(:note) grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

geneva@Isaiah:53:4 @ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried (note:)That is, the punishment due to our sins, for which he has both suffered and made satisfaction, (Mat_8:17; 1Pe_2:24).(:note) our sorrows: yet we did esteem him We judge evil, thinking that he was punished for his own sins, and not for ours. stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

geneva@Isaiah:53:5 @ But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the (note:)He was chastised for our reconciliation, (1Co_15:3).(:note) chastisement for our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

geneva@Isaiah:53:6 @ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the (note:)Meaning, the punishment of our iniquity, and not the fault itself.(:note) iniquity of us all.

geneva@Isaiah:53:7 @ He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he (note:)But willingly and patiently obeyed his father's appointment, (Mat_26:63; Act_8:32).(:note) opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.

geneva@Isaiah:53:8 @ He was taken from (note:)From the cross and grave, after that he was condemned.(:note) prison and from judgment: Though he died for sin, yet after his resurrection he will live forever and this his death is to restore life to his members, (Rom_6:9). and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off from the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

geneva@Isaiah:53:9 @

geneva@Isaiah:53:10 @ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when (note:)Christ by offering up himself will give life to his Church, and so cause them to live with him forever.(:note) thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

geneva@Isaiah:53:11 @ He shall see of the (note:)That is, the fruit and effect of his labour, which is the salvation of his Church.(:note) travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my Christ will justify by faith through his word, while Moses could not justify by the law. righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

geneva@Isaiah:53:12 @ Therefore I will divide to him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because (note:)Because he humbled himself, therefore he will be extolled to glory, (Phi_2:7-12).(:note) he hath poured out his soul to death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin That is, of all that believe in him. of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

geneva@Isaiah:54:1 @ Sing, O (note:)After he has declared the death of Christ, he speaks to the Church, because it would feel the fruit of the same, and calls her barren, because in the captivity she was a widow without hope to have any children.(:note) barren, thou [that] didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou [that] didst not travail with child: for more [are] the children of the The Church in this her affliction and captivity will bring forth more children, than when she was free, or this may be spoken by admiration, considering the great number that would come from her. Her deliverance under Cyrus was as her childhood, and therefore this was accomplished when she came of age, which was under the gospel. desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.