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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Isaiah LXVI].</TITLE>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>I S A I A H.</B></FONT>
<BR>
<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. LXVI.</FONT>
<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
</CENTER>
<FONT SIZE=-1>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
The scope of this chapter is much the same as that of the foregoing
chapter and many expressions of it are the same; it therefore looks the
same way, to the different state of the good and bad among the Jews at
their return out of captivity, but that typifying the rejection of the
Jews in the days of the Messiah, the conversion of the Gentiles, and
the setting up of the gospel-kingdom in the world. The
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:1">first verse</A>
of this chapter is applied by Stephen to the dismantling of the temple
by the planting of the Christian church
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+7:49,50">Acts vii. 49, 50</A>),
which may serve as a key to the whole chapter. We have here,
I. The contempt God puts upon ceremonial services in comparison with
moral duties, and an intimation therein of his purpose shortly to put
an end to the temple, and sacrifice and reject those that adhered to
them,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:1-4">ver. 1-4</A>.
II. The salvation God will in due time work for his people out of the
hands of their oppressors
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:5">ver. 5</A>),
speaking terror to the persecutors
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:6">ver. 6</A>)
and comfort to the persecuted, a speedy and complete deliverance
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:7-9">ver. 7-9</A>),
a joyful settlement
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:10,11">ver. 10, 11</A>),
the accession of the Gentiles to them, and abundance of satisfaction
therein,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:12-14">ver. 12-14</A>.
III. The terrible vengeance which God will bring upon the enemies of
his church and people,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:15-18">ver. 15-18</A>.
IV. The happy establishment of the church upon large and sure
foundations, its constant attendance on God and triumph over its
enemies,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:19-24">ver. 19-24</A>.
And we may well expect that this evangelical prophet, here, in the
close of his prophecy, should (as he does) look as far forward as to
the latter days, to the last day, to the days of eternity.</P>
</FONT>
<A NAME="Isa66_1"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa66_2"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa66_3"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa66_4"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Vanity of Mere Ritual Obedience.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 706.</TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, The heaven <I>is</I> my throne, and the earth
<I>is</I> my footstool: where <I>is</I> the house that ye build unto me?
and where <I>is</I> the place of my rest?
&nbsp; 2 For all those <I>things</I> hath mine hand made, and all those
<I>things</I> have been, saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: but to this <I>man</I> will I
look, <I>even</I> to <I>him that is</I> poor and of a contrite spirit, and
trembleth at my word.
&nbsp; 3 He that killeth an ox <I>is as if</I> he slew a man; he that
sacrificeth a lamb, <I>as if</I> he cut off a dog's neck; he that
offereth an oblation, <I>as if he offered</I> swine's blood; he that
burneth incense, <I>as if</I> he blessed an idol. Yea, they have
chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their
abominations.
&nbsp; 4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their
fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I
spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and
chose <I>that</I> in which I delighted not.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Here,
I. The temple is slighted in comparison with a gracious soul,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>.
The Jews in the prophet's time, and afterwards in Christ's time,
gloried much in the temple and promised themselves great things from
it; to humble them therefore, and to shake their vain confidence, both
the prophets and Christ foretold the ruin of the temple, that God would
leave it and then it would soon be desolate. After it was destroyed by
the Chaldeans it soon recovered itself and the ceremonial services were
revived with it; but by the Romans it was made a perpetual desolation,
and the ceremonial law was abolished with it. That the world might be
prepared for this, they were often told, as here, of what little
account the temple was with God.
1. That he did not need it. Heaven is the throne of his glory and
government; there he sits, infinitely exalted in the highest dignity
and dominion, above all blessing and praise. The earth is his
footstool, on which he stands, over-ruling all the affairs of it
according to his will. If God has so bright a throne, so large a
footstool, <I>where then is the house they can build</I> unto God, that
can be the residence of his glory, or <I>where is the place of his
rest?</I> What satisfaction can the Eternal Mind take in a house made
with men's hands? What occasion has he, as we have, for a house to
repose himself in, who <I>faints not neither is weary,</I> who neither
slumbers nor sleeps? Or, if he had occasion, he <I>would not tell
us</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:12">Ps. l. 12</A>),
for <I>all these things hath his hand made,</I> heaven and all its
courts, earth and all its borders, and all the hosts of both. All
<I>these things have been,</I> have had their beginning, by the power
of God, who was happy from eternity before they were, and therefore
could not be benefited by them. <I>All these things are</I> (so some
read it); they still continue, upheld by the same power that made them;
so that <I>our goodness extends not to him.</I> If he required a house
for himself to dwell in, he would have made one himself when he made
the world; and, if he had made one, it would have continued to this
day, as other creatures do, according to his ordinance; so that he had
no need of a temple made with hands.
2. That he would not heed it as he would a humble, penitent, gracious
heart. He has a heaven and earth of his own making, and a temple of
man's making; but he overlooks them all, that he may look with favour
to him that is poor in spirit, humble and serious, self-abasing and
self-denying, whose heart is truly contrite for sin, penitent for it,
and in pain to get it pardoned, and who <I>trembles at God's word,</I>
not as Felix did, with a transient qualm that was over when the sermon
was done, but with an habitual awe of God's majesty and purity and an
habitual dread of his justice and wrath. Such a heart is a living
temple for God; he dwells there, and it is the place of his rest; it is
like heaven and earth, his throne and his footstool.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
II. Sacrifices are slighted when they come from ungracious hands.
<I>The sacrifice of the wicked</I> is not only unacceptable, but it
<I>is an abomination to the Lord</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+15:8">Prov. xv. 8</A>);
this is largely shown here,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>.
Observe,
1. How detestable their sacrifices were to God. The carnal Jews, after
their return out of captivity, though they relapsed not to idolatry,
grew very careless and loose in the service of God; they brought the
<I>torn, and the lame, and the sick</I> for <I>sacrifice</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+1:8,13">Mal. i. 8, 13</A>),
and this made their services abominable to God; they had no regard to
their sacrifices, and therefore how could they think God would have any
regard to them? The unbelieving Jews, after the gospel was preached and
in it notice given of the offering up of the great sacrifice, which put
an end to all the ceremonial services, continued to offer sacrifices,
as if the law of Moses had been still in force and could <I>make the
comers thereunto perfect:</I> this was an abomination. <I>He that kills
an ox</I> for his own table is welcome to do it; but he that now kills
it, that thus kills it, for God's altar, <I>is as if he slew a man;</I>
it is as great an offence to God as murder itself; he that does it does
in effect set aside Christ's sacrifice, <I>treads under foot the blood
of the covenant,</I> and makes himself accessory to the guilt of <I>the
body and blood of the Lord,</I> setting up what Christ died to abolish.
<I>He that sacrifices a lamb,</I> if it be a corrupt thing, and not the
male in his flock, the best he has, if he think to put God off with any
thing, he affronts him, instead of pleasing him; it is <I>as if he cut
off a dog's neck,</I> a creature in the eye of the law so vile that,
whereas an ass might be redeemed, the price of a dog was never to be
brought into the treasury,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+23:18">Deut. xxiii. 18</A>.
<I>He that offers an oblation,</I> a meat offering or drink-offering,
is as if he thought to make atonement with <I>swine's blood,</I> a
creature that must not be eaten nor touched, the <I>broth of it</I> was
abominable
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+65:4"><I>ch.</I> lxv. 4</A>),
much more the blood of it. <I>He that burns incense to God,</I> and so
puts contempt upon the incense of Christ's intercession, is <I>as if he
blessed an idol;</I> it was as great an affront to God as if they had
paid their devotions to a false god. Hypocrisy and profaneness are as
provoking as idolatry.
2. What their wickedness was which made their sacrifices thus
detestable. It was <I>because they had chosen their own ways,</I> the
ways of their own wicked hearts, and not only their hands did but
<I>their souls delighted in their abominations.</I> They were vicious
and immoral in their conversations, chose the way of sin rather than
the way of God's commandments, and took pleasure in that which was
provoking to God; this made their sacrifices so offensive to God,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+1:11-15"><I>ch.</I> i. 11-15</A>.
Those that pretend to honour God by a profession of religion, and yet
live wicked lives, put an affront upon him, as if he were the patron of
sin. And that which was an aggravation of their wickedness was that
they persisted in it, notwithstanding the frequent calls given them to
repent and reform; they turned a deaf ear to all the warnings of divine
justice and all the offers of divine grace: <I>When I called, none did
answer,</I> as before,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+65:12"><I>ch.</I> lxv. 12</A>.
And the same follows here that did there: <I>They did evil before my
eyes.</I> Being deaf to what he said, they cared not what he saw, but
<I>chose that in which</I> they knew <I>he delighted not.</I> How could
those expect to please him in their devotions who took no care to
please him in their conversations, but, on the contrary, designed to
provoke him?
3. The doom passed upon them for this. They<I>chose their own ways,</I>
therefore, says God, I also will <I>choose their delusions. They have
made their choice</I> (as Mr. Gataker paraphrases it), <I>and now I
will make mine; they have taken what course they pleased with me, and I
will take what course I please with them.</I> I will choose their
<I>illusions,</I> or <I>mockeries</I> (so some); as they have mocked
God and dishonoured him by their wickedness, so God will give them up
to their enemies, to be trampled upon and insulted by them. Or they
shall be deceived by those vain confidences with which they have
deceived themselves. God will make their sin their punishment; they
shall be beaten with their own rod and hurried into ruin by their own
delusions. God will <I>bring their fears upon them,</I> that is, will
bring upon them that which shall be a great terror to them, or that
which they themselves have been afraid of and thought to escape by
sinful shifts. Unbelieving hearts, and unpurified unpacified
consciences, need no more to make them miserable than to have their own
fears brought upon them.</P>
<A NAME="Isa66_5"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa66_6"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa66_7"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa66_8"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa66_9"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa66_10"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa66_11"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa66_12"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa66_13"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa66_14"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Encouragement to the Persecuted; The Enlargement of the Church.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 706.</TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>5 Hear the word of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, ye that tremble at his word; Your
brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake,
said, Let the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy,
and they shall be ashamed.
&nbsp; 6 A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a
voice of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> that rendereth recompence to his enemies.
&nbsp; 7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain
came, she was delivered of a man child.
&nbsp; 8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall
the earth be made to bring forth in one day? <I>or</I> shall a nation
be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth
her children.
&nbsp; 9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth?
saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut <I>the
womb?</I> saith thy God.
&nbsp; 10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that
love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:
&nbsp; 11 That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her
consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the
abundance of her glory.
&nbsp; 12 For thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, Behold, I will extend peace to her
like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing
stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon <I>her</I> sides,
and be dandled upon <I>her</I> knees.
&nbsp; 13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you;
and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
&nbsp; 14 And when ye see <I>this,</I> your heart shall rejoice, and your
bones shall flourish like a herb: and the hand of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> shall
be known toward his servants, and <I>his</I> indignation toward his
enemies.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
The prophet, having denounced God's judgments against a hypocritical
nation, that made a jest of God's word and would not answer him when he
called to them, here turns his speech to those that <I>trembled at his
word,</I> to comfort and encourage them; they shall not be involved in
the judgments that are coming upon their unbelieving nation. Ministers
must distinguish thus, that, when they speak terror to the wicked, they
may not <I>make the hearts of the righteous sad. Bone Christiane, hoc
nihil ad te--Good Christian, this is nothing to thee.</I> The prophet,
having assured those that tremble at God's word of a gracious look from
him
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
here brings them a gracious message from him. The word of God has
comforts in store for those that by true humiliation for sin are
prepared to receive them. There were those
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>)
who, when <I>God spoke, would not hear;</I> but, if some will not,
others sill. If the heart <I>tremble at the word,</I> the ear will be
open to it. Now what is here said to them?</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
I. Let them know that God will plead their just but injured cause
against their persecutors
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
<I>Your brethren that hated you said, Let the Lord be glorified. But he
shall appear to your joy.</I> This perhaps might have reference to the
case of some of the Jews at their return out of captivity; but nothing
like it appears in the history, and therefore it is rather to be
referred to the first preachers and professors of the gospel among the
Jews, to whose case it is very applicable. Observe,
1. How the faithful servants of God were persecuted: <I>Their brethren
hated them.</I> The apostles were Jews by birth, and yet even in the
cities of the Gentiles the Jews they met with there were their most
bitter and implacable enemies and <I>stirred up the Gentiles</I>
against them. The spouse complains
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+1:6">Cant. i. 6</A>)
that her <I>mother's children were angry with her.</I> Pilate upbraided
our Lord Jesus with this, <I>Thy own nation have delivered thee unto
me,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:35">John xviii. 35</A>.
Their brethren, who should have loved them and encouraged them for
their work's sake hated them, and cast them out of their synagogues,
excommunicated them as if they had been the greatest blemishes, when
they were really the greatest blessings, of their church and nation.
This was a fruit of the old enmity in the <I>seed of the serpent</I>
against the <I>seed of the woman.</I> Those that hated Christ hated his
disciples, because they supported his kingdom and interest
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+15:18">John xv. 18</A>),
and they <I>cast them out for his name's sake,</I> because they were
called by his name, and called upon his name, and laid out themselves
to advance his name. Note, It is no new thing for church censures to
be misapplied, and for her artillery, which was intended for her
defence, to be turned against her best friends, by the treachery of her
governors. And those that did this <I>said, Let the Lord be
glorified;</I> they pretended conscience and a zeal for the honour of
God and the church in it, and did it with all the formalities of
devotion. Our Saviour explains this, and seems to have reference to it,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+16:2">John xvi. 2</A>.
<I>They shall put you out of their synagogues,</I> and <I>whosoever
kills you will think that he does God service. In nomine Domini incipit
omne malum--In the name of the Lord commences evil of every kind.</I>
Or we may understand it as spoken in defiance of God: "You say God will
be glorified in your deliverance; <I>let him be glorified then; let him
make speed and hasten his work</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+5:19"><I>ch.</I> v. 19</A>);
<I>let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him."</I> Some take it
to be the language of the profane Jews in captivity, bantering their
brethren that hoped for deliverance, and ridiculing the expectations
they often comforted themselves with, that God would shortly be
glorified in it. They thus did what they could to <I>shame the counsel
of the poor,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+14:6">Ps. xiv. 6</A>.
2. How they were encouraged under these persecutions: "Let your faith
and patience hold out yet a little while; your enemies hate you and
oppress you, your brethren hate you and cast you out, but your Father
in heaven loves you, and will appear for you when no one else will or
dare. His providence shall order things so as shall be for comfort to
you; he shall appear <I>for your joy</I> and for the confusion of those
that abuse you and trample on you; they <I>shall be ashamed</I> of
their enmity to you." This was fulfilled when, upon the signals given
of Jerusalem's approaching ruin, the <I>Jews' hearts failed them for
fear;</I> but the disciples of Christ, whom they had hated and
persecuted, <I>lifted up their heads with joy, knowing that their
redemption drew nigh,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+21:26,28">Luke xxi. 26, 28</A>.
Though God seem to hide himself, he will in due time show himself.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
II. Let them know that God's appearances for them will be such as will
make a great noise in the world
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
There shall be <I>a voice of noise from the city, from the temple.</I>
Some make it the joyful and triumphant voice of the church's friends,
others the frightful lamenting voice of her enemies, surprised in the
city, and fleeing in vain to the temple for shelter. These voices do
but echo to the <I>voice of the Lord,</I> who is now rendering a
<I>recompence to his enemies;</I> and those that will not hear him
speaking this terror shall hear them returning the alarms of it in
doleful shrieks. We may well think what a confused noise there was in
the city and temple when Jerusalem, after a long siege, was at last
taken by the Romans. Some think this prophecy was fulfilled in the
prodigies that went before that destruction of Jerusalem, related by
Josephus in his <I>History of the Wars of the Jews</I> (4.388 and
6.311), that the temple-doors flew open suddenly of their own accord,
and the priests heard a noise of motion or shifting in the most holy
place, and presently a voice, saying, <I>Let us depart hence.</I> And,
some time after, one Jesus Bar-Annas went up and down the city, at the
feast of tabernacles, continually crying, <I>A voice from the east, a
voice from the west, a voice from the four winds, a voice against
Jerusalem and the temple, a voice against all this people.</I></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
III. Let them know that God will set up a church for himself in the
world, which shall be abundantly replenished in a little time
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
<I>Before she travailed she brought forth.</I> This is to be applied in
the type to the deliverance of the Jews out of their captivity in
Babylon, which was brought about very easily and silently, without any
pain or struggle, such as was when they were brought out of Egypt; that
was done <I>by might and power</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+4:34">Deut. iv. 34</A>),
but this by <I>the Spirit of the Lord of hosts,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+4:6">Zech. iv. 6</A>.
The man-child of the deliverance is rejoiced in, and yet the mother was
never in labour for it; <I>before her pain came she was delivered.</I>
This is altogether surprising, uncommon, and without precedent, unless
in the story which the Egyptian midwives told of the Hebrew women
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+1:19">Exod. i. 19</A>),
that <I>they were lively and were delivered ere the midwives came in
unto them.</I> But <I>shall the earth be made to bring forth her fruits
in one day?</I> No, it is the work of some weeks in the spring to
<I>renew the face of the earth</I> and cover it with its products. Some
read this to the same purport with the next clause, <I>Shall a land be
brought forth in one day,</I> or <I>shall a nation be born at once?</I>
Is it to be imagined that a woman at one birth should bring children
sufficient to people a country and that they should in an instant grow
up to maturity? No; something like this was done in the creation; but
God has since rested from all such works, and leaves second causes to
produce their effects gradually. <I>Nihil facit per saltum--He does
nothing abruptly.</I> Yet, in this case, <I>as soon as Zion travailed
she brought forth.</I> Cyrus's proclamation was no sooner issued out
than the captives were formed into a body and were ready to make the
best of their way to their own land. And the reason is given
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
because <I>it is the Lord's doing; he</I> undertakes it whose work is
perfect. If he <I>bring to the birth</I> in preparing his people for
deliverance, he will <I>cause to bring forth</I> in the accomplishment
of the deliverance. When every thing is ripe and ready for their
release, and the number of their months is accomplished, so that <I>the
children are brought to the birth,</I> shall not I then <I>give
strength to bring forth,</I> but leave mother and babe to perish
together in the most miserable case? How will this agree with the
divine pity? Shall I begin a work and not go through with it? How will
that agree with the divine power and perfection? <I>Am I he that causes
to bring forth</I> (so the following clause may be read) <I>and shall I
restrain her?</I> Does God cause mankind, and all the species of living
creatures, to propagate, and <I>replenish the earth,</I> and <I>will he
restrain Zion?</I> Will he not make her fruitful in a blessed offspring
to replenish the church? Or, <I>Am I he that begat, and should I
restrain from bringing forth?</I> Did God beget the deliverance in his
purpose and promise, and will he not bring it forth in the
accomplishment and performance of it? But this was a figure of the
setting up of the Christian church in the world, and the replenishing
of that family with children which was to be named from Jesus Christ.
When the Spirit was poured out, and the gospel went forth from Zion,
multitudes were converted in a little time and with little pains
compared with the vast product. The apostles, even before they
travailed, brought forth, and the children born to Christ were so
numerous, and so suddenly and easily produced, that they were rather
like the dew from the morning's womb than like the son from the
mother's womb,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+110:3">Ps. cx. 3</A>.
The success of the gospel was astonishing; that light, like the
morning, strangely diffused itself till it took hold even of <I>the
ends of the earth.</I> Cities and nations were born at once to Christ.
The same day that the Spirit was poured out there were 3000 souls added
to the church. And, when this glorious work was once begun, it was
carried on wonderfully, beyond what could be imagined, <I>so mightily
grew the word of God and prevailed.</I> He that brought to the birth in
conviction of sin caused to bring forth in a thorough conversion to
God.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
IV. Let them know that their present sorrows shall shortly be turned
into abundant joys,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>.
Observe,
1. How the church's friends are described; they are such as <I>love
her, and mourn</I> with her and <I>for her.</I> Note, All that love God
love Jerusalem; they love the church of God, and lay its interest very
near their heart. They admire the beauty of the church, take pleasure
in communion with it, and heartily espouse its cause. And those that
have a sincere affection for the church have a cordial sympathy with
her in all the cares and sorrows of her militant state. They mourn for
her; all her grievances are their griefs; if Jerusalem be in distress,
their harps are hung on the willow-trees.
2. How they are encouraged: <I>Rejoice with her,</I> and again and
again <I>I say, Rejoice.</I> This intimates that Jerusalem shall have
cause to rejoice; the days of her mourning shall be at an end, and she
shall be comforted according to the time that she has been afflicted.
It is the will of God that all her friends should join with her in her
joys, for they shall share with her in those blessings that will be the
matter of her joy. If <I>we suffer with Christ</I> and sorrow with his
church, <I>we shall reign with him</I> and rejoice with her. We are
here called,
(1.) To bear our part in the church's praises: "Come, <I>rejoice with
her, rejoice for joy with her,</I> rejoice greatly, rejoice and know
why you rejoice, rejoice on the days appointed for public thanksgiving.
You that mourned for her in her sorrows cannot but from the same
principle rejoice with her in her joys."
(2.) To take our part in the church's comforts. We must <I>suck and be
satisfied with the breasts of her consolation.</I> The word of God, the
covenant of grace (especially the promises of that covenant), the
ordinances of God, and all the opportunities of attending on him and
conversing with him, are the breasts, which the church calls and counts
the <I>breasts of her consolations,</I> where her comforts are laid up,
and whence by faith and prayer they are drawn. With her therefore we
must suck from these breasts, by an application of the promises of God
to ourselves and a diligent attendance on his ordinances; and with the
consolations which are drawn hence we must be satisfied, and not be
dissatisfied though we have ever so little of earthly comforts. It is
the glory of the church that she has the Lord for her God, that to her
<I>pertain the adoption and the service of God;</I> and with <I>the
abundance of</I> this <I>glory</I> we must be <I>delighted.</I> We must
take more pleasure in our relation to God and communion with him than
in all the delights of the sons and daughters of men. Whatever is the
glory of the church must be <I>our glory and joy,</I> particularly her
purity, unity, and increase.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
V. Let them know that he who gives them this call to rejoice will give
them cause to do so and hearts to do so,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:12-14"><I>v.</I> 12-14</A>.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
1. He will give them cause to do so. For,
(1.) They shall enjoy a long uninterrupted course of prosperity: <I>I
will extend,</I> or am extending, <I>peace to her</I> (that is, all
good to her) <I>like a river</I> that runs in a constant stream, still
increasing till it be swallowed up in the ocean. The gospel brings with
it, wherever it is received in its power, such peace as this, which
shall go on <I>like a river,</I> supplying souls with all good and
making them fruitful, as a river does the lands it passes through, such
a <I>river of peace</I> as the springs of the world's comforts cannot
send forth and the dams of the world's troubles cannot stop nor drive
back nor its sand rack up, such a river of peace as will carry us to
the ocean of boundless and endless bliss.
(2.) There shall be large and advantageous additions made to them:
<I>The glory of the Gentiles</I> shall come to them <I>like a flowing
stream.</I> Gentiles converts shall come pouring into the church, and
swell the river of her peace and prosperity; for they shall <I>bring
their glory</I> with them; their wealth and honour, their power and
interest, shall all be devoted to the service of God and employed for
the good of the church: "<I>Then shall you suck</I> from the breasts of
her consolations. When you see such crowding for a share in those
comforts you shall be the more solicitous and the more vigorous to
secure your share, not for fear of having the less for others coming in
to partake of Christ" (there is no danger of that; he has enough for
all and enough for each), "but <I>their zeal</I> shall <I>provoke you
to a holy jealousy.</I>" It is well when it does so,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:14,2Co+9:2">Rom. xi. 14; 2 Cor. ix. 2</A>.
(3.) God shall be glorified in all, and that ought to be more the
matter of our joy than any thing else
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>):
<I>The hand of the Lord shall be known towards his servants,</I> the
protecting supporting hand of his almighty power, the supplying
enriching hand of his inexhaustible goodness; the benefit which his
servants have by both these <I>shall be known</I> to his glory as well
as theirs. And, to make this the more illustrious, he will at the same
time make known <I>his indignation towards his enemies.</I> God's mercy
and justice shall both be manifested and for ever magnified.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
2. God will not only give them cause to rejoice, but will speak comfort
to them, will speak it <I>to their hearts;</I> and it is he only that
can do that, and make it fasten there. See what he will do for the
comfort of all the sons of Zion.
(1.) Their country shall be their tender nurse: You shall be <I>carried
on her sides,</I> under her arms, as little children are, and shall be
<I>dangled upon her knees,</I> as darlings are, especially when they
are weary and out of humour, and must be got to sleep. Those that are
joined to the church must be treated thus affectionately. The great
Shepherd <I>gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them in his
bosom,</I> and so must the under-shepherds, that they may not be
discouraged. Proselytes should be favourites.
(2.) God will himself be their powerful comforter: <I>As one whom his
mother comforts,</I> when he is sick or sore, or upon any account in
sorrow, <I>so will I comfort you;</I> not only with the rational
arguments which a prudent father uses, but with the tender affections
and compassions of a loving mother, that bemoans her afflicted child
when it has fallen and hurt itself, that she may quiet it and make it
easy, or endeavours to pacify it after she has chidden it and fallen
out with it
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:20">Jer. xxxi. 20</A>):
<I>Since I spoke against him, my bowels are troubled for him;</I> he is
a dear son, he is a pleasant child. Thus the mother comforts. Thus
<I>you shall be comforted in Jerusalem,</I> in the favours bestowed on
the church, which you shall partake of, and in the thanksgivings
offered by the church, which you shall concur with.
(3.) They shall feel the blessed effects of this comfort in their own
souls
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
<I>When you see this,</I> what a happy state the church is restored to,
not only your tongues and your countenances, but <I>your hearts shall
rejoice.</I> This was fulfilled in the wonderful satisfaction which
Christ's disciples had in the success of their ministry. Christ, with
an eye to that, tells them
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+16:22">John xvi. 22</A>),
<I>Your heart shall rejoice and your joy no man taketh from you.</I>
Then <I>your bones,</I> that were dried and withered (the marrow of
them quite exhausted), shall recover a youthful strength and vigour and
<I>shall flourish like a herb.</I> Divine comforts reach the inward
man; <I>they are marrow</I> and moistening to the bones,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+3:8">Prov. iii. 8</A>.
The bones are the strength of the body; those shall be made to flourish
with these comforts. <I>The joy of the Lord</I> will be <I>your
strength,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+8:10">Neh. viii. 10</A>.</P>
<A NAME="Isa66_15"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa66_16"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa66_17"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa66_18"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa66_19"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa66_20"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa66_21"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa66_22"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa66_23"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa66_24"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Divine Judgment; Judgment and Mercy; The Enlargement of the Church.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>B.&nbsp;C.</FONT>&nbsp;706.</TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>15 For, behold, the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> will come with fire, and with his
chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his
rebuke with flames of fire.
&nbsp; 16 For by fire and by his sword will the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> plead with all
flesh: and the slain of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> shall be many.
&nbsp; 17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the
gardens behind one <I>tree</I> in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and
the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith
the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
&nbsp; 18 For I <I>know</I> their works and their thoughts: it shall come,
that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come,
and see my glory.
&nbsp; 19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that
escape of them unto the nations, <I>to</I> Tarshish, Pul, and Lud,
that draw the bow, <I>to</I> Tubal, and Javan, <I>to</I> the isles afar
off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and
they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
&nbsp; 20 And they shall bring all your brethren <I>for</I> an offering
unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots,
and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy
mountain Jerusalem, saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, as the children of Israel
bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
&nbsp; 21 And I will also take of them for priests <I>and</I> for Levites,
saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
&nbsp; 22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make,
shall remain before me, saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, so shall your seed and
your name remain.
&nbsp; 23 And it shall come to pass, <I>that</I> from one new moon to
another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to
worship before me, saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
&nbsp; 24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the
men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not
die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an
abhorring unto all flesh.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
These verses, like the pillar of cloud and fire, have a dark side
towards the enemies of God's kingdom and all that are rebels against
his crown, and a bright side towards his faithful loyal subjects.
Probably they refer to the Jews in captivity in Babylon, of whom some
are said to have been sent thither for their hurt, and with them God
here threatens to proceed in his controversy; they hated to be
reformed, and therefore should be ruined by the calamity
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+24:9">Jer. xxiv. 9</A>);
others were sent thither for their good, and they should have the
trouble sanctified to them, should in due time get well through it and
see many a good day after it. Many of the expressions here used are
accommodated to that glorious dispensation; but doubtless the prophecy
looks further, to the judgment for which Christ did come once, and will
come again, into this world, and to the distinction which his word in
both makes <I>between the precious and the vile.</I></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
I. Christ will appear to the confusion and terror of all those that
stand it out against him. Sometimes he will appear in temporal
judgments. The Jews that persisted in infidelity were cut off <I>by
fire</I> and <I>by his sword.</I> The ruin was very extensive; <I>the
Lord</I> then <I>pleaded with all flesh;</I> and, it being his sword
with which they are cut off, they are called <I>his slain,</I>
sacrificed to his justice, and they <I>shall be many.</I> In the great
day the wrath of God will be his fire and sword, with which he will cut
off and consume all the impenitent; and his word, when it takes hold of
sinners' consciences, burns like fire, and is sharper <I>than any
two-edged sword.</I> Idolaters will especially be contended with in the
day of wrath,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
Perhaps some of those who returned out of Babylon retained such
instances of idolatry and superstition as are here mentioned, had their
<I>idols in their gardens</I> (not daring to set them up publicly in
the high places) and there <I>purified themselves</I> (as the
worshippers of the true God used to do) when they went about their
idolatrous rites, <I>one after another,</I> or, as we read it,
<I>behind one tree in the midst,</I> behind <I>Ahad</I> or <I>Ehad,</I>
some idol that they worshipped by that name and in honour of which they
<I>ate swine's flesh</I> (which was expressly forbidden by the law of
God), <I>and other abominations,</I> as <I>the mouse,</I> or some other
like animal. But the prophecy may refer to all those judgments which
the wrath of God, according to the word of God, will bring upon
provoking sinners, that live in contempt of God and are devoted to the
world and the flesh: They <I>shall be consumed together.</I> From the
happiness of heaven we find expressly excluded all <I>idolaters, and
whosoever worketh abomination,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:27,22:15">Rev. xxi. 27; xxii. 15</A>.
In the day of vengeance secret wickedness will be brought to light and
brought to the account; for
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>),
<I>I know their works and their thoughts.</I> God knows both what men
do and from what principle and with what design they do it; and
therefore is fit to judge the world, because he can <I>judge the
secrets of men,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+2:16">Rom. ii. 16</A>.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
II. He will appear to the comfort and joy of all that are faithful to
him in the setting up of his kingdom in this world, the kingdom of
grace, the earnest and first-fruits of the kingdom of glory. The time
shall come that he will <I>gather all nations and tongues to
himself,</I> that they may <I>come and see his glory</I> as it shines
in the face of Jesus Christ,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
This was fulfilled when all nations were to be discipled and the gift
of tongues was bestowed in order thereunto. The church had hitherto
been confined to one nation and in one tongue only God was worshipped;
but in the days of the Messiah the partition-wall should be taken down,
and those that had been strangers to God should be brought acquainted
with him and should <I>see his glory</I> in the gospel, as the Jews had
seen it <I>in the sanctuary.</I> As to this, it is here promised,</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
1. That some of the Jewish nation should, by the grace of God, be
distinguished form the rest, and marked for salvation: I will not only
set up a <I>gathering ensign</I> among them, to which the Gentiles
shall seek (as is promised,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+11:12"><I>ch.</I> xi. 12</A>),
but there shall be those among them on whom <I>I will set a
differencing sign;</I> for so the word signifies. Though they are a
corrupt degenerate nation, yet God will set apart a remnant of them,
that shall be devoted to him and employed for him, and a mark shall be
set upon them, with such certainty will God own them,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+9:4">Ezek. ix. 4</A>.
The <I>servants of God</I> shall be <I>sealed in their foreheads,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+7:3">Rev. vii. 3</A>.
The Lord knows those that are his. Christ's sheep are marked.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
2. That those who are themselves distinguished thus by the grace of God
shall be commissioned to invite others to come and take the benefit of
that grace. Those that escape the power of those prejudices by which
the generality of that nation is kept in unbelief shall be <I>sent to
the nations</I> to carry the gospel among them, and preach it to every
creature. Note, Those who themselves have escaped the wrath to come
should do all they can to snatch others also as brands out of the
burning. God chooses to send those on his errands that can deliver
their message feelingly and experimentally, and warn people of their
danger by sin as those who have themselves narrowly escaped the danger.
(1.) They shall be sent <I>to the nations,</I> several of which are
here named, Tarshish, and Pul, and Lud, &c. It is uncertain, nor are
interpreters agreed, what countries are here intended. <I>Tarshish</I>
signifies in general <I>the sea,</I> yet some take it for Tarsus in
Cilicia. <I>Pul</I> is mentioned sometimes as the name of one of the
kings of Assyria; perhaps some part of that country might likewise bear
that name. <I>Lud</I> is supposed to be Lydia, a warlike nation, famed
for archers: the Lydians are said to <I>handle</I> and <I>bend the
bow,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+46:9">Jer. xlvi. 9</A>.
<I>Tubal,</I> some think, is Italy or Spain; and <I>Javan</I> most
agree to be Greece, the Iones; and the <I>isles of the Gentiles,</I>
that were peopled by the posterity of Japhet
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+10:5">Gen. x. 5</A>),
probably are here meant by the <I>isles afar off, that have not heard
my name, neither have seen my glory.</I> In Judah only was God known,
and there only his name was great for many ages. Other countries sat
in darkness, heard no the joyful sound, saw not the joyful light. This
deplorable state of theirs seems to be spoken of here with compassion;
for it is a pity that any of the children of men should be at such a
distance from their Maker as not to hear his name and see his glory. In
consideration of this,
(2.) Those that are sent to the nations shall go upon God's errand, to
<I>declare his glory among the Gentiles.</I> The Jews that shall be
dispersed among the nations shall declare the glory of God's providence
concerning their nation all along, by which many shall be invited to
join with them, as also by the appearances of God's glory among them in
his ordinances. Some out of all languages of the nations shall <I>take
hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew,</I> entreating him to take
notice of them, to admit them into his company, and to stay a little
while for them, till they are ready, "for <I>we will go with you,
having heard that God is with you,</I>"
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+8:23">Zech. viii. 23</A>.
Thus the glory of God was in part declared among the Gentiles; but more
clearly and fully by the apostles and early preachers of the gospel,
who were sent into all the world, even to the isles afar off, to
publish the glorious gospel of the blessed God. They <I>went forth and
preached every where, the Lord working with them,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+16:20">Mark xvi. 20</A>.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
3. That many converts shall hereby be made,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
(1.) <I>They shall bring all your brethren</I> (for proselytes ought to
be owned and embraced as brethren) <I>for an offering unto the
Lord.</I> God's glory shall not be in vain declared to them, but they
shall be both invited and directed to join themselves to the Lord.
Those that are sent to them shall succeed so well in their negotiation
that thereupon there shall be as great flocking to Jerusalem as used to
be at the time of a solemn feast, when all the males from all parts of
the country were to attend there, and not to appear empty. Observe,
[1.] The conveniences that they shall be furnished with for their
coming. Some shall come <I>upon horses,</I> because they came from far
and the journey was too long to travel on foot, as the Jews usually did
to their feasts. Persons of quality shall come <I>in chariots,</I> and
the aged, and sickly, and little children, shall be brought <I>in
litters</I> or covered wagons, and the young men <I>on mules and swift
beasts.</I> This intimates their zeal and forwardness to come. They
shall spare no trouble nor charge to get to Jerusalem. Those that
cannot ride on horseback shall come in litters; and in such haste shall
they be, and so impatient of delay, that those that can shall ride upon
mules and swift beasts. These expressions are figurative, and these
various means of conveyance are heaped up to intimate (says the learned
Mr. Gataker) the abundant provision of all those gracious helps
requisite for the bringing of God's elect home to Christ. All shall be
welcome, and nothing shall be wanting for their assistance and
encouragement.
[2.] The character under which they shall be brought. They shall come,
not as formerly they used to come to Jerusalem, to be offerers, but to
be themselves <I>an offering unto the Lord,</I> which must be
understood spiritually, of their being presented to God as <I>living
sacrifices,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+12:1">Rom. xii. 1</A>.
The apostle explains this, and perhaps refers to it,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+15:16">Rom. xv. 16</A>,
where he speaks of his <I>ministering the gospel to the Gentiles,</I>
that the <I>offering up,</I> or <I>sacrificing, of the Gentiles might
be acceptable.</I> They shall offer themselves, and those who are the
instruments of their conversion shall offer them, as the spoils which
they have taken for Christ and which are devoted to his service and
honour. They shall be brought <I>as the children of Israel bring an
offering in a clean vessel,</I> with great care that they be holy,
purified from sin, and sanctified to God. It is said of the converted
Gentiles
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+15:9">Acts xv. 9</A>)
that <I>their hearts were purified by faith.</I> Whatever was brought
to God was brought in a clean vessel, a vessel appropriated to
religious uses. God will be served and honoured in the way that he has
appointed, in the ordinances of his own institution, which are the
proper vehicles for these spiritual offerings. When the soul is offered
up to God the body must be a clean vessel for it, possessed <I>in
sanctification and honour, and not in the lusts of uncleanness</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:4,5">1 Thess. iv. 4, 5</A>);
and converts to Christ are not only <I>purged from an evil
conscience,</I> but have their <I>bodies also washed with pure
water,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+10:22">Heb. x. 22</A>.
Now,</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
(2.) This may refer,
[1.] To the Jews, devout men, and proselytes out of every nation under
heaven, that flocked together to Jerusalem, expecting the kingdom of
the Messiah to appear,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+2:5,6,10">Acts ii. 5, 6, 10</A>.
They came from all parts to the holy <I>mountain of Jerusalem,</I> as
an <I>offering to the Lord,</I> and there many of them were brought to
the faith of Christ by the gift of tongues poured out on the apostles.
Methinks there is some correspondence between that history and this
prophecy. The eunuch some time after came to worship at Jerusalem in
his chariot and took home with him the knowledge of Christ and his holy
religion.
[2.] To the Gentiles, some of all nations, that should be converted to
Christ, and so added to his church, which, though a spiritual
accession, is often in prophecy represented by a local motion. The
apostle says of all true Christians that they <I>have come to Mount
Zion, and the heavenly Jerusalem</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+12:22">Heb. xii. 22</A>),
which explains this passage, and shows that the meaning of all this
parade is only that they shall be brought into the church by the grace
of God, and in the use of the means of that grace, as carefully,
safely, and comfortably, as if they were carried in chariots and
litters. Thus God shall <I>persuade Japhet</I> and he shall <I>dwell in
the tents of Shem,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+9:27">Gen. ix. 27</A>.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
4. That a gospel ministry shall be set up in the church, it being thus
enlarged by the addition of such a multitude of members to it
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>):
<I>I will take of them</I> (of the proselytes, of the Gentile converts)
<I>for priests and for Levites,</I> to minister in holy things and to
preside in their religious assemblies, which is very necessary for
doctrine, worship, and discipline. Hitherto the priests and Levites
were all taken from among the Jews and were all of one tribe; but in
gospel times God will take of the converted Gentiles to minister to him
in holy things, to teach the people, to bless them in the name of the
Lord, to be the stewards of the mysteries of God as the priests and
Levites were under the law, to be pastors and teachers (or bishops), to
<I>give themselves to the word and prayer,</I> and deacons to <I>serve
tables,</I> and, as the Levites, to take care of the <I>outward
business of the house of God,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+1:1,Ac+6:2-4">Phil. i. 1; Acts vi. 2-4</A>.
The apostles were all Jews, and so were the seventy disciples; the
great apostle of the Gentiles was himself <I>a Hebrew of the
Hebrews;</I> but, when churches were planted among the Gentiles, they
had ministers settled who were <I>of themselves, elders in every
church</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+14:23,Tit+1:5">Acts xiv. 23, Tit. i. 5</A>),
which made the ministry to spread the more easily, and to be the more
familiar, and, if not the more venerable, yet the more acceptable;
gospel grace, it might be hoped, would cure people of those corruptions
which kept a prophet from having <I>honour in his own country.</I> God
says, <I>I will take,</I> not <I>all of them,</I> though they are all
in a spiritual sense made to our God kings and priests, but <I>of
them,</I> some of them. It is God's work originally to choose ministers
by qualifying them for and inclining them to the service, as well as to
make ministers by giving them their commission. <I>I will take
them,</I> that is, I will admit them, though Gentiles, and will accept
of them and their ministrations. This is a great honour and advantage
to the Gentile church, as it was to the Jewish church that God
<I>raised up of their sons for prophets</I> and <I>their young men for
Nazarites,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Am+2:11">Amos ii. 11</A>.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
5. That the church and ministry, being thus settled, shall continue and
be kept up in a succession from one generation to another,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
The change that will be made by the setting up of the kingdom of the
Messiah is here described to be,
(1.) A very great and universal change; it shall be a new world, <I>the
new heavens and the new earth</I> promised before,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+65:17"><I>ch.</I> lxv. 17</A>.
<I>Old things have passed away,</I> behold <I>all things have become
new</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+5:17">2 Cor. v. 17</A>),
the old covenant of peculiarity is set aside, and a new covenant, a
covenant of grace, established,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:13">Heb. viii. 13</A>.
We are now to serve <I>in newness of the spirit,</I> and <I>not in the
oldness of the letter,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+7:6">Rom. vii. 6</A>.
New commandments are given relating both to heaven and earth, and new
promises relating to both, and both together make a New Testament; so
that they are new heavens and a new earth that God will create, and
these a preparative for the new heavens and new earth designed at the
end of time,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+3:13">2 Pet. iii. 13</A>.
(2.) A change of God's own making; he will create the new heavens and
the new earth. The change was made by him that had authority to make
new ordinances, as well as power to make new worlds.
(3.) It will be an abiding lasting change, a change never to be
changed, a new world that will be always new, and never wax old, as
that does which is ready to vanish away: <I>It shall remain before
me</I> unalterable; for the gospel dispensation is to continue to the
end of time and not to be succeeded by any other. The kingdom of Christ
is a <I>kingdom that cannot be moved;</I> the laws and privileges of it
<I>are things that cannot be shaken,</I> but shall <I>for ever
remain,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+12:27,28">Heb. xii. 27, 28</A>.
It shall <I>therefore</I> remain, because it is before God; it is under
his eye, and care, and special protection.
(4.) It will be maintained in a seed that shall serve Christ: <I>Your
seed,</I> and in them <I>your name, shall remain</I>--a seed of
ministers, a seed of Christians; as one generation of both passes away,
another generation shall come; and thus the name of Christ, with that
of Christians, shall continue on earth while the earth remains, and his
throne as the days of heaven. The gates of hell, though they fight
against the church, shall not <I>prevail,</I> nor <I>wear out the
saints of the Most High.</I></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
6. That the public worship of God in religious assemblies shall be
carefully and constantly attended upon by all that are thus brought
<I>as an offering to the Lord,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>.
This is described in expressions suited to the Old-Testament
dispensation, to show that though the ceremonial law should be
abolished, and the temple service should come to an end, yet God should
be still as regularly, constantly, and acceptably worshipped as ever.
Heretofore only Jews went up to appear before God, and they were bound
to attend only three times a year, and the males only; but now all
flesh, Gentiles as well as Jews, women as well as men, shall <I>come
and worship before God,</I> in his presence, though not in his temple
at Jerusalem, but in religious assemblies dispersed all the world over,
which shall be to them as the tabernacle of meeting was to the Jews.
God will in them record his name, and, though but two or three come
together, he will be among them, will meet them, and bless them. And
they shall have the benefit of these holy convocations frequently,
every new moon and every sabbath, not, as formerly, at the three annual
feasts only. There is no necessity of one certain place, as the temple
was of old. Christ is our temple, in whom by faith all believers meet,
and now that the church is so far extended it is impossible that all
should meet at one place; but it is fit that there should be a certain
time appointed, that the service may be done certainly and frequently,
and a token thereby given of the spiritual communion which all
Christian assemblies have with each other by faith, hope, and holy
love. The <I>new moons</I> and the <I>sabbaths</I> are mentioned
because, under the law, though the yearly feasts were to be celebrated
at Jerusalem, yet the new moons and the sabbaths were religiously
observed all the country over, in the <I>schools of the prophets</I>
first and afterwards <I>in the synagogues</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+4:23,Am+8:5,Ac+15:21">2 Kings iv. 23, Amos viii. 5, Acts xv. 21</A>),
according to the model of which Christian assemblies seem to be formed.
Where the Lord's day is weekly sanctified, and the Lord's supper
monthly celebrated, and both are duly attended on, there this promise
is fulfilled, there the Christian new moons and sabbaths are observed.
See, here,
(1.) That God is to be worshipped in solemn assemblies, and that it is
the duty of all, as they have opportunity, to wait upon God in those
assemblies: <I>All flesh must come;</I> though flesh, weak, corrupt,
and sinful, let them come that the flesh may be mortified.
(2.) In worshipping God we present ourselves before him, and are in a
special manner in his presence.
(3.) For doing this there ought to be stated times, and are so; and we
must see that it is our interest as well as our duty constantly and
conscientiously to observe these times.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
7. That their thankful sense of God's distinguishing favour to them
should be very much increased by the consideration of the fearful doom
and destruction of those that persist and perish in their infidelity
and impiety,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
Those that have been worshipping the Lord of hosts, and rejoicing
before him in the goodness of his house, shall, in order to affect
themselves the more with their own happiness, take a view of the misery
of the wicked. Observe,
(1.) Who they are whose misery is here described. They are men that
have <I>transgressed against God,</I> not only broken his laws, but
broken covenant with him, and thought themselves able to contend with
him. It may be meant especially of the unbelieving Jews that rejected
the gospel of Christ.
(2.) What their misery is. It is here represented by the frightful
spectacle of a field of battle, covered with the <I>carcases</I> of the
slain, that lie rotting above ground, full of <I>worms</I> crawling
about them and feeding on them; and, if you go to burn them, they are
so scattered, and it is such a noisome piece of work to get them
together, that it would be endless, and the <I>fire would never be
quenched;</I> so that they are an <I>abhorring to all flesh,</I> nobody
cares to come near them. Now this is sometimes accomplished in temporal
judgments, and perhaps never nearer the letter than in the destruction
of Jerusalem and the Jewish nation by the Romans, in which destruction
it is computed that above two millions, first and last, were cut off by
the sword, besides what perished by famine and pestilence. It may refer
likewise to the spiritual judgments that came upon the unbelieving
Jews, which St. Paul looks upon, and shows us,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:8">Rom. xi. 8</A>,
&c. They became dead in sins, twice dead. The church of the Jews was a
<I>carcase</I> of a church; all its members were putrid carcases;
<I>their worm died not,</I> their own consciences made them continually
uneasy, and the fire of their rage against the gospel was not quenched,
which was their punishment as well as their sin; and they became, more
than ever any nation under the sun, <I>an abhorring to all flesh.</I>
But our Saviour applies it to the everlasting misery and torment of
impenitent sinners in the future state, where their <I>worm dies not,
and their fire is not quenched</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+9:44">Mark ix. 44</A>);
for the soul, whose conscience is its constant tormentor, is immortal,
and God, whose wrath is its constant terror, is eternal.
(3.) What notice shall be taken of it. Those that worship God shall
<I>go forth and look upon them,</I> to affect their own hearts with the
love of their Redeemer, when they see what misery they are redeemed
from. As it will aggravate the miseries of the damned to see others in
the kingdom of heaven and <I>themselves thrust out</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+13:28">Luke xiii. 28</A>),
so it will illustrate the joys and glories of the blessed to see what
becomes of those that died in their transgression, and it will elevate
their praises to think that they were themselves as brands plucked out
of that burning. To the honour of that free grace which thus
distinguished them let the redeemed of the Lord with all humility, and
not without a holy trembling, sing their triumphant songs.</P>
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