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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>I S A I A H.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. LXII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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The business of prophets was both to preach and pray. In this chapter,
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I. The prophet determines to apply closely and constantly to this
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business,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+62:1">ver. 1</A>.
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II. God appoints him and others of his prophets to continue to do so,
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for the encouragement of his people during the delays of their
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deliverance,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+62:6,7">ver. 6, 7</A>.
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III. The promises are here repeated and ratified of the great things
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God would do for his church, for the Jews after their return out of
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captivity and for the Christian church when it shall be set up in the
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world.
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1. The church shall be made honourable in the eyes of the world,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+62:2">ver. 2</A>.
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2. It shall appear to be very dear to God, precious and honourable in
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his sight,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+62:3-5">ver. 3-5</A>.
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3. It shall enjoy great plenty,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+62:8,9">ver. 8, 9</A>.
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4. It shall be released out of captivity and grow up again into a
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considerable nation, particularly owned and favoured by heaven,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+62:10-12">ver. 10-12</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Isa62_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa62_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa62_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa62_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa62_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Prosperity of the Church.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 706.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's
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sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as
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brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp <I>that</I> burneth.
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2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings
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thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the
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mouth of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> shall name.
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3 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>,
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and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
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4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land
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any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah,
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and thy land Beulah: for the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> delighteth in thee, and thy
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land shall be married.
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5 For <I>as</I> a young man marrieth a virgin, <I>so</I> shall thy sons
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marry thee: and <I>as</I> the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride,
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<I>so</I> shall thy God rejoice over thee.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The prophet here tells us,</P>
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<P>
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I. What he will do for the church. A prophet, as he is a seer, so he is
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a spokesman. This prophet resolves to perform that office faithfully,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+62:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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He <I>will not hold his peace;</I> he <I>will not rest;</I> he will
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mind his business, will take pains, and never desire to take his ease;
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and herein he was a type of Christ, who was indefatigable in executing
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the office of a prophet and made it his meat and drink till he had
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finished his work. Observe here,
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1. What the prophet's resolution is: <I>He will not hold his peace.</I>
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He will continue instant in preaching, will not only faithfully
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deliver, but frequently repeat, the messages he has <I>received from
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the Lord.</I> If people receive not the precepts and promises at first,
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he will inculcate them and give them line upon line. And he will
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continue instant in prayer; he will never hold his peace at the throne
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of grace till he has prevailed with God for the mercies promised; he
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will <I>give himself to prayer and to the ministry of the word,</I> as
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Christ's ministers must
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+6:4">Acts vi. 4</A>),
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who must labour frequently in both and never be weary of this
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well-doing. The business of ministers is to speak from God to his
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people and to God for his people; and in neither of these must they be
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silent.
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2. What is the principle of this resolution--<I>for Zion's sake, and
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for Jerusalem's,</I> not for the sake of any private interest of his
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own, but for the church's sake, because he has an affection and concern
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for Zion, and it lies near his heart. Whatever becomes of his own house
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and family, he desires to <I>see the good of Jerusalem</I> and resolves
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to seek it all the days of his life,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+122:8,Ps+118:5">Ps. cxxii. 8, 9; cxviii. 5</A>.
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It is God's Zion and his Jerusalem, and it is <I>therefore</I> dear to
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him, because it is so to God and because God's glory is interested in
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its prosperity.
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3. How long he resolves to continue this importunity--till the promise
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of the church's righteousness and salvation, given in the foregoing
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chapter, be accomplished. Isaiah will not himself live to see the
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release of the captives out of Babylon, much less the bringing in of
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the gospel, in which <I>grace reigns through righteousness unto
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life</I> and salvation; yet he will <I>not hold his peace till</I>
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these be accomplished, even the utmost of them, because his prophecies
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will continue speaking of these things, and there shall in every age be
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a remnant that shall continue to pray for them, as successors to him,
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till the promises be performed, and so the prayers answered that were
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grounded upon them. Then the church's <I>righteousness</I> and
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<I>salvation</I> will <I>go forth as brightness,</I> and <I>as a lamp
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that burns,</I> so plainly that it will carry its own evidence along
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with it. It will bring honour and comfort to the church, which will
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hereupon both look pleasant and appear illustrious; and it will bring
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instruction and direction to the world, a light not only to the eyes
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but to the feet, and to <I>the paths</I> of those who before <I>sat in
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darkness and in the shadow of death.</I></P>
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<P>
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II. What God will do for the church. The prophet can but pray and
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preach, but God will confirm the word and answer the prayers.
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1. The church shall be greatly admired. When that righteousness which
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is her salvation, her praise, and her glory, shall be <I>brought
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forth,</I> the <I>Gentiles shall see</I> it. The tidings of it shall be
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carried to the Gentiles, and a tender of it made to them; they may so
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see this righteousness as to share in it if it be not their own fault.
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"Even kings shall see and be in love with the <I>glory of thy
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righteousness</I>"
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+62:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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shall overlook the glory of their own courts and kingdoms, and look at,
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and look after, the spiritual glory of the church as that which excels.
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2. She shall be truly admirable. Great names make men considerable in
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the world, and great respect is paid them thereupon; now it is agreed
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that <I>honor est in honorante--honour derives its value from the
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dignity of him who confers it.</I> God is the fountain of honour and
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from him the church's honour comes: "<I>Thou shalt be called by a new
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name,</I> a pleasant name, such as thou wast never called by before,
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no, not in the day of thy greatest prosperity, and the reverse of that
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which thou wast called by in the day of thy affliction; thou shalt have
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a new character, be advanced to a new dignity, and those about thee
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shall have new thoughts of thee." This seems to be alluded to in that
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promise
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:17">Rev. ii. 17</A>)
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of the <I>white stone and in the stone a new name,</I> and that
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:12">Rev. iii. 12</A>)
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of the <I>name of the city of my God</I> and my <I>new name.</I> It is
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a name <I>which the mouth of the Lord shall name,</I> who, we are sure,
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miscalls nothing, and who will oblige others to call her by the name he
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has given her; for his judgment is according to truth and all shall
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concur with it sooner or later. Two names God shall give her:--
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(1.) He shall call her his crown
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+62:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>):
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<I>Thou shalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord,</I> not on
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his head (as adding any real honour or power to him, as crowns do to
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those that are crowned with them), but in his hand. He is pleased to
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account them, and show them forth, as a glory and beauty to him. When
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he took them to be his people it was that they might be <I>unto him for
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a name, and for a praise, and for a glory</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+13:11">Jer. xiii. 11</A>):
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"Thou shalt be a <I>crown of glory</I> and a <I>royal diadem,</I>
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through the hand, the good hand, of thy God upon thee; he shall make
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thee so, for he shall be <I>to thee a crown of glory,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+28:5"><I>ch.</I> xxviii. 5</A>.
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Thou shalt be so <I>in his hand,</I> that is, under his protection; he
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that shall put glory upon thee shall <I>create a defence upon all that
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glory,</I> so that the flowers of thy crown shall never wither nor
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shall its jewels be lost."
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(2.) He shall call her his spouse,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+62:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>.
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This is a yet greater honour, especially considering what a forlorn
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condition she had been in.
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[1.] Her case had been very melancholy. She was called <I>forsaken</I>
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and her land <I>desolate</I> during the captivity, like a woman
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reproachfully divorced or left a disconsolate widow. Such as the state
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of religion in the world before the preaching of the gospel--it was in
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a manner forsaken and desolate, a thing that no man looked after nor
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had any real concern for.
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[2.] It should now be very pleasant, for God would return in mercy to
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her. Instead of those two names of reproach, she shall be called by two
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honourable names. <I>First,</I> She shall be called <I>Hephzi-bah,</I>
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which signifies, <I>My delight is in her;</I> it was the name of
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Hezekiah's queen, Manasseh's mother
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+21:1">2 Kings xxi. 1</A>),
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a proper name for a wife, who ought to be her husband's delight,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+5:19">Prov. v. 19</A>.
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And here it is the church's Maker that is her husband: <I>The Lord
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delights in thee.</I> God by his grace has wrought that in his church
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which makes her his delight, she being refined, and reformed, and
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brought home to him; and then by his providence he does that for her
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which makes it appear that she is his delight and that he delights to
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do her good. <I>Secondly,</I> She shall be called <I>Beulah,</I> which
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signifies <I>married,</I> whereas she had been desolate, a condition
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opposed to that of the <I>married wife,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+54:1"><I>ch.</I> liv. 1</A>.
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"<I>Thy land shall be married,</I> that is, it shall become fruitful
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again, and be replenished." Though she has long been barren, she shall
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again be peopled, shall again be made to keep house and to be a joyful
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mother of children,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+113:9">Ps. cxiii. 9</A>.
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<I>She shall be married,</I> for,
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1. Her sons shall heartily espouse the land of their nativity and its
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interests, which they had for a long time neglected, as despairing ever
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to have any comfortable enjoyment of it: <I>Thy sons shall marry
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thee,</I> that is, they shall live with thee and take delight in thee.
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When they were in Babylon, they seemed to have espoused that land, for
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they were appointed to settle, and to seek the peace of it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+29:5-7">Jer. xxix. 5-7</A>.
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But now they shall again marry their own land, <I>as a young man
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marries a virgin</I> that he takes great delight in, is extremely fond
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of, and is likely to have many children by. It bodes well to a land
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when its own natives and inhabitants are pleased with it, prefer it
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before other lands, when its princes marry their country and resolve to
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take their lot with it.
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2. <I>Her God</I> (which is much better) shall <I>betroth her to
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himself in righteousness,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+2:19,20">Hosea ii. 19, 20</A>.
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He will take pleasure in his church: <I>As the bridegroom rejoices over
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the bride,</I> is pleased with his relation to her and her affection to
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him, <I>so shall thy God rejoice over thee:</I> he shall rest in his
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love to thee
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zep+3:17">Zeph. iii. 17</A>);
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<I>he shall take pleasure</I> in thee
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:11">Ps. cxlvii. 11</A>),
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and shall <I>delight to do thee good with his whole heart and his whole
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soul,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+32:41">Jer. xxxii. 41</A>.
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This is very applicable to the love Christ has for his church and the
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complacency he takes in it, which appears so brightly in Solomon's
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Song, and which will be complete in heaven.</P>
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<A NAME="Isa62_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa62_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa62_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa62_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Prosperity of the Church.</I></FONT></TD>
|
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 706.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, <I>which</I>
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shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention
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of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, keep not silence,
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7 And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make
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Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
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8 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his
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strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn <I>to be</I> meat for
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thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy
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wine, for the which thou hast laboured:
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9 But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in
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the courts of my holiness.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Two things are here promised to Jerusalem:--</P>
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<P>
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I. Plenty of the means of grace--abundance of good preaching and good
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praying
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+62:6,7"><I>v.</I> 6, 7</A>),
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and this shows the method God takes when he designs mercy for a people;
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he first brings them to their duty and pours out a spirit of prayer
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upon them, and then brings salvation to them. Provision is made,</P>
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<P>
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1. That ministers may do their duty as watchmen. It is here spoken of
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as a token for good, as a step towards further mercy and an earnest of
|
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it, that, in order to what he designed for them, he would set
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<I>watchmen on their walls who should never hold their peace.</I> Note,
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(1.) Ministers are watchmen on the church's walls, for it is as a city
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besieged, whose concern it is to have sentinels on the walls, to take
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notice and give notice of the motions of the enemy. It is necessary
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that, as watchmen, they be wakeful, and faithful, and willing to endure
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hardness.
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(2.) They are concerned to stand upon their guard day and night; they
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must never be off their watch as long as those for whose souls they
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watch are not out of danger.
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(3.) They must never hold their peace; they must take all opportunities
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to give warning to sinners, in season, out of season, and must never
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betray the cause of Christ by a treacherous or cowardly silence. They
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must never hold their peace at the throne of grace; they must <I>pray,
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and not faint,</I> as Moses lifted up his hands and kept them steady,
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till Israel had obtained the victory over Amalek,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+17:10,12">Exod. xvii. 10, 12</A>.</P>
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<P>
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2. That people may do their duty. As those that make mention of the
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Lord, let not them keep silence neither, let not them think it enough
|
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that their watchmen pray for them, but let them pray for themselves;
|
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all will be little enough to meet the approaching mercy with due
|
|
solemnity. Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) It is the character of God's professing people that they make
|
|
mention of the Lord, and continue to do so even in bad times, when the
|
|
land is termed <I>forsaken</I> and <I>desolate.</I> They are <I>the
|
|
Lord's remembrancers</I> (so the margin reads it); they remember the
|
|
Lord themselves and put one another in mind of him.
|
|
|
|
(2.) God's professing people must be a praying people, must be
|
|
public-spirited in prayer, must wrestle with God in prayer, and
|
|
continue to do so: "<I>Keep not silence;</I> never grow remiss in the
|
|
duty nor weary of it." <I>Give him no rest</I>--alluding to an
|
|
importunate beggar, to the widow that with her continual coming wearied
|
|
the judge into a compliance. God said to <I>Moses, Let me alone</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+32:10">Exod. xxxii. 10</A>),
|
|
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and Jacob to Christ, <I>I will not let thee go except thou bless
|
|
me,</I>
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|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+32:26">Gen. xxxii. 26</A>.
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(3.) God is so far from being displeased with our pressing importunity,
|
|
as men commonly are, that he invites and encourages it; he bids us to
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|
cry after him; he is not like those disciples who discouraged a
|
|
petitioner,
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+15:23">Matt. xv. 23</A>.
|
|
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|
He bids us make pressing applications at the throne of grace, and
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|
<I>give him no rest,</I>
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+11:5,8">Luke xi. 5, 8</A>.
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|
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|
He suffers himself not only to be reasoned with, but to be wrestled
|
|
with.
|
|
|
|
(4.) The public welfare or prosperity of God's Jerusalem is that which
|
|
we should be most importunate for at the throne of grace; we should
|
|
pray for the good of the church.
|
|
|
|
[1.] That it may be safe, that he would <I>establish</I> it, that the
|
|
interests of the church may be firm, may be settled for the present and
|
|
secured to posterity.
|
|
|
|
[2.] That it may be great, may be <I>a praise in the earth,</I> that it
|
|
may be praised, and God may be praised for it. When gospel truths are
|
|
cleared and vindicated, when gospel ordinances are duly administered in
|
|
their purity and power, when the church becomes eminent for holiness
|
|
and love, then Jerusalem is a praise in the earth, then it is in
|
|
reputation.
|
|
|
|
(5.) We must persevere in our prayers for mercy to the church till the
|
|
mercy come; we must do as the prophet's servant did, go yet seven
|
|
times, till the promising cloud appear,
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+18:44">1 Kings xviii. 44</A>.
|
|
|
|
(6.) It is a good sign that God is coming towards a people in ways of
|
|
mercy when he pours out a spirit of prayer upon them and stirs them up
|
|
to be fervent and constant in their intercessions.</P>
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|
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|
<P>
|
|
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|
II. Plenty of all other good things,
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|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+62:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
This follows upon the former; when the people praise God, when <I>all
|
|
the people praise him, then shall the earth yield her increase</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+67:5,6">Ps. lxvii. 5, 6</A>),
|
|
|
|
and outward prosperity, crowning its piety, shall help to make
|
|
Jerusalem a praise in the earth. Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
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|
1. The great distress they had been in, and the losses they had
|
|
sustained. Their corn had been meat for their enemies, which they hoped
|
|
would be meat for themselves and their families. Here was a double
|
|
grievance, that they themselves wanted that which was necessary to the
|
|
support of life and were in danger of perishing for want of it, and
|
|
that their enemies were strengthened by it, had their camp victualled
|
|
with it, and so were the better able to do them a mischief. God is said
|
|
to give their corn to their enemies, because he not only permitted it,
|
|
but ordered it, to be the just punishment both of their abuse of plenty
|
|
and of their symbolizing with strangers,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+1:7"><I>ch.</I> i. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
The wine which they had laboured for, and which in their affliction
|
|
they needed for the relief of those among them that were of a heavy
|
|
heart, strangers drank it, to gratify their lusts with; this sore
|
|
judgment was threatened for their sins,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+26:16,De+28:33">Lev. xxvi. 16; Deut. xxviii. 33</A>.
|
|
|
|
See how uncertain our creature-comforts are, and how much it is our
|
|
wisdom to labour for that meat which we can never be robbed of.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The great fulness and satisfaction they should now be restored to
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+62:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Those that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the Lord.</I>
|
|
See here,
|
|
|
|
(1.) God's mercy in giving plenty, and peace to enjoy it,--that the
|
|
earth yields her increase, that there are hands to be employed in
|
|
gathering it in, and that they are not taken off by plague and
|
|
sickness, or otherwise employed in war,--that strangers and enemies do
|
|
not come and gather it for themselves, or take it from us when we have
|
|
gathered it,--that we eat the labour of our hands and the bread is not
|
|
eaten out of our mouths,--and especially that we have opportunity and a
|
|
heart to honour God with it, and that his courts are open to us and we
|
|
are not restrained from attending on him in them.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Our duty in the enjoyment of this mercy. We must gather what God
|
|
gives, with care and industry; we must eat it freely and cheerfully,
|
|
not bury the gifts of God's bounty, but make use of them. We must, when
|
|
we have eaten and are full, <I>bless the Lord,</I> and give him thanks
|
|
for his bounty to us; and we must serve him with our abundance, use it
|
|
in works of piety and charity, eat it and <I>drink it in the courts of
|
|
his holiness,</I> where the altar, the priest, and the poor must all
|
|
have their share. The greatest comfort that a good man has in his meat
|
|
and drink is that it furnishes him with a meat-offering and a
|
|
drink-offering for the Lord his God
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joe+2:14">Joel ii. 14</A>);
|
|
|
|
the greatest comfort that he has in an estate is that it gives him an
|
|
opportunity of honouring God and doing good. This wine is to be
|
|
<I>drunk in the courts of God's holiness,</I> and therefore moderately
|
|
and with sobriety, as before the Lord.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. The solemn ratification of this promise: <I>The Lord has sworn by
|
|
his right hand, and by the arm of his strength,</I> that he will do
|
|
this for his people. God confirms it by an oath, that his people, who
|
|
trust in him and his word, may have <I>strong consolation,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+6:17,18">Heb. vi. 17, 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
And, since he can swear by no greater, he swears by himself, sometimes
|
|
by his being (<I>As I live,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:11">Ezek. xxxiii. 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
sometimes by his holiness
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+89:35">Ps. lxxxix. 35</A>),
|
|
|
|
here by his power, his right hand (which was lifted up in swearing,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+32:40">Deut. xxxii. 40</A>),
|
|
|
|
and his arm of power; for it is a great satisfaction to those who build
|
|
their hopes on God's promise to be sure that <I>what he has promised he
|
|
is able to perform,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+4:21">Rom. iv. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
To assure us of this he has sworn by his strength, pawning the
|
|
reputation of his omnipotence upon it; if he do not do it, let it be
|
|
said, <I>It was because he could not,</I> which the Egyptians shall
|
|
never say
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+14:16">Num. xiv. 16</A>)
|
|
|
|
nor any other. It is the comfort of God's people that his power is
|
|
engaged for them, his right hand, where the Mediator sits.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Isa62_10"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa62_11"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa62_12"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Advent of the Messiah.</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>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>10 Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the
|
|
people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift
|
|
up a standard for the people.
|
|
11 Behold, the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath proclaimed unto the end of the world,
|
|
Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh;
|
|
behold, his reward <I>is</I> with him, and his work before him.
|
|
12 And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of
|
|
the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not
|
|
forsaken.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
This, as many like passages before, refers to the deliverance of the
|
|
Jews out of Babylon, and, under the type and figure of that, to the
|
|
great redemption wrought out by Jesus Christ, and the proclaiming of
|
|
gospel grace and liberty through him.
|
|
|
|
1. Way shall be made for this salvation; all difficulties shall be
|
|
removed, and whatever might obstruct it shall be taken out of the way,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+62:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
The gates of Babylon shall be thrown open, that they may with freedom
|
|
go through them; the way from Babylon to the land of Israel shall be
|
|
prepared; causeways shall be made and cast up through wet and miry
|
|
places, and the stones gathered out from places rough and rocky; in the
|
|
convenient places appointed for their rendezvous standards shall be set
|
|
up for their direction and encouragement, that they may embody for
|
|
their greater safety. Thus John Baptist was sent to <I>prepare the way
|
|
of the Lord,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+3:3">Matt. iii. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
And, before Christ by his graces and comforts comes to any for
|
|
salvation, preparation is made for him by repentance, which is called
|
|
the <I>preparation of the gospel of peace,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+6:15">Eph. vi. 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
Here the way is levelled by it, there the feet are shod with it, which
|
|
comes all to one, for both are in order to a journey.
|
|
|
|
2. Notice shall be given of this salvation,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+62:11,12"><I>v.</I> 11, 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
It shall be proclaimed to the captives that they are set at liberty and
|
|
may go if they please; it shall be proclaimed to their neighbours, to
|
|
all about them, <I>to the end of the world,</I> that God has pleaded
|
|
Zion's just, injured, and despised cause. Let is be said to Zion, for
|
|
her comfort, <I>Behold, thy salvation comes</I> (that is, thy Saviour,
|
|
who brings salvation); he will bring such a work, such a reward, in
|
|
this salvation, as shall be admired by all, a reward of comfort and
|
|
peace with him; but a work of humiliation and reformation before him,
|
|
to prepare his people for that recompence of their sufferings; and
|
|
then, with reference to each, it follows, they shall be called, <I>The
|
|
holy people,</I> and the <I>redeemed of the Lord. The work before
|
|
him,</I> which shall be wrought in them and upon them, shall denominate
|
|
them a holy people, cured of their inclination to idolatry and
|
|
consecrated to God only; and the <I>reward with him,</I> the
|
|
deliverance wrought for them, shall denominate them the <I>redeemed of
|
|
the Lord,</I> so redeemed as none but God could redeem them, and
|
|
redeemed to be his, their bonds loosed, that they might be his
|
|
servants. Jerusalem shall then be called, <I>Sought out, a city not
|
|
forsaken.</I> She had been forsaken for many years; there were neither
|
|
traders nor worshippers that enquired the way to Jerusalem as formerly,
|
|
when it was frequented by both. But now God will again make her
|
|
considerable. She shall be sought out, visited, resorted to, and court
|
|
made to her, as much as ever. When Jerusalem is called a <I>holy
|
|
city,</I> then it is called <I>sought out;</I> for holiness puts an
|
|
honour and beauty upon any place or person, which draws respect, and
|
|
makes them to be admired, beloved, and enquired after. But this being
|
|
proclaimed to the end of the world must have a reference to the gospel
|
|
of Christ, which was to be preached to every creature; and it
|
|
intimates,
|
|
|
|
(1.) The glory of Christ. It is published immediately to the church,
|
|
but is thence echoed to every nation: <I>Behold, thy salvation
|
|
cometh.</I> Christ is not only the Saviour, but the salvation itself;
|
|
for the happiness of believers is not only from him, but in him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+12:2"><I>ch.</I> xii. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
His salvation consists both in the work and in the reward which he
|
|
brings with him; for those that are his shall neither be idle nor lose
|
|
their labour.
|
|
|
|
(2.) The beauty of the church. Christians shall be called <I>saints</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:2">1 Cor. i. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>the holy people,</I> for they are chosen and called <I>to salvation
|
|
through sanctification.</I> They shall be called <I>the redeemed of the
|
|
Lord;</I> to him they owe their liberty, and therefore to him they owe
|
|
their service, and they shall not be ashamed to own both. None are to
|
|
be <I>called the redeemed of the Lord</I> but those that are the
|
|
<I>holy people;</I> the people of God's purchase are a holy nation. And
|
|
they shall be called, <I>Sought out.</I> God shall seek them out, and
|
|
find them, wherever they are dispersed, eclipsed, or lost in a crowd;
|
|
men shall seek them out, that they may join themselves to them, and not
|
|
forsake them. It is good to associate with <I>the holy people,</I> that
|
|
we may learn their ways, and with <I>the redeemed of the Lord,</I> that
|
|
we may share in the blessings of the redemption.</P>
|
|
|
|
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