mh_parser/vol_split/23 - Isaiah/Chapter 42.xml

<div2 id="Is.xliii" n="xliii" next="Is.xliv" prev="Is.xlii" progress="15.49%" title="Chapter XLII">
<h2 id="Is.xliii-p0.1">I S A I A H.</h2>
<h3 id="Is.xliii-p0.2">CHAP. XLII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Is.xliii-p1" shownumber="no">The prophet seems here to launch out yet further
into the prophecy of the Messiah and his kingdom under the type of
Cyrus; and, having the great work of man's salvation by him yet
more in view, he almost forgets the occasion that led him into it
and drops the return out of Babylon; for indeed the prospect of
this would be a greater comfort and support to the believing pious
Jews, in their captivity, than the hope of that. And (as Mr.
Gataker well observes) in this and similar prophecies of Christ,
that are couched in types, as of David and Solomon, some passages
agree to the type and not to the truth, other to the truth and not
to the type, and many to the type in one sense and the truth in
another. Here is, I. A prophecy of the Messiah's coming with
meekness, and yet with power, to do the Redeemer's work, <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.1-Isa.42.4" parsed="|Isa|42|1|42|4" passage="Isa 42:1-4">ver. 1-4</scripRef>. II. His commission
opened, which he received from the Father, <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.5-Isa.42.9" parsed="|Isa|42|5|42|9" passage="Isa 42:5-9">ver. 5-9</scripRef>. III. The joy and rejoicing with
which the glad tidings of this should be received, <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.10-Isa.42.12" parsed="|Isa|42|10|42|12" passage="Isa 42:10-12">ver. 10-12</scripRef>. IV. The wonderful
success of the gospel, for the overthrow of the devil's kingdom,
<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.13-Isa.42.17" parsed="|Isa|42|13|42|17" passage="Isa 42:13-17">ver. 13-17</scripRef>. V. The
rejection and ruin of the Jews for their unbelief, <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.18-Isa.42.25" parsed="|Isa|42|18|42|25" passage="Isa 42:18-25">ver. 18-25</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Is.xliii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42" parsed="|Isa|42|0|0|0" passage="Isa 42" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Is.xliii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.1-Isa.42.4" parsed="|Isa|42|1|42|4" passage="Isa 42:1-4" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Is.xliii-p1.8">
<h4 id="Is.xliii-p1.9">The Messiah's Approach. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Is.xliii-p1.10">b. c.</span> 708.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Is.xliii-p2" shownumber="no">1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect,
<i>in whom</i> my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him:
he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.   2 He shall
not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the
street.   3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking
flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
  4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set
judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p3" shownumber="no">We are sure that these verses are to be
understood of Christ, for the evangelist tells us expressly that in
him this prophecy was fulfilled, <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.12.17-Matt.12.21" parsed="|Matt|12|17|12|21" passage="Mt 12:17-21">Matt. xii. 17-21</scripRef>. <i>Behold</i> with an
eye of faith, behold and observe, behold and admire, <i>my servant,
whom I uphold.</i> Let the Old-Testament saints behold and remember
him. Now what must we behold and consider concerning him?</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p4" shownumber="no">I. The Father's concern for him and
relation to him, the confidence he put and the complacency he took
in him. This put an honour upon him, and made him remarkable, above
any other circumstance, <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.1" parsed="|Isa|42|1|0|0" passage="Isa 42:1"><i>v.</i>
1</scripRef>. 1. God owns him as one employed for him: He is <i>my
servant.</i> Though he was a Son, yet, as a Mediator, he <i>took
upon him the form of a servant,</i> learned obedience to the will
of God and practised it, and laid out himself to advance the
interests of God's kingdom, and so he was God's servant. 2. As one
chosen by him: He is <i>my elect.</i> He did not thrust himself
into the service, but was called of God, and pitched upon as the
fittest person for it. Infinite Wisdom made the choice and then
avowed it. 3. As one he put a confidence in: He is <i>my servant on
whom I lean;</i> so some read it. The Father put a confidence in
him that he would go through with his undertaking, and, in that
confidence, brought many sons to glory. It was a great trust which
the Father reposed in the Son, but he knew him to be <i>par
negotio—equal to it,</i> both able and faithful. 4. As one he took
care of: He is <i>my servant whom I uphold;</i> so we read it. The
Father bore him up, and bore him out, in his upholding him; he
stood by him and strengthened him. 5. As one whom he took an entire
complacency in: <i>My elect, in whom my soul delights.</i> His
delight was in him from eternity, when he was <i>by him as one
brought up with him,</i> <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.8.30" parsed="|Prov|8|30|0|0" passage="Pr 8:30">Prov. viii.
30</scripRef>. He had a particular satisfaction in his undertaking:
he declared himself <i>well pleased in him</i> (<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Matt.3.17 Bible:Matt.17.5" parsed="|Matt|3|17|0|0;|Matt|17|5|0|0" passage="Mt 3:17,17:5">Matt. iii. 17; xvii. 5</scripRef>), and
<i>therefore</i> loved him, because he laid down his life for the
sheep. Let our souls delight in Christ, rely on him, and rejoice in
him; and thus let us be united to him, and then, for his sake, the
Father will be well pleased with us.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p5" shownumber="no">II. The qualification of him for his
office: <i>I have put my Spirit upon him,</i> to enable him to go
through his undertaking, <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.61.1" parsed="|Isa|61|1|0|0" passage="Isa 61:1"><i>ch.</i>
lxi. 1</scripRef>. The Spirit did not only come, but rest, upon him
(<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.11.2" parsed="|Isa|11|2|0|0" passage="Isa 11:2"><i>ch.</i> xi. 2</scripRef>), not by
measure, as on others of God's servants, but without measure. Those
whom God employs as his servants; as he will uphold them and be
well pleased with them, so he will put his Spirit upon them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p6" shownumber="no">III. The work to which he is appointed; it
is to <i>bring forth judgment to the Gentiles,</i> that is, in
infinite wisdom, holiness, and equity, to set up a religion in the
world under the bonds of which the Gentiles should come and the
blessings of which they should enjoy. The judgments of the Lord,
which had been hidden from the Gentiles (<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.147.20" parsed="|Ps|147|20|0|0" passage="Ps 147:20">Ps. cxlvii. 20</scripRef>), he came to bring forth to
the Gentiles, for he was <i>to be a light to lighten them.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p7" shownumber="no">IV. The mildness and tenderness with which
he should pursue this undertaking, <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.2-Isa.42.3" parsed="|Isa|42|2|42|3" passage="Isa 42:2,3"><i>v.</i> 2, 3</scripRef>. He shall carry it on, 1. In
silence, and without noise: <i>He shall not strive nor cry.</i> It
shall not be proclaimed, <i>Lo, here, is Christ</i> or <i>Lo, he is
there;</i> as when great princes ride in progress or make a public
entry. He shall have no trumpet sounded before him, nor any noisy
retinue to follow him. The opposition he meets with he shall not
strive against, but patiently <i>endure the contradiction of
sinners against himself.</i> His kingdom is spiritual, and
therefore its weapons are not carnal, nor is its appearance
pompous; it comes not with observation. 2. Gently, and without
rigour. Those that are wicked he will be patient with; when he has
begun to crush them, so that they are as bruised reeds, he will
give them space to repent and not immediately break them; though
they are very offensive, as smoking flax (<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.65.5" parsed="|Isa|65|5|0|0" passage="Isa 65:5"><i>ch.</i> lxv. 5</scripRef>), yet he will bear with
them, as he did with Jerusalem. Those that are weak he will be
tender of; those that have but a little life, a little heat, that
are weak as a reed, oppressed with doubts and fears, <i>as a
bruised reed,</i> that are as <i>smoking flax,</i> as the wick of a
candle newly lighted, which is ready to go out again, he will not
despise them, will not plead against them with his great power, nor
lay upon them more work or more suffering than they can bear, which
would break and quench them, but will graciously consider their
frame. More is implied than is expressed. <i>He will not break the
bruised reed,</i> but will strengthen it, that it may become a
cedar in the courts of our God. <i>He will not quench the smoking
flax,</i> but blow it up into a flame. Note, Jesus Christ is very
tender toward those that have true grace, though they are but weak
in it, and accepts the willingness of the spirit, pardoning and
passing by the weakness of the flesh.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p8" shownumber="no">V. The courage and constancy with which he
should persevere in this undertaking, so as to carry his point at
last (<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.4" parsed="|Isa|42|4|0|0" passage="Isa 42:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>): <i>He
shall not fail nor be discouraged.</i> Though he meets with hard
service and much opposition, and foresees how ungrateful the world
will be, yet he goes on with his part of the work, till he is able
to say, <i>Is is finished;</i> and he enables his apostles and
ministers to go on with theirs too, and not to fail nor be
discouraged, till they also have finished their testimony. And thus
he accomplishes what he undertook. 1. <i>He brings forth judgment
unto truth.</i> By a long course of miracles, and his resurrection
at last, he shall fully evince the truth of his doctrine and the
divine origin and authority of that holy religion which he came to
establish. 2. He <i>sets judgment in the earth.</i> He erects his
government in the world, a church for himself among men, reforms
the world, and by the power of his gospel and grace fixes such
principles in the minds of men as tend to make them wise and just.
3. <i>The isles</i> of the Gentiles <i>wait for his law,</i> wait
for his gospel, that is, bid it welcome as if it had been a thing
they had long waited for. They shall become his disciples, shall
sit at his feet, and be ready to receive the law from his mouth.
<i>What wilt thou have us to do?</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Is.xliii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.5-Isa.42.12" parsed="|Isa|42|5|42|12" passage="Isa 42:5-12" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Is.xliii-p8.3">
<h4 id="Is.xliii-p8.4">The Messiah's Approach. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Is.xliii-p8.5">b. c.</span> 708.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Is.xliii-p9" shownumber="no">5 Thus saith God the <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.xliii-p9.1">Lord</span>, he that created the heavens, and stretched
them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out
of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to
them that walk therein:   6 I the <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.xliii-p9.2">Lord</span> have called thee in righteousness, and will
hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant
of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;   7 To open the
blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, <i>and</i>
them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.   8 I
<i>am</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.xliii-p9.3">Lord</span>: that <i>is</i>
my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise
to graven images.   9 Behold, the former things are come to
pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell
you of them.   10 Sing unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.xliii-p9.4">Lord</span> a new song, <i>and</i> his praise from the
end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is
therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.   11 Let the
wilderness and the cities thereof lift up <i>their voice,</i> the
villages <i>that</i> Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the
rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.   12
Let them give glory unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.xliii-p9.5">Lord</span>,
and declare his praise in the islands.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p10" shownumber="no">Here is I. The covenant God made with and
the commission he gave to the Messiah, <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.5-Isa.42.7" parsed="|Isa|42|5|42|7" passage="Isa 42:5-7"><i>v.</i> 5-7</scripRef>, which are an exposition of
<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.1" parsed="|Isa|42|1|0|0" passage="Isa 42:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>, <i>Behold my
servant, whom I uphold.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p11" shownumber="no">1. The royal titles by which the great God
here makes himself known, and distinguishes himself from all
pretenders, speak very much his glory (<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.5" parsed="|Isa|42|5|0|0" passage="Isa 42:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>): <i>Thus saith God the Lord.</i>
And who are thou, Lord? Why, he is the fountain of all being and
therefore the fountain of all power. He is the fountain of being,
1. In the upper world; for <i>he created the heavens and stretched
them out</i> (<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.40.22" parsed="|Isa|40|22|0|0" passage="Isa 40:22"><i>ch.</i> xl.
22</scripRef>), and keeps the vast expanse still upon the stretch.
2. In the lower world: for <i>he spread forth the earth,</i> and
made it a capacious habitation, <i>and that which comes out of
it</i> is produced by his power. 3. In the world of mankind: <i>He
gives breath to the people upon it,</i> not only air to breathe in,
but the breath of life itself and organs to breathe with; nay, he
gives <i>spirit,</i> the powers and faculties of a rational soul,
to those that walk therein. Now this is prefixed to God's covenant
with the Messiah, and the commission given him, not only to show
that he has authority to make such a covenant and give such a
commission, and had power sufficient to bear him out, but that the
design of the work of redemption was to maintain the honour of the
Creator, and to restore man to the allegiance he owes to God as his
Maker.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p12" shownumber="no">2. The assurances which he gives to the
Messiah of his presence with him in all he did pursuant to his
undertaking speak much encouragement to him, <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.6" parsed="|Isa|42|6|0|0" passage="Isa 42:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. (1.) God owns that the Messiah
did not take the honour of being Mediator to himself, but was
called of God, that he was no intruder, no usurper, but was fairly
brought to it (<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.5.4" parsed="|Heb|5|4|0|0" passage="Heb 5:4">Heb. v. 4</scripRef>):
<i>I have called thee in righteousness.</i> God not only did him no
wrong in calling him to this hard service, he having voluntarily
offered himself to it, but did himself right in providing for his
own honour and performing the word which he had spoken. (2.) He
promises to stand by him and strengthen him in it, to hold his
hand, not only to his work, but in it, to hold his hand, that it
might not shake, that it might not fail, and so to keep him. When
an angel was sent from heaven to strengthen him in his agonies, and
the Father himself was with him, then this promise was fulfilled.
Note, Those whom God calls he will own and help, and will hold
their hands.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p13" shownumber="no">3. The great intentions of this commission
speak abundance of comfort to the children of men. He was given
<i>for a covenant of the people,</i> for a mediator, or guarantee,
of the covenant of grace, which is all summed up in him. God, in
giving us Christ, has with him freely given us all the blessings of
the new covenant. Two glorious blessings Christ, in his gospel,
brings with him to the Gentile world—light and liberty. (1.) He is
given <i>for a light to the Gentiles,</i> not only to reveal to
them what they were concerned to know, and which otherwise they
could not have known, but to open the blind eyes, that they might
know it. By his Spirit in the word he presents the object; by his
Spirit in the heart he prepared the organ. When the gospel came
light came, a great light, to those that sat in darkness, <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.4.16 Bible:John.3.19" parsed="|Matt|4|16|0|0;|John|3|19|0|0" passage="Mt 4:16,Joh 3:19">Matt. iv. 16; John iii. 19</scripRef>.
And St. Paul was sent to the Gentiles <i>to open their eyes,</i>
<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Acts.26.18" parsed="|Acts|26|18|0|0" passage="Ac 26:18">Acts xxvi. 18</scripRef>. Christ is
the light of the world. (2.) He is sent to proclaim liberty to the
captives, as Cyrus did, <i>to bring out the prisoners;</i> not only
to open the prison-doors, and give them leave to go out, which was
all that Cyrus could do, but to bring them out, to induce and
enable them to make use of their liberty, which none did but those
whose spirits God stirred up. This Christ does by his grace.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p14" shownumber="no">II. The ratification and confirmation of
this grant. That we may be assured of the validity of it consider,
1. The authority of him that makes the promise (<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.8" parsed="|Isa|42|8|0|0" passage="Isa 42:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>): <i>I am the Lord, Jehovah, that
is my name,</i> and that was the name by which he made himself
known when he began to perform the promise made to the patriarchs;
whereas, before, he manifested himself by the name of God Almighty,
<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.6.3" parsed="|Exod|6|3|0|0" passage="Ex 6:3">Exod. vi. 3</scripRef>. If he is the
Lord that gives being and birth to all things, he will give being
and birth to this promise. If his name be <i>Jehovah,</i> which
speaks him God alone, we may be sure his name is <i>jealous,</i>
and he <i>will not give his glory to another,</i> whoever it is
that stands in competition with him, especially not to <i>graven
images.</i> He will send the Messiah to open men's eyes, that so he
may turn them from the service of dumb idols to serve the living
God, because, though he has long winked at the times of ignorance,
he will now maintain his prerogative, and will not give his glory
to graven images. He will perform his word because he will not lose
the honour of being true to it, nor be ever charged with falsehood
by the worshippers of false gods. He will deliver his people from
under the power of idolaters because it looks as if he had given
his praise to graven images when he gives up his own worshippers to
be worshippers of images. 2. The accomplishment of the promises he
had formerly made concerning his church, which are proofs of the
truth of his word and the kindness he bears to his people
(<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.9" parsed="|Isa|42|9|0|0" passage="Isa 42:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>): "<i>Behold,
the former things have come to pass;</i> hitherto the Lord has
helped his church, has supported her under former burdens, relieved
her in former straits; and this in performance of the promises made
to the fathers. <i>There has not failed one word,</i> <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p14.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.8.56" parsed="|1Kgs|8|56|0|0" passage="1Ki 8:56">1 Kings viii. 56</scripRef>. <i>And</i> now
<i>new things do I declare.</i> Now I will make new promises, which
shall as certainly be fulfilled in their season as old ones were;
now I will bestow new favours, such as have not been conferred
formerly. Old-Testament blessings you have had abundantly; now I
declare New-Testament blessings, not a fruitful country and
dominion over your neighbours, but <i>spiritual blessings in
heavenly things. Before they spring forth</i> in the preaching of
the gospel <i>I tell you of them,</i> under the type and figure of
the former things." Note, The receipt of former mercies may
encourage us to hope for further mercies; for God is constant in
his care for his people, and his compassions are still new.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p15" shownumber="no">III. The song of joy and praise which
should be sung hereupon to the glory of God (<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.10" parsed="|Isa|42|10|0|0" passage="Isa 42:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>): <i>Sing unto the Lord a new
song,</i> a New-Testament song. The giving of Christ for <i>a light
to the Gentiles</i> (<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.6" parsed="|Isa|42|6|0|0" passage="Isa 42:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>) was a new thing, and very surprising. The apostle
speaks of it as a mystery which, in other ages, was not made known,
as it is now revealed, <i>that the Gentiles should be
fellow-heirs,</i> <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Eph.3.5-Eph.3.6" parsed="|Eph|3|5|3|6" passage="Eph 3:5,6">Eph. iii. 5,
6</scripRef>. Now, this being the new thing which God declares, the
newness of the song which is to be sung on this occasion is this,
that whereas, before, the songs of the Lord were very much confined
to the temple at Jerusalem (David's psalms were in the language of
the Jews only, and sung by them in their own country only; for,
when they were in a strange land, they hung their harps on the
willow-trees and could not sing the Lord's song, as we find,
<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.137.2-Ps.137.4" parsed="|Ps|137|2|137|4" passage="Ps 137:2-4">Ps. cxxxvii. 2-4</scripRef>), now
the songs of holy joy and praise shall be sung all the world over.
The Gentile nations shall share equally with the Jews in
New-Testament blessings, and therefore shall join in New-Testament
praises and acts of worship. There shall be churches set up in
Gentile nations and they shall sing a new song. The conversion of
the Gentiles is often foretold under this notion, as appears,
<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p15.5" osisRef="Bible:Rom.15.9-Rom.15.11" parsed="|Rom|15|9|15|11" passage="Ro 15:9-11">Rom. xv. 9-11</scripRef>. It is here
promised that the praises of God's grace shall be sung with joy and
thankfulness, 1. By those that live in <i>the end of the earth,</i>
in countries that lie most remote from Jerusalem. <i>From the
uttermost parts of the earth have we heard songs,</i> <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p15.6" osisRef="Bible:Isa.24.16" parsed="|Isa|24|16|0|0" passage="Isa 24:16"><i>ch.</i> xxiv. 16</scripRef>. This was
fulfilled when Christianity was planted in our land. 2. By mariners
and merchants, and those that <i>go down to the sea,</i> that do
business in great waters, and suck the riches of the sea, and so
make themselves masters of the fulness thereof and all that is
therein, with which they shall praise God, and justly, for it is
his, <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p15.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.24.1 Bible:Ps.95.5" parsed="|Ps|24|1|0|0;|Ps|95|5|0|0" passage="Ps 24:1,95:5">Ps. xxiv. 1; xcv.
5</scripRef>. The Jews traded little at sea; if therefore God's
praises be sung by those that go down to the sea, it must be by
Gentiles. Sea-faring men are called upon to praise God, <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p15.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.23" parsed="|Ps|107|23|0|0" passage="Ps 107:23">Ps. cvii. 23</scripRef>. 3. By <i>the islands
and the inhabitants thereof,</i> <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p15.9" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.10" parsed="|Isa|42|10|0|0" passage="Isa 42:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>, and again, <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p15.10" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.12" parsed="|Isa|42|12|0|0" passage="Isa 42:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. Let them <i>declare his praise
in the islands,</i> the isles of the Gentiles, probably referring
to the islands of Greece. 4. <i>By the wilderness and the cities
thereof, and the villages of Kedar.</i> These lay east from
Jerusalem, as the islands lay west, so that the gospel songs should
be sung from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same.
The whole Gentile world had been like an island, cut off from
communication with God's church, and like a wilderness,
uncultivated and bringing forth no fruit to God; but now the
islands and the wilderness shall praise God. 5. By <i>the
inhabitants of the rock,</i> and those that dwell <i>on the tops of
the mountains,</i> not only the Gentiles, but the poorest and
meanest and most despicable, those that dwell in cottages, as well
as those that inhabit cities and villages. The rude and most
barbarous, as the mountaineers commonly are, shall be civilized by
the gospel. Or by the inhabitants of the rock may be meant the
inhabitants of that part of Arabia which is called <i>Petræa—the
rocky.</i> Perhaps the neighbouring countries shared in the joy of
the Israelites when they returned out of Babylon and some of them
came and joined with them in their praises; but we find not that it
was to any such degree as might fully answer this illustrious
prophecy, and must conclude that it reaches further, and was
fulfilled in that which many other prophecies of the joy of the
nations are said in the New-Testament to be fulfilled in, the
conversion of the Gentiles to the faith of Christ. When they are
brought into the church they are brought to give glory to the Lord;
then they are to him for a name and a praise, and they make it
their business to praise him. He is glorified in them and by
them.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Is.xliii-p15.11" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.13-Isa.42.17" parsed="|Isa|42|13|42|17" passage="Isa 42:13-17" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Is.xliii-p15.12">
<h4 id="Is.xliii-p15.13">Judgment and Mercy. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Is.xliii-p15.14">b. c.</span> 708.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Is.xliii-p16" shownumber="no">13 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.xliii-p16.1">Lord</span> shall
go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of
war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.
  14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still,
<i>and</i> refrained myself: <i>now</i> will I cry like a
travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.   15 I
will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs;
and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.
  16 And I will bring the blind by a way <i>that</i> they knew
not; I will lead them in paths <i>that</i> they have not known: I
will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight.
These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.   17
They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that
trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye
<i>are</i> our gods.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p17" shownumber="no">It comes all to one whether we make these
verses (as some do) the song itself that is to be sung by the
Gentile world or a prophecy of what God will do to make way for the
singing of that song, that evangelical new song.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p18" shownumber="no">I. He will appear in his power and glory
more than ever. So he did in the preaching of his gospel, in the
divine power and energy which went along with it, and in the
wonderful success it had in the <i>pulling down of Satan's
stronghold,</i> <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.13-Isa.42.14" parsed="|Isa|42|13|42|14" passage="Isa 42:13,14"><i>v.</i> 13,
14</scripRef>. <i>He had long held his peace, and been still, and
refrained himself, while he winked at the times of the ignorance of
the Gentile world</i> (<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Acts.17.30" parsed="|Acts|17|30|0|0" passage="Ac 17:30">Acts xvii.
30</scripRef>), and <i>suffered all nations to walk in their own
ways</i> (<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Acts.14.16" parsed="|Acts|14|16|0|0" passage="Ac 14:16">Acts xiv. 16</scripRef>);
but now <i>he shall go forth as a mighty man, as a man of war,</i>
to attack the devil's kingdom and give it a fatal blow. The going
forth of the gospel is thus represented, <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.6.2" parsed="|Rev|6|2|0|0" passage="Re 6:2">Rev. vi. 2</scripRef>. Christ, in it, went forth
conquering and to conquer. The ministry of the apostles is called
their <i>warfare;</i> and they were the soldiers of Jesus Christ.
<i>He shall stir up jealousy,</i> shall appear more jealous than
ever for the glory of his own name and against idolatry. 1. <i>He
shall cry,</i> in the preaching of his word, <i>cry like a
travailing woman;</i> for the ministers of Christ preached as men
in earnest, and that travailed in birth again till they saw Christ
formed in the souls of the people, <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p18.5" osisRef="Bible:Gal.4.19" parsed="|Gal|4|19|0|0" passage="Ga 4:19">Gal.
iv. 19</scripRef>. <i>He shall cry, yea, roar,</i> in the gospel
woes, which are more terrible than the roaring of a lion, and which
must be preached along with gospel blessings to awaken a sleeping
world. 2. He shall conquer by the power of his Spirit: <i>He shall
prevail against his enemies,</i> shall prevail to make them
friends, <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p18.6" osisRef="Bible:Col.1.21" parsed="|Col|1|21|0|0" passage="Col 1:21">Col. i. 21</scripRef>. Those
that contradict and blaspheme his gospel, he shall prevail to put
them to silence and shame. He will destroy and devour at once all
the oppositions of the powers of darkness. Satan shall fall as
lightning from heaven, and he that had the power of death shall be
destroyed. As a type and figure of this, to make way for the
redemption of the Jews out of Babylon, God will humble the pride,
and break the power, of their oppressors, and <i>will at once
destroy and devour</i> the Babylonian monarchy. In accomplishing
this destruction of Babylon by the Persian army under the command
of Cyrus, <i>he will make waste mountains and hills,</i> level the
country, and <i>dry up all their herbs.</i> The army, as usual,
shall either carry off the forage or destroy it, and by laying
bridges of boats over rivers shall turn them into islands, and so
drain the fens and low grounds, to make way for the march of their
army, that the pools shall be dried up. Thus, when the gospel shall
be preached, it shall have a free course, and that which hinders
the progress of it shall be taken out of the way.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p19" shownumber="no">II. He will manifest his favour and grace
towards those whose spirits he had stirred up to follow him, as
<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.1.5" parsed="|Ezra|1|5|0|0" passage="Ezr 1:5">Ezra i. 5</scripRef>. Those who ask the
way to Zion he will show the way, and lead in it, <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.16" parsed="|Isa|42|16|0|0" passage="Isa 42:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. Those who by nature
were blind, and those who, being under convictions of sin and wrath
are quite at a loss and know not what to do with themselves, God
will <i>lead by a way that they knew not,</i> will show them the
way to life and happiness by Jesus Christ, who is the way, and will
conduct and carry them on in that way, which before they were
strangers to. Thus, in the conversion of Paul, he was struck blind
first, and then God revealed his Son in him, and made the scales to
fall from his eyes. They are weak in knowledge, and the truths of
God at first seem unintelligible; but God will <i>make darkness
light before them,</i> and knowledge shall be easy to them. They
are weak in duty, the commands of God seem impracticable, and
insuperable difficulties are in the way of their obedience; but God
will make <i>crooked things straight;</i> their way shall be plain,
and the yoke easy. Those whom God brings into the right way he will
guide in it. As a type of this, he will lead the Jews, when they
return out of captivity, in a ready road to their own land again,
and nothing shall occur to perplex or embarrass them in their
journey. These are great things, and kind things, very great and
very kind; but lest any should say, "They are too great, too kind,
to be expected from God by such an undeserving people as that of
the Jews, such an undeserving world as that of the Gentiles," he
adds, <i>These things will I do unto them,</i> take my word for it
I will, and <i>I will not forsake them;</i> he that begins to show
this great mercy will go on to do them good.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p20" shownumber="no">III. He will particularly put those to
confusion who adhere to idols notwithstanding the attempts made by
the preaching of the gospel to turn them from idols (<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.17" parsed="|Isa|42|17|0|0" passage="Isa 42:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>): <i>They shall be
turned back, and greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images.</i>
The Babylonians shall when they see how the Jews, who despise their
images, are owned and delivered by the God they worship without
images, and the Gentiles when they see how idolatry falls before
the preaching of the gospel, is scattered like darkness before the
light of the sun, and melts like snow before its heat. They shall
be ashamed that ever they said to these molten images, <i>You are
our gods;</i> for how can those help their worshippers who cannot
help themselves, nor save themselves from falling into contempt? In
times of reformation, when many turn from iniquity, and sin, being
generally deserted, becomes unfashionable, it may be hoped that
those who will not otherwise be reclaimed will be wrought upon by
that consideration to be ashamed of it.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Is.xliii-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.18-Isa.42.25" parsed="|Isa|42|18|42|25" passage="Isa 42:18-25" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Is.xliii-p20.3">
<h4 id="Is.xliii-p20.4">The Blindness of the Jews. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Is.xliii-p20.5">b. c.</span> 708.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Is.xliii-p21" shownumber="no">18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye
may see.   19 Who <i>is</i> blind, but my servant? or deaf, as
my messenger <i>that</i> I sent? who <i>is</i> blind as <i>he that
is</i> perfect, and blind as the <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.xliii-p21.1">Lord</span>'s servant?   20 Seeing many things,
but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.
  21 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.xliii-p21.2">Lord</span> is well pleased
for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make
<i>it</i> honourable.   22 But this <i>is</i> a people robbed
and spoiled; <i>they are</i> all of them snared in holes, and they
are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth;
for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.   23 Who among you will
give ear to this? <i>who</i> will hearken and hear for the time to
come?   24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the
robbers? did not the <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.xliii-p21.3">Lord</span>, he
against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways,
neither were they obedient unto his law.   25 Therefore he
hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of
battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not;
and it burned him, yet he laid <i>it</i> not to heart.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p22" shownumber="no">The prophet, having spoken by way of
comfort and encouragement to the believing Jews who waited for the
consolation of Israel, here turns to those among them who were
unbelieving, for their conviction and humiliation. Among those who
were in captivity in Babylon there were some who were as the evil
figs in Jeremiah's vision, who were sent thither <i>for their hurt,
to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth, for a reproach
and a proverb,</i> <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.24.9" parsed="|Jer|24|9|0|0" passage="Jer 24:9">Jer. xxiv.
9</scripRef>. In them there was a type of the Jews who rejected
Christ and were rejected by him, and then fell more than ever under
the curse, when those who believed were inheriting the blessing;
for they were broken, and ruined, and remain dispersed unto this
day. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p23" shownumber="no">I. The call that is given to this people
(<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.18" parsed="|Isa|42|18|0|0" passage="Isa 42:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>): "<i>Hear,
you deaf,</i> and attend to the joyful sound, <i>and look you
blind, that you may see</i> the joyful light." There is no
absurdity in this command, nor is it unbecoming the wisdom and
goodness of God to call us to do that good which yet of ourselves
we are not sufficient for; for those have natural powers which they
may employ so as to do better than they do, and may have
supernatural grace if it be not their own fault, who yet labour
under a moral impotency to that which is good. This call to the
deaf to hear and the blind to see is like the command given to the
man that had the withered hand to stretch it forth; though he could
not do this, because it was withered, yet, if he had not attempted
to do it, he would not have been healed, and his being healed
thereupon was owing, not to his act, but to the divine power.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p24" shownumber="no">II. The character that is given of them
(<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.19-Isa.42.20" parsed="|Isa|42|19|42|20" passage="Isa 42:19,20"><i>v.</i> 19, 20</scripRef>):
<i>Who is blind, but my servant, or deaf as my messenger?</i> The
people of the Jews were in profession God's servants, and their
priests and elders his messengers (<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p24.2" osisRef="Bible:Mal.2.7" parsed="|Mal|2|7|0|0" passage="Mal 2:7">Mal.
ii. 7</scripRef>); but they were deaf and blind. The <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p24.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.18" parsed="|Isa|42|18|0|0" passage="Isa 42:18">verse before</scripRef> may be understood as
spoken to the Gentile idolaters, whom he calls <i>deaf</i> and
<i>blind,</i> because they worshipped gods that were so. "But,"
says he, "no wonder you are deaf and blind when my own people are
as bad as you, and many of them as much set upon idolatry."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p25" shownumber="no">1. He complains of their sottishness—they
are blind; and of their stubbornness—they are deaf. They were even
worse than the Gentiles themselves. <i>Corruptio optimi est
pessima—What is best becomes, when corrupted, the worst.</i> "Who
is so wilfully, so scandalously, blind and deaf as my servant and
my messenger, as Jacob who is my servant (<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p25.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.41.8" parsed="|Isa|41|8|0|0" passage="Isa 41:8"><i>ch.</i> xli. 8</scripRef>), and as their prophets and
teachers who are my messengers? Who is blind as he that in
profession and pretension is perfect, that should come nearer to
perfection than other people, their priests and prophets? The one
prophesies falsely, and the other bears rule by their means; and
who so blind as those that will not see when they have the light
shining in their faces?" Note, (1.) It is a common thing, but a
very sad thing, for those that in profession are God's servants and
messengers to be themselves blind and deaf in spiritual things,
ignorant, erroneous, and very careless. (2.) Blindness and deafness
in spiritual things are worse in those that profess themselves to
be God's servants and messengers than in others. It is in them the
greater sin and shame, the greater dishonour to God, and to
themselves a greater damnation.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p26" shownumber="no">2. The prophet goes on (<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p26.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.20" parsed="|Isa|42|20|0|0" passage="Isa 42:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>) to describe the blindness and
obstinacy of the Jewish nation, just as our Saviour describes it in
his time (<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p26.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.13.14-Matt.13.15" parsed="|Matt|13|14|13|15" passage="Mt 13:14,15">Matt. xiii. 14,
15</scripRef>): <i>Seeing many things, but thou observest not.</i>
Multitudes are ruined for want of observing that which they cannot
but see; they perish, not through ignorance, but mere carelessness.
The Jews in our Saviour's time saw many proofs of his divine
mission, but they did not observe them; they seemed to open their
ears to him, but they did not hear, that is, they did not heed, did
not understand, or believe, or obey, and then it was all one as if
they had not heard.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p27" shownumber="no">III. The care God will take of the honour
of his own name, notwithstanding their blindness and deafness,
especially of his word, which he has magnified above all his name.
<i>Shall the unbelief and obstinacy of men make the promise of God
of no effect? God forbid,</i> <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p27.1" osisRef="Bible:Rom.3.3-Rom.3.4" parsed="|Rom|3|3|3|4" passage="Ro 3:3,4">Rom.
iii. 3, 4</scripRef>. No, though they are blind and deaf, God will
be no loser in his glory (<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p27.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.21" parsed="|Isa|42|21|0|0" passage="Isa 42:21"><i>v.</i>
21</scripRef>): <i>The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness'
sake;</i> not well pleased with their sin, but well pleased in the
manifestation of his own righteousness, in rejecting them for
rejecting the great salvation. He speaks as one well pleased,
<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p27.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.1.24" parsed="|Isa|1|24|0|0" passage="Isa 1:24"><i>ch.</i> i. 24</scripRef>: <i>Ah! I
will ease me of my adversaries;</i> and <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p27.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.5.13" parsed="|Ezek|5|13|0|0" passage="Eze 5:13">Ezek. v. 13</scripRef>, <i>I will be comforted.</i> The
scripture was fulfilled in the casting off of the Jews as well as
in the calling in of the Gentiles, and therein the Lord will be
well pleased. <i>He will magnify the law</i> (divine revelation in
all the parts of it) <i>and will make it honourable.</i> The law is
truly honourable, and the things of it are great things; and, if
men will not magnify it by their obedience to it, God will magnify
it himself by punishing them for their disobedience. He will
magnify the law by accomplishing what is written in it, will
magnify its authority, its efficacy, its equity. He will do it at
last, when all men shall be judged by the law of liberty, <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p27.5" osisRef="Bible:Jas.2.12" parsed="|Jas|2|12|0|0" passage="Jam 2:12">James ii. 12</scripRef>. He is doing it every
day. What is it that God is doing in the world, but magnifying the
law and making it honourable?</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p28" shownumber="no">IV. The calamities God will bring upon the
Jewish nation for their wilful blindness and deafness, <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p28.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.22" parsed="|Isa|42|22|0|0" passage="Isa 42:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>. They are <i>robbed and
spoiled.</i> Those that were impenitent and unreformed in Babylon
were sentenced to perpetual captivity. It was for their sins that
they were spoiled of all their possessions, not only in their own
land, but in the land of their enemies. They were some of them
<i>snared in holes,</i> and others <i>hidden in prison-houses.</i>
They cannot help themselves, for they are snared. Their friends
cannot help them, for they are hidden; and their enemies have
forgotten them in their prisons. They, and all they have, are for a
prey and for a spoil; and there is none that delivers either by
force or ransom, nor any that dares say to the proud oppressors,
<i>Restore.</i> There they lie, and there they are likely to lie.
This had its full accomplishment in the final destruction of the
Jewish nation by the Romans, which God brought upon them for
rejecting the gospel of Christ.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p29" shownumber="no">V. The counsel given them in order to their
relief; for, though their case be sad, it is not desperate.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p30" shownumber="no">1. The generality of them are deaf; they
will not hearken to the voice of God's word. He will therefore try
his rod, and see <i>who among them will give ear to that,</i>
<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p30.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.23" parsed="|Isa|42|23|0|0" passage="Isa 42:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>. We must not
despair concerning those who have been long reasoned with in vain;
some of them may, at length, give ear and hearken. If one method
not take effect, another may, and sinners shall be left
inexcusable. Observe, (1.) We may all of us, if we will, hear the
voice of God, and we are called and invited to hear it. (2.) It is
worth while to enquire who they are that perceive God speaking to
them and are willing to hear him. (3.) Of the many that hear the
voice of God there are very few that hearken to it or heed it, that
hear it with attention and application. (4.) In hearing the word we
must have an eye to the time to come. We must hear for hereafter,
for what may occur between us and the grave; we must especially
hear for eternity. We must hear the word with another world in our
eye.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xliii-p31" shownumber="no">2. The counsel is, (1.) To acknowledge the
hand of God in their afflictions, and, whoever were the
instruments, to have an eye to him as the principal agent
(<scripRef id="Is.xliii-p31.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.24" parsed="|Isa|42|24|0|0" passage="Isa 42:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>): "<i>Who
gave Jacob and Israel,</i> that people that used to have such an
interest in heaven and such a dominion on earth, who gave them
<i>for a spoil to the robbers,</i> as they are now to the
Babylonians and to the Romans? <i>Did not the Lord?</i> You know he
did; consider it then, and hear his voice in these judgments." (2.)
To acknowledge that they had provoked God thus to abandon them, and
had brought all these calamities upon themselves. [1.] These
punishments were first inflicted on them for their disobedience to
the laws of God: It is he <i>against whom we have sinned;</i> the
prophet puts himself into the number of the sinners, As <scripRef id="Is.xliii-p31.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.9.7-Dan.9.8" parsed="|Dan|9|7|9|8" passage="Da 9:7,8">Dan. ix. 7, 8</scripRef>. "<i>We have
sinned;</i> we have all brought fuel to the fire; and there are
those among us that have wilfully refused to walk in his ways."
Jacob and Israel would never have been given up to the robbers if
they had not by their iniquities sold themselves. <i>Therefore</i>
it is, because they have violated the commands of the law, that God
has brought upon them the curses of the law; he has not dropped,
but <i>poured upon him the fury of his anger and the strength of
battle,</i> all the desolations of war, which have <i>set him on
fire round about;</i> for God surrounds the wicked with his
favours. See the power of God's anger; there is no resisting it, no
escaping it. See the mischief that sin makes; it provokes God to
anger against a people, and so kindles a universal conflagration,
sets all on fire. [2.] These judgments were continued upon them for
their senselessness and incorrigibleness under the rod of God. The
fire of God's wrath kindled upon him, and <i>he knew it not,</i>
was not aware of it, took no notice of the judgments, at least not
of the hand of God in them. Nay, <i>it burned him,</i> and, though
he could not then but know it and feel it, yet he <i>laid it not to
heart,</i> was not awakened by the fiery rebukes he was under nor
at all affected with them. Those who are not humbled by less
judgments must expect greater; for when God judges he will
overcome.</p>
</div></div2>