Isaiah 49

Isaiah 49:1

LIsten] Chap. 41. 1.

O Isles] Or, lands, countreys. Chap. 20. 6. Jerem. 47. 2.

The LORD hath called me] The Lord Jesus Christ; in whom all Gods promises are both made, and made good; 2 Corinthians 1. spoken here, as in his person, to assure the faithfull, that they shall be fulfilled.

from the bowels of my mother] From the time of his manifestation in the flesh. Psalms 2:7. vers. 5. Jeremiah 1:5. Galatians 1:15. Luke 2:9. 25, 26.

hath he made mention of my name] He named me, before I was born. Matthew 1:21. Luke 1:31. Or, he recorded, entred it upon record. Chap. 12. 4.

Isaiah 49:2

he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword, &c.] By sword and shaft is signified the power and efficacie of the doctrine of Christ. Psal. 45. 3, 5. Chap. 11. 4. & 51. 16. Acts 2:37. Eph. 6. 17. Hebrews 4:12. Revelation 1:16. & Revelation 6:2.

in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me] God hath taken me into his protection. Numbers 14:9. Psalms 17:8. & Psalms 31:20. & 91. 1, 2. Chap 51. 16.

made me a polished shaft] That pierceth quicker and deeper, then one rustie, or unpolished. Ezekiel 21:21. as a forbished sword. Ezekiel 21:9.

Isaiah 49:3

Thou army servant] Chap. 42. 1.

O Israel] Or, Israel it is, in whom I will be glorified by thee.

Israel] Christ; so called, because the head of the elect, and one with them; who are therefore called Christ. Galat. 3. 16. 1 Corinthians 12:12. Or, the bodie of the faithfull, Romans 11:26. Galatians 6:16. in the salvation of whom by Christ, God will be glorified. Chap. 46. 13. Ephesians 1:6; Ephesians 1:12; Ephesians 1:14. Or, the people of the Jews, unto whom Christ was first and principally sent, as before he had been promised. Matth. 4. 23, 24. & 10. 6. Luke 24:47. Act. 13. 23, 32, 33. 46. & 28. 25.

Isaiah 49:4

I have laboured in vain] Christ complaineth of the small fruit of his labour among his own people. Chap. 53. 1. & 65. 2. Matthew 8:10. and Matthew 23:37. John 1. 11. & 5. 40. 43. & 12. 37. 38.

my judgement is with the LORD] Yet this is his comfort, that his work is known to God, approved by him, and accepted of him; whatsoever the issue be in regard of others. 1 Corinthians 3:8. & 1 Corinthians 15:58. 2 Corinthians 2:15.

my work] Or, my reward. Chap. 40. 10.

Isaiah 49:5

that formed me from the womb] Vers. 1.

though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious] Or, that Israel may be gathered to him, and I may be glorious, &c. That I may bring home to God his people that are now estranged, having strayed away from him. Matth 15. 24. & 18. 11. Or, albeit the Jews, for the main body of them, refuse me and my doctrine; yet will God assist me in it, and glory shall accrue both to him and me by it. John 5. 30, 37. & 6. 38. & 7. 16, 18. & 16. 32. & 12. 28. & 17. 4, 5.

be not gathered] Or, will not be gathered. Matthew 23:37.

Isaiah 49:6

It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant, &c.] Or, Art thou lighter, then that thou shouldest, &c. It is too small a matter for thee to save the Jewish people alone: I have a greater work for thee to effect then that. John 11. 52. 1 John 2. 2. Or, do the Jewish people think so meanly of thee, as if thou wert not able to work their deliverance? 1 Samuel 10:27. Chap. 53. 2, 3. Mark 6:3. John 1 46. & 7. 27, 52.

to raise up the tribes of Jacob] To repair the ruines of Gods Church in that people. Vers. 8. Chap. 44. 26. & 58. 12. Or, to save Gods elect, whom he hath a speciall care of, among them. Deuteronomy 32:10. Matth. 24. 22 24. Romans 11:2; Romans 11:4-5. Jude 1:1.

the preserved] Or, reserved; or, desolations. Chap. 65. 4.

for a light to the Gentiles] To preach salvation to them. Chap. 42. 6. & 51. 4. Luke 2:32. Acts 13:47. & Acts 22:21. & 26. 17, 18.

my salvation unto the end of the earth] Psalms 98:3.

Isaiah 49:7

the redeemer of Israel] Chap. 48 17.

to him whom man despiseth] Or, to him that is despised in soul; or, whose person is despised. Chap. 43. 4. Christ; who in mans eye seemeth contemptible. Psal. 22. 6, 7. Chap. 52. 14. & 53. 2, 3.

the nation] This nation; the Jewish people. Acts 3:14.

a servant of rulers] Used basely, and in a servile manner by them. Matthew 26:67. Luke 23:11. John 19 1, 2, 5.

Kings shall see and arise] The greatest potentates shall submit themselves to his scepter. Psal. 72. 10, 11. & 110. 2, 5. and in token of reverence arise before him. Lev. 19 32. Judges 3:20. 1 Kings 2:19. Job 29:8.

princes also] Or, princes, (to wit, shall arise) and shall worship.

the holy One of Israel] Chap. 1. 4.

and he shall choose thee] Or, who hath chosen thee; to be the Saviour of his people. Chap. 43. 10.

Isaiah 49:8

In, &c.] Chap. 61. 2. 2 Corinthians 6:2. Psalms 69:13.

an acceptable time] Heb. a time of good will.

have I heard] Or, answered. Chap. 65. 24.

thee] Jesus Christ: whom he would hear and help for the salvation of his Church. Vers. 2. 5. John 11. 42. & 17. 9, 15.

I will preserve thee] Chap. 42. 1, 6.

for a covenant] To be the Mediatour of the new covenant; Hebrews 7:12. & Hebrews 8:6. Or, to make good by thee the promises made to my people, concerning their deliverie out of captivitie; performed corporally by Cyrus, Chap. 41. 13. spiritually by Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:20. Chap. 61. 1, 2.

to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages] Or, to raise up (Vers. 6.) the land, (Chap. 6. 12.) &c. To settle the state of my people, by bringing them out of captivitie, and seating them again in their land, that lay waste before. Vers. 6. chap. 51. 3. Job 33:10-11. Ezekiel 36:3-4; Ezekiel 36:34-35. a type of the restitution and establishment of the Church by Christ.

Isaiah 49:9

to the prisoners] Captives in Babylon, chap. 42. 7. & 51. 14. and others bound fast in the bands of sinne and death. chap. 61. 1. Psalm. 107, 10. John 8. 31, 32, 34. Col. 1. 13. 2 Timoth. 2. 26.

in darknesse] In dark dungeons. chap 42. 7, 22. Psalms 88:6.

they shall feed in the wayes] Want no provision by the way in their return; alluding to the drift of cattell, that graze on the commons they passe by.

Isaiah 49:10

They shall not hunger nor thirst, &c.] They shall not faint by the way; nor be troubled with such inconveniences, as travellers are wont to be molested with; chap. 48. 21. Psal. 105. 37, 39. & 121. 6. Revelation 7:16.

he that hath mercy on them shall lead them] God will conduct them, as he did the Israelites in the wildernesse; and no necessaries shall be wanting unto them. Psal. 23. 1, 2, 3. chap. 41. 18, 19. & 43. 19.

Isaiah 49:11

I will make all my mountains a way] I will remove all impediments, that might hinder their passage: chap. 40. 4. and 51. 10.

my high wayes shall be exalted] Or, my causeys (chap. 19. 23.) shall be heighthned: chap. 35. 8.

Isaiah 49:12

thee shall come from farre] From the East, the Sunne-rising: chap. 41. 25.

from the west] Heb. the sea. Joshua 16:6; Joshua 16:8. the mid-land sea lying West of them.

from the land of Sinim] Towards the South of Judah. Genesis 10:17. from all parts of the world shall men come to Christ: vers. 18. chap. 41. 25. & 43. 5, 6. Matth 8. 11.

Isaiah 49:13

Sing, O heavens] Chap. 44. 23. & 55. 12.

the LORD hath comforted his people] Chap. 40. 1. & 51. 3. & 52. 9.

Isaiah 49:14

Zion said] Gods people bemoaning themselves in the time of their long and tedious affliction. Chap. 40. 27. Psalms 13:1. & Psalms 22:1. & Psalms 31:22. & 88. 14.

Isaiah 49:15

that she should not have compassion] Heb. from having compassion: as Chap. 50. 2.

yea, they may forget] Or, though they should forget.

will I not forget] Chap. 44. 21. Jeremiah 31:20.

Isaiah 49:16

I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands] That I may not forget thee. Cant. 2. 6.

thy walls are continually before me] Mine eyes are upon thy wals now demolished, Amos 2:7-8. to minde me of the raising of them again. Chap. 44. 28. & 60. 10, 18.

Isaiah 49:17

Thy children shall make haste] Or, thy builders. Ezekiel 27:4. Thy children shall return speedily. Chap. 51. 14. Or, thy walls shall be speedily raised again; and those that razed them, and wasted thee, expelled and destroyed. Vers. 26.

Isaiah 49:18

Lift up thine eyes] Chap. 60. 4.

all these gather themselves together] Vers. 12.

thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, &c.] The chief ornament of the Church are the multitudes of her children, gathered by the Word, and guided by the Spirit. Proverbs 17:6. Acts 4:32.

as a bride doth] Chap. 61. 10.

Isaiah 49:19

thy waste and thy desolate places] Heb. wastnesses and desolations. Ezra 9:9.

the land of thy destruction] Or, thy destroyed land; Heb. thy land of destruction; as Chap. 19. 18.

that swallowed thee up] Or, destroyed thee. Chap. 3. 12. & 19. 3. & 25. 7. Jeremiah 51:34; Jeremiah 51:44. A metaphore, from ravenous beasts, that devour what they destroy. Genesis 37:33. Psalms 124:3. Jonah 1:17. Chap. 42. 14.

shall be farre away] Being either driven out of thy land, or destroyed in it. Vers. 17. Chap. 29. 20.

Isaiah 49:20

The children which thou shalt have] Zechariah 10:10.

after thou hast lost the other] Being cut off; Jeremiah 31:15. or cast off, for their incredulitie. Romans 11:15; Romans 11:20.

the place is too strait] Chap. 54. 2.

Isaiah 49:21

I was left alone] As a widow, without husband; for so she seemed to be, during the time of her captivitie. Chap. 54. 1, 2. & 62. 4.

Isaiah 49:22

Behold, I will lift up mine hand.] Chap. 60. 4. & 66. 20.

to the Gentiles] This great number shall consist, not of Jews alone, but of Gentiles also adjoyned to them. Vers. 6. Revelation 7:9.

set up my standard] The ministerie of the Word. Chap. 2. 2, 3. & 11. 12. & 40. 9. John 12:32. Galatians 3:1.

in their arms] Heb. bosome; or, lap. Nehemiah 5:13. Psalms 129:7. Chap. 40. 11.

Isaiah 49:23

Kings shall be thy nursing-fathers, &c.] Heb. nourishers. 2 Kings 10:1. Being converted by the Word, they shall imploy their power and authoritie for the good and safety of the Church. Chap. 60. 6, 7, 16.

their Queens] Heb. Princesses; Sarahs. Genesis 17:15. they shall be such to thee, as Sarah was to Isaac. Genesis 21:7.

lick up the dust of thy feet] Stoop so low to thee, as if they adored, or would lick up the very dust under thy feet. Psalms 72:9.

they shall not be ashamed] Psalms 34:22. Chap. 28. 16. & 30. 18.

that wait for me] That with faith and patience expect me, and salvation to be wrought by me. Luke 2:25; Luke 2:38.

Isaiah 49:24

Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawfull captive delivered] Heb. the captivitie of the just. An objection made; as if the Chaldeans, with whom Gods people were in captivitie, were of great strength; and seemed to have them in just possession, as by right of conquest.

Isaiah 49:25

Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away] Whereunto is answered, that none is stronger then God. Luke 11. 21, 22. nor hath juster title to them then he. Chap. 50. 1, 2.

the captives, &c.] Heb. captivitie. Psalms 126:1.

of the terrible] Or, tyrannie. Chap. 51. 23.

Isaiah 49:26

I will feed them that oppresse thee, with their own flesh] I will cause them to destroy one another. See Chap. 9. 20. and 19. 2.

they shall be drunken with their own blood] Revelation 14:20. & Revelation 16:6.

as with sweet wine] Or, new wine. Proverbs 3:10. Chap. 24. 7.

all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour] Chap. 60. 16.

thy redeemer] Vers. 7.

the mighty One of Jacob] Chap. 1. 24.