Isaiah 54

Isaiah 54:1

SIng, O barren] The Church, which receiveth benefit by Christ and his death; Chap. 53. 10-12. either of the Jews returned from captivitie, during which she seemed barren, as a lone woman, without hope of issue: Chap. 49. 21. Or, of the Gentiles, called by the ministerie of the Gospell; See Galat. 4. 27. who before were barren of all good. Chap. 29. 17. Ephes. 2. 1-3, 12.

crie aloud] Heb. crie shrill. Chap. 12. 6.

that didst not travail with childe] That didst not yet bring forth children to God, by the ministerie of the Word, which thou wantedst. Psalms 147:20. Or, that broughtest forth but few, in comparison of what thou now shalt. Chap. 49. 6. Vers. 5.

more are the children of the desolate, &c.] More have been under the Gospell converted to God of the Gentiles, formerly barren; then of the Jews, who were sometime fruitfull. Romans 9:26-27; Romans 9:30. Revelation 7:4. 9. 1 Samuel 2:5.

Isaiah 54:2

Enlarge the place of thy tent] So many should come in, that she should seem to want room to receive them. Chap. 49. 20, 21. & 60. 4, 5.

stretch forth the curtains] Of which their tents consisted; to the dwelling wherein is here alluded. Jeremiah 4:20. & Jeremiah 49:29.

lengthen thy cords] Wherewith those curtains were fastned. Jeremiah 10:20.

strengthen thy stakes] Or, pins; whereunto they are fastened therewith. Exodus 27:19.

Isaiah 54:3

the desolate cities to be inhabited] Chap. 49 8. & 51. 3.

Isaiah 54:4

Fear not] Chap. 43. 1. & 44. 8.

thou shalt forget] Be no more affected with it, then as if it had never been. Proverbs 31:5; Proverbs 31:7. John 16:21.

the shame of thy youth] Thy first affliction and bondage in Egypt. Exodus 1:11. 13, 14.

the retroach of thy widowhood] Thy captivity in Babylon. Psal. 137. 1-3. Chap. 49. 21. & 50. 1.

Isaiah 54:5

thy Maker] The first founder of thee, and thy state. Psalms 149:2. Deut. 32. 15, 18. Chap. 43. 1. & 44. 2. The word is here in the plurall number; as Psalm. 149 2. Job 35:10. See the note there.

is thine husband] Hath joyned himself in marriage to thee. Hosea 2:19-20. Ephesians 5:25-27; Ephesians 5:32. Chap. 62. 5.

the LORD of hosts is his name] Or, whose name is the Lord of hosts. Chap. 47. 4. & 48. 2. Luke 1:32.

thy redeemer] Chap. 49. 7, 26.

the God of the whole earth shall he be called] Not of the Jews alone; but of all nations in the world. Chap. 56. 3, 7. Rom. 3. 29, 30. & 10. 12, 13.

shall he be called] Or, shall he be. Chap. 4. 3. & 56. 7.

Isaiah 54:6

the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken, &c.] God will reunite thee unto him; and make thee as dear to him, as a young wife, taken in time of youth; Proverbs 5:18. Joel 1. 8. Malachi 2:14. though he had cast thee off for a time; Jer. 3. 1, 12. Chap. 62. 4. and seemed to have divorced thee. Chap. 50. 1. Or, as dear as thou wast to him, what time he first took thee. Jeremiah 2:2. Ezekiel 16:8.

a wife of youth] Or, a young wife.

when thou wast refused] Or, though, &c. as Chap. 16. 12. and 53. 8.

Isaiah 54:7

For a small moment, &c.] God, as he is slow to wrath, Exodus 34:6. Numbers 14. 18. so short in it, and in the expressions of it, to his; but more free and full in his mercy and goodnesse to them. Psalms 30:5. & 103. 9, 17. Chap. 26. 20. & 60. 10.

Isaiah 54:8

I hid my face from thee] Withdrew the wonted expressions of my favour from thee. Deuteronomy 32:20. Psalms 27:9. & Psalms 30:7. Chap. 8. 17. & 57. 17. A speech borrowed from those, that refuse to look on, or admit to sight one, whom they disaffect, or make shew to be displeased with. 2 Samuel 14. 24, 28, 32. 2 Kings 3:14.

with everlasting kindnesse] Heb. kindnesse of perpetuitie. Jerem. 31. 3.

Isaiah 54:9

this is as the waters of Noah unto me] As sure, as the covenant made with Noah concerning the inundation of the world. Genesis 9:11.

that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth] Heb. from the waters of Noah passing over the earth.

have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee to rebuke thee] Heb. from being wroth with thee, and from rebuking thee. I have by oath bound my self from it; as Chap. 49. 15. & 50. 2. from being wroth with thee, or rebuking thee, so as to destroy thee. Psalms 9:5.

Isaiah 54:10

the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindnesse shall not depart from thee] Sooner shall the one be, then the other. Chap. 51. 6. Psalms 46:3. Jerem. 31. 35-37. and 33. 25, 26.

the covenant of my peace] Or, my covenant of peace. Ezekiel 34:25. & Ezekiel 37:26. Of reconcilement to thee.

that hath mercy on thee] For it is of meer mercy, whatsoever God in this kinde doth. Psalm. 6. 4. & 106. 45. Ephes. 2. 4, 5. Titus 3:5.

Isaiah 54:11

thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted] Though thine estate be at present never so forlorn, helplesse and hopelesse; yet will I in time to come make it most glorious. Chap. 51. 17, 18. & 52. 1, 2.

I will lay thy stones with fair colours] The spirituall excellency of the Church under Christ, described by an hyperbolicall similitude of a goodly, costly, stately structure. Revel. 21. 11-21. 1 Chronicles 29:2.

thy foundations with sapphires] Revelation 21:19.

Isaiah 54:12

thy windows of agates] Or, Pyropus; or, Chrysoprase. Ezekiel 27:16. a stone bright and transparent.

pleasant stones] Heb. stones of desire; or, delight. as Malac. 3. 12.

Isaiah 54:13

all thy children shall be taught of the LORD] By the outward ministerie of his Word, and inward cooperation of his Spirit. Jeremiah 31:34. John 6:45. 2 Corinthians 13:3. 1 Corinthians 2:10. 1 John 2. 20, 27.

great shall be the peace of thy children] Their prosperitie and welfare. Psalms 37:11. & Psalms 119:165. Chap. 48. 18. & 52. 7.

Isaiah 54:14

In righteousnesse shalt thou be established] In stabilitie, firmnesse and faithfulnesse; that thou mayest stand fast for ever. Psal. 111. 7, 8. & 125. 1, 2. Matthew 16:18.

for thou shalt not fear] Or, that thou mayest not fear.

for it shall not come near thee] Or, that it may not come near thee. Psalms 91:7. Proverbs 1:33.

Isaiah 54:15

they] Thine adversaries.

shall surely gather together] Or, eagerly; or, busily gather together. Heb. gathering together. Micah 2:12.

not by me] As Hosea 8:4. And therefore shall not prevail. Numbers 13:32-33. 2 Chronicles 13:12. Chap. 8. 9.

whosoever shall gather together against thee, shall fall for thy sake] Heb. with thee against thee, (that gather themselves against thee, to sight with thee; as Psalms 59:3. & Psalms 140:3.) shall fall. Their attempts against thee, shall tend to their own ruine, and end in their own overthrow. Psal. 37. 12-15. Chap. 10. 34.

Isaiah 54:16

I have created the smith] All things, being Gods creatures, are at his command and pleasure, guided and swayed by him; nor can do ought further then he giveth power and leave. Psalms 119:91. John 19. 11.

that bringeth forth an instrument for his work] For his own work, for himself to work with; or for warrier, waster, or destroyer to use.

I have created the waster to destroy] I have wicked men to be instruments of my wrath, to execute the same by devastation of countreys and destruction of people. Proverbs 16:4. Isaiah 10:5-6.

Isaiah 54:17

No weapon that is formed against thee] Made to be imployed against thee: A defective speech; as Chap. 38. 17, 21.

every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement] That shall stand up (as Psalms 1:5.) to accuse thee, or charge thee with ought. Chap. 50. 8. Romans 8:33.

thou shalt condemn] Shalt have the better of them; Psalms 109:6-7. convince them, yea condemn them of falshood. Deuteronomy 25:1. & 19. 17-19.

the heritage of the servants of the LORD] Their portion. Job 20:29. & Job 27:13. & Job 31:2.

their righteousnesse is of me] I justifie, defend, assoil them my self. Psalms 37:6. Romans 8:33. 2 Corinthians 5:21.