Isaiah 51

Isaiah 51:1

AFter righteousnesse] namely, true righteousnesse by faith in Christ, not false righteousnesse by the merits of your owne workes, Rom. 9. 31. 32. Looke unto] that is to say, you beleeving Jewes, who will be but few in number at the comming of Christ, the whole body of the Nation being rejected: consider that your first parents Abraham and Sarah were alone when I called them, and tooke them to me, and yet I increased their posterity to an infinite number. And from thence you may gather, that I wil doe the like by you, by joyning the Gentiles to my Church.

Isaiah 51:2

Alone] having no children, and being out of hope of having any.

Isaiah 51:3

Shall comfort] raising her up (by calling of the Gentiles) out of the ruine she was fallen into by the apostacy of the Jewes Like Eden] namely, the earthly paradise, Genesis 2:8.

Isaiah 51:4

A Law] I wil cause my Gospel to be preached through the World, to be as it were a new Law and forme in the state and government of my Church, Psalms 110:2. Isaiah 2:3. Will make] I wil firmely and inevocably establish the government of my Word and Spirit in the Church, for a secure guid to bring it to eternal life.

Isaiah 51:5

My righteousnesse] that is to say, the effect of my promises, my grace and bounty, but especially the revelation of the Sonne of Gods righteousnesse, which proceeded from, and was appointed by God; and is onely sufficient to appeare before his justice seate, in justification of life to all beleevers, Romans 3:21; Romans 3:25-26. Mine armes] I wil raigne over all the World by my Gospel, which is the power and arme of God, Isaiah 53:1. Romans 1:16. 1 Corinthians 1:18.

Isaiah 51:6

Shall vanish] namely, at the end of the world.

Isaiah 51:9

O arme] the Churches prayer to God, praying him to display his Soveraigne power, for the deliverance of his children, as he formerly did in Egypt Rahab] that is to say, Egypt,Psal. 87. 4. The Dragon] namely, the King of Egypt, which is a waterish or moorith Countrey, Psalms 74:13-14 Ezekiel 29:3.

Isaiah 51:12

Who art thou] O thou my Church which here to fore hast been so dejected, take now a good heart, setting before thee thine enemies approaching and certaine destruction.

Isaiah 51:14

The captive] that is to say, the deliverance is neere, and even almost come. Or, it is a description of the beleevers readinesse, in answering with the motion of their hearts, to Gods calling and deliverance.

Isaiah 51:16

And I have] Gods words to his Church, as it is Christs body to whom they properly belong, Isaiah 49:2-3. the meaning is, I have appointed thee to declare, and teach my word, accompanied with my power and Spirit, to re-establish through thy ministery the state of the world, decayed and overthrown by sinne, and to preach to mine elect’my grace and reconciliation.

Isaiah 51:17

Which hast drunke] which before the comming of thy Saviour shalt be tried, exercised and chastised by all manner of afflictions, see Job 21:20. Psal 75. 8. Jeremiah 25:15; Jeremiah 25:10. Of trembling] the Italian, of astonishment] see Psalms 60:3.

Isaiah 51:18

Among all] my Church hath hath had no reliefe nor ease amidst’all her troubles, from any of hers.

Isaiah 51:19

These two things] that is to say, evils at home, namely, desolation and famine, and evils abroad, namely, devastation, and the Sword, see Deut. 32. 25. 2. Cor. 7. 5. By whom] by whose example that hath suffered the like afflictions, Lamentations 2:13. the meaning is. Thine evils are extreame, and without example: and therefore I onely can helpe and comfort thee, with my Divine comfort, Vers. 3. and 12.

Isaiah 51:20

In a Net] that is, catched in Nets by Hunts-men, and can no way free himselfe.

Isaiah 51:21

But not] but with the Cup of Gods wrath, Vers. 17.

Isaiah 51:22

I have taken] that is to say, that as no man could doe, I wil do, freeing thee of all thy miseries, and laying them upon thine enemies, which oppresse thee without mercy.