Isaiah 54

Isaiah 54:1

O Barren] namely, O thou Church, which before Christs comming wert like a barren woman, or like a woman forsaken of her husband, bringing forth no more spirituall children. Rejoyce in the Messias his time, because that by the renewing of the covenant of grace, and by the sending of the Spirit thou shall become a most fruitfull mother; farre more fruitfull then ever the ancient Jewish Church was; whilest it continued in Gods Covenant.

Isaiah 54:2

Enlarge] a representation of the wonderfull increase of beleevers under the Gospel, by the figure of a tent that should grow too little for them that live in it.

Isaiah 54:3

And thy seed] that is to say, The beleevers which thou shalt bring forth to the Lord, shall spiritually become Lords of the world, planting his faith and Kingdome in it, and peopling with a new and sanctified kinde of people the whole world, which before was void of the knowledge and grace of God.

Isaiah 54:4

Shalt forget] that is to say, the greatnesse of thy glory under the Gospel, shall blot out and cancell in thee all feeling and remembrance of thy former state, which was infamous for sins and idolatries, and wretched for punishments, by meanes of which, I was in a manner divorced from thee, Isaiah 50:1.

Isaiah 54:5

Thy maker] namely, God, who as by his grace he gave thee thy first being, to make thee his Church, can also restore it to thee again when he pleaseth Of the whole] and not onely of the Jewish Nation.

Isaiah 54:6

Hath called thee] hath re-united thee to himselfe by the Covenant of grace.

Isaiah 54:9

This is] namely, this salvation and deliverance from the deluge of former sinnes That I would not] namely, that I would not reprove nor suffer my true Church to perish, which consists of mine Elect and beleevers, with whom God is never angry so far as to curse or overthrow them, but doth onely punish and correct them, see Jeremiah 31:35-36.

Isaiah 54:11

I will lay] a figurative description of the Churches spirituall excellency, which is like a building comosed of precious stones, which are the faithfull, upon an exquisite foundation, which is Christ, 1 Corinthians 3:12. Revelation 21:18. With faire colours] the Italian, upon fine marble; the Hebrew word is of a doubtfull signification.

Isaiah 54:14

In righteousnesse] that is to say, in a well and right ordered manner. Or by Gods grace and bounty; for the word Righteousnesse is oftentimes taken for Gods property, which is to doe good to those that are his.

Isaiah 54:15

They shall] the enemies shall often conspire against thee, but as I will not be the author of it, so will I cause the issue of it to prove to their ruine.

Isaiah 54:16

I have] that is to say, Weapons and Souldiers have no power, nor cannot bring any thing to passe, but onely so far as I will give them leave by my permission and pleasure.

Isaiah 54:17

And their] that is to say, the fruit and reward of their faith, and loyaltie in my service. Or this is the inheritance which I will bestow upon them, as my servants and children: