Isaiah 51

Isaiah 51:4

Isa. 51:4. “Hearken,” etc. Here seems to be a prophecy of a new revelation to be made of God’s mind and will, and a new dispensation or establishment of religion, for any constitution or establishment by Divine revelation is called a Law in the Old Testament. So that gracious Covenant, and these free promises established to Abraham, is called a Law. Psalms 105:8, etc. So the whole of the revelation of God’s will is called a Law throughout the 119th Psalm. Counsel and advice is sometimes called a Law; Proverbs 1:8, “Forget not the Law of thy mother,” and Proverbs 6:20; and chap.

Proverbs 13:14, “The Law of the wise is a fountain of life.” As the first Law went out of Mount Sinai, so the second went out of Mount Sion; Isaiah 2:3 and Micah 4:2, speaking of gospel times, “For out of Zion,” etc. It might as well have been translated, “a Law shall go forth out of Zion,” as here it is said, a Law shall proceed from Me; for the word in both places is without any diversity; and when it is said, the Law shall proceed or go forth out of Zion, it is meant that a Law shall be given at Mount Zion in the same manner as it is said in Deuteronomy 33:2. As there it is said, “The Law shined forth from Mount Paran, and that from His right hand went a fire of Law for them,” (for so it is in the original) - i.e. to enlighten them. (See note in the place.) So here it is said, “A Law shall proceed from Me, and I will make My judgment to rest for a light of the people.” We find that Mount Sinai and Mount Sion are opposed one to another by the Apostle in this respect, that as the Law went forth out of the one, so the glorious gospel went forth from the other. Hebrews 12:18-22; Hebrews 12:25-27. This new Law went forth out of Mount Sion or Jerusalem in two respects - (1.) As it went forth from the spiritual Mount Sion, from heaven and the Church of God, Hebrews 12:25; and also as it first went forth from Jerusalem when the Spirit was poured out on the Apostles on the day of Pentecost, which was the same day that the Law was given at Sinai, and a day kept in commemoration of that event. See 1 Chronicles 23:26.

Isa. 51:9

Isaiah 51:9

Isa. 51:9. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon. “The word Rahab here is not the same with Rahab the harlot in Joshua. The Hebrew words are slightly different The word signifies pride, probably so called from the exceeding pride that the Egyptians manifested in the time here spoken, viz. when God cut or broke that land, and wounded the dragon; the task-masters of the Israelites and Pharaoh the dragon, here spoken of, manifested an exceeding haughtiness of spirit, in so standing it out with God, who appeared in such awful judgments against them. On this account Egypt is the more fit type of the antichristian church, that is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt; and Pharaoh the dragon, here spoken of, the fitter type of the great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and the pope his image.

Isa. 52:7