The character and coming of Christ. (1-4) The blessings of his kingdom. (5-12) The prevalence of true religion. (13-17) Unbelief and blindness reproved. (18-25)
@Verses 1-4 This prophecy was fulfilled in Christ, @matthew 12:17 . Let our souls rely on him, and rejoice in him; then, for his sake, the Father will be well-pleased with us. The Holy Spirit not only came, but rested upon him, and without measure. He patiently bore the contradiction of sinners. His kingdom is spiritual; he was not to appear with earthly honours. He is tender of those oppressed with doubts and fears, as a bruised reed; those who are as smoking flax, as the wick of a lamp newly lighted, which is ready to go out again. He will not despise them, nor lay upon them more work or more suffering than they can bear. By a long course of miracles and his resurrection, he fully showed the truth of his holy religion. By the power of his gospel and grace he fixes principles in the minds of men, which tend to make them wise and just. The most distant nations wait for his law, wait for his gospel, and shall welcome it. If we would make our calling and election sure, and have the Father delight over us for good, we must behold, hear, believe in, and obey Christ.
@Verses 5-12 The work of redemption brings back man to the obedience he owes to God as his Maker. Christ is the light of the world. And by his grace he opens the understandings Satan has blinded, and sets at liberty from the bondage of sin. The Lord has supported his church. And now he makes new promises, which shall as certainly be fulfilled as the old ones were. When the Gentiles are brought into the church, he is glorified in them and by them. Let us give to God those things which are his, taking heed that we do not serve the creature more than the Creator.
@Verses 13-17 The Lord will appear in his power and glory. He shall cry, in the preaching of his word. He shall cry aloud in the gospel woes, which must be preached with gospel blessings, to awaken a sleeping world. He shall conquer by the power of his Spirit. And those that contradict and blaspheme his gospel, he shall put to silence and shame; and that which hinders its progress shall be taken out of the way. To those who by nature were blind, God will show the way to life and happiness by Jesus Christ. They are weak in knowledge, but He will make darkness light. They are weak in duty, but their way shall be plain. Those whom God brings into the right way, he will guide in it. This passage is a prophecy, and is also applicable to every believer; for the Lord will never leave nor forsake them.
@Verses 18-25
Observe the call given to this people, and the character
given of them. Multitudes are ruined for want of observing that
which they cannot but see; they perish, not through ignorance,
but carelessness. The Lord is well-pleased in the making known
his own righteousness. For their sins they were spoiled of all
their possessions. This fully came to pass in the destruction of
the Jewish nation. There is no resisting, nor escaping God's
anger. See the mischief sin makes; it provokes God to anger. And
those not humbled by lesser judgments, must expect greater.
Alas! how many professed Christians are blind as the benighted
heathen! While the Lord is well-pleased in saving sinners
through the righteousness of Christ he will also glorify his
justice, by punishing all proud despisers. Seeing God has poured
out his wrath on his once-favoured people, because of their
sins, let us fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into
his rest, any of us should be found to come short of it.
God's unchangeable love for his people. (1-7) Apostates and
idolaters addressed. (8-13) The deliverance from Babylon, and
the conversion of the Gentiles. (14-21) Admonition to repent of
sin. (22-28)
@Verses 1-7
God's favour and good-will to his people speak abundant
comfort to all believers. The new creature, wherever it is, is
of God's forming. All who are redeemed with the blood of his
Son, he has set apart for himself. Those that have God for them
need not fear who or what can be against them. What are Egypt
and Ethiopia, all their lives and treasures, compared with the
blood of Christ? True believers are precious in God's sight, his
delight is in them, above any people. Though they went as
through fire and water, yet, while they had God with them, they
need fear no evil; they should be born up, and brought out. The
faithful are encouraged. They were to be assembled from every
quarter. And with this pleasing object in view, the prophet
again dissuades from anxious fears.
@Verses 8-13
Idolaters are called to appear in defence of their idols.
Those who make them, and trust in them, are like unto them. They
have the shape and faculties of men; but they have not common
sense. But God's people know the power of his grace, the
sweetness of his comforts, the kind care of his providence, and
the truth of his promise. All servants of God can give such an
account of what he has wrought in them, and done for them, as
may lead others to know and believe his power, truth, and love
@Verses 14-21
The deliverance from Babylon is foretold, but there is
reference to greater events. The redemption of sinners by
Christ, the conversion of the Gentiles, and the recall of the
Jews, are described. All that is to be done to rescue sinners,
and to bring the believer to glory, is little, compared with
that wondrous work of love, the redemption of man.
@Verses 22-28
Those who neglect to call upon God, are weary of him. The
Master tired not the servants with his commands, but they tired
him with disobedience. What were the riches of God's mercy
toward them? I, even I, am he who yet blotteth out thy
transgressions. This encourages us to repent, because there is
forgiveness with God, and shows the freeness of Divine mercy.
When God forgives, he forgets. It is not for any thing in us,
but for his mercies' sake, his promise' sake; especially for his
Son's sake. He is pleased to reckon it his honour. Would man
justify himself before God? The attempt is desperate: our first
father broke the covenant, and we all have copied his example.
We have no reason to expect pardon, except we seek it by faith
in Christ; and that is always attended by true repentance, and
followed by newness of life, by hatred of sin, and love to God.
Let us then put him in remembrance of the promises he has made
to the penitent, and the satisfaction his Son has made for them.
Plead these with him in wrestling for pardon; and declare these
things, that thou mayest be justified freely by his grace. This
is the only way, and it is a sure way to peace.