1.
Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.
2.
Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.
3.
For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
4.
Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.
5.
My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.
6.
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
Isaiah 51:6. Lift up your eyes, &c.— The prophet here, as a second argument of consolation, foretels the abolition of the old oeconomy, and the establishment of the new. He speaks of the old oeconomy, or politico-ecclesiastical, under the figurative ideas of heaven and earth, so usual with the prophets, which are supposed to vanish and be destroyed, with all their inhabitants, while a new heaven, and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, under the oeconomy of the Messiah, is here said to be established. See Vitringa. Instead of, shall die in like manner, we may read, shall die like an insect or a worm.
7.
Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
8.
For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.
9.
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?
10.
Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?
11.
Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
12.
I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;
13.
And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?
14.
The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail.
15.
But I am the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name.
16.
And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.
17.
Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.
Isaiah 51:17.— From hence to the 61st chapter, follows the third and most extensive discourse, in which the state of the church, from the times of the Maccabees, but particularly of Jesus Christ and his kingdom, is foretold, to the end of the world; yet so, that in describing the corrupt times of the church, (which is done in Isaiah 56-58) the depraved state of the church, which preceded the times of the Maccabees, is alluded to, and the phrases frequently taken from thence. The whole discourse may be divided into nine sections. The first, which is preparatory, is contained in ch. Isa 51:17 and ch. 52. The second in ch. 53; the third in ch. 54; the fourth in ch. 55; the fifth in 56; the sixth in 57; the seventh in 58 and Isaiah 59:15; the eighth in Isaiah 59:16-21.; the ninth in ch. 60: The occasion of the prophesy is taken from the preceding discourse, ch. Isa 49:1 wherein the mystery of the humiliation of the Messiah, his exaltation, and the calling of the Gentiles, being proposed, it seemed good to the Holy Spirit to take this occasion to speak of that mystery more at large; for it was of consequence to the church to have the events of the new oeconomy described, as in a picture, from its first beginning to its consummation; particularly to have clearly set forth, and preserved in the treasures of the prophetic word, the doctrine concerning the most bitter passion of the Messiah, the grand foundation of salvation, that there might not be left any objection for incredulity. This section may be divided into four parts, according to the four scenical periods observable in it. The first apostrophe is directed to the church, wherein it is commanded to raise itself up from its state of affliction; and here, first, the afflictions which the church had sustained are enumerated, Isaiah 51:17,—20; secondly, deliverance is promised from these evils, and leverage upon her enemies, Isaiah 51:21-23. The second apostrophe is directed to the same church, about the time of the approach of the Messiah's kingdom; wherein she is ordered to put on dress, to adorn herself agreeably to the state of an oeconomy of grace and liberty, ch. Isaiah 52:1-2. Secondly, the occasion of that exhortation or command is delivered; namely, the approaching redemption of the church, Isaiah 51:3. Thirdly, the reason of that command, and of the necessity of redemption, is explained from the condition of the church, detained a long time in captivity and servitude, corporal as well as spiritual, but now to be delivered by their God present with them, Isaiah 51:4-6. Next follows an exclamation of a prophetical or evangelical chorus; wherein is set forth the greatness and excellence of the blessing of the Gospel, to be promulgated through the whole world, by preachers appointed for that purpose: and here we have the exclamation itself, Isa 51:7-8 and an address to the renewed church, exhorting it to joy on account of this benefit, Isaiah 51:9-10. The third apostrophe is directed to the preachers of the Gospel; wherein, first, they are animated and excited to undertake this expedition, and are instructed concerning the manner of undertaking it, Isaiah 51:11-12; secondly, the basis and foundation of the kingdom of God, to be established among the Jews and Gentiles, is laid down; namely, the obedience unto death of the Messiah to his Father amidst the greater sufferings, and the exaltation which should follow it, Isaiah 51:13-15.
18.
There is none to guide her among all the sons whom she hath brought forth; neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up.
19.
These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?
20.
Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God.
21.
Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:
22.
Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:
23.
But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.