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The dereliction of the Jews is not of Christ; for he hath power
to save, ver. 1 - 4.
And was obedient in that work, and God is present with him, ver. 5 - 9.
An exhortation not to trust in ourselves, but in God, ver. 10, 11.
1: Thus saith the Lord - The scope of this and the next chapter, is
to vindicate God's justice and to convince the Jews that they were the
causes of their own calamities. Behold - You can blame none but yourselves
and your own sins, for all your captivities and miseries.
2: Wherefore - The general accusation delivered in the last words
he now proves by particular instances. When - When I, first by my
prophets, came to call them to repentance. No man - That complied
with my call. To answer - To come at my call. Is my hand - What is the
reason of this contempt? Is it because you think I am either unwilling
or unable to save you? A wilderness - As dry and fit for travelling
as a wilderness.
3: I clothe - When it is necessary to save my people, I cover them
with thick and dark clouds black as sackcloth, (Re 6:12).
4: Given me - This and the following passages may be in some sort
understood of the prophet Isaiah, but they are far more evidently and
eminently verified in Christ, and indeed seem to be meant directly of him.
The tongue - All ability of speaking plainly, and convincingly, and
persuasively. Weary - Burdened with the sense of his, deplorable
condition. Wakeneth - Me, from time to time, and continually.
To hear - He by his Divine power assists me to the practice of all his
commands and my duties, with all attention and diligence.
6: I gave - I patiently yielded up myself to those who smote me.
8: Justifieth - God will clear up my righteousness, and shew by many
and mighty signs and wonders, that I lived and died his faithful servant.
Let him come - l am conscious of mine own innocency, and I know that God
will give sentence for me.
9: They - Mine accusers and enemies. The moth - Shall be cut off
and consumed by a secret curse.
10: The voice - Of Christ, who is called God's servant, by way of
eminency and to intimate that though he was God, yet he would take upon
himself the form of a servant. In darkness - Not in sin, but in
misery, that lives in a disconsolate and calamitous condition.
No light - No comfort. Trust - Let him fix his faith and hope in the
mercy, and faithfulness, of the Lord, declared in his word, and in
his interest in God, who by the mediation of this servant is reconciled
to him and made his God.
11: All ye - You that reject the light which God hath set up, and
seek for comfort and safety, by your own inventions. Walk - Use your
utmost endeavours to get comfort from these devices. This - This shall
be the fruit of all, you shall receive nothing but vexation and misery.
