View Isaiah 62 in the note window.
A prayer of the watchmen for the church in confidence of God's
gracious designs and promises to it, ver. 1 - 12.
1: Zion's sake - Zion and Jerusalem are both put for the
church, (Heb 12:22).
My peace - These seem to be the words of the prophet strongly resolving,
notwithstanding all difficulties, to solicit God for the church's
happiness, and constantly excite to the belief of it by his preaching,
though it were long before it came, for Isaiah lived near two hundred
years before this was accomplished. Righteousness - With reference to
the Babylonians, understand it of the righteousness of God, who hath
promised his people deliverance, and he must be righteous, and so
understand salvation before; or rather, the vindicating of his people's
cause in the eyes of the nations by the ruin of the Babylonians; he
will shew that his people have a righteous cause. Lamp - And to that
purpose is set up where it may be seen continually, to signify how
eminently conspicuous this prosperous estate of the church should be
among the nations, and as it may particularly relate to revealing of
Christ unto the world.
2: A new name - The church shall be more renowned than ever, both
in respect of her condition, and so called Hephzi - bah, and of her
relation, and so called Beulah, and this new name the Lord gives
them accordingly, ver.(4).
3: Crown of glory - An expression to set forth the dignity of her
state. In the hand - Preserved and defended by God's hand.
Royal diadem - The same thing with the former for substance. Or, the
royal priesthood, whereof the apostle speaks, (1Pe 2:9).
4: Forsaken - As a woman forsaken by her husband. Thy land - The
inhabitants of the land. Hephzi - bah - My delight is in her; a new
name agreeing with her new condition. Beulah - Married; agreeing to
her new relation. Married - Thou shalt see the increase of thy children
again in the land, as the fruit of thy married condition, which by
reason of thy being forsaken of thy husband, were in a manner wasted
and decayed: and this refers to the great enlargement of the church in
the gospel days.
6: Day nor night - There shall be a vigilant and industrious ministry.
Ye - That is, are his servants. And here especially are meant his servants
in ordinary, his remembrancers, such as put God in mind of his promise,
and such as make the Lord to be remembered, putting his people in mind of
him.
7: A praise - By sending the Messiah, and those labourers into his
vineyard, whereby the church may be established, and settled on sure
foundations, and so become a matter of praise to God. All the nations
shall praise him for her.
9: But - Thou shalt not sow, and another reap, as formerly.
Courts - In my courts: holiness being put for God himself.
10: Go through - It is doubled by way of emphasis. Go meet the
Gentiles, whom God purposes to bring into the church. Prepare - Let
them not have any obstructions in their way. Stones - That there be
no stumbling - stone, or offence in their way. Standard - An allusion
to soldiers, that set up their standard that the army may know where
to repair from all quarters.
11: Zion - To Jerusalem, or the church. Thy salvation - Thy
saviour. Reward - The reward due to the work.
