Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Isaiah
Book: Isaiah
Chapter: 49
Overview:
The unbelief and rejection of the Jews.
(1-6) Gracious promise
to the
Gentiles.
(7-12) God's
Love to the
Church.
(13-17) Its
increase.
(18-23) And deliverance.
(24-26)
1-6 The great Author of
Redemption shows the authority for his
work. The
Sword of his
Word slays the lusts of his people, and
all at
Enmity with them. His sharp
Arrows wound the
Conscience;
but all these wounds will be healed, when the sinner prays to
him for
Mercy. But even the
Redeemer, who spake as never
Man
spake in his personal ministry, often seemed to labour in vain.
And if
Jacob will not be brought back to
God, and
Israel will
not be gathered, still
Christ will be glorious. This promise is
in part fulfilled in the
Calling of the
Gentiles. Men perish in
Darkness. But
Christ enlightens men, and
So makes them holy and
happy.
7-12 The
Father is the
Lord, the
Redeemer, and Holy One of
Israel, as sending the Son to be the
Redeemer.
Man, whom he came
to save,
Put contempt upon him. To this he submitted for our
Salvation. He is a
Pledge for all the blessings of the
Covenant;
in him
God was reconciling the world to himself. Pardoning
Mercy
is a release from the
Curse of the
Law; renewing
Grace is a
release from the dominion of
Sin: both are from
Christ. He saith
to those in
Darkness, Show yourselves. Not only see, but be
seen, to the
Glory of
God, and your own comforts. Though there
are difficulties in the way to
Heaven, yet the
Grace of
God will
carry us over them, and make even the mountains a way. This
denotes the free invitations and the encouraging promises of the
Gospel, and the outpouring of the
Spirit.
13-17 Let there be universal joy, for
God will have
Mercy upon
the afflicted, because of his compassion; upon his afflicted,
because of his
Covenant. We have
No more reason to question his
promise and
Grace, than we have to question his
Providence and
Justice. Be assured that
God has a tender
Affection for his
Church and people; he would not have them to be discouraged.
Some mothers do neglect their children; but
God's compassions to
his people, infinitely exceed those of the tenderest parents
toward their children. His setting them as a
Mark On his
Hand,
or a
Seal upon his
Arm, denotes his being ever mindful of them.
As far as we have scriptural evidence that we belong to his
ransomed flock, we may be sure that he will never forsake us.
Let us then give diligence to make our
Calling and election
sure, and rejoice in the
Hope and
Glory of
God.
18-23 Zion is addressed as an afflicted widow, bereaved of her
children.
Numbers flock to her, and she is assured that they
come to be a comfort to her. There are times when the
Church is
desolate and few in number; yet its desolations shall not last
for ever, and
God will repair them.
God can raise up friends for
returning Israelites, even among
Gentiles. They shall bring
their children, and make them thy children. Let all
Deal
tenderly and carefully with young converts and beginners in
religion. Princes shall protect the
Church. It shall appear that
God is the sovereign
Lord of all. And those who in the
Exercise
of
Faith,
Hope, and patience, wait
On God for the fulfilment of
his promises, shall never be confounded.
24-26 We were lawful captives to the
Justice of God, yet
delivered
By a price of unspeakable value. Here is an express
promise: Even the prey of the terrible shall be delivered. We
may here view
Satan deprived of his prey, bound and cast into
the
Pit; and all the powers that have combined to enslave,
persecute, or corrupt the
Church, are destroyed; that all the
Earth may know that our
Saviour and
Redeemer is
Jehovah, the
mighty One of
Jacob. And every effort we make to rescue our
fellow-sinners from the
Bondage of
Satan, is, in some degree,
helping forward that great change.