Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.
Por tanto, derramó sobre él el furor de su ira, y fortaleza de guerra; le puso fuego de todas partes, y se descuidó; y encendió en él, y no echó de ver.
It hath set him on fire round about] So thoroughly hardened are the Jewish people, that they are represented as being in a house on fire, and even scorched with the flames, without perceiving their danger, or feeling that they are hurt! What a picture of mental induration! and this is their state to the present day. But by whom shall Jacob arise? for in this sense he is small indeed. Many efforts have been made to Christianize them, but without effect; and is this to be wondered at, while we tell them how great they are, how learned, how wise, how much we owe to them, that they are still the peculiar people of God, &c., &c.? If all this be true, what can they gain by beeoming Christians? Whereas a more stupid, proud, hardened, ignorant people can scarcely be found in the civilized world, and they are most grossly ignorant of their own Scriptures.
Is. 42:1-4 This prophecy was fulfilled in Christ, Matt. 12:17. Let ou souls rely on him, and rejoice in him; then, for his sake, the Fathe will be well-pleased with us. The Holy Spirit not only came, but reste upon him, and without measure. He patiently bore the contradiction of sinners. His kingdom is spiritual; he was not to appear with earthl honours. He is tender of those oppressed with doubts and fears, as bruisedreed; those who are as smoking flax, as the wick of a lam newly lighted, which is ready to go out again. He will not despis 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 fixesprinciples in the minds of men, which tend to make them wise an 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 Fatherdelight over us for good, we must behold, hear believe in, and obey Christ.
Is. 42:5-12 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 a liberty from the bondage of sin. The Lord has supported his church. An 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 whic are his, taking heed that we do not serve the creature more than the Creator.
Is. 42:18-25 Observe the call given to this people, and the characte given of them. Multitudes are ruined for want of observing that whic they cannot but see; they perish, not through ignorance, but carelessness. The Lord is well-pleased in the making known his ow righteousness. For their sins they were spoiled of all their possessions. This fully came to pass in the destruction of the Jewis nation. There is no resisting, nor escaping God's anger. See the mischiefsin makes; it provokesGod to anger. And those not humbled by lesser judgments, must expect greater. Alas! how many professe Christians are blind as the benighted heathen! While the Lord i well-pleased in savingsinners through the righteousness of Christ he will also glorify his justice, by punishing all proud despisers. Seein 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 int his rest, any of us should be found to come short of it __________________________________________________________________
