Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 8. Thy watchmen lift up the voice "All thy watchmen lift up their voice"] There is a difficulty in the construction of this place which, I think, none of the ancient versions or modern interpreters have cleared up satisfactorily. Rendered word for word it stands thus: "The voice of thy watchmen: they lift up their voice. " The sense of the first member, considered as elliptical, is variously supplied by various expositors; by none, as it seems to me, in any way that is easy and natural. I am persuaded there is a mistake in the present text, and that the true reading is űypx lk col tsophayich, all thy watchmen, instead of űypx lwq kol tsophayich, the voice of thy watchmen. The mistake was easy from the similitude in sound of the two letters k caph and q koph. And in one MS. the q koph is upon a rasure. This correction perfectly rectifies the sense and the construction. - L.
They shall see eye to eye] May not this be applied to the prophets and apostles; the one predicting, and the other discovering in the prediction the truth of the prophecy. The meaning of both Testaments is best understood by bringing them face to face.
When the Lord shall bring again Zion "When JEHOVAH returneth to Zion"] So the Chaldee: wyxl hytnkŤ byty dk cad yethib shechinteih letsiyon, "when he shall place the shechinah in Zion. " God is considered as having deserted his people during the captivity; and at the restoration, as returning himself with them to Zion, his former habitation. See Psa. lx. 1; chap. xl. 9, and note.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- Exhortations to trust the Messiah. (Is. 51:1-3) The power of God, an the weakness of man. (Is. 51:4-8) Christ defends his people. (Is 51:9-16) Their afflictions and deliverances. (Is. 51:17-23)
Is. 51:1-3 It is good for those privileged by the new birth, to consider that they were shapen in sin. This should cause low thought of ourselves, and high thoughts of Divine grace. It is the greates comfort to be made serviceable to the glory of God. The more holines men have, and the more good they do, the more gladness they have. Le us seriously reflect upon our guilt. To do so will tend to keep the heart humble, and the conscience awake and tender. They make Chris more precious to the soul, and give strength to our attempts an prayers for others.
Is. 51:4-8 The gospel of Christ shall be preached and published. Ho shall we escape if we neglect it? There is no salvation withou righteousness. The soul shall, as to this world, vanish like smoke, an the body be thrown by like a worn-out garment. But those whose happiness is in Christ's righteousness and salvation, will have the comfort of it when time and days shall be no more. Clouds darken the sun, but do not stop its course. The believer will enjoy his portion while revilers of Christ are in darkness
Is. 51:9-16 The people whom Christ has redeemed with his blood, as wel as by his power, will obtain joyful deliverance from every enemy. He that designs such joy for us at last, will he not work such deliveranc in the mean time, as our cases require? In this world of changes, it is a short step from joy to sorrow, but in that world, sorrow shall neve come in view. They prayed for the display of God's power; he answer them with consolations of his grace. Did we dread to sin against God we should not fear the frowns of men. Happy is the man that fears God always. And Christ's church shall enjoy security by the power an providence of the Almighty.
Is. 51:17-23 God calls upon his people to mind the things that belon to their everlasting peace. Jerusalem had provoked God, and was made to taste the bitter fruits. Those who should have been her comforters were their own tormentors. They have no patience by which to kee possesion of their own souls, nor any confidence in God's promise, by which to keep possession of its comfort. Thou art drunken, not a formerly, with the intoxicating cup of Babylon's idolatries, but with the cup of affliction. Know, then, the cause of God's people may for time seem as lost, but God will protect it, by convincing the conscience, or confounding the projects, of those that strive agains it. The oppressors required souls to be subjected to them, that ever man should believe and worship as they would have them. But all the could gain by violence was, that people were brought to outwar hypocritical conformity, for consciences cannot be forced _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew קול6963 צפיך6822 נשׂאו5375 קול6963 יחדו3162 ירננו7442 כי3588 עין5869 בעין5869 יראו7200 בשׁוב7725 יהוה3068 ציון׃6726
