Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 6. Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence] The faithful, and in particular the priests and Levites, are exhorted by the prophet to beseech God with unremitted importunity (compare Luke xviii. 1, &c.) to hasten the redemption of Sion. The image in this place is taken from the temple service; in which there was appointed a constant watch, day and night, by the Levites: and among them this seems to have belonged particularly to the singers, see 1 Chron. ix. 33. Now the watches in the east, even to this day, are performed by a loud cry from time to time of the watchmen, to mark the time, and that very frequently, and in order to show that they themselves are constantly attentive to their duty. Hence the watchmen are said by the prophet, chap. lii. 8, to lift up thetr voice; and here they are commanded, not to keep stlence; and the greatest reproach to them is, that they are dumb dogs; they cannot bark; dreamers; sluggards, loving to slumber, chap. lvi. 10. "The watchmen in the camp of the caravans go their rounds crying one after another, 'God is one, he is merciful:' and often add, 'Take heed to yourselves.' " TAVERNIER, Voyage de Perse, liv. i. chap. x. The hundred and thirty-fourth Psalm gives us an example of the temple watch. The whole Psalms is nothing more than the alternate cry of two different divisions of the watch. The first watch addresses the second, reminding them of their duty; the second answers by a solemn blessing. The address and the answer seem both to be a set form, which each division proclaimed, or sung aloud, at stated intervals, to notify the time of the night:- FIRST CHORUS "Come on now, bless ye JEHOVAH, all ye servants of JEHOVAH; Ye that stand in the house of JEHOVAH in the nights; Lift up your hands towards the sanctuary, And bless ye JEHOVAH." SECOND CHORUS "JEHOVAH bless thee out of Sion; He that made heaven and earth."Ye who stand in the place of the watch, in the house of the sanctuary of the Lord; and ye praise through the nights; "-says the Chaldee paraphrase on the second line. And this explains what is here particularly meant by proclaiming, or making remembrance of, the name of JEHOVAH: the form, which the watch made use of on these occasions, was always a short sentence, expressing some pious sentiment, of which JEHOVAH was the subject; and it is remarkable, that the custom in the east in this respect also still continues the very same; as appears by the example above given from Tavernier.
And this observation leads to the explanation of an obscure passage in the Prophet Malachi, chap. ii. 12.
"JEHOVAH will cut off the man that doeth this; The watchman and the answerer, from the tabernacles of Jacob; And him that presenteth an offering to JEHOVAH God of hosts." hn[w r[ er veoneh, the master and the scholar, says our translation, after the Vulgate: the son and the grandson, says the Syriac and Chaldee, as little to the purpose: Arias Montanus has given it vigilantem et respondentem, "the watchman and the answerer; " that is, the Levite and "him that presenteth an offering to JEHOVAH, "that is, the priest. - L. Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence. Is not this clause an address to the ministers of Christ, to continue in supplication for the conversion of the Jewish people? Kimchi seems to think that the watchmen are the interceding angels!
Matthew Henry Commentary
- The Messiah, his character and office. (Is. 61:1-3) His promises of the future blessedness of the church. (Is. 61:4-9) The church praises God for these mercies. (Is. 61:10,11)
Is. 61:1-3 The prophets had the Holy Spirit of God at times, teachin them what to say, and causing them to say it; but Christ had the Spiri always, without measure, to qualify him, as man, for the work to whic he was appointed. The poor are commonly best disposed to receive the gospel, James 2:5; and it is only likely to profit us when receive with meekness. To such as are poor in spirit, Christ preached goo tidings when he said, Blessed are the meek. Christ's satisfaction i accepted. By the dominion of sin in us, we are bound under the power of Satan; but the Son is ready, by his Spirit, to make us free; and the we shall be free indeed. Sin and Satan were to be destroyed; and Chris triumphed over them on his cross. But the children of men, who stan out against these offers, shall be dealt with as enemies. Christ was to be a Comforter, and so he is; he is sent to comfort all who mourn, an who seek to him, and not to the world, for comfort. He will do all thi for his people, that they may abound in the fruits of righteousness, a the branches of God's planting. Neither the mercy of God, the atonemen of Christ, nor the gospel of grace, profit the self-sufficient an proud. They must be humbled, and led to know their own character an wants, by the Holy Spirit, that they may see and feel their need of the sinner's Friend and Saviour. His doctrine contains glad tidings indee to those who are humbled before God.
Is. 61:4-9 Promises are here made to the Jews returned out of captivity, which extend to all those who, through grace, are delivere out of spiritual thraldom. An unholy soul is like a city that is broke down, and has no walls, like a house in ruins; but by the power of Christ's gospel and grace, it is fitted to be a habitation of God through the Spirit. When, by the grace of God, we attain to holy indifference as to the affairs of this world; when, though our hand are employed about them, our hearts are not entangled with them, but preserved entire for God and his service, then the sons of the alie are our ploughmen and vine-dressers. Those whom He sets at liberty, he sets to work. His service is perfect freedom; it is the greates honour. All believers are made, to our God, kings and priests; an always ought to conduct themselves as such. Those who have the Lord for their portion, have reason to say, that they have worthy portion, an to rejoice in it. In the fulness of heaven's joys we shall receive mor than double for all our services and sufferings. God desires truth, an therefore hates all injustice. Nor will it justify any man's robbery to say, it was for burnt-offerings; and that robbery is most hateful whic is under this pretence. Let the children of godly parents be such, tha all may see the fruits of a good education; an answer to the prayer for them, in the fruit of God's blessing.
Is. 61:10,11 Those only shall be clothed with the garments of salvatio hereafter, that are covered with the robe of Christ's righteousnes now, and by the sanctification of the Spirit have God's image renewe upon them. These blessings shall spring forth for ages to come, as the fruits of the earth. So duly, so constantly, and with such advantage to mankind, will the Lord God cause righteousness and praise to sprin forth. They shall spread far; the great salvation shall be publishe and proclaimed, to the ends of the earth. Let us be earnest in prayer that the Lord God may cause that righteousness to spring forth amon us, which constitutes the excellence and glory of the Christia profession _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew על5921 חומתיך2346 ירושׁלם3389 הפקדתי6485 שׁמרים8104 כל3605 היום3117 וכל3605 הלילה3915 תמיד8548 לא3808 יחשׁו2814 המזכרים2142 את853 יהוה3068 אל408 דמי׃1824
