Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Isaiah
Book: Isaiah
Chapter: 60
Overview:
The glories of the
Church of
God, when the
Fulness of the
Gentiles shall come in;
(1-8) and the Jews shall be converted
and gathered from their dispersions;
(9-14) and the kingdoms of
this world shall become the kingdom of our
Lord, and of his
Christ.
(15-22)
1-8 As far as we have the knowledge of
God in us, and the
favour of
God towards us, our
Light is come. And if
God's
Glory
is seen upon us to our honour, we ought, not only with our lips,
but in our lives, to return its praise. We meet with nothing in
the history of the Jews which can be deemed a fulfilment of the
Prophecy in this
Chapter; we must conclude it relates
principally to future events. It predicts the purity and
enlargement of the
Church. The
Conversion of souls is here
described. They
Fly to
Christ, to the
Church, to the
Word and
ordinances, as doves to their own home; thither they
Fly for
Refuge and shelter, thither they
Fly for
Rest. What a pleasant
sight to see
Poor souls hastening to
Christ!
9-14 God will be very gracious. We must begin with his promise,
thence all mercies take rise. Many shall be brought into the
Church, even from far countries.
Christ is always ready to
receive all who come to him; and the
Gate of
Mercy is always
open, night and
Day. All that are about the
Church shall be made
serviceable to it. But those who will not be subject to
Christ's
golden
Sceptre, to his
Word and
Spirit, who will not be kept in
By the laws and rules of his family, shall be broken in
Pieces
By his
Iron rod. The
Peculiar advantages of every nation, and of
every description of men, shall join to beautify the
Church of
Christ. We must suppose this to be accomplished in the beauties
of
Holiness, and the graces and comforts of the
Spirit, with
which
Gospel ordinances are adorned and enriched. Blessed be his
name, the gates of Zion are ever open to returning sinners.
15-22 We must look for the full accomplishment in times and
things, exceeding those of the Old
Testament Church. The nations
and their
Kings shall lay themselves out for the good of the
Church. Such a
Salvation, such a
Redemption, shall be wrought
out for thee, as discovers itself to be the work of the
Lord.
Every thing shall be changed for the better. In thy land shall
No more be heard threats of those that do violence, nor
complaints of those that suffer violence. Thy walls shall be
means of safety, thy gates shall be written upon with praises to
God. In the close of this
Chapter are images and expressions
used in the description of the New
Jerusalem, Re 21:23; 22:5.
Nothing can answer to this but some future glorious state of the
Church On Earth, or the state of the
Church triumphant in
Heaven. Those that make
God their only
Light, shall have him
their all-sufficient
Light. And the happiness shall know
No
change or alloy.
No people
On Earth are all righteous; but there
are
No mixtures in
Heaven. They shall be wholly righteous. The
spirits of just men shall there be made perfect. The
Glory of
the
Church shall be to the honour of
God. When it shall be
finished, it will appear a work of wonder. It may seem too
difficult to be brought about, but the
God of almighty power has
undertaken it. It may seem to be delayed and
Put off; but the
Lord will hasten it in the time appointed
By his
Wisdom, though
not in the time prescribed
By our folly. Let this
Hope cheer us
under all difficulties, and stir us up to all diligence, that we
may have an abundant entrance into this
Everlasting kingdom of
our
Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ.