Isa. 62 A prayer of the watchmen for the church in confidence of God’s gracious designs and promises to it.

For Zion’s sake, viz. the church’s sake; Zion and Jerusalem being both put for the church, Heb. 12:22. Will I not hold my peace: these seem to be the words of the prophet, strongly resolving, notwithstanding all difficulties, to solicit God for the church’s happiness, and constantly excite to the…

Thy righteousness: see what is said in the foregoing verse: some read, thy Just One, viz. Jesus Christ. Kings, those that were wont to scorn thee, shall now’ be taken with the admiration of thy glory.

A crown of glory; an expression to set forth the dignity of her state. In the hand of the Lord, i.e. either as placed upon thee by God’s hand, that he will dispose of or dispense to thee; a usual form of speech in Scripture, as Hag. 1:1, by the hand of Haggai: so Mal. 1:1.

Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; as a woman forsaken by her husband, contemptible, and of low esteem. Neither shall thy land, i.e. the inhabitants of the land, a metonymy of the subject, any more be termed Desolate; though it be now almost void of inhabitants, it shall be impeopled again.

As a young man marrieth a virgin: this is delivered as a demonstration of what was said in the close of the 4th verse; and it is said young and virgin to note their suitableness; not old and young, but such as may delight each in other, signifying that mutual content that would be in all parties;…

Watchmen; understand by these, either, 1. Angels, as they are called, Dan. 4:13, Dan. 4:23. Or 2. Magistrates: see Isa. 56:10, or rather, 3. Ministers.

Give him no rest; the same with the foregoing verse, and very acceptable to God, Luke 11:8–10. Till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth, by sending the Messiah and those labourers into his vineyard, whereby the church may be established and settled on sure foundations,…

This and the next verse are much to the same purpose, wherein the prophet, to encourage them to their industrious endeavours, tells them that the Lord had sworn to see to the prosperity of Jerusalem; and he names the hand, to signify his faithfulness, as the giving of our hand notes our fidelity;…

They that have gathered it, i.e. the wine mentioned in the former verse, that have brought it from their several vineyards, and laid it in their cellars, every one shall eat the fruit of his own labours; thou shalt not sow, and another reap, as formerly.

Go through, go through the gates; it is doubled by way of emphasis: q.d. Make haste to your own land; as if Cyrus should say, Get you out of captivity as soon as you will, Isa. 48:20.

The Lord hath proclaimed: this may be understood of Cyrus’s proclamation, being thereunto directed by God: see 2 Chron. 36:22;c. To the daughter of Zion, i.e. to Jerusalem, or the church: the sum of which proclamation is in the, following words. Thy salvation cometh; either, 1.

They shall call them, The holy people; or, they shall be called, or they shall be, a peculiar, separate people, Isa. 4:3. Sought out; or, one found that was lost: see Ezek. 34:16.