1  Judah's sins, Isa 1:1-4.
Her judgments, Isa 1:5-9.
Her worship is rejected, Isa 1:10-15.
Exhortations to repentance, promises of grace and mercy, threatenings of sore judgments, and complaints by reason of their backsliding, Isa 1:16-31.

1:19 If - If you are fully resolved to obey all my commands.Shall eat - Together with pardon, you shall receive temporal and worldly blessings.

1:21 The city - Jerusalem, which in the reign of former kings was faithful to God. An harlot - Is filled with idolatry. Murderers - Under that one gross kind, he comprehends all sorts of unrighteous men and practices.

1:23 Rebellious - Against me their sovereign Lord. Companions of thieves - Partly by giving them connivance and countenance, and partly by practising the same violence, and cruelty, and injustice that thieves used to do. Gifts - That is, bribes given to pervert justice.

1:25 And purge - I will purge out of thee, those wicked men that are incorrigible, and for those of you that are curable, I will by my word, and by the furnace of affliction, purge out all that corruption that yet remains in you.

1:26 Thy counsellors - Thy princes shall hearken to wise and faithful counsellors. Called faithful - Thou shalt be such.

1:27 Redeemed - Shall be delivered from all their enemies and calamities. With - Or, by judgment, that is, by God's righteous judgment, purging out those wicked and incorrigible Jews, and destroying their unmerciful enemies. Converts - Heb. her returners, those of them who shall come out of captivity into their own land.Righteousness - Or, by righteousness, either by my faithfulness, in keeping my promise, or by my goodness.

1:29 The oaks - Which, after the manner of the Heathen, you have consecrated to idolatrous uses. Gardens - In which, as well is in the groves, they committed idolatry.

1:31 The strong - Your idols, which you think to be strong and able to defend you. As tow - Shall be as suddenly and easily, consumed by my judgments, as tow is by fire. The maker - Of the idol, who can neither save himself nor his workmanship.

2  A prophecy of Christ's kingdom, and the calling of the Gentiles, Isa 2:1-5.
And rejection of the Jews for their idolatry and pride, Isa 2:6-9.
The great majesty and power of God, and his terrors on the wicked; with an exhortation to fear God, and not to trust in man, Isa 2:10-22.

2:1 The word - Or, the matter or thing, as this Hebrew word commonly signifies; the prophecy or vision.

2:2 In the last days - In the times of the Messiah. For Christ's institutions were to continue to the end of the world. The mountain - The temple of the Lord which is upon mount Moriah; which yet is not to be understood literally of that material temple, but mystically of the church of God; as appears from the flowing of all nations to it, which was not to that temple, nor indeed was fulfilled 'till that temple was destroyed. Exalted - Shall be placed and settled in a most conspicuous and glorious manner, being advanced above all other churches and kingdoms.

2:3 The law - The new law, the doctrine of the gospel, which is frequently called a law, because it hath the nature and power of a law, obliging us no less to the belief and practice of it, than the old law did.

1 The holy scripture, being designed to maintain and improve natural religion, to repair the decays of it. and supply the defects of it, since the fall, lays down at first this principle of the unclouded light of nature: That this world was, in the beginning of time, created by a Being of infinite wisdom and power, who was himself before all time, and all worlds. And the first verse of the Bible gives us a surer and better, a more satisfying and useful knowledge of the origin of the universe, than all the volumes of the philosophers. We have three things in this chapter.

1. A general idea of the work of creation, Gen 1:1-2.
   
2. A particular account of the several days work, distinctly and in order.The creation of light, the first day, Gen 1:3-5.
   Of the firmament, the second day, Gen 1:6-8.
   Of the sea, the earth and its fruits, the third day, Gen 1:9-13.
   Of the lights of heaven, the fourth day, Gen 1:14-19.
   Of the fish and fowl, the fifth day, Gen 1:20-23.
   Of the beasts, Gen 1:24-25.
   Of man, Gen 1:26-28.
   And food for both, the sixth day, Gen 1:29-30.
   
3. The review and approbation of the whole work, Gen 1:31.
   

1:14  This is the history of the fourth day'swork, the creating the sun, moon and stars. Of this we have an account,

1. In general, Gen 1:14-15. where we have,
   1. The command givenconcerning them. Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven - God had said, Gen 1:3 Let there be light, and there was light; but that was, as it were, achaos of light, scattered and confused; now it was collected and made into several luminaries, and so rendered both more glorious and more serviceable.
   2. The use they were intended to be of to this earth.
      1. They must be for the distinction of times, of day and night, summer and winter.
      2. They must be for the direction of actions: they are for signs of the change of weather, that the husbandman may order his affairs with discretion.
      They do also give light upon the earth - That we may walk Joh 11:9 and work Joh 9:4 according as the duty of every day requires. The lights of heaven do not shine for themselves, nor for the world of spirits above, they need them not; but they shine for us, and for our pleasure and advantage. Lord, what is man that he should be thus regarded, Psa 8:3-4.
2. In particular, Gen 1:16-18, The lights of heaven are thesun, moon and stars, and these all are the work of God's hands.
   1. The sun is the greatest light of all, and the most glorious anduseful of all the lamps of heaven; a noble instance of the Creator's wisdom, power and goodness, and an invaluable blessing to the creatures of this lower world.
   2. The moon is a lesser light, and yet is herereckoned one of the greater lights, because, though in regard of its magnitude, it is inferior to many of the stars, yet in respect of its usefulness to the earth, it is more excellent than they.
   3. He madethe stars also - Which are here spoken of only in general; for the scriptures were written not to gratify our curiosity, but to lead us to God.
   Now, these lights are said to rule, Gen 1:16, Gen 1:18; not that they have a supreme dominion as God has, but they are rulers under him.Here the lesser light, the moon, is said to rule the night; but Psa 136:9 the stars are mentioned as sharers in that government, the moon and stars to rule by night. No more is meant, but that they give light, Jer 31:35. The best and most honourable way of ruling is, by giving light, and doing good.

1:20 Each day hitherto hath produced very excellent beings, but we do not read of the creation of any living creature till the fifth day. The work of creation not only proceeded gradually from one thing to another, but advanced gradually from that which was less excellent, to that which was more so. 'Twas on the fifth day that the fish and fowl were created, and both out of the waters.

Observe, 1. The making of the fish and fowl at first. Gen 1:20-21 God commanded them to be produced, he said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly - The fish in the waters, and the fowl out of them.This command he himself executed, God created great whales, etc - Insects which are as various as any species of animals, and their structure as curious, were part of this day's work, some of them being allied to the fish, and others to the fowl. Notice is here taken of the various species of fish and fowl, each after their kind; and of the great numbers of both that were produced, for the waters brought forth abundantly; and in particular of great whales the largest of fishes, whose bulk and strength, are remarkable proofs of the power and greatness of the Creator.

Observe, 2, The blessing of them in order to their continuance. Lifeis a wasting thing, its strength is not the strength of stones; therefore the wise Creator not only made the individuals, but provided for the propagating of the several species, Gen 1:22.God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply - Fruitfullness is the effect of God's blessing, and must be ascribed to it; the multiplying of the fish and fowl from year to year, is still the fruit of this blessing here.See note at Gen 1:20

1  The title of the book, shewing the general design of it, Pro 1:1-6.
The first principle of it recommended, Pro 1:7-9.
A caution against bad company, Pro 1:10-19.
Wisdom's reasonings with the sons of men, and the certain ruin of those who will not hearken unto them, Pro 1:20-33.

1:20 Wisdom - Having expressed the counsels of wicked men, he now declares the voice of wisdom. By wisdom he understands the wisdom of God revealed to men in his word. And this is said to cry with a loud voice, to intimate God's earnestness in inviting sinners to repentance.Abroad - Or, in the streets or open places. Not in corners, but openly before all the world.

1:21 Gates - Where magistrates sit in judgment, and people are assembled. The city - Not only in the gate, but in every part of the city.

1:22 Scoffers - That scoff at religion and contemn the word and faithful ministers of God.

1:23 My words - By my spirit I will cause you to understand my word.

1:24 Called - By my ministers, by my judgments, and by the motions of my spirit and your own conscience.

1:26 Your fear - The misery you do or should fear.

1:28 Early - With diligence and fervency.

1:29 Knowledge - The practical knowledge of God and of their duty.

1:31 Eat - They should receive punishment answerable to their sins.Filled - With the fruits of them.

1:32 Turning - From God. Destroy - Shall prove the occasion of their ruin, by making them presumptuous, and secure.