25  God glorious in his judgments on Babel, Isa 25:1-5.
and his people's salvation, Isa 25:6-12.

25:1 O Lord - The prophet reflecting upon those great and glorious prophecies which he had delivered, interrupts the course of his prophecies, and breaks forth into a solemn celebration of God's wonderful works.Thy counsels - From which all thy works proceed, and which thou hast from time to time revealed to thy prophets and people, which were of old, being conceived from all eternity, are true and firm, and shall certainly be accomplished.

25:2 A city - Which is put for cities: or of enemies of God and his people. And under the name cities he comprehends their countries and kingdoms. Strangers - The royal cities, in which were the palaces of strangers, of Gentiles. No city - Their cities and palaces have been or shall be utterly and irrecoverably destroyed.

25:3 Shall fear - Thy stoutest enemies observing thy wonderful works, shall be converted, or at least forced to tremble before thee.

25:4 For - For thou hast defended thy poor and helpless people.As a storm - Makes a great noise, but without any effect.

25:5 The noise - The tumultuous noise, as the word properly signifies; the rage and furious attempts of those Heathen nations that fought against God's people. As the heat - With as much ease as thou dost allay the heat of a dry place, by the shadow of thy clouds, or by the rain which falls from black and shadowy clouds. The branch - The arm or power, as a branch is the arm of a tree.

25:6 And - In mount Zion, in God's church. All people - Both Jews and Gentiles. A feast - A feast made up of the most delicate provisions, which is manifestly meant of the ordinances, graces, and comforts given by God in his church. Of wines - Which have continued upon the lees a competent time, whereby they gain strength, and are afterwards drawn off, and refined.

25:7 The face - The covering of the face. The veil - The ignorance of God, and of the true religion, which then was upon the Gentiles, and now is upon the Jews.

25:8 He - Christ will by his death destroy the power of death, take away the sting of the first death, and prevent the second.In victory - Heb. unto victory; so as to overcome it perfectly; which complete victory Christ hath already purchased for, and will in due time actually confer upon his people. Rebuke - The reproach and contempt cast upon his faithful people by the ungodly world.

25:9 Our God - Our Messiah, long since promised, and for whom we have waited long, is come into the world, bringing salvation with him.

9 In this chapter is,

1. The covenant of providence settled with Noah and his sons, Gen 9:1-11.
   In this covenant,
   1. God promiseth them to take care of their lives; so that,
      1. They should replenish the earth, Gen 9:1-7.
         
      2. They should be safe from the insults of the brute creatures, which should stand in awe of them, Gen 9:2.
         
      3. They should be allowed to eat flesh for the support of their lives, only they must not eat blood, Gen 9:3-4.
         
      4. The world should never be drowned again, Gen 9:8-11.
         
   2. God requires of them to take care of one another's lives, and of their own, Gen 9:5-6.
      
2. The seal of that covenant, viz. the rainbow, Gen 9:12-17.
   
3. A particular passage concerning Noah and his sons, which occasioned some prophecies that related to after - times.
   1. Noah's sin and shame, Gen 9:20-21.
      
   2. Ham's impudence and impiety, Gen 9:22.
      
   3. The pious modesty of Shem and Japheth, Gen 9:23.
      
   4. The curse of Canaan and the blessing of Shem and Japheth, Gen 9:24-27.
      
4. The age and death of Noah, Gen 9:28-29.
   

9:9 We have here the general establishment of God's covenant with this new world, and the extent of that covenant.

9:11 There shall not any more be a flood - God had drowned the world once, and still it is as provoking as ever; yet he will never drown it any more, for he deals not with us according to our sins. This promise of God keeps the sea and clouds in their decreed place, and sets them gates and bars, Hitherto they shall come, Job 38:10-11. If the sea should flow but for a few days, as it doth twice every day for a few hours, what desolations would it make? So would the clouds, if such showers as we have sometimes seen, were continued long. But God by flowing seas, and sweeping rains, shews what he could do in wrath; and yet by preserving the earth from being deluged between both, shews what he can do in mercy, and will do in truth.

9:13 I set my bow in the clouds - The rainbow, 'tis likely was seen in the clouds before, but was never a seal of the covenant 'till now. Now, concerning this seal of the covenant, observe,

1. This seal is affixed with repeated assurances of the truth of thatpromise, which it was designed to be the ratification of; I do set my bow in the cloud, Gen 9:13.It shall be seen in the cloud, Gen 9:14.and it shall be a token of the covenant, Gen 9:12-13. And I will remember my covenant, that the waters shall no more become a flood, Gen 9:15.Nay, as if the eternal Mind needed a memorandum, I will look upon it that I may remember the everlasting covenant, Gen 9:16.
2. The rainbow appears when the clouds are most disposed to wet; when wehave most reason to fear the rain prevailing, God shews this seal of the promise that it shall not prevail.
3. The rainbow appears when one part of the sky is clear, which imitatesmercy remembered in the midst of wrath, and the clouds are hemmed as it were with the rainbow, that it may not overspread the heavens, for the bow is coloured rain, or the edges of a cloud gilded. As God looks upon the bow that he may remember the covenant, so should we, that we also may be ever mindful of the covenant with faith and thankfulness.

12 

12:9 Despised - That lives in a mean condition. Honoureth - That glories in his high birth or gay attire.

12:10 Regardeth - He will not destroy it either by labour beyond its strength, or by denying it necessary food or rest. Cruel - There is cruelty mixed even with their most merciful actions.

12:11 Tilleth - That employs his time in an honest calling.Vain persons - In an idle course of living.

12:12 Desireth - He approves those arts, which wicked men use like nets to ensnare other men. The root - That piety, which is the root of his actions, yields him sufficient fruit both for his own need, and to do good to others.

12:14 Mouth - By his pious and profitable discourses. Hands - Of his actions.

12:15 Hearkeneth - That distrusts his own judgments, and seeks counsel from others.

12:16 Covereth - The shame, or injury done to him, which he conceals and bears with patience.

12:17 Deceit - He who uses himself to lying in his common talk, will use falsehood and deceit in judgment.

12:18 Health - Tends to the comfort and benefit of others.

12:19 A moment - Liars, though they may make a fair shew for a season, yet are quickly convicted.

12:20 Deceit - They whose hearts devise mischief shall be deceived in their hopes, and bring trouble upon themselves: but they who by good counsels labour to promote peace, shall reap the comfort of it themselves.