Isaiah, Chapter 49, verses 6-10
5 He is sent to the Gentiles, with gracious promisesGenesis, Chapter 31, verses 3-16
1 Jacob upon displeasure departeth secretly31 Jacob was in general, a man of devotion and integrity; yet he had more trouble than any of the patriarchs.Here is,
- His resolution to return, Gen 31:1-16.
- His clandestine departure, Gen 31:17-21.
- Laban's pursuit of him in displeasure, Gen 31:22-25.
- The hot words that passed between them, Gen 31:26-42.
- Their amicable agreement at last, Gen 31:43-55.
31:3 The Lord said unto Jacob, Return and I will be with thee - though Jacob had met with very hard usage, yet he would not quit his place 'till God bid him. He came thither by orders from heaven, and there hewould slay 'till he was ordered back. The direction he had from heaven is more fully related in the account he gives of it to his wives, where he tells them of the dream he had about the cattle, and the wonderful increase of those of his colour; and how the angel of God in that dream instructed him that it was not by chance, nor by his own policy, that he obtained that great advantage but by the providence of God, who had taken notice of the hardships Laban had put upon him, and in performance of his promise.
31:4 And Jacob sent for Rachel and Leah to the field - That he might discourse with them more privately.
31:9 God hath taken away the cattle of your father and given them to me - Thus the righteous God paid Jacob for his hard service out of Laban's estate; as afterwards he paid the seed of Jacob for their service of the Egyptians with their spoils.
31:16 Whereas Jacob looked upon the wealth which God had passed over from Laban to him as his wages, they look upon it as their portions; so that both ways God forced Laban to pay his debts, both to his servant and to his daughters.
Proverbs, Chapter 21, verses 3-21
1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water; he turneth it whithersoever he will21
21:4 The plowing - Even their civil or natural actions, which in themselves are lawful, are made sinful as they are managed by ungodly men, without any regard to the glory of God, which ought to be the end of all our actions.
21:5 Hasty - Who manages his affairs rashly.
21:6 Lying tongue - By any false or deceitful words or actions.Is tossed - Is like the chaff or smoak driven away by the wind.Of them - That take those courses which will bring destruction upon them.
21:8 The way - Of every man by nature. Strange - Estranged from God.Right - But he whose heart is pure, his conversation is agreeable to it.
21:10 Desireth - To do mischief. No favour - He spares neither friend nor foe.
21:11 The wise - The simple learn wisdom, both from the punishment of wicked men, and from the prosperity of good men.
21:12 Considereth - He looks through its present glory to that ruin for which it is designed.
21:14 In secret - Which makes it more acceptable.In the bosom - Secretly conveyed into the bosom.
21:16 Shall remain - Shall, without repentance, be condemned to eternal death.
21:17 Wine and oil - Delicious fare and luxurious feasting. Wine and oil were much used in feasts in those parts.
21:18 A ransom - The wicked shall be brought into those troubles, which were designed by wicked men for the righteous: thus Haman was a ransom for Mordecai.
21:20 The wise - Wise men lay up desirable treasures for their own use, and for their families. Oil is particularly mentioned, because that was a considerable part of their wealth and treasures in those countries.
49 Christ, being sent to the Jews complains of them, Isa 49:1-4.
He is sent to the Gentiles with gracious promises, Isa 49:5-12.
God's love to his church perpetual, Isa 49:13-17.
The ample restoration of the church, and its enlargement, Isa 49:18-23.
Its powerful deliverance out of captivity, Isa 49:24-26.
49:6 He - The Lord. It is - This is but a small favour.The tribes - That remnant of them which shall survive all their calamities. My salvation - The great instrument and author of that eternal salvation which I will give to the Gentiles.
49:7 His Holy One - The Holy One of Israel. To him - To Christ, to whom, in the days of his flesh, this description fully agrees: for men, both Jews and Gentiles among whom he lived, did despise him from their hearts; and the nation, of which he was a member, abhorred both his person and his doctrine; and he was so far from being a temporal monarch, that he came in the form of a servant, and was a servant of rulers, professing subjection and paying tribute unto Caesar. Kings - Though for a time thou shalt be despised, yet after a while thou shalt be advanced to such glory, that kings shall look upon thee with reverence. Arise - From their seats to worship thee.Faithful - Because God shall make good his promises to thee.Chuse thee - And although thou shalt be rejected by thine own people, yet God will manifest to the world, that thou, and thou only, art the person whom he hath chosen to be the Redeemer of mankind.
49:8 The Lord - God the Father unto Christ. Heard thee - Though not so as to deliver thee from death; yet so as to crown thee with glory and honour. For a covenant - To be the Mediator and surety of that covenant, which is made between me and them. To establish - To establish truth and righteousness upon earth, and subdue those lusts and passions, which are the great disturbers of human society.Desolate heritages - That desolate places may be repaired and repossessed.That Christ may possess the Heathen, who were in a spiritual sense in a most desolate condition.
49:9 Prisoners - To the Gentiles who are fast bound by the cords of their sins, and taken captive by the devil at his will. Go forth - Come forth to the light, receive divine illumination. In high places - They shall have abundant provision in all places, yea even in those which commonly are unfruitful, such are both common roads and high grounds.