1 Sing O barren thou that didst not beare; breake forth into singing, and crie aloud thou that didst not trauell with child: for more are the children of the desolate then the children of the maried wife, saith the Lord.
2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtaines of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes.
3 For thou shalt breake forth on the right hand, and on the left; and thy seed shall inherite the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
4 Feare not: for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded, for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
5 For thy maker is thine husband, (the Lord of hostes is his name;) and thy redeemer the holy one of Israel, the God of the whole earth shall he be called.
6 For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken, and grieued in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
7 For a small moment haue I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee.
8 In a litle wrath I hid my face from thee, for a moment; but with euerlasting kindnesse will I haue mercie on thee, saith the Lord thy redeemer.
9 For this is as the waters of Noah vnto me: for as I haue sworne that the waters of Noah should no more goe ouer the earth; so haue I sworne that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
10 For the mountaines shall depart, and the hilles be remoued, but my kindnesse shall not depart from thee, neither shall the couenant of my peace be remoued, saith the Lord, that hath mercie on thee.
11 ¶ Oh thou afflicted, tossed with tempest and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with faire colours, and lay thy foundations with Saphires.
12 And I will make thy windowes of Agates, and thy gates of Carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.
13 And all thy children shalbe taught of the Lord, and great shalbe the peace of thy children.
14 In righteousnesse shalt thou be established: thou shalt be farre from oppression, for thou shalt not feare; & from terrour, for it shall not come neere thee.
15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoeuer shal gather together against thee, shall fall for thy sake.
16 Behold, I haue created the smith that bloweth the coales in the fire, and that bringeth foorth an instrument for his worke, and I haue created the waster to destroy.
17 ¶ No weapon that is formed against thee, shall prosper, and euery tongue that shall rise against thee in iudgement, thou shalt condemne. This is the heritage of the seruants of the Lord, and their righteousnesse is of me, saith the Lord.
The increase of the church by the conversion of the Jews and Gentiles. (1-5) Its certain deliverance. (6-10) Its triumphant state is described. (11-17)1-5 Observe the low state of religion in the world, for a long time before Christianity was brought in. But by preaching the gospel, multitudes were converted from idols to the living God. This is matter of great rejoicing to the church. The bounds of the church were extended. Though its state on earth is but mean and movable, like a tent or tabernacle, it is sometimes a growing state, and must be enlarged as the family increases. But the more numerous the church grows, the more she must fortify herself against errors and corruptions. Thy Maker is thy Husband. Christ is the Holy One of Israel, the Mediator of the covenant made with the Old Testament church. Long he had been called the God of Israel; but now he shall be called the God of the whole earth. And he will cleanse from sin, and cause every true believer to rejoice in this sacred union. We never can enough admire this mercy, or duly value this privilege.
6-10 As God is slow to anger, so he is swift to show mercy. And how sweet the returns of mercy would be, when God should come and comfort them! He will have mercy on them. God's gathering his people takes rise from his mercy, not any merit of theirs; and it is with great mercies, with everlasting kindness. The wrath is little, the mercies great; the wrath for a moment, the kindness everlasting. We are neither to despond under afflictions, nor to despair of relief. Mountains have been shaken and removed, but the promises of God never were broken by any event. Mountains and hills also signify great men. Creature-confidences shall fail; but when our friends fail us, our God does not. All this is alike applicable to the church at large, and to each believer. God will rebuke and correct his people for sins; but he will not cast them off. Let this encourage us to give the more diligence to make our calling and election sure.
11-17 Let the people of God, when afflicted and tossed, think they hear God speaking comfortably to them by these words, taking notice of their griefs and fears. The church is all glorious when full of the knowledge of God; for none teaches like him. It is a promise of the teaching and gifts of the Holy Spirit. All that are taught of God are taught to love one another. This seems to relate especially to the glorious times to succeed the tribulations of the church. Holiness, more than any thing, is the beauty of the church. God promises protection. There shall be no fears within; there shall be no fightings without. Military men value themselves on their splendid titles, but God calls them, "Wasters made to destroy," for they make wasting and destruction their business. He created them, therefore he will serve his own designs by them. The day is coming when God will reckon with wicked men for their hard speeches, #Jude 1:15|. Security and final victory are the heritage of each faithful servant of the Lord. The righteousness by which they are justified, and the grace by which they are sanctified, are the gift of God, and the effect of his special love. Let us beseech him to sanctify our souls, and to employ us in his service.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.