1 For Zions sake, wil I not hold my peace, and for Ierusalems sake I will not rest, vntill the righteousnesse thereof goe forth as brightnesse, and the saluation thereof as a lampe that burneth;
2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousnes, and all Kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.
3 Thou shalt also be a crowne of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royall diademe in the hand of thy God.
4 Thou shalt no more bee termed, Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed, Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land, Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shalbe maried.
5 ¶ For as a yong man marrieth a virgine, so shall thy sonnes marry thee: and as the bridegrome reioyceth ouer the bride, so shall thy God reioyce ouer thee.
6 I haue set watchmen vpon thy walles, O Ierusalem, which shall neuer hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keepe not silence:
7 And giue him no rest till he establish, and till hee make Ierusalem a praise in the earth.
8 The Lord hath sworne by his Right hand, and by the arme of his strength, Surely, I will no more giue thy corne to be meat for thine enemies, and the sonnes of the stranger shall not drinke thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:
9 But they that haue gathered it shall eat it, and praise the Lord, and they that haue brought it together, shal drinke it in the Courts of my Holinesse.
10 ¶ Goe through, goe through the gates: prepare you the way of the people: cast vp, cast vp the high way, gather out the stones, lift vp a standard for the people.
11 Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed vnto the end of the world, say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy saluation commeth; behold, his reward is with him, and his worke before him.
12 And they shall call them, The holy people: the redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, a citie not forsaken.
God's care of his church and people. (1-5) The office of ministers in preaching the gospel. (6-9) Every hinderance shall be removed from the way of salvation. (10-12)1-5 The Son of God here assures his church of his unfailing love, and his pleading for her under all trails and difficulties. She shall be called by a new name, a pleasant name, such as she was never called by before. The state of true religion in the world, before the preaching of the gospel, no man seemed to have any real concern for. God, by his grace, has wrought that in his church, which makes her his delight. Let us thence learn motives to holiness. If the Lord rejoices over us, we should rejoice in his service.
6-9 God's professing people must be a praying people. He is not displeased with us for being earnest, as men commonly are; he bids us to cry after him, and give him no rest, #Lu 11:5,6|. It is a sign that God is coming to a people in mercy, when he pours out a spirit of prayer upon them. See how uncertain our creature-comforts are. See also God's mercy in giving plenty, and peace to enjoy it. Let us delight in attending the courts of the Lord, that we may enjoy the consolations of his Spirit.
10-12 Way shall be made for Christ's salvation; all difficulties shall be removed. He brings a reward of comfort and peace with him; but a work of humiliation and reformation before him; and they shall be called, The holy people, and, The redeemed of the Lord. Holiness puts honour and beauty upon any place or person, makes them admired, beloved, and sought after. Many events may have been part fulfilments of this, as earnests of more glorious times yet to come. The close connexion between the blessedness of the Jews and of the Gentiles, runs through the Scriptures. The Lord Jesus will complete his work, and he never will forsake one whom he has redeemed and sanctified.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.