Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Truth shall spring from the earth, And righteousness shall look down from heaven.

Even JEHOVAH: will give that which is good, And our land shall yield her produce.

Righteousness shall go before him, And shall direct his footsteps in the way." Psa. lxxxv. 10-14. See the notes on these verses.

These images of the dew and the rain descending from heaven and making the earth fruitful, employed by the prophet, and some of those nearly of the same kind which are used by the psalmist, may perhaps be primarily understood as designed to set forth in a splendid manner the happy state of God's people restored to their country, and flourishing in peace and plenty, in piety and virtue; but justice and salvation, mercy and truth, righteousness and peace, and glory dwelling in the land, cannot with any sort of propriety, in the one or the other, be interpreted as the consequences of that event; they must mean the blessings of the great redemption by Messiah.

Let the earth open, &c.] Jonathan, in his Targum, refers this to the resurrection of the dead; the earth shall be opened, aytym wjyw veyechon meiteiya, and the dead shall revive. A plain proof that the ancient Jews believed in a future state, and acknowledged the resurrection of the dead.

Let them bring forth salvation "Let salvation produce her fruit"] For wrpyw vaiyiphru, the Septuagint, Vulgate, and Syriac read hrpyw vaiyiphrah; and one MS. has a rasure close after the latter w vau, which probably was h he at first.

Is. 45:1-4 Cyrus is called God's anointed; he was designed an qualified for his great service by the counsel of God. The gates of Babylon which led to the river, were left open the night that Cyru marched his army into the empty channel. The Lord went before him giving entrance to the cities he besieged. He gave him also treasures which had been hidden in secret places. The true God was to Cyrus a unknown God; yet God foreknew him; he called him by his name. The exac fulfilment of this must have shown Cyrus that Jehovah was the only tru God, and that it was for the sake of Israel that he was prospered. I all the changes of states and kingdoms, God works out the good of his church.

Is. 45:5-10 There is no God beside Jehovah. There is nothing don without him. He makes peace, put here for all good; and creates evil not the evil of sin, but the evil of punishment. He is the Author of all that is true, holy, good, or happy; and evil, error, and misery came into the world by his permission, through the wilful apostacy of his creatures, but are restrained and overruled to his righteou purpose. This doctrine is applied, for the comfort of those tha earnestly longed, yet quietly waited, for the redemption of Israel. The redemption of sinners by the Son of God, and the pouring out the Spirit, to give success to the gospel, are chiefly here intended. We must not expect salvation without righteousness; together the Lord hat created them. Let not oppressors oppose God's designs for his people Let not the poor oppressed murmur, as if God dealt unkindly with them Men are but earthen pots; they are broken potsherds, and are very muc made so by mutual contentions. To contend with Him is as senseless a for clay to find fault with the potter. Let us turn God's promises int prayers, beseeching him that salvation may abound among us, and let u rest assured that the Judge of all the earth will do right.

Is. 45:11-19 Believers may ask in prayer for what they need; if for their good, it will not be withheld. But how common to hear God calle to account for his dealings with man! Cyrus provided for the returnin Jews. Those redeemed by Christ shall be provided for. The restoratio would convince many, and convert some; and all that truly join the Lord, find his service perfect freedom. Though God be his people's God and Saviour, yet sometimes he lays them under his frowns; but let the wait upon the Lord who hides his face. There is a world without end and it will be well or ill with us, according as it shall be with us in that world. The Lord we serve and trust, is God alone. All that God ha said is plain, satisfactory, and just. As God in his word calls us to seek him, so he never denied believing prayers, nor disappointe believing expectations. He gives grace sufficient, and comfort an satisfaction of soul.

Is. 45:20-25 The nations are exhorted to draw near to Jehovah. Non besides is able to help; he is the Saviour, who can save without the assistance of any, but without whom none can save. If the heart i brought into the obedience of Christ, the knee will cheerfully obey his commands. To Christ men shall come from every nation for blessings; all that hate his cause shall be put to shame, and all believers shal rejoice in him as their Friend and Portion. All must come to him: ma we now come to him as the Lord our Righteousness, walking according to his commandments __________________________________________________________________

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