Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 51:3
For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
3. shall comfort will comfort will make ] lit. as R.V. hath comforted hath made (perf. of certainty).
like the garden of the Lord ] Gen 13:10; cf. Eze 28:13; Eze 31:8 f.
joy and gladness &c. ] Cf. Jer 33:11.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For the Lord shall comfort Zion – On the word Zion, see the notes at Isa 1:8. The meaning here is, that he would again restore it from its ruins. The argument is drawn from the statement in the previous verses. If God had raised up so great a nation from so humble all origin, he had power to restore the waste places of Judea to more than their former beauty and prosperity (see the notes at Isa 40:1).
And he will make her wilderness – Judea is here represented as lying waste. It is to be remembered that the time to which the prophet here refers is that of the captivity, and near its close. Of course, as that would have continued seventy years, in so long a period Judea would have become almost an extended wilderness, a wide waste. Any country, that was naturally as fertile as Judea, would in that time be overrun with briers, thorns, and underbrush, and even with a wild and luxuriant growth of the trees of the forest.
Like Eden – Gen. 2 Like a cultivated and fertile garden – distinguished not only for its fertility, but for its beauty and order.
Her desert like the garden of the Lord – Like the garden which the Lord planted Gen 2:8. Septuagint, Hos paradeison kuriou – As the paradise of the Lord. The idea is. that it should be again distinguished for its beauty and fertility.
Joy and gladness – The sound of rejoicing and praise shall be again heard there, where are now heard the cries of wild beasts.
The voice of melody – Hebrew, A psalm The praises of God shall again be celebrated.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Isa 51:3
For the Lord shall comfort Zion
Zion comforted
I.
THERE IS A LOW ESTATE, OF THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSAL CHURCH, AND OF PARTICULAR BRANCHES OF IT, AND LIKEWISE OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS.
II. THERE ARE GRACIOUS PROMISES OF REVIVAL, of restored fertility and productiveness.
III. THE MODE IT WHICH THESE BLESSED EFFECTS MAY BE LOOKED AND SOUGHT FOR. When the eye of faith is directed towards Christ, when we believe in Him as the Lord our righteousness, when the prayer of faith ascends to heaven, when the ear hearkens to the inspired Word, then we may expect that God will be gracious to His inheritance, and refresh it when it is weary. We may not look for the supplies of the Spirit of God unless we earnestly ask for them. (H. J. Hastings, M.A.)
The depression, prosperity and delight of the Church
Taking these words as the prophets statement with regard to the spiritual Church of God, under the appellation of Zion, we propose from these words to call attention–
I. TO THE DEPRESSION OF THE CHURCH.
1. This depression arises from the small number of those who belong to the Church.
2. The depression consists also in the want of spiritual vigour on the part of those who belong to the Church.
II. TO THE PROSPERITY OF THE CHURCH. Observe–
1. The source to which the prosperity of the Church is assigned. For the Lord shall comfort Zion, etc. Christianity is, emphatically, the ministration of the Spirit.
2. The nature of the prosperity by which the Church will be distinguished. What: is the precise import of this comforting of Zion, this comforting of her waste places, making her wilderness like the garden of Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord? Here you will observe, that a vast augmentation of the numbers of the Church must plainly be regarded as included. A great purification and refinement in the characters of those who do pertain to the Church will signalize those future days.
3. The means to be adopted by the true friends of the Church in order that the period of this predicted prosperity may arrive.
III. TO THE DELIGHT OF THE CHURCH. Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody. This emotion may properly arise from contemplating–
1. The wonderful change which shall have been accomplished in the condition of the Church itself.
2. The connection between the prosperity of the Church and the glorification of God.
3. The connection between the prosperity of the Church and the happiness of mankind.
Conclusion:
1. Our first anxiety, of course, must be, that you may individually belong to the Church of God yourselves.
2. What we next desire of you is, that you will labour in all the appointed means and instrumentalities by which the prosperity of the Church of God is to be secured. (J. Parsons.)
Zion comforted
(1) The land of bliss is
(2) full of human beings
(3) in festive frame and active enjoyment. (E. Delitzsch, D.D.)
A cheerful prospect
I. HEAVENLY COMFORT PROMISED. This is a promise to Gods Church. The Church of God–captured as it has been by Christ from the world, chosen to be the palace where He dwells, builded together for a temple wherein He is worshipped–is frequently called Zion.
1. The object of this comfort. The Lord will comfort Zion. Well He may, for she is His chosen. The Lord has chosen Zion. He would have those upon whom His choice is fixed be glad and happy.
2. The Lord Himself is the Comforter. There are sorrows for which there is no solace within the reach of the creature; there is a ruin which it would baffle any mortal to retrieve. Happy for us that the Omnipotent comes to our aid.
3. How does the Lord propose to comfort Zion? If you read the verse through you will find it is by making her fertile. The true way to comfort the Church is to build her synagogues, restore the desolation of former times, to sow her fields, plant her vineyards, make her soil fruitful, call out the industry of her sons and daughters, and fill them with lively, ardent zeal.
4. The promise is given in words that contain an absolute pledge. He shall and He will are terms that admit of no equivocation.
II. THE MOURNFUL CASES FAVOURED. He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord.
1. Are there not to be found in the visible Church persons whose character is here vividly depicted?
(1) There are those who once were fruitful, hut are now comparable to wastes. I remember one Monday afternoon, when we had been waiting upon the Lord in prayer ever since seven oclock in the morning, that there came a most remarkable wave of prayer over the assembly. And then two backsliders got up and prayed one aider the other. According to their own account, they had been very bad fellows indeed, and had sorely transgressed against God; but there they were, broken-hearted and fairly broken down. It was a sight to make angels rejoice as their tears flowed. Certainly their sobs and cries touched the hearts of all of us who were assembled. I thought to myself, Then God is blessing us, for when backsliders come back it is a proof that God has visited His people.
(2) Then a second department of the promise is, He will make her wilderness like Eden. I take the wilderness here to be a place of scanty vegetation. Oh, how many there are in the Church of God who are just like that! They are Christians, but sorry Christians they are.
(3) A third character is implied in the desert–the deserted places where no man dwells, where the traveller does not care to linger. How many professors of religion answer to this description of the soil! They are like deserts. You not only never did bring forth fruit, but you never concerned yourself to do so.
2. Ask ye now, what does the Lord say He will do for them? He says that He will make the wilderness like Eden. You know what Eden was. It was the garden of the earth in the days of primeval probity. So the Lord says that when He visits His Church He will make these poor backsliders, these immature Christians, these nominal professors, like Eden. Moreover, as if to strengthen the volume of His grace and of our hope, He says that He will make her desert like the garden of the Lord. He shall come to you and delight your heart and soul with His converse.
III. CERTAIN DESIRABLE RESULTS WHICH ARE PREDICTED. Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. You notice the doubles. The parallelism of Hebrew poetry, perhaps, necessitated them. Still I remember how John Bunyan says that all the flowers in Gods garden bloom double. We are told of manifold mercies, that is, mercies which are folded up one in another, so that you may unwrap them and find a fresh mercy enclosed in every fold. Here we have joy and gladness, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. The Lord multiplies His grace. Oh, what a delightful thing must a visitation from God be to His Church! Without God all she can do is to groan. Nay, she will not always do that. She sometimes indulges a foolish conceit, and says: I am rich and increased in goods, and have need of nothing. After that will soon be heard the hooting of dragons and the cry of owls. Let God visit His Church, and there is sure to be thanksgiving and the voice of melody. This is the mark of a revived Church everywhere. New impetus is given to the service of song. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
The garden of the Lord
The garden of God
(for children):–Here and elsewhere Holy Scripture pictures a gathering of the upright and holy as a garden, and Christly people, whether men or children, as the trees and plants and flowers in such a garden. In His garden–
I. GOD WILL HAVE NO WEEDS. This reminds us–
1. What a number of evils must be destroyed. Idleness, falsehood, cowardice, disobedience, etc., are weeds that must be plucked up and destroyed.
2. The ways by which evils are to be destroyed.
(1) Like weeds, they are to be plucked up and burnt. There must be no half measures in dealing with sin. We must get at the roots and then burn the whole.
(2) Like weeds, they must be cleared by better life taking their place. In New Zealand, where the hoe of the settlers failed to destroy the rank vegetation that had rooted there for centuries, they have successfully adopted the plan of planting among it our common English clover. And as it grows it actually is rooting out the formidable flax-weed with its fibrous leaves and strong woody roots. So truth, courage, love, will root out lying, cowardice, selfishness. We get rid of evil from hearts and lives by the expulsive power of a new affection.
II. THERE IS A GREAT VARIETY OF FLOWERS. Rich rose, stately tulip, sweet lily of the valley, etc.
a thousand varieties all helping us to understand the famous preacher who said, Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made and forgot to put a soul into. So there is great variety in the virtues; no monotony in Christian character. There are virtues that, like lofty trees and brilliant flowers, make heroes and martyrs. And there are others like flowers with tiny petals and delicate tints. St. Francis of Sales said, How carefully we should cherish the little virtues which spring up at the foot of the Cross. What are they? some one asked him. Humility, meekness, kindness, simplicity, candour, he replied.
III. HE HIMSELF HAS JOY. Over true souls He rejoices. The prophet says, God rejoices over them with singing. God seems to sing over those of whom He says, as of, David, a man after God s own heart; as of Daniel, O man greatly beloved; as of the Lord Jesus Christ, My well-beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.
IV. ALL THE BEAUTY OF ALL THE FLOWERS IS TO BE TRACED TO HIS CARE.
1. He is the Owner.
2. He is the Sower.
3. He is the Gardener–Christ called God the Husbandman.
4. He is the Source of all life and beauty. For He is Sun, and Wind: is as dew–and showers also. (U. R. Thomas, B.A.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
For: so this comes in as a reason why they should look unto or consider that famous example of Abraham and Sarah, because they should find the like wonder wrought on their behalf. Or, Therefore, or for the sake of Abraham, my friend, and of that covenant which I made with him, and by which I promised to bless him and his seed for ever.
Shall comfort Zion; his church, which is frequently called by that name, both in the Old and New Testament.
He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord: although she shall be waste and desolate like a wilderness or desert for a time, yet she shall be restored, and be made as pleasant and flourishing as the garden of Eden was.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. ForSee for the argument,see on Isa 51:2.
the garden of theLordrestoration of the primeval paradise (Gen 2:8;Eze 28:13; Rev 2:7).
melodyHebrew,“psalm.” God’s praises shall again be heard.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For the Lord shall comfort Zion,…. The church, by his Spirit, in the ministration of the word, and administration of ordinances; by the donation of the blessings of grace, and by the application of Gospel promises; by the discoveries of his love; by granting his gracious presence; by blessing his word; and by calling many souls, and adding them to his people: and in order to engage the church and people of God to believe God will do this, and that he can and will bless and increase them when in a low estate, the above instances of calling Abraham alone, and the blessing and increasing him, are produced:
he will comfort all her waste places; by rebuilding them, and restoring them to their former lustre and glory: the church may be said to be “waste” and desolate, and like “a wilderness” and “desert”, as in the next clauses, when the doctrines of the Gospel are departed from, the ordinances of public worship are not attended to, and the discipline of it is not kept up; when there are great declensions among the Lord’s people, in their faith, love, patience, forbearance, self-denial, spirituality, and heavenly mindedness; when divisions and animosities prevail among them; when there is a negligence in their lives and conversations; and there are but few instances of conversion, and a general unconcernedness about those things; but so it will not always be:
and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; the church is a “garden”, a small spot, in comparison of the world, distinguished and separated by the grace of God from others; in which are many precious souls, comparable to trees, herbs, and plants; and these do not grow up of themselves, but are planted there by the Lord; and much pains are taken by him, the husbandman, to cultivate this garden: for it is his, the garden of the Lord; it is of his planting; it is his property, and enclosed for his rise; it is an Eden, pleasantly situated on a fruitful hill, Christ Jesus, by the river of divine love; is full of pleasant plants, pleasant to the owner of the garden, and to the saints themselves; it becomes fruitful through the dews of divine grace, the rising of Christ, the sun of righteousness, and the blowing of the south wind, the blessed Spirit; and may be said to be in a very comfortable condition, when the word and ordinances are duly ministered; when the graces of the Spirit are in exercise, and many souls are converted: the consequence of which is,
joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody; for the pure preaching of the Gospel; the feast of fat things made in the holy mountain; the presence of God enjoyed; a lively exercise of grace in the saints; and many souls born again. The Targum is,
“joy and rejoicing shall be found in her; they that offer thanksgiving, and the voice of them that praise;”
all hearts filled with joy and gladness.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
3. Surely Jehovah will comfort Zion. The Prophet shews that in the person of Abraham there was exhibited an example which applies to all ages; for, as the Lord suddenly produced from one man so numerous an offspring, so he will also people his Church by wonderful and unknown methods, and not once only, but whenever she shall be thought to be childless and solitary. In like manner, Paul, after having spoken of the faith of Abraham and praised his excellence, applies that doctrine to each of us, that
“
he believed in hope against hope, and that his mind was not driven hither and thither, but that he was fully persuaded that what God had promised he was able also to perform, though it appeared to be incredible and at variance with all reason.” (Rom 4:18.)
He will comfort all her desolations. This may be explained to mean, “The Lord will comfort his Church, not only when she shall be in a flourishing condition, but likewise when she shall be desolate and reduced to solitude; “ for she must have been laid desolate, and her frightful ruins must have brought her to the verge of destruction, before she felt the aid which is here described.
And will make her desert like a place of delights. The Prophet here alludes to a passage in the writings of Moses, in which he relates that man was at first placed in “the garden of Eden,” (Gen 2:15,) that is, in “a place of delights,” from which he was driven out by his own fault. (Gen 3:24.) Now we, who have been deprived of that blessing which he bestowed on our first parent, are exiles throughout the whole world, and are deprived of that paradise. Accordingly, whenever great calamities happen, and the order of events is overturned, and everything is thrown into wretched desolation and ruin, let us know that we are punished for our unbelief and for our heinous sins; and let us remember that sentence which was pronounced on our first parent, or rather on all mankind; and that in every part of life, but especially when we see the condition of the Church ruined and overturned. The earth, which otherwise would abound in blessings of every kind, has been reduced to solitude through our fault; and the Church, which would flourish everywhere, has been ruined and laid desolate.
Joy and gladness. He means that the change shall be so great that the Church will no longer groan or complain; for, so long as the Church was oppressed by a harsh captivity, nothing could be heard in her but mouming and lamentation. Now restored, she shall rejoice and render thanksgiving to God. Thus we are also exhorted to gratitude, that we may burst out into praise and thanksgiving to God, when we have had experience of his goodness.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
COMFORT IN TROUBLE
Isa. 51:3; Isa. 51:12, and Isa. 52:9. For the Lord shall comfort Zion, &c.
The prophecy is addressed to those who are striving after the right kind of life and seeking Jehovah, and not turning from Him to make earthly things and themselves the object of their pursuits; for such only are in a condition by faith to regard that as possible, which seems impossible to human understanding, because the very opposite is lying before the eye of the senses (Delitzsch).
I. The people of God often stand in urgent need of Divine comfort. They not only have their full share of the sorrows which are common to humanity, but they have troubles to which the people of the world are strangers. Hence we are told that many are the afflictions of the righteous, &c. The Saviour prepared His people for this: In the world, &c., Whosoever will be my disciple, &c The people of God have to fight every inch of their way to heaven: These are they, &c. Their chief sorrows spring from sources unknown to and incomprehensible by the world. They are soul sorrows, having their origin in the vivid views which they have of the evil of sin, and of their own individual guilt in the sight of God, &c. Sometimes they fear that after all they shall never reach the celestial Canaan. Therefore they have the need of all the comfort which can be given them on the way to heaven. (See pp. 2, 4, 386; cf. Rom. 7:22-24; Gal. 5:17; Gal. 4:29; Rom. 8:36; 2Co. 4:8-14; 2Ti. 3:12; Psa. 88:18; Pro. 17:1; Isa. 38:14-15; 2Ti. 4:10; 2Ti. 4:16; Psa. 51:5-8; 2Co. 7:5.)
II. It is Gods will that His people should to comforted amid all their tribulations. See how God resolves to comfort His people: I, even I, will do it. He had ordered His ministers to do it (Isa. 40:1), but because they cannot reach the heart, He takes the work into His own hands. See how He glories in it; He takes it among the titles of His honour to be the God that comforteth them that are cast down; He delights in being so (M. Henry). Because He would have His people happy. His people should remember this, and cultivate the spirit of Christian cheerfulness, because,
1. Uncomfortable Christians often dishonour the Lord.
2. Uncomfortable Christians cannot be as diligent as they ought to be in the duties of religion. Working out their own salvation. Working for God in seeking to save others (Psa. 51:12-13; P. D. 450453).
III. The bestowment of Divine comfort inspires them with grateful and exultant joy (Isa. 51:12; Isa. 52:9). Where there is joy and gladness to their satisfaction, it is fit there should be thanksgiving to Gods honour; for whatever is the matter of their rejoicing, ought to be the matter of their thanksgiving, and the returns of Gods favour ought to be celebrated with the voice of melody; which will be the more melodious when God gives songs in the night, songs in the desert (M. Henry).
There may be elevated joy in the midst of deep affliction (Rom. 5:3; Php. 3:1; Php. 4:4, &c.) Eleven of the thirteen epistles of Paul begin with exclamations of praise and thanksgiving (2Co. 1:3-4). Take to praising God under all circumstances, and thus you will lift your soul right out of your sorrow, and taste the pleasures of immortality. In everything give thanks. Let this be your constant occupation. He well deserves our warmest praise.
CONCLUSION:
1. The duty and privilege of believers to seek Divine comfort. God has given us express assurances that it is His purpose that His people should have ample and unceasing comfort amid all their sorrows and sufferings (Isa. 40:1; Isa. 51:3; Isa. 51:12; Php. 3:1; Php. 4:4). Most ungracious on our part not readily and gladly to receive the comfort so provided. To refuse to be comforted, is to be guilty of a frustration of the merciful purposes of God towards us.
2. The duty and privilege of comforted believers to comfort others. God comforts you, that you may comfort othersthat He may use you as comforters. Experimental knowledge helps us to speak with authority and powerfits us to be able and ready comforters. What we have received we must give (2Co. 1:3-4).Alfred Tucker.
God will give His people, I. Consolation. II. Fruitfulness. III. GladnessJ. E. Page.
PARADISE RESTORED
Isa. 51:3. For the Lord shall comfort Zion, &c.
The Church is a garden planted by the Lord, luxuriant in beauty and fruitfulness, and filled with happy occupants. The promise is as yet only in process of fulfilment; and that we may look more clearly into the future, we are called to look into the past. Eden was the garden of the Lord, the primeval paradise, the place of consummate beauty and happiness, ere sin had blighted its joys and stained its purity. To make Zion like Eden is to bring back the vanished glories of that happy place. To the extent that this is accomplished, the Church is
I. A PLACE OF DIVINE COMFORT AND FELLOWSHIP. No sooner do we press in by faith, through Christ, the door, than we enjoy the comforts of Divine love, and are admitted to heavenly fellowships (Heb. 6:18). Did Adam hear the voice of the Lord God? Here the intercourse is renewed. Life conducts through an Eden radiant with the Divine presence. What a change since the day when the Lord drove forth the man from Eden! That door has been again unbarred, and Christ has secured for us a welcome into a fairer paradise than that then was lost. The Church is a habitation of God. Enter, then, and you will enjoy this rich comfort and lofty fellowship. So long as you stand outside, you cannot know the beauties of the garden; you cannot survey its landscapes, nor breathe its perfumes. God has not disowned and forsaken this fallen world: it is not, as we might have expected, desolated by His wrath: we can still find an Eden in ita garden of Gods presence and favour.
II. A PLACE OF HELPFUL SOCIAL LIFE. Such was the life of the first pair, and such would have been the life of their children, but for the entrance of sin. Alas, how that fact has altered the course of human history! What jarring discords in our domestic and social life! But if the Church is to be as Eden, human society will be regenerated: the love, peace, and helpful companionship that were found in the garden of the Lord will be restored, when this promise is accomplished to the full. The Church will yet leaven society with her principles of brotherly love and mutual help. The world around is like a wilderness, where the wild plants of nature grow in rank profusion. But God has engaged to reclaim Zions waste places. This garden is ever extending its walls, and will do so till the whole earth becomes an Eden.
III. A PLACE OF JOY. Joy and gladness shall be found therein. No jarring strife shall mar its harmony: love to God and to each other shall reign among the happy inmates of the restored Paradise. We naturally think of a garden as a place of joy. Surrounded by all that is fair and peaceful, the mind depressed by trial is relieved by the cheerful notes of the birds, the luxuriance of the foliage, and the forms and hues of the flowers. The Church of Christ is such a garden, in which we taste joys unknown by the world. The fruit of the Spirit is joy,the joy of sin forgiven and heaven secured,the joy of communion with Christ, and assurance of His lovethe joy of mutual endearment and mutual service. What joy can surpass that which is the heritage of all who dwell within this happy inclosure?
IV. A SCENE OF WORSHIP. There shall be found therein thanksgiving and the voice of melody. What a delightful exercise is that of praise! What a happy garden, ever jubilant with sacred song!
These, then, are the features of this garden of the Church. Not on earth can we behold them in all their perfection. The earthly paradise, reopened to us by Christ, will soon become the heavenly paradise (Rev. 2:7; Rev. 22:1-2). May we all at last become inmates of the Eden above, the paradise of beauty and splendour, the abode of love and joy and worship unending!William Guthrie, M.A.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
(3) He will make her wilderness like Eden.Interesting as showing Isaiahs acquaintance with Genesis 1-3. (Comp. Eze. 31:9; Eze. 31:16; Eze. 36:35; Joe. 2:3.) Paradise has already entered into the idea of future restoration (Rev. 2:7).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
This sweet promise comes in very blessedly, after the humbling views the Lord had bid the seekers after him to take of themselves. The Lord will give grace to the humble; and he that gives grace, gives also glory. It is He who wounds, and He who heals. Jas 4:6 ; Psa 84:11 ; Deu 32:39 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 51:3 For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
Ver. 3. For the Lord shall comfort Zion. ] (As once he did Abraham) by multiplying her children, giving her good store of converts. These were the apostles and the primitive Christians, those earthly angels, who made the world, which before was as a waste wilderness, to become a most pleasant and plentiful paradise. Chrysostom somewhere calleth them angels, and saith that they were puriores coelo afflictione facti, more clear than the azured sky.
Joy and gladness shall be found in them.
Thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
waste places. Compare Isa 40:1; Isa 49:13.
like Eden. Reference to Pentateuch, (Gen 2 and Gen 3). App-92. Elsewhere, only here; Joe 2:3; and six times in Ezekiel.
like the garden of the LORD. This is a quotation from Gen 13:10. App-92.
melody = music or Psalmody.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the Lord: Isa 51:12, Isa 12:1, Isa 40:1, Isa 40:2, Isa 49:13, Isa 54:6-8, Isa 61:1-3, Isa 66:10-14, Psa 85:8, Jer 31:12-14, Jer 31:25, Zep 3:14-20, 2Co 1:3, 2Co 1:4
all: Isa 44:26, Isa 49:8, Isa 52:9, Isa 61:4, Psa 102:13, Psa 102:14, Jer 33:12, Jer 33:13
make: Isa 35:1, Isa 35:2, Isa 35:7-10, Isa 41:18, Isa 41:19
like the: Gen 2:8, Gen 2:9, Gen 13:10, Eze 31:8-10, Joe 2:3
joy: Jer 33:11, 1Pe 1:8, Rev 19:1-7
Reciprocal: Psa 97:8 – Zion Son 2:14 – for sweet Son 5:1 – come Isa 49:19 – thy waste Isa 49:20 – The place Isa 58:12 – waste Isa 65:19 – the voice of weeping Isa 66:13 – one Jer 31:13 – for Eze 28:13 – in Eden Eze 36:10 – the wastes Eze 36:35 – like the Hos 2:14 – and speak Joe 2:22 – for the pastures Zec 1:17 – the Lord shall Luk 13:19 – and it Gal 3:14 – the blessing 2Th 2:17 – Comfort Rev 7:12 – thanksgiving
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Isa 51:3. For, &c. The prophet, in these words, seems to be giving a reason why they should look unto, or consider, that famous example of Abraham and Sarah; namely, because they should find the like wonder wrought on their behalf. Or the meaning may be, therefore, for the sake of Abraham and of that covenant which God made with him, and by which he promised to bless him and his seed for ever; the Lord shall comfort Zion His church, frequently, as we have seen, called by that name. He will make her wilderness like Eden Although she may be waste and desolate like a wilderness or desert for a time, yet she shall be restored and made as pleasant and flourishing as the garden of Eden was. The expressions are figurative, and, according to Vitringa, in their primary sense, refer to the state of Zion after their restoration from Babylon; in their secondary and spiritual sense, to the redemption of the church by the Messiah, and the consequent blessings of grace. See Isa 49:19; Isa 52:9.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
51:3 For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness {c} like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found in it, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
(c) As plentiful as paradise, Gen 2:8-9 .
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Even though the Babylonians would reduce the population of Jerusalem almost to zero, the God who gave Abraham numerous descendants could and would repopulate Zion (cf. Isa 49:20). He would comfort His people, personified as Zion, by doing this. He would reverse Zion’s fortunes, transforming her desert wilderness areas into another Eden.
"Like Eden is not simply a figure of beauty and plenty but also one of the absence of the divine curse consequent upon sin." [Note: Motyer, p. 404.]
God would turn her sorrow and wailing into joyful singing and thanksgiving. The implication is that as Abraham was strong in faith and believed God’s promises, so should the Israelites of Isaiah’s day (cf. Gen 15:6).
"As Sarah gave birth to Isaac after a long period of barrenness, so Zion, a second Sarah, will be surrounded by a joyous multitude of children after a long period of desolation." [Note: Delitzsch, 2:283.]