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| 1 Comfort ye–comfort ye, my people,–Saith your God. |
Comfort ye my people – Natural Israel. E357; R1325:4, R5568:2, R2605:4
Because the "double" is completed, we may speak the words of comfort. SM398:1; R599:5, R1405:3, R4110:3, R5503:2, R5234:6, R2296:6, R2361:5, R2526:1
It is not our expectation that the Jews would return to Palestine as Christians. R4764:4
God's attitude toward the Jews is typified by Joseph's full forgiveness of his brethren, recognizing that their crucifixion of Messiah was merely a carrying out of the divine purpose. R5234:6
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| 2 Speak ye unto the heart of Jerusalem, And cry unto her,–That accomplished, is her warfare, That accepted, is her punishment,–That she hath received, at the hand of Yahweh, According to the full measure of all her sins. |
Speak ye – The Church. R1378:6
Earnest Christians armed with the power of divine truth. R1379:2
Zionism from a prophetic standpoint seems to stir the Jewish heart as the subject never did politically. R4764:5
Were it not for a share in the work of gathering out the Bride, we would be in Jerusalem to do a part in the great work of turning away blindness from Jacob. R1395:5
Preaching to the Jews the return of divine favor as a people before they believe in Christ; and that, with this favor, would come the opening of their blinded eyes to recognize in Christ Jesus the Sun of Righteousness. R1325:4
Comfortably – A new message for Israel of the return of divine favor. R1325:4
To Jerusalem – From 1878 AD onward. B227, B258, R2361:4, R5568:2, R4110:3
The natural seed. R1378:6
One of the signs of a new dispensation would be the sprouting, or indication of life, hope, promise. amongst the Jews. R5503:2
Thirty years ago I attempted to tell Israel the good tidings but God's set time for Israel to hear was still future. I am still waiting for God's own time and way for the fulfilment of Isa. 40:1,2 (1910). SM480:1
Not that Jerusalem is going to hear at first. Q379:3
That her warfare – Her appointed time of waiting (margin). C258, C288; R1043:4, R2605:4
The time of their national death and torment. R2605:4
They will leave their hadean state (national death) and torment and become the first of the nations to be blessed. HG387:4
Her time of sorrow. OV78:2
"That is determined shall be poured upon that desolate one (or cast off people)" till her cup be full of sorrow. (Dan. 9:27) B72
They were sentenced to a "double" or repetition of their already long period of waiting, during which God would show them no favor, manifest no interest in them. R1202:4
Is accomplished – The time is evidently not far distant when their national hope will be rehabilitated and they shall rejoice again as a people. PD53/65
After divine wrath has burned out their national transgression, even searching them out to the very lowest oblivion (sheol). (Deut. 32:22) E357
Every evidence of the return of divine favor to fleshly Israel is an evidence that divine favor to spiritual Israel is gradually drawing to a close. R2361:6
As in many other prophecies, the standpoint of the future is taken and the things are spoken of as accomplished facts. R1754:6
Her iniquity is pardoned – "His blood be upon us and upon our children." (Matt. 27:24) R2786:4
She hath received – Where their double of waiting for the Kingdom expired; the Kingdom did come in 1878 AD. R1202:4; SM400:1; CR104:3, 5
Therefore the "rich man" (Israel) will walk out of his fiery troubles over the bridge of God's promises yet unfulfilled to that nation. (Luke 16:19-31) R2605:1
As divine favor was gradually taken from Israel, so we expect the return of favor will be gradual. SM401:1, SM403:2
LORD'S hand double – Her double, kophel, as of a thing folded in the middle; "I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double unto them." (Jer. 16:18) B227, B218
The period of Israel's disfavor, from AD 33 to 1878, was to be of the same length, 1845 years, as the period of her favor from the death of Jacob to the death of Christ. B219; R1202:1
The second portion, of two equal parts. R1378:6, R5235:1; HG53:2; CR141:2; CR104:2; SM398:1, SM400:1
The period of their blindness is the second part of the "double." With the fulfilment of that "double" their blindness will begin to vanish and "all the blind eyes shall be opened." SM398:T, CR105:4
Since that time we have seen a marked beginning and the gradual progress of the turning away of blindness from fleshly Israel. R1405:3
Since 1878, the star of Judaism has been rising. R5568:2, R5920:6, R599:5
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| 3 A voice of one crying!–In the desert, prepare ye the way of Yahweh,–Make smooth, in the waste plain, a highway for our God: |
The voice of him – Verses 3 to 7 are God's message to Christendom. R4721:2
In John 1:19-27 John the Baptist claimed to be the fulfilment. R1736:3
The message of John the Baptist was typical of the message of God through his consecrated people to nominal Churchianity and the world. HG457:3; E44
Foreseeing Israel's rejection of John's testimony; the Lord had in mind the Gospel Church as another antitypical Elias. R1687:6, R1379:2
The same voice that speaks to the Jews words of comfort warns Christians that we are on the eve of strenuous times. HG457:2
Prepare ye – If the kings of earth and the financial and ecclesiastical princes would promptly and thoroughly establish righteousness in the earth, Messiah's Kingdom would be introduced peaceably. HG457:5
The way of the LORD – Of Jehovah, making his footstool glorious. E43
The Kingdom of Messiah, offered typically to the Jews eighteen centuries ago, is now about to be inaugurated in power and great glory. HG457:3
Make straight – John did not fulfil all of the prophecy, clearing the way and preparing for Messiah's Kingdom. R4113:4
A highway – Highway of holiness. (Isa. 35:8,9) R1248:2, R1772:6
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| 4 Let, every valley, be exalted, And, every mountain and hill, be made low,–And, the steep ground, become, level, And, the chain of hills–a plain: |
Every valley – Of despair and discouragement. R1772:6
The meek and humble. R1379:2
Be exalted – The humble lifted out of degradation. R4113:5; HG457:6
Every mountain – Of difficulty. R1772:6
Kingdom. R5575:4
And hill – Smaller governments of earth. R5575:4
Be made low – The conditions of society will be leveled. R4113:5, R332:4; HG457:6
The great ones in politics, theology and finance feel confident that the valleys and hills of society will never come to a level. R1379:4
In consequence of this gradual leveling of society the final adjustment to the requirements of the Kingdom will be proportionately less than in an autocracy. HG458:2
The Income Tax is a part of this leveling. HG458:2
By the great time of trouble. It will doubtless be a short and sharp work. HG458:2
The city of Quito, Ecuador, the highest city in the world, has subsided 76 feet in the past 122 years; this prophecy may also have a literal fulfilment. R1215:3
And the crooked – The perverse. R332:3
The crooked ruts in which the present evil order of things is running. R1379:2
The rough places – Errors, inconsistencies, false doctrines and stumbling-stones. R1379:3
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| 5 Then shall be revealed, the glory of Yahweh,–And all flesh shall see, it together, For, the mouth of Yahweh, hath spoken! |
And the glory – The blessing and salvation. T84
"And the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people." (Lev. 9:23) T83
The majesty of his righteous character and government. R1379:3, R2463:1
Of the LORD – Jehovah. No conflict here for it can be said with propriety that Messiah will sit upon the Throne, or Kingdom of Jehovah. HG458:2
Shall be revealed – In the Millennial age. T83; R2371:2, R3345:6, R5032:2
Through The Christ. (Rom. 16:27) R385:1*, R1394:5
After the suffering of Christ (Head and Body) shall be complete. R2581:1
When the day of trouble ends, then he who spoke to the raging Sea of Galilee will likewise, with authority, command the raging sea of human passion, saying "Peace! Be Still!" A171
The full blessing of God will come to earth again. R4973:2
And all flesh – The whole world of mankind. T83; R2402:4, R3345:6
Not merely the Jews. A59
The dead as well as the living. R2402:4
Shall see it – Appreciate it. R1379:3
Recognize God's gracious love more and more each day. T83
Now we must "walk by faith, and not by sight"--but the world will walk by sight. OV129:5
The burning of "the fire of God's jealousy" and the breaking of "the rod of iron" will be the new missionary method by which the glorified Church will bring in "everlasting righteousness." (Zech. 3:8, 9; Rev. 2:27) R2462:6
Even though they call for the rocks and mountains to cover them that they may remain in the dark. (Hos. 10:8) R192:6*
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| 6 A voice saying, Cry! And one said–What, should I cry? All flesh, is grass, And, all the grace thereof, like the flower of the field: |
All flesh is grass – Sinful flesh, which cannot please God. R208:6
There was a time when Adam and Eve held daily communion with God before sin entered, when they that were in the flesh could please God. R208:6
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| 7 The grass, hath withered, The flower, hath faded, Because, the breath of Yahweh, hath blown upon it! Surely the people, is grass! |
The grass withereth – "The wages of sin is death." (Rom. 6:23) R208:6
Spirit of the LORD bloweth – It will require only a breath from the Lord to scatter all the might and power and glory of earthly institutions. R1379:4
The spirit of righteousness, sent forth, will cause the day of trouble in which all humanity will wither as grass. HG458:5
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| 8 The grass, hath withered, The flower, hath faded,–But, the word of our God, shall stand unto times age-abiding! |
The flower fadeth – All who oppose his plan will fade in the great Day of Wrath which will burn as an oven. R1379:4
Word of our God – Many professed teachers are heartily opposed to Bible study. R4857:6
Shall stand for ever – Shining more and more brightly down to the very end of this Gospel age. R4858:1
It is possible to endeavor to destroy God's Word, though all such efforts will fail. R2401:1
Attempts to destroy it may include: rejecting it, speaking of its truths irreverently, neglecting it, forbidding it, persecuting its advocates, misrepresenting it or skipping over and ignoring certain of its teachings. R2401:4
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| 9 To a high mountain, get ye up, O heraldband of Zion, Lift high, with strength, your voice, O heraldband of Jerusalem,–Lift it high, do not fear, Say to the cities of Judah–Lo! your God! |
O Zion – The one true Church, represented by its last living members, the only ones who know and can proclaim the tidings of Restitution. R1379:5
Get thee up – Into the glorified spiritual condition. R1379:5
O Jerusalem – The faithful ones of fleshly Israel will come into prominence by reason of the leaders God will raise up. R1379:5
Be not afraid – When men's hearts are failing them for fear, God's people may rejoice that their redemption is near. R1379:4
Cities of Judah – All who shall then be in covenant relationship with God. R1379:5
Behold your God – Is here. R1379:5
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| 10 Lo! My Lord, Yahweh, as a mighty one, doth come, And, his own arm, is about to rule for him,–Lo! his reward, is with him, And, his recompense, before him; |
The Lord GOD – Adonai Jehovah. E46
Will come – To administer appropriate future rewards and punishments. R723:4, R2613:5
With strong hand – Against the strong one, Satan. R1379:5
And his arm – The Lord Jesus. E47, R1379:5[R1379:13]
Reward is with him – Not having been previously given. R2613:5
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| 11 Like a shepherd, his flock, will he tend, In his own arm, will he take up the lambs, And, in his own bosom, will he carry [them],–Them which are with young, will he lead to a place of rest. |
He shall – To feed the flock is the Lord's province. F283
Feed his flock – The Little Flock, all that follow him. R1379:5
Using such human instrumentalities as are sufficiency humble. F283
Like a shepherd – The lambs and sheep make one flock, and there is but one shepherd who superintends and cares for all. R118:3*
The Lord's care for even the weakest of the flock in the day of his presence. R633:4
Gather the lambs – The weakest ones of his true sheep. R1379:6
Though scattered over the hills of sectarianism, he calls his own sheep together into one fold, one Church, as it was at first. R633:4
Gently lead those – Such teachers and evangelists as are of the Lord's true sheep. R1379:6
That are with young – "Woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days." (Matt. 24:19) R1379:5
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| 12 Who, hath measured, with the hollow of his hand, the waters, Or, the heavens with a span, hath meted out, Or hath comprehended, in a measure, the dust of the earth, Or weighed, in scales, the mountains, Or, the hills, in a balance? |
In a balance – Very moderate language in his description of the majestic power and greatness of the Creator. R5210:3; SM468:1
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| 13 Who, hath proved the spirit of Yahweh? Or, being his counselor, hath been giving him knowledge? |
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| 14 With whom, hath he taken counsel–And he hath given him intelligence, And instructed him in the path of justice,–And taught him knowledge, And, in the way of intelligence, hath been giving him understanding? |
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| 15 Lo! nations, Are us a drop on a bucket, And, as fine dust on a balance, are accounted,–Lo! islands, like an atom, can he hoist; |
Small dust – Man is so small in the sight of the great Creator that we wonder that God should have any interest at all in humanity. R4972:2
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| 16 And, Lebanon, is not sufficient to burn,–Nor, the beasts thereof, sufficient for an ascending-sacrifice! |
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| 17 All nations, are as nothing before him,–A thing of nought or a waste, are they accounted unto him? |
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| 18 Unto whom, then, can ye liken GOD? Or, what likeness, can ye compare unto him? |
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| 19 The image, hath been cast by an artificer, And, a goldsmith, with gold, overlayeth it,–And, chains of silver, he worketh. |
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| 20 The needy offerer, of a tree that will not rot, maketh choice,–A skilled artificer, seeketh he out for himself, to construct an image that shall not totter! |
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| 21 Have ye never taken note? Have ye never heard? Hath it not, from the beginning, been told you? Have ye not been led to discern, from the foundations of the earth? |
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| 22 It is he who sitteth upon the circle of the earth, While, the inhabitants thereof, are, as grasshoppers,–Who stretcheth forth, as a curtain, the heavens, And spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in; |
Sitteth – Highly figurative and poetic language, not proving the firmament to be a solid structure. R1812:2
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| 23 Who delivereth dignitaries to nothingness,–Judges of earth, like a desolation, hath he made: |
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| 24 Scarcely have they been planted, Scarcely have they been sown, Scarcely hath their stock, begun to take root in the earth, When he hath just blown upon them, and they have withered, And, a whirlwind, as though they had been chaff, carrieth them away. |
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| 25 Unto whom, then, can ye liken me, or can I be equal? Saith the Holy One. |
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| 26 Lift on high, your eyes–and see, who, hath created these, That bringeth forth, by number, their host,–To all of them, by name, doth call, Because of the abundance of vigour and alertness of strength, not one, is missing! |
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| 27 Wherefore, shouldest thou, say, O Jacob, or, speak, O Israel,–Hidden, is my path from Yahweh, And, from my God, my vindication, will pass? |
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| 28 Hast thou not known, Hast thou not heard, That, The God of age-past time–Yahweh, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Fainteth not, neither groweth weary–There is no, searching of his understanding: |
Neither is weary – He is ever active and his strength is equal to his activity. R1283:6*
God's rest is in the strength of his nature, the security of his position, the satisfaction of his work, and the certainty of his success. R1283:6*
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| 29 Giving, to him that fainteth, strength, And, to him that hath no, vigour, he causeth, power, to abound? |
He giveth power – Let your faith grow strong by meditation upon the promises. R5381:5*
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| 30 Youths, both faint and grow weary, And, young warriors–they fall, they fall; |
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| 31 But, they who wait for Yahweh, shall renew their strength, They shall mount on strong pinion, like eagles,–They shall run, and not grow weary, They shall walk, and not faint. |
They that wait – Time is necessary for the working out of his kind providences in our individual affairs; for God works on philosophical principles for lasting and blessed results. R1840:5
Renew their strength – By again going over the proofs of our faith the Lord will strengthen our heart. R5712:6
By the voice of God's truth speaking to his people today. R4741:5
"As the days of a tree are the days of my people." (Isa. 65:22) R1649:5
As eagles – Living high above the world, farseeing; having eyes adapted to looking at the light; representing intelligently earnest Christians. R229:4
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