Isaiah 40:6-8 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The voice said, Cry— The beginning of the kingdom of God is presented to the prophet's view in extatic vision, together with its progress through various scenes, one succeeding the other. The prophet had now heard two voices of harbingers or forerunners. A third succeeds, which is finely introduced. He hears a voice, which commands with authority a new herald or preacher to promulgate something. The preacher inquires, ready to obey this high authority, what he is to promulgate: then the first voice explains the argument of the discourse, which is resolved into a proposition concerning the flesh, as grass, and its grace or goodliness, as the flower of the field; and an exposition of the proposition, wherein its sense and meaning are declared, Isaiah 40:7-8. We may suppose this the voice of the Holy Spirit to the apostles and first preachers of the Gospel. A plain comparison is made between the flesh, Isaiah 40:6 and the word of God, Isaiah 40:8.; the contrary attributes whereof are marked out. And there seems no doubt that the prophet, by the flesh, intends whatever men have depended upon in external things for their justification, which are vain, and will fail them; all human wisdom, works, and merits, availing nothing in this respect before God; so that no flesh can glory in his presence, 1 Corinthians 1:29. But the word of the Gospel, delivering the true doctrine of salvation, will never fail mankind. The prophet may farther mean, when he calls the people grass, to mark out the weakness and vanity of those external ceremonies and carnal privileges wherein the Jewish people place their confidence. There are many passages in the Scripture wherein flesh is thus understood. See Galatians 3:3; Galatians 4:23-29; Galatians 6:12.Philippians 3:4. We may just observe, respecting the scope of this whole period, that it teaches us the true nature of the kingdom of Christ, and the new oeconomy; that it is a spiritual oeconomy; a spiritual and heavenly kingdom, very unlike the ancient oeconomy, carnal, perishing, fading: that there is nothing in this kingdom and oeconomy to please the flesh; that all things are internal, solid, true, and everlasting; that faith alone reigns here, fruitful in righteousness and good works. Instead of the people in the 7th verse, it should be read, this people, namely, the Jews. Vitringa understands the clause, because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it, as expressive of the power of the Holy Spirit, joined with the word of the Gospel, which should change the minds of men, should bring them to the faith, and from carnal make them spiritual. See Acts 2:2.Romans 15:19.