Isaiah 40:9-11 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

O Zion, &c.— We have here the fourth voice, directed to the evangelists, to whom it is given in command, to promulgate the true presence of their redeeming God, and the king of his church, among all people. It is true, the words the voice said are to be understood before this period. The divine voice said, ascend into the lofty mountain, O Zion, who art the messenger or declarer of good tidings;—the Evangelist. Zion and Jerusalem are here to be understood with respect to the teachers and evangelists, who went forth thence, and diffused themselves through the whole land of Judaea. The command given to these evangelists is proposed in the 9th verse, and again more largely set forth in the 10th and 11th. They are commanded to ascend a high mountain, and in the utmost confidence, without any fear, to promulgate the good tidings concerning the presence of God their Saviour, throughout the cities of Judah. The expression of ascending a high mountain is emblematical, and the meaning in general is this; "Go, ye evangelists, throughout the land of Judaea; enter its synagogues, ascend its pulpits, throw yourselves into the assemblies of men wherever occasion allows, and from its high places, wherever you can, publish the good tidings, that their God, their deliverer, their king, their shepherd, their teacher, the great source of his people's righteousness and life, their long-expected Saviour, is come." See chap. Isaiah 62:11 and Acts 8:2-4. The prophet goes on more fully to explain this command. The first clause of the 10th verse should be rendered, Behold, the Lord God will come against the strong one, and his arm shall prevail over him. Matthew 12:29 and 1 John 3:8 fully explain our prophet; whose meaning is, that Christ, preparing his kingdom in the world, would destroy the empire of the strong one,—of Satan; and deprive him of all his power. See Luke 10:17-18. John 12:31. The sense of the latter clause is, that Jesus Christ, establishing his kingdom in the world, and avenging himself upon his enemies, hath in his hand a reward and recompence wherewith to repay all his ministers; all those who believe and trust in him, and who place their hopes and expectations in his mercy. See Jeremiah 31:10. The connection of the following verse is very plain, wherein the prophet opposes, to the severity wherewith God would treat his enemies, the equity, clemency, and singular indulgence with which he would rule his people under the new oeconomy. The care of God towards his church, in every age and time, has been like that of a faithful shepherd. It is so spoken of under the old dispensation; and under the new, in full completion of this prophesy, the blessed Jesus hath declared himself the good Shepherd: John 10:11. Nothing can fully exemplify these beautiful words of Isaiah, but a perusal of the Gospel, and a serious meditation on the inestimable love of Jesus Christ to his faithful people. See Boch. Hieroz. pars 1: lib. 2 cap. 30.