The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to [him that is] weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
Ver. 4. The Lord God.] Heb., The sovereign self-being.
Hath given me.] Me, Isaiah; but much more Jesus Christ, the arch-prophet of his Church, who "spake as never man spoke." Joh 7:46 See Mat 7:28-29 Luke 4:22. "Grace was poured into his lips," Psa 45:2 and it was no less poured out of his lips, while together with his words there went forth a power, and he could persuade as he pleased; for what reason? "God had blessed him" (ib.).
The tongue of the learned.] A learned and elaborate speech it had need to be that shall affect the heart. Mat 13:52 Not every dolt can do it; but he who is "an interpreter, one among a thousand" Job 33:23 who can speak as the oracles of God, 1Pe 4:11 sell oil to the wiser virgins, Mat 25:9 "comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient or forbearant toward all men." 1Th 5:14 O quam hoc non est omnium! Such a choice man, thus taught of God, is worth his weight in gold. Such a one was Luther, such was Latimer (who was confessorgeneral to all Protestants troubled in mind), Bradford, Greenham, Dod, Sibbes, &c.
That I might know how to speak a word in season.] Tempestivare, to time or season a word, to set it "on the wheels," as Solomon phraseth it, Pro 25:11 that it may be "as apples of gold in pictures of silver," not only precious for matter, but delectable for order. Ecc 12:10 Surely such a speaker "hath joy by the answer of his mouth; and a word spoken in his season how good is it!" Pro 15:23 This is the right medicine for the soul (as heathens also hammered at), far beyond all philosophical discourses, or any other consolatiunculae creaturulae, as Luther fitly expresseth it.
He awakeneth morning by morning.] a He constantly calleth me up betime, as a master doth his scholar to his book and business, for the which the morn is fittest. Christ's indefatigable assiduity in teaching his perverse countrymen, left them without all excuse. Joh 15:22
To hear as the learned,] i.e., Attentively, as those that would be learned, and are therefore φνληκοοι, desirous to hear. Aristotle calleth hearing ‘the learned sense.'
a Indesinenter me informat Spiritu, non autem per momenta, ut omnes prophetas alios. - Jun.