And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach [even] to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.
Ver. 8. And he shall pass through Judah.] After Israel subdued; but yet with a difference, as Isa 27:7-8 for the Israelites and Syrians were utterly drowned with this proud flood, but the Jews were only drenched. It "reached but to the neck," their head was ever above water; and that because Immanuel, better than any Christopher, bore them up.
And the stretching out of his wings.] That is, of his immense forces; the Assyrian, by another allegory, being here compared to an eagle, which covereth her whole prey with her wings.
Shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.] Shall surely, unless thou, O Lord Christ (who art king of this country by a specialty), shalt please to prevent it. Learn we likewise in all our straits or ailments to run to our Immanuel, and implore his help, remembering that he is God with us, he is a man amidst us, cum Patre dator, inter nos petitor, as Augustine hath it; he gives with the Father, he prays with the suitor; he will deliver and defend his subjects and suppliants.