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For Zion’s sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning lamp.
Verse 1. Rest, as long as God grants me life, or till I behold the Saviour; or Cyrus, the figure of Christ. Calmet.—True preachers will not be silent on account of any threats, but will labour for the Church. 2 Timothy 2. Worthington.
The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You will be called by a new name, which the LORD’s mouth will name.
Verse 2. One. No profane historian mentions what Cyrus did for the Jews; but all the world knows how much Christ has favoured his Church. Calmet.—Name. Thou shalt be no longer the rebellious Jerusalem, but the spouse and chosen people, the Church of Christ. Saint Ignatius ad Magnes. Saint Jerome
You will also be a crown of beauty in the LORD’s hand, and a royal diadem in your God’s hand.
Verse 3. Hand. Chal. “before.” Hebrew “by the protection.”
You will not be called Forsaken any more, nor will your land be called Desolate any more; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD delights in you, and your land will be married.
Verse 4. Forsaken. Yet the synagogue was again rejected, at the death of Christ. The promises naturally relate to his Church. Calmet.—Inhabited. Prot. retain the Hebrew words Chephtsi-bah, “my delight in her,” and Beulah, (marg.) “married.” Bible.
Hephzibah means “I delight in her”.
Beulah means “married”
For as a young man marries a virgin, so your sons will marry you. As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you.
Verse 5. Dwell. Hebrew “marry.” They shall be attached to their country.—Thee. He shall love thee as a bridegroom does one whom he has lately married. Christ never abandons his virgin spouse. Calmet.—Isaias speaks of some state of the Jews which has not yet taken place. Houbigant.
I have set watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. They will never be silent day nor night. You who call on the LORD, take no rest,
Verse 6. Watchmen; priests and prophets, (Matthew 2:1. Psalms 133:2. Calmet.) or angels. Saint Jerome Saint Bernard—The synagogue has long been destitute of guides, but the Catholic Church has an uninterrupted succession of watchful pastors.—Mindful whose duty it is to remind him of his promises, and to recite the Church office. Calmet.—Hebrew mazcirim, monitors. 2 Kennicott. 8:16. Bible.—In these faithful watchman the Church is always visible. Worthington.
and give him no rest until he establishes, and until he makes Jerusalem a praise on the earth.
The LORD has sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, “Surely I will no more give your grain to be food for your enemies, and foreigners will not drink your new wine, for which you have labored,
Verse 8. Hand; inviolably. Deuteronomy 32:40. The Persians deemed this oath most sacred. Calmet.—Darius just expiring, said to Polycrates, “By thee I give this right hand to Alexander,” (Plut.) that he may revenge my death.—Wine. The Church cannot be deprived of her faith or of her God.
but those who have harvested it will eat it, and praise the LORD. Those who have gathered it will drink it in the courts of my sanctuary.”
Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way of the people! Build up, build up the highway! Gather out the stones! Lift up a banner for the peoples.
Verse 10. People, that they may return to Judea, and be converted to Christ. Calmet.
Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth: “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your salvation comes! Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him!’”
Verse 11. Work the redemption of mankind. Bible.—Though Cyrus was a figure of Christ, he was as much beneath him as earth is below heaven. Zechariah 9:9. Calmet.
They will call them “The Holy People, The LORD’s Redeemed”. You will be called “Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken”.