HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

ISAIAS 62

CHAPTER LXII.

Ver. 1. Rest, as long as God grants me life, or till I behold the Saviour; or Cyrus, the figure of Christ. C. --- True preachers will not be silent on account of any threats, but will labour for the Church. 2 Tim. ii. W.

Ver. 2. One. No profane historian mentions what Cyrus did for the Jews; but all the world knows how much Christ has favoured his Church. C. --- Name. Thou shalt be no longer the rebellious Jerusalem, but the spouse and chosen people, the Church of Christ. S. Ignat. ad Magnes. S. Jer.

Ver. 3. Hand. Chal. "before." Heb. "by the protection."

Ver. 4. Forsaken. Yet the synagogue was again rejected, at the death of Christ. The promises naturally relate to his Church. C. --- Inhabited. Prot. retain the Heb. words Chephtsi-bah, "my delight in her," and Beulah, (marg.) "married." H.

Ver. 5. Dwell. Heb. "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. C. --- Isaias speaks of some state of the Jews which has not yet taken place. Houbigant.

Ver. 6. Watchmen; priests and prophets, (Mat. ii. 1. Ps. cxxxiii. 2. C.) or angels. S. Jer. S. Bern. --- 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. C. --- Heb. mazcirim, monitors. 2 K. viii. 16. H. --- In these faithful watchman the Church is always visible. W.

Ver. 8. Hand; inviolably. Deut. xxxii. 40. The Persians deemed this oath most sacred. C. --- 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.

Ver. 10. People, that they may return to Judea, and be converted to Christ. C.

Ver. 11. Work the redemption of mankind. H. --- Though Cyrus was a figure of Christ, he was as much beneath him as earth is below heaven. Zac. ix. 9. C.