ant of God cannot be the better portion of the people.--In the
words: "That thou mayest raise up the land, divide desolate heritages,"
the bestowal of salvation is described under the image of the
restoration of a devastated country. In ver. 9, the misery of the
Congregation of God is described under the image of pining away in a
dark prison; comp. remarks on chap. xlii. 7. With the second half of
the verse, there begins a more general description of the glorious
salvation which the Lord will giant to His people; and the person of
the Mediator [Pg 247] steps into the back-ground, in order afterwards
to come forth more prominently. The _ways_ and _bare hills_ have come
into consideration as places which, in themselves, are completely
barren, and which the wonderful grace of God can alone cause to bud and
flourish.

CHAPTER L. 4-11.

The Servant of God here also appears as speaking. In ver. 4, He
intimates His vocation: God has bestowed upon Him the gift of
comforting those who are weary and heavy laden. He then at once turns
to His real subject,--the sufferings which, in fulfilment of this
vocation he has to endure. The Lord has inwardly manifested to Him
that, in the exercise of His office. He shall experience severe trials;
and willingly has He borne all these sufferings, all the ignominy and
shame, ver. 5, 6. With this willingness and fortitude He is inspired by
His firm confidence in the Lord, who, he certainly knows, will help Him
and destroy His enemies, ver. 7-9. The conclusion, in ver. 10 and 11,
forms the prophetic announcement of the different fates of the two
opposing parties among the people. At the foundation of this lies the
foresight of heavy afflictions which, after the appearance of the
Servant of God, will be laid upon the covenant-people. That portion of
the people who are devoted to the Servant of God, are told to hope in
the midst of the misery, and may hope; their sorrows shall be turned
into joy. But the ungodly who, without regarding the Lord, and without
hearkening to His Servant, would help themselves, will bring
destruction upon themselves by their self-willed doings, and shall be
visited by the avenging hand of the Servant of God.

An intimation of the lowliness of Christ at His first appearance occurs
as early as in chap. xi. 1. In chap. xlii. 4, the words: "He shall not
fail nor run away," intimate that the Servant of God has to struggle
with great obst