TRUST WORTHY God’s Salvation God desires for us to journey with him

3 . . . “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord . . .” ISA 2:3

Walking in the light of the Lord means journeying with him toward the house of God on the mountain of the Lord, the highest of the mountains. Isaiah’s prophecy shows how people of all nations will flow to his house with joy and eagerness, calling others to join them. Today, the house of God refers to his people, the Church. Because God had ordained that this would happen, it is his desire that we, along with believers from every nation, journey toward his house. What got you started on your journey with the Lord?

8 Good and upright is the Lord;

therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

John Gill

Good and upright is the Lord—He is essentially, originally, and independently good of himself in his own nature, and he is providentially good to all his creatures; and he is in a way of special grace and mercy good to his own people: and he is “upright,” just in himself, righteous in all his ways and works, and faithful in all his promises; and the consideration of these excellent perfections of his encouraged the psalmist to entertain an holy confidence, that his petitions, respecting instruction and guidance in the ways of the Lord (Psa 25:4-5); would be heard and answered, notwithstanding his sins and transgressions;

Therefore he instructs sinners in the way—Such who are in sinful ways, he will teach them by his word and Spirit the evil of their ways, and bring them out of them, and to repentance for them; and he will teach them his own ways, both the ways and methods of his grace, in saving sinners by Christ, and the paths of faith and duty in which he would have them walk; see Psa 51:13.

Makkot 10b:2

Apropos that halakha, the Gemara cites that Rav Ḥama bar Ḥanina introduced this portion with regard to the halakhot of exile with an introduction from here: “Good and upright is God; therefore he directs sinners along the way” (Psa 25:8). He said: If he directs sinners by commanding the placing of signs directing them to the city of refuge, it may be inferred a fortiori that He will assist and direct the righteous along the path of righteousness.

Rashi

Good and upright is the Lord and wishes to exonerate his creatures.

Therefore he instructs sinners in the way of repentance. Another explanation: He leads sinners, meaning murderers who flee to the cities of refuge, as it is said in Deu 19:3: “You shall measure the distances, etc.” “Refuge, refuge,” was written at the crossroads, etc., as is stated in Makkot 10b:2.

9 He leads the humble in what is right,

and teaches the humble his way. PSA 25:8-9

John Gill

He leads the humble in what is right—Or “the miserable” and afflicted; such as see themselves to be wretched and miserable, lost and undone; and cry out, What shall we do to be saved? and who are humble and lowly, are humbled under a sense of their sins, are poor in spirit, and of broken and contrite hearts; these the Lord will guide by his Spirit into the truth, as it is in Jesus; even the great truth of salvation by him; and in the way of his judgments, statutes, and ordinances; and will give them a true judgment and a right discerning of things that differ; and he will lead them on in judgment, or gently; see Jer 10:24; into every truth of the gospel by degrees, and as they are able to bear them;

And teaches the humble his way—Of justifying sinners by the righteousness of his Son; for such who are humble and confess their sins and unworthiness, and throw themselves on the mercy of God in Christ, are declaratively justified by the Lord, when the proud boasting Pharisee is an abomination to him.

4 Give attention to me, my people,

and give ear to me, my nation;

for a law will go out from me,

and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples.

5 My righteousness draws near,

my salvation has gone out,

and my arms will judge the peoples;

the coastlands hope for me,

and for my arm they wait. ISA 51:4-5

John Gill

My righteousness draws near—These are either the words of God the Father, and to be understood not of his essential righteousness, nor of his vindictive justice; but of the righteousness of his Son, which he calls his own, because he approves and accepts of it, imputes and reckons it to his people, and with it justifies them. The words may be rendered, “my righteous One,” as in the Vulgate Latin version; not Cyrus, as Grotius; but Christ, God’s righteous servant, who was near to come in the flesh, in order to work righteousness. Or these are the words of Christ, speaking of his own righteousness, which was near being wrought out by him, as it was when he became the end of the law for it, by obeying its precept, and bearing its penalty; and near being revealed in the gospel, where it is revealed from faith to faith; and near being applied by the blessed Spirit, as it is to all that believe; and is near to be come at, and laid hold on, by faith:

My salvation has gone out—The “salvation” appointed by the Lord; provided in covenant; wrought out by Christ; applied by the Spirit; and fully enjoyed in heaven: this has “gone out” in the purpose and decree of God, in prophecy and promise, and in the declaration of the gospel: or, “my Saviour,” as the Vulgate Latin version; the Saviour of God’s appointing, providing, and sending. Or these are the words of the Saviour himself, who has wrought it out, in whom it is, and of whom it is to be had; it is done, and ready for sinners to look unto and embrace; it is ready to be revealed, and to be fully enjoyed:

And my arms will judge the peoples—To whom the arm of the Lord is revealed, and the gospel is the power of God unto salvation; both the arms of Christ are ready to receive them, and these protect and defend them, and judge, condemn, and destroy those that despise it:

The coastlands hope for me—For Christ, for his coming; for his salvation and righteousness; for his gospel, the truths, promises, and blessings of it; and in his house and ordinances, for his presence. This is a prophecy of the conversion of the Gentiles, even in the coastlands of the sea, those afar off, as ours of Great Britain and Ireland, in which there have been and are many waiting for him:

And for my arm they wait—As on Christ, the arm of the Lord, for salvation; so on the power of Christ for protection and preservation; and on his promises in the gospel, for their support; which is the arm of the Lord revealed unto them, and yields much support and comfort, and makes known that which is a proper object of trust.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. ACT 1:8

John Gill

But you will receive power—From on high, with which they were to be endured (Luk 24:49) meaning the power of the Holy Spirit, strength from him to preach the gospel, and work miracles in confirmation of it, and courage and greatness of mind, amidst all reproaches and persecutions, to face and oppose their enemies, profess the name of Christ, abide by his truths and ordinances, make their way through all opposition and difficulties, and spread the gospel all over the world; for intend of enjoying worldly ease, honour, wealth, and riches, they were looking for, our Lord gives them to understand that they must expect labour, service, afflictions, and trials, which would require power and strength, and which they should have:

When the Holy Spirit has come upon you—From above, from heaven, as he did, and sat upon them in the form of cloven tongues, and of fire; upon which they were filled with knowledge and zeal, with strength and courage, and with all gifts and abilities necessary for their work:

And you will be my witnesses—Of the person of Christ, of his deity and sonship, of his incarnation, his ministry, and his miracles, of his suffering and death, of his resurrection from the dead, and his ascension to heaven. This was to be their work, and what belong to them, and not to enquire about a temporal kingdom, and the setting up of that, and the times and seasons of it; their business was to testify of the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that followed, and to preach a crucified Jesus, as the only Saviour of lost sinners: and this

In Jerusalem—The “metropolis” of the nation, and there, in the first place, where such dwelt who had been concerned in the crucifixion of Christ, many of whom were to be called by grace, and converted through their ministry:

And in all Judea—That part of the land of Israel which was distinct from Samaria and Galilee, and from beyond Jordan; where churches were to be planted, as afterwards they were; see (Act 9:31).

And Samaria—Where Christ had before forbid his disciples to go; but now their commission is enlarged, and they are sent there; and here Philip went upon the persecution raised against the church at Jerusalem, and preached Christ with great success, to the conversion of many; and here Peter and John went to lay their hands on them, and confirm them; see Act 8:5, 14

And to the end of the earth—Throughout the whole world, whither the sound of the apostles, and their words went (Rom 10:18).

46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.

John Gill

And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly—They were not at all daunted at the opposition they met with, but rather grew more courageous, and used great liberty of speech, and spoke out freely, plainly, and openly: and said,

It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you—As it was by Christ and his apostles, whilst he was on earth; and though, after his resurrection, the commission to his apostles ran, to preach the gospel to all nations, yet they were ordered to begin at Jerusalem, and preach to the Jews first; and this they hitherto strictly observed:

Since you thrust it aside—With loathing, indignation, and contempt:

And judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life—No man is worthy of everlasting life, on account of anything done by him, for it is the free gift of God; and all who are sensible of themselves, and of the just demerit of sin, conclude themselves unworthy to inherit eternal life; but this was not the case of these Jews, nor is it the sense here: but the meaning is, that the Jews, by this act of theirs in rejecting the gospel, did as it were pass sentence upon themselves, and determine against themselves that they ought not to be saved, since they despised the means of salvation; or that they were not worthy to have the gospel preached to them any more, which may be called eternal life, because it is brought to light by it, and revealed in it; and because it points out the way unto it, as well as gives some account of it:

Behold, we are turning to the Gentiles—To preach the gospel to them only, or chiefly; now the words of Christ began to be fulfilled (Mat 21:43).

47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,

“ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,

that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. ACT 13:46-48