Vers. 11. Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall returne, and come with* 1.1 ioy vnto Zion; and euerlasting ioy shall be vpon their heads: they shall obtaine ioy and gladnesse, and sorrow, and mourning shall flee away.
* 1.2NOw hee shewes that more plainly, which he briefly touched before: for hauing re∣cited the wonderfull workes of God, whereby in times past hee manifested his power in E∣gypt, for the deliuerance of his people, hee concludes that neither the high rockes, nor the bottomlesse gulphes, no nor the gates of hell themselues shall be able to let him from bringing backe his people out of Babylon. Now the better to confirme and apply this, he calles them the redeemed; to teach them that God intitles not himselfe to bee the sauiour of his people, but for their sakes: and also to assure them, that he will shew such a testimo∣nie of his power for their deliuerance, as hee once did; in regard the cause is now the same.
Vnto Zion.] That is to say, vnto that place where he once appointed his name to be cal∣led vpon, that so hee might assure them that the Temple should be reedified, and Gods pure worship established. For when the Iewes who were in Babylon, were to looke for that deliuerance which their fathers formerlie had, in regard God was also the redeemer of their children: they had yet a priuiledge a∣boue their fathers, because God had chosen Mount Zion, in which he had promised to rest for euer: Psal. 132.14. But because the worke of God promised heere by Isaiah, was extra∣ordinarie, therefore he exhorts the people to thanksgiuing. The word Rinna may be simply taken for ioy: but because it often signifies that praise, which wee yeeld vnto God in the acknowledgement of his benefits, I had ra∣ther take it for a song in this place. The Pro∣phets meaning is then, that there shall be an vnwonted, and an vnexpected change; so as the faithfull shall haue an exceeding cause of ioy and thanksgiuing.
In saying that euerlasting ioy shall bee vpon their heads; he alludes vnto those crownes and garlands of flowers, wherewith they were a∣dorned at banquets. He addes, that they shall obtaine ioy: meaning thereby a firme and solid ioy. Lastly, for amplifications sake, hee saith, that all sorrow shall flee away: and this was to confirme them against that ordinary feare which men haue; namely, when as all their ioy in a moment is turned to mourning. And yet heerewithall the Prophet admonisheth them to wait patiently for that happy issue which he hath promised, though for a while (if neede bee) they are in heauinesse and sor∣row.