Vers. 1. Arise O Ierusalem; bee bright: for thy light is come, and the glo∣rie of the Lord is risen vpon thee.
IN this place the Pro∣phet shewes what the efficacie of this word is, whereof hee spake in the former Chap∣ter. For he comforts the church in her low and afflicted estate, and restores her to her brightnesse. And in respect that he represents the person of God, he heere manifests his au∣thoritie: and for that cause, vseth a commande∣mēt, that he might giue his speech the greater weight: as if by his absolute power, he placed the Church in that happy estate, which hee before promised her. The summe is, to assure the faithfull that the Prophet spake not as in the aire, but effectually.
Now he commands her to Arise, in regard that before he said, she sate vpon the ground: which two words are opposites. In the 47. Chapter of this booke, hee said to Babylon; Come downe, and sit in the dust. And in Chap. 32.18. he said of the Iewes themselues; My peo∣ple shall sit in the dust: and yet on the contra∣rie, in Chap. 52.1, 2. hee saith; Arise, Arise. O Zion, put on the garments of thy beautie: shake thy selfe from the dust. Now in this place againe hee raiseth vp the Church, as if he tooke her by the hand, to the end shee might againe recouer her seate of honor, who now sate in the dust, wholly couered ouer with filth and dung.
Now that the poore Iewes might not by reason of the darknesse of their euils, be vt∣terly ouerwhelmed with despaire, hee telles them that the light which had been smothe∣red for a time, should immediately breake forth againe. Heerein alluding to the ordinarie course of the day, succeeding the night. As if he should say; The Lord hauing compassion vp∣on thee, will draw thee out of these obscure dungeons, in which thou hast so long bin held prisoner. I haue satisfied my selfe in corre∣cting thee, it is time now therefore thou shouldest begin to take some ease. And there∣fore by the word To shine, vnder a figure hee meanes a recouery of health, and a flori∣shing estate: as heeretofore by darknes, Chap. 58.10. and 59.9. he signified the calamitie of the Church.
But heerewithall he admonisheth her, that this light shall arise vnto her from none but from the brightnesse of Gods countenance, at such time as he shall bee pleased to manifest some tokens of his fauour: for all things fall out to the best, when the Lord lightens vs with his brightnesse: but if he be against vs, we can∣not possible meete with a greater misery nor infelicitie.