Nations, even the furthest off from Judea, as well as the nearest; that is, to the Islands, for they were furthest off: And therefore Musculus noteth, that by the Islands and those afar off, are meant the same, and not divers people: see the like compellation, chap. 41. 1, 5. 34. 1. From the bowels of my mother he hath made mention of my Name. For so it was said by the Angel to Joseph, the husband of Mary, when she was with childe, Thou shalt call his Name Jesus.
And he hath set my mouth as a sharp sword. Christ is here set forth by two comparisons, 1. Of a sharp sword. 2. Of a bright and sharp arrow, to shew that his words should not be vain, but piercing into mens hearts, galling the malicious wicked, as the Scribes and Pharisees, and pricking others to their con∣version. Of the Pharisees see Matth. 21. Of others Joh. 7. 36. So the word is also compared, Heb. 4. 12. and it appeared to be so in the mouth of his servant Peter, Act. 2. 37. when his hearers were pricked in their hearts: and out of Christs mouth is said to come a two-edged sword, Revel. 1. 16. And, as for a sword, there is a scabbard; for arrows, a quiver to hide them in: so Christ was sheltered under Gods protection, till that voluntarily he went to his passion; thus Calvin and Musculus. But Jerom expounds his hiding of his Divinity, hidden under the flesh, which he took, as in a quiver; see chap. 45. 25. Thou art a God that hidest thy self. And he saith that the Apostles were arrows to wound the hearts of them to whom they preached, but he a chosen arrow a∣bove them all; and that there are more arrows, is implied by saying, a chosen arrow; that is, one more excellent amongst many, and Ps. 45. Thy arrows are sharp, and thy enemies shall be subdued unto thee. And he is a sword to divide be∣tween the good and the bad, for which he saith, I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Thou art my servant (O Israel) in whom I will be glorified. Here God the Father speaks to his Son, calling him his servant; for so Christ said of himself, that he came to minister, Matth. 20. or to serve; and Phil. 2. 6. he came in the form of a servant; and Israel, because he came of Israel, and was most worthy of this name of all others; for not all that come of Israel according to the flesh, are Israel, though of Israel, Rom. 9. 6. But one specially is honoured with this name, and who can this be but he, who is singularly said to be the seed of Abraham, that is, Christ, Gal. 3. 16. and in and through him all the tru∣ly faithfull, being his members; who yet I cannot think are together with him here meant, as Calvin contendeth; and this the next words evince, vers. 4. I said I have laboured in vain. Wherein the Son and not the whole body of the faithfull, answereth to the Father, saying before, My servant in whom I will be glorified: But alas, saith he, how shall this be, seeing I labour for this in∣deed, but in vain, seeing so few were converted to the faith by his teaching. And few, saith Sasbont, to this day, will take time to consider his labour in preaching, in prayer and fasting, and suffering a cruel death for us; for if they did, they would be more affected with love towards him that loved them so dearly. Yet my judgement is with the Lord, &c. That is, to judge betwixt me and the people, with whom my labour takes none effect for their conversion, pronouncing on my side that I have done all that could be done for their sal∣vation; and denouncing against them damnation, who would not be moved to repent and beleeve, what pains soever I took to bring them hereunto. By which words, saith Jerom, he intimateth a liberty of will in them, which be∣cause they abused to make them averse from Christ, they shall be most justly condemned. And my work with my God. That is, the reward of my work; for although the Jews, through the hardness of their hearts beleeved not, his la∣bour was not lost, but highly rewarded, when he had a Name given him above all names, Phil. 2. 6. Neither shall the labour of any faithfull Minister of his be lost, although uneffectuall to those amongst whom, through their own malice.
That I should bring Jacob to him, and that Israel should not be gathered. Hereby, saith Jerom, is meant that Christ should first preach only to the Jews, and seek