Isaias
This inspired writer is called by the Holy Ghost, the great prophet, (Eus. 48, 25) from the greatness of his prophetic spirit, by which he hath foretold so long before, and in so clear a manner, the coming of Christ, the mysteries of our redemption, the calling of the Gentiles, and the glorious establishment, and perpetual flourishing of the church of Christ: insomuch that he may seem to have been rather an evangelist than a prophet. His very name is not without mystery; for Isaiah in Hebrew signifies the salvation of the Lord, or Jesus is the Lord. He was, according to the tradition of the Hebrews, of the blood royal of the kings of Juda: and after a most holy life, ended his days by a glorious martyrdom; being sawed in two, at the command of his wicked son in law, King Manasses, for reproving his evil ways.
The prophet complains of the sins of Juda and Jerusalem, and exhorts them to a sincere conversion.
All nations shall flow to the church of Christ. The Jews shall be rejected for their sins. Idolatry shall be destroyed.
The confusion and other evils that shall come upon the Jews for their sins. The pride of their women shall be punished.
After an extremity of evils that shall fall upon the Jews, a remnant shall be comforted by Christ.
The reprobation of the Jews is foreshewn under the parable of a vineyard. A woe is pronounced against sinners: the army of God shall send against them.
A glorious vision, in which the prophet's lips are cleansed: he foretelleth the obstinacy of the Jews.
The prophet assures king Achaz that the two kings his enemies shall not take Jerusalem. A virgin shall conceive and bear a son.
The name of a child that is to be born: many evils shall come upon the Jews for their sins.
What joy shall come after afflictions by the birth and kingdom of Christ; which shall flourish for ever. Judgments upon Israel for their sins.
Woe to the makers of wicked laws. The Assyrian shall be a rod for punishing Israel: but for their pride they shall be destroyed: and a remnant of Israel saved.
Of the spiritual kingdom of Christ, to which all nations shall repair.
A canticle of thanksgiving for the benefits of Christ.
The desolation of Babylon.
The restoration of Israel after their captivity. The parable or song insulting over the king of Babylon. A prophecy against the Philistines.
A prophecy of the desolation of the Moabites.
The prophet prayeth for Christ's coming. The affliction of the Moabites for their pride.
Judgments upon Damascus and Samaria. The overthrow of the Assyrians.
A woe to the Ethiopians, who fed Israel with vain hopes, their future conversion.
The punishment of Egypt: their call to the church.
The ignominious captivity of the Egyptians, and the Ethiopians.
The destruction of Babylon by the Medes and Persians: a prophecy against the Edomites and the Arabians.
The prophet laments the devastation of Juda. He foretells the deprivation of Sobna, and the substitution of Eliacim, a figure of Christ.
The destruction of Tyre. It shall be repaired again after seventy years.
The judgments of God upon all the sinners of the world. A remnant shall joyfully praise him.
A canticle of thanksgiving for God's judgments and benefits.
A canticle of thanks for the deliverance of God's people.
The punishment of the oppressors of God's people. The Lord's favour to his church.
The punishment of the Israelites, for their pride, intemperance, and contempt of religion. Christ the cornerstone.
God's heavy judgments upon Jerusalem, for their obstinacy: with a prophecy of the conversion of the Gentiles.
The people are blamed for their confidence in Egypt. God's mercies towards his church. The punishment of sinners.
The folly of trusting to Egypt, and forgetting God. He will fight for his people against the Assyrians.
The blessings of the reign of Christ. The desolation of the Jews, and prosperity of the church of Christ.
God's revenge against the enemies of his church. The happiness of the heavenly Jerusalem.
The general judgment of the wicked.
The joyful flourishing of Christ's kingdom: in his church shall be a holy and secure way.
Sennacherib invades Juda: his blasphemies.
Ezechias, his mourning and prayer. God's promise of protection. The Assyrian army is destroyed. Sennacherib is slain.
Ezechias being advertised that he shall die, obtains by prayer a prolongation of his life: in confirmation of which the sun goes back. The canticle of Ezechias.
Ezechias shews all his treasures to the ambassadors of Babylon: upon which Isaiah foretells the Babylonish captivity.
The prophet comforts the people with the promise of the coming of Christ to forgive their sins. God's almighty power and majesty.
The reign of the just one: the vanity of idols.
The office of Christ. The preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles. The blindness and reprobation of the Jews.
God comforts his church, promising to protect her for ever: he expostulates with the Jews for their ingratitude.
God's favour to his church. The folly of idolatry. The people shall be delivered from captivity.
A prophecy of Cyrus, as a figure of Christ, the great deliverer of God's people.
The idols of Babylon shall be destroyed. Salvation is promised through Christ.
God's judgment upon Babylon.
He reproaches the Jews for their obstinacy: he will deliver them out of their captivity, for his own name's sake.
Christ shall bring the Gentiles to salvation. God's love to his church is perpetual.
The synagogue shall be divorced for her iniquities. Christ for her sake will endure ignominious afflictions.
An exhortation to trust in Christ. He shall protect the children of his church.
Under the figure of the deliverance from the Babylonish captivity, the church is invited to rejoice for her redemption from sin. Christ's kingdom shall be exalted.
A prophecy of the passion of Christ.
The Gentiles, who were barren before, shall multiply in the church of Christ: from which God's mercy shall never depart.
God promises abundance of spiritual graces to the faithful, that shall believe in Christ out of all nations, and sincerely serve him.
God invites all to keep his commandments: the Gentiles that keep them shall be the people of God: the Jewish pastors are reproved.
The infidelity of the Jews: their idolatry. Promises to humble penitents.
God rejects the hypocritical fasts of the Jews: recommends works of mercy, and sincere godliness.
The dreadful evil of sin is displayed, as the great obstacle to all good from God: yet he will send a Redeemer, and make an everlasting covenant with his church.
The light of true faith shall shine forth in the church of Christ, and shall be spread through all nations, and continue for all ages.
The office of Christ: the mission of the Apostles; the happiness of their converts.
The prophet will not cease from preaching Christ: to whom all nations shall be converted: and whose church shall continue for ever.
Christ's victory over his enemies: his mercies to his people: their complaint.
The prophet prays for the release of his people; and for the remission of their sins.
The Gentiles shall seek and find Christ, but the Jews will persecute him, and be rejected, only a remnant shall be reserved. The church shall multiply, and abound with graces.
More of the reprobation of the Jews, and of the call of the Gentiles.