Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

He useth the particle demonstrative, Behold, to bring the Jews as it were to the sight of the thing done: for that which they saw in Babylon, was able to have put them clean out of heart. He wills them therefore to turn their eyes from beholding things present, and to fix them only upon Christ. Some expound the verb Tamach, which signifies To stay, passively; others, actively. If we take it in the passive, the sense will be, that God so stays himself upon his Christ, that he will give him charge of all things, even as masters do to their trusty servants. Now it is a sign of great trust which the Father reposeth in him, that he gives him charge of all things, and commits into his hands his own rule, authority, and power. Yet I reject not the active signification; to wit, I will erect or set him up; or, I will establish him in his estate: for that which follows immediately after, I vvill put my spirit upon him, is but a repetition of the same thing. He saith in the first place then, I vvill stay upon him: then he shows the manner of this stay, in saying, that he will govern him by his Spirit: and thus he shows that he will sustain and help Christ in all things, and will not suffer him to fall under any difficulties. Now it was needful that Christ should be endued with the holy Spirit from above,¹ in regard he was to take upon him that divine office of being mediator between God and men: for according to his humane nature, he was unable to bear the weight of so great a burden.

He vseth the particle demonstratiue, Behold, to bring the Iewes as it were to the sight of the thing done: for that which they saw in Babylon, was able to haue put them cleane out of heart. He wils them therefore to turne their eies from beholding things present, and to fix them onely vpon Christ. Some expound the verbe Tamach, which signifies To stay, passiuely; others, actiuely. If we take it in the passiue, the sense will bee, that God so staies himselfe vpon his Christ, that hee will giue him charge of all things, euen as masters doe to their trustie seruants. Now it is a signe of great trust which the Father reposeth in him, that hee giues him charge of all things, and commits into his hands his owne rule, authoritie, and power. Yet I reiect not the actiue signification; to wit, I will erect or set him vp; or, I will establish him in his estate: for that which followes immediately after, I vvill put my spirit vpon him, is but a repetition of the same thing. He saith in the first place then, I vvill stay vpon him: then he shewes the maner of this stay, in saying, that he will gouerne him by his Spirit: and thus hee shewes that he will sustaine and helpe Christ in all things, and will not suffer him to fall vnder any difficulties. Now it was needfull that Christ should be indued with the holy Spirit from aboue,