Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 58:11

11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfie thy soul in drought , and make fat thy bones : and thou shalt be like a watered garden , and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not .

Viz. like a Shepherd, Psal. 23. 1, 2, 3. or, as the Vulgar, shall give thee rest, and so it may relate to the rest that God would give them in Iudea, upon their return from Captivity, as answering to their complaints in Babylon, Lam. 5. 5. And he adds continually, to shew that his conduct and blessing shall not be momentary, or of a short continuance, but all along, as he did to Israel in the Wilderness, not leaving them, till he brought them into Canaan.

Heb. Droughts, or, drought of droughts; which being in the plural number, notes extremity of drought, Psa. 78. 72. Skilfulnesses, that is, great skill: And Prov. 1. 20. Wisdoms, i. e. exeellent wisdom; and consequently great scarcity and famine: The meaning is, that when thy lot shall fall in the extremity of such a condition, either as to time, or place, he will abundantly satisfie thy soul, i. e. thee, by a Synecdoche, thou shalt have plenty, when others are in scarcity.

Or, make nimble, and so the expression relates to bones full of marrow, which causeth agility and nimbleness, a state of health and strength; see Prov. 15. 30. Or, it notes chearfulness, which is often the cause of bones well covered with fat, therefore a broken, or a sorrowful spirit is said to dry up the bones, Prov. 17. 22. This may be spoken in opposition to the sad effects of Famine, whereby the flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen, and the bones that were not seen, stick out, Iob 33. 21. they cleave to the skin, Psa. 102. 5. And thus it may have respect to their afflicted estate in Babylon, where they complain that their bones were broken, La[illegible: 1+ letters]. 3. 4. but now in their return their bones should not only be made whole, but strong, and in good condition; see Psal. 51. 8. Our English Annotations, after divers senses given, chuse to close with the Vulgar Translation, he will deliver, or set free thy bones, and so the word doth signifie, Prov. 11. 8, 9. Some make each expression of these promises to answer as suitable, and conditional rewards of their several duties, ex. gr. If thou conduct the cast-outs, and harbourless to thy house, ver. 7. God will guide and conduct thee continually: If thou draw forth thy soul to the hungry, so as to satisfie them, ver. 10. God will satisfie thee in a time of drought, and in famine thou shalt have sufficient, Psal. 33. 19. If thou let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke, ver. 6. & 9. then God will make thy bones to rejoyce, by delivering them from their burdens, i. e. if thou wilt free them, he will free thee. And if thou continue thus to draw forth thy soul, that it be ever running to the refreshing of the needy, thou shalt be as a spring of waters that shall never fail thee, but like the Widdows Oil, ever flowing: If thou relieve the poor, thou shalt never be poor, but as a well watered garden, alwaies flourishing; see Prov. 3. 9, 10.

Like a Garden, for the pleasure and beauty of it, a Paradise; like a garden watered for the continual flourishing of thy estate, there shall be no withering, or decay upon thy prosperous condition, Psal. 1. 3, 4. contrary to what is said of the wicked, Psal. 37. 2, 10, 20, 35, 36. And thus Ieremiah speaks of the return of this same People, Ier. 31. 12.

Heb. deceive not, a Metaphor which further notes also the continuance of this flourishing state, which will not be like a land flood, or brooks, that will soon be dried up with drought; see Iob 6. 15. but will be fed with a spring of blessing, that will never fail; a very significant Metaphor, it being the nature of springs, spontaneously and freely, as it were to pour out their bowels to all, that upon their wants come to receive it; neither is ever scanty, but flows still like fresh Milk to the Breast the more it is drawn; hence God is called a fountain of goodness.

Marginal references: Or thee.; Heb. droughts.; Or, make nimble thy b[illegible: 1+ letters]nes.; Heb. l[illegible: 1+ letters]e, or deceive.