Isa 61:2-3, 2Cor 1:3-4, 1Th 2:11 | JFB | STEP | 2. acceptable year-- the year of jubilee on which "liberty was proclaimed to the captives" ( ; ). day of vengeance-- The "acceptable time of grace" is a "year"; the time of "vengeance" but "a day" (so ; ; Mal 4:1). Jesus ( , ) "closed the book" before this clause; for the interval from His first to His second coming is "the acceptable year"; the day of vengeance" will not be till He comes again ( ). our God-- The saints call Him "our God"; for He cometh to "avenge" them ( ; ). all that mourn-- The "all" seems to include the spiritual Israelite mourners, as well as the literal, who are in called "them that mourn in Zion," and to whom refers.

‏ Isaiah 61:2-3

2. acceptable year--the year of jubilee on which "liberty was proclaimed to the captives" (Is 61:1; 2Co 6:2).

day of vengeance--The "acceptable time of grace" is a "year"; the time of "vengeance" but "a day" (so Is 34:8; 63:4; Mal 4:1). Jesus (Lu 4:20, 21) "closed the book" before this clause; for the interval from His first to His second coming is "the acceptable year"; the day of vengeance" will not be till He comes again (2Th 1:7-9).

our God--The saints call Him "our God"; for He cometh to "avenge" them (Re 6:10; 19:2).

all that mourn--The "all" seems to include the spiritual Israelite mourners, as well as the literal, who are in Is 61:3 called "them that mourn in Zion," and to whom Is 57:18 refers.

3. To appoint ... to give--The double verb, with the one and the same accusative, imparts glowing vehemence to the style.

beauty for ashes--There is a play on the sound and meaning of the Hebrew words, peer, epher, literally, "ornamental headdress" or tiara (Eze 24:17), worn in times of joy, instead of a headdress of "ashes," cast on the head in mourning (2Sa 13:19).

oil of joy--Perfumed ointment was poured on the guests at joyous feasts (Psa 23:5; 45:7, 8; Am 6:6). On occasions of grief its use was laid aside (2Sa 14:2).

garment of praise--bright-colored garments, indicative of thankfulness, instead of those that indicate despondency, as sackcloth (Joh 16:20).

trees of righteousness--Hebrew, terebinth trees; symbolical of men strong in righteousness, instead of being, as heretofore, bowed down as a reed with sin and calamity (Is 1:29, 30; 42:3; 1Ki 14:15; Psa 1:3; 92:12-14; Jr 17:8).

planting of ... Lord--(See on Is 60:21).

that he might be glorified--(Joh 15:8).

‏ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

3. This thanksgiving for his late deliverance forms a suitable introduction for conciliating their favorable reception of his reasons for not having fulfilled his promise of visiting them (2Co 1:15-24).

Father of mercies--that is, the SOURCE of all mercies (compare Jas 1:17; Ro 12:1).

comfort--which flows from His "mercies" experienced. Like a true man of faith, he mentions "mercies" and "comfort," before he proceeds to speak of afflictions (2Co 1:4-6). The "tribulation" of believers is not inconsistent with God's mercy, and does not beget in them suspicion of it; nay, in the end they feel that He is "the God of ALL comfort," that is, who imparts the only true and perfect comfort in every instance (Psa 146:3, 5, 8; Jas 5:11).

4. us--idiomatic for me (1Th 2:18).

that we may ... comfort them which are in any trouble--Translate, as the Greek is the same as before, "tribulation." The apostle lived, not to himself, but to the Church; so, whatever graces God conferred on him, he considered granted not for himself alone, but that he might have the greater ability to help others [Calvin]. So participation in all the afflictions of man peculiarly qualified Jesus to be man's comforter in all his various afflictions (Is 50:4-6; He 4:15).

‏ 1 Thessalonians 2:11

11. exhorted and comforted--Exhortation leads one to do a thing willingly; consolation, to do it joyfully [Bengel], (1Th 5:14). Even in the former term, "exhorted," the Greek includes the additional idea of comforting and advocating one's cause: "encouragingly exhorted." Appropriate in this case, as the Thessalonians were in sorrow, both through persecutions, and also through deaths of friends (1Th 4:13).

charged--"conjured solemnly," literally, "testifying"; appealing solemnly to you before God.

every one of you--in private (Ac 20:20), as well as publicly. The minister, if he would be useful, must not deal merely in generalities, but must individualize and particularize.

as a father--with mild gravity. The Greek is, "his own children."