And the ransomed of the Lord shall return
The same with the "redeemed" in ( Isaiah 35:9 ) these
shall return, or be converted, as the Vulgate Latin version; they
are in the same state and condition with other men by nature,
but, by virtue of their being ransomed by Christ, they are by the
grace of God turned from darkness to light, from the power of
Satan unto God; they are returned from the paths in which they
had been straying to Christ, the Shepherd and Bishop of souls, in
order to walk in his ways, and come to Zion with
songs;
being called by grace, and converted, they turn their backs on
the world, and the men of it, and ask the way to Zion, with their
faces thitherwards, even to the church of God; and they find
their way, being directed and brought there by the Lord himself;
where they come readily and willingly, not only to hear the
Gospel, but to submit to all ordinances, and become members of a
Gospel church; see ( Hebrews
12:20 ) and hither they "come with songs", for electing,
redeeming, calling, justifying, and pardoning grace; everyone of
which blessings requires a song, and with which they are now
affected, seeing their interest in them, and cannot forbear
speaking of them to the glory of divine grace: and
everlasting joy upon their heads;
seen in their countenances, and by the lifting up of their heads;
and which oil of gladness, is poured upon them, and diffused all
over them, like the ointment on Aaron's head: and this is
"everlasting": not as to the exercise of it, which is often
interrupted by sin, temptation, and desertion; but as to the
ground and foundation of it, the everlasting love of God, the
everlasting covenant of his grace, and the everlasting
righteousness and salvation by Christ; and, as to the principle
and habit of it, which can never be lost, nor any man take it
away: they shall obtain joy and gladness;
by having the presence of God, and communion with him; through
his love being shed abroad in their hearts; by being favoured
with views of Christ, and interest in him, and with the gracious
influences of the blessed Spirit: and sorrow and sighing
shall flee away;
which before attended them, through convictions of sin, but now
removed by the discoveries and applications of pardoning grace
and mercy; or what was occasioned by want of the divine Presence,
now enjoyed; being come to Zion, they are made joyful in the
house of prayer, and are satisfied with the marrow and fatness of
Gospel ordinances, and continually hear the joyful sound of the
Gospel itself: all this may be applied to the state of the saints
in heaven; for the highway before described not only leads to
Zion the church below, but to the Zion above, to the heavenly
glory; and all the redeemed, all that walk in this way, shall
come thither; at death their souls "return" to God that gave
them, and are in immediate happiness with Christ; and in the
resurrection shall return from their dusty beds, and shall appear
before God in Zion above; and "with songs" to Father, Son, and
Spirit, for what each have done for them, in election,
redemption, and conversion; and for persevering grace, and for
being safely brought over Jordan's river, and from the grave; see
(
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 ) , they shall then enter into joy,
which will never end; there will be nothing to interrupt it to
all eternity; it will be "everlasting joy" indeed; and this will
be "upon their heads", visible and manifest, and be upon them as
a crown of life, righteousness, and glory, that shall never fade
away; they shall then "obtain joy and gladness", in all the
fulness thereof, their joy in the Lord will be complete; which
these several words and phrases used are expressive of; and then
there will be no more "sorrow and sighing"; for there will be no
more sin and unbelief, or any other corruption of nature; no more
darkness and desertion; no more of any of Satan's temptations; no
more distresses, inward or outward; and so no more sighing
within, nor sorrowing without; all tears will be wiped away. The
Jews F2 apply this passage to the world to
come.