For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and
gross
darkness the people
Like that which covered the land of Egypt, when there was light
in Goshen: and this may be meant either of the darkness of
ignorance, idolatry, superstition, false doctrine, and false
worship, that should cover the far greater part of the nations of
the world, before this light and glory should break out, as it
does at this day; some parts of it being covered with Pagan
darkness, others with Mahometan darkness, and others with Papal
darkness; and a very small spot it is where the light of the
Gospel is, and that clear, but among a very few; for the most
part it is not clear nor dark, it is not day nor night; and this
is the evening time, in which, ere long, it shall be light; see (
Zechariah 14:6 Zechariah
14:7 ) or else this may design the distress that the
antichristian states will be in, when this light shall break
forth; the kingdom of the beast will be full of darkness,
distress, and confusion, ( Revelation
16:10 ) : but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his
glory shall be seen upon
thee:
as on the tabernacle of old, ( Leviticus
9:23 ) to which the allusion is, ( Isaiah 4:5 ) this shows
that the light and glory of the Lord, in the preceding verse,
design the Lord himself, and his gracious purpose, and the
display of his glory in the Gospel now preached; and that it will
be visible in the church, and taken notice of by others, and
induce them, and even great personages, to come unto it, as
follows: or "he shall be seen", or "appear", in "his glory upon
thee"; so Ben Melech renders it, supposing that (b) "in", is wanting; and so the sense
is, that Christ shall appear in the glory of his person and of
his offices, and especially his kingly office; and in the glory
of his grace and righteousness, in the ministration of his word
among his people. The Jews F18 apply this to the first
coming of Christ, which belongs to his spiritual reign.