And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise, and an
honour,
&c.] That is, the church and people of God, being redeemed
and rebuilt by Christ, and being cleansed from their sins in his
blood, and all their iniquities forgiven for his sake, would be a
cause of joy to themselves and others, and bring joy, praise, and
honour unto God: so the church, in the latter day, will be an
eternal excellency, a joy of many generations, and a praise in
the earth, ( Isaiah 60:15
) ( 62:7 )
; and here they are said to be so, before all the nations,
which shall hear all the good that I do unto
them;
in redeeming them by the Messiah; calling them by his Spirit and
grace; justifying them by the righteousness of Christ; pardoning
their sins through his blood; making them meet for, and giving
them a title to, eternal glory and happiness; all which would be
made known, as it has been to the Gentiles, through the preaching
of the Gospel; and which has occasioned joy and gladness among
them, and praise and thanksgiving unto God, and which has
redounded to his honour and glory: and they shall fear and
tremble, for all the goodness and for all the
prosperity that I procure unto it;
that is, they shall fear the Lord, and tremble at his word; not
with a slavish, but filial fear, which is consistent with joy and
gladness; and which fear will be influenced not by the terrors of
the law, but by the goodness of God; being of the same nature
with the fear of the converted Jews at the latter day, who will
fear the Lord, and his goodness, ( Hosea 3:5 ) ; so the
Gentiles, seeing and hearing of the goodness of God bestowed upon
the believing Jews, will be solicitous for the same, and be
encouraged to seek after it; and finding it, shall be engaged to
fear the Lord, and worship him.