The Lord openeth [the eyes of] the blind
Who are corporeally blind; the eyes of many such were opened by
Christ when here on earth, and one who was born blind; and such
who are spiritually blind as to any knowledge of divine things,
of God in Christ, of the way of life and salvation by Christ, of
the Spirit and his operations, of their state and condition by
nature, or of the things of the Gospel; the eyes of many such he
opens so as to see their sin and danger, their want of
righteousness, and need of Christ, and salvation by him; this is
usually done by means of the ministry of the word, which is as an
eye salve; but the work is Christ's, and a work of almighty power
it is; see ( Isaiah 35:4 Isaiah 35:5 ) ;
the Lord raiseth [them that are] bowed down;
as he did in a literal sense the poor woman that was bowed
together, ( Luke 13:11 Luke 13:12 ) , and as he
does in a spiritual sense such as are heavy laden with sin, and
pressed with the burden of it; that are depressed with Satan's
temptations, and labour under sore afflictions and exercises; all
which he supports his people under, and delivers them out of; and
cheers and refreshes their souls with discoveries of his love and
grace unto them; see ( Psalms
145:14 ) ; the Lord loveth the righteous;
not self-righteous persons; these are not loved by God the
Father, who preferred a publican to one of them; nor by Christ,
who came not to call them to repentance; nor by the Spirit, who
reproves and convinces men of self-righteousness; nor by angels,
who rejoice at one sinner that repents more than over ninety and
nine just persons who in their own opinion need no repentance:
but such who are righteous through Christ's righteousness imputed
to them, and there are none righteous in any other way; and these
Christ loves, not for any righteousness in them, or done by them;
nor does his love flow from his own righteousness upon them, for
he loved them from all eternity; and his engaging and undertaking
to work out a righteousness for them, and the bringing in of that
righteousness, were the fruits and effects of his love to them,
and evidences of it; he suffered for them when they were in
themselves unjust; he died for them when sinners, ungodly, and
enemies; nevertheless, as they are clothed with his perfect
righteousness, and are introduced unto him and presented before
him in this raiment of needle work, this clothing of wrought
gold, this fine linen clean and white; he takes delight and
pleasure in them, and they appear a glorious church, without spot
or wrinkle, or any such thing.