Isaiah 58:8

“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, &c.] Through thick clouds, or the darkness of the night, suddenly, swiftly, irresistibly, and increase more and more, till it is perfect day. This is to be understood best of temporal and spiritual prosperity, especially the latter, which will attend the churches of the Reformation, when a spirit of persecution is laid aside, and a spirit of love commences, which will be in the Philadelphian church state; and it particularly respects the glorious light of the Gospel, which will break forth very clearly, and shine out in all the world; and the light of joy, peace, and comfort, which will attend it, in the hearts of the Lord’s people; (see…”

“light--emblem of prosperity (Isa 58:10; Job 11:17). health--literally, a long bandage, applied by surgeons to heal a wound (compare Isa 1:6). Hence restoration from all past calamities. go before thee--Thy conformity to the divine covenant acts as a leader, conducting thee to peace and prosperity. glory . . . reward--like the pillar of cloud and fire, the symbol of God's "glory," which went behind Israel, separating them from their Egyptian pursuers (Isa 52:12; Exo 14:19-20).”

“Then shall thy light - (See the notes at Isaiah 44:7). The idea here is, that if they were faithful in the discharge of their duty to God, he would bless them with abundant prosperity (compare Job 11:17). The image is, that such prosperity would come on the people like the spreading light of the morning. And thine health - Lowth and Noyes render this, ‘And thy wounds shall be speedily healed over.’ The authority on which Lowth relies, is the version of Aquila as reported by Jerome, and the Chaldee. The Hebrew word used here, (ארוּכה 'ărûkâh), means properly “a long bandage” (from ארך 'ârak, “to make long”), such as is applied by surgeons to heal a wound (compare the notes at Isaiah 1:6).…”

“Thy light - Happiness and prosperity. Break forth - It shall not only appear, but break forth, dart itself forth, notwithstanding all difficulties, as the sun breaks, and pierces through a cloud. Thy health - Another metaphor to express the same thing. Righteousness - The reward of thy righteousness. Before thee - As the morning - star goes before the sun. The glory - His glorious power and providence. Thy rereward - Thus the angel of his presence secured the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt. Isaiah 58:9”

“58:8 your salvation (literally your light): The light of the coming age (see 42:6-7; 60:1-3) will dawn on those who turn fully to the Lord. The night of divine judgment and oppression will be over. • your wounds: The nation of Israel was wounded when they were conquered and sent into exile. • protect you from behind: See also 52:12.”

“thy light: Isa 58:10, Isa 58:11; Job 11:17; Psa 37:6, Psa 97:11, Psa 112:4; Pro 4:18; Hos 6:3; Mal 4:2 and thine: Isa 57:18; Jer 33:6; Hos 6:2, Hos 14:4; Mat 13:15 and thy: Psa 85:13; Act 10:4, Act 10:31, Act 10:35 the glory: Isa 52:12; Exo 14:19 be thy rereward: Heb. gather thee up Isaiah 58:9”

“The prophet now proceeds to point out the reward of divine grace, which would follow such a fast as this, consisting of self-renouncing, self-sacrificing love; and in the midst of the promise he once more reminds of the fact, that this love is the condition of the promise. This divides the promises into two. The middle promise is linked on to the first; the morning dawn giving promise of the "perfect day" ( Pro 4:18). The first series of promises we have in Isa 58:8, Isa 58:9. "Then will thy light break forth as the morning dawn, and thy healing will sprout up speedily, and thy righteousness will go before thee, the glory of Jehovah will follow thee. Then wilt thou call and Jehovah will…”