Isaiah 44:23
Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
Sing, O ye heavens, for the LORD hath done it,.... Done what he promised, the forgiveness of the sins of his people, and the redemption of them. So the Targum,
"because the Lord hath wrought redemption for his people.''
The Vulgate Latin version adds, "mercy" {o}; and so the Septuagint version, "because God hath had mercy on Israel" {p}; and therefore the heavens are called upon to sing on this occasion, as the angels of heaven did when the Redeemer was born, and who rejoice at the salvation of God's elect, Luke 2:13:
shout, ye lower parts of the earth; the earth, which is low in comparison of the heavens; the inhabitants of it, especially the Gentiles, which dwelt in the lower parts of the world, in comparison of Judea, which lay high:
break forth into singing, ye mountains; kings and great men of the earth, like the strong and lofty mountains:
O forest, and every tree therein; the multitude of the common people; see Isaiah 10:18 these are called upon to express their joy, for the following reason:
for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel; which is to be understood not merely of their redemption from the Babylonish captivity, but of the redemption by Christ, which the former was a type of, and in which all God's people in all nations are concerned, and therefore have reason to rejoice; and in which all the divine perfections are glorified, not only the wisdom, power, goodness, grace, and mercy of God, but his holiness and justice; and saints not only have reason to rejoice, because they are redeemed from sin and Satan, and the law, and death and hell, and all spiritual enemies, but because the glory of God is great in their salvation.
{o} "Quia fecit misericordiam", V. L.
{p} oti hlehsen o yeov ton israhl, Sept.