John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 62:10

"Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up an ensign for the peoples." — Isaiah 62:10 (ASV)

Pass through, pass through the gates. From the preceding statement, he draws the conclusion that there will be free passage through the gates of the city, which formerly were shut or in a ruinous state: shut when it was besieged by enemies, and in a ruinous state when the city was thrown down and levelled with the ground. He means that there will be such a restoration of the city that its inhabitants will be numerous, and there will be frequent passing to and from it.

Some think that these words are addressed to the pastors, so that they might enter through the gates and go before others as their guides. But it is a general and figurative statement, by which he compares the Church to a populous city, though for a time it was ruinous and desolate, as Jerusalem had been. Others pursue more ingenious speculations and say that the gates of a Church are opened when pardon of sins is proclaimed in it, and by that message God invites all to come to him. But if we wish to understand the Prophet’s meaning, we must believe that all these things are spoken figuratively, as we have already mentioned.

Clear the way for the people. This is, strictly speaking, the duty of teachers; but the Prophet speaks in general terms and addresses all whose agency the Lord employed for preparing the way for the people. At that time, indeed, he spoke to Medes and Persians, by means of whom he opened up the way for the Jews, so that they might return to their native country; but next, he includes all others by whom the Lord restored his Church.

Level, level the road. He authoritatively commands all men to “clear and level the roads,” so that the Jews might know that every obstacle will easily be removed, and that all men, however inveterate their hostility, will immediately obey the command of God. In this way, he enjoins believers to prepare themselves resolutely for the work, as if many workmen were ready to give assistance, and the emphatic repetition of the word (“Level, level”) deserves notice as intended to express certainty.

Pave it with stones. סקל (sikkel) sometimes means to remove stones and sometimes to pave with stones; and I think that it should rather be understood here in this latter sense, though commentators are generally of a different opinion.

Lift up a standard to the peoples. This has the same meaning as the former clause, for the Prophet means that the peoples will obey the command of God, in the same manner as subjects are accustomed to obey princes; for they will assemble and run together when “the standard is lifted up,” and will lend their aid to bring back the people. And thus, he extols in lofty terms the power of God, so that the Jews might be fully persuaded that they would one day be restored.