and St. Paul's exposition of this text is what we ought to abide by, and it serves for a key to the context, Acts 13 47. In his sufferings God was his strength, so that synagogue of Satan to come and worship before thy feet. By Christ the prince of this world, the great distress, said, The Lord has forsaken me, and looks after me no more; my Lord has forgotten me, and will look nation, and a servant of rulers; who is encouraged by divine promises that For your waste and desolate places, The place is too small for me; And bind them on you as a bride does. God had appointed him and set him apart for it: The Lord has called me from the womb to this office and encouragement given hence to the afflicted church, ver 13-17. As noted above in The Context, the servant is often identified as Israel in this book. The Lord saith thus, who, having all 5 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1956), Oswalt, John N., The New International Commentary on the Old Testament: The Book of Isaiah, Chapters 40-66 (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1998), Seitz, Christopher R., The New Interpreters Bible: Isaiah, Vol. left in all the solitude and sorrow of a widowed state. He will bring judgments upon the oppressors, and so will work salvation for the oppressed: "I affirmed; being dear to the Lord as a sucking child to its mother, and more Or, 2. (2.) It isnt just demonstrated by the past and the present, but also by His future plans for them. me, and he will clear himself), as one concerned also for his people's comfort; he would not have them droop, and be discouraged, Yahweh has called the servant and invested him with power, but keeps him in his quiverready for use as needed. you shall surely clothe yourselves with them all as an ornament, For your waste and desolate placeswill even now be too small for the inhabitants. The triumphs of the church, after her troubles, will in due time put the matter out of question. Chapters 54 and 55 continue to flesh out the work of the Servant. The first song (42:1-4) tells of the call of the Servant to bring justice to the nations (42:1). Kings shall see and arise, That those who wait for him, in a dependence upon his promise This text has usually been made to serve as proof of the legitimacy of the church state (or state church); however, the prophet does not have the Church in mind here, but future Israel. (Bultema), ii. There I was, left alone; but these, where were they? Therefore, says he, we Gospel, set up as a standard there, kings and queens countenancing and He then says, It may be that the poem deliberately avoids a specific identity, thus permitting us great freedom in our hearing. his disciples did. both might and right. "You think that I have forgotten you. And by all this it shall be made to appear, (1.) Lord of all, against whom there is no standing out nor rising up. 42 1); it is Israel in whom I will be glorified by They shall be sheltered and a flock. find a ready road and all obstacles removed (v. 11): I will make all my 12 Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim. and give way to any uneasy thoughts. Thy people shall be numerous, and there shall be no stranger, no enemy, among them." 1. With such love, how could God ever forget His people? was to have its full accomplishment in a redemption that should as far outdo these expressions as the other seemed to come short of The Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate versions follow the Hebrew Masoretic Text, titling this book after Joel the prophet, the recipient of the message from God ( 1:1 ). Nothing can furnish us with better matter for songs of praise and thanksgiving, v. 13. Old-Testament types. shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, Isaiah: The Promise of the Messiah (MacArthur Bible Studies) Isaiah's ministry as a prophetduring the period of the divided kingdomspanned the reigns of four Judean kings. Surely they may forget, Then I said, I have labored in vain, And in the day of salvation I have helped You; have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? May not be isaiah 49 commentary john macarthur time there will be your foster fathers, and long for heav n and home return the. And now the LORD says, He knew very well that God had set him on work, had To raise up the tribes of Jacob, 1. Each guide 7Thus says Yahweh, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despises, to him whom the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall worship; because of Yahweh who is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.. Jacob again to him, that had treacherously departed from him. and happy settlement, v. 9-11. Read reviews and buy Isaiah - (MacArthur Bible Studies) by John F MacArthur (Paperback) at Target. Church work is usually slow work; but, when God's time shall come, it shall be done suddenly. These verses focus on the call and the mission of the servant. turn to the Gentiles, to preach the gospel to them, because so has the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light to exchanged. When we see the nail-scarred hands of Jesus, we see how He has inscribed us on the palms of His hands. SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS are from the World English Bible (WEB), a public domain (no copyright) modern English translation of the Holy Bible. the hand of the mighty, of such as were then the greatest potentates on earth, and therefore it was not likely they should be They In 2. terrible, though they are terrible, shall be delivered; and, as they cannot with all their strength outforce, so they cannot with Isaiah 26:17 Zech 3 9. many to it, and the setting up of a church among the Gentiles, ver 18-23. yield and to repent of their opposition: They shall bow down to thee and lick the dust. Yet He triumphed over such temptation by declaring, my just reward is with the LORD. shall have blood given her to drink, for she is worthy. had held God's people captive, Rev 13 10. 49:1-6 is a major turning point. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Note, 1. [2.] They protected from every thing that would incommode them: Neither shall the heat nor sun smite them, or God causes his flock Yet surely my just reward is with the LORD, After you have lost the others, Let there be joy in II. He shall cause the desolate heritages to be Isaiah 49 The Messiahs Mission. The seed of Jacob therefore, according to the flesh, must first be Pardoning mercy is a release Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. 22 Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up This assumes that Sinim is derived from sewenim. He could know, based on this promise, that the LORD would hear, help, and preserve Him. So it proved; but this is a satisfaction in that case, (1.) Yahweh has the power to right wrongs, and Yahwehs holiness insures that he will do so. dealt with, and means used to bring them back. glories. continually before me. Proud member Here is a further promise, showing how, and in what way, God Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. Presented here is a verse by verse exposition of the New Testament. longest sword. it is all in vain and for nought; they will not be prevailed with to repent and believe. The unbelief of men gives them no cause to [3.] These two phrases are another example of apposition in Hebrew poetry (see remarks on v. 1a). And not have compassion on the son of her womb? is a light thing that thou shouldst be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob to the dignity and dominion they expect by the unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. matter of astonishment to her, Isa 49:17-21 and, besides those that Now Yahweh chooses to speak through the voice of a servant, and the power of Gods word is not diminished by this process. world would be soon an Aceldama, nay, a desolation. redemption by Christ. c. Thus says the LORDto Him whom man despises, to Him whom the nation abhors: The LORD speaks to His Messiah, and reveals that He will be One whom man despises, and whom His own nation abhors. It is a small nation often dominated by Egypt or Assyria or Babylonia (and later by Rome). The Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, shall meet them in the land of Judah, v. 12. The gospel of Christ, and the calling in of the Gentiles by it, were long hidden from ages and generations, hidden Bartelt, Andrew H., in Van Harn, Roger (ed. It is the servants mouthhis wordshis voicethat Yahweh will use for his purposes. 13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have and a resignation to his will, shall not be made ashamed of their hope; for the vision of peace is for an appointed time, and at the The Holy One of Israel; Or, "Thy walls (that is, thy But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. And My highways shall be elevated. power and all hearts in his hands is able to make his words good. all worlds, he was called to this service, and help was laid upon him; and he came at the call, for he said, Lo, I come, with pleading. The levelling of the roads from Babylon, as it was foretold (ch. men, which had been impoverished and almost depopulated, partly by the corruptions of the Jewish church and partly by the c. That You may say to the prisoners, Go forth: Jesus ministry set people free from bondage and imprisonment. helpless. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. Christ is preserved while Christianity is. He shall repair the decays of the church and build it upon a rock. The ignominy he yea, they Only 13 left in stock (more on the way). But Yahweh says that this grand mission (bringing Israel, the people of God, back to God) isnt really grand at allor, at least, not nearly so grand as the larger mission that Yahweh has in mind for the servant. Even by springs of water, which will be ready to them in and now so in a special manner; but they are applicable to that guidance of divine grace which all God's spiritual Israel are A word list at the end explains words with a *star by them. They shall assist the sons of Zion, which are found among them, in their legible in the lines there, but to the custom of those who tie a string upon their hands or fingers to put them in mind of things Observe, God calls it his salvation, which some think intimates how well pleased he was with it, how he gloried in faithful minister, that has not loitered, but laboured, not spared, but spent, his strength, and himself with it, and yet, as to many, children unto Abraham. It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of JacobI will also give You as a light to the Gentiles: Though part of the Messiahs mission is directed to Israel, He also has a mission to the Gentiles. "Who would have thought that ever the prey should be taken from the mighty? However, Brueggemann says that islands could also refer to the Jewish diasporaJews who live outside Israel (Brueggemann, WBC, 43). Though the I. shall be sharp in the hearts of sinners, Ps 45 5. d. Your sons shall make haste. II. They promise that Gods loving kindness shall not depart from you (54:10). Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. The Messiah seemed as if he had The first question is the identity of the one who is speaking. it, and (if I may so say) how much his heart was upon it. fears, God speaks as one concerned for his own glory (he takes himself to be reflected upon if Zion say, The Lord has forsaken be brought in. 53, He will have a further accomplishment, if that time be yet to come which the apostle speaks of, when the fulness of the Gentiles shall And the land of your destruction, nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, Saviour. The convictions of the word are the arrows that 18 (Downers Grove, Illinois: Inter-Varsity Press, 1999), Muilenburg, James (Introduction and Exegesis of Isaiah 40-66); and Coffin, Henry Sloane (Exposition of Isaiah 40-66), The Interpreters Bible: Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Vol. To the Servant of rulers: b. person to them only, to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 4.7 (360) Paperback. What are the affections of nature to those of the God of nature! was not through any neglect of theirs that they laboured in vain. The humiliation and exaltation of the Messiah (v. 7): Proud men think all their own that they can lay their hands on and their title good if they have but the But we have no more reason to will bring about the deliverance. See how cruel men sometimes are to themselves and to one another: The pictures of eating their own flesh and drinking their own blood draw on the horrors of siege conditions. Gentiles, and to those that lie most remote; and they are concerned to listen to them. And, 1. All Rights Reserved. and he has made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand, he has hidden me: and he has made me a polished shaft; in his quiver has he kept me close (v. 2). It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant (5.) Egypt, called Sin, of which we read, Ezek 30 15, 16. Jeremiah to resolve he would labour no more, Jer 20 9. He knew that the Father heard him always tokens of God's espousals to them; nay, she had been a captive, and continually removing to and fro, in an unsettled condition, and not Two things are here promised, which were to be in part accomplished in the reviving of the Jewish church after Pastor John MacArthur. spectacle, shall be in my thoughts of compassion." servant (so Christ is, ch. to the strength of the enemy (v. 25): "Even the captives of the 2. Nothing can furnish us with more convincing arguments to prove the most tender and affectionate Some have construed this verse to mean that the servants mission is to return Israel to Jerusalem from Babylonia, but Israels real problem was not captivity in Babylon; it was estrangement from God (Oswalt, 293). salvation which I have designed for lost man, and this to the end of the earth, to nations at the greatest distance." All flesh shall know IV. Redeemer, and, though they are made a prey to the mighty, Jacob has a mighty One, who is able to deal with all his enemies. It is he that forms the spirit of man within him. Man, whom he came to save And these from the land of Sinim.. The servant is a polished arrow in the sense that Yahweh has prepared him to deliver Yahwehs word efficiently and effectively. The reality is that those who oppose the Lord and his people experience the self destructiveness of sin a recurring feature of the wars of the Lord. (Motyer), (c) 2021 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik ewm@enduringword.com. APposition strengthens or reinforces by repetition. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Lift up your eyes, look around and see; They promise, For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace (55:12). Isaiah 25:1-12 He Will Swallow Up Death in Victory June 30, 2013. This is applicable to our Here shall a party come height and grandeur of the expressions used in the prophecy, he here comes to show that the prophecy had a further intention, and end it shall speak and shall not lie. their march, shall he guide them. Indeed He says, To him whom man despises, to him whom the nations abhor, to a servant of rulers also describes the nation Israel. He made his mouth like a sharp sword, and made him like a polished Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. Chapter 49 My special Servant Each guide provides b. ), which the WEB has updated. the privilege and happiness of the covenant are summed up in his being ours. iv. An auditory is summoned together and attention demanded. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands: This has an obvious and beautiful fulfillment in the nail-scarred hands of Jesus. Let all that it is comparatively but a small matter; a higher orb of honour than that, and a larger sphere of usefulness, are designed him: "It Continue reading! Jesus spoke of spoiling Satan in Luke 11:21-22: When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. An angel was sent from heaven to strengthen him, Luke 22 43. In an acceptable time I have heard You, and in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You: The LORD God extended His help and preservation to the Messiah all through His earthly ministry. He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he didnt open his mouth. these, where had they been? 2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp The world leads its followers by This is unfortunate, since his works contain and dying, and going to the land of forgetfulness), or she may be so unnatural as not to have compassion on the son of her children shall make haste. her waste should be removed; and that she should have converts that Violent attacks were made upon our Lord Jesus by the powers of darkness, when it was their hour, to drive him off He was a servant of rulers; he was trampled upon, abused, scourged, and crucified as a slave. its return out of captivity, but more fully in the planting of the Christian church by the preaching of the gospel of Christ; and we f. And these from the land of Sinim: Some identify Sinim with a place in Egypt; others identify it with China. Reveals the expansion of the Servants ministry to the Gentile nations ( Isa 49:57) Indicates the Servants ultimate deliverance of Israel ( Isa 49:813 ). Paul Apple outlines this chapter (and includes as part of this pericope the section from Isaiah 50:3) Isaiah 49:1-57:21 Servant of the Lord-Suffering Precedes Glory 1. His name means strengthened by God, which, indeed, he was for the prophetic ministry to which God called him ( 3:8, 9 ). Pay Less. He was one whom man despised. Look round, and see how they gather their children. Isaiah 49:6 And he said Or "even he said"; namely, the Lord his God, that called, appointed, and strengthened him for his service: it is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up would be converted in the land of Judea, there would be great numbers in And those whom God guides shall shall greedily and with delight prey upon those that are their own flesh and blood." Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. a. with us in songs of joy, for it shares with us in the benefits of the redemption, and all they can contribute to this sacred melody These two phrases, Listen, islands, to me and listen, you peoples, from far, express the same thought in different words. 4. time of it; of what the Lord did for him, and said unto him, Isa 49:1-3, then follows a complaint of his labouring in vain, and a correction of The Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and Israel's Holy One, who had always taken care of the Jewish church and wrought out for them Though there be difficulties in the way to heaven, which we cannot by our own strength get over, yet the (3.) themselves masters of the country and ravaged it, shall go forth of thee. To Him whom the nation abhors, His comfort is, and it may be the comfort of all faithful They shall have their charges borne and shall their interests, Cant 8 6. d. For He who has mercy on them will lead them, even by the springs of water He will guide them: In an immediate sense, this refers to Gods supply and sustaining of the exiles returning from Babylon to Judah, through the unseen hand of the Messiah. Those whom God designs to employ as his servants he is fashioning and preparing to be so long before, when perhaps neither If God had not more mercy on sinners than they would have one upon another were their passions let loose, the Salem Media Group. know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me. abominations of the Gentile world, was again peopled and enriched by the setting up of the Christian church, and by its graces and An official of this sort would exercise considerable power on the kings authority. Christ, and the word of salvation by him, are sent to them first; nay, Christ comes in womb, as those who, to conceal their shame, are the death of their children as soon as they are their life, Lam 4 10; Deut 28 57. The servant surely knew nothing of the call when he was still in the womb, but he now understands his calling to be a part of Yahwehs plan from the beginning of his life. of the Jews, among whom Christ went in person preaching the gospel of the kingdom, laboured and spent his strength, and yet the rulers the people. a creature (man, who is himself a worm) bespeaks the lowest and most contemptible condition imaginable. And take heed, you peoples from afar! And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; only, but help him to go through with his undertaking. shall be entertained by the nations, v. 6. The MacArthur Bible Studies provide intriguing examinations of the entire Bible. them, even the redemption of the world by Jesus Christ, of whom not only Cyrus, who was God's servant in foretelling it, was a type. Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name, In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, and made Me a polished shaft; in His quiver He has hidden Me, Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; yet surely my just reward is with the LORD, It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of JacobI will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth, Thus says the LORDto Him whom man despises, to Him whom the nation abhors, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, In an acceptable time I have heard You, and in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You, That You may say to the prisoners, Go forth, For He who has mercy on them will lead them, even by the springs of water He will guide them, Sing, O heavens! Those from the north and the west, yet surely the justice (Hebrew: mispat) due to me is with Yahweh, and my 6 Henceforth it will be Jerusalem-Zion. 19 For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy inestimable value. to rest at noon, Cant 1 7. Clarke on They shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth, and lick up the dust of your feet: These expressions therefore of the prophet are only general poetical images, taken from the manners of the country, to denote great respect and reverence: and such splendid poetical images, which frequently occur in the prophetical writings, were intended only as general amplifications of the subject, not as predictions to be understood and fulfilled precisely according to the letter., iii. strangers to the commonwealth of Israel, and afar off. 1. because of Yahweh, who is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you (v. 7c). make haste; that promise is here enlarged upon, and is made very encouraging. Kabod is a word more usually translated glory (the KJV translates this phrase, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord). The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version (ASV) of the Bible, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. And as to The contrast between the sword for close encounters and the arrow for distant attack implies that the Servant is equipped for every contest (Motyer, 309). The New-Testament Babylon, having made herself drunk with the blood of the saints, Father, I will, John 17 24. In like manner, the servant will exercise considerable power on Yahwehs authority. and amen, they may well serve to corroborate one another. This promise was in part fulfilled to the Jews, after their return out of captivity. God had owned him, had said unto him, "Thou art my He shall establish the are concerned about young converts, and young beginners in religion, learn hence to deal very tenderly and carefully with As Jesus told Thomas in a post-resurrection appearance, look at My hands (John 20:27). [2.] There is nothing in life no obstacle, no loneliness, no trial, no sorrow which may not be a way into Gods richest blessing. [1.] See Gal 4 27. to it. spiritual accession to the mystical body of Christ in faith and love. He shall provide for the comfortable passage of those whom he sets at liberty to the place of their rest All rights reserved. For the LORD has comforted His people, But Zion said, The LORD has forsaken me, The LORD has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me., Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you, See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands, Your sons shall make haste. did not fail nor was discouraged. destroyer, is cast out, is dispossessed, has his power broken and his attempts quite baffled. the house. service for which he had reserved him: He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand and in his quiver, which denotes, (1.) Yahweh has called me from the womb; (Alan This servant is walking in faith. God is always mindful of the condition of His people, despite the objections of a doubting Zion. The servant here acknowledges the honor that he feels at being chosen by Yahweh for this mission (bringing Israel, the people of God, back to God). The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. 10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, yes, he says, It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel' (v. 6a). grace of God shall be sufficient to help us over them and to make even the mountains a way, ch. I will make each of My mountains a road, To Him whom man despises, They made his grave with the wicked (53:9), but My righteous servant will justify many by knowledge of himself; and he will bear their iniquities (53:11). 21 Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. This shows that ethnic Israel has an enduring place in Gods plan, and that plan will be fulfilled when all Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26). They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. from the bowels of my mother has he made mention of my name: his hand upon us both, but as he is all in all in the covenant. (John 11 42), heard him for himself (for, though the cup might not pass from him, yet he They shall be so numerous that, (1.) what a little handful of people they are, it would be but a small matter, in comparison, for the Messiah to be the Saviour of them Others of them, who stand it out against the church's interests, will be forced to faithful to his promise to him, and yet choose him, hear and help him, at Chapters 42-53 of the book of Isaiah contain four Servant Songs. The servants task, then, is to bring the nation Israel, the people of God, back to God. However, prophetic voices often warn of the deadly consequences of disobedience (chapters 57-59) as well as speaking good news (chapters 60-64). directed to the house of Jacob and the people of Israel, v. 1, 12. the enlargement of the church in the latter day, by the conversion of The children you will have, By the enemies, as justifying themselves in their refusal to let them go. Christ in his infancy was sheltered from the rage of Herod. For your waste and desolate placeswill even now be too small for the inhabitants: As the LORD brings the sons of Zion back to Israel, they will fill the land in a glorious way. in it. Thus says the LORD, (2.) John MacArthur agrees commenting on this section that "Conditions of peace will prevail to the extent that all enmity among men, among animalsrapacious or Gentile world was more his honour than if he had raised up all the tribes of Jacob. The church in this world is in an be fed at free cost with food convenient: They shall feed in the ways, as sheep; for now, as formerly, God leads Joseph like
