Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despised, to him whom the nation abhorred, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee ( Isaiah 49:7 ). c. Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away: Babylon, the mighty empire, had taken Zion captive. He will enable people around the world to return to God, similarly to how the Israelites would return to Jerusalem after the Exile. The servant stands disbelieving in the face of God's call, blinded by self-condemnation to God's purposes. And will have mercy on His afflicted. That's pretty smart. God's people are the blessings and ornaments of the world, and therefore let there be universal joy, for God has comforted his people that were in sorrow and he will have mercy upon the afflicted because of his compassion, upon his afflicted because of his covenant. Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. Study the Bible on the go with Andrew's free online Bible commentary. He declares that the Lord has sovereignly chosen him and called him to be his servant (verse 1b). For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away. So he speaks about them coming into the land and being prospered and the land being too small for them and their desire to extend and expand their borders.Now the regathering and the rebuilding of the nation Israel has been a very remarkable thing in our days. The land will be too narrow for you by reason of the inhabitants. Beg your pardon, I jumped. i. Whether exiled in Babylon or scattered in other places, the people will return home amid much rejoicing (11-13).Some of the Jews thought God had forgotten them. 1-2, Servant to the Nations: His Call 49:1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye peoples, from far;--As often in Isaiah, "people" is plural, referring to the world's many ethnic . Now by this it will appear that Zion's suggestions were altogether groundless, that God has not forsaken her, nor forgotten her, nor ever will. See how deplorable the case of God's people may be sometimes, such that they may seem to be forsaken and forgotten of their God; and at such a time their temptations may be alarmingly violent. Jesus set the righteous dead captive in Hades free from their place (Ephesians 4:8). You can check these in your browser security settings. are without the yod or the conjunction vau before the verb: and so the Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate. Which may be understood of the heavens, and the earth by a personification, a figure usual in Scripture, to express the greatness of the benefit received, and to raise thankfulness and admiration in the hearts of God's people; see Psalms 90:11 or by the heavens may be meant the angels in heaven, who, as they rejoice at the conversion of a single sinner, will much more rejoice at such numerous conversions among Jews and Gentiles, here prophesied of, Luke 15:10 and, by the "earth", the saints on earth, the excellent in it, who have a more immediate concern in, and must be affected with, the case here represented: and break forth into singing, O mountains; such as are in high office either in the state, as Christian kings and princes, Isaiah 49:23 or in the church, as prophets and apostles, Revelation 18:20. Partners In a New Creation / Lesson #2 God Foretells Redemption / Isaiah 49:1-13. In an acceptable time I have heard You, We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. So that Israel is gathered to Him Rather their sins are the cause of their troubles (50:1). This is rejoicing over deliverance from sin, not just exile. The Lord called me to serve him. Thus says the LORD, and break forth into singing, O mountains; such as are in high office either in the state, as Christian kings and princes, Isaiah 49:23 or in the church, as prophets and apostles, Revelation 18:20. Isaiah 49 - The Messiah's Mission This chapter is full of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the words quoted could not possibly have their complete fulfillment in any other save in our Savior. 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. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy" ( Psalms 137:4-6 ). Sinim is probably Aswan, near the southern border of Egypt. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. 2 He made my words as sharp as a sword. b. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. Isaiah 42:10-13; Isaiah 44:23; Isaiah 45:8; Isaiah 52:8-9; Isaiah 55:12-13). Infidels, in their presumption, say God has forsaken the earth (Ezekiel 8:12), and has forgotten their sins,Psalms 10:11. Lesson Text: Isaiah 49:1-13; Time of Action: between 700 and 695 B.C. They ignored God when he spoke to them through his servants the prophets. And those who swallowed you up will be far away. "In the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me.". And they shall be drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine. And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, And made Me a polished shaft; They bring together all the relevant aids to exegesis - linguistic, textual, archaeological, historical, literary, and theological - to help the reader understand the meaning of the books of the Old and New Testaments. He has no physical hands, but this is poetic imagery that means he keeps us in his . But God said. We are finishing up Isaiah 49 - with verses 18-23 - for Sunday, June 19. The reason of all this is, for the Lord hath comforted his people; with the discoveries of his love and grace; by his gracious presence among them; by the coming of Christ unto them in a spiritual way; by sending his Spirit, and renewing the face of things, and reviving his work in the midst of them; by the pure and powerful preaching of the Gospel, and comfortable administration of Gospel ordinances; and by large additions of converts made unto them: and will have mercy upon his afflicted, or "poor", or "meek" and "humble" ones, as the words F12 may be rendered: the Lord's people is a poor and afflicted people, poor in a temporal and spiritual sense; the church and interest of Christ is in a poor and low condition: the Lord's people are afflicted outwardly and inwardly, and so become meek, and are kept humble; these the Lord, in the latter day, will raise from a low and distressed condition to a more exalted and comfortable one; which will be an instance of his mercy and compassion, and be matter of joy unto them. And take heed, you peoples from afar! It is beautiful to imagine Jesus comforting and strengthening His soul with these promises as He anticipated and endured the ordeal of the cross. b. c. Your walls are continually before Me: The walls refer to the walls of the city of Jerusalem, which figuratively speak of the health, the strength, the prosperity, and the security of Gods people. The servant who is the nation Israel is displeasing to God (42:18-25), but this servant is honored by God (49:5). He was despised and rejected. Can a woman forget her sucking child?" I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; As the prophet spoke, he called on nature, personified, to rejoice (on the mountains rejoicing see 44:23). The Most Amazing Child By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. "He (Yahweh) said to me, 'You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor'.". 3 He said to me, "Israel, you are my servant; If you do that, then the mountain between you and Gods land of blessing becomes the way into it. (Redpath). Proud member Opponents who try to ruin Israels work will not be successful and will leave in shame and defeat (17-18). Some apply his engraving his church on the palms of his hands to the wounds in Christ's hands when he was crucified; he will look on the marks of them, and remember those for whom he suffered and died. Notice it says My mountains. That he has a constant care of his church and people (Isaiah 49:16; Isaiah 49:16): I have engraven thee upon the palms of my hands. To this he submitted for our salvation. For He who has mercy on them will lead them, in whom I will be glorified. i. Kings shall be your foster fathers: Calvin and most expositors believe that the text teaches that one day the greatest in the nation will love and care for the children of the Church. In this case, the servant, too, is hidden even from himself as an agent of God. And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.. And the land of your destruction, God will protect them along the journey and help them as they rebuild their ruined country (8-10). I. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. Isaiah 51:1-11 Reassurance of Israel's Future. 2. Sing, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth Which may be understood of the heavens, and the earth by a personification, a figure usual in Scripture, to express the greatness of the benefit received, and to raise thankfulness and admiration in the hearts of God's people; see ( Psalms 90:11 Psalms 90:12 ) ( Isaiah 55:12 ) or by the heavens may be meant the angels in heaven, who, as they rejoice at the conversion of a single sinner, will much more rejoice at such numerous conversions among Jews and Gentiles, here prophesied of, ( Luke 15:10 ) and, by the "earth", the saints on earth, the excellent in it, who have a more immediate concern in, and must be affected with, the case here represented: and break forth into singing, O mountains; such as are in high office either in the state, as Christian kings and princes, ( Isaiah 49:23 ) or in the church, as prophets and apostles, ( Revelation 18:20 ) . How, why, and when did Satan fall from heaven? And lick up the dust of your feet. 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. He could know, based on this promise, that the LORD would hear, help, and preserve Him. Partners In a New Creation / Lesson #3 God's People Shall Prosper / Isaiah 49:14-23. New Revised Standard Version and Student Study Handout for Isaiah 9:2-7 International Bible Lesson "For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6NRSV). As they rejected Him, as they despised Him, His coming to them was in vain. He is protected by the Lord (49:2). But he still loves them and has the power to save them. And it is a thing that is actually causing millions of people to starve to death in the third world. 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. That I, the LORD, am your Savior, 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. To those who are in darkness, Show yourselves. a. But how shall we sing the Lord's songs in a strange land?" Give me a place where I may dwell. To bring Jacob back to Him, All of the Arab states that have been giving them such a bad time, they are planning to go full on against the Arab world. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; l "pauperum suorum", V. L. "pauperes suos", Forerius; "inopes suos", Vitringa; "humiles", Sept. "mansuetorum", Targum. 1. His words are like a sharpened sword - truth that defends the righteous and destroys the rebellious. Isaiah 55:1-13 Commentary; Isaiah 56 Commentary. Your sons shall make haste; Lick up the dust of thy feet refers to the great honor which the great ones of the world will give Israel. But these, where were they? 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 mercy upon his afflicted. And he said, It is a light thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the eaRuth ( Isaiah 49:5-6 ). The scope of these verses is to show that the return of the people of God out of their captivity, and the eternal redemption to be wrought out by Christ (of which that was a type), would be great occasions of joy to the church and great proofs of the tender care God has of the church. The work of God's Servant v1 Listen to me, you foreign nations. Can a woman forget her nursing child, The 5 Servant Songs of Isaiah are wonderful prophecies of the Messiah and His First Coming to mankind as a Servant. Isaiah 49:1-13 (The 2nd Servant Song) Isaiah 49:1-13 - The 2nd Servant Song. The book of Isaiah contains 66 chapters divided into 39, and 27 the same way the Old and New Testament is divided. [When you make] the commitment of your life to Jesus Christ without reservation, then you can go to meet your mountains and meet obstacles in Jesus not to meet them outside Him, but in Christ. 1. He calls upon the distant islands and the Gentile nations to listen to himhis divine calling is of universal significance, it does not just relate to the nation of Israel, it has bearing upon all the nations of the world (verse 1a). I will make each of My mountains a road, Verse Isaiah 49:13. i. Israel 40-66 is all about the comfort of God I. i. 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. Be joyful, O earth! They say, "The area that we have is too small." 1 Listen to me, all you in distant lands! 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. Can a woman forget her nursing child: Though bizarre accounts of unspeakable cruelty surface from time to time, everyone knows that a woman will never forget her nursing child. In whom I will be glorified. There I was, left alone; but these, where were they? 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. Once more God promises the return of the captive Jews to their homeland. The prophet speaker-author is using poetic forms, with dramatic or heightened images and turns of phrase. [2.] Chapters 49 to 51 contain especially strong messages of encouragement and hope. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. 2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. Romans 8:19-22). Isaiah 49:14-26 God Will Remember Jerusalem. Thus says the LORD: The whole thing comes back to the oil. The Lord's highway, of course, is the one that leads to life. Surely these shall come from afar; Isaiah 40:1; Isaiah 47:6) and had shown compassion on His formerly afflicted nation (cf. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. Behold, I will lift My hand in an oath to the nations, 49:16-17 This is another powerful metaphor of God's constant remembrance of His covenant with Abraham's descendants. But Zion said, The LORD has forsaken me: In the midst of this great praise for the Messiah and His saving work, Zion speaking of the highest hill in Jerusalem, and the place of Gods people by association Zion objects.