Isaiah Chapter 49
From The Open Bible Project
49:1 Listen, islands, to me; and listen, you peoples, from far: Yahweh has called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother has he made mention of my name:
- (a) This is spoken in the person of Christ, to assure the faithful that these promises should come to pass: for they were all made in him and in him would be performed.
- (b) This is meant of the time that Christ would be manifested to the world, as in (Psalms 2:7).
49:2 and he has made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand has he hid me: and he has made me a polished shaft; in his quiver has he kept me close:
- (c) By the sword and shaft, he signifies the virtue and efficacy of Christ’s doctrine.
- (d) God has taken me to his protection and defence: this chiefly is meant of Christ, and may also be applied to the ministers of his word.
49:3 and he said to me, "You are my servant; Israel, in whom I will be glorified."
- (e) By Israel is meant Christ, and all the body of the faithful, as the members and their head.
49:4 But I said, "I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely the justice [due] to me is with Yahweh, and my reward with my God."
- (f) Thus Christ in his members complains that his labour and preaching take no effect, yet he is contented that his doings are approved by God.
49:5 Now says Yahweh who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, and that Israel be gathered to him (for I am honorable in the eyes of Yahweh, and my God is become my strength);
- (g) Though the Jews refuse my doctrine, yet God will approve my ministry.
49:6 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: I will also give you for a light to the nations, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth."
49:7 Thus 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."
- (i) Meaning, the Jews whom tyrants kept in bondage.
- (k) The benefit of their deliverance will be so great, that great and small will acknowledge it, and revere God for it.
49:8 Thus says Yahweh, "In an acceptable time have I answered you, and in a day of salvation have I helped you; and I will preserve you, and give you for a covenant of the people, to raise up the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritage:
- (l) Thus he speaks of his Church when he would show his mercy toward it, (2 Corinthians 6:2).
- (m) Meaning, Christ alone.
- (n) Signifying that before Christ renewed the earth by his word, there is nothing but confusion and disorder.
49:9 saying to those who are bound, 'Come out!'; to those who are in darkness, 'Show yourselves!' "They shall feed in the ways, and on all bare heights shall be their pasture.
- (o) To them who are in the prison of sin and death.
- (p) Being in Christ’s protection, they will be safe against all dangers, and free from fear of the enemies.
49:10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun strike them: for he who has mercy on them will lead them, even by springs of water he will guide them.
- (q) Meaning, that there would be nothing in their way from Babylon that would hinder or hurt them: but this is accomplished spiritually.
49:11 I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.
49:12 Behold, these shall come from far; and behold, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim."
- (r) Meaning, the south country, so that Christ will deliver his from all the parts of the world.
49:13 Sing, heavens; and be joyful, earth; and break forth into singing, mountains: for Yahweh has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his afflicted.
- (s) Read (Isaiah 44:23).
49:14 But Zion said, "Yahweh has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me."
- (t) He objects what the faithful might say in their long affliction and answers to comfort them with a most proper comparison and full of consolation.
49:15 "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, these may forget, yet I will not forget you!
49:16 Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.
- (u) Because I would not forget you.
- (x) Meaning, the good order of policy and discipline.
49:17 Your children make haste; your destroyers and those who made you waste shall go forth from you.
- (y) I have continual care to build you up again and to destroy your enemies.
49:18 Lift up your eyes all around, and see: all these gather themselves together, and come to you. As I live," says Yahweh, "you shall surely clothe yourself with them all as with an ornament, and gird yourself with them, like a bride.
- (z) He shows what are the ornaments of the Church: to have many children, who are assembled by the word of God, and governed by his Spirit.
49:19 "For, as for your waste and your desolate places, and your land that has been destroyed, surely now you shall be too small for the inhabitants, and those who swallowed you up shall be far away.
49:20 The children of your bereavement shall yet say in your ears, The place is too small for me; give place to me that I may dwell.
49:21 Then you will say in your heart, 'Who has conceived these for me, seeing I have been bereaved of my children, and am solitary, an exile, and wandering back and forth? Who has brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where were they?'"
49:22 Thus says the Lord Yahweh, "Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and set up my banner to the peoples; and they shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.
- (a) He shows that Christ will not only gather this great number from the Jews but also from the Gentiles.
49:23 Kings shall be your nursing fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers: they shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth, and lick the dust of your feet; and you shall know that I am Yahweh; and those who wait for me shall not be disappointed."
- (b) Meaning, that kings will be converted to the gospel, and bestow their power and authority for the preservation of the Church.
- (c) Being joined with the Church, they will humble themselves to Christ their head, and give him all honour.
49:24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captives be delivered?
- (d) He makes this as an objection as though the Chaldeans were strong, and had them in just possession.
49:25 But thus says Yahweh, "Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for I will contend with him who contends with you, and I will save your children.
- (e) This is the answer to their objection, that no one is stronger than the Lord, neither has a more just title to them.
49:26 I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."
- (f) I will cause them to destroy one another as in (Judges 7:22; 2 Chronicles 20:22; Isaiah 19:2).
