i. The first song (42:1-4) tells of the call of the Servant to "bring justice to the nations" (42:1). Well, actually, you can drive from one side of Israel to the other in two hours; you can drive from one end to the other in six hours. Or, "The plan and model of thy walls, that are to be rebuilt, is before me, and they shall certainly be built according to it." Isaiah 49 is actually the second of four songs called the Servant Songs. 1 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. Isaiah III, Volume 2: Chapters 49-55: 454: HCOT: 1998: WorldCat Amazon CBD. Scattered Jews in other countries will also return, helped by generous aid from the nations among whom they have lived (22-23).Among the exiles were some who apparently doubted the prophets promise of restoration, for Babylon seemed unconquerable. To the Servant of rulers: As they rejected Him, as they despised Him, His coming to them was in vain. Isaiah 49:1-13 (The 2nd Servant Song) Isaiah 49:1-13 - The 2nd Servant Song. And who has brought these up? The one thing that tells us beyond a doubt that Isaiah, the prophet, wrote all of it, is his use of the title "Holy One of Israel". Isaiah 47:1-15 The Humiliation of Babylon . And give You as a covenant to the people: Jesus, the Messiah, doesnt merely bring a covenant; He is a covenant to the people. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament, The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. (1.) The mountains in the way are still the LORDs mountains, allowed there for a purpose. The place is too small for me; Let there be joy in heaven, and let the angels of God celebrate the praises of the great Redeemer; let the earth and the mountains, particularly the great ones of the earth, be joyful, and break forth into singing, for the earnest expectation of the creature that waits for the glorious liberty of the children of God (Romans 8:19; Romans 8:21) shall now be abundantly answered. The Holy One of Israel; Away therefore with these distrusts and jealousies, which are the bane of friendship. Nothing in all creation can withstand his power (2-3). 2 He made my words as sharp as a sword. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages; Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. 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 . 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. Listen carefully, you people who live far away. The land will be too narrow for you by reason of the inhabitants. Man, whom he came to save, put contempt upon him. And a part of their plan, very shrewd indeed, is to take Saudi Arabia and immediately cut the price of oil in half. We have no more reason to question his promise and grace, than we have to question his providence and justice. (1-2) The call and the preparation of the Messiah. Though he exhorts and encourages all the godly to thanksgiving, yet he likewise aims at confirming the promise which might have been regarded as doubtful; for afflictions trouble our consciences, and cause them to waver in such a manner that it is not so easy to rest firmly on the promises of God. 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. 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. Lift up your eyes, look around and see; The 5 Servant Songs of Isaiah are wonderful prophecies of the Messiah and His First Coming to mankind as a Servant. The servant was to be a light to the nations, making it possible for non-Jews who had been in darkness because of being without the knowledge of God and his promises to be forgiven of their sins and to cease being in a state of alienation from him. Lick up the dust of thy feet refers to the great honor which the great ones of the world will give Israel. People born in exile will flock to the rebuilt Jerusalem. As the prophet spoke, he called on nature, personified, to rejoice (on the mountains rejoicing see 44:23). Isaiah 51:12-23 . By Christ the prince of this world, the great destroyer, is cast out, is dispossessed, has his power broken and his attempts quite baffled. Thus says the LORD, 49:1-13 - today's passage 50:4-11 52:13-53:12 Oswalt: In subtle but nevertheless clear ways the focus has shifted from the physical captivity of the Judeans to the moral and spiritual captivity of Israel and the whole world. The whole inflationary cycle can be placed on the increased oil prices. His setting them thus as a seal upon his arm denotes his setting them as a seal upon his heart, and his being ever mindful of them and their interests, Song of Solomon 8:6. 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. And it is a thing that is actually causing millions of people to starve to death in the third world. 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. This represents the choices and lifestyle a person accepts as well as calling attention to the . Help us purchase electrical generators for churches. Opponents who try to ruin Israels work will not be successful and will leave in shame and defeat (17-18). We see his calling, his mission, his faithfulness, and His protection. "Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! But God said. Now He speaks here about the fact that He's going to bring them back again. [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. 17 Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee. And some of the old rabbis say that that is God speaking there in response to the people who were captives in Babylon, who said, "God has forgotten us. Yet surely my just reward is with the LORD, II. 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 l 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. Beg your pardon, I jumped. But even they shall be taken away. 1. Kings shall see and arise, His charge to us every day is to look at him and "see.". Israel has light but needs restoration, while the Gentiles need both light and salvation. (Grogan). These multitudes are the Saints who will be gathered from every nation in the last days and enlisted . Zion believes, The LORD has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me.. Your walls are continually before Me. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy 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 know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me ( Isaiah 49:22-23 ). And in the day of salvation I have helped You; 2 Hope on the Horizon Throughout Isaiah there are intense messages of hope amid all the tribulations and failures. I will preserve You and give You "I will also give thee." 49:1-13) God's Servant, the Messiah, is the speaker in verses 1-5. Who has begotten these for me, In these encouragements, Isaiah looks beyond his time to the coming of the Christ, and even beyond that to the second coming and the eternal kingdom. However, it is possible that we should read "my servant, Israel" not as vocative, but as a predicative. 1 What joy shall be in the midst of afflictions, by the Kingdom and birth of Christ. Nothing can furnish us with better matter for songs of praise and thanksgiving, Isaiah 49:13; Isaiah 49:13. All flesh shall know 13.Praise, O heavens; and rejoice, O earth. It is fitting for judgment to begin at the house of God, so the LORD has first spoken to Israel and Judah. Can a woman forget her sucking child?" 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. He is as sure a rewarder as he is a revenger. Now those men in Libya, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, they could care less what havoc they've wrecked upon the world. 1) ( Isaiah 3:1-15) Rejection of God leads to the collapse of society and specific judgment against lofty, male leaders 2) ( Isaiah 3:16-4:1) Rejection of God leads to the collapse of society and specific judgment against arrogant, aristocratic women b. 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. In whom I will be glorified. of Studying Isaiah 49 18-23. That's pretty smart. It is not Isaiah, because prophets never begin "Listen to me". 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. d. Your sons shall make haste. But, Secondly, It is possible that she may forget. And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; And if you look at it, it is a very small area. And they that had carried us away captive said, 'Sing us one of your songs.' And He has chosen You.. Proud member These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. Notice it says eachmountain (or, as in the King James Version, all mountains). Price of gasoline will go down, price of raw materials will go down. They ignored God when he spoke to them through his servants the prophets. 49 Listen to me, distant nations, you people who live far away! How can a captive people possibly be freed when they are in the grip of such a powerful tyrant (24)? are without the yod or the conjunction vau before the verb: and so the Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate. Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been? When the Servant completes His work of salvation, the whole creation, not just humankind, will experience liberation from the effects of the Fall (cf. and appointed me to be his servant. 10 million Ukrainians without power because of Russia. Since I have lost my children and am desolate, And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.. Israel 40-66 is all about the comfort of God God has forsaken us." First, It is not likely that she should. The promises exceed anything that took place in the return from captivity under Cyrus. He was crucified. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. 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. God the Father is a spirit. Be assured, [1.] They shall bring your sons in their arms, Moreover, that believers may not faint under the weight of distresses, before promising to them consolation from God, he exhorts them calmly to bear distresses; for by the word poor he means that the Church, in this world, is liable to many calamities. The servant stands disbelieving in the face of God's call, blinded by self-condemnation to God's purposes. The Father is the Lord, the Redeemer, and Holy One of Israel, as sending the Son to be the Redeemer. Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. "In the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me.". Isaiah 13. lay upon them command after command, rule alter rule, a constant series of minute injunctions, under which they will . Verse Isaiah 49:13. (Alan Redpath), Listen, O coastlands, to Me, Jesus set the sick and diseased free from the bondage of their infirmities (Luke 13:16). And I'll be sanctified before the nations of the earth. This is the third of our four lessons from Isaiah in our set of reflections on humanity's participation in God's new creation. The idea is that God will bring back the captives (particularly in the far fulfillment) from every conceivable place. Chapters 49 to 51 contain especially strong messages of encouragement and hope. Because of the LORD who is faithful, This is the reason why Isaiah describes the advantages of this deliverance in such lofty terms, in order that believers, though they beheld nothing around them but death and ruin, might sustain their heart by the hope of a better condition. 8 The judgments upon Israel for their pride . Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 Commentary; Isaiah 58 Commentary. 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. Zion, in distress, said, The Lord has forsaken me, and looks after me no more; my Lord has forgotten me, and will look after me no more. I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, 6-12. But he still loves them and has the power to save them. Isaiah 42:5-9). 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. A woman may perhaps be so unhappy as not to be able to remember her sucking child (she may be sick, 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 womb, as those who, to conceal their shame, are the death of their children as soon as they are their life, Lamentations 4:10; Deuteronomy 28:57. Servant's call; the second, on his confidence. 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! For over one hundred years International Critical Commentaries have had a special place among works on the Bible. And in this Israel is the true name expressed. ( Isaiah 49:1-2) The call and the preparation of the Messiah. When we consider what and who the Lord Jesus had to work with on this earth, we certainly must believe that one of the great temptations He faced was discouragement. The great blessing of the returning sons of Zion in both near and far fulfillment will come as an astounding surprise. f. And these from the land of Sinim: Some identify Sinim with a place in Egypt; others identify it with China. [2.] are without the yod or the conjunction vau before the verb: and so the Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate. That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth. 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. - The Burden against Babylon. The work of God's Servant v1 Listen to me, you foreign nations. That is in Christ, he was a man who was governed by God. The Messiah would not simply bring salvation; He would besalvation to the ends of the earth. A nursing mother, most of all, cannot but be tender of her sucking child; her own breasts will soon put her in mind of it if she should forget it. 66:9-13). He has no physical hands, but this is poetic imagery that means he keeps us in his . This verse is the clearest indication that the Servant is the nation of Israel. The Lord hides the servant "in the shadow of his hand" and "in his quiver" (verse 2). There is no exception in that great, but little word, all. The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell. A woman, whose honour it is to be of the tender sex as well as the fair one, cannot but have compassion for a child, which, being both harmless and helpless, is a proper object of compassion. This is a truly significant Jewish sign that proclaims the nearness of our Lord's return. Formal, beautiful, memorable, remarkable speech. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? 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 ) . The pictures of eating their own flesh and drinking their own blood draw on the horrors of siege conditions. Shall go away from you. Note, God's compassions to his people infinitely exceed those of the tenderest parents towards their children. I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver. Isaiah 46:1-13 Sovereign Control of God. Can a nursing mother forget her nursing child? And bind them on you as a bride does. If you do that, then the mountain between you and Gods land of blessing becomes the way into it. (Redpath). In the larger sense, it speaks of mercy and the provision of God for people as they return to Him in the last days, as they shall come from afar. Then you will know that I am the LORD, But they are seeking to expand. 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. Isaiah 40:1; Isaiah 47:6) and had shown compassion on His formerly afflicted nation (cf. You won't find a clearer picture of Jesus Christ anywhere else in the OT. i. 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. Not much. Lesson Text: Isaiah 49:1-13; Time of Action: between 700 and 695 B.C. Will say again in your ears, Your destroyers and those who laid you waste "Commentary on Isaiah 49:13". Surely these shall come from afar; well, they may forget, but I will not forget thee ( Isaiah 49:15 ). 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. Isaiah 49:14 But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Rather their sins are the cause of their troubles (50:1). 49:10) on those who need help, including Gentiles. 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 (l) 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. The troubles of the church have given some occasion to question God's care and concern for it, Isaiah 49:14; Isaiah 49:14. Sinim is probably Aswan, near the southern border of Egypt. He will crush the Babylonians in a judgment suited to the cruel oppression that they inflicted on their helpless victims (25-26).Other Jews blamed God for their troubles, as if he had cast them off like a husband who divorces his wife or a father who sells his children to pay off his debts. i. . God will protect them along the journey and help them as they rebuild their ruined country (8-10). 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; 3 And said unto me, Thou art my But through Him, we've been brought nigh. Infidels, in their presumption, say God has forsaken the earth (Ezekiel 8:12), and has forgotten their sins,Psalms 10:11. That's where it all comes from.Now the byproducts of the oil, the fertilizers and the chemical fertilizers that help grow the crops have become so expensive that your food bill has gone up tremendously. There's not enough room." And they required some happy songs from us saying, 'Sing one of the songs of Zion.' Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. For He who has mercy on them will lead them, For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones" (49:13). Instead of serving Him with humility and offering love to their neighbors, the nation of Judah offered meaningless sacrifices in God's temple at Jerusalem and committed injustices throughout the nation. He reminds the doubting exiles that he is the all-powerful God and Israels covenant redeemer. He declared that the Lord called him (49:1) and prepared him for his mission (49:2). But now, the LORD speaks against the nations, beginning with . "Sing, O heaven; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for Jehovah hath comforted his people, and will have compassion upon his afflicted.". In Isaiah 49:1-13, the Servant speaks about his role and his ministry, and he is disillusioned at first. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. That God has a tender affection for his church and people, Isaiah 49:15; Isaiah 49:15.