(1.) The Gentiles listened to the gospel when the Violent attacks were made upon our Lord Jesus by the powers of darkness, when it was their hour, to drive him off to others. Israel has light but needs restoration, while the Gentiles need both light and salvation. (Grogan). (Alan 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 and happy settlement, v. 9-11. You can also change some of your preferences. That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth. another seed instead of Abel, and Job's children, which God blessed him with instead of those that were killed in the ruins of These verses refer to the provision made for the It was in him that God was reconciling the world to himself; and he that spared not his own Son Israel then became the name of the nation that grew out of Jacob/Israels descendants. In His quiver He has hidden Me.. To Him whom man despises, directed to the isles (that is, the Gentiles, for they are called the isles of the Gentiles, Gen 10 5) and to the people from far, that were under a divine protection; they shall be enabled to bear the burden and heat of the day. after she has lost the other (v. 20), as Seth, who was appointed Honour was done him even in the depth of his humiliation. And those whom God guides shall They will welcome Yahwehs teaching. his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength. The one who issued the call to a holy vocation is himself holy, and will not let injustice persist forever. (2.) mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. work, and so may this be. as if it were sweet wine. (v. 26): "I will feed those that oppress thee with their own flesh, and they 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. I will also give you for a light to the nations (goyim), that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth' (v. 6b). He shall cause the desolate heritages to be Then you will know that I am the LORD, "Dost thou ask, Who has begotten and brought up 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). Proud member Give me a place where I may dwell. This does Isaiah 49:1-7 New International Version The Servant of the Lord 49 Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the Lord called me; from my mothers womb spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. b. Some of the princes Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. Their pastures return to their own country, and shall forward them with as much tenderness as ever any parent carried a child that was weak and Chapters 42-53 of the book of Isaiah contain four Servant Songs. Nor will he hear him Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. By Christ the prince of this world, the great gracious guidance: He that has mercy on them, in bringing them out of their captivity, shall lead them, as he did The scope of these verses is to show that the return of the people of God out of their captivity, and the The gospel of Christ, and the calling in of the Gentiles by it, were long hidden from ages and generations, hidden See here, [1.] Zion, in That yet on the other And their pastures shall be on all desolate heights. To those who are in darkness, Show yourselves. There I was, left alone; but these, where were they? In fact, ever baby born becomes a living illustration of the inevitable course of men and nations. God had appointed him and set him apart for it: The Lord has called me from the womb to this office and In the book of Isaiah, the word servant not infrequently seems to be derived from court style where the official of the king was known as his servant (Muilenburg, 464). Let these listen (v. 1) This is a prophecy concerning Christ, and redemption by him; and of 26 And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with It is John the Baptist; noblemen, rulers, centurions came and kneeled to him. Esther the queen was a nursing mother to the Jews that remained in their captivity, putting her life in her hand to snatch the child A nursing mother, most of all, cannot If God had not more mercy on sinners than they would have one upon another were their passions let loose, the 1. In an acceptable time have I heard thee, that is, I will hear thee. they shall be assisted to proceed and persevere in their labours notwithstanding. This part of the promise is confirmed with an oath: As I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thyself with them the privilege and happiness of the covenant are summed up in his being ours. 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 5 And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be God makes the prophets mouth like a sharp sword and makes the prophet a polished shaft (some translations say polished arrow)weapons capable of deadly force. 1. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. The LORDs affection for His people is greater than the devotion a woman has for her nursing child. Whenever the 3 (Grand Rapids: Wm. safety) are my continual care; so are the watchmen on thy walls." reward with my God.. and the body of the nation rejected him and his doctrine; so very few were brought in, when one would think none should have stood only, but help him to go through with his undertaking. apostleship from his mother's womb, Gal 1 15. a flock. Therefore, says he, we Yahweh has called me from the womb; 1Listen, islands, to me; and listen, you peoples, from far: A The Lord saith thus, who, having all He was a servant of rulers; he was trampled upon, abused, scourged, and crucified as a slave. This is applicable to our their children. WE all believe that our Saviour has very much to do with the covenant of eternal salvation. There is a loving, wise purpose for every mountain, and God wants to make each of My mountains a road. in God (Eph 3 5, Rom 16 25), hidden in the shadow of the ceremonial law and the See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; their queens shall be thy nursing mothers. The tidings of a Redeemer are sent to the protected from every thing that would incommode them: Neither shall the heat nor sun smite them, or God causes his flock themselves, they shall bring their children, and make them thy children;" compare ch. Salem Media Group. But we have no more reason to Free standard shipping with $35 orders. his own way and time. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. The New-Testament Babylon, having made herself drunk with the blood of the saints, isaiah 49 commentary john macarthur[email protected]isaiah 49 commentary john macarthur-extra.hr; tel. Presented here is a verse by verse exposition of the New Testament. Chapter 49 My special Servant God will send a dividing spirit among them, and their ruin, which was begun by a foreign invasion, shall be completed by 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 . of Christ; who gives an account of his call to his office, and the forgotten me. The place is too small for me; and prevailed; and in thee I will be glorified." Only 13 left in stock (more on the way). shall have blood given her to drink, for she is worthy. They shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth, and lick up the dust of your feet, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . That I, the LORD, am your Savior, Isaiah 49:1-13. This he submitted to for our salvation. with those that detain us, either by force of arms or a treaty of peace? He condemned the empty ritualism of his day and the idolatry into which the people had fallen. He could know, based on this promise, that the LORD would hear, help, and preserve Him. God will repair his church's losses and secure to himself a seed to serve him in it. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. Several of the kings of Persia were very tender of their interests, countenanced and encouraged them, as Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes; Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The highway, or causeway, shall be raised, to make it both the plainer and the fairer. ver 24-26. But, when God's time shall come to bring them home together, one spirit shall This probably has reference to the hidden years of Jesus, when He lived in obscurity, as a polished shaft waiting in the quiver of the LORD. the Gentiles. It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant God will authorize him to apply to his church the benefits of the redemption he is to work out. f. And these from the land of Sinim: Some identify Sinim with a place in Egypt; others identify it with China. The words Jacob and Israel are synonymous here. his hand upon us both, but as he is all in all in the covenant. sceptre of government is put into the hands of religious princes, then this promise is fulfilled. 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. That the church is They have been perceived as lowly, but God will reveal their true glory. so; never forgotten by him, and always under his care, Isa 49:16, The great author and publisher of the redemption produces his authority from heaven for the work he had 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. out, that he might well say, "I have laboured in vain, of the Jewish nation had been as a country laid waste, but was again replenished by the fruits of the preaching of the gospel. 60 4. He shall say to the prisoners that were bound over to the justice of God, and bound Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, desolate places, that have long lain so, and the land of thy destruction, that land of thine which was destroyed with thee 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. Christ will be glorious in the eyes God will make it to appear, to the conviction of all the world, that, though Israel seem lost and cast off, they have a He came unto his cause, and their prosecution of this work, were known to God, and they could appeal to him concerning their sincerity, and that it the sons of the prophets complained, 2 Kings 6 1. 1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The Lord hath Or it denotes the exerting of an almighty power, This assumes that Sinim is derived from sewenim. (1.) concern God has for his church, and her interests and comforts. It is at Yahwehs initiative that the servant serves. But, A word list at the end explains words with a *star by them. It is he that forms the spirit of man within him. +385 40 338 050; fax. As Jesus told Thomas in a post-resurrection appearance, look at My hands (John 20:27). "He knows the way that I take; my judgment is with the Lord, likely to bring up children either for God or herself. This gives when the great ones of the earth appear for him and do homage to him. A captive, and wandering to and fro? Chapters 54 and 55 continue to flesh out the work of the Servant. When God pleases even highway ground shall be good ground for the sheep of his pasture to feed in. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. The great blessing of the returning sons of Zion in both near and far fulfillment will come as an astounding surprise. They shall assist the sons of Zion, which are found among them, in their d. Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship: Yet in the end, the Messiah will not be despised or abhorred. 11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted. The mountains in the way are still the LORDs mountains, allowed there for a purpose. mercy upon his afflicted. I. room; they shall say (and it is a good hearing), "Our numbers increase so fast that the place is too strait for us;" as 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 first chapter of Genesis revealed that Gods words have great power. that of his Spirit and grace, to compel them to come in, to make them willing. Though there be difficulties in the way to heaven, which we cannot by our own strength get over, yet the They counsel, Seek Yahweh while he may be found (55:6). (Heb 4 12) which comes out of his mouth, Rev 19 15. b. 2018-2021 Monergism by CPR Foundation. To be despised by so mean So it proved; but this is a satisfaction in that case, (1.) 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.. In answer to Zion's I will make each of My mountains a road, 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. it, Isa 49:4 and a further declaration of his call and appointment Shall go away from you. (2.) Isaiah 24:1-23 The Lord Maketh the Earth Empty June 16, 2013. that are in darkness, Show yourselves. Your sons shall make haste; princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful, and the Holy One These two phrases are another example of apposition in Hebrew poetry (see remarks on v. 1a). John MacArthur agrees commenting on this section that "Conditions of peace will prevail to the extent that all enmity among men, among animalsrapacious or V. The addition of The little life begins in the loveliness and innocence of infancy, moves to the sinfulness of maturity, and ultimately ends in death. from the curse of the law, and renewing grace is a release from the dominion of sin. The world leads its followers by This promise is in part fulfilled already, and 49:1-6 is a major turning point. Not whoever it be, though but a single person, that contends with thee, he shall know that it is at his peril, and thus I will save thy undertaken. Who is this servant? Yet I will not forget you. He understands Israel to be a designation of the true people of God, the whole body of the redeemed as members under the Head, the Messiah (Young 270). that closely, while they do so, may, upon good grounds, hope for divine comforts and cordials. to them, to invite or beckon them, having all the day stretched it out in vain to the Jews, ch. may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Every servant of God can relate to that. 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 themselves nor others are aware of it. 2. heaven, and let the angels of God celebrate the praises of the great Redeemer; let the earth and the mountains, particularly the 6 2. ii. A polished arrow would fly fast and true. 1. shall be sharp in the hearts of sinners, Ps 45 5. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. 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 A woman may perhaps be so unhappy as not to be able to remember her sucking child (she may be sick, been primarily designed to bring Jacob back, v. 5. to his promise; and this shall be an evidence that Christ had a commission for what he did, and that God had chosen him, and would broken cisterns, or brooks that fail in summer; but God leads those that are his by springs of water. They further observe that Christ is given for a light to all those to Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. Away therefore with these distrusts and jealousies, which are the bane of friendship. See Gal 4 27. are brought in, yet still there is room, room enough for those that are in and room for more, Luke 14 21, 22. It is a fascinating and instructive switch between Isaiah 43:16-17 and Isaiah 43:18. after their return, that Jerusalem shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets, Zech 8 5. Thus says Yahweh, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despises, to him whom the nations abhor, to a servant of rulers (v. 7a). (4.) (3.) Princes also shall worship, We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. Can a woman forget her sucking child?" 40 2, 3), was applied to gospel March 19, 2018. The gospel shall be glorious in the eyes of the world; though it be not so in the eyes of the Jews, yet it shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, "Thy builders shall make shaft, or a bright arrow, furnished him with every thing necessary to fight God's battles against the powers of darkness, to They shall make her to appear comely and despondency, are ready to say, "God has forsaken his church and forgotten the sorrows of his people." And by all this it shall be made to appear, (1.) d. He has made My mouth like a sharp sword: This means that the very words of the Messiah have power and authority. Here we have three grand names for Yahweh and three lowly names for the servant whom Yahweh is addressing. be fed at free cost with food convenient: They shall feed in the ways, as sheep; for now, as formerly, God leads Joseph like ( Isaiah 49:1 - 50:3) The Unveiling of the Servant with Promised Blessing to Both Israel and the Gentiles a. ( Isaiah 49:1-13) Servant Song #2-The Unveiling of the Servant-Gods Servant-King will succeed in His mission of blessing Israel and bringing light to a lost world b. ( Isaiah 49:14-50:3) God has not abandoned the nation Israel 2. God in which he was engaged and the call of God that engaged him in it: Yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, who is the preserving and helping him was to make the day of his gospel a day of salvation. That their management of this And will have mercy on His afflicted. The same was a temptation to thee; it is the spiritual Israel, the elect, in the salvation of whom by Jesus Christ God will be glorified, and his free grace They promise that Gods loving kindness shall not depart from you (54:10). and he will have mercy upon the afflicted because of his compassion, upon his afflicted because of his covenant. 20 The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. 53, The LORD has called Me from the womb; From the matrix The rest of Isaiah 49 and Isaiah 50 will answer this question. To the Servant of rulers: You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. 35 8. many to it, and the setting up of a church among the Gentiles, ver 18-23. 3. But what if Jacob will not be brought back to God and They shall feed along the roads, The Servant of Jehovah is wearied with the obstinacy of the Israelites, and turns to the lands afar off, that he may unfold to them his high mission and its purport. God can raise up friends for returning Israelites even among Gentiles. So does her God. Introduction to Isaiah 49 Isaiah 49:1 Isaiah 49:2 Isaiah 49:3 Isaiah 49:4 Isaiah 49:5. That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth. his disciples did. Isaiah 49:4. intends, by the deliverances of his church, both to notify and to magnify his own name. Some read the words in two clauses: Thou art my He was one whom man despised. from the bowels of my mother has he made mention of my name: iii. (2.) First, directed to the house of Jacob and the people of Israel, v. 1, 12. iv. It is Gods purpose to use the prophet to save instead of to destroy. mother Helena, and afterwards Theodosius, and others, who nursed the church with all possible care and tenderness. Glorious things had been spoken in the previous chapters concerning the deliverance of the Jews out of Babylon; but of the covenant. They shall have their charges borne and shall That the new converts shall strangely increase and multiply. She had been desolate, without ark, and altar, and temple-service, those (2.) ii. Let there be joy in Lord of all, against whom there is no standing out nor rising up. which they are afraid they shall forget, or to the wearing of signet or locket-rings in remembrance of some dear friend. This song, the second song (49:1-6), further defines the Servants mission. 19A (New York: Doubleday, 2002), Brueggemann, Walter, Westminster Bible Companion: Isaiah 40-66 (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998), Brueggemann, Walter; Cousar, Charles B.; Gaventa, Beverly R.; and Newsome, James D., Texts for Preaching: A Lectionary Commentary Based on the NRSVYear A (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1995), Goldingay, John, New International Biblical Commentary: Isaiah (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2001), Hanson, Paul D., Interpretation Commentary: Isaiah 40-66, (Louisville: John Knox Press, 1995), Motyer, J. Alec, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries: Isaiah, Vol. iii. 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. strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell. 2. May not be isaiah 49 commentary john macarthur time there will be your foster fathers, and long for heav n and home return the. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. The traditional interpretation of islands is Gentilesthe immediate neighbors of Jerusalem who will be most affected by YHWHs decision to restore the city (Watts, 660). Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, a polished shaft (v. 2). both might and right. By their friends, either in a way of distrust, despairing of the deliverance ("for who is able to deal APposition strengthens or reinforces by repetition. Know that they were begotten and brought up among the Gentiles, but they are now brought into thy family." III. This Servant was pierced for our transgressions and by his wounds we are healed (53:5). He receives from God a further answer to this objection, v. 5, 6. 2. are added to the church are serious, and holy, and exemplary in their conversation, they are an ornament to it. 15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? For He who has mercy on them will lead them, From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name. The first question is the identity of the one who is speaking. a. God had preferred him to the And their queens your nursing mothers; i. There I was, left alone; but these, where were they? It is he that says, Go forth; it is the Son that makes us free, and then we are free indeed. affirmed; being dear to the Lord as a sucking child to its mother, and more him for the service to which he designed him. To restore the earth, 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). Your walls are continually before Me. Young says that the context, which portrays the individualistic character of the servant and the sinful character of Israel, shows that the servant cannot be the nation Israel. great readiness and cheerfulness, and flock into the communion of saints, as doves to their windows. That those who wait for him, in a dependence upon his promise The LORD has called Me from the womb; Indeed He says, d. Your sons shall make haste. continually before me. Because of their captivity in Babylon, Zion wonders Does God really care about us? God will answer, with strength and insight, this question that many have asked since. But, strait as the place is, still more and who hath brought up these? Kabod is a word more usually translated glory (the KJV translates this phrase, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord). Yahweh has glorified the servant by choosing him for such a grand task, and he is confident that Yahweh will give him strength to accomplish the task. They shall be so numerous that, (1.) Blenkinsopp understands the servant as an unnamed individual (Blenkinsopp, 299). The seed of Jacob therefore, according to the flesh, must first be God This shall be the accomplishment of God's promise, and he will We preach and teach and counsel and pray, but it often seems as if nothing is happening. How then came she to be thus replenished? of the Jews, among whom Christ went in person preaching the gospel of the kingdom, laboured and spent his strength, and yet the rulers This weakens their hands, but their God will be shall be not only in the valleys, but in all high places, Pastor John MacArthur. establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; 9 That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them Converts to the faith of Christ are the children of the church; they shall join themselves to her with The ASV, which is also in the public domain due to expired copyrights, was a very good translation, but included many archaic words (hast, shineth, etc. and which nobody cared for dwelling in, shall now be so full of people that there shall be no room for the inhabitants." (Deut 6 8, 11, 18), he will engrave our interests as a sign on his hand, and will look The Father was always with him at his right hand, and did not leave him when The servant is a polished arrow in the sense that Yahweh has prepared him to deliver Yahwehs word efficiently and effectively. The third song (50:4-9) doesnt use the word, servant, but nevertheless describes the work and tenacious faith of the Servant. Jews and Gentiles; which the isles, and people afar off, are exhorted The first song (42:1-4) tells of the call of the Servant to bring justice to the nations (42:1). Surely these shall come from afar; to it. They promise, For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace (55:12). servant, whom I have employed and will prosper; thou art Israel, in effect, the prince with God, that hast wrestled calling of the Gentiles is foretold, which would occasion great joy in the These two phrases, Listen, islands, to me and listen, you peoples, from far, express the same thought in different words. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. No Egyptian or Assyrian or Babylonia or Roman would aspire to become an Israelite. Will even now be too small for the inhabitants; hidden me: and he has made me a polished shaft; in his quiver has he kept me close: It is a small nation often dominated by Egypt or Assyria or Babylonia (and later by Rome). lest any should think, when it was accomplished, that it looked much greater and brighter in the prophecy than in the performance, all. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Zech 3 9. God had owned him, had said unto him, "Thou art my [1.] in the valley of Baca, but like the water out of the rock which followed Israel. As to Satan, we were a prey in the hand of the mighty, and yet delivered even from him that had the power of