Isaías 41

1 Calai-vos diante de mim, ó ilhas; e renovem os povos as forças; cheguem-se, e então falem; cheguemo-nos juntos a juizo.

2 Quem suscitou do Oriente aquele cujos passos a vitória acompanha? Quem faz que as nações se lhe submetam e que ele domine sobre reis? Ele os entrega � sua espada como o pó, e ao seu arco como pragana arrebatada pelo vento.

3 Ele os persegue, e passa adiante em segurança, até por uma vereda em que com os seus pés nunca tinha trilhado.

4 Quem operou e fez isto, chamando as gerações desde o princípio? Eu, o Senhor, que sou o primeiro, e que com os últimos sou o mesmo.

5 As ilhas o viram, e temeram; os confins da terra tremeram; aproximaram-se, e vieram.

6 um ao outro ajudou, e ao seu companheiro disse: Esforça-te.

7 Assim o artífice animou ao ourives, e o que alisa com o martelo ao que bate na bigorna, dizendo da coisa soldada: Boa é. Então com pregos a segurou, para que não viesse a mover-se.

8 Mas tu, ó Israel, servo meu, tu Jacó, a quem escolhi, descendência de Abraão,

9 tomei desde os confins da terra, e te chamei desde os seus cantos, e te disse: Tu és o meu servo, a ti te escolhi e não te rejeitei;

10 não temas, porque eu sou contigo; não te assombres, porque eu sou teu Deus; eu te fortaleço, e te ajudo, e te sustento com a destra da minha justiça.

11 Eis que envergonhados e confundidos serão todos os que se irritam contra ti; tornar-se-ão em nada; e os que contenderem contigo perecerão.

12 Quanto aos que pelejam contigo, buscá-los-ás, mas não os acharás; e os que guerreiam contigo tornar-se-ão em nada e perecerão.

13 Porque eu, o Senhor teu Deus, te seguro pela tua mão direita, e te digo: Não temas; eu te ajudarei.

14 Não temas, ó bichinho de Jacó, nem vós, povozinho de Israel; eu te ajudo, diz o Senhor, e o teu redentor é o Santo de Israel.

15 Eis que farei de ti um trilho novo, que tem dentes agudos; os montes trilharás e os moerás, e os outeiros tornarás como a pragana.

16 Tu os padejarás e o vento os levará, e o redemoinho os espalhará; e tu te alegrarás no Senhor e te gloriarás no Santo de Israel.

17 Os pobres e necessitados buscam água, e não há, e a sua língua se seca de sede; mas eu o Senhor os ouvirei, eu o Deus de Israel não os desampararei.

18 Abrirei rios nos altos desnudados, e fontes no meio dos vales; tornarei o deserto num lago d'água, e a terra seca em mananciais.

19 Plantarei no deserto o cedro, a acácia, a murta, e a oliveira; e porei no ermo juntamente a faia, o olmeiro e o buxo;

20 para que todos vejam, e saibam, e considerem, e juntamente entendam que a mão do Senhor fez isso, e o Santo de Israel o criou.

21 Apresentai a vossa demanda, diz o Senhor; trazei as vossas firmes razões, diz o Rei de Jacó.

22 Tragam-nas, e assim nos anunciem o que há de acontecer; anunciai-nos as coisas passadas, quais são, para que as consideremos, e saibamos o fim delas; ou mostrai-nos coisas vindouras.

23 Anunciai-nos as coisas que ainda hão de vir, para que saibamos que sois deuses; fazei bem, ou fazei mal, para que nos assombremos, e fiquemos atemorizados.

24 Eis que vindes do nada, e a vossa obra do que nada é; abominação é quem vos escolhe.

25 Do norte suscitei a um que já é chegado; do nascente do sol a um que invoca o meu nome; e virá sobre os magistrados como sobre o lodo, e como o oleiro pisa o barro.

26 Quem anunciou isso desde o princípio, para que o possamos saber? ou dantes, para que digamos: Ele é justo? Mas não há quem anuncie, nem tampouco quem manifeste, nem tampouco quem ouça as vossas palavras.

27 Eu sou o que primeiro direi a Sião: Ei-los, ei-los; e a Jerusalém darei um mensageiro que traz boas-novas.

28 E quando eu olho, não há ninguém; nem mesmo entre eles há conselheiro que possa responder palavra, quando eu lhes perguntar.

29 Eis que todos são vaidade. As suas obras não são coisa alguma; as suas imagens de fundição são vento e coisa vã.

Isaías 41 Commentary

Chapter 41

God's care of his people. (1-9) they are encouraged not to fear. (10-20) The vanity and folly of idolatry. (21-29)

Verses 1-9 Can any heathen god raise up one in righteousness, make what use of him he pleases, and make him victorious over the nations? The Lord did so with Abraham, or rather, he would do so with Cyrus. Sinners encourage one another in the ways of sin; shall not the servants of the living God stir up one another in his service? God's people are the seed of Abraham his friend. This is certainly the highest title ever given to a mortal. It means that Abraham, by Divine grace, was made like to God, and that he was admitted to communion with Him. Happy are the servants of the Lord, whom he has called to be his friends, and to walk with him in faith and holy obedience. Let not such as have thus been favoured yield to fear; for the contest may be sharp, but the victory shall be sure.

Verses 10-20 God speaks with tenderness; Fear thou not, for I am with thee: not only within call, but present with thee. Art thou weak? I will strengthen thee. Art thou in want of friends? I will help thee in the time of need. Art thou ready to fall? I will uphold thee with that right hand which is full of righteousness, dealing forth rewards and punishments. There are those that strive with God's people, that seek their ruin. Let not God's people render evil for evil, but wait God's time. It is the worm Jacob; so little, so weak, so despised and trampled on by every body. God's people are as worms, in humble thoughts of themselves, and in their enemies' haughty thoughts of them; worms, but not vipers, not of the serpent's seed. Every part of God's word is calculated to humble man's pride, and to make him appear little in his own eyes. The Lord will help them, for he is their Redeemer. The Lord will make Jacob to become a threshing instrument. God will make him fit for use, new, and having sharp spikes. This has fulfilment in the triumphs of the gospel of Christ, and of all faithful followers of Christ, over the power of darkness. God has provided comforts to supply all their wants, and to answer all their prayers. Our way to heaven lies through the wilderness of this world. The soul of man is in want, and seeks for satisfaction; but becomes weary of seeking that in the world, which is not to be had in it. Yet they shall have a constant supply, where one would least expect it. I will open rivers of grace, rivers of living water, which Christ spake of the Spirit, ( john 7:38 john 7:39 ) . When God sets up his church in the Gentile wilderness, there shall be a great change, as if thorns and briers were turned into cedars, and fir-trees, and myrtles. These blessings are kept for the poor in spirit, who long for Divine enlightening, pardon, and holiness. And God will render their barren souls fruitful in the grace of his Spirit, that all who behold may consider it.

Verses 21-29 There needs no more to show the folly of sin, than to bring to notice the reasons given in defence of it. There is nothing in idols worthy of regard. They are less than nothing, and worse than nothing. Let the advocates of other doctrines than that of salvation through Christ, bring their arguments. Can they tell of a cure for human depravity? Jehovah has power which cannot be withstood; this he will make appear. But the certain knowledge of the future must be only with Jehovah, who fulfils his own plans. All prophecies, except those of the Bible, have been uncertain. In the work of redemption the Lord showed himself much more than in the release of the Jews from Babylon. The good tidings the Lord will send in the gospel, is a mystery hid from ages and generations. A Deliverer is raised up for us, of nobler name and greater power than the deliverer of the captive Jews. May we be numbered among his obedient servants and faithful friends.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 41

This chapter contains a summons to the enemies of Christ to come and try the cause between God and them before him; words of comfort to true believers, promising them help, protection, and provision; full conviction of idolaters, and their practices; and is closed with a promise of some great person, and what he will do unto them, and for the people of God. The summons is in Isa 41:1, expressed according to the forms used in courts of judicature. The issue of the controversy is put upon this foot, the raising up a certain person from the east, who it was that did it, which appearing to be the work of the Lord, proves the point contended about, Isa 41:2-4, the obstinate persistence of idolaters in their idolatry, notwithstanding this is observed, Isa 41:5-7, the people of God, under the names of Jacob and Israel, the objects of God's choice and affection, Isa 41:8,9 are encouraged against the fear of men, with promises of help and strength from the Lord, Isa 41:10,13,14 of confusion to their enemies, and victory over them, Isa 41:11,12,15,16, and of spiritual provisions, and great prosperity in their wilderness state, in which they should manifestly see the hand of the Lord, Isa 41:17-20 when the idolatrous nations are challenged to produce their strong reasons for their idolatry, and are put upon proving that their idols can foretell things to come, or do good or evil to men, or own they are nothing but an abomination, Isa 41:21-24,26 and then one is spoken of that should come as a mighty warrior, and tread down the Pagan princes, and a set of Gospel ministers should be sent, bringing good tidings to Zion, to the silencing of idolaters, and the cessation of idolatrous worship, Isa 41:25,27,28.