Isaiah 41:16

16 You will toss them in the air; the wind will carry them off, and they will be scattered by the storm. Then you will be happy because I am your God; you will praise me, the holy God of Israel.

Isaiah 41:16 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 41:16

Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away,
and the whirlwind shall scatter them
In illusion to the custom of the Jews, who had their threshingfloors on the tops of hills and mountains, where they took the opportunity and advantage of the wind in winnowing their corn, which fanned it, and carried away the chaff, and scattered it abroad; in like manner, it is suggested, the enemies of the church and people of God should be dealt with, which are like the chaff the wind driveth away, and is found no more, ( Psalms 1:5 ) , and so Rome Pagan was no more as such when subdued by Constantine, nor will the Papal antichristian states, ( Daniel 2:35 ) . Compare with this what is said of literal Babylon, which will have its accomplishment in mystical Babylon, ( Jeremiah 51:33 ) : and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord:
the Targum is,

``in the word of the Lord;''

and so it paraphrases the preceding clause,

``his word shall scatter them as the whirlwind chaff;''

and therefore in him the saints shall rejoice, because it is he that destroys their enemies; so when Rome Pagan was abolished, and the devil and his angels, or the Heathen emperors, were drove out of it and destroyed, there was great joy among the people of God, saying, "now is come salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ", ( Revelation 12:10 ) ( Revelation 19:1 Revelation 19:2 ) there will be great rejoicing in the Lord likewise when Rome Papal falls, and the saints have got the victory over the beast, ( Revelation 15:2 Revelation 15:3 ) ( 18:20 ) ( Revelation 19:1 Revelation 19:2 ) and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel;
whose arm alone has done the above things, and to whom the glory is to be given: it is the true character of believers to rejoice in Christ, in his person, offices, and grace, and to glory in his being made unto them wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. ( Philippians 3:3 ) ( 1 Corinthians 1:30 1 Corinthians 1:31 ) .

Isaiah 41:16 In-Context

14 The Lord says, "Small and weak as you are, Israel, don't be afraid; I will help you. I, the holy God of Israel, am the one who saves you.

15 I will make you like a threshing board, with spikes that are new and sharp. You will thresh mountains and destroy them; hills will crumble into dust.

16 You will toss them in the air; the wind will carry them off, and they will be scattered by the storm. Then you will be happy because I am your God; you will praise me, the holy God of Israel.

17 "When my people in their need look for water, when their throats are dry with thirst, then I, the Lord, will answer their prayer; I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them.

18 I will make rivers flow among barren hills and springs of water run in the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water and the dry land into flowing springs.