Isaías 41

1 Dios ayuda a Israel
«Escuchen en silencio ante mí, tierras más allá del mar.
Traigan sus argumentos más convincentes.
Vengan ahora y hablen;
el tribunal está listo para oír su caso.

2 »¿Quién ha incitado a ese rey del oriente,
llamándolo en justicia para el servicio de Dios?
¿Quién le da victoria a ese hombre sobre muchas naciones
y permite que pisotee a los reyes?
Con su espada, reduce a polvo a los ejércitos
y con su arco los esparce como la paja ante el viento.

3 Los persigue y avanza seguro,
aunque pisa terreno desconocido.

4 ¿Quién ha hecho obras tan poderosas,
llamando a cada nueva generación desde el principio del tiempo?
Soy yo, el Señor
, el Primero y el Último;
únicamente yo lo soy».

5 Las tierras más allá del mar observan con temor;
las tierras lejanas tiemblan y se movilizan para la guerra.

6 Los fabricantes de ídolos se alientan unos a otros
y se dicen: «¡Sé fuerte!».

7 El escultor anima al orfebre,
y el que hace moldes colabora en el yunque.
«Muy bien —dicen—, está quedando bien».
Con cuidado juntan las piezas,
después sujetan el ídolo para que no se caiga.

8 «Pero en cuanto a ti, Israel, mi siervo,
Jacob, a quien he escogido,
descendiente de mi amigo Abraham,

9 te he llamado desde los confines de la tierra,
diciéndote: “Eres mi siervo”.
Pues te he escogido
y no te desecharé.

10 No tengas miedo, porque yo estoy contigo;
no te desalientes, porque yo soy tu Dios.
Te daré fuerzas y te ayudaré;
te sostendré con mi mano derecha victoriosa.

11 »¿Ves? Todos tus furiosos enemigos están allí tendidos,
confundidos y humillados.
Todo el que se te oponga morirá
y quedará en la nada.

12 Buscarás en vano
a los que trataron de conquistarte.
Los que te ataquen
quedarán en la nada.

13 Pues yo te sostengo de tu mano derecha;
yo, el Señor
tu Dios.
Y te digo:
“No tengas miedo, aquí estoy para ayudarte.

14 Aunque seas un humilde gusano, oh Jacob,
no tengas miedo, pueblo de Israel, porque yo te ayudaré.
Yo soy el Señor
, tu Redentor.
Yo soy el Santo de Israel”.

15 Serás un nuevo instrumento para trillar,
con muchos dientes afilados.
Despedazarás a tus enemigos,
convirtiendo a los montes en paja.

16 Los lanzarás al aire
y el viento se los llevará;
un remolino los esparcirá.
Entonces te alegrarás en el Señor
;
te gloriarás en el Santo de Israel.

17 »Cuando los pobres y los necesitados busquen agua y no la encuentren,
y tengan la lengua reseca por la sed,
entonces yo, el Señor
, les responderé;
yo, el Dios de Israel, nunca los abandonaré.

18 Abriré ríos para ellos en los altiplanos.
Les daré fuentes de agua en los valles
y llenaré el desierto con lagunas de agua;
por la tierra reseca correrán ríos alimentados por manantiales.

19 Plantaré árboles en el desierto árido:
cedros, acacias, mirtos, olivos, cipreses, abetos y pinos.

20 Lo hago para que todos los que vean este milagro
comprendan lo que significa:
que el Señor
es quien lo ha hecho,
el Santo de Israel lo ha creado.

21 »Expongan el caso de sus ídolos
—dice el Señor
—.
Que demuestren lo que pueden hacer
—dice el Rey de Israel
—.

22 Que intenten decirnos lo que sucedió hace mucho tiempo,
para que podamos examinar las pruebas.
O que nos digan lo que nos depara el futuro,
para que podamos saber lo que sucederá.

23 Sí, dígannos lo que ocurrirá en los próximos días.
Entonces sabremos que ustedes son dioses.
¡Por lo menos hagan algo, bueno o malo!
Hagan algo que nos asombre y nos atemorice.

24 ¡Pero no! Ustedes son menos que nada y no pueden hacer nada en absoluto.
Quienes los escogen se contaminan a sí mismos.

25 »Yo incité a un líder que vendrá del norte;
lo he llamado por su nombre desde el oriente.
Le daré la victoria sobre reyes y príncipes;
los pisoteará como el alfarero pisa la arcilla.

26 »¿Quién les dijo desde el principio
que esto sucedería?
¿Quién predijo esto,
haciéndoles admitir que él tenía razón?
¡Nadie dijo una sola palabra!

27 Yo fui el primero en decirle a Sión:
“¡Mira! ¡La ayuda está en camino!”
.
Enviaré a Jerusalén un mensajero con buenas noticias.

28 Ninguno de sus ídolos les dijo esto;
ni uno respondió cuando pregunté.

29 Como ven, todos son objetos necios y sin ningún valor;
sus ídolos son tan vacíos como el viento.

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.