Isaiah 41:1-9

The Helper of Israel

1 “Be silent before me, you islands! Let the nations renew their strength! Let them come forward and speak; let us meet together at the place of judgment.
2 “Who has stirred up one from the east, calling him in righteousness to his service[a] ? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him. He turns them to dust with his sword, to windblown chaff with his bow.
3 He pursues them and moves on unscathed, by a path his feet have not traveled before.
4 Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD—with the first of them and with the last—I am he.”
5 The islands have seen it and fear; the ends of the earth tremble. They approach and come forward;
6 they help each other and say to their companions, “Be strong!”
7 The metalworker encourages the goldsmith, and the one who smooths with the hammer spurs on the one who strikes the anvil. One says of the welding, “It is good.” The other nails down the idol so it will not topple.
8 “But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend,
9 I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

Isaiah 41:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References 31

  • 1. Psalms 37:7; Habakkuk 2:20; Zephaniah 1:7; Zechariah 2:13
  • 2. S Isaiah 11:11
  • 3. S 1 Samuel 2:4
  • 4. Isaiah 48:16; Isaiah 57:3
  • 5. S Isaiah 1:18; Isaiah 34:1; Isaiah 50:8
  • 6. S Ezra 1:2
  • 7. ver 25; Isaiah 13:4,17; Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1,13; Isaiah 48:14; Jeremiah 50:3; Jeremiah 51:11
  • 8. Isaiah 45:8,13
  • 9. Isaiah 44:28; Jeremiah 25:9
  • 10. S 2 Samuel 22:43
  • 11. Psalms 1:4; Isaiah 40:24
  • 12. S Isaiah 13:18
  • 13. Daniel 8:4
  • 14. ver 9; Isaiah 43:7
  • 15. ver 26; S Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 46:10
  • 16. Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 48:12; Revelation 1:8,17; Revelation 22:13
  • 17. S Deuteronomy 32:39
  • 18. S Isaiah 11:11; Ezekiel 26:17-18
  • 19. S Deuteronomy 30:4; S Isaiah 11:12
  • 20. S Joshua 1:6
  • 21. Isaiah 44:13; Jeremiah 10:3-5
  • 22. S Isaiah 40:19
  • 23. S 1 Samuel 5:3; Isaiah 46:7
  • 24. S Psalms 136:22; S Isaiah 27:11
  • 25. S Isaiah 14:1
  • 26. S Isaiah 29:22; Isaiah 51:2; Isaiah 63:16
  • 27. 2 Chronicles 20:7; James 2:23
  • 28. Isaiah 11:12; S Isaiah 37:16
  • 29. S ver 4
  • 30. S Isaiah 20:3
  • 31. S Deuteronomy 7:6

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or "east," / "whom victory meets at every step"
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