Isaías 49:1-10

1 Escuchadme, islas, y atended, pueblos lejanos. El SEÑOR me llamó desde el seno materno, desde las entrañas de mi madre mencionó mi nombre.

2 Ha hecho mi boca como espada afilada, en la sombra de su mano me ha escondido; me ha hecho también como saeta escogida, en su aljaba me ha escondido.

3 Y me dijo: Tú eres mi siervo, Israel, en quien yo mostraré mi gloria.

4 Y yo dije: En vano he trabajado, en vanidad y en nada he gastado mis fuerzas; pero mi derecho está en el SEÑOR, y mi recompensa con mi Dios.

5 Y ahora dice el SEÑOR (el que me formó desde el seno materno para ser su siervo, para hacer que Jacob vuelva a El y que Israel se reúna con El, porque honrado soy a los ojos del SEÑOR y mi Dios ha sido mi fortaleza),

6 dice El: Poca cosa es que tú seas mi siervo, para levantar las tribus de Jacob y para restaurar a los que quedaron de Israel; también te haré luz de las naciones, para que mi salvación alcance hasta los confines de la tierra.

7 Así dice el SEÑOR, el Redentor de Israel, el Santo suyo, al despreciado, al aborrecido de la nación, al siervo de gobernantes: Lo verán reyes y se levantarán, príncipes, y se postrarán, a causa del SEÑOR que es fiel, del Santo de Israel que te ha escogido.

8 Así dice el SEÑOR: En tiempo propicio te he respondido, en día de salvación te he ayudado; te guardaré y te daré por pacto del pueblo, para restaurar la tierra, para repartir las heredades asoladas,

9 para decir a los presos: "Salid"; a los que están en tinieblas: "Mostraos." Por los caminos pacerán, y en todas las alturas desoladas tendrán sus pastos.

10 No pasarán hambre ni sed, ni los herirá el calor abrasador ni el sol, porque el que tiene compasión de ellos los guiará, y a manantiales de aguas los conducirá.

Isaías 49:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 49

This is a prophecy concerning Christ, and redemption by him; and of the enlargement of the church in the latter day, by the conversion of Jews and Gentiles; which the isles, and people afar off, are exhorted to listen and hearken to, delivered out by the prophet, in the person of Christ; who gives an account of his call to his office, and the time of it; of what the Lord did for him, and said unto him, Isa 49:1-3, then follows a complaint of his labouring in vain, and a correction of it, Isa 49:4 and a further declaration of his call and appointment to office, and of each of the parts of the work assigned him, with encouragement to it, Isa 49:5,6. Christ is again represented under discouraging circumstances, as despised of men, abhorred by the nation, and a servant of rulers; who is encouraged by divine promises that kings should rise up before him, and worship him; that God would be faithful to his promise to him, and yet choose him, hear and help him, at a proper time; preserve him, and give him for a covenant to the people, to the establishment of the earth, and making it habitable, Isa 49:7,8 for the release of prisoners, and feeding, leading, and guiding them, and removing all difficulties out of the way, Isa 49:9-11 when the calling of the Gentiles is foretold, which would occasion great joy in the world, Isa 49:12,13 yet the church is introduced as complaining that she was forsaken of God, Isa 49:14 which is denied, and the contrary affirmed; being dear to the Lord as a sucking child to its mother, and more so; never forgotten by him, and always under his care, Isa 49:16, and, for her comfort, she is assured that those who had destroyed and made her waste should be removed; and that she should have converts that would be an ornament to her, and these numerous, insomuch that the place of their habitation would be too strait and narrow, and which would be matter of astonishment to her, Isa 49:17-21 and, besides those that would be converted in the land of Judea, there would be great numbers in the Gentile world converted by the power of God accompanying his Gospel, set up as a standard there, kings and queens countenancing and encouraging the interest of Christ, Isa 49:22,23 and yet still it is questioned whether the church should be delivered from her oppressors, Isa 49:24 to which it is answered, that she should be delivered, and her persecutors destroyed; by which it would be known that the Lord is the Redeemer and Saviour of his people, Isa 49:25,26.