Isaías 41

1 Guardad silencio ante mí, costas, y renueven sus fuerzas los pueblos; acérquense y entonces hablen, juntos vengamos a juicio.

2 ¿Quién ha levantado del oriente al que El llama en justicia a sus pies? Ante El entrega naciones, y a reyes somete. Los deja como polvo con su espada, como hojarasca dispersa con su arco.

3 Los persigue, pasando seguros por una senda por donde no habían andado sus pies.

4 ¿Quién lo ha hecho y lo ha realizado, llamando a las generaciones desde el principio? Yo, el SEÑOR, soy el primero, y con los postreros soy.

5 Las costas han visto y temen, tiemblan los confines de la tierra, se han acercado y han venido.

6 Cada uno ayuda a su prójimo, y dice a su hermano: Sé fuerte.

7 El artífice anima al fundidor, y el que alisa a martillo al que bate el yunque, diciendo de la soldadura: Está bien. Entonces asegura su obra con clavos, para que no se mueva.

8 Pero tú, Israel, siervo mío, Jacob, a quien he escogido, descendiente de Abraham, mi amigo;

9 tú, a quien tomé de los confines de la tierra, y desde sus lugares más remotos te llamé, y te dije: "Mi siervo eres tú; yo te he escogido y no te he rechazado:"

10 No temas, porque yo estoy contigo; no te desalientes, porque yo soy tu Dios. Te fortaleceré, ciertamente te ayudaré, sí, te sostendré con la diestra de mi justicia.

11 He aquí, todos los que se enojan contra ti serán avergonzados y humillados; los que contienden contigo serán como nada y perecerán.

12 Buscarás a los que riñen contigo, pero no los hallarás; serán como nada, como si no existieran, los que te hacen guerra.

13 Porque yo soy el SEÑOR tu Dios, que sostiene tu diestra, que te dice: "No temas, yo te ayudaré."

14 No temas, gusano de Jacob, vosotros hombres de Israel; yo te ayudarédeclara el SEÑORy tu Redentor es el Santo de Israel.

15 He aquí, te he convertido en trillo nuevo, cortante, de doble filo; trillarás los montes y los harás polvo, y los collados dejarás como hojarasca.

16 Los aventarás, el viento se los llevará, y la tempestad los dispersará; pero tú te regocijarás en el SEÑOR, en el Santo de Israel te gloriarás.

17 Los afligidos y los necesitados buscan agua, pero no la hay, su lengua está reseca de sed. Yo, el SEÑOR, les responderé, yo, el Dios de Israel, no los abandonaré.

18 Abriré ríos en las alturas desoladas, y manantiales en medio de los valles; transformaré el desierto en estanque de aguas, y la tierra seca en manantiales.

19 Pondré en los desiertos el cedro, la acacia, el mirto y el olivo; pondré en el yermo el ciprés, junto con el olmo y el boj,

20 para que vean y entiendan, consideren y comprendan a una que la mano del SEÑOR ha hecho esto, que el Santo de Israel lo ha creado.

21 Presentad vuestra causadice el SEÑOR. Exponed vuestros fuertes argumentos dice el Rey de Jacob.

22 Que expongan y nos declaren lo que ha de suceder. En cuanto a los hechos anteriores, declarad lo que fueron, para que los consideremos y sepamos su resultado, o bien, anunciadnos lo que ha de venir.

23 Declarad lo que ha de venir después, para que sepamos que vosotros sois dioses. Sí, haced algo bueno o malo, para que nos desalentemos y temamos a una.

24 He aquí, vosotros nada sois, y vuestra obra es vana; abominación es el que os escoge.

25 Del norte levanté a uno, y ha venido; del nacimiento del sol invocará mi nombre, y vendrá sobre los gobernantes, como sobre lodo, como el alfarero pisotea el barro.

26 ¿Quién lo anunció desde el principio, para que supiéramos, o desde tiempos antiguos, para que dijéramos: Tiene razón? Ciertamente no había quien lo anunciara, sí, no había quien lo proclamara, ciertamente no había quien oyera vuestras palabras.

27 Dije primero a Sion: "Mira, aquí están", y a Jerusalén: "Os daré un mensajero de buenas nuevas."

28 Pero cuando miro, no hay nadie, y entre ellos no hay consejeros a quienes, si les pregunto, puedan responder.

29 He aquí, todos ellos son falsos ; sus obras inútiles, viento y vacuidad sus imágenes fundidas.

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Otra posible lectura es: nada

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.