Isaías 49

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.

11 Convertiré todos mis montes en camino, y mis calzadas serán levantadas.

12 Mira, éstos vendrán de lejos; y he aquí, otros del norte y del occidente, y otros de la tierra de Sinim.

13 Gritad de júbilo, cielos, y regocíjate, tierra. Prorrumpid, montes, en gritos de alegría, porque el SEÑOR ha consolado a su pueblo, y de sus afligidos tendrá compasión.

14 Pero Sion dijo: El SEÑOR me ha abandonado, el Señor se ha olvidado de mí.

15 ¿Puede una mujer olvidar a su niño de pecho, sin compadecerse del hijo de sus entrañas? Aunque ellas se olvidaran, yo no te olvidaré.

16 He aquí, en las palmas de mis manos, te he grabado; tus muros están constantemente delante de mí.

17 Tus edificadores se apresuran; tus destructores y tus devastadores se alejarán de ti.

18 Levanta en derredor tus ojos y mira: todos ellos se reúnen, vienen a ti. Vivo yodeclara el SEÑOR que a todos ellos como joyas te los pondrás, y te ceñirás con ellos como una novia.

19 En cuanto a tus lugares desiertos y desolados y tu tierra arruinada, ahora serás ciertamente demasiado estrecha para los moradores, y tus devoradores estarán muy lejos.

20 Todavía te dirán al oído los hijos de los que fuiste privada: "El lugar es muy estrecho para mí; hazme sitio para que yo more aquí."

21 Y dirás en tu corazón: "¿Quién me ha engendrado éstos? Pues yo había sido privada de mis hijos, y era estéril, desterrada y errante. Y a éstos, ¿quién los ha criado? He aquí, yo había sido dejada sola; y éstos, ¿dónde estaban?"

22 Así dice el Señor DIOS: He aquí, levantaré hacia las naciones mi mano, y hacia los pueblos alzaré mi estandarte; traerán a tus hijos en brazos, y tus hijas a hombros serán llevadas.

23 Reyes serán tus tutores, y sus princesas, tus nodrizas. Rostro en tierra te rendirán homenaje y el polvo de tus pies lamerán. Y sabrás que yo soy el SEÑOR, y que no se avergonzarán los que esperan en mí.

24 ¿Se le podrá quitar la presa al poderoso, o rescatar al cautivo del tirano?

25 Ciertamente así dice el SEÑOR: Aun los cautivos del poderoso serán recobrados, y rescatada será la presa del tirano; con el que contienda contigo yo contenderé, y salvaré a tus hijos.

26 Haré comer a tus opresores su propia carne, y como con vino dulce, con su sangre se embriagarán; y toda carne sabrá que yo, el SEÑOR, soy tu Salvador y tu Redentor, el Poderoso de Jacob.

Isaías 49 Commentary

Chapter 49

The unbelief and rejection of the Jews. (1-6) Gracious promise to the Gentiles. (7-12) God's love to the church. (13-17) Its increase. (18-23) And deliverance. (24-26)

Verses 1-6 The great Author of redemption shows the authority for his work. The sword of his word slays the lusts of his people, and all at enmity with them. His sharp arrows wound the conscience; but all these wounds will be healed, when the sinner prays to him for mercy. But even the Redeemer, who spake as never man spake in his personal ministry, often seemed to labour in vain. And if Jacob will not be brought back to God, and Israel will not be gathered, still Christ will be glorious. This promise is in part fulfilled in the calling of the Gentiles. Men perish in darkness. But Christ enlightens men, and so makes them holy and happy.

Verses 7-12 The Father is the Lord, the Redeemer, and Holy One of Israel, as sending the Son to be the Redeemer. Man, whom he came to save, put contempt upon him. To this he submitted for our salvation. He is a pledge for all the blessings of the covenant; in him God was reconciling the world to himself. Pardoning mercy is a release from the curse of the law; renewing grace is a release from the dominion of sin: both are from Christ. He saith to those in darkness, Show yourselves. Not only see, but be seen, to the glory of God, and your own comforts. Though there are difficulties in the way to heaven, yet the grace of God will carry us over them, and make even the mountains a way. This denotes the free invitations and the encouraging promises of the gospel, and the outpouring of the Spirit.

Verses 13-17 Let there be universal joy, for God will have mercy upon the afflicted, because of his compassion; upon his afflicted, because of his covenant. We have no more reason to question his promise and grace, than we have to question his providence and justice. Be assured that God has a tender affection for his church and people; he would not have them to be discouraged. Some mothers do neglect their children; but God's compassions to his people, infinitely exceed those of the tenderest parents toward their children. His setting them as a mark on his hand, or a seal upon his arm, denotes his being ever mindful of them. As far as we have scriptural evidence that we belong to his ransomed flock, we may be sure that he will never forsake us. Let us then give diligence to make our calling and election sure, and rejoice in the hope and glory of God.

Verses 18-23 Zion is addressed as an afflicted widow, bereaved of her children. Numbers flock to her, and she is assured that they come to be a comfort to her. There are times when the church is desolate and few in number; yet its desolations shall not last for ever, and God will repair them. God can raise up friends for returning Israelites, even among Gentiles. They shall bring their children, and make them thy children. Let all deal tenderly and carefully with young converts and beginners in religion. Princes shall protect the church. It shall appear that God is the sovereign Lord of all. And those who in the exercise of faith, hope, and patience, wait on God for the fulfilment of his promises, shall never be confounded.

Verses 24-26 We were lawful captives to the justice of God, yet delivered by a price of unspeakable value. Here is an express promise: Even the prey of the terrible shall be delivered. We may here view Satan deprived of his prey, bound and cast into the pit; and all the powers that have combined to enslave, persecute, or corrupt the church, are destroyed; that all the earth may know that our Saviour and Redeemer is Jehovah, the mighty One of Jacob. And every effort we make to rescue our fellow-sinners from the bondage of Satan, is, in some degree, helping forward that great change.

Chapter Summary

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.