Isaiah 41

11–16 In these verses, God assures His people that He will defeat their enemies: “I myself will help you,” He says (verse 14). God calls Himself the Redeemer¹⁵⁹ of Israel. He will take His weak and helpless people and turn them into instruments of judgment against the nations opposing them. He will turn Israel from being a worm¹⁶⁰ into being a mighty threshing sledge which will “thresh” the mountains and hills—that is, the nations (verse 15). Then the nations will be winnowed and blown away¹⁶¹ (verse 16). Note how God uses small things (a “worm”) to accomplish great work! (see 1 Corinthians 1:26–29).

17–20 The Lord promises the poor and needy (the returning exiles) that He will meet all their needs; He will make rivers flow on barren heights (verse 18). In figurative language, the Lord says He will pour out His blessing upon His people. This promise of blessing has also been fulfilled in our day through Christ, in whom we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing¹⁶² (Ephesians 1:3).

21–24 In these verses, the courtroom scene of verse 1 resumes, but this time it is the idols of the nations that are on trial.¹⁶³ God challenges them to explain the past and to predict the future (verses 22–23); if they can’t do that, let them at least do something that will prove they exist! But since idols can’t do anything, they are less than nothing, and those who rely on them are detestable (verse 24).

25–29 Here again God mentions one from the north (verse 25)—that is, Cyrus king of Persia (see verses 2–4 and comment). Even though Cyrus is a pagan, God says: “He calls on my name” (see Ezra 1:2–3). God’s mention of Cyrus a century before his birth proves that God can do what no idol can do: predict the future. Furthermore, God’s words about Cyrus are good tidings for the people of Jerusalem and Judah (verse 27), because the coming of Cyrus will mean deliverance for the Jews.