Isaías 41

1 Escuchadme, islas, y esfuércense los pueblos; acérquense, y entonces hablen; estemos juntamente a juicio

2 ¿Quién despertó del oriente la justicia, y lo llamó para que le siguiera? Entregó delante de él gentiles, y le hizo enseñorear de reyes; como polvo los entregó a su espada, y como hojarasca arrebatada a su arco

3 Los siguió, pasó en paz por camino por donde sus pies nunca habían entrado

4 ¿Quién obró e hizo? ¿Quién llama las generaciones desde el principio? Yo, el SEÑOR, primero, y yo mismo con los postreros

5 Las islas vieron, y tuvieron temor; los términos de la tierra se espantaron; se congregaron, y vinieron

6 Cada cual ayudó a su cercano, y a su hermano dijo: Esfuérzate

7 El carpintero animó al platero; y el que alisa con martillo al que batía en el yunque, diciendo: Buena es la soldadura. Y lo afirmó con clavos, para que no se moviera

8 Mas tú, Israel, siervo mío, Jacob, a quien yo escogí; simiente de Abraham mi amigo

9 Porque te eché mano de los extremos de la tierra, y de sus mojones te llamé, y te dije: Mi siervo serás tú, te escogí, y no te deseché

10 No temas, que yo estoy contigo; no desmayes, que yo soy tu Dios, que te esfuerzo; siempre te ayudaré, siempre te sustentaré con la diestra de mi justicia

11 He aquí que todos los que se enojan contra ti, se avergonzarán y serán confusos; serán como nada; perecerán, los que contienden contigo

12 Mirarás por ellos, y no los hallarás. Los que tienen contienda contigo, serán como nada; y los que contigo tienen pendencia, como cosa que no es

13 Porque yo, el SEÑOR, soy tu Dios, que te sostiene de tu mano derecha, y te dice: No temas, yo te ayudaré

14 No temas, gusano de Jacob, muertos de Israel; yo te socorreré, dice el SEÑOR, y tu Redentor el Santo de Israel

15 He aquí, que yo te he puesto por trillo, trillo nuevo, lleno de dientes; trillarás montes y los molerás: y collados tornarás en tamo

16 Los aventarás, y los llevará el viento, y los esparcirá el torbellino. Pero tú te regocijarás en el SEÑOR, te gloriarás en el Santo de Israel

17 Los pobres y menesterosos buscan las aguas, que no hay; su lengua se secó de sed; yo, el SEÑOR, los oiré; yo, el Dios de Israel, no los desampararé

18 En las altas colinas abriré ríos, y fuentes en la mitad de los llanos; tornaré el desierto en estanques de aguas; y en manaderos de aguas la tierra seca

19 Daré en el desierto cedros, espinos, arrayanes, y olivas; pondré en la soledad hayas, olmos, y álamos juntamente

20 para que vean y conozcan, y adviertan y entiendan todos, que la mano del SEÑOR hace esto, y que el Santo de Israel lo crió

21 Alegad por vuestra causa, dice el SEÑOR; traed vuestros fundamentos, dice el Rey de Jacob

22 Traigan, y anúnciennos lo que ha de venir; dígannos lo que ha pasado desde el principio, y pondremos nuestro corazón; y sepamos su postrimería, y hacednos entender lo que ha de venir

23 Dadnos nuevas de lo que ha de ser después, para que sepamos que vosotros sois dioses; o a lo menos haced bien, o mal, para que tengamos qué contar, y juntamente nos maravillemos

24 He aquí que vosotros sois nada, y vuestras obras de vanidad; abominación el que os escogió

25 Del norte desperté, y vino; del nacimiento del Sol llamó en mi nombre; y vino a príncipes como sobre lodo, y como pisa el barro el alfarero

26 Quién lo anunció desde el principio, para que sepamos; y de antes, y diremos: justo. Ciertamente, no hay quién lo anuncie, ciertamente, no hay quién enseñe, ciertamente no hay quién oiga vuestras palabras

27 Yo soy el primero que he enseñado estas cosas a Sion, y a Jerusalén di la nueva

28 Miré, y no había ninguno; y pregunté de estas cosas, y ningún consejero hubo; les pregunté, y no respondieron palabra

29 He aquí, todos son vanidad; y las obras de ellos nada. Viento y confusión son sus vaciadizos

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.

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.