Isaías 41

El amparo de Israel

1 «¡Callen en mi presencia, costas lejanas!¡Naciones, renueven sus fuerzas!Acérquense y hablen;reunámonos para juicio.

2 »¿Quién ha hecho venir desde el orientea aquel que siempre sale victorioso?Pone a las naciones en sus manos;ante él los reyes se rinden.Con su espada los vuelve polvo,con su arco los dispersa como paja.

3 Con paso firme los persiguepor una senda que nunca antes pisó.

4 ¿Quién realizó esto? ¿Quién lo hizo posible?¿Quién llamó a las generaciones desde el principio?Yo, el SEÑOR, soy el primero,y seré el mismo hasta el fin».

5 Lo han visto las costas lejanas, y temen;tiemblan los confines de la tierra.¡Ya se acercan, ya vienen!

6 Cada uno ayuda a su compañero,y le infunde aliento a su hermano.

7 El artesano anima al joyero;y el que aplana con el martillole dice al que golpea el yunque:«¡Es buena la soldadura!»;luego asegura el ídolo con clavospara que no se tambalee.

8 «Pero tú, Israel, mi siervo,tú Jacob, a quien he escogido,simiente de Abraham, mi amigo:

9 Te tomé de los confines de la tierra,te llamé de los rincones más remotos,y te dije: “Tú eres mi siervo”.Yo te escogí; no te rechacé.

10 Así que no temas, porque yo estoy contigo;no te angusties, porque yo soy tu Dios.Te fortaleceré y te ayudaré;te sostendré con mi diestra victoriosa.

11 »Todos los que se enardecen contra tisin duda serán avergonzados y humillados;los que se te oponen serán como nada,como si no existieran.

12 Aunque busques a tus enemigos,no los encontrarás.Los que te hacen la guerra serán como nada,como si no existieran.

13 Porque yo soy el SEÑOR, tu Dios,que sostiene tu mano derecha;yo soy quien te dice:“No temas, yo te ayudaré”.

14 No temas, gusano Jacob, pequeño Israel—afirma el SEÑOR—,porque yo mismo te ayudaré;¡el Santo de Israel es tu redentor!

15 »Te convertiré en una trilladoranueva y afilada, de doble filo.Trillarás las montañas y las harás polvo;convertirás en paja las colinas.

16 Las aventarás y se las llevará el viento;¡un vendaval las dispersará!Pero tú te alegrarás en el SEÑOR,te gloriarás en el Santo de Israel.

17 »Los pobres y los necesitados buscan agua,pero no la encuentran;la sed les ha resecado la lengua.Pero yo, el SEÑOR, les responderé;yo, el Dios de Israel, no los abandonaré.

18 Haré brotar ríos en las áridas cumbres,y manantiales entre los valles.Transformaré el desierto en estanques de agua,y el sequedal en manantiales.

19 Plantaré en el desiertocedros, acacias, mirtos y olivos;en áridas tierras plantaré cipreses,junto con pinos y abetos,

20 para que la gente vea y sepa,y considere y entienda,que la mano del SEÑOR ha hecho esto,que el Santo de Israel lo ha creado.

21 »Expongan su caso —dice el SEÑOR—;presenten sus pruebas —demanda el rey de Jacob—.

22 Acérquense^[a] y anuncienlo que ha de suceder,y cómo fueron las cosas del pasado,para que las consideremosy conozcamos su desenlace.¡Cuéntennos lo que está por venir!

23 Digan qué nos depara el futuro;así sabremos que ustedes son dioses.Hagan algo, bueno o malo,para verlo y llenarnos de terror.

24 ¡La verdad es que ustedes no son nada,y aun menos que nada son sus obras!¡Abominable es quien los escoge!

25 »Del norte hice venir a uno,y acudió a mi llamado;desde el oriente invoca mi nombre.Como alfarero que amasa arcilla con los pies,aplasta gobernantes como si fueran barro.

26 ¿Quién lo anunció desde el principio,para que lo supiéramos?¿Quién lo anunció de antemano,para que dijéramos: “Tenía razón”?Nadie lo anunció ni lo proclamó;nadie les oyó proclamar mensaje alguno.

27 Yo fui el primero en decirle a Sión:“¡Mira, ya están aquí!”Yo fui quien envió a Jerusalénun mensajero de buenas noticias.

28 Miro entre ellos, y no hay nadie;no hay entre ellos quien aconseje,no hay quien me responda cuando les pregunto.

29 ¡Todos ellos son falsos!Sus obras no son nada;sus ídolos no son más que viento y confusión.

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]. "Acérquense " (LXX, Qumrán, Targum y Vulgata); "Traigan " (TM).

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.