Isaías 49

El Siervo del SEÑOR

1 Escúchenme, costas lejanas,oigan esto, naciones distantes:El SEÑOR me llamó antes de que yo naciera,en el vientre de mi madre pronunció mi nombre.

2 Hizo de mi boca una espada afilada,y me escondió en la sombra de su mano;me convirtió en una flecha pulida,y me escondió en su aljaba.

3 Me dijo: «Israel, tú eres mi siervo;en ti seré glorificado».

4 Y respondí: «En vano he trabajado;he gastado mis fuerzas sin provecho alguno.Pero mi justicia está en manos del SEÑOR;mi recompensa está con mi Dios».

5 Y ahora dice el SEÑOR,que desde el seno materno me formópara que fuera yo su siervo,para hacer que Jacob se vuelva a él,que Israel se reúna a su alrededor;porque a los ojos del SEÑOR soy digno de honra,y mi Dios ha sido mi fortaleza:

6 «No es gran cosa que seas mi siervo,ni que restaures a las tribus de Jacob,ni que hagas volver a los de Israel,a quienes he preservado.Yo te pongo ahora como luz para las naciones,a fin de que lleves mi salvaciónhasta los confines de la tierra».

7 Así dice el SEÑOR,el Redentor y Santo de Israel,al despreciado y aborrecido por las naciones,al siervo de los gobernantes:«Los reyes te verán y se pondrán de pie,los príncipes te verán y se inclinarán,por causa del SEÑOR, el Santo de Israel,que es fiel y te ha escogido».

Restauración de Israel

8 Así dice el SEÑOR:«En el momento propicio te respondí,y en el día de salvación te ayudé.Ahora te guardaré, y haré de tiun pacto para el pueblo,para que restaures el paísy repartas las propiedades asoladas;

9 para que digas a los cautivos: “¡Salgan!”,y a los que viven en tinieblas: “¡Están en libertad!”»Junto a los caminos pastarány en todo cerro árido hallarán pastos.

10 No tendrán hambre ni sed,no los abatirá el sol ni el calor,porque los guiará quien les tiene compasión,y los conducirá junto a manantiales de agua.

11 Convertiré en caminos todas mis montañas,y construiré mis calzadas.

12 ¡Miren! Ellos vendrán de muy lejos;unos desde el norte, otros desde el oeste,y aun otros desde la región de Asuán».^[a]

13 Ustedes los cielos, ¡griten de alegría!Tierra, ¡regocíjate!Montañas, ¡prorrumpan en canciones!Porque el SEÑOR consuela a su puebloy tiene compasión de sus pobres.

14 Pero Sión dijo: «El SEÑOR me ha abandonado;el Señor se ha olvidado de mí».

15 «¿Puede una madre olvidar a su niño de pecho,y dejar de amar al hijo que ha dado a luz?Aun cuando ella lo olvidara,¡yo no te olvidaré!

16 Grabada te llevo en las palmas de mis manos;tus muros siempre los tengo presentes.

17 Tus constructores^[b] se apresuran;de ti se apartan tus destructoresy los que te asolaron.

18 Alza tus ojos, y mira a tu alrededor;todos se reúnen y vienen hacia ti.Tan cierto como que yo vivo,—afirma el SEÑOR—,a todos ellos los usarás como adorno,los lucirás en tu vestido de novia.

19 »Aunque te arrasaron y te dejaron en ruinas,y tu tierra quedó asolada,ahora serás demasiado pequeña para tus habitantes,y lejos quedarán los que te devoraban.

20 Los hijos que dabas por perdidostodavía te dirán al oído:“Este lugar es demasiado pequeño para mí;hazme lugar para poder vivir”.

21 Y te pondrás a pensar:“¿Quién me engendró estos hijos?Yo no tenía hijos, era estéril,desterrada y rechazada;pero a estos, ¿quién los ha criado?Me había quedado sola,pero estos, ¿de dónde han salido?”»

22 Así dice el SEÑOR omnipotente:«Hacia las naciones alzaré mi mano,hacia los pueblos levantaré mi estandarte.Ellos traerán a tus hijos en sus brazos,y cargarán a tus hijas en sus hombros.

23 Los reyes te adoptarán como hijo,y sus reinas serán tus nodrizas.Se postrarán ante ti rostro en tierra,y lamerán el polvo que tú pises.Sabrás entonces que yo soy el SEÑOR,y que no quedarán avergonzadoslos que en mí confían».

24 ¿Se le puede quitar el botín a los guerreros?¿Puede el cautivo ser rescatado del tirano?^[c]

25 Pero así dice el SEÑOR:«Sí, al guerrero se le arrebatará el cautivo,y del tirano se rescatará el botín;contenderé con los que contiendan contigo,y yo mismo salvaré a tus hijos.

26 Haré que tus opresores se coman su propia carney se embriaguen con su propia sangre,como si fuera vino.Toda la humanidad sabrá entoncesque yo, el SEÑOR, soy tu Salvador;que yo, el Poderoso de Jacob, soy tu Redentor».

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. "Asuán " (Qumrán); "Sinín " (TM).
• [b]. "constructores" . Alt. "hijos" .
• [c]. "tirano " (Qumrán, Vulgata y Siríaca; véanse también LXX y v. 25); "justo " (TM).

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.