Isaías 41

O Ajudador de Israel

1 “Calem-se diante de mim, ó ilhas!Que as nações renovem as suas forças!Que elas se apresentem para se defender;vamos encontrar-nos para decidir a questão.

2 “Quem despertou o que vem do orientee o chamou em retidão ao seu serviço,^[a]entregando-lhe naçõese subjugando reis diante dele?Com a espada ele os reduz a pó,com o arco os dispersa como palha.

3 Ele os persegue e avança com segurançapor um caminho que seus pés jamais percorreram.

4 Quem fez tudo isso?Quem chama as gerações à existência desde o princípio?Eu, o SENHOR, que sou o primeiro,e que sou eu mesmo com os últimos”.

5 As ilhas viram isso e temem;os confins da terra tremem.Eles se aproximam e vêm à frente;

6 cada um ajudao outro e diz a seu irmão: “Seja forte!”

7 O artesão encoraja o ourives,e aquele que alisa com o marteloincentiva o que bate na bigorna.Ele diz acerca da soldagem: “Está boa”.E fixa o ídolo com prego para que não tombe.

8 “Você, porém, ó Israel, meu servo,Jacó, a quem escolhi,vocês, descendentes de Abraão, meu amigo,

9 eu os tirei dos confins da terra,de seus recantos mais distantes eu os chamei.Eu disse: Você é meu servo;eu o escolhi e não o rejeitei.

10 Por isso não tema, pois estou com você;não tenha medo, pois sou o seu Deus.Eu o fortalecerei e o ajudarei;eu o segurarei com a minha mão direita vitoriosa.

11 “Todos os que o odeiamcertamente serão humilhados e constrangidos;aqueles que se opõem a vocêserão como nada e perecerão.

12 Ainda que você procure os seus inimigos,você não os encontrará.Os que guerreiam contra vocêserão reduzidos a nada.

13 Pois eu sou o SENHOR, o seu Deus,que o segura pela mão direitae diz a você: Não tema; eu o ajudarei.

14 Não tenha medo, ó verme Jacó,ó pequeno Israel,pois eu mesmo o ajudarei”, declara o SENHOR,seu Redentor, o Santo de Israel.

15 “Veja, eu o tornarei um debulhadornovo e cortante, com muitos dentes.Você debulhará os montes e os esmagaráe reduzirá as colinas a palha.

16 Você irá peneirá-los, o vento os levará,e uma ventania os espalhará.Mas você se regozijará noe no Santo de Israel se gloriará.

17 “O pobre e o necessitado buscam águae não a encontram!Suas línguas estão ressequidas de sede.Mas eu, o SENHOR, lhes responderei;eu, o Deus de Israel, não os abandonarei.

18 Abrirei rios nas colinas estéreise fontes nos vales.Transformarei o deserto num lagoe o chão ressequido em mananciais.

19 Porei no deserto o cedro,a acácia, a murta e a oliveira.Colocarei juntos no ermoo cipreste, o abeto e o pinheiro,

20 para que o povo veja e saiba,e todos vejam e saibam,que a mão do SENHOR fez isso,que o Santo de Israel o criou.

21 “Exponham a sua causa”, diz o SENHOR.“Apresentem as suas provas”, diz o rei de Jacó.

22 “Tragam os seus ídolospara nos dizerem o que vai acontecer.Que eles nos contem como eram as coisas anteriores,para que as consideremose saibamos o seu resultado final;ou que nos declarem as coisas vindouras,

23 revelem-nos o futuro,para que saibamos que eles são deuses.Façam alguma coisa, boa ou má,para que nos rendamos, cheios de temor.

24 Mas vejam só! Eles não são nada,e as suas obras são totalmente nulas;detestável é aquele que os escolhe!

25 “Despertei um homem, e do norte ele vem;desde o nascente proclamará o meu nome.Pisa em governantes como em argamassa,como o oleiro amassa o barro.

26 Quem falou disso desde o princípio, para que o soubéssemos,ou antecipadamente, para que pudéssemos dizer: ‘Ele estava certo’?Ninguém o revelou,ninguém o fez ouvir,ninguém ouviu palavra alguma de vocês.

27 Desde o princípio eu disse a Sião: Veja, estas coisas acontecendo!A Jerusalém eu darei um mensageiro de boas-novas.

28 Olho, e não há ninguém entre eles,nenhum conselheiro que dê respostaquando pergunto.

29 Veja, são todos falsos!Seus feitos são nulos;suas imagens fundidas não passam de um sopro e de uma nulidade!

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]. Ou "com quem a vitória se encontra a cada passo,"

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.