Isaiah 49

1 audite insulae et adtendite populi de longe Dominus ab utero vocavit me de ventre matris meae recordatus est nominis mei

2 et posuit os meum quasi gladium acutum in umbra manus suae protexit me et posuit me sicut sagittam electam in faretra sua abscondit me

3 et dixit mihi servus meus es tu Israhel quia in te gloriabor

4 et ego dixi in vacuum laboravi sine causa et vane fortitudinem meam consumpsi ergo iudicium meum cum Domino et opus meum cum Deo meo

5 et nunc dicit Dominus formans me ex utero servum sibi ut reducam Iacob ad eum et Israhel non congregabitur et glorificatus sum in oculis Domini et Deus meus factus est fortitudo mea

6 et dixit parum est ut sis mihi servus ad suscitandas tribus Iacob et feces Israhel convertendas dedi te in lucem gentium ut sis salus mea usque ad extremum terrae

7 haec dicit Dominus redemptor Israhel Sanctus eius ad contemptibilem animam ad abominatam gentem ad servum dominorum reges videbunt et consurgent principes et adorabunt propter Dominum quia fidelis est et Sanctum Israhel qui elegit te

8 haec dicit Dominus in tempore placito exaudivi te et in die salutis auxiliatus sum tui et servavi te et dedi te in foedus populi ut suscitares terram et possideres hereditates dissipatas

9 ut diceres his qui vincti sunt exite et his qui in tenebris revelamini super vias pascentur et in omnibus planis pascua eorum

10 non esurient neque sitient et non percutiet eos aestus et sol quia miserator eorum reget eos et ad fontes aquarum portabit eos

11 et ponam omnes montes meos in viam et semitae meae exaltabuntur

12 ecce isti de longe venient et ecce illi ab aquilone et mari et isti de terra australi

13 laudate caeli et exulta terra iubilate montes laudem quia consolatus est Dominus populum suum et pauperum suorum miserebitur

14 et dixit Sion dereliquit me Dominus et Dominus oblitus est mei

15 numquid oblivisci potest mulier infantem suum ut non misereatur filio uteri sui et si illa oblita fuerit ego tamen non obliviscar tui

16 ecce in manibus meis descripsi te muri tui coram oculis meis semper

17 venerunt structores tui destruentes te et dissipantes a te exibunt

18 leva in circuitu oculos tuos et vide omnes isti congregati sunt venerunt tibi vivo ego dicit Dominus quia omnibus his velut ornamento vestieris et circumdabis tibi eos quasi sponsa

19 quia deserta tua et solitudines tuae et terra ruinae tuae nunc angusta erunt prae habitatoribus et longe fugabuntur qui absorbebant te

20 adhuc dicent in auribus tuis filii sterilitatis tuae angustus mihi est locus fac spatium mihi ut habitem

21 et dices in corde tuo quis genuit mihi istos ego sterilis et non pariens transmigrata et captiva et istos quis enutrivit ego destituta et sola et isti ubi hic erant

22 haec dicit Dominus Deus ecce levo ad gentes manum meam et ad populos exaltabo signum meum et adferent filios tuos in ulnis et filias tuas super umeros portabunt

23 et erunt reges nutricii tui et reginae nutrices tuae vultu in terra dimisso adorabunt te et pulverem pedum tuorum lingent et scies quia ego Dominus super quo non confundentur qui expectant eum

24 numquid tolletur a forte praeda aut quod captum fuerit a robusto salvum esse poterit

25 quia haec dicit Dominus equidem et captivitas a forte tolletur et quod ablatum fuerit a robusto salvabitur eos vero qui iudicaverunt te ego iudicabo et filios tuos ego salvabo

26 et cibabo hostes tuos carnibus suis et quasi musto sanguine suo inebriabuntur et sciet omnis caro quia ego Dominus salvans te et redemptor tuus Fortis Iacob

Isaiah 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.

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.