Isaías 49
Albert Barnes · Citado em PreceptAustin
Isaías 49
Barnes on islands - This word properly means islands...But the word also is used to denote maritime countries; countries that were situated on sea-coasts, or the regions beyond sea. The word is applied, therefore, to the islands of the Mediterranean; to the maritime coasts; and then, also, it comes to be used in the sense of any lands or coasts far remote, or beyond sea (see Ps. 72:10; Isa. 24:15; Jer. 25:22; Da 11:18). Here it is evidently used in the sense of distant nations or lands; the people who were remote from Palestine, and who were the worshippers of idols. The argument is represented as being with them, and they are invited to prepare their minds by suitable reverence for God for the argument which was to be presented. Islands in Isaiah - Isa. 11:11; Isa. 20:6; Isa. 23:2; Isa. 23:6; Isa. 24:15; Isa. 40:15; Isa. 41:1; Isa. 41:5; Isa. 42:4; Isa. 42:10; Isa. 42:12; Isa. 42:15; Isa. 49:1; Isa. 51:5; Isa. 59:18; Isa. 60:9; Isa. 66:19 It is notable that in beginning this last great section of Isaiah, the prophet begins in (Isa 40:1) with the call “Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God." Now in Isaiah 49:1, the "horizons" are enlarged as he now addresses "O islands...you peoples from afar." Yes, the message is primarily intended for Israel, but it is also for the nations, for the entire world as is clearly shown by the words in Isaiah 49:6b ("So that My salvation shall reach to the end of the world."). John Martin on islands...peoples - The Lord confronts the nations and the islands (the remotest places where humans live) face to face in judgment. Of the 15 occurrences of “islands” in the Old Testament, 14 are in Isaiah. Together the islands and (peoples) suggest all the world’s peoples. (BKC) Listen is a frequent call in Isaiah - Isa. 1:2; Isa. 1:15; Isa. 7:13; Isa. 28:12; Isa. 28:23; Isa. 30:9; Isa. 32:3; Isa. 34:1; Isa. 36:16; Isa. 37:17; Isa. 41:1; Isa. 42:23; Isa. 44:1; Isa. 46:3; Isa. 46:12; Isa. 48:12; Isa. 48:14; Isa. 48:16; Isa. 49:1; Isa. 50:4; Isa. 51:1; Isa. 51:7; Isa. 52:8; Isa. 55:2; Isa. 55:3; Isa. 66:4; Pay attention is less common in Isaiah - Isa. 5:12; Isa. 10:30; Isa. 49:1; Isa. 51:4; J
Isaías 49
Barnes explains that God the Father "had qualified Him for a convincing and powerful eloquence—for the utterance of words which would penetrate the heart like a sharp sword." THOUGHT - And dear preacher of the Word of God, it follows that His Word proclaimed still has heart piercing power! Are you preaching His Word or your words? Do you select a passage and use it as a "launching pad" to further an agenda, like a building program, etc? If you want to pierce hearts, Preach the Word in season and out (2 Ti 4:2+). He has made My mouth like a sharp sword - He who makes His mouth like a sharp sword is Jehovah. This description is never used of nation of Israel. What is this picture? Mouth stands for discourse or speaking. A sword speaks of power, in this context power when Jesus speaks - it is pointed, pungent, pithy, probing, pricking, penetrating, powerful, prevailing. John records the reaction of the officers "Never did a man speak the way this man speaks." (Jn 7:46, cf Mt 7:28, Mt 13:54, Lk 19:48+, Jn 7:15) Messiah's incisive words will pierce hearts, even as a sword cuts (cf Peter's words, speaking God's words in Acts 2:37+. When you preach and teach do you do so with God's Word?). Jesus is the Word (Jn 1:1-4+, John 1:14+) and when He speaks His Word is like a sword, even "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Eph 6:17+). The writer of Hebrews says that "the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. (Heb 4:12-13+) Solomon writes "The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. (MESSIAH, cf Ge 49:24) (Eccl. 12:11) For those who do not submit when pierced by His words offering redemption, the only alternative is retribution, which John describes at the Messiah's Second Coming as King of kings and Lord of lords in which His "sharp sword" will vanquish ALL His enemies From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.(Rev. 19:15+) John also mentions a similar description of Jesus as He stands in the midst of His Church (an appearance that caused him to fall "at His feet like a dead man" - Rev 1:17) In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. (Rev. 1:16+) Barnes - The bold and striking metaphor of the sword and arrow applied to powerful discourse, has been used also by heathen writers with great elegance and force. A similar metaphor occurs frequently in Arabic poetry. ‘As arrows his words enter into the heart.’ In the passages quoted by Lowth, it is said of Pericles by Aristophanes: ‘His powerful speech Pierced the hearer’s soul, and left behind Deep in his bosom its keen point infixt.’ So Pindar, Olym. ii. 160: ‘Come on! thy brightest shafts prepare, And bend, O Muse, thy sounding bow: Say, through what paths of liquid air Our arrows shall we throw?’ WEST. In the shadow of His hand He has concealed Me (cf. Ps 17:8; 27:5; 31:20; 64:2; Jer 36:26) The Septuagint translates concealed with krupto which means literally to keep something from being see and figuratively from being known. The other meaning of krupto is preventing someone from being harmed by anything and thus kept safe and protected. And so a believer's life is safe, for our "life is hidden with Christ in God." (Col 3.3+) Young writes "Whether the reference is to protection or to concealment is difficult to determine, and it may be that both are intended." (The Book of Isaiah – Volume 3) I agree with MacArthur who writes that "Messiah, before His appearing, was hidden with God, ready to be drawn out at the precise moment." (The MacArthur Study Bible) Paul writes "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." (Gal 4:4, 5) And He has also made Me a select arrow, He has hidden Me in His quiver - Messiah is an "arrow" in His Father's quiver, ready to shot forth at the proper time. Oswalt on arrow...hidden - Like the sword of his mouth, the arrow of his words is said to be hid. Commentators have been divided over the implications of this idea. Some have emphasized the element of protection, while others (e.g., Whybray) have emphasized hiddenness. But it seems unnecessary to choose between the two. A number of implications from the metaphor are surely apt: like an arrow, sharpened and polished in the quiver, or a sharp sword resting under the hand, the Servant is available for his master’s use at any moment; the weapons are protected from the elements so that they can be most useful; they are out of sight until the right moment for them to be displayed. All of this speaks about utility, preparedness, and effectiveness, the very opposite of a casual or haphazard use of the weapon. (NICOT-Isaiah)(Bold added) Gilbrant - Like a polished arrow He is held close in God’s quiver, that is, in intimacy with the Father, and reserved for a future use where He will be effective and irresistible. (Ibid)
Isaías 49
Barnes - Of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus alone, was all this true; and the assurance is thus given, that though he was rejected by his own nation, yet the time will come when the kings and princes of all the world shall do him homage. Princes will also bow down - One day all will see Messiah, the great and the small and all will bow before His majesty, glory and power! Barnes on bow down - This was the customary mode of showing respect or reverence in the East. It consisted generally in falling upon the knees, and then touching the forehead to the ground, and is often alluded to in the Bible (see Genesis 42:6; 18:2; 19:1; Nehemiah 8:6). It is interesting to note that when a ruling dignitary approaches his subjects, they all rise in respect. One day as a British king entered a room and everyone stood, he said, “Please take your seats, gentlemen. I’m not the Lord, you know.” “No, Your Highness,” replied one of the group. “If you were, we would have dropped to our knees.” Bow down (07812)(shachah) means to bow down, to prostrate oneself, to crouch, to fall down, to humbly beseech, to do reverence, to worship. The idea is to assume a prostrate position as would in paying homage to royalty (Ge 43:28) or to God (Ge 24:26, Ps 95:6). Bow down is translated in the Septuagint (LXX) in this passage (and most of the OT uses) with the picturesque Greek verb proskuneo (from pros = toward or facing + kuneo = kiss, adore) which pictures the practice among the Orientals (especially the Persians) of falling upon their knees and touching the ground with their forehead as an expression of profound reverence. In Psalm 2 we read Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth. Worship the LORD with reverence And rejoice with trembling. 12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! (Ps 2:10-12) Paul writes So that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:10-11+) Because of - Term of explanation. What is Isaiah explaining? He is explaining why the Servant could be assured that because of the faithfulness of His Father, the Holy One of Israel, kings would rise from their golden thrones and princes would prostrate themselves before the true King, indeed, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Amen (cf Rev 19:16+)! The LORD who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen You - Jehovah will fulfill every promise to His Servant and ultimately will fulfill every promise in Christ, for as Paul wrote " For as many as are the promises of God, in Him (MESSIAH) they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us." (2 Cor 1:20) Peter writes " And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, (1Pe 2:4) Oswalt on the phrase who has chosen You - As in Isa 49:4, to be the chosen of God does not mean glory along the way, but it does mean glory at the end of the way. (Ibid) Isaiah 49:8 Thus says the LORD, "In a favorable time I have answered You, And in a day of salvation I have helped You; And I will keep You and give You for a covenant of the people, To restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages; In a favorable time - Ps 69:13 Joh 11:41,42 2Co 6:2 Eph 1:6 Heb 5:7 in a day of salvation I have helped Yo - Isa 42:1 Isa 50:7-9 Acts 2:24-32 And I will keep You and give You for a covenant of the people - Isa 42:6 Mt 26:28 Heb 8:6 12:24 To restore the land - Isa 51:16 Ps 75:3 to make them inherit the desolate heritages - Isa 49:19 Isa 51:3 Isa 54:3 Isa 58:12 Isa 61:4 Ps 2:8 Eph 2:12-19 NET Isaiah 49:8 This is what the LORD says: "At the time I decide to show my favor, I will respond to you; in the day of deliverance I will help you; I will protect you and make you a covenant mediator for people, to rebuild the land and to reassign the desolate property. Vine writes "Isaiah 49:8 tells how Jehovah heard the prayer of His Servant when, in the lowly condition which He shared with His people, He "offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death" (Hebrews 5:7). Thus says the LORD - This is still God the Father addressing God the Son, the Messiah and giving Him assurance that His mission and ministry to Israel would succeed. The Moody Bible Commentary notes that "this final part of the Servant’s call looks to the more remote future when Israel will ultimately believe in Him and experience redemption. At the appointed time, God will make the Servant a covenant of the people. This is the same expression used in the first Servant Song, meaning that the Servant would be a covenant-mediator for the people of Israel. The phrase is a figure of speech (metonymy of effect [covenant] for cause [mediator]) for “covenant-mediator” (see Isa 42:5–7). This refers to the “new covenant” which includes both spiritual and material elements (Jer 31:31–34). In a favorable time - Literally "'In a time of good pleasure," or "In a time of delight." NET - "At the time I decide to show my favor, I will respond to You." NLT "At just the right time, I will respond to you" This is a time when Jehovah will respond favorably to the Messiah. He was well-pleased to here His Son when He called on Him, something Jesus in fact did all through His 3+ year ministry (cf Mt 14:23, Mk 6:46, 14:23, Lk 6:12+). The Hebrew for time (eth) can speak more of a season (e.g., Ps 1:3 - "like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season") and it is translated by the Greek kairos which describes a season. As Barnes says "In a time of favor; in a time that shall be adjudged to be the best fitted to the purposes of salvation, Yahweh will be pleased to exalt the Messiah to glory, and to make him the means of salvation to all mankind." It is interesting that this same word kairos is used in Eph 1:10 which speaks of "the fullness of the times," paraphrased as "And this is the plan: At the right time He (THE FATHER) will bring everything together under the authority of Christ (THE MESSIAH)-- everything in heaven and on earth." (Eph 1:10NLT) Geoffrey W Grogan on a favorable time - The background to the expression "the time of my favor" is probably the Day of Jubilee in Leviticus 25:8-55+ (cf. Isa 61:1-2) (Expositor's Bible Commentary)
Isaías 49
Barnes adds that "The giving of the world to the Messiah is represented as in answer to his prayer in Psalm 2:8 "‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your (MESSIAH'S) inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession." This verse (quoting the Septuagint, not the Hebrew - LXE = " In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I succored [helped] thee") is cited in 2 Corinthians 6:2, where Paul applies this promise to all who hear the Gospel of salvation stressing the urgency of accepting God's grace and salvation in Christ (2 Cor 5:20,21) without delay (Pr 27:1; Jas 4:13,14)... “AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.” Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold (USED TO GRAB OUR ATTENTION), now (NOT TOMORROW) is “THE DAY OF SALVATION” And in a day of salvation I have helped You - What is this day of salvation? It is doubtless not just a single day because when paralleled with "favorable time" it speaks of a period of time that is opportune for the Messiah to complete His work that will provide salvation, not only for Israel (which is the primary focus in this context), but for the entire world. Personally I think this would culminate with the Cross, when the Messiah sacrificed Himself and made a full and final atonement for sin for all who will ever place their faith in Him. For example Peter describes how God helped Jesus in Acts 2:24 "But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power." Barnes explains I have helped You" - "Have I imparted the assistance which is needful to accomplish the great purpose of salvation to the world. This passage is quoted by Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:2, and is by him applied to the times of the Messiah. It means that the time would come, fixed by the purpose of God, which would be a period in which he would be disposed, that is, well pleased, to extend salvation to the world through the Messiah: and that in that time he would afford all the requisite aid and help by his grace, for the extension of the true religion among the nations. Young writes on time and day - The words time and day are significant, for they make clear that God does not act capriciously or haphazardly. At the time determined He performs His work. Our Lord expressed the same thought when at the wedding feast at Cana He remarked, "My hour is not yet come."
Isaías 49
Barnes - In the remainder of this verse, and in the following verses, the Messiah is represented under the image of a Shepherd, Who leads forth His flock to green fields, and who takes care that they shall be guarded from the heat of the sun, and shall not hunger nor thirst. The phrase ‘they shall feed in the ways,’ means, probably, that in the way in which they were going they should find abundant food. They should not be compelled to turn aside for pasturage, or to go and seek for it in distant places. It is equivalent to the language which so often occurs, that God would provide for the needs of his people, even when passing through a desert, and that he would open before them unexpected sources of supply. Along the roads they will feed - What is the meaning of this statement? NET has "they will graze beside the roads" indicating had rich and abundant the provisions will be at this time (Millennium). As Vine explains "they will be able to have sufficient supplies of food on their journeys without going long distances to get food." And their pasture will be on all bare heights - This describes the land as fertile, and so the liberated people experience abundant provision. Given that these descriptions occur in the context of the Second Coming, they would describe the blessed conditions the saved Jews will experience as they enter into the earthly Kingdom of God (Millennium). Barnes on all bare heights - means, that on the hills and mountains, that are naturally barren and unproductive, they should find an abundance of food. To see the force of this, we are to remember that in many parts of the East the hills and mountains are utterly destitute of vegetation. This is the case with the mountainous regions of Horeb and Sinai, and even with the mountains about Jerusalem, and with the hills and mountains in Arabia Deserta. The idea here is, that in the ways, or paths that were commonly traveled, and where all verdure would be consumed or trodden down by the caravans, and on the hills that were usually barren and desolate, they would find abundance. God would supply them as if he should make the green grass spring up in the hard-trodden way, and on the barren and rocky hills vegetation should start up suddenly in abundance, and all their needs should be supplied. This is an image which we have frequently had in Isaiah, and perhaps the meaning may be, that to his people the Redeemer would open unexpected sources of comfort and joy; that in places and times in which they would scarcely look for a supply of their spiritual needs, he would suddenly meet and satisfy them as if green grass for flocks and herds should suddenly start up in the down-trodden way, or luxuriant vegetation burst forth on the sides and the tops of barren, rocky, and desolate hills. Isaiah 49:10 "They will not hunger or thirst, Nor will the scorching heat or sun strike them down; For He who has compassion on them will lead them And will guide them to springs of water. They will not hunger or thirst - Mt 5:6 Joh 6:35 Rev 7:16,17 Nor will the scorching heat or sun strike them dow - Isa 4:6 Isa 25:4 Isa 32:2 Ps 121:5,6 He who has compassion on them will lead them - Isa 54:10 Ps 23:2-4 Jer 31:9 Eze 34:23 Joh 10:3,4 GOD THROUGH MESSIAH SUPPLIES EVERY NEED Remember that this prophetic promise is addressed primarily to Israel, specifically the believing Jewish remnant who survive the Great Tribulation and who repent and return by grace through faith to Him, acknowledging Jesus as their Messiah and Redeemer (Zech 12:10-14+).
Isaías 49
Barnes - All their needs shall be abundantly provided for, as a Shepherd will provide for His flock. In the book of Revelation, this entire passage is applied (Rev 7:16,17) to the happiness of the redeemed in heaven, and the use which is made of it there is not foreign to the sense in Isaiah. It means that the Messiah as a Shepherd shall abundantly satisfy all the needs of His people; and it may with as much propriety be applied to the joys of heaven, as to the happiness which they will experience on earth. Their longing desires for holiness and salvation; their hungering and thirsting after righteousness (Matthew 5:6), shall be abundantly satisfied. Nor will the scorching heat or sun strike them down - God protects them from the elements. The Septuagint translates heat with the noun kauson which describes a burning heat (Mt 20:12, a scorching east wind (Jas 1:11). Barnes - the burning heat of the sun shall not oppress them—an image of refreshment, protection, and joy, as when the traveler in burning sands finds the grateful shade of a rock or of a grove (see the notes at Isaiah 4:6; 14:3; 25:4; 32:2). The word rendered here ‘heat’ (˜sharab), denotes properly heat, burning; and then the heated vapor which in burning deserts produces the phenomenon of the mirage (Isa 35:7). It is equivalent here to intense heat; and means that they shall not be exposed to any suffering like that of the intense heat of the burning sun reflected from sandy wastes. Isaiah 4 gives a prophetic description which parallels his description of protection in Isaiah 49:10... When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purged the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning, (THIS WILL TAKE PLACE PRIOR TO THE Millennium - SEE Zech 13:1+) 5 then (WHEN? AFTER THE PURGING OF ISRAEL - SEE COMMENT BELOW FOR NAMES OF THIS TIME OF PURGING) the LORD will create over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy (THIS CORRESPONDS TO MESSIAH ESTABLISHING HIS MESSIANIC KINGDOM IN THE Millennium). 6 There will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain.(Isa. 4:4-6+) Comment - The time of (spiritual) cleansing and purging described in Isaiah 4:4 corresponds to the Great Tribulation (aka Time of Jacob's Distress of Jer 30:7 = "A Time of Distress" of Da 12:1) which culminates (and is terminated) by the Second Coming of Christ. Zech 13:8+ predicts that "two parts in it (LAND OF ISRAEL) will be cut off and perish; but the third will be left in it (THE BELIEVING JEWISH REMNANT WILL BE LEFT AND WILL ENTER INTO THE MESSIAH'S KINGDOM)."
Isaías 49
Barnes on walls - The meaning is, that he constantly looked upon them; that he never forgot them. He had a constant and sacred regard for his people, and amidst all their disasters and trials, still remembered them. Below is further devotional application of the fact that God has inscribed His people on the palm of His hands. As noted the accurate interpretation is that God is speaking of Israel, but these truths are applicable to all believers in Christ. Scripture records "Neither shall any man snatch them out of My hand (or) out of My Father's hand." (Jn 10:28-29) "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands." (Isa 49:16)" My times are in Thy hand." (Ps 31:15-note) Vance Havner refers to these passages as "having the situation well in hand. Here is security for time and eternity. The palm of the hand is a well-protected place and that hand can fold into a fist if threatened! Not only ourselves but our times, all our circumstances, the day in which we live, the happenings of our lives—all these are under His control. Sometimes they are beyond our control, but "He's got the whole world in His hands." He not only leads us by His hand, He keeps us in His hand." J I Packer calls us to affirm the truth that "I am graven on the palms of His hands. I am never out of His mind. All my knowledge of Him depends on His sustained initiative in knowing me. I know Him, because He first knew me, and continues to know me. He knows me as a friend, One Who loves me; and there is no moment when His eye is off me, or His attention distracted from me, and no moment, therefore, when His care falters (cf Mt 10:30-31)." Do you believe the beautiful words of the hymn "Before the throne of God above/ I have a strong and perfect plea/ A great high Priest Whose Name is Love/ Who ever lives and pleads for me/ My name is graven on His hands/ My name is written on His heart/ I know that while in Heaven He stands/ No tongue can bid me thence depart." Hallelujah! (Bancroft) As Kay Arthur says "If you are God's child by covenant, a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, this is the truth you must cling to when you feel abandoned: You are inscribed on the palms of His hands! For the feelings are just that-feelings. Feelings that are very real, feelings that you must deal with. But remember reality. Reality is the fact that a covenant has been cut on your behalf. Your feelings will betray you-overwhelm you cripple you-if you do not decide, by the gut-level determination of faith, that "feel it or not" you will trust your Covenant God. Put on the music … the hymns of the faith … the choruses of trust. Sing whether you feel like it or not. Sing whether you can sing or not. Sing until your feelings conform to reality." In fact sing Toplady's A Debtor to Mercy Alone - "My name from the palms of His hands Eternity will not erase Impressed on His heart it remains In marks of indelible grace Yes, I to the end shall endure As sure as the earnest is given More happy, but not more secure The glorified spirits in heaven.” As
Isaías 49
Barnes - The whole figure in this verse is taken from the character of a faithful Shepherd who conducts His flock to places where they may feed in plenty; who guards them from the intense heat of a burning sun on sandy plains; and who leads them beside cooling and refreshing streams. It is a most beautiful image of the tender care of the Great Shepherd of his people in a world like this—a world in its main features, in regard to real comforts, not unaptly compared to barren hills, and pathless burning sands. See the related study on Christ The Breaker which is taken from Messiah's role for Israel described in Micah “I will surely assemble all of you, Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel. I will put them together like sheep in the fold; Like a flock in the midst of its pasture They will be noisy with men. The Breaker goes up before them; They break out, pass through the gate and go out by it. So their King goes on before them, And the LORD at their head.” (Micah 2:12-13-note) As one reads Isaiah's description, it reminds one of the description of hearven recorded by John in the Revelation... They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their Shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” (Rev 7:16-17+) Isaiah 49:11 "I will make all My mountains a road, And My highways will be raised up. Isa 11:16 Isa 35:8-10 40:3,4 43:19 57:14 62:10 Ps 107:4,7 Lu 3:4,5 Joh 14:6 I will make all My mountains a road and My highways will be raised up - The One Who made the mountains can level! Raised up highways would be elevated from the surrounding desert terrain (cf Isa 43:19, 57:14). The picture is of all obstructions obliterated that His people might return to the land! This is a continuation of the blessed conditions in Isa 49:10 which describe the days of the Millennium which is in essence a fulfillment of the Messianic promises God had given to Israel. Messiah now reigning as King of kings will usher in a reign of safety and security to which the weary exiles may come streaming in return. As W E Vine says "Comfortingly He speaks of "My mountains" and "My ways." They are His by creation and therefore He can order for their alteration so as to make everything favorable for the return of His people. All this is applicable to our present experiences. The mountains of difficulty which face us in our pilgrim path can become highways of communion with God and of joyous fellowship with His people, if we trust in the Lord with all our heart and present to Him our whole being for the fulfillment of His will." (Collected Writings of W. E. Vine) Redpath applies this truth to our lives - Notice it says each...mountain (or, as in the King James Version, all … mountains). “There is no exception in that great, but little word, all. There is nothing in life – no obstacle, no loneliness, no trial, no sorrow – which may not be a way into God’s richest blessing. There is no situation of entanglement, nothing that you can possibly conceive, but this can be part of God’s way to make His mountain a way of deliverance....“[When you make] the commitment of your life to Jesus Christ without reservation, then you can go to meet your mountains and meet obstacles in Jesus – not to meet them outside Him, but in Christ. If you do that, then the mountain between you and God’s land of blessing becomes the way into it.” (Quoted by Guzik) Isaiah had spoken about roads and highways during this glorious reign of the Messiah, both of these passages below also describing conditions in the Millennium.... Isaiah 11:16+ And there will be a highway from Assyria For the remnant of His people who will be left, Just as there was for Israel In the day that they came up out of the land of Egypt. Isaiah 35:8-10 A highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for him who walks that way, And fools will not wander on it. 9No lion will be there, Nor will any vicious beast go up on it; These will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk there, 10And the ransomed of the LORD will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, With everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 49:12 "Behold, these will come from afar; And lo, these will come from the north and from the west, And these from the land of Sinim." these shall - Isa 2:2,3 11:10,11 43:5,6 60:9-14 66:19,20 Ps 22:27 72:10,11,17 Mic 4:2 Zec 2:11 8:20-23 Mt 8:11 Lu 13:29 Rev 7:9 11:15 WORLDWIDE RESTORATION Behold, these will come from afar and lo, these will come from the north and from the west - The land is restored and the highways are prepared to receive the regathering of His people (cf Isa 49:13, Isa 49:6). Clearly this prophecy describes more than Judah's return (when only some of the Jews actually returned others choosing to remain in Babylon) from exile in Babylon. He is speaking of the regathering of Israel, echoing His earlier prophetic promise' Do not fear, for I am with you (GOD'S PROMISE TO ISRAEL); I will bring your offspring from the east, And gather you from the west. 6 “I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring My sons from afar And My daughters from the ends of the earth, (Isaiah 43:5-6). And these from the land of Sinim - Some say Sinim (found nowhere else in the Bible) is China which is possible but we cannot be dogmatic. The Septuagint suggests a different interpretation as the English translation reads "from the land of the Persians." The NLT paraphrase (which is also an interpretation) has "and from as far south as Egypt," but we simply cannot know with certainty. The point is that this restoration is worldwide. NET Note - The precise location of the land of Sinim is uncertain, but since the north and west are mentioned in the previous line, it was a probably located in the distant east or south. Isaiah 49:13 Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people And will have compassion on His afflicted. O heavens - Isa 42:10,11 44:23 52:9 55:12 Ps 96:11-13 98:4-9 Lu 2:13,14 15:10 Rev 5:8-13 7:9-12 the Lord - Isa 12:1 40:1,2 51:3 61:2,3 66:13,14 Jer 31:13 2Co 7:6 2Th 2:16,17 ALL CREATION GIVES PRAISE TO GOD J
Isaías 49
Barnes - The enemies that laid waste thy land, and that absorbed, as it were, thy inhabitants, and removed them to a distant land. They shall be all gone, and the land shall smile again in prosperity and in loveliness. And those who swallowed you will be far away - Isa 49:17 is similar "Your destroyers and devastators Will depart from you." As an aside the same Hebrew verb swallow is used in Isaiah 25:8 in another encouraging passage that describes Israel's future... He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people (ISRAEL) from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken. Jeremiah gives four pictures of how complete will be the removal of Israel's enemies ‘Therefore (1) all who devour you will be devoured; (2) And all your adversaries, every one of them, will go into captivity; (3) And those who plunder you will be for plunder, (4) And all who prey upon you I will give for prey. (Jer 30:16+, cf the fate of Babylon - Jer 51:33, 44) Isaiah 49:20 "The children of whom you were bereaved will yet say in your ears, 'The place is too cramped for me; Make room for me that I may live here.' children - Isa 60:4 Ho 1:10 Mt 3:9 Ga 4:26-28 The place - Isa 51:3 54:1,2 Jos 17:14-16 2Ki 6:1 NET Isaiah 49:20 Yet the children born during your time of bereavement will say within your hearing, 'This place is too cramped for us, make room for us so we can live here.' (Isa 49:20 NET THE RETURNING JEWS NEED MORE SPACE The children of whom you were bereaved will yet say in your ears - This refers to those Israelites (believing remnant) who will be regathered as described in Isaiah 60:4 "Your sons will come from afar, And your daughters will be carried in the arms." Clearly he is not saying that previously dead Jewish children will be resurrected. This is a figure of speech and Oswalt explains that "The point is simply that although Zion has lost everything (see Isa 3:24–4:1), nevertheless, against all the odds, in the midst of her bereavement there will be a new generation through which her life can continue." The place is too cramped for me; Make room for me that I may live here.'- This repeats the picture of Isa 49:19 of the land of promise with God's people so plentiful now that it is cramped! Ask yourself this question - has such a thing ever occurred in the history of Israel? Of course not, so once again we are reminded that the literal fulfillment of this prophecy is yet future! CAVEAT EMPTOR! Now keeping in mind that Isaiah is a Jewish prophet speaking to Jewish people about prophecies that will impact the nation of Israel in the future, notice what happens when one veers from a straight-forward literal interpretation. Here is Edward Young's comment on Isaiah 49:20... Even during the exile the tide was turning. God was raising up Cyrus, who would make it possible for the exiles to return to their home. In this return there is seen the first fulfillment of this promise, but in the deeper sense the fulfillment takes place in the distant future (ED: A STATEMENT WITH WHICH I HEARTILY AGREE!) when the Gentiles are brought into the Church of Christ. Zion is bereaved, but she has children, so many that there is no room for them. (The Book of Isaiah – Volume 3: Chapters 40 to 66) Beloved, do you see how Young is forced to switch from Jews coming back under Cyrus to Gentiles coming into the Church of Christ? He "morphs" so to speak from Jews to Gentiles which is absolutely amazing! He accepts the historical truth about Israel in captivity but rejects the fact that there will be a future Israel set free from Gentile oppression. The reason I am going into some detail on Young's interpretations is because his scholarly (and it is truly scholarly with many excellent explanations) three volume work is hailed by modern evangelicals as one of the top commentaries on the Prophecy of Isaiah. For example, Tim Challies, a respected evangelical writer, has said the following about Edward Young's commentary (which he ranks as the number 3 best commentary) - "It is still regarded as one of the finest commentaries on Isaiah. While the commentators on the commentaries note that Young’s writing can be tedious at times, the volumes are commended for their sound exegesis and their firmly evangelical theology." (Best Commentaries on Isaiah) I would suggest Caveat Emptor be one's motto regarding any Isaiah commentary (including the one you are currently reading -- I am human and make no claim to have a monopoly on truth) for many, if not most commentaries on Isaiah have to one degree or another replaced the literal nation of Israel with the Church, especially in the prophetic promises that are clearly future. So while Young may have "sound exegesis and...firmly evangelical theology," his comments on eschatological passages related to Israel are almost all reflective of his spiritualizing or allegorizing the literal text (see Rise of Allegorical Interpretation). Remember - when the Bible speaks, God speaks. So the best approach is to let the God say what He says, taking it as one would normal speech from one to another and laying aside any preconceived notions of what you have been told the text says. In this way you can come to the text as if you had never read it before. Then you can profitably and prayerfully spend some time reading the text (including use of different translations which may help on difficult passages). Then after you have arrived at your own interpretation, you are prepared to go to the commentaries and see how they interpret the passage. Remember you have as much of the Holy Spirit as do those who write commentaries and you can trust Him to lead you into all truth. That does not mean you will understand every passage, but, for example, in Isaiah 49 you would get a good sense of the general idea of what Isaiah is saying and to whom he is speaking. And I think if you read it in this manner, you will conclude that Isaiah a Jewish prophet is speaking to a Jewish audience and making declarations and promises to the Jews. Here is another example of spiritualizing Isaiah 49:20 by Albert Barnes, whose notes contain some excellent comments on some of Isaiah's passages, but tend to become a bit "imaginative" and non-literal when he deals with prophetic promises given to Israel. Commenting on the place is too cramped Barnes writes... There is not room for us all. The entire language here denotes a vast accession to the church of God. It is indicative of such an increase as took place when the gospel was proclaimed by the apostles to the Gentiles, and of such an increase as shall yet more abundantly take place when the whole world shall become converted to God. (ED: WHAT? THE WHOLE WORLD CONVERTED? THIS COMMENT NOT ONLY REPLACES ISRAEL WITH THE CHURCH, WHICH IS THE FALSE TEACHING OF REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY, BUT ALSO SEEMS TO SUGGEST THE FALSE TEACHING OF UNIVERSALISM! Be a Berean - Acts 17:11+) Below is another example of an incredible interpretation from the Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 49:19-20. Notice that the writer has the hubris and audacity to tell you not to interpret the text literally. Why? Because to interpret it literally would be to acknowledge that this Jewish prophet is addressing God's future promises to the nation of Israel! And notice that in the comment on Isa 49:19 he interprets the first part (the "bad news") literally but then the "good news" allegorically! Talk about "schizophrenic hermeneutics!" Ver. 19.—The land of thy destruction; or, of thy overthrow—i.e. where thou wert overthrown by Nebuchadnezzar (ED: INTERPRETS THE "BAD NEWS" LITERALLY)—shall even now be too narrow, etc. This must not be understood literally. (ED: WHY: BECAUSE IT DOES NOT FIT HIS ESCHATOLOGY! BECAUSE HE DOES NOT SEE IT AS A FUTURE PROMISE TO ISRAEL!) Palestine, after the return from the Captivity, was at no time over-populated (ED: THIS IS ACCURATE); and when the conversion of the Gentiles took place it caused no influx of fresh settlers into the Holy Land. The object of the prophet is simply to mark the vast growth of the Church, which would necessarily spread itself far beyond the limits of Palestine, and would ultimately require the whole earth for its habitation. (ED: CAN YOU NOT SEE HOW HE IS FORCED TO CONTRIVE AN ABSURD INTERPRETATION BECAUSE HE HAS "JETTISONED" LITERAL INTERPRETATION!) Ver. 20.—The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other; literally, the children of thy bereavement; i.e. the Gentiles who shall replace those many faithless Israelites who refused to return when Cyrus issued his edict, and became lost to the Church of God. (ED: BELOVED THIS IS NOT GOOD SENSE BUT NONSENSE!) John Calvin similarly takes the text non-literally as referring not to Israel but Church writing " “bereavement” and “barrenness” refer rather to the person of the Church." (CALVIN ROUTINELY ESPOUSES REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY IN HIS COMMENTS ON ESCHATOLOGICAL PASSAGES RELATED TO ISRAEL IN THE OLD TESTAMENT). John Trapp is non-literal - The children of thine orbity; such as are not yet received into the Church. Give place to me that I may.] People shall offer violence to heaven, and the "violent shall take it by force": Ezekiel describeth the Church of the New Testament to be very large and spacious, and yet she shall be so crowded as is a bee hive, out of the mouth whereof the bees oft hang in heaps for want of room within. Matthew Henry is non-literal - Two things are here promised, which were to be in part accomplished in the reviving of the Jewish church after its return out of captivity, but more fully in the planting of the Christian church by the preaching of the gospel of Christ and we may take the comfort of these promises. (ED: SO EVEN SUCH A HIGHLY RESPECTED COMMENTATOR AS HENRY INTERPRETS THESE PROMISES PRIMARILY TO THE CHURCH! AMAZING!) Matthew Poole is non-literal - Those Gentiles which shall be begotten by thee, to wit, by the ministry of thy children, Christ and his apostles, when thou shalt be deprived of thine own natural children, when thou shalt become barren and unfruitful as to conversion of natural Jews, when the generality of the Jews shall cut themselves off from God, and from his true church, by their apostacy from God, and by their unbelief and obstinate refusal of their Messiah. (ED: POOLE IMPLIES GOD IS FINISHED WITH THE JEWS! AMAZING!) Here is a striking example of non-literal interpretation from the pen of a modern writer Raymond C Ortlund, Jr writing in the popular series Preaching the Word. Notice how he unabashedly does not even mention the POSSIBILITY that Isaiah might be speaking about the nation of Israel (Amazing!)... Far from neglecting us, God swears by his very life to surprise us with the expansion and growth of his church. Isaiah imagines it (ED: THE CHURCH) like a childless woman delightedly astonished at the multitude of happy children gathering around her as their mother, replacing her (ED: THE CHURCH'S) devastation with fullness (49:17–21). This is the future of the church, by God’s decree. (ED: NOT THE FUTURE OF ISRAEL THE ONE TO WHOM ISAIAH IS SPEAKING!) His people will someday look around and blink with amazement: “Can it be? All these multitudes gathered into the bosom of the church, even in our barrenness and futility? What on earth has happened?” The growth of the church will be too vast to be explainable by any human plan, too massive to be accommodated by any human program. (ED: Notice what happens when one totally extirpates Israel from the prophecy of Isaiah -- the result is comments that make no sense. One has to wonder what Isaiah might think if he were to read comments such as the preceding!) Unfortunately, I could continue with sad examples of comments that in effect replace Israel with the Church and so give these great promises to the latter rather than to the former, the nation of Israel to whom God clearly gave the promises in Isaiah 49. Replacement Theology has a long history which sadly includes many well-known commentators and has given rise to a reemergence of this false teaching in the twenty-first century! This false teaching is very popular among many in the reformed movement. Praise God that there are wonderful writers like Dr Warren Wiersbe who still read and interpret the Holy Word of God literally. Wiersbe's comments are in marked contrast to the preceding writers... Zion seems like a forsaken and barren mother, but she will be so blessed of God that there will be no room for her children! They will be like beautiful bridal ornaments, not decrepit refugees from Captivity. Once again, the prophet looked ahead to the end of the age when the Gentiles will honor Jehovah and Israel, and kings and queens will be baby-sitters for Israel’s children! (Be Comforted - highly recommended commentary series). Isaiah 49:21 "Then you will say in your heart, 'Who has begotten these for me, Since I have been bereaved of my children And am barren, an exile and a wanderer? And who has reared these? Behold, I was left alone; From where did these come?'" Since - Jer 31:15-17 Ro 11:11-17,24 Ga 3:29 4:26-29 I have been bereaved of my children - Isa 3:26 51:17-20 52:2 54:3-8 60:15 62:4 64:10 La 1:1-3 Mt 24:29,30 Lu 21:24 Ro 11:26-31 ESV Isaiah 49:21 Then you will say in your heart: 'Who has borne me these? I was bereaved and barren, exiled and put away, but who has brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; from where have these come?'" NET Isaiah 49:21 Then you will think to yourself, 'Who bore these children for me? I was bereaved and barren, dismissed and divorced. Who raised these children? Look, I was left all alone; where did these children come from?'" NLT Isaiah 49:21 Then you will think to yourself, 'Who has given me all these descendants? For most of my children were killed, and the rest were carried away into exile. I was left here all alone. Where did all these people come from? Who bore these children? Who raised them for me?'" THE NUMBER OF RETURNEES WILL BE SURPRISING Then you (ZION) will say in your heart, 'Who has begotten these for me, Since I have been bereaved of my children And am barren, an exile and a wanderer? And who has reared these? - THIS IS A TOTAL REVERSAL OF EVENTS. Zion is amazed at the children that have come to Israel. Once she was bereaved and barren but now is "bountiful!" WHEN DOES THIS OCCUR? These passages describing a large number of returning Jews is an important clue as to when the passages in this section (Isa 49:17-23) will be fulfilled. Why so? This description cannot refer to the relatively small number of Jews who returned to Jerusalem and Judah after the 70 year exile, not to mention the fact that few if any of the Jews (10 Tribes) that were taken off into exile in Assyria returned to Palestine. Only a small number of exiles returned to Judah from Babylon when they were released by King Cyrus of Persia. Therefore, this prophecy was not fulfilled in those days. It follows that this must refer to a future time and the most logical time is the coming Messianic Kingdom, the day when Christ will return to establish His kingdom on earth. One might entertain a "partial fulfillment" with the rebirth of the Nation of Israel in 1948 and the return of many Jews to Palestine from around the world. But remember that for accurate interpretation of the Bible we need to avoid interpreting isolated passages out of their surrounding "environment" (Context), which in this case includes Isaiah 49:22-23. Isaiah 49:23 would effectively exclude 1948 as a partial fulfillment because although Israel was "reborn" in the United Nations and with the approval of President Harry Truman, the subsequent decades demonstrates that the Gentile nations have expressed continued animosity, overt hatred and caustic criticism of the nation of Israel. No, the time when the Gentiles "will bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters will be carried on their shoulders" and "Kings will be your guardians, and their princesses your nurses" awaits a future fulfillment. The most reasonable "candidate" for the time of fulfillment is at the return of the Messiah, when He in effect finally and fully abolishes all Gentile opposition to Israel and instead exalts them to a position of honor in the world in His Messianic Kingdom, even as Isaiah had prophesied in chapter 2 Now it will come about that In the Last Days The mountain of the house of the LORD Will be established as the chief of the mountains (MT ZION, JERUSALEM, ISRAEL), And will be raised above the hills; And all the nations (GENTILES) will stream to it. 3 And many peoples (GENTILES) will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob (ISRAEL); That He may teach us (GENTILES) concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths.” (cf Zech 14:9,17+) For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 And He (MESSIAH) will judge between the nations (GENTILES), and will render decisions for many peoples (GENTILES); and they (GENTILES) will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation (GENTILES) will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war. (Isaiah 2:2-4+) Martin - When the people returned from the Babylonian Captivity they were a comparatively small, struggling band. The return mentioned in Isa 49:19–21 seems to be much larger and therefore probably refers to Israel’s return at the beginning of the Millennium. (Bible Knowledge Commentary) Vine - Her people had been exiles and wanderers and she had been left "solitary" (barren). Now she finds herself surrounded by a multitude of her children. How, she wonders, had they been "borne" to her? Who had brought them up? From where did these come?. The answer is about to be given. (The Collected Writings of W. E. Vine) (Comment - Let me give the answer in a word - God! God's grace will bring this surprising event to pass as described in the next verses). Guzik on I was left alone - The great blessing of the returning sons of Zion—in both near and far fulfillment—will come as an astounding surprise. God’s blessing will seem to come from nowhere. Though the promise seems too good to be true, God confirms it with an oath to the nations. God will rescue Israel from both their immediate and ultimate captivity. Behold, I was left alone; From where did these come? - Zion is recounting how she was once alone, but now there are multitudes of Jewish returnees. How did this happen. And so Zion is personified as asking from where in the world did they they all come? As stated earlier (see Isa 49:12+), they came from all over the world! Oswalt answers Zion's question from where did these come? - They are the gift of God. She did not bear them, nor did she rear them, so where did they come from? The fruitfulness and the grace of God. This theme runs straight through the Bible, from Sarah onward. In ourselves we are barren and bereaved, no more able to bring abundant life or eternal life onto this planet than we are able to give ourselves physical life. If abundant, eternal life is to be ours, it will be the gift of God, and we will look on in amazement, saying, “Where did that come from?” (See Eph. 2:8–10.) Vine - Her people had been exiles and wanderers and she had been left "solitary" (or "barren"). Now she finds herself surrounded by a multitude of her children. How, she wonders, had they been "borne" to her (R.V., margin—not "begotten")? Who had brought them up? "Where were they?" (R.V.). The answer is about to be given. Sometimes the Lord refrains from manifesting His dealings and, in testing our faith, keeps us waiting till the appointed time for the disclosure of His actings and significance. Far greater the joy when the unfolding comes than if there had been no mystery, no darksome circumstances, and far greater the glory of His grace. "God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan His work in vain; God is His own interpreter, And He will make it plain." (The Collected Writings of W. E. Vine) Isaiah 49:22 Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations And set up My standard to the peoples; And they will bring your sons in their bosom, And your daughters will be carried on their shoulders. Behold - Isa 49:12 2:2,3 11:10,11 42:1-4 60:3-11 66:20 Ps 22:27 67:4-7 Ps 72:8,17 86:9 Mal 1:11 Lu 13:29 NET Isaiah 49:22 This is what the sovereign LORD says: "Look I will raise my hand to the nations; I will raise my signal flag to the peoples. They will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders. NLT Isaiah 49:22 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I will give a signal to the godless nations. They will carry your little sons back to you in their arms; they will bring your daughters on their shoulders. ESV Isaiah 49:22 Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and raise my signal to the peoples; and they shall bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders. CSB Isaiah 49:22 This is what the Lord GOD says: Look, I will lift up My hand to the nations, and raise My banner to the peoples. They will bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters will be carried on their shoulders. NIV Isaiah 49:22 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I will beckon to the Gentiles, I will lift up my banner to the peoples; they will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders. GOD WILL REVERSE GENTILE SUPREMACY! Jesus alluded to the "times of the Gentiles" prophesying that "Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." (Lk 21:24+). Those TIMES are coming to an end according to Isaiah 49:22-23! Criswell on Times of the Gentiles - "Times of the Gentiles" indicates that Jerusalem will be in the hands of the Gentiles until the time which God has fixed for the cessation of such rule. This phrase is a reference to the Gentile domination of Jerusalem and Palestine up to and including the Great Tribulation, particularly the latter three and one-half years of that period. The revived Roman Empire and its leader, the Antichrist, will annul a covenant made with Israel at the outset of the Tribulation. Jerusalem and the temple will be trodden underfoot by these Gentiles until Christ intervenes at His return to establish the earthly kingdom (cf. Rev. 11:1-2+).