Isaiah 41

Ver. 1. — he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.] Meaning here, the law to be published by the Messiah; the institution of the Gospel. Bp. Lowth.

Isaiah 41:2

2. — the righteous man from the east.] Some explain this of Abraham; others of Cyrus. The character of “the righteous man” (or “righteousness,” as some give it) agrees best with Abraham; he was called out of the East, and his posterity (who may fairly be taken into the account) were introduced into Canaan, and established there, on purpose to stand as a barrier against idolatry: Cyrus, though not properly a worshipper of images, had nothing in his character to cause such an alarm among idolaters, as is mentioned ver. 5—7; and the Prophet, having just touched upon that circumstance, resumes Abraham and the Israelites, ver. 8. Bp. Lowth. On the other side it may be said, that Cyrus did overthrow the Babylonians, the great supporters of idolatry, their confederates, and many nations; did in consequence liberate the people of God, and re-

2, 3. He shall not cry, &c.] See note on Matt. xii. 18. He was (as all interpreters explain the proverbial expressions here used) not to employ the least degree of force or violence in the propagation of the new law, till it finally prevailed against all opposition. Accordingly, by the mildness and piety of the followers of Christ, by the secret influence of a Divine blessing attending on their feeble efforts, the doctrine of the cross insensibly gained ground, spread itself far and wide, and in the end became victorious over all the rage and power and sophistry of an unbelieving world. Bp. Hurd.

Isaiah 41:3

3. A bruised reed shall he not break, &c.] Those that are humble and contrite shall He rather relieve and comfort, than add any thing to their sorrow and affliction: and those that have received but the weakest beginnings of grace shall have no discouragement from Him, but shall be rather cheered up by Him: yet, so shall He be gracious to the pentenity dejected, that He shall not bear with the obstinate sinner; but shall give severe judgment upon him according to the justice of his demerits. Bp. Hall.

Isaiah 41:4

4. — I the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he.] That is, “I Jehovah;” who by the import of my name am the “first,” or original of all other beings, and shall be with the “last,” that is, am “everlasting.” Dr. Wells. Comparing the passages of our Prophet referred to in the margin, we find that the phrase, “first and last,” expresses the perless majesty of God, who is He the “true God;” his eternity, supreme power, dignity, and glory, and his creation and government of all things; in those of St. John, from the Revelation, the same Divine title is given to the Son. Dr. Waterland.

5. — the isles shall wait for his law.] Those parts of the world, to which men are wont to travel by sea from

in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

Isaiah 41:5

5. — he that created the heavens, &c.] See chap. xl. 12, and notes there.

5, 6. — I will bring thy seed from the east, &c.] See note on chap. xi. 11.

Isaiah 41:6

6. 7. They helped every one his neighbour; &c.] In these verses, the several artificers concerned in idol-making are represented as assisting one another, to carry on their common interest; (see Acts xix. 25;) the passage may fitly be applied to the heathen powers combining together to support their idolatry, and suppress the Christian religion. W. Lowth.

7. — give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;] God expressly declares here, that the Messiah should mediate a covenant between God and the people; and that the fruit of this covenant should extend to the Gentiles; who should enjoy the same privileges with the Jews, and be incorporated with them, chap. xlix. 8, 9; lv. 3, 4; lxi. 8, 9. The extension of the Messiah’s kingdom over the whole earth is mentioned by Isaiah so often, and in so emphatical a manner, that it seems to be the main drift of all his writings. Dean Alix. Indeed the general object of prophecy is the uniting of all nations in the faith of Christ, and the conversion of the Gentiles makes a standing part of all the prophecies of the Saviour of mankind. Bp. Horsley.

Isaiah 41:7

7. To open the blind eyes, &c.] The Prophet seems here to set forth the spiritual redemption, under images borrowed from the temporal deliverance. Bp. Lowth.

Isaiah 41:8

8. I am the Lord: that is my name:] The import of the name Jehovah (rendered by our translators “the Lord;” see note on Exod. iii. 15,) is, according to the best articles, ancient and modern, eternal, immutable, necessary existence. Dr. Waterland.

— my glory will I not give to another,] We read, Ps. lxxxiv. 11, that “the Lord will give grace and glory;” 2 Cor. iv. 17, “an exceeding and eternal weight of glory;” but that divine, infinite, incomprehensible glory, that belongeth to Him, as Supreme King of kings, as his peculiar prerogative, of that He is most jealous; in that will brook no sharer. Since therefore our chief aim ought to be, that in every thing God may have “the glory” due to his name; we must beware, not only that we give not the glory of religious worship to image, saint, or other creature, (as it follows, “neither my praise to graven images,”) but also that we do not by flattery or obsequiousness give to mortal man any part of that honour which is due to the infinite

An exhortation to praise God. CHAP. XLII, XLIII. He reprove the people of incredulity.

8. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes.] In ver. 10, the Jews are appealed to as witnesses for God; this verse is to be understood of the Gentiles. See Rom. i. 20. Bp. Lowth.

Isaiah 41:9

9. — from the ends of the earth.] This probably refers particularly to Egypt and Chaldea; from the latter, the Jews were to be redeemed as they had been from the former; from thence likewise Abraham was originally taken. W. Lowth.

10. Behold, the former things are come to pass.] The Prophet seems here to exult and say, The prophecies, which I have delivered to you concerning your redemption from the Babylonian bondage, will soon be so exactly completed, that I regard them as things past; and therefore new things do I declare; that is, hence I claim your belief of other prophecies, concerning the great redemption, to take place hereafter; though there be no appearance as yet of any causes tending to produce it; for “before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Bp. Hurd.

11. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice. The most uncultivated countries, and the most rude and uncivilized people, shall confess and celebrate with thanksgiving the blessing of the knowledge of God graciously imparted to them. The desert and the rocky country may particularly point here to Arabia Deserts and Arabia Petrea: Kedar was a clan of Arabs; (see note on chap. xxi. 13;) some of these dwelt for the most part in tents; others inhabited or frequented cities or villages: there are others, who sometimes live in deserts and sometimes in cities. Bp. Lowth.

Vol. II.

19. This verse may more correctly stand thus, “Who is blind, but my servant? and deaf, as he to whom I have sent my messengers? Who is blind, as he who is perfectly instructed; and deaf, as the servant of the Lord?” Bp. Lowth. By the “servant” and “messengers” here are meant the Jewish people and Prophets. W. Lowth.

Isaiah 41:12

12. — when there was no strange god among you:] Or rather, “and not any strange god among you;” that is, not any false or heathen god that has at any time been

worshipped among you, but I have shewn events afore-hand, &c. Dr. Wells.

14. — the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships. “Exulting in their ships.” Babylon was very advantageously situated, both in respect to commerce, and as a naval power. It was open to the Persian gulf by the Euphrates, which was navigable by large vessels; and being joined to the Tigris above Babylon, by the canal called Naharmalcha, or the Royal river, supplied the city with the produce of the whole country to the north of it, as far as the Euxine and Caspian seas. Bp. Lowth. See note on chap. xiv. 23.

Isaiah 41:14

14. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel.] Or rather, “few men,” as the word signifies in the

Before CHRIST about 712. b Deut. 7. 6. & 10. 15. & 14. 2. Ps. 138. 4. chap. 43. 1. & 44. 1. c 2 Chron. 20. 7. James 2. 23. d Exod. 23. 22. chap. 60. 12. Zech. 12. 3. Or, few men. his promises, and the vanity of idols. Before CHRIST about 712. no. 4th.

Isaiah 41:15

15. — I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth.] See note on chap. xxviii. 27, 28. Under the familiar image of a threshing-floor, the Prophet here represents the ruin and dispersion of the wicked, the enemies of Israel. With the Jewish people, (and in simple times elsewhere,) the arts of husbandry formed the chief occupation of all, and even the highest did not disdain them; accordingly, we read in Scripture of kings and other great men being thus employed, and find the poets taking their images from the same quarter. Bp. Lowth.

Isaiah 41:16

16. Thou shalt fan them.] See note on chap. xxx. 28.

Isaiah 41:17

17. When the poor and needy seek water, &c.] To give water in the wilderness, in allusion to the miraculous supply during the passage of the Israelites through

the wilderness to the Holy Land, is the emblem of unexpected relief in distress. Bp. Hurd. This and similar passages imply the large supplies of grace under the Gospel. W. Lowth.

Isaiah 41:19

19. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, &c.] See Baruch v. 8; (W. Lowth;) and notes on chap. ii. 3; lv. 13.

Isaiah 41:20

20. The beast of the field shall honour me, &c.] We may apply this to the Gentiles, fitly compared in their

Isaiah 41:21

21. The Lord is well pleased &c.] This verse might be translated more plainly thus, “The Lord took delight in this people for his righteousness’ sake, He hath given them an excellent law, and thereby made them honourable.” W. Lowth. The Prophet seems to refer, in the first instance, to the Mosaick Law, which God had given with much splendour and solemnity, and intended as the great honour and ornament of his people; and to the care and kindness He had constantly shewn them, out of regard to the promises made to their fathers, notwithstanding their constant disobedience; and also to the Law, which was to be given by the Messiah, that future mark of God’s exceeding favour, which He was well aware the Jews would treat in the same manner as they had all the former, ver. 22, &c. Vitringa.

U God comforteth the church. He foretelleth the fall of Babylon. Before CHRIST about 712.

for witness of his omnipotency. 14 He foretelleth them the destruction of Babylon, 15 and his wonderful deliverance of his people. 22 He reproveeth the people as inexcusable.

BUT now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

Isaiah 41:25

25. I have raised up one from the north, &c.] Cyrus is represented here as coming from the “north,” and from the “east:” he was born of two different people, the Persians by his father, the Medes by his mother, and therefore called by the heathen oracle, a mule. Now Persia lay to the east of Babylon; Media northward; and Cyrus’s army (of which the Medes made a considerable part) is described, Jer. l. 9. 41, as coming out of the north. For his profession of belief in the great “God of heaven and earth,” see Ezra i. 2. Dean Prideaux, W. Lowth.

Isaiah 41:27

27. The first shall say to Zion, &c.] This verse is rather obscurely put; our translators have supplied “shall say;” properly the verb gice belongs to both parts, and the same may be more clearly expressed thus, “I first give the word to Zion,” (that is, give notice by my Prophets of these events, saying,) “Behold, behold them:” (they are at hand!) “and I give to Jerusalem a messenger of glad tidings.” Bp. Lowth.

The office of Christ. God’s promise unto him. Before CHRIST about 713. # CHAP. XLII.