Isaiah 41

The Lord summoneth all Idolaters to judgement, ver.1. He speaketh also concerning Abraham, with whom God made a covenant, and to whom he gave signal victories, 2. Whereat the heathen were amazed, but 5 notwithstanding went on in their idolatry. 6 A friendly and comfortable speech of God to the godly Israelites, 8. With a promise that he would deliver them, 10. Destroying their enemies, 11. And blessing the faithful. 17. Gods speech unto Idolaters, 21. Redemption (or the Messiahs sake, 25.)

1. Keep silence before me ye Islands, and let the nations renew their strength: let them come neer, then let them speak: let us come neer together to judgement. [These are the words of God. (keep silence before me ye Islands, etc.) That is, ye inhabitants of the Islands; that is, ye that dwell afar off, on that side of the Sea, (see Genes.10.on ver.5. and Psal.72.on ver.10.) keep silence and hearken with diligent, attention what I the Lord shall say unto you. In which words God summoneth all Idolaters as it were before the Judgement-seat, to convince them of their folly in seeking and craving help of Idols, (and let the nations renew (their) strength:) the meaning is, let them do their best to defend themselves against me, they shall find as last that they shall not be able to stand it out, or to prevail against me.]

2. Who raised up the righteous man [To wit, Abraham, who was justified by faith, and whose righteousness is highly commended and extolled by Moses. See Gen.15.6. and 18.19. and 22.16. Heb. Raised up that righteousness. See of such kind of phrase, Job 35.on ver.13. (raised up) that is, exhorted and stirred him up to go to another country] from the rising? [Meaning the rising of the Sun, namely from Ur the land of the Chaldeans. See Genes.11.31. and 12.1. Jos.24.2. [called him on his foot? [that is, the he should follow and serve him on the foot; that is, forthwith without delay] gave the heathen before his face, [that is, who gave him the victory over the heathen that had plundered Sodom and Gommorrah? See Genes.14.14. [and made him rule (over) Kings? That is, gave him victory, to wit, over those four Kings of whom mention is made, Genes.chap.14. [gave them as dust to his sword, as driven stubble to his bow? [that is, made them to be as easy to be cut asunder by his sword, as if they had been dust, &c. Others, and made their swords (to wit, the sword of those Kings) as dust, and their bows as stubble, that is driven (by the wind)]

3. That he pursued them, and passed through (in) peace, by the path (which) he had not gone with his feet? [Others, had never gone, or, never came: Some apply this verse and the former to Cyrus, as a type of Christ: a some onely unto Christ.]

4. Who hath wrought and done (this), calling the generations from the beginning? [Or (who) valleth, etc. that is, who causeth men to succeed one another, one generation to follow after another successively, so that the world is never without inhabitants (from the beginning) Heb. From the head; to wit, from the beginning of the world] I the Lord that am the first, and with the last, I am the same,, [others, and among the last I am the same. This fourth verse may be likewise rendered thus, who hath wrought and made (and) called the ages that have been from the beginning? I the Lord that am the first, and which shall be hereafter, I the same.]

5. The Isles saw it, and they feared; [The meaning is, the inhabitants of the Islands seeing and experiencing the power which God at all times shewed for the defence of his Church, were terrified and amazed, and did in some measure demean themselves as if they would be subject and obedient unto the true God: but instead of Composing themselves uprightly to serve the true God onely, they became vain in their own imaginations, making notwithstanding Idols, and giving the glory of the true God unto their Idols] the ends of the earth, [that is, those that dwelt in the uttermost ends of the world] trembled: they drew neer and came on.

6. The one helped the other, [To wit, in the advancing and promoting of Idolatry. Heb. The man holp his companion or fellow] and said to his companion, [Heb. Brother] be strong, [as if they had said, be courageous, fall on, let us assist one another manfully, to wit, in making, setting up, and adorning of Idols.]

7. And the workman strengthened the goldsmith: [That is, encouraged him, exhorting and stirring him up to finish and perfect the work (the goldsmith) Heb. Properly the melter] he that smootheth with the hammer, him that beateth upon the anvil, [that is, he that beateth or knocketh upon the gold that lieth upon the Anvil, to be beaten to a plate. Others, with the beating upon the anvil] saying of the sodering, It is good: then he fasteneth it, [to wit, the image] with nails, that is should not wag.

8. But thou Israel, [That is, ye my people of Israel] my servant, thou Jacob, [that, is the posterity of Jacob] whom I have chosen: [See Deut.7.6. and 10.15. and 14. 2 Psal.135.4. below chap.43.1. and 44.1.] the seed of Abraham [that is, the children of Abraham] my love: [that is, who loved me, 2 Chron.20.7. or, m friend, that is, whom I loved. See Jam.2.23.]

9. Thou whom I took hold on, [That is, whom I took hold on, and led forth] from the ends of the earth, [that is, from countries that lie afar off; to wit, from Chaldea, when ye that are now alive were in the lions of Abraham] and called thee from the Chiefest men thereof, [or choicest men, to wit, of the earth, that is, from the most honourable, richest, and most excellent persons of the world. See Exod.24.on vers.11. Others, before the chiefest men thereof: as if he had said, I preffered thee before the chiefest and greatest men of the earth] and said unto thee, thou art my servant, I have chosen thee, and have not cast thee away.

10. Fear not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, [Or, be not astonished, be not disheartened, faint not, be not affrightened, melt not, to wit, like wax; fear not, be not afraid: all these and sundry interpretations more are given upon this word] for I am thy God, I strengthen thee, also I uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness, [or with my righteous right hand, that is, by my divine power, which exerciseth justice, punishing the wicked, and defending the godly.]

11. Behold, all they that were incised [Or, were kindled; to wit, with anger] against thee, they shall be ashamed and confounded [Compare Exod.23.22. below chap.60.12. Zach.12.3.] they shall be as nothing, and those men that strive with thee, [Heb. The men of thy strife; that is, the men that strive with thee. So ver.12. the men of thy contention, that is, the men that contend with thee] shall perish.

12. Thou shall seek them, but shalt not find them; the men that contend with thee shall be as nothing, and those men that war with thee, (shall be) as a thing of nought.

13. For I the LORD thy God take hold of thy right hand, who say unto thee, fear not, I help thee.

14. fear not thou worm Jacob, [That is, the people that are descended from Jacob, but are now as despicable in the eyes of your enemies, as a little worm. See Psal.22.7.] the people of Israel: [or the men of Israel] I help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer is the holy One of Israel.

15. Behold, I have made thee a sharp [Or edged, that is, that is able to cut sharply,] new threshing-sledge, that hath sharp pegs: [Heb. That is a Lord, or possessor as it were with mouths, that is, with sharp pegs or pricks, to bite or hurt, and wound. The meaning is, I have given thee such power and ability, that thou shalt tread and bruise in pieces all them that lift themselves up against thee. See 2 Cor.10.4,5.] thou shalt thrust the mountains, and grind (them) to powder, and thou shalt make the hills as chaff. [that is, the high, great, exalted and honourable ones in the land, that shall oppose and fight against thee, shalt thou destroy: or, I will do it in thy name and for thy sake. Compare Rev.17.14. and chap.19. verse 1,7. And chap.20.vers.8,9.]

16. Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall taken them away, and the whirl-wind shall scatter them; but thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, [That is, because of the Lord, to wit, because he doth so graciously acknowledge and accept you for his own] thou shalt glory in the holy One of Israel, [that is, in him whom the Israelites do acknowledge, honour and fear as their holy God.]

17. The miserable and needy [To wit, those that are poor in spirit, and those that hunger and thirst after righteousness; that is, those that feeling and acknowledge their own spiritual poverty, withal know that there is no righteousness to be had in themselves, and therefore hunger and thirst after the righteousness of God: to these the Lord Promiseth that be will refresh and satisfy them, as followeth in the latter part of the verse] seek water, [that it help, comfort, refreshing in their necessity and distress] but there is none [to be found either in themselves, or in other men, be they Scribes or Pharisees, or whatsoever they may be called] their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

18. I will open rivers on the high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. [See the Annotat. Psal.107.on ver.35. Understand hereby rivers, Fountains, &c. A very great plenty of spiritual blessings. See the Annotat. Job chap.20.vers.17. The meaning is, I will refresh them by the preaching of the Gospel, and the power and efficacy of the holy Ghost, comforting them against the accusations of their consciences. See above chap.35.7. and below chap.34.3. and Joh.4.10. and 7.37.]

19. I will set in the wilderness the Cedar-tree, the Shittah-tree, [This is kind of Cedar-tree which is not known in these countries. See the Annotat. Exod.25.on ver.5. of this wood was the Ark of the covenant made, and also the holy table, Exod.25.10. and 23.] and the myrtle-tree and the oily-tree: I will set in the desert the fir-tree, the beech-tree, [or rosin-tree] and the box-tree, [Others, the white popler-tree. Some conceive that hereby are to be understood all trees that give a great shadow. The Hebrew word that is used here in the text, is onely found in this place, and below chap.60.13.] together. [The meaning of this verse is, I will fill and adorn, or beautify my Church, which was heretofore like a wilderness, with many faithful and godly persons, who shall be in it like fair, beautiful, and fruitful trees.]

20. That they may see, and know, and consider [Or lay to heart] and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done it, and that the holy One of Israel hath created it, [to wit, that he hath wonderfully preserved, and adorned or beautified his Church.]

21. Produce your cause, saith the Lord, bring forth your strong arguments, [Heb. Strengths, firmness, that is, proofs, demonstrations, arguments, reasons, grounds, to wit, to shew and to make it appear, that your idols are true Gods or Gods indeed, and that ye do well in honouring or worshipping them] saith the King Jacob. In this verse the LORD speaketh again to Idolaters, and he challengeth or summoneth and chap.48.14.] to wit, to shew them the vanity of their superstitions, and so to make the godly, to loath and abhor such abominations.]

22. Let them be brought forth and tell us [To wit, me the Lord, and the faithful that adhere unto me] the things that shall happen: [let them etc. To wit, your false Gods, and those that adhere unto them, let them come forth: and shew that they are Gods. Which shall happen, if they make it appear that they know things to come and past] shew, [here the Lord converted his speech unto the false Gods, as also ver.23,24.] those former things what they were, [that is, what hath happened in times past. Others, the first things what they shall be; to wit, in time to come] that we may lay it to heart, [Heb. Lay, or set our heart, to wit thereon, that we daily mind it with our heart] and know the end of it, [that is, that we may know what will follow upon it] or cause us to hear things to come, [that is, declare unto us future things, or things to come.]

23. Shew the things that shall come (to pass) hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods; yea, do good, and do evil, [The meaning is, make your power to appear, do good to them that honour you, or do evil to them that despise you. Thus doth he flout and mock at the idols which have neither life nor evil to any] that we may stand amazed and look on it, [or, consider it] together.

24. Behold, ye are less then nothing, and your work is worse then an adder: [Or, then (the work) of an adder, or, of a cockatrice. Or thus: your work is of an adder, that is, of the Devil. Others, less then a thing of nought] he is an abomination that chooseth you, [to wit, to honour and worship you as Gods. Others, that which they shall choose of you, is an abomination.]

25. I raise up (one) from the North, and he shall come from the rising of the sun, [To wit, I the Father, raised up one, to wit, my Son Jesus Christ, who shall come from the north etc. That is, whose dominion shall reach from one end of the world to another. Compare this with Matth.chap.8.ver.11. Under these two parts of the world must here be understood all the parts of the world. Others, I raise up a (people) to wit, that people, my Church, which shall be gathered from all the corners of the world at the time of the coming of the Messiah, by whom the kingdom of sin and Satan shall be utterly abolished and destroyed. Some apply it unto Cyrus as a type and figure of the LORD Christ] he shall call upon my name: and he shall come (upon) superiors [to wit, to confound them. See 2 Cor.10.ver.4,5,6. (upon superiors) or, rulers, both ecclesiastical and civil, to wit, against all those that shall oppose the Lord Jesus Christ] as (upon) clay, and as a potter treadeth mire, [that is, clay, Understand withal shall he tread them down, and put them to shame.]

26. Who [To wit, among all the Idols] hath declared (somewhat) from the beginning, [Heb. From the head: that is, of such things as were done in the beginning of the world] that we may know it, or before time [Heb. From the faces, that is, beforetime, or, from the beginning] that we may say he is righteous? [O, (thou art) righteous, that is, thou hast justly given thy self out to be a God; or hast justly assumed the name and title of God. (he is righteous) or true, because righteousness requireth truth. Others render the first words of this verse thus, who shall declare the former things? We shall understand; and that which was before time? We shall say he true] but there is none [to wit, among the false gods, or among men,] that declareth it; also none that causeth (somewhat) to be heard, also none [to wit, among the Idols] that heareth your words. [For the idols have ears, but hear not. See Psal.135.16.]

27. (I) the first (say) to Zion, [That is, I that I am God can say to Zion, to wit, I the Lord, but idols cannot] behold, behold them (there): [to wit, those things which I said before] and to Jerusalem will I give a bringer of glad tidings, [or, an Evangelist, a preacher of the Gospel, speaking of the grace and mercy of God towards penitent sinners. And understand this principally of Christ; and further by that which went before, that this promise shall be as certainly accomplished and fulfilled, as if it were already before our eyes. Compare below chap.42.ver.9. Others render the words thus: I the first will give unto Zion and Jerusalem a glad messenger, behold them there. The true God did immediately before challenge all the idols of the heathen, to foretell things to come, glorying that none of them all were able to do it: but I saith (God now) I will be the first that shall give unto Zion and Jerusalem one that bringing glad tidings, shall say, behold them there: those things which God hath foretold, are now there present and are done before our eyes (I will give unto Jerusalem a glad messenger) understand withal, from the immediate foregoing clause, and behold he is there.]

28. For I looked, [To wit, for a man that should be able to help and save my people] and there was none, even among these, [or also none of these; to wit, that belong to my people] but there was no counsellor, [to wit, that was able to give good counsel to wounded or dejected consciences. The counsellor that was able to do this aright, was Christ. See above chap.9.ver.6.] that I should ask them, and they give me an answer.

29. Behold, they are altogether [To wit, all those idols] vanity, their words are a thing of nought, their molten images [understand under these also images of gold and of stone] are wind, and a van thing [Others, their sprinklings are wind, etc.]