Isaiah 41

1 let the people (peoples) renew their strength. This verse is God’s challenge to the world.

2. Who raised up the righteous [man] from the east, etc.? Rather, as R.V., “Who hath raised up one from the east, whom He calleth in righteousness (or, ‘whom righteousness calleth’) to His foot?” Cyrus is thus described as God’s agent for punishing idolaters and for delivering Israel: see xliv. 27, 28; xlv. 1-7. Persia lay to “the east” of Babylon.

Called him to His foot. That is, to march after Him: see Judg. iv. 10.

4. Calling the generations from the beginning. That is, calling them into existence. Part of the language here applied to the only true God is used of our Lord, in Rev. i. 17; ii. 8; xxii. 13.

5. The Isles saw [it], and feared, etc. A graphic description of the terror caused by the victorious march of Cyrus.

7 saying, It is ready for the soderling. Rather, as R.V., “Saying of the soldering, It is good.” The different craftsmen are sarcastically represented as encouraging themselves, on the approach of the foe, to trust in the idols which their own hands had made. They are furbishing up the old images, and preparing new ones for the emergency! “The irony is severe, but true to the facts as Herodotus relates them, . . . and then hark how the voice of Jehovah crashes across it all!” (G. A. Smith).

8. But thou, Israel, [art] my Servant. Rather, “But thou, Israel, my Servant,” etc.

9 from the chief men thereof. Rather, as R.V., “from the corners thereof.” Abraham had been called from what, in a Palestinian point of view, was the extremity of the world.

10. Fear thou not: for I am with thee. This was quoted by Lord Roberts in a message he sent through the Religious Tract Society to the cadets of New Zealand in 1910 for inscription in New Testaments presented to them by the Auckland Scripture Gift Association.

14 thy Redeemer. See note on Job xix. 25; and Lev. xxv. 24, 25.

15. I will make thee. That is, “I will make thee to be,” etc.: see note on xxviii. 27. Weak as thou art, by My power thou shalt destroy thy mightiest enemies.

19 the shlittah (acacia) tree. See note on Exod. xxv. 5. The word rendered “box” probably means the cypress. The whole series of figures expressively represents the refreshing consolation and help which were to burst all at once on those who were apparently forsaken of God.

21. Produce your cause, etc. “In the first stage of the argument, Jehovah appealed in support of His Deity to the fact that it was He who had called the oppressor of the nations upon the arena of history (2, 3); in this second step He appeals to the fact that He only knows or can predict the future."—Delitzsch.

22 the latter end of them. Or, “their issue”; i.e., their fulfilment. The idols are challenged to adduce in support of their claims, predictions already verified by the event, or prophecies yet to be accomplished.

23 do good, or do evil. “Do something, either good or evil.” Show some sign of life and activity, whatever it may be!

25. I have raised up one from the north. This prophecy refers to the Medo-Persian empire. Media lay to the north of Babylonia; Persia to the east, “the rising of the sun.” The father of Cyrus was a Persian, his mother a Mede.

shall he call upon My name. Or, as R.V., “one that calleth upon My name. This may mean either ‘calleth upon’” (Zeph. iii. 9; Jer. x. 25), or “calleth out” (comp. Exod. xxxiii. 19, xxxiv. 5, with xxxv. 30); “invokes.” Thus Cyrus does make use of it in the edict setting the exiles free (Ezra i. 2).

there is none that heareth your words. The address is to the imaginary idol deities: comp. v. 23.

27. The first [shall say] to Zion, etc. Rather, “I am the first [to say] to Zion,” etc.: comp. R.V.

29 vanity. The pretensions of their oracles are false, and the whole system of idolatry mere imposture.