isaiah 49 commentary john macarthur

If God had suspended the outflow of his grace, and left you to yourselves, what had been your fate! (Be Comforted), They will not hunger or thirst- God provides for all their needs. 1. {a} So that as oft as I look upon mine own hands I cannot but think on thee. There are times when it feels as if God has forgotten us. John Piper May 5, 1981 8:27; Prov. 1. He has stamped them into himself; yea, more, he has taken them into such vital, indelible union with his own person, that to forget one soul that he has bought with blood would be to forget himself. Notice that the writer has the hubris and audacity to tell you not to interpret the text literally. So their King goes on before them, And the LORD at their head.(Micah 2:12-13-note). We read of one who had written the whole history of Christs Passion upon the nails of his hands in small letters. And should not his remembrance of us, have the effect of stirring up our minds to a more frequent, devout, and adoring remembrance of Him? The other meaning of kruptoispreventing someone from being harmed by anything and thus kept safe andprotected. And so a believer's life is safe, for our "life is hidden with Christ in God." 43:3; Isa. For example, read this interpretation by Ortlund of this section God is addressing Zion. (Bold added). The "city of righteousness" is Jerusalem. MacArthur -This speaks to the humiliating treatment of the Servant at His first advent, a theme emphasized by Isaiah (50:6-9; 52:14, 15; 53:3). He had a constant and sacred regard for his people, and amidst all their disasters and trials, still remembered them. This bond to the patriarch establishes the identity of the God worshiped by the early tribes. 8:12f).". To his name eternal praises, Our Lord expressed the same thought when at the wedding feast at Cana He remarked, "My hour is not yet come.". (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." Engraved! Behold in our text is intended to attract particular attention. 60:9; Isa. The second segment (Isa 49:2426) addresses a question that the assertion in Isa 49:23 raises. Isaiah : Bible study commentary by Garland, D. David. Listen for him in the bleachers, shouting your name. He accepts the historical truth about Israel in captivitybut rejects the fact that there will be a future Israel set free from Gentile oppression. In Whom I will show My glory - Jesus is the "Israel" in Whom the Father would be glorified. 132:2, 5; Isa. Contendin Isaiah -Isa. 121:3, 4). It is as though the Lord had said, You are my Israel, in whom I will be glorified. Thus it is the function, not the identity, of Israel that is emphasized. Precious pictures of passion perfected for His treasured possessions to marvel at throughout eternity. (Isa 44:5). The name Ziondoesnot occur at all from Genesis to 1Samuel. See Song 8:6 Jer 22:24. (New American Commentary). This text has usually been made to serve as proof of the legitimacy of the church state (or state church); however, the prophet does not have the Church in mind here, but future Israel.. Would you not consider storing up for yourself treasure in heaven daily for the rest of your life (Mt 6:20+)? Regardless of the antiquity of this distinction, the epithets form a separate group. Isaiah 49:13, for instance, calls upon the whole cosmos to "Sing for joy! Isaiah 49:16. 41:14; Isa. The Election Commission in India has used indelible ink for many elections. Behold, I have graven thee. Not, I will, nor yet, I am doing it; it is a thing of the past, and how far back in the past! For the feelings are just that-feelings. But remember reality. mysterious thought! 41:20; Isa. He begins by teaching the crucial doctrine of the incarnation. But how could a nation that could not find its own way to God, a blind, deaf, rebellious nation, show anyone else the way? Only a small number of exiles returned to Judah from Babylon when they were released by King Cyrus of Persia. They are cut deep into His very flesh, or into the precious jewels which are always upon His fingers, where He says He has set us as a signet upon His hands. Even the remembrance of the covenant is not left to our memories, for we might forget, but our Lord cannot forget the saints whom he has graven on the palms of his hands. Something that is engraved (inscribed) is considered to be indelible. As Constable points out "Only a few Israelites responded to Cyrus edict and returned to rebuild Jerusalem. The Lord had compassion on His people (i.e., He became sorry for them because of the oppression their enemies placed on them [Jdg. The emphasis in this section, therefore, is on the suffering Servant. He must be fastened to the cross, that his people might be truly graven on the palms of his hands. All events are under divine control. In Isaiah 49:2 He is equipped for the Mission and kept for the Mission. The waters returned from the earth continually or rapidly. In Greek usagebdelussomeans to feelloathing for food and then to signifydisgust in general. But there is something more cherishing to me than looking on it myself: it is the thought of that text where God saith the bow shall be in the cloud, and I will look upon it that I may remember the everlasting covenant. It comforts me that I can look on the sign of Gods faithfulness, but it comforts me much more that God looks at itthat his eye is on it. Vine -Her people had been exiles and wanderers and she had been left "solitary" (barren). Jesus hath borne thy guilt away, The servant's mouth, which stands metonymically for his words, is compared to a sharp sword because he will be an effective spokesman (ED: THE SERVANT IS A PROPHET) on God's behalf (see Isa 50:4). Paul's quote shows that he clearly understood God's intention for the Jewish nation to be a light to the Gentiles, which was ultimately fulfilled by THE MESSIAH, the Light of the world (Jn 1:9, Jn 8:12) Instead of quoting his own commission to the Gentiles given to him on the road to Damascus, he chose to quote God's commission of all Jews as found in the Old Testament. At His first coming He did not gather Israel, as they rejected Him. As the Guardian of your life lifts His holy hands in intercession on your behalf, the covenant marks of His love for you are ever before Him. Warren Baker adds that hebel "refers to the vanity and ultimate emptiness and meaninglessness of all things in this life, whether they seem good or bad (Eccl. Isaiah 49:1 Listen to Me, O islands, And pay attention, you peoples from afar. (Be Comforted). Our record, in Heaven eternally stands. The NLT paraphrase (which is also an interpretation) has "and from as far south as Egypt," but we simply cannot know with certainty. He is teaching that He will come to earth as a Man, born of a woman (See Mt 1:20-21, Mk 1:10-11, Mk 9:7). H.Spurgeon.). I see Him with His right hand beckon me--Come, ye blessed, and He sees me in His hand; and on that side He says, Depart, ye cursed, but not to me, for He sees me in His hand, and cannot curse me. Most of us have had the experience of writing something on our hands so that we might not forget it later. 7:6; Eccl. If we go back to Isa 49:4-5 Messiah said He "I have toiled in vain, I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity," but then He changed the tenor and declared "surely the justice due to Me is with the LORD, and My reward with My God. And He describes His mission in v5 "To bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him." The palms of My hands is of course is a divineanthropomorphism but nevertheless serves to help us visualize God's strong emphasis that He will remain faithfulto His chosen people Israel ("Zion")who havebeen continually unfaithful to Him. Much the same point is made in Ps. 12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. IV. Haggai The gravers tool was the nail, backed by the hammer. These ideal conditions will be enjoyed by the faithful remnantreturning for their kingdom in Israel. 10:4), and were equipped with shoes that never wore out (Deut. M. C. Unger writes similarly"The Servant is said to be 'a servant of rulers', reduced to the state of a slave under pagan tyrants such as Pontius Pilate and Herod, and under the unscrupulous leaders of the Sanhedrin, under such men as Annas and Caiaphas". So the believer, considering the desolations of his soul and the ruins of past joys, is apt to think himself a castaway. We are always in his thought. 1:12; Hab. {Radmacher, Earl D.; Allen, Ronald Barclay; House, H. Wayne}. YourSavior(Deliverer, Helper)(03467)(see preceding note onyasha')(See alsoyeshuafrom which we get our word "Jesus"). (NICOT-Isaiah), The justice due to Me is with the LORD, and My reward with My God." Throughout Scripture hands are represented in very many expressive actions and customs. Of the 15 occurrences of islands in the Old Testament, 14 are in Isaiah. All things work together for my good., III. b. 27:8; Isa. 2:20; Rev. To those who are in darkness, Show yourselves(imperative) - NET has "to those who are in dark dungeons, 'Emerge.'" The object of engraving us upon the palms of His hand is to keep us ever in His thoughts. We trusted in Him, and He saved us (Isa 25:9)an excellent summary of the experience of faith and salvation. Isaiah 30:17 One thousand will flee at the threat of one man; You will flee at the threat of five, Until you are left as a flag on a mountain top And as a signal on a hill. This Servant is going to function as Israel. And evry wound proclaimd aloud Isaiah 49:1. J J Knap in "The Loins Girded" has this devotional. What was God's assurance to Zion (representative of the Israelite people) in Isaiah 49:15,16 when they complained that Jehovah had forsaken and forgotten them (Isaiah 49:14)? The answer is a resounding yes, capped by a typical Isaianic threefold appellative asserting Gods loving power (Isa 49:26). -------------------------- 22:16; Isa. I will also make You a light of the nations(Gentiles) -According to tradition, Light was one of the names of the Messiah. Yet I think that there is some measure of grace mingled with this fear. That cannot be effaced or lost; as, impressions on the mind may be indelible; reproach or stain on reputation may be indelible. 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