Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Isaiah
Book: Isaiah
Chapter: 41
Overview:
God's care of his people.
(1-9) They are encouraged not to
fear.
(10-20) The vanity and folly of
Idolatry.
(21-29)
1-9 Can any
Heathen God raise up one in
Righteousness, make
what use of him he pleases, and make him victorious over the
nations? The
Lord did
So with
Abraham, or rather, he would do
So
with
Cyrus. Sinners encourage one another in the ways of
Sin;
shall not the servants of the living
God stir up one another in
his service?
God's people are the seed of
Abraham his friend.
This is certainly the highest title ever given to a mortal. It
means that
Abraham,
By Divine
Grace, was made like to
God, and
that he was admitted to
Communion with Him. Happy are the
servants of the
Lord, whom he has called to be his friends, and
to walk with him in
Faith and holy obedience. Let not such as
have thus been favoured yield to fear; for the contest may be
sharp, but the victory shall be sure.
10-20 God speaks with tenderness; Fear thou not, for I am with
thee: not only within
Call, but present with thee. Art thou
weak? I will strengthen thee. Art thou in want of friends? I
will help thee in the time of need. Art thou ready to fall? I
will uphold thee with that right
Hand which is full of
Righteousness, dealing forth rewards and punishments. There are
those that strive with
God's people, that seek their ruin. Let
not
God's people render evil for evil, but wait
God's time. It
is the
Worm Jacob;
So little,
So weak,
So despised and trampled
On By every body.
God's people are as worms, in humble thoughts
of themselves, and in their enemies' haughty thoughts of them;
worms, but not vipers, not of the
Serpent's seed. Every part of
God's
Word is calculated to humble
Man's pride, and to make him
appear little in his own eyes. The
Lord will help them, for he
is their
Redeemer. The
Lord will make
Jacob to become a
Threshing instrument.
God will make him fit for use, new, and
having sharp spikes. This has fulfilment in the triumphs of the
Gospel of
Christ, and of all
Faithful followers of
Christ, over
the power of
Darkness.
God has provided comforts to supply all
their wants, and to answer all their prayers. Our way to
Heaven
lies through the
Wilderness of this world. The soul of
Man is in
want, and seeks for satisfaction; but becomes weary of seeking
that in the world, which is not to be had in it. Yet they shall
have a constant supply, where one would least expect it. I will
open rivers of
Grace, rivers of living water, which
Christ spake
of the
Spirit, Joh 7:38,39. When
God sets up his
Church in the
Gentile
Wilderness, there shall be a great change, as if thorns
and briers were turned into cedars, and
Fir-trees, and myrtles.
These blessings are kept for the
Poor in
Spirit, who long for
Divine enlightening,
Pardon, and
Holiness. And
God will render
their
Barren souls fruitful in the
Grace of his
Spirit, that all
who behold may consider it.
21-29 There needs
No more to show the folly of
Sin, than to
bring to notice the reasons given in defence of it. There is
nothing in idols worthy of regard. They are less than nothing,
and worse than nothing. Let the advocates of other doctrines
than that of
Salvation through
Christ, bring their arguments.
Can they tell of a cure for human depravity?
Jehovah has power
which cannot be withstood; this he will make appear. But the
certain knowledge of the future must be only with
Jehovah, who
fulfils his own plans. All prophecies, except those of the
Bible, have been uncertain. In the work of
Redemption the
Lord
showed himself much more than in the release of the Jews from
Babylon. The good tidings the
Lord will send in the
Gospel, is a
Mystery hid from ages and generations. A Deliverer is raised up
for us, of nobler name and greater power than the deliverer of
the
Captive Jews. May we be numbered among his obedient servants
and
Faithful friends.