Isaiah 41:1-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 41:1-9

That particular instance of God's care for his people Israel in raising up Cyrus to be their deliverer is here insisted upon as a great proof both of his sovereignty above all idols and of his power to protect his people. Here is, I. A general challenge to the worshippers and admirers of idols to make good their pretensions, in competition with God and opposition to him, Isa. 41:1. Isa. is renewed (Isa. 41:21): Produce your cause. The court is set, summonses are sent to the islands that lay... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 41:1

Keep silence before me, O islands ,.... The great controversy in the world after the coming of Christ, which is expressly spoken of in the preceding chapter, was, as Cocceius observes, whether he was a divine Person; this was first objected to by the Jews, and afterwards by many that bore the Christian name; some, in the times of the apostles, especially the Apostle John; and others in later ages; some affirmed that he was a mere man, as Ebion and Cerinthus; others that he was a created God,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 41:2

Who raised up the righteous man from the east ,.... The Targum interprets this of Abraham; and so the Talmud F8 T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 156. 2. Bava Bathra, fol. 15. 1. Sanhedrin, fol. 108. 2. and Taanith, fol. 21. 1. ; and this way go most Jewish and Christian commentators, and to him the characters agree; he was a righteous man, believed in Christ for righteousness, had the righteousness of faith when circumcised, did justice, and wrought righteousness himself, and required his children... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 41:3

He pursued them, and passed safely ..... Went on in his work, pursued his great design in subduing the souls of men, and bringing them to the obedience of Christ; and though he had so many enemies, he "passed on safely"; God did not suffer them to set upon him, to do him any harm, even though he was exposed to perils by sea and land, by thieves and robbers, by his own countrymen and Heathens, in city and country, and even by false brethren; see Acts 18:10 , it is in the future tense, "he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 41:4

Who hath wrought and done it ,.... Contrived and effected it, formed the scheme, and brought it to pass; namely, raising up the righteous man from the east, and succeeding him in the manner described: calling the generations from the beginning ? or rather here begins the answer to the above question, which may be rendered, he that calleth the generations from the beginning F11 קורא הדורות מראש "ille qui vocat vel vocavit generationes ab inito", Munster, Tigurine version. So... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 41:5

The isles saw it, and feared ,.... Not the victory which Abraham got over the kings; nor Cyrus's expedition against Babylon, and other nations, and his deliverance of the Jews; but the progress of the Gospel, through the ministry of the Apostle Paul: the idolatrous inhabitants of the Gentile nations saw great multitudes embracing and professing the Gospel; they saw their idols neglected, and their temples abandoned; they feared what would be the consequence of all this, that their old... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 41:6

They helped everyone his neighbour ,.... By advice and counsel, by the best arguments they could make use of, to withstand the new religion, and defend the old one; to prevent the embracing the one, and relinquishing the other: and everyone said to his brother, be of good courage : or, "be strong" F13 חזק "fortis esto, vel sis strenuus", Vatablus. ; they strengthened one another's hands in their idolatrous worship, encouraged each other to oppose the prevailing doctrine; urging,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 41:7

So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith ,.... The carpenter, when he had made a wooden image, encouraged and hastened the goldsmith, or the "finer", as some render it, to do his part, in covering it with plates of gold or silver: and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil ; he that beat out thin plates of gold and silver with the hammer, in order to decorate the wooden god, encouraged the smith at the forge, that smote on the anvil, there making nails for the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 41:8

But thou, Israel, art my servant ,.... As the great spread and success of the Gospel could not fail of drawing the resentment of the idolatrous Heathens on those who embraced and professed it, and by whom they were grievously persecuted under the Roman emperors; wherefore, to support them under these trials, the Lord speaks these and the following comfortable words unto them; for not carnal, but spiritual Israel are here meant; such who by the power of divine grace were turned from idols to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 41:9

Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth ,.... Meaning not Abraham, nor his natural seed; but such who believed in Christ, who dwelt in the furthest parts of the earth, to whom the Gospel came, and by which they were laid hold upon, and apprehended by Christ as his own: and called thee from the chief men thereof ; from among the great men of the earth, out of their families, courts, and palaces: or rather called them by grace, when such personages were passed by and left; not... read more

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