isaiah 49 commentary john macarthur
Song of Songs 8:6. He keeps his promise a thousand times, and yet the next trial makes us doubt him. Then was it surely, when the executioner with the hammer smote the tender hands of the loving Jesus, that He engraved our names upon the palms of His hands. How, then, could it ever be 1:24; Lk. They deserve it.. I have graven thy person, thine image, thy case, thy circumstances, thy sins, thy temptations, thy weaknesses, thy wants, thy works; I have graven thee, everything about thee, all that concerns thee; I have put thee altogether there. You spoke not a word ", CSB Isaiah 49:26 I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, and they will be drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; Where they must be seen, and where he can do nothing without touching his people while doing it. However great the devastation wrought by Gentile powers might be, the walls are ever before Him in their restored and perfected condition in the future.To be graven on the palms of His hands is suggestive of the closest identification with Himself, of His unchanging love, and of His constant mindfulness of us in all His emotions and activities. A great English Christian poet expressed it beautifully: J Vernon McGee - What beautiful assurance God gives them that they are not forsaken of Him! 14:22; Jer. The Scriptures tell us that we are in the hand of Christ, and that none shall pluck us out. Isaiah 49:25 Surely, thus says the LORD, "Even the captives of the mighty man will be taken away, And the prey of the tyrant will be rescued; For I will contend with the one who contends with you, And I will save your sons. 4. There is no exception in that great, but little word, all. Is this not what our God does for all of us today in Christ? And hang upon Thy breast; Also used as a symbol of authority and in taking oaths. Listen to the Lords voice take on tones of unusual persuasiveness. ), 17 "Your builders hurry; Your destroyers and devastators Will depart from you, Choose Book of Bible to Study Often, in our unbelief, remissness and forgetfulness, we lose sight of our preciousness in His sight in Christ. The Septuagint translates galah with the Greek verb anakalupto meaning to be uncovered or be without a veil. Widely yet His mercy flows. But he said to them, "Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe. He cannot forget her; he looks upon her with a love that never can change, and never can be indifferent. Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done. (Lk 22:42+). Wiersbe's comments are in marked contrast to the preceding writers Zion seems like a forsaken and barren mother, but she will be so blessed of God that there will be no room for her children! He cares. Can the prey be taken from the mighty man- Rhetorical. The mountains of difficulty which face us in our pilgrim path can become highways of communion with God and of joyous fellowship with His people, if we trust in the Lord with all our heart and present to Him our whole being for the fulfillment of His will." His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead: We see this same pattern of God's acts giving clear evidence of God's presence and power in Ezekiel. In a Messianic passage chaqaq refers to "the ruler's staff." (Heb 13:5-6). She may feel that with all her children dead and her husband having forsaken her, her life is over; but God says that he will bring her children from all over the world. Or, in the case of the individual believer, does a cold shadow at times fall across his sunlit path, tempting him to doubt the rectitude of God's ways, and the faithfulness of His promises? When all of these miraculous events transpire, it will be obvious that they are not natural, but supernatural and could only be from Jehovah. If you were, we would have dropped to our knees.. "I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.". The LORD has comforted - The Hebrew verb naham/nachamis used in Isaiah 40:1 (Comfortcomfort) and in the several passages that speak of Jehovah's future comfort to His Chosen People Isaiah 51:3 Indeed, the LORD will comfort (naham/nacham)Zion; He will comfort (naham/nacham)all her waste places. 62:10; Prov. Far greater the joy when the unfolding comes than if there had been no mystery, no darksome circumstances, and far greater the glory of His grace. In that day there will be great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo. Zion(06726)(Tsiyyon) is a proper noun thewhich may meanfortress (but this is debated). (New American Commentary). Pastor and teacher John MacArthur covers the complete Bibleevery passage of the Old and New . He is your Friend, Num. Upon His hands, not upon the works of His hands. Rev 13:8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. 3. Is it not written, It pleased the Father to bruise him; he hath put him to grief? It is as if eternal strength, I say, leaned upon that graving-tool to write the memorial of his chosen people in the hands of Jesus. On his hands their names remain.. And here is an easy way to pray for the hidden people groups daily - bookmarkJoshua Projector download the APP from Joshua Project and selectdaily notificationsand you will receive a daily textreminder with the name of the hidden people group for that day. She will not be put to shame if she puts her trust in God (Isa 49:23). 5. Here, indeed, we have a theme for marvelling. 30:3; Isa. tell me that my worthless name Will You, through all eternity, wear those marks of Your matchless love? Moody Bible Commentary summarizes Isaiah 49:1-13. (Ibid), Vine -In Isaiah 40:31+ the promise is that "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." Have they ever darted into your heart like solar beams, causing that heart to sing for joy? I will write on myself, on my own hand, and then my people will know how tender I am, that I would sooner cut into my own flesh than forget them; I will have my Son branded in the hand with the names of his people, that they may be sure he cannot forsake them; hard by the memorial of his wounds shall be the memorial of his love to them, for indeed his wounds are an everlasting remembrance. How loving, then, how full of superlative, super-excellent affection is God toward you and toward me in so recording our names. How did this happen. This attainment neer could boast; (Hebrews 13:5-6). That's why it's so important to stay in God's Word, because it reminds us that God is always near. 6 There will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain.(Isa. 23:14. J Vernon McGee explains that "Gods purposes in the earth center in the nation Israel. I have graven thee on the palms of my hands. I may be permitted to illustrate this by our Saviours hands. 52:3; Isa. A thorny crown he wears, 3. Likewise, the cosmic dimension of this salvation becomes increasingly obvious. Numbers 23:19. Thirdly are those verses in which the author laments the shortness of life; this is vanity": Eccl. Even more unlikely is that God would ever forget Israel. When Messiah returns to save the believing remnantof Israel, they will be set free from bondage to sin and spiritual darkness. Isaiah 26:1; Isa. (Heb 4:12-13+), "The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. Isaiah is quoted directly in the NT over 65 times, far more than any other OT prophet, and mentioned by name over 20 times. Upon His hands. We are not graven upon a seal, for a seal might be slipped from the finger and laid aside, but the hand itself can never be separated from the living God. 89:18; Ps. What are you holding back from Him - you time, your money, yea, even your heart? (Ge 15:2NET)The Jews, out of a superstitious reverence for the name Jehovah, always pronounce Adonai where Jehovah is written. Thousands in the fold of Jesus, Yet Yahweh would never, ever forget (abandon) His chosen people (cf. I give thee back the life I owe, Ah, my soul! Thy bitter death my hope: 48:17; Isa. As I said this morning, Jesus can give nothing, he can take nothing, he can do nothing, he can hold nothing, without remembering his people (WITHOUT SEEING THE MEMORIALS OF MY CHOSEN PEOPLE): I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.. So Jesus knows all His disciples personally. He calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. Well might the angels wonder, and those bright spirits be lost in amazement, for unto which of the angels said he at any time, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands?, What cherub ever attained this dignity, or to what seraph was this honour awarded? Psalm 73:23; Isaiah 41:13, "He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." This is one of the strongest, if not the strongest expression of Gods love in the Old Testament, and is often compared with Jeremiah 31:20. (Young). Again, the reader is strongly exhorted to Be a Berean (even in reading the notes you are reading! And do not miss that Isaiah does not say he was abhorred by a few but by the nation! Earlier Isaiah records Jehovah's similar declaration I am the LORD, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations (Isa 42:6), For so the Lord has commanded us, I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES, THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH., Toussaint writes that "This Old Testament passage (Isaiah 49:6)has at least three applicationsto Israel (Isa. "My way is hid from the Lord," says the desponding Church. John MacArthur- At the Messiah's second advent, Israel's condition will change from captivity and oppression to contentment and prosperity such as that enjoyed by a well-fed, . Isaiah 49:16. NET -"At the time I decide to show my favor, I will respond to You." But, though strong, very strong, it may, alas! II. Is it because the arm of flesh upon which you leaned has walked away or been taken from you in death, and you are feeling desperately alone, confused, helpless, fragmented unable to get it together? He has always loved you. See also Dt 32:41; 1Sa 5:6-9; Isa 40:2; Jer 15:6; La 2:3; Eze 6:14; Zep 1:4; Ac 13:11, God's hand holds a cup of judgment Jer 25:15-17 See also Ps 75:8; Isa 51:17; Hab 2:16, God's hand brings trouble Job 19:21 See also Ru 1:13; 1Sa 6:3; Job 1:11; Ps 38:2; 39:10, God's hand causes fear Isa 19:16 See also Isa 23:11, Ps 74:11 See also Ps 10:12; 60:5 pp Ps 108:6; Ps 77:10; 144:7-8, God's Powerful Hand Used On His People's Behalf, God redeems by his powerful hand Ps 138:7 See also 1Ki 8:41-42 pp 2Ch 6:32; Ps 98:1; Isa 11:11; Eze 20:21-22, 33-34; Mic 4:10, God redeemed Israel from Egypt by his powerful hand Ex 13:3 See also Ex 3:19-20; 13:9, 14; Dt 5:15; 7:8; Ne 1:10; Jer 32:21; Pa 9:15, God's hand ensures success for his people Isa 41:10 "righteous" has the sense of "victorious". Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains! But to man, who is but a worm; to the son of man who is but dust and ashes; to man who has rebelled, who has lost all claim upon Gods favour and deserves his hottest wrathto man is this consolation given, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands., Speak of the seven wonders of the world, why this is a wonder in the seventh heavens! Whatever else may happen to other engravings on stone or steel, in this case no erasure is feasible because He is immortal, and no error is possible because He is immutable. The truth is that while most mothers cannot forget the children of their wombs and breasts, some do. THOUGHT - And dear preacher of the Word of God, it follows that His Word proclaimed still has heart piercingpower! (Isa 53:1+, cf Isa 50:6,7). Isaiah 51:12 I, even I, am He who comforts (naham/nacham)you. Does Christ remember us as I have tried to prove that He dose? This one-volume commentary on the entire Bible from one of America's foremost Bible expositors offers instead a minilibrary of understandable resources designed to convey the Bible's overarching message with historical and theological clarity. I have graven thee on the palms of my hands, says he. 19:14; Ps. Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. They will bow to the earth before you and lick the dust from your feet. It isnt just demonstrated by the past and the present, but also by His future plans for them. But the same thing applies to us individually. For love is as strong as death, Jealousy is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, The [very] flame of the LORD. The trusted may requite with base treachery; the 'summer friend' may abandon and forsake in the winter of adversity; the golden prop on which we leaned may give way; the tree under whose shadow we sat, may have its roots sapped and undermined by the stream; brother may be estranged from the early love of brother; the fond embrace of sisters may be among the mingled memories of the past; even the mother may be a traitor to her tenderest instincts and her dearest trust smiles may be merged into frowns, and love into cold hatred; "They may forget yet," says Jehovah, "I WILL NOT FORGET YOU!". The Lord still answers--"I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them; for I am the Lord their God. 54:8; Isa. Can I encourage you to take a step of faith and believe that God will hear your prayers for hidden people groups and that one day in eternity you will meet those for whom you have been praying day after day, year after year? No weapon formed against us can prosper (Isa. For God has highly exalted Your name NLT Isaiah 49:25 But the LORD says, "The captives of warriors will be released, and the plunder of tyrants will be retrieved. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame. 5:12; Isa. And will You, in those blissful realms, dissolve our souls in holy rapture and adoring love, by saying, "Look at My hands and My feetit is I Myself!" Isaiah 61:2 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort (naham/nacham)all who mourn, Isaiah 66:13 As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; And you will be comforted(naham/nacham) in Jerusalem.. Should not the fact that God always graciously and tenderly recollects you, compel you once for all to leave your burden with Him who careth for you? Upon his hands, not upon the works of his hands. (Be Comforted). In verses 5- 6 the Servant is distinguished from Israel. The goal is to edify and equip youfor the work of service (Eph 4:12-13-note) that the Lord God might be glorified in your life and in His Church. . Here are several comments on the context of Isaiah 49 Teed introduces Isaiah 49 -Gods Servant, a Light to the Gentiles - Ever feel like giving up? And thy shield is My strong arm. Yes, the nations are responsive to the Gospel, if we will only bring it to them! These words are a singularly bold metaphor, drawn from the strange and half-savage custom, which lingers still among sailors and others, of having beloved names or other tokens of affection and remembrance indelibly inscribed on parts of the body. Can you see the point? It is on himself he bears the memorythe permanent memory of all whom he has bought with blood; therefore, be ye comforted, and think not that ye are overlooked. My name is written on His hands. We learn from these things how precious the Church is to Christ, how desirous He is to honor her, how generous He is in her favor and how vigorous His ministry in intercession whereby He assures to His Bride ineffable splendor. Explains why God does what He does to a people who do not deserve such beneficent treatment (His mercy) and secondly (His guidance). The text does not say. It is to know that what he will do for me is so far beyond my own dreams and plans as to be all but unimaginable. The other word is practical. Inscribed on the Palms of Gods Hands God is cosmic, yet deeply personal. But I am among you as the One Who serves. As noted the accurate interpretation is that God is speaking of Israel, but these truths are applicable to all believers in Christ. 44:24; Isa. NAS renders "soul" (nephesh) as "One." Brenton's English of the LXX renders it "pierced my hands and my feet". And just as he prized those people and desired to work through them, so he prizes the church today. 49:16), a fact that inevitably reminds us of the nail wounds He sustained for us at Calvary. it is not my remembering God, it is Gods remembering me which is the ground of my safety; it is not my laying hold of his covenant, but his covenants laying hold on me. if the Lord hath done it, there is no mistake about it. As I have already said, the impression made upon the hands, as intended in this figure, was permanentso long as the person lived, there it was. 17:1; 26:37 ), being an eyewitness to and participant in Jesus' earthly ministry ( 1 John 1:1-4 ). I will make all My mountains a roadand My highways will be raised up- The One Who made the mountains can level! precious thought! For the feelings are just that- feelings. The salvation in view will appear in the Millennium, which the Jubilee Year anticipated. The Patriarch's prayer is answered; they are "engraved as with an iron pen and lead in the Rock for ever;" but that rock is the Rock of Ages!. The reason I am going into some detail on Young's interpretations is because his scholarly (and it is truly scholarly with many excellent explanations) three volume work is hailed by modern evangelicals as one of the top commentaries on the Prophecy of Isaiah. He is waiting yet; See Song 8:6 Jer 22:24. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Then let us remember Him. Have you not felt ashamed and confounded at the memory of your former life? Moody Bible Commentary -even these may forget, for the love of a woman for her child is not as sure or consistent as the love that the Lord exhibits toward His people.
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