Isaiah 41
As in the previous chapter, Yahweh continues to challenge any detractors, forecasting future events in detail and showing without any shadow of doubt that “He removeth kings, and setteth up kings”: indeed, that He is the One who “rules in the kingdom of men” (Dan 2:21, 4:17). Idols, the supposed repository of wisdom and power in the minds of men, are again called upon to contest Yahweh’s claims to omnipotence and control of the world. In particular, the rise of Cyrus the Persian is made known, along with his rapid conquests. He will make the nations tremble, but there is no need for Israel to fear, for he has been raised up by God and will bring good tidings to Jerusalem (v27).
Verses 1–4 The Divine Challenge: Cyrus’ Rise and Mission Foretold by Me. Who Then Controls and Directs World History?
Verse 1 “Keep silence before me, O islands [roth, rsv ‘coastlands’], and let the people renew their strength [cp 40:31]: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment.”
“Keep silence before me” The nations are called upon to be silent and listen, as is appropriate before Yahweh (Zech 2:13; Ecc 5:2).
“O islands” Gentiles are later to be incorporated in Yahweh’s salvation (42:4,10; 49:1), but before this can happen they must acknowledge His total supremacy and forsake their idols and oracles.
“and let the people renew their strength” This statement uses the same wording as 40:31, where it is used exclusively of the reward God has promised to those who “wait upon” Him. Clearly, such a “renewal” was impossible for them, and is probably then a call for them to prepare their arguments and strong reasons to answer the challenge they will soon be confronted with.
“Let us come near together to judgment” Yahweh intends to settle the issue of the validity or otherwise of idols, and hence there is the language of the courtroom, of approaching, speaking and meeting together to arrive at the judgment (Heb mishpat), the authoritative decision.
Verse 2 “Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.”
Verse 3 “He pursued them: he passed unhindered in the way which his feet had never trod.” (mlb and rsv)
Verse 4 “Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I Yahweh, the first, and with the last; I am he.”
Verse 2 “Who hath raised up the righteous man from the east …?” roth “Who roused up one from the East, in righteousness [Heb zedek] called him to his feet …?”
Verses 2 and 3 set forth the issue, the questions requiring an answer. This answer is given in verse 4, “I Yahweh, the first, and with the last [‘last ones’, plural], I am he.” Yahweh forecasts the rise of a great conqueror. He directs his course and gives him rule over kings and nations. His victories would be rapid and without difficulty; they would involve kingdoms he had never visited. He would emerge from the east and “righteousness” would characterise his rule. The challenge goes forth to the islands and coastlands, to all the nations, indeed to answer the question, who could pronounce such a remarkable and illustrious career and actually bring it to pass? Yahweh alone, the eternal God and Creator could make such prognostications and bring about their enactment. He has absolute power and controls and directs the course of world history. It conforms to His will alone.
The identity of the conquering king is not given yet in the prophecy, but further details are given (v26; Isa 44–46). He is actually named—Cyrus, the Persian—140 years before he was born! Some have applied the prophecy to Abraham and his conquests (Gen 14); others to Joshua and his remarkable victories, but the focus and sense is missing. This passage is dealing with future not past events, and God’s control over them and ability to foretell them is being proven.
“the righteous man from the east”
The “righteousness” of Cyrus does not relate to his piety so much as his justice. He was not a tyrant. He would be the one Yahweh would use to overthrow Babylon, release His captive people and shepherd them back to the Holy Land. He would enable them to rebuild their city and temple. Cyrus was a prince eminently distinguished for justice and a mild and kind administration over his subjects. All the ancient writers celebrate his humanity and benevolence.
“… the east” Persia, the land over which Cyrus ruled and from which he came to conquer, was in the eastern extremity of the then known world.
“gave nations before him, and made him rule over kings” This well describes the victorious career of Cyrus. Among nations whom he subdued were the Armenians, the Cappadocians, the Lydians, the Phrygians, the Assyrians, the Babylonians. All the nations between the Euxine and Caspian Seas on the north, to the Red Sea on the south, and even Egypt. Thus his own proclamation was true, “Yahweh God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth” (Ezra 1:2).
Verse 3 “and passed safely” (mg Heb ‘in peace’). Cyrus’ conquests were unhindered and his enemies had no power to resist or rally. He was safe as far as he chose to pursue them.
“even by the way that he had not gone with his feet” Cyrus spent his early years east of Euphrates. In his conquests he crossed that river and extended his march beyond the river Halys to the western extremity of Asia, and even to Egypt. The idea is that he had not travelled to these regions before he conquered them.
Verse 4 “Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning?”
The answer is Yahweh. He directs, supervises and determines the course of kings, nations and history. He is beyond comparison and should be worshipped and adored by all. He calls the generations of mankind from creation: they owe their origin to Him (Acts 17:26). Men should raise their eyes above the conquests of Cyrus and contemplate God’s universal dominion over all from eternity!
“I Yahweh, the first, and with the last: I am he”
This is an unusual designation. Notice that Yahweh addresses Himself as “the First” in verse 27, and in 44:6 and 48:12 He says, “I am the first, I also am the last”. In these chapters He is laying claim to His uniqueness, eternity, control, and omnipotence which enable Him to prophesy future events and bring them to pass. No other could make such a claim, and so His authority and status is unrivalled and absolute. The word translated “last” is plural. Rotherham translates as follows, “I, Yahweh, [who am] First, and with them who are last, I am the Same.” The implication is that His great purpose of redemption expressed in His Name will be realised, and at the culmination of His plan many saints will belong to His family—they will “survive” and exist with Him in His eternity. In this sense we can understand the statement “… And with them who are last”; like Him, in time.
“I am he” expresses His indisputable existence, changelessness and consistency.
40:5–7 The Response: Being Informed of the Uprise of the Man from the East, the World Turns Desperately to its Idols
Verse 5 “The isles saw it, and feared [mlb ‘and became alarmed’]; the ends of the earth were afraid [mlb ‘trembled’], drew near and came.
Verse 6 They helped everyone his neighbour; and everyone said to his brother, Be of good courage.
Verse 7 So the carpenter [rsv ‘craftsman’, roth ‘carver’] encouraged the goldsmith [mg ‘founder’], and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smiteth the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering [rsv, mlb ‘soldering’]: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.”
These verses describe prophetically the reaction of distant nations to the rumours and reports of the might and conquests of Cyrus. They chose to band together and to hastily make idols that might in some way preserve them from this all-conquering king from the east. The idols so constructed were merely the product of human ingenuity driven by human fear (cp 40:19). But just as the idols could provide no answer to the Lord of Creation (chapter 40), here they are equally pathetic against the Lord of prophecy and history! The idols “are even more caught by the turn of events than the idolators who made them, who at least saw the advent of the conqueror” (JA Motyer).
There is a particular event in the history of the times which so aptly illustrates the frenzied fear of the nations when threatened by Cyrus. King Croesus of Lydia, the richest man in the world, was thrown into alarm by the approach of Cyrus. In order to find out from the multitude of the gods and shrines in the ancient world, what the future held for him he sought the ‘best advice’ from the oracles available. He sent to every oracle of repute: to the oracles of the Greeks at Miletus, Delphi, Abai; to that of Trophimus; to the sanctuary of Amphiaraus at Thebes; to Dodona; and even to the far off temple of Ammon in Libya! They told him that if he went against Cyrus he would destroy a great empire! But Croesus forgot to ask them whether it was his or his rival’s! The oracles gave ambiguous prophecies in order to preserve their reputation—‘to hedge their bets’! In the battle between Croesus and Cyrus the latter was victorious and the Persian empire was thereby extended to its western extremity—the Aegean Sea.
So we can see that history has provided a dramatic illustration of the dread created by Cyrus’ rapid conquests (according to Herodotus), as well as the frantic recourse to idols to find out their fate!
41:8–10 Israel’s Unique Relationship to Yahweh Guarantees His Help and Ultimate Deliverance.
Verse 8 “But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend” (cp 2 Chron 20:7, and cited Jas 2:23).
Verse 9 “Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof [mlb ‘from its utmost corners’; rsv ‘farthest corners’], and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.”
Verse 10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
These verses repeatedly appeal to Yahweh’s special purpose with the seed of Abraham. He hearkens back to the origins of Israel and makes it clear the covenant and promises to their fathers are inviolate and will be performed. Both Abraham and Jacob are recalled and mention is made of Abraham as His friend, to whom He made known His will (cp Gen 18:18,19; John 15:14,15), and to Jacob, His servant. This phrase also emphasises the privilege of the nation. When delivering Jacob from Egypt, Yahweh addressed Pharaoh accordingly, “Israel is my son, even my firstborn… Let my son go, that he may serve me…” (Ex 4:22,23).
Verse 8 “But thou, Israel, art my servant” The Hebrew word for “servant” is ebed, meaning “a servant, tiller, doer, slave”; that is, one who does the will of another. In the lxx the word (two times in the verse) is pais, meaning “a child, an attendant”. This is the first occurrence of the word servant in the “Servant Prophecy”, and has reference to the nation.
“whom I have chosen” Mention is made here (and in verse 9) of Israel’s primacy— no other nation enjoyed such distinction (Psa 147:19,20; 148:14; Ex 19:5,6; Isa 43:1 etc).
Verse 9 “I have taken thee from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest bounds” (rsv) This is a poetic expression describing the taking of Abraham from distant Ur of the Chaldees, and probably also a reference to the emancipation of Israel from Egypt. These are both deliberate and critical turning points which demonstrate favour and election. The repetition of Israel’s honourable call to be God’s servant, and His chosen, ratifies the singular honour of the nation.
Verse 10 “Fear thou not: for I am with thee” Such an honour (as in verse 9) must mean that the nation has no cause for fear, although there is an added reason, the Divine presence, “I am with thee”.
“be not dismayed; for I am thy God” This is a parallel expression bringing consolation. The word for “dismayed” has the idea of glancing this way and that as if not knowing where to look for safety. As Yahweh is their God, there is no reason to be alarmed. And there are historic precedents where the nation was told to “fear not”, and deliverance followed (Exod 14:13; 2 Chron 20:17).
“I will strengthen [cp 40:31] … help … uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” Here are further reasons not to fear. One thought is added to another and these assurances stress Yahweh’s power to save. Reference to His “righteousness” shows that their preservation was also His moral responsibility. How strong then are the promises that Israel will be delivered, exalted and made the head and not the tail of nations. The initial promise, “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people”, is thus given certainty by the One who created the world, and who controls the destiny of Israel and indeed of all nations.