Isaiah 41:1-20

Isaiah 41:1-20

[1] Keep silence  before me, O islands;  and let the people  renew  their strength:  let them come near;  then let them speak:  let us come near  together  to judgment.  [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 the dust  to his sword,  and as driven  stubble  to his bow.  [3] He pursued  them, and passed  safely;  even by the way  that he had not gone  with his feet.  [4] Who hath wrought  and done  it, calling  the generations  from the beginning?  I the LORD,  the first,  and with the last;  [5] The isles  saw  it, and feared;  the ends  of the earth  were afraid,  drew near,  and came.  [6] They helped  every one  his neighbour;  and every one said  to his brother,  Be of good courage.  [7] So the carpenter  encouraged  the goldsmith,  and he that smootheth  with the hammer  him that smote  the anvil,  saying,  It is ready  for the sodering:  and he fastened  it with nails,  that it should not be moved.  [8] But thou, Israel,  art my servant,  Jacob  whom I have chosen,  the seed  of Abraham  my friend.  [9] Thou whom I have taken  from the ends  of the earth,  and called  thee from the chief men  thereof, and said  unto thee, Thou art my servant;  I have chosen  thee, and not cast thee away.  [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.  [11] Behold, all they that were incensed  against thee shall be ashamed  and confounded:  that strive  with thee shall perish.  [12] Thou shalt seek  them, and shalt not find  that contended  with thee: they that war  against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.  [13] thy God  will hold  thy right hand,  saying  unto thee, Fear  not; I will help  thee. [14] Fear  not, thou worm  Jacob,  and ye men  of Israel;  I will help  thee, saith  the LORD,  and thy redeemer,  the Holy One  of Israel.  [15] Behold, I will make  thee a new  sharp  threshing  instrument having  teeth:  thou shalt thresh  the mountains,  and beat them small,  and shalt make  the hills  as chaff.  [16] Thou shalt fan  them, and the wind  shall carry them away,  and the whirlwind  shall scatter  them: and thou shalt rejoice  in the LORD,  and shalt glory  in the Holy One  of Israel.  [17] When the poor  and needy  seek  water,  and there is none, and their tongue  faileth  for thirst,  I the LORD  will hear  them, I the God  of Israel  will not forsake  [18] I will open  rivers  in high places,  and fountains  in the midst  of the valleys:  I will make  the wilderness  a pool  of water,  and the dry  land  springs  of water.  [19] I will plant  in the wilderness  the cedar,  the shittah tree,  and the myrtle,  and the oil  tree;  I will set  in the desert  the fir tree,  and the pine,  and the box tree  together:  [20] That they may see,  and know,  and consider,  and understand  together,  that the hand  of the LORD  hath done  this, and the Holy One  of Israel  hath created  it.

What does Isaiah 41:1-20 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The Lord, through His prophet, assured fearful Israel in this segment. Israel need not fear the nations ( Isaiah 41:1-7) because Yahweh remained committed to His people and would use them to accomplish His purposes in the world ( Isaiah 41:8-20). This expression of God"s grace would have encouraged and motivated the Israelites to serve their Lord.
The courtroom setting pictured in Isaiah 41:1-7 enabled Isaiah to make God"s transcendent monotheism clear and compelling (cf. Isaiah 1:18; Isaiah 43:26; Isaiah 50:8). Isaiah 41:1 is a call to judgment, Isaiah 41:2-4 set forth God"s case, namely, his acts in history, and Isaiah 41:5-7 relate the frightened response of the Gentile nations.