Isaiah 41:28

For I beheld and there was no man; even among them and there was no counsellor that when I asked of For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word. I BEHELD ... AND (THERE WAS) NO COUNSELOR - no one of the idolatrous soothsayers who could advertise () those who consulted them what would take place in the latter days. Compare "the counsel of his messengers" (). THAT WHEN I ASKED - i:e., challenged them, in this chapter, COULD ANSWER A WORD....

28._I looked, and there was none. _After having spoken of himself, the Lord returns to idols; for these are continued contrasts by which a comparison is drawn between God and idols. As if he had said, “I do these things, but idols cannot do them; they have no counsel, or wisdom, or understanding; they cannot give an answer to those that ask them, and cannot yield any alleviation to the wretched.” In this comparison we ought to observe that he plainly shews himself to be God, first, by the prophets and by their doctrine, and, secondly, by his works in a similar manner; and that nothing of this kind is found in idols; from which it follows, that they are not gods, and that we ought to rely on him alone. Besides, the eyes of men are darkened by slothfulness; because they neither inquire, nor consider, nor observe. Thus they are stupified by idols, for they are willingly deceived; because th...

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 nu...

Verse Isaiah 41:28. _AMONG THEM_ - "Among the idols"] For ומאלה _umeelleh_, I read ומאלים _umeellim_, with the _Septuagint_, και απο των ειδωλων, "_and from_ or among the idols." See Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 57:5. _R. D. Kimchi_ has many good observations on this chapter. Bishop _Lowth_ follows him in applying it to Abraham, and not to Cyrus; the whole being spoken in the past tense, which is not used, or rarely, in such a case for the future. Almost the whole of the rabbins understand it of Abraham. On _Kimchi's_ plan, the following is a paraphrase. _The righteous man_ - Abram, _from the east_ - the land of his nativity, called the land of the c

FOR I BEHELD - I looked upon the pagan world, among all the pretended prophets, and the priests of pagan idolatry. AND THERE WAS NO MAN - No man among them who could predict these future events. NO COUNSELOR - No one qualified to give counsel, or that could anticipate by his sagacity what would take place. THAT, WHEN I ASKED OF THEM - In the manner referred to in this chapter. There is no one of whom it could be inquired what would take place in future times. COULD ANSWER A WORD - They were unable to discern what would come to pass, or to predict the events which are referred to here....

SECTION II.—RECOVERY OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD FROM THEIR SIN, AND FROM THEIR BONDAGE IN BABYLON (CH. 41-48.). EXPOSITION ISAIAH 41:1 ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DELIVERER, AND EFFECT ON THE SURROUNDING NATIONS. Isaiah returns to the standpoint of Isaiah 40:9. A deliverer of Israel is about to appear. The nat

FOR I BEHELD, AND THERE WAS NO MAN,.... Among all the Pagan priests and prophets, that could foretell things to come; or could prove that their idols did or could say anything in favour of them: EVEN AMONGST THEM, AND THERE WAS NO COUNSELLOR: none that could be advocates for these idols, and plead their cause; or could give any good advice and counsel to persons that needed it, and who applied to them or their idols for it: THAT, WHEN I ASKED OF THEM, COULD ANSWER A WORD; when asked what they had to say on behalf of their gods they worshipped, were dumb and speechless; moreover, all this may be said of the idols themselves, that there was none among them that could foretell a future event, or give any wholesome counsel to their worshippers, or could say anything in their own defence; and therefore, to close the controversy, the following sentence is pronounced....

CHAPTER 41 Jehovah's Challenge 1. _The address to the islands and the peoples (Isaiah 41:1)_ 2. _Jehovah's question, Cyrus and his ways predicted (Isaiah 41:2)_ 3. _Nations troubled on account of Cyrus (Isaiah 41:5)_ 4. _Israel as Jehovah's servant (Isaiah 41:8)_ 5. _The message of comfort and assurance of restoration (Isaiah 41:9)_ 6. _Jehovah's second challenge: He alone can declare things to come (Isaiah 41:21)_ 7. The future t

YAHWEH'S CHALLENGE TO THE GODS OF THE NATIONS. The nations are bidden to produce their case and bring forward their champions their idols (so emend strong reasons). Let the idols show that in days gone by they have foreseen the antecedents of present developments, or explain the events now happening and about to happen. They remain dumb, and Yahweh taunts them with their impotence. He has raised up Cyrus; who among them had foreseen the event? Not one; how patent, then, their nothingness! ISAIAH 41:22. LATTER END: issue. THINGS FOR TO COME: THE immediate development from the present situation. Isaiah 41:23. be dismayed: rather (_cf. mg._), open our eyes in wonder. Isaiah 41:2

The general argument is now brought to bear on the particular case of the raising up of Cyrus....