Isaiah 49:5

And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength. THOUGH ISRAEL BE NOT GATHERED, YET SHALL I BE GLORIOUS IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. This gives the reason why He was confident that His work would be accepted and rewarded (Isaiah 49:4) - namely, because He is 'glorious in the eyes of Yahweh,' etc. THOUGH ISRAEL BE NOT GATHERED - metaphor from a scattered flock, which the shepherd gathers together again. Or, a hen and her chickens (Matthew 23:37). Instead of the text, "not" [ lo' (H3808), the Qeri' has the simi...

5._And now saith Jehovah. _By this verse he confirms the former statement, and yields more abundant consolation, by repeating that calling; and the testimony of conscience, which ought to be regarded by us as a fortress; for there is nothing that gives us greater distress and anxiety, than to entertain doubts by whose authority, or by whose direction everything is undertaken by us. For this reason Isaiah reminds us of the certainty of our calling. _Who formed me from the womb to be his servant. _In the first place, godly teachers, along with Christ who is their Prince, say that they have been “formed” by a divine hand; because God always enriches and adorns with necessary gifts those whom he calls to the office of teaching, who derive from the one fountain of the Spirit all the gifts in which they excel. Thus “the Father hath sealed” (John 6:27) his Only-begotten Son, and

1-6 The great Author of redemption shows the authority for his work. The sword of his word slays the lusts of his people, and all at enmity with them. His sharp arrows wound the conscience; but all these wounds will be healed, when the sinner prays to him for mercy. But even the Redeemer, who spake as never man spake in his personal ministry, often seemed to labour in vain. And if Jacob will not be brought back to God, and Israel will not be gathered, still Christ will be glorious. This promise is in part fulfilled in the calling of the Gentiles. Men perish in darkness. But Christ enlightens men, and so makes them holy and happy....

Verse Isaiah 49:5. _AND NOW, SAITH THE LORD_ - "And now, thus saith JEHOVAH"] The word כה _coh_, before אמר _amar_, is dropped out of the text: it is supplied by eight MSS. (two ancient) of Dr. _Kennicott's_, two of _De Rossi's_, and the _Septuagint, Syriac_, and _Vulgate_. _THOUGH ISRAEL BE NOT GATHERED_ - "And that Israel unto him might be gathered"] Five MSS. (two ancient) confirm the _Keri_, or marginal correction of the Masoretes, לו _lo, unto him_, instead of לא _lo,_ _not_, in the text; and so read _Aquila_; and the _Chaldee, Septuagint,_ and _Arabic_ omit the negative. But the _Septuagint_, MSS. _Pachom_, and I. D. II. express also the _Keri_ לו lo by προς αυτον, _to_ _him_....

AND NOW, SAITH THE LORD THAT FORMED ME - This verse contains the reason why he cherished the hope that his work would not be unaccepted. The reason is, that Yahweh had said to him that he should be glorious in his eyes, and that he would be his strength. He stood so high in his favor, and he had such assurances of that favor, that he could confidently commit himself to his care. THAT FORMED THEE FROM THE WOMB - Who appointed me before I was born to the office of a servant to accomplish important purposes (see the notes at Isaiah 49:1). TO BRING JACOB AGAIN TO HIM - To recover the Jewish people again to the pure worship of Yahweh. To them the Messiah was first to be sent, and when they rejected him, he was to proffer the same salvation to the Gentiles (see...

SECTION III. THE MISSION OF THE SERVANT OF THE LORD (CH. 49-53). EXPOSITION The connection of the present section is especially with Isaiah 42:1, where the mission of the Servant of Jehovah was first announced. That mission was there described with extreme brevity. It has now to be fully set forth, for the instruction, consolation, and comfort of all Israel, which is represented as sunk in despondency, deeming itself forgotten of God and forsaken by him (Isaiah 42:13, Isaiah 42:14). In the present chapter Jehovah's at

AND NOW, SAITH THE LORD,.... Jehovah the Father, in confirmation of the call, office, and work of Christ, which he hath declared, Isaiah 49:1: THAT FORMED ME FROM THE WOMB TO BE HIS SERVANT; who preordained him to this service before the world began, and prepared him for it from the womb of his mother Mary, by filling him with grace and wisdom and with the Spirit without measure; anointing him with the oil of gladness above his fellows, and so fitting him as man and Mediator for the preaching of the Gospel, and every other service he called him: TO BRING JACOB AGAIN, TO HIM; the lost sheep of the house of Israel, God's elect among the Jews, which were as straying sheep; or all his chosen people, whether Jews or Gentiles, which were scattered abroad, and were afar off from God, whom Christ was to bring back again, and bring nigh unto God, and did:...

In this chapter, we have not merely Isaiah speaking concerning the Christ of God; but it is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who here speaks concerning himself. Isaiah 49:1. _Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far;_ It is very remarkable how constantly the isles are spoken of in this Book of Isaiah, as if it had been foreseen that, in these far-off islands of the sea, the name of Jesus would be greatly magnified. «Listen,» says the Messiah, «O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far.» Isaiah 49:1. _The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name._ Christ Jesus our Lord was spoken of by the spirit of prophecy from his very birth, and long before it; and when he did come into th

2. THE SERVANT OF JEHOVAH, HIS SUFFERING AND HIS GLORY (49-57) CHAPTER 49 The Servant of Jehovah and His Mission 1. _The servant speaks of himself (Isaiah 49:1)_ 2. _He complains of failure (Isaiah 49:4)_ 3. _Jehovah's answer to him (Isaiah 49:5)_ 4. _Zion speaks (Isaiah 49:14) Jehovah's answer (Isaiah 49:15) _ This entire chapter is the key to the whole section. The Servant of Jehovah, the Lord Jesus Christ, stands in the foreground. He is seen as the Rejected One, who complains that He has labored in vain. The ultim

THE PREPARATION OF YAHWEH'S SERVANT, AND ITS PURPOSE (the second Servant Song). The Servant of Yahweh speaks, bidding the far lands hearken; for them he has a glorious message, which is, however, not uttered at once but forms the climax of the song (Isaiah 49:6). Yahweh has from my earliest days ordained and nominated me to be His Servant. My mouth He has made like a keen blade, for I am to speak for Him a piercing word. Like an arrow saved in the quiver for a special quarry He has made me ready against the time. But when He told me that He would use me to His glory I answered, - With no result have I exhausted my strength: yet my right and reward are in Yahweh's keeping.-' But now the moment has come. Yahweh purposes to bring His exiles home, and I am glorified in His sight, and He is become my strength. Nor will this task suffice Him: He will make me a light for the nations to achieve...