Isaiah 41

This is much of the same argument with the former Chapter.

Isaiah 41:1

Keep silence] God standing up to debate his cause, by his Prophet, against the enemies of his people, with them and their Idols, requireth silence, that he may be heard.

renew their strength] To support themselves, and their Idols; and to hinder my work for the recovery of my people, if they can.

Isaiah 41:2

the righteous man from the East] Cyrus from Persia, to manifest my righteousnesse in fulfilling my promises, and in righting the wrongs done to my people. Yet Cyrus herein a type of Christ.

Isaiah 41:4

calling the generations] Having them at call and command.

Isaiah 41:5

saw it] These strange works of God, by Cyrus, set on foot for the deliverance of his people.

and feared] Their own safety.

drew near, and came] Not to God; but to take counsel together, how to secure and save themselves.

Isaiah 41:7

So the Carpenter] They made recourse to their Idols, making more of them, as if their safety consisted in the multitude of them.

Isaiah 41:8

But thou] Confirmes and strengthens his against all fear from the enemies; undertaking to secure them, and make them successeful against all that should oppose them.

Isaiah 41:9

Whom I have taken] Abram from Ur of the Chaldees.

Isaiah 41:15

Sharp threshing instrument] To thresh the mountains; even thy greatest enemies.

Isaiah 41:18

I will open rivers] Rather then my people shall want meanes of comfortable subsistance.

Isaiah 41:19

the Cedar, &c.] God will by his providence and provision so accommodate them, as if such things had been done.

Isaiah 41:21

Produce your cause] God challengeth the Idolaters to produce the strongest pleas they can, in the behalf of their Idols; and to prove the truth of their religion, by producing the like works, foretold first, and effected afterwards, by their Idols, to those of his before mentioned, when they shall see them accomplished, and withal so long foretold.

Isaiah 41:25

from the North] Cyrus, who was a Medo-Persian, Media lying more Northerly; and Persia more Easterly, ver. 2. He brought people and forces from both parts, against Babylon.

Shall he call upon my Name] Or proclaime my name, Ezra. I. 1, 2.

Isaiah 41:26

who hath declared] Which of your Idols?

from the beginning] Of old time; near two hundred years before it shall come to passe.

he is righteous] That so he may be rightly called a God.

Isaiah 41:27

The first shall say] Or, I say first to Zion; I am the first that signified ought to Zion concerning her deliverance; or the destruction of Babylon; and the persons by whom these should be effected; which none of your Idols could do, ver. 26.

Isaiah 41:28

amongst them] Their Idols.

Isaiah 41:29

all vanity] The conclusion, of, and against their Idols.