God had called Cyrus before his birth and made him sharp as a sword. His words penetrated from mainland to islands. His commission was to restore the exile—yes even more he would be a light to the nations of the world. He tells him that kings will stand at attention when he passes by. God says “I am sending you to re-establish Israel and bring the prisoners out of the dungeons." God says he will provide the pasture for his sheep, water for the thirsty, level the road ahead and gather the remnant from the north, west, and south. East was not mentioned because they were in the East. The prisoners were told to shout and sing and that even the mountains would reverberate with songs. God lets them know that he had not deserted or forgotten them—he had their name embossed on his hand and a picture of Zion’s walls in ruins ever before him. God says that even the abandoned land will again be fertile and soon overcrowded as they repopulate. Finally, he pictures for them kings and queens returning the orphaned children—tyrants are tamed and captives freed.
Embracing the Light to the Gentiles and Restoring Zion
Isaiah 49:1
Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
The coastlands and islands were to pay heed to this message. God had called Cyrus from before he was born and had given him a name. Notice that in verse 5 the servant has a mission for Israel.
Cross References
- Isa 60:9: Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.
- Isa 66:19: And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
Isaiah 49:2
And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;
God used Cyrus’s words like a sharp sword to slay people. The word of God is sharper than a two-edged blade. His speech would cut and penetrate. He made him like an arrow with a polished shaft. The doctrine of the gospel pierced the hearts of its hearers, "bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."
Cross References
- Isa 50:4: The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
- Hos 6:5: Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.
Isaiah 49:3
And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.
Israel was God’s servant and was destined to bring glory to God.
Cross References
- Isa 43:21: This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
- Isa 53:10: Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Isaiah 49:4
Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.
Israel had labored in vain—spent their strength on idols and heathen religion so their judgment was of the LORD.
Cross References
- Isa 65:2: I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
- Mat 23:37: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
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.
The servant was to gather the outcast of Jacob and to bring them back in the fold.
Cross References
- Isa 56:8: The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.
- Rom 15:8: Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
Isaiah 49:6
And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
This servant was to raise up the tribes and restore the Jews to their homeland and to enlighten the Gentiles.
Cross References
- Isa 42:6: I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
- Isa 11:10: And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
- Luk 2:32: A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Isaiah 49:7
Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.
When he appeared kings got to their feet and fell in homage to him.
Cross References
- Isa 60:3: And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
- Psa 72:10-11: The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.
Isaiah 49:8
Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
At the right time I will help you and will preserve you to bring my people home and inherit the desolate heritages.
Cross References
- Psa 69:13: But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
- Ref: Read 2Co 6:2; Heb 8:6; Heb 12:24
Isaiah 49:9
That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.
The jail bars were broken and the prisoners were freed to return to their home place—the Gentile nations supplied them with food as they crossed the mountains.
Cross References
- Isa 61:1: The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
- Ref: Read Psa 107:10-16; Col 1:13; 1Pe 2:9
Isaiah 49:10
They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
This is a poetical way of saying that all their food supplies would be taken care of as they made the long journey to the homeland.
Cross References
- Mat 5:6: Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
- Ref: Read Joh 6:35; Rev 7:16-17; Psa 121:5-6; Eze 34:23
Isaiah 49:11
And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.
They will find shade from the sun and shelter from the cold—he sent road workers’ ahead to prepare for the wagons and pack animals to pass easily.
Cross References
- Isa 35:8-10: And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness...
- Ref: Read Luk 3:4-6
Isaiah 49:12
Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.
The exiles flowed in from the four corners—north, south, east and west.
Cross References
- Isa 11:10-11: And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse... And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people...
- Ref: Read Isa 66:12; Mic 4:2
Isaiah 49:13
Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.
They left singing and shouting and the hills and mountains reverberated with the songs.
Cross References
- Isa 52:9: Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
- Ref: Read Rev 5:8-12
Isaiah 49:14
But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
But Zion said, “We have been forgotten.”
Cross References
- Psa 13:1: How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
- Ref: Read Jer 23:39; Isa 40:27
Isaiah 49:15
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Under normal circumstances a woman will not forget her baby but if she does the LORD will never forget you.
Cross References
- Mal 3:17: And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
- Ref: Read Deu 28:56-57
Isaiah 49:16
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
God says I can’t possibly forget you—your name is on my hands and my eyes constantly survey your walls.
Cross References
- Exo 13:9: And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand...
- Isa 54:12: And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.
Isaiah 49:17
Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.
They were working fast—the builders were more numerous than the demolition crews.
Cross References
- Ezr 1:5: Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites... to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.
- Neh 2:17: ...come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
Isaiah 49:18
Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.
Take a look—they are coming to you from all quarters.
Cross References
- Isa 60:4: Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together...
- Ref: Read Isa 43:5-6
Isaiah 49:19
For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.
The land that had lain 70 years as a waste land was filling up with more people than they could handle.
Cross References
- Eze 36:9-11: For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown... and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded...
Isaiah 49:20
The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell.
The generations born in exile and lost in family separations were being reunited and were now saying we need more room.
Cross References
- Isa 60:4: ...thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.
- 2Ki 6:1: And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.
Isaiah 49:21
Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?
Where did all these people come from? Families had been displaced and sent to foreign lands and now were coming home—they hadn’t seen their grandchildren and great grandchildren and didn’t know if they were alive.
Cross References
- Jer 31:15-17: ...Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not... And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.
- Ref: Read Isa 62:4
Isaiah 49:22
Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
Here they come with babies in their arms—little girls on their shoulders—boys walking beside their previous captors—nurse maids and baby sitters bringing the exile children to Zion.
Cross References
- Isa 54:3-8: For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited...
Isaiah 49:23
And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.
The high and mighty will offer to do your work—you will leave them in the dust”—when this takes place you will know I am God.
Cross References
- Isa 60:3-5: And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising...
- Ref: Read Isa 60:6-11
Isaiah 49:24
Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?
Try demanding a tyrant to give up his captives.
Cross References
- Psa 124:6-7: Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth...
Isaiah 49:25
But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.
No matter how terrible the people are that are holding your seed. I (God) will fight the battle for you and save your children.
Cross References
- Isa 52:2-5: Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem...
Isaiah 49:26
And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
Your enemies will turn on each other in riots and civil wars—they will be drunk on their own blood—and all the world will know that I am the redeemer of Jacob.
Cross References
- Rev 16:6: For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
- Ref: Read Jer 51:35-36