Isaiah 41

Below is but a small measure of revelation that my father had received from the Lord. I hope this will be a blessing to you. All that is written below are the words of my father.

Isaiah 41

In loving memory of my father
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023

When I started reading Chapter 41 again recently, my initial thought was probably similar to that of most all other Christians ... that on the surface there seems to be very little in this chapter that stirs up or excites our spirit. Boy, was I wrong! It should never surprise us what a little digging will uncover in the word of God. As always, we must ask the Holy Spirit to shed His light on the spiritual significance of the Word.

Before we look at Isaiah, Chapter 41, let us consider the word, idolatry. When you read or hear the word "idolatry," what comes to your mind? perhaps that idolatry is something that heathens participate in? Well, that would be true. Or perhaps the word "idolatry" brings to mind statues of Mary or of other saints. That would also be true. Or you might think of statues of Buddha or any of a myriad of false gods; that would likewise be true. In the last year or two, many statues of Confederate generals have been taken down. I believe any statue of any man could be called idolatry. However, the chosen people of God, Who sovereignly delivered His people from bondage in Egypt, likewise committed idolatry. One example is recorded in Exodus 32:1-4, when Aaron, the high priest, fashioned gold with a graving tool into a molten calf, and they said, "These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." 

All throughout the Old Testament we read of various generations of God's chosen people who put themselves and their desires ahead of the will of God. That was also idolatry. The first, and therefore the most important, of the Ten Commandments is, "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me."

The idols today are NOT physical golden calves but some Christians today still have their idols, perhaps unknowingly. Many idolize "big-name" pastors and prophets. MANY Christians (perhaps unknowingly) idolize money, success, education, entertainment, religious systems, man's interpretation of scripture, technology, nature, family, and more. The danger for us as Christians is that we will allow king Self to usurp the rightful place of King Jesus. Paul said, to Christians over all of time, in 1 Corinthians 10:14, "Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry."

Now let us turn to Isaiah, Chapter 41 and Verse 1.

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.

God will allow the idol worshippers of all the world to come before Him and try to justify their idolatry. They will have the opportunity to speak, although they must enter His courtroom in silence, out of respect for His majesty.

Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

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.

Some theologians say that the "righteous man from the east" speaks of Cyrus; others say it speaks of Abraham. I believe that Verses 2, 3, and 4 speak of Jesus. 

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; I am He.

Who ... Who ... ? As God invites all idolaters to come before Him, He shows them His greatness over all creation, and over all history. God asks, "Who is in control of the course of human events?" God is both the first and the last. He also has authority over everything in-between. It is God, not man, who removes kings and sets up kings (Daniel 2:21). God absolutely has a plan for human history, and He directs the path of human events toward His designed fulfillment. Our answer to the question of "Who?" influences almost everything in our lives. 

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. 

Those last three verses speak of how men join together to help each other to try to bring about man's will.

8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.

The name, Israel, means "God rules." Who is the seed of Abraham? Galatians 3:16, "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." Who is Israel, the servant of God? Who is the Israel who rules? the Lord Jesus Christ. 

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: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.

12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

13 For I the LORD 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 them.

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.

21 Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.

22 Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.

23 Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

24 Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you. 

25 I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.

26 Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that hearth your words.

27 The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.

28 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.

29 Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

Who is the recipient of all the verses from Verse 8 through the end of the chapter? the Lord Jesus Christ. In those verses the Father is speaking to and about His Son.

This chapter is the great "I WILL" chapter of the Bible. Fourteen times in this chapter God reinforces His authority with the promise, "I will."
I will strengthen you. (verse 10)
I will help you. (verses 10, 13, and 14)
I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness. (verse 10)
I will hold thy right hand. (verse 13)
I will make you into a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth. (verse 15)
I will hear them. (verse 17)
I will not forsake them. (verse 17)
I will open rivers in high places. (verse 18)
I will make the wilderness a pool of water. (verse 18)
I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree. (verse 19)
I will set in the desert the fir tree. (verse 19)
I will give to Jerusalem one who brings good tidings. (verse 27)

This is a contrast with the five "I wills" of Satan in Isaiah 14.
I will ascend into heaven. (Isaiah 14:13)
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. (Isaiah 14:13)
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation. (Isaiah 14:13)
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. (Isaiah 14:14)
I will be like the Most High. (Isaiah 14:14)

The "I will" statements of Satan were all proud and self-directed. Every "I will" of the LORD in Isaiah 41 is for the benefit and blessing of His people. Though Satan lifted up himself in pride, and proclaimed "I will," none of his "I wills" came to pass. But each and every one of God's "I will" statements will be fulfilled.

Now let us look again at the phrase "Fear not, thou worm Jacob," in Isaiah 41:14. To whom does "thou worm" refer?

Psalm 22 is a Messianic Psalm sung to the Greatest Musician by David, one of the greatest prophets recorded in the Bible. There were many instances in the life of David where he might write such an agonized poem. Before and after taking the throne of Israel, David lived in seasons of great danger and deprivation. While much of this psalm was certainly true of David in his life experience, everything in this psalm is considerably truer of Jesus than of David. It speaks of the deep and heavy sufferings of Christ, when He agonized in the midst of the terrors and pangs of divine wrath and death which surpasses all human thought and comprehension. There are two sections in this psalm ... Verses 1-21, which speak of the agony of Jesus on the cross and Verses 22-31, which speak of His overcoming victory.

Verse 1, To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 

2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

This is the only occurrence in the Bible of the title of Aijeleth Shahar, which means "the hind or doe or hart or deer of the morning." Jesus is God's deer as well as the Chief Musician.

Song of Solomon 2:8, 9, 16-17, "The voice of my beloved! behold, He cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, He standeth behind our wall, He looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.

My beloved is mine, and I am His: He feedeth among the lilies.

Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.

The mountains of Bether are the mountains of separation. 

Matthew 25:31-32, "When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:"

Song of Solomon 8:14, "Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices [or fragrances].

Psalm 42:1, "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God."

Isaiah 35:5-6, "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert."

Psalm 22 begins abruptly, with a disturbing but powerful cry ... "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Jesus identified with the opening words of Psalm 22 to describe His agony with His great cry from the cross (Matthew 27:46).

David spoke by the Spirit of prophecy about Christ, to whom alone this Psalm truly and fully applies. The cry "My God" shows that the Forsaken One did have a close personal relationship with God. He was a victim of the cruelty of men, but the cry and the complaint are to God and not to or against man. The repetition of the plea shows the intensity of the agony He felt in soul and body ... the horror of God's displeasure against sin.

Why have You forsaken Me? That is a definite question that Jesus appropriated to Himself on the cross. There is an element of surprise in this cry. He does not understand why God would forsake Him. This agonized cry and the intentional identification of Jesus with these words are some of the most intense descriptions of what Jesus experienced on the cross. Jesus had known great pain and suffering (both physical and emotional) during His life. Yet He had never known separation from God His Father. At this moment He experienced what He had never experienced. Jesus felt forsaken by God the Father on the cross. What Jesus endured on the cross was beyond our comprehension.

The Apostle Paul wrote, in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Jesus not only endured the withdrawal of the Father's fellowship but also the actual outpouring of the Father's wrath upon Him as the substitute for sinful humanity. The light of God's countenance and the sense of His presence was removed from Jesus as He bore the wrath of God against sin for us. Horrible as this was, it fulfilled God's loving plan of redemption.

Prior to the cross, Jesus lived every moment in conscious fellowship and dependence upon God the Father. At the cross, Jesus felt helpless, as it seemed that the Father was so far from helping Him. Jesus felt abandoned by the Father and felt that His groaning and cries went unanswered. 

3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

But You are holy. Jesus remembered God and His greatness, even when immersed in suffering. He did not curse or blaspheme God, and He knew that His present agony did not change God's holiness. He would not allow doubts as to the holiness or greatness of God. Whatever He did not know in His present situation, he did know that God was holy. Here is the triumph of faith - the Savior stood like a rock. We, likewise, should never question the holiness of God.

6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

God seems to give no help to worms. This was dramatically fulfilled in Jesus, that on the cross He was a reproach and despised by the people. Cruel men mocked Jesus in His greatest agony. How could the Lord of glory be brought to such abasement as to be not only lower than the angels, but even lower than men? (Psalm 8:4) What a contrast between 'I am' and 'I am a worm'!"

He felt himself to be comparable to a helpless, powerless, down-trodden worm, passive while crushed and despised by those who trod upon him. He selects the weakest of creatures and becomes, when trodden upon, utterly devoid of any might except strength to suffer.

Job 25:6 says, "How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?" Two different Hebrew words in that verse are both translated into English as "worm." Man is an ordinary worm or maggot. The word, "worm" in Psalm 22:6 and Isaiah 41:14 and the last worm in Job 25:6 is no ordinary worm. It refers to the worm "coccus ilicis" and can be translated as "scarlet." It exists predominantly in natural Israel. When the female of this scarlet worm species is ready to give birth to her young, she would attach her body to the trunk of a tree, fixing herself so firmly and permanently that she would never leave again. Jesus likewise put Himself on a wooden cross, a type of tree. The eggs deposited beneath her body were thus protected until the larvae were hatched and able to enter their own life cycle. As the mother died, the crimson fluid stained her body and the surrounding wood. The scarlet color is the same color as our blood. Commercial scarlet dyes of antiquity were extracted from the dead bodies of such female scarlet worms. "The worm that had to die" speaks of the Man, Jesus.

What a picture this gives of Christ, dying on the tree, shedding His precious blood that He might "bring many sons unto glory" (Hebrews 2:10). Just as the mother worm, when crushed, excretes a crimson, scarlet dye that both covers the baby worms and stains, or marks them, Jesus was also bruised, or crushed, for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5). His scourgings and the nails that were driven into his hands and feet brought forth His crimson, scarlet blood that both washes away our sins and marks us as His own. Finally, just as the baby worm depends on the mother worm for the crimson dye to give it life and to mark it, a repentant sinner must depend on the blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, to receive new life, and to be marked as His own (Acts 4:12 and 1 Peter 1:18-19).

7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

8 He trusted on the LORD that He would deliver Him: let Him deliver Him, seeing He delighted in Him.

These verses reveal the ignorance and cruelty of those who oppose God and His people. It claimed to see no deliverance, but it would indeed come soon. It also questioned the delight of God in Jesus. His enemies unwittingly identified with the scornful enemies of God and His Anointed in their mockery of Jesus on the cross.

In a truly grace-filled man, his trust in God is known. This trust demonstrated by believing men is not understood by the world. True faith will almost certainly be mocked at some time or another, but the time will come when the man of faith who has trusted in God will be abundantly justified.

9 But thou art He that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.

10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.

11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.

Jesus remained steadfast through the dark night of the soul. Jesus reminded God of the care given since His very earliest days. That prior grace might seem to be wasted if the sufferer was not rescued in His present crisis. Another plea for help is stated. God seems far away but trouble is near and there is none to help!

12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

Jesus described the people tormenting Him as strong bulls of Bashan, large animals noted for their strength. They surround Him and threaten Him. The bull gores and tramples down all before it.

13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.

Jesus found no place to hide from the unwanted stares of cruel, mocking men at the cross. On the cross Jesus was the focus not only of mocking and humiliation, but also of simple astonishment.

14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

Jesus perceived no resource in Himself able to meet the crisis at hand. Whatever strength or resistance He had was poured out like water upon the ground. The awkward and strained position of the crucified man meant that on the cross Jesus could say, "My bones are out of joint." Jesus, despite his great suffering on the cross, suffered no broken bones (John 19:31-37).

That, in itself, was a miracle. But that is prophetic of the true church, the body of Christ.

Ephesians 5:30, "For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones."

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

As was normal for anyone under the agony of crucifixion, Jesus suffered great thirst on the cross (John 19:28). God had pronounced upon Adam after his sin: "For dust you are, and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19). Dust speaks of the mortality and humanity of man. Since all humanity was contained in Adam, this curse extends to the entire human race. That is why we must be born again.

16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.

Again, "all of His bones" speaks of all those who have been born again and remained faithful to Jesus.

18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

This was fulfilled literally in the experience of Jesus. As was the custom of that time, Jesus was stripped nearly naked for the cross, and soldiers gambled (cast lots) for his clothing at the very foot of the cross. John 19:23-24 quotes this Verse 18 as being fulfilled.

David did not die in the crisis described by this psalm; he lived to write it and others. Yet Jesus did not merely come to the edge of death; He was plunged into the dust of death and into all of the cursedness implied by that. Jesus bore the sting of Adam's curse for us (Galatians 3:13) so that we would not have to bear it ourselves. In His death, the Son of David had few sympathizers. Haters, scoffers, and mockers surrounded Jesus on the cross and sought to make His suffering worse (Matthew 27:39-44). 

19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns [or wild oxen].

The request of Verse 11 is here repeated. Deliver Me ... Save Me. Picturing his adversaries as vicious animals (the dog... the lion's mouth... the horns of the wild oxen), Jesus pled for the help and deliverance that only the presence of God brings.

These verses reflect the great danger and misery of his Greater Son, but especially their trust in the LORD God as their deliverer. He and He alone is our hope.

Deliver Me from the sword. The wrath of God was the 'sword,' which took vengeance on all men ... it was the 'flaming sword' which kept men out of paradise.

Hebrews 2:12 quotes the second half of Psalm 22, proving clearly that the entire psalm points to Jesus, not just the agony of the first half.

22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

This section of Psalm 22 reflects the primary reason Jesus went to the cross: to glorify and obey His Father. Jesus understood that His obedient work on the cross would bring great glory to His Father, declaring the greatness of His name. The second great reason why Jesus went to the cross was out of simple love for those who would believe on Him and His saving work, and therefore remember and turn to the LORD. It was for you and me explicitly and for our salvation from sin that he died.

23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise Him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify Him; and fear Him, all ye the seed of Israel.

After pouring out His soul in agony, Jesus has a glorious sense that God has answered Him. The crisis became bearable in the knowledge that God is not removed from His suffering nor silent in it. The deliverance from the crisis itself may be yet to come, but the deliverance from the sense of being forsaken by God in the midst of the crisis was His. Jesus has immense relief, joy, and peace. This was also the resolution that Job fought so hard for. Even without an immediate deliverance from difficulty, there is immense comfort in knowing that God is present and that He is not silent in the midst of our crises.

Just prior to His death on the cross, Jesus said, Father, into Your hands I commend My Spirit (Luke 23:46). Those words point to a re-established sense of fellowship replacing the prior sense of being forsaken. Now the promise is made to glorify and praise the God of all deliverance. Others need to know of God's greatness in such extremity. The command is given to praise, to glorify, and to fear the LORD. The God of such great deliverance deserves all three things from all humanity.

In this section Jesus does two great things in the aftermath of His great work on the cross: Jesus declares God's name (I will declare Your name to My brethren). Jesus leads the redeemed in praise in the midst of the assembly I will praise You).

24 For He hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath He hid His face from Him; but when He cried unto Him, He heard.

This reflects profound spiritual wisdom. God who answers Jesus allowed the affliction but He has not despised it. God has used that affliction for His good and great purpose. Certainly, Jesus felt that the Father hid His face. Yet now, after God's answer has come (Psalm 22:21b), it is clear that He never did leave the afflicted, even in the midst of the affliction. The answer seemed an intolerably long time in coming, but it came. The Son of David could say, "He heard my cry." The experience of affliction and crisis did not make Jesus lose any sense of confidence in God's power and authority. None of the sufferings of Jesus were wasted. Every drop of that cup of agony was used for the great glory of God.

25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.

There are two aspects to a right response to such a wonderful deliverance. The first is public praise, and the second is keeping promises.

26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek Him: your heart shall live for ever.

God will take care of the meek who trust Him and seek Him. They will praise the LORD also. The faithfulness of God to the Son becomes a foundation for His faithfulness to others in need.

27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

The faithfulness of God to Jesus becomes the base for bringing all the ends of the world to the LORD. The LORD uses that affliction to reach all the ends of the world for the knowledge of God, for repentance unto Him, and for His worship.

My song, verses 26 and 27. 

28 For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and He is the governor among the nations.

29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before Him: and none can keep alive his own soul.

Of all humanity, Jesus was the only One who could keep himself alive. Jesus Himself said of His life, "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again" (John 10:18).

30 A seed shall serve Him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

31 They shall come, and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that He hath done this.

David did not know the practice of crucifixion in his day, but Psalm 22 describes the amazing specific prophecy of the future suffering of the Son of David on the cross. Hundreds of years before the Romans adopted the Persian practice of crucifixion, David described the wounds of crucifixion that Jesus would bear.

More importantly, Jesus appropriated the victory of the second half of this psalm just as much as He did the agony of the first half. Just before He died, Jesus cried out, "It is finished" (John 19:30). Jesus died on the cross and then was resurrected in glory. Jesus overcame sin, death, and the devil. Then Jesus said, in Matthew 28:18, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Every Christian is called to do the same thing ... we must take up our cross and die daily to self. The same Holy Spirit that dwelled in Jesus now resides in us Christians. What brings about that power in our life? Jesus was rejected by His own. Rejection brings about suffering and suffering for the Lord's sake brings about power and glory. Romans 8:18, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

We can only behold the amazing, awesome, wonderful Savior, who paid the ultimate sacrifice for you and me. Amen.