Listen, O isles— In these verses we have first the exordium to the isles, and far distant people, that is to say, the Gentiles, who are frequently addressed by the appellation of isles, as we have had occasion to observe before. He who makes the address, namely, Jesus the Messiah, is sufficiently evident from the description of his person and office immediately following. His person,—The Lord hath called me before the womb [that is to say, before I was in the womb]; before I was in the bowels of my mother, he hath made mention of my name. St. Peter says of the Messiah, that he was thus called or mentioned before the foundation of the world. His prophetical office is next described in Isaiah 49:2. The meaning of which, out of the metaphor, is, "God hath ordained and appointed me, as a powerful teacher, whose instructions and convictions should penetrate deeply, and subdue the adversaries of my doctrine." So it is said of the Son of God in the Revelation 1:16. That out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword; and chap. Isaiah 2:16. I will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. In the shadow of his hand hath he hid me; that is, "I have, as it were, been thus to this time hidden with God by his wisdom and providence, like a sword which is concealed in the scabbard: but, drawn forth from the scabbard in these latter times of the world, I appear as the teacher of truth, enforcing with mighty power my doctrines upon the minds of men." See Romans 16:25-26. The next clause is analogous to that preceding, and to the same purpose. His mediatorial office is set forth in the third verse, wherein the Messiah says, that the Father had said to him, Thou art my servant; that is, "I have designed thee alone, the man Christ Jesus; and have prepared thee as the mediator of mankind; on this condition, that thou shouldst be my servant; namely, to undergo the severest servitude; subjecting thyself to death, even the death of the cross, to sanctify and glorify my name by thy bitter sufferings, in the stead of lost mankind. Thou, therefore, art Israel; the only one among all the true Israelites, who art to exhibit in thyself all the characters of thy father Jacob, who, wrestling with God, prevailed; saved himself and his house, and therefore obtained the name of Israel." See Isaiah 49:5-6.
Related Commentaries of Isaiah 49:1
Isaiah 49:1-3
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.
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;
3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.