Глава 41

“Be silent, islands, and let the nations change their strength” (Is. 41:1), that is, either - let them speak for themselves, or - together with their gods, let them be condemned. “Therefore let the nations retreat before Him, and let the kings be afraid.” If the pagans and their gods recognized the truth, then the truth will follow them. But since the Creator of the world called it, and He is despised by the pagans, then let them retreat before Him nations... “He will make the sword of his own like dust, and like a rejected stalk to his bow” (Is. 41:2), that is, he will turn to dust with the sword that he brought against them. “And I will procreate, that is, the pagan nations, and will create peace for His people. He will not enter the way with His feet” (Isaiah 41:3). For it is equally easy for Him to oppress His enemies and to comfort His friends. “Who made and did this?” (Isa.41:4). And who told Moses about the wars and the salvation of those close to God? “The islands saw Him and were afraid” (Is. 41:5), that is, those whom He called to judgment to judge them for His people. “And the woodworker approves of the forger who beats with hammer and forges, and says: soldering is good” (Is. 41:7). The prophet mocks the idols from which the islands, called by God to judgment, sought help for themselves. “The seed of Abraham, whom I loved... I am your God, who has strengthened you... and established you with My righteous right hand” (Is. 41:8, 10), that is, you are the seed of Abraham, beloved by Me, whom I strengthened, calling from the ends of the earth, from the east. “They will be like non-existent... your rivals” (Is. 41:11), that is, the Babylonians who attack you. “They will be as if they were not” (Is. 41:12). Edomites, Greeks and all the nations that fight (fight) against you. “Fear not, O worm Jacob, little one of Israel” (Is. 41:14), because you will overthrow both kingdoms and their proud plans. God calls His people the worm of Jacob and the sparsely populated Israel, because like a worm it will undermine and destroy the fortress of the pagan kings. “Behold, I have made you like new chariot wheels... you have destroyed the mountains and thinned out the hills” (Isaiah 41:15). The prophet calls the kingdoms and fortifications of the pagans mountains and hills. “The poor and the poor: they will seek water, and there will be none” (Is. 41:17). The prophet calls those Jews who in Babylon long for deliverance as beggars. “But I will open rivers on the mountains and springs in the middle of the fields” (Is. 41:18), that is, I will comfort the Jews with the news of their return from Babylon. “I will put cedar and tornadoes in the waterless land. Instead of the thorns and thistles, which I brought forth for their sins, I will plant beautiful cypress trees in the plain” (Is. 41:19). These images show that the land of Judah will abound in everything upon their return from Babylon. This prophecy was completely fulfilled at the coming of the Messiah by the calling and conversion of the pagans, who are depicted here as the poor and poor Jews, seeking water and not finding it. Jacob predicted the same thing: “And this is the desire of the nations” (Gen. 49:10). And it is said to Ezekiel: “If you had sent you to people...who did not understand the words...they would have listened to you” (Ezek. 3:6). “I,” he says, “will hear them thirsting from Jacob” (Is. 41:17); and in the spiritual sense he continues: “I will open rivers on the mountains, that is, streams of prophecy, and springs in the middle of the field” (Is. 41:18), that is, watercourses of the apostleship. “I will place cedar and tornadoes in the waterless land” (Is. 41:19), that is, high priests, priests and ministers of the mysteries, who among the pagans will perform the Sacrament and break the Body and Blood for the purification of souls, I will put in the place of priests and soothsayers, who with their idolatrous sacrifices desecrated the souls of simple people. “Let them draw near and tell you what will come to pass” (Is. 41:22). The prophet depicts the judgment of the worshipers of false gods because they stubbornly disrespected the true God, and reveals that the pagan gods do not know the future. “And we are learned, as we are gods: you will do good and you will do evil” (Is. 41:23). When you discover what will happen, then we will know that you can do good and do evil. “But you are of nothing; your choice is an abomination” (Is. 41:24). The prophet calls either the idols themselves, which the nations have chosen for themselves, or the wicked opinions of those who worshiped idols, an abomination. “I have raised up those who are from the north... so that they may come from the east of the sun.” This is Zerubbabel, Joshua the priest, the son of the high priest Jozedek, and the rest with them. “Let the princes come and... trample underfoot” (Is. 41:25), that is, the people of Gog and the Greeks. “I will give a beginning to Zion,” that is, the good promises proclaimed of old. “And...to Jerusalem...give me an evangelist” (Is. 41:27), that is, an evangelist who will proclaim this. “They are all nothing...and their works are the breath of the wind” (Is. 41:29). They themselves are vain and transitory, and their deeds are as vain as they themselves. You might be interested in: