Isa 49:1
49:1 Listen, to me O isles; and hearken, ye people, from far;
     The LORD hath called {a} me from {b} the womb; from the
     body of my mother hath he made mention of my name.

     (a) This is spoken in the person of Christ, to assure the
         faithful that these promises should come to pass: for
         they were all made in him and in him would be
         performed.
     (b) This is meant of the time that Christ would be
         manifested to the world, as in Ps 2:7.

Isa 49:2
49:2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp {c} sword; in the
     shadow of his hand hath he {d} hid me, and made me a
     polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

     (c) By the sword and shaft, he signifies the virtue and
         efficacy of Christ's doctrine.
     (d) God has taken me to his protection and defence: this
         chiefly is meant of Christ, and may also be applied to
         the ministers of his word.

Isa 49:3
49:3 And said to me, Thou [art] my servant, O {e} Israel, in
     whom I will be glorified.

     (e) By Israel is meant Christ, and all the body of the
         faithful, as the members and their head.

Isa 49:4
49:4 Then I said, I have {f} laboured in vain, I have spent my
     strength for nothing, and in vain: [yet] surely my judgment
     [is] with the LORD, and my work with my God.

     (f) Thus Christ in his members complains that his labour
         and preaching take no effect, yet he is contented that
         his doings are approved by God.

Isa 49:5
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, {g} yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of
     the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.

     (g) Though the Jews refuse my doctrine, yet God will
         approve my ministry.

Isa 49:6
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 {h} thee for a light
     to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation to the
     end of the earth.

     (h) To declare my gospel to the Gentiles, as in
         Isa 42:6, Ac 13:47, Lu 2:32.

Isa 49:7
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 {i} servant of rulers, Kings shall see and
     {k} arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD
     that is faithful, [and] the Holy One of Israel, and he
     shall choose thee.

     (i) Meaning, the Jews whom tyrants kept in bondage.
     (k) The benefit of their deliverance will be so great, that
         great and small will acknowledge it, and revere God for
         it.

Isa 49:8
49:8 Thus saith the LORD, {l} 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 {m} thee for a covenant of the
     people, to establish the {n} earth, to cause to inherit the
     desolate heritages;

     (l) Thus he speaks of his Church when he would show his
         mercy toward it, 2Co 6:2.
     (m) Meaning, Christ alone.
     (n) Signifying that before Christ renewed the earth by his
         word, there is nothing but confusion and disorder.

Isa 49:9
49:9 That thou mayest say to the {o} prisoners, Go forth; to
     them that [are] in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall
     feed in the ways, and their {p} pastures [shall be] in all
     high places.

     (o) To them who are in the prison of sin and death.
     (p) Being in Christ's protection, they will be safe against
         all dangers, and free from fear of the enemies.

Isa 49:10
49:10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat
      nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy {q} on them
      shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he
      guide them.

      (q) Meaning, that there would be nothing in their way from
          Babylon that would hinder or hurt them: but this is
          accomplished spiritually.

Isa 49:12
49:12 Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the
      north and from the west; and these from the land of {r}
      Sinim.

      (r) Meaning, the south country, so that Christ will
          deliver his from all the parts of the world.

Isa 49:13
49:13 Sing, O {s} 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.

      (s) Read Isa 44:23.

Isa 49:14
49:14 But Zion said, The LORD hath {t} forsaken me, and my Lord
      hath forgotten me.

      (t) He objects what the faithful might say in their long
          affliction and answers to comfort them with a most
          proper comparison and full of consolation.

Isa 49:16
49:16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of [my] {u}
      hands; thy {x} walls [are] continually before me.

      (u) Because  I would not forget you.
      (x) Meaning, the good order of policy and discipline.

Isa 49:17
49:17 Thy children shall make {y} haste; thy destroyers and they
      that made thee waste shall go forth from thee.

      (y) I have continual care to build you up again and to
          destroy your enemies.

Isa 49:18
49:18 Lift up thy eyes around, and behold: all these gather
      themselves together, [and] come to thee. [As] I live,
      saith the LORD, thou shalt surely {z} clothe thee with
      them all, as with an ornament, and bind them [on thee], as
      a bride [doeth].

      (z) He shows what are the ornaments of the Church: to have
          many children, who are assembled by the word of God,
          and governed by his Spirit.

Isa 49:22
49:22 Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up my hand to
      the {a} 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.

      (a) He shows that Christ will not only gather this great
          number from the Jews but also from the Gentiles.

Isa 49:23
49:23 And kings {b} shall be thy nursing fathers, and their
      queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow to thee with
      [their] face toward the earth, and lick up the {c} dust of
      thy feet; and thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD: for
      they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.

      (b) Meaning, that kings will be converted to the gospel,
          and bestow their power and authority for the
          preservation of the Church.
      (c) Being joined with the Church, they will humble
          themselves to Christ their head, and give him all
          honour.

Isa 49:24
49:24 Shall the prey be {d} taken from the mighty, or the lawful
      captive delivered?

      (d) He makes this as an objection as though the Chaldeans
          were strong, and had them in just possession.

Isa 49:25
49:25 But thus saith the LORD, {e} 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.

      (e) This is the answer to their objection, that no one is
          stronger than the Lord, neither has a more just title
          to them.

Isa 49:26
49:26 And I will feed them that oppress thee with {f} their own
      flesh; and they shall be drunk 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.

      (f) I will cause them to destroy one another as in
          Jud 7:22, 2Ch 20:22, Isa 19:2.