Isa 49:9 | KingComments | STEP | tells how the LORD has answered the prayer of His Servant when He is in humility among His people and He has offered up to Him “both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears” ( ). When God raises Him from the dead, it is “a favorable time”. This word is applied by Paul to the believers ( ), through which we perceive here in veiled terms the relationship between Christ and His church, which may share in the blessings of the new covenant. Those who share His rejection may draw comfort from this promise of a favorable time while living in a time of rejection. Because Christ has identified Himself with Israel, these words will also become true for the people who, in their restored state, are in fellowship with Him. The fact that Christ has been made “a covenant of the people” points to the new covenant that will soon be made with Israel. That covenant is new and better because it is based on the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross and rests on the power of His shed blood, the blood of the new covenant. “The desolate heritages” point to the devastation that Israel will endure as a result of the invasion of the king of the North, or the alliance of Arab nations. That which has been destroyed will be restored, they will “inherit” it again. Each tribe of the people will regain its inheritance ( ; ). Prisoners in exile will be delivered and restored to their land. There they will manifest themselves as His people ( ). The verses that follow give a wonderful description of the consequences of the second coming of Christ. These consequences go far beyond anything that takes place at the return to the land under the command of Cyrus. The people are painted as a herd returning home and finding pasture on the way ( ). They will have enough food on their journey home without having to go far to find food. They will not be hungry or thirsty and will not suffer from the heat ( ). All this is because the LORD is “He who has compassion” Who will lead them personally. On their return from all parts of the world, their journeys will be marked by the fact that they will not encounter insurmountable obstacles and difficulties ( ). The LORD speaks emphatically of “ My mountains” and “ My ways”. They are His creation and therefore He can make a change in them in a way that everything will favor the return of His people and make them prosperous. We can also apply this to our current experiences. The mountains of difficulties we face on our pilgrim path can become heights of fellowship with God and of joyful fellowship with His people. This will be so if we trust the Lord with all our heart and entrust our whole being to Him for the fulfillment of His will. In the coming day, Israel will be gathered from all parts of the world to the earthly center assigned to them ( ). By “the west” can be meant Western Europe and the United States of America as well as areas in Africa. “These from the land of Sinim” are believed to be inhabitants of China. This prospect of such a vast and general gathering causes a call to shout for joy ( ). Everything and everyone, heaven, earth and mountains, must come to an outburst of joy over what the LORD has done for His people.

‏ Isaiah 49:9

Delivered and on Their Way to Their Land

Isa 49:8 tells how the LORD has answered the prayer of His Servant when He is in humility among His people and He has offered up to Him “both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears” (Heb 5:7). When God raises Him from the dead, it is “a favorable time”. This word is applied by Paul to the believers (2Cor 6:1-2), through which we perceive here in veiled terms the relationship between Christ and His church, which may share in the blessings of the new covenant. Those who share His rejection may draw comfort from this promise of a favorable time while living in a time of rejection.

Because Christ has identified Himself with Israel, these words will also become true for the people who, in their restored state, are in fellowship with Him. The fact that Christ has been made “a covenant of the people” points to the new covenant that will soon be made with Israel. That covenant is new and better because it is based on the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross and rests on the power of His shed blood, the blood of the new covenant.

“The desolate heritages” point to the devastation that Israel will endure as a result of the invasion of the king of the North, or the alliance of Arab nations. That which has been destroyed will be restored, they will “inherit” it again. Each tribe of the people will regain its inheritance (Lev 25:8-13; Eze 47:13-14 ; Eze 48:29). Prisoners in exile will be delivered and restored to their land. There they will manifest themselves as His people (Isa 49:9a).

The verses that follow give a wonderful description of the consequences of the second coming of Christ. These consequences go far beyond anything that takes place at the return to the land under the command of Cyrus. The people are painted as a herd returning home and finding pasture on the way (Isa 49:9b). They will have enough food on their journey home without having to go far to find food. They will not be hungry or thirsty and will not suffer from the heat (Isa 49:10). All this is because the LORD is “He who has compassion” Who will lead them personally.

On their return from all parts of the world, their journeys will be marked by the fact that they will not encounter insurmountable obstacles and difficulties (Isa 49:11). The LORD speaks emphatically of “My mountains” and “My ways”. They are His creation and therefore He can make a change in them in a way that everything will favor the return of His people and make them prosperous.

We can also apply this to our current experiences. The mountains of difficulties we face on our pilgrim path can become heights of fellowship with God and of joyful fellowship with His people. This will be so if we trust the Lord with all our heart and entrust our whole being to Him for the fulfillment of His will.

In the coming day, Israel will be gathered from all parts of the world to the earthly center assigned to them (Isa 49:12). By “the west” can be meant Western Europe and the United States of America as well as areas in Africa. “These from the land of Sinim” are believed to be inhabitants of China. This prospect of such a vast and general gathering causes a call to shout for joy (Isa 49:13). Everything and everyone, heaven, earth and mountains, must come to an outburst of joy over what the LORD has done for His people.