Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
Yet now hear is God's call to Jacob as His servant and to Israel as His chosen. It stands within Isaiah 41-45, where God reveals His purpose for His people very fully, and those chapters are to be studied prayerfully. Its chapter belongs to a series of promises showing what God has covenanted to do for His people and giving them encouragement. It directs God's people to rely on His wisdom rather than turning away from Him to depend on finite human wisdom.
It assures them that the Lord who made and formed them from the womb will help them, so they need not fear. It introduces His purpose to pour water on him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground, meaning to pour His Spirit upon their seed and His blessing upon their offspring. As a result they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses, and many shall profess to belong to the Lord and call themselves by the name of Jacob and by the name of Israel. This promise rests on the Lord as King of Israel and Redeemer, the first and the last besides whom there is no God. He alone appointed the ancient people and declares the things that are coming, and He calls His people His witnesses to fear not because He has told and declared beforehand that there is no other God.
The thirsty ones are those all around who are destitute of knowledge of how to care for themselves and who need to be refreshed and restored. The verse therefore calls for working to the utmost of ability and means and for investing self and resources in service for God without disappointment.
Yet now hear is God's call to Jacob as His servant and to Israel as His chosen. It stands within Isaiah 41-45, where God reveals His purpose for His people very fully, and those chapters are to be studied prayerfully. Its chapter belongs to a series of promises showing what God has covenanted to do for His people and giving them encouragement. It directs God's people to rely on His wisdom rather than turning away from Him to depend on finite human wisdom.
It assures them that the Lord who made and formed them from the womb will help them, so they need not fear. It introduces His purpose to pour water on him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground, meaning to pour His Spirit upon their seed and His blessing upon their offspring. As a result they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses, and many shall profess to belong to the Lord and call themselves by the name of Jacob and by the name of Israel. This promise rests on the Lord as King of Israel and Redeemer, the first and the last besides whom there is no God. He alone appointed the ancient people and declares the things that are coming, and He calls His people His witnesses to fear not because He has told and declared beforehand that there is no other God.
The thirsty ones are those all around who are destitute of knowledge of how to care for themselves and who need to be refreshed and restored. The verse therefore calls for working to the utmost of ability and means and for investing self and resources in service for God without disappointment.