If you recall, the second “Section” of Isaiah (chapters 40-66 in distinction to chapters 1-39) began with these words: “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.”Isaiah 40:1
And that, dear students, sets the overarching Theme to Isaiah’s Prophecies in these final (27) chapters … “COMFORT!”
Including today’s Text, our last meditation from Isaiah chapter 49. (And what a thrilling chapter it has been!)
Again, God is speaking to His people, to the Jews: “And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken 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.” Isaiah 49:26 … a Victory so pronounced that it may not occur until the days of the Tribulation, its very climax!
God overcoming (or promising to overcome) all Israel’s “oppressors!” The verb “oppress” here is “yanah” in Hebrew. It is used only 21 times in the entire Old Testament! It means (in part) “to treat violently!” In the King James Version it is translated “to thrust out” once! And “to destroy” once as well.
Those who so hate Israel (and act upon that hate) God will literally kill! In a particularly graphic manner! He will “feed them with their own flesh.”
What does that mean?
I think it may be a case where these enemies (who bitterly say of Israel, quoting Psalm 83:4, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance”) are sent strong confusion from the Lord, so much so that they attack themselves! Mistakenly kill each other in a massive case of “friendly fire!” (Called “strong delusion” by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:11.)
Or perhaps … they themselves are put under such a long siege from a more formidable enemy … that they become so hungry and so thirsty … that they eat their own children and drink the blood of the recently dead! (A common result of extremely long sieges!)
Yes … “They shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine.” Thus saith the Lord!
And what will be the result of this great Victory God provides Judah/Israel? “And all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.” The last clause of Isaiah 49:26, today’s Text.
Wow!
“All flesh!”
As when “That unto me (God) every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” Also written by Isaiah the Prophet, in 45:23.
Which Paul adapted to say (under the Guidance of the Holy Spirit) … “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11
I sure would not want to be guilty of “oppressing” Israel, would you? Of “cursing” her? Genesis 12:1-3, notice especially the capitalized line: “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: AND I WILL bless them that bless thee, and CURSE HIM THAT CURSETH THEE : and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
Comfort indeed … for Israel!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Isaiah the Prophet … what a writer!
And the Holy Spirit of God … What An Author!
And us Christians, looking on this Scene of Victory … thrilled that our God is receiving Honor and Glory eternally due his Name!
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