Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 49

Verse 2

GOD’S SPOKESMAN

‘He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand hath He hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in His quiver hath He hid me.’

Isaiah 49:2

I. These words were addressed to Israel, and must be applied to Him Who alone hath expressed the true genius and spirit of the Hebrew people, that Prince of the House of David Whom we call Master and Lord.—And in so far as we belong to and resemble Him we may claim that God should make these words true of us.

The mouth, like the sharp sword, recalls the portrait of the Son of Man, out of Whose mouth a sharp two-edged sword proceeded. We may well ask that our words should partake of the nature of the Word of God, which is quick and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword’ ( Revelation 1:16).

II. ‘Hidden in the shadow of God’s hand’ is a safe and strong position for the Christian worker.—We all need more of the shadow, and we need not fear it when it is cast by His hand. Our life must be hidden with Christ in God, if we shall come forth largely to influence men. Do not be afraid of the shadow, Christian worker.

III. The polished shaft is the one that is free from rust.—Nothing removes rust like friction, whether by the file or sandpaper. We have often to submit to the chafe of tiny irritants in order to keep us polished.

IV. ‘In His quiver hath He hid me.’—Always ready for use, within reach of God’s hand, waiting to be adjusted to the bowstring, and launched through the air to some joint in the harness; such should be our attitude. But again it is impressed upon us that we must be hidden through long periods of cessation from active use, content with the darkness of the quiver until the moment of our mission has arrived. Then forward with the might of God’s hand thrilling through our souls.