Isaiah 41:1-7
The Lord alone directs the course of history.
1 “Keep silent before me, islands, and let the peoples renew their strength. Let them come near, then let them speak. Let’s meet together for judgment.
2 Who has raised up one from the east? Who called him to his foot in righteousness? He hands over nations to him and makes him rule over kings. He gives them like the dust to his sword, like the driven stubble to his bow.
3 He pursues them and passes by safely, even by a way that he had not gone with his feet.
4 Who has worked and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Yahweh, the first, and with the last, I am he.”
5 The islands have seen, and fear. The ends of the earth tremble. They approach, and come.
6 Everyone helps his neighbor. They say to their brothers, “Be strong!”
7 So the carpenter encourages the goldsmith. He who smoothes with the hammer encourages him who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, “It is good;” and he fastens it with nails, that it might not totter.
The LORD alone directs the course of history.
To summon the nations into a courtroom setting and assert the LORD’s sovereign direction of history over rising powers.
The LORD’s Courtroom, the Futility of Idols, and Comfort for Israel His Servant
The LORD alone governs history, exposes idols, and comforts Israel His servant with His presence, help, redemption, and renewing provision, so His people must not fear but trust the Holy One who holds their hand.