Isaiah 41:16

16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them; and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 41:16 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 41:16

Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away,
and the whirlwind shall scatter them
In illusion to the custom of the Jews, who had their threshingfloors on the tops of hills and mountains, where they took the opportunity and advantage of the wind in winnowing their corn, which fanned it, and carried away the chaff, and scattered it abroad; in like manner, it is suggested, the enemies of the church and people of God should be dealt with, which are like the chaff the wind driveth away, and is found no more, ( Psalms 1:5 ) , and so Rome Pagan was no more as such when subdued by Constantine, nor will the Papal antichristian states, ( Daniel 2:35 ) . Compare with this what is said of literal Babylon, which will have its accomplishment in mystical Babylon, ( Jeremiah 51:33 ) : and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord:
the Targum is,

``in the word of the Lord;''

and so it paraphrases the preceding clause,

``his word shall scatter them as the whirlwind chaff;''

and therefore in him the saints shall rejoice, because it is he that destroys their enemies; so when Rome Pagan was abolished, and the devil and his angels, or the Heathen emperors, were drove out of it and destroyed, there was great joy among the people of God, saying, "now is come salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ", ( Revelation 12:10 ) ( Revelation 19:1 Revelation 19:2 ) there will be great rejoicing in the Lord likewise when Rome Papal falls, and the saints have got the victory over the beast, ( Revelation 15:2 Revelation 15:3 ) ( 18:20 ) ( Revelation 19:1 Revelation 19:2 ) and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel;
whose arm alone has done the above things, and to whom the glory is to be given: it is the true character of believers to rejoice in Christ, in his person, offices, and grace, and to glory in his being made unto them wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. ( Philippians 3:3 ) ( 1 Corinthians 1:30 1 Corinthians 1:31 ) .

Isaiah 41:16 In-Context

14 "Fear not, thou worm Jacob and ye men of Israel; I will help thee," saith the LORD and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

15 "Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth; thou shalt thresh the mountains and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.

16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them; and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.

17 "When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none and their tongue faileth for thirst, I, the LORD, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

18 I will open rivers in high places and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water and the dry land springs of water.