Isaiah 49:22-23

Isaiah 49:22-23

[22] Thus saith  the Lord  GOD,  Behold, I will lift up  mine hand  to the Gentiles,  and set up  my standard  to the people:  and they shall bring  thy sons  in their arms,  and thy daughters  shall be carried  upon their shoulders.  [23] And kings  shall be thy nursing fathers,  and their queens  thy nursing mothers:  they shall bow down  to thee with their face  toward the earth,  and lick up  the dust  of thy feet;  and thou shalt know  that I am the LORD:  for they shall not be ashamed  that wait  for me.

What does Isaiah 49:22-23 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Sovereign Yahweh further promised that the Gentiles would be responsible for ushering many of the Israelites back into their land. Even Gentile kings and princesses would carry Hebrew children back to their ancestors" homeland. An amillennial interpretation follows:
"We are not to look for a literal fulfillment of this promise. It rather refers to a conversion of the Gentiles, who as converted bring to Zion [1] the converted sons of Israel." [2]
God would raise His hand and an ensign (banner, signal), Messiah, to summon the nations to do this (cf. Isaiah 5:26; Isaiah 11:10; Isaiah 11:12; Isaiah 13:2; Isaiah 30:17; Isaiah 62:10). They would show an uncharacteristic concern for the welfare of the Israelites and would even bow down before them in submission. Young interpreted this as follows:
"Even the highest and most powerful rulers of the heathen nations will reverence the Church [3] and devote to her all their wealth and power." [4]
Previously the Israelites had to bow before the Gentiles. The "times of the Gentiles," the times of Gentile supremacy over Israel in the world, will have ended (cf. Zechariah 12:2; Zechariah 14:2-3; Luke 21:24; Revelation 11:2; Revelation 19:17-19). The times of Gentile supremacy in the world began when Nebuchadnezzar removed Israel"s sovereignty, in586 B.C, and will conclude when Jesus Christ returns at His second advent and restores Israel"s sovereignty, in the Millennium. This will prove that Yahweh is the true God since He predicted this reversal of Israel"s fortunes and will bring it to pass. Those who believe His promises will not be embarrassed or disappointed, because He will fulfill them.
"All the nations are flowing to Jerusalem to bow at her feet, yes, to beg mercy for the wrongs done, and yes, to bring back with apology those who had been dragged away, but also to try to learn something of this amazing God who has been able to lift his people from barren widowhood to being the laughing grandmother of nations." [5]
The prophet now turned from emphasizing the children who will return, to the oppressors who will be destroyed.