Isaiah 44 - Outline of Isaiah (Book Notes menu page)

1. Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
2 Thus saith the LORD that made thee,
and formed thee from the womb, [which] will help thee;
Fear not, O Jacob, my servant;
and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty,
and floods upon the dry ground:
I will pour my spirit upon thy seed,
and my blessing upon thine offspring:
4 And they shall spring up [as] among the grass,
as willows by the water courses.
5 One shall say, I [am] the LORD'S;
and another shall call [himself] by the name of Jacob;
and another shall subscribe [with] his hand unto the LORD,
and surname [himself] by the name of Israel.
  Yet now...- Verses 1-5 conclude a section focused upon Israel's Redeemer and Savior (43:1- 44:1-5)
    This section opened with the LORD's purpose to redeem and restore Israel. He would create, mold and perfect them as His own holy people, who would be His witnesses to the Gentile nations (eg., 43:1-7,10). But in Isaiah's day (and onward), Israel was in a state of unbelief and apathy towards the LORD and His purposes (eg., 43:21-22). Therefore, for the time being, they would remain under His judgment and under the oppression of their enemies (43:28).
  Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen...-
    Despite their obstinance, the LORD will ultimately fulfill His purpose for His blind and deaf servant, Israel.
    - thou, Jesurun {'Upright One'}...-
    Israel will be clothed in the righteousness of their Lord and Savior (Isa 43:11,15,25).
    Though they turned from Him (Deu 32:15), this has been His desire for them from the beginning (Deu 33:26-29).
  - I will pour water upon him that is thirsty...-
      The LORD will pour out His Holy Spirit upon Israel 'when the times of refreshing shall come...' cp. Acts 2:38,39; 3:19
      This refreshing is only for those who are thirsty (v.3; Mat 5:6; Joh 7:37-39; Rev 22:17). The water of life is freely available, today, for 'whosoever will' come to Christ. But in that day, Israel will see their need and turn to Him, as a nation.
  - they shall spring up... as willows by the water courses...-
      Israel, as a group, the nation, will be re-established and thrive in the place of blessing, as the LORD intended, before they wandered from Him. cp. Isa 61:1-4; cf. Psa 137:1-6
  - one shall say, I am the LORD's...-
      In that day, every Israelite will gladly identify himself with the LORD, to serve Him with the whole heart. cf. Isa 43:22; cp. Deu 26:17-19; Eze 36:25-28
      Verse 5 may also include Gentiles, who having come to faith in Israel's God, will be identified with His people (. eg., Psa 87:4-6).
      In the Messianic Kingdom, Israel's 'curse and reproach' will be removed and forgotten.
III. Salvation (poetry), ch. 40-66
  A. Peace assured through knowing the Lord GOD... (The God of Peace), ch. 40-48
    5. Who calls Cyrus to free captive Israel, 44:6- 45:25
6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel,
and his redeemer the LORD of hosts;
I [am] the first, and I [am] the last; and beside me [there is] no God.
7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it,
and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people?
and the things that are coming {ie., in the distant future},
and shall come {ie., imminently}, let them shew unto them.
8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid:
have not I told thee from that time, and have declared [it]?
ye [are] even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me?
yea, [there is] no God {lit., Rock}; I know not [any].
  Thus saith the LORD... and His redeemer {HB=ga'al, kinsman redeemer} the LORD of hosts...
    Observe that, in some way, 'the LORD' is distinct from 'His redeemer.' Yet both are called 'the LORD,' and both speak as One: 'I am the first, and I am the last.' Elsewhere, we saw that the LORD would "become salvation" for His people (Psa 118:14,21; Isa 12:2). To become our salvation, the LORD first became our kinsman redeemer, in order to offer the one effective sacrifice for sin (Heb 2:14-18; Php 2:5-8). God, the Father and the Son (the Lamb of God) are One in the work of salvation (2Cor 5:18-21), and share one eternal essence as the everliving God (Joh 1:1-4,14,18).
  who, as I, shall call {HB=qara', proclaim, commission}
  ...and declare {HB=nagad, announce, make known}
  ...and set in order {HB='arak, prepare, arrange},
  ...since I appointed {HB=suwm, ordained, established} the ancient people {ie., Israel}...-
    The LORD continues and amplifies His challenge against false gods, showing that He alone is the true God. Previously, He demonstrated that He has declared the end from the beginning, explaining the history of Israel and foretelling their future (cp. Isa 41:21-24 and context). Now He shows that the things of which He speaks (and has spoken) are not only announced, but also determined, caused, and brought to pass, by His Word.
  Fear ye not... have not I told thee from that time... ye are my witnesses...-
    The history and continued existence of Israel, bear witness that the things concerning them have been foreordained by the LORD, ever since the time that He chose Israel for this very purpose.
    This testimony convicts the unbeliever of the Truth, and comforts the believer with the Rock solid certainty of God's Word. Believing Israelites need not fear, for: "I have redeemed thee" (43:1); "whom I have chosen" (2x, 44:1,2); "ye are my witnesses" (44:8).
9. They that make a graven image [are] all of them vanity;
and their delectable things {ie., precious things (their idols)} shall not profit;
and they [are] their own witnesses;
they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed {ie., put to shame}.
10 Who hath formed a god,
or molten a graven image [that] is profitable for nothing?
11 Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed:
and the workmen, they [are] of men:
let them all be gathered together, let them stand up;
[yet] they shall fear, [and] they shall be ashamed together.
12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals,
and fashioneth it with hammers,
and worketh it with the strength of his arms:
yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth:
he drinketh no water, and is faint.
13 The carpenter stretcheth out [his] rule; he marketh it out with a line;
he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass,
and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man;
that it may remain in the house.
14 He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak,
which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest:
he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish [it].
15 Then shall it be for a man to burn:
for he will take thereof, and warm himself;
yea, he kindleth [it], and baketh bread;
yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth [it];
he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.
16 He burneth part {ie., half} thereof in the fire;
with part {ie., half} thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied:
yea, he warmeth [himself], and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:
17 And the residue {ie., the left over portion} thereof he maketh a god,
[even] his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth [it],
and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou [art] my god.
  they that make a graven image... are their own witnesses...-
    In contrast to Israel's witness to the true and living God, those who worship idols give ample testimony to their worthlessness.
  they see not, nor know... (v.9) -
    Like their idols, the idol worshippers are without understanding (Isa 41:23,24; Psa 135:15-18).
  all his fellows shall be ashamed... let them stand... they shall fear... be ashamed...-
    There is no strength in numbers, for all who prosecute their faulty case, before the LORD.
    The case for false gods fails, for...
    - they are made by men.- Made in the weakness of human strength (v.12),
    and according to man's design (v.13), of trees cultivated by men who are dependent upon rain from heaven (v.14), such gods are devoid of power, initiative and life.
  - they shall not profit {ie., be beneficial}...-
      The profitable half, of the harvested log, is the portion burned for warmth and cooking.
  - the residue (that which is left over after this profitable use), can do nothing.
      It cannot deliver {snatch away or rescue} anyone, no matter how sincerely foolish men seek its favor and help.
18 They have not known nor understood:
for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see;
[and] their hearts, that they cannot understand.
19 And none considereth in his heart,
neither [is there] knowledge nor understanding to say,
I have burned part of it in the fire;
yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof;
I have roasted flesh, and eaten [it]:
and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination?
shall I fall down to the stock {HB=buwl, produce} of a tree? {ie., a block of wood}
20 He feedeth on ashes:
a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul,
nor say, [Is there] not a lie in my right hand?
  for he hath shut {HB=tuwach, daubed, plastered} their eyes, that they cannot see...-
    This line illuminates the reason for Jesus' action in Joh 9:5-7. Israel, like those who worship idols, was spiritually blind, and unaware that they needed Him to open their eyes.
  a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul...-
    As a dead idol cannot deliver its worshipper, a deceived heart cannot deliver itself from the lie which it has embraced. Yet, there is One who can deliver (Luk 4:18,19).
    Thus, the LORD, in His grace, calls His blind servant to look at Him...
21. Remember these {ie., these following things},
O Jacob and Israel; for thou [art] my servant:
[A] I have formed thee; thou [art] my servant:
O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
22 [B] I have blotted out, {cp. Psa 51:1,9; Isa 43:25}
as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins:
return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done [it]:
shout, ye lower parts of the earth:
break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein:
for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
  These assurances are directed to "the ancient people" who have been called and appointed by the LORD {the ever-living One} who is the First and the Last (v.6,7).
  Israel is the 'ancient' {HB='olam, everlasting} people, unforgotten by their everlasting God (Isa 40:28), who gives them His everlasting covenant (55:3), everlasting salvation (45:17), everlasting name (56:5), everlasting joy (51:11), everlasting light (60:19), and everlasting excellency (60:15), and who loves them with an everlasting love (HB=chesed, loving kindness, 54:8), and who will establish them as an everlasting sign of His grace (55:13). [adapted from GWms]
24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer,
and he that formed thee from the womb,
I [am] the LORD that maketh all [things];
that stretcheth forth the heavens alone;
that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself {ie., without the help of anyone};
  The LORD describes Himself, in sharp contrast to the false gods.
    Several words, in v.24, were used previously in this chapter, regarding the construction of idols.
    - thy redeemer {ga'al, v.6; cp. Isa 43:1} - He is Israel's kinsman redeemer,
    whereas the lifeless idols are kin to none and can deliver no one (v.17).
  - that formed {HB=yatsar} thee in the womb, v.2,21 - He 'ordered' them in life,
      whereas the idols were 'made, formed, and fashioned' of dead logs with axe and hammers (v.9,10,12).
  - that maketh {HB='asah} all things, v.2 - He designed Israel, for Himself,
      whereas the craftsman 'fits, and makes' his idol (v.13,15,17).
  - that stretcheth forth {HB=natah} the heavens -
      His creation is beyond measure and all encompassing,
      whereas the craftsman 'stretches out' his rule and 'turns aside' after his idol (v.13,20).
  - The contrast is heightened by the tenses of these words.
    - The craftsmen worked on their idols until they were done.
        The LORD worked in behalf of Israel in the past, He works continually in the present, and will continue unceasingly into the future.
    - The idolater made a god to serve.
        But the LORD prepared and is preparing Israel to serve Him.
25 That frustrateth {ie., breaks, shatters} the tokens {ie., signs, omens} of the liars,
and maketh diviners mad;
that turneth wise [men] backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
26 That confirmeth {ie., makes stand, establishes} the word of his servant,
and performeth the counsel of his messengers {ie., Isaiah and other true prophets};
that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited;
and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built,
and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:
  The liars are those who serve false gods. The diviners are their false prophets,
    who act and speak, like madmen, in conflict with the LORD's purposes. Their wisdom is 'turned back' (ie., turned into foolishness) so that none 'considers' (none 'turns back' from it, v.19). The impressive signs, produced by occult practitioners, cannot stand against the simple Word of God. Though the knowledge of 'learned men' disregards God's Word as unreasonable and beyond belief, He will do what He has said. cp. 1Cor 1:19,20
  that saith of Jerusalem...-
    Here, the restoration of Jerusalem is predicted, before her destruction and captivity.
    In Isaiah's day, many of the cities of Judah had been ruined by the Assyrian invasion. The situation would get much worse. Yet, the LORD promised to make them whole again.
27 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:
  {cf. the idol makers' dependence upon rain, v.14}
28 That saith of Cyrus, [He is] my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure:
even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built;
and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
  ...that saith to the deep, Be dry...- The deep may refer to the Euphrates River
    which would be dried in preparation for the fall of Babylon (when the Medes and Persians diverted the channel which flowed through that city, to allow their army to enter and take it).
  ...that saith of Cyrus... - Here, Cyrus, king of Persia, is named, about 150 years before his birth,
    as the one who would restore Jerusalem following the Babylonian captivity.
  ...he... shall perform all my pleasure...-
    The decree of Cyrus would accomplish the LORD's desire for His people.
    - Sennacherib (king of Assyria) and Nebuchadnezzar (king of Babylon) had acted according to God's will to execute judgment upon Israel's sin. But the LORD took no pleasure in that judgment. It was His strange {ie., loathesome} work (Isa 28:21).
    - There is no God like the LORD! While men delight in images of their vain imaginations (v.9), the LORD orders the history of men and nations to accomplish His pleasure.
  ...saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.-
    These points were specifically fulfilled by Cyrus' decree which enabled a remnant to return and to rebuild under the leading of Ezra and Nehemiah, about 70 years after the Babylonian captivity (v.26,28b; cp. 2Chr 36:22,23; Ezra 1:1-7; 3:7; 5:13; 6:3).
    That fulfillment would confirm the word of God's servants:
    - Isaiah (v.26), about 200 years after it was spoken.
    - Jeremiah, about 85 years after it was spoken (Jer 25:11,12; 29:10).
    - Thus demonstrating the certainty of God's Word through His prophets concerning other matters, especially regarding Christ's first coming (about 700 years after Isaiah) and His second coming (which is yet future).
  ...he is my shepherd...- Cyrus, as shepherd and restorer of Jerusalem,
    provides a type (picture) of Christ at His second coming. The type is further intensified, in the next verse, where Cyrus is called the LORD's "anointed {HB=mashiach}... whose right hand I have holden" (Isa 45:1; cp. 42:1,6 re: the LORD's Servant, the Messiah).
[This section continues to the end of chapter 45.]

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