COMMENTARY ISAIAH
By Eugene Garner
ISAIAH - CHAPTER 44
THE FAITHFUL GOD BLESSES HIS PEOPLE
Vs. 1-8: ISRAEL CALLED TO HEAR AND BELIEVE THE VOICE OF HER
GOD
Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have
chosen: 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. 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: And they shall spring up as among the
grass, as willows by the water courses. 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. 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. 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, and shall come, let
them show unto them. 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;
I know not any.
1. Jacob is Jehovah's servant, (vs. 1-2; 41:8).
a. Having formed him from the womb, the Lord will be
his constant help, (vs. 2a; 43:1, 7; 4l:10).
b. Thus, Jesurun (a diminutive form of endearment,
meaning "perfect" or "upright"), the Lord's chosen, must not
fear, (Deut. 32:15; 33:5, 26).
2. Refreshment will be divinely provided for the Lord's
own heritage, (vs. 3.4).
a. Water for the thirsty, (vs. 3a).
b. The Spirit of God will be poured upon the seed of
Jacob; divine blessings upon his offspring, (vs. 3b; Ezek.
36:27; 37:14; 39:29; Isa. 32:15; 59:21).
1) The outpouring on the Day of Pentecost was a mere
"earnest" of what is to be bestowed in its fullness during
the millennium, (II Cor. 1:22; 5:5; Eph. 10:14).
2) For the bodies of the saints it will involve:
resurrection, quickening and glorification, (Rom. 8:11, 23;
Jn. 6:63; II Cor. 3:6).
3) The souls of men will be enriched by the Spirit's
bestowment of: knowledge, wisdom, utterance and such
endowments as will enable men to serve and worship God in a
perfect way.
c. The offspring of Jacob will spring up luxuriantly,
as willows by the water courses, (vs. 4).
3. Divinely refreshed, the seed of Jacob will joyfully
acknowledge themselves servants of Jehovah, and the spiritual
heritage that he has so richly bestowed upon them, (vs. 5;
Jer. 50:5; I Cor. 6:19-20; II Cor. 8:5; comp. Psalm
87:4-5).
4. Jehovah is the King of Israel, (41:21; 43:15); Jehovah
of hosts his Redeemer, (vs. 6; 41:14; 43:1, 14).
a. He is the first and the last, (41:4; 48:12; comp.
Rev. 1:8; 2:8; 22:13).
b. Beside Him there is no God, (vs. 8; 43:11; 45:5-6,
21).
5. There is no other who can call and order the lives of
a people as God has done with Israel, (vs. 7; 41:22,
26).
6. Therefore, the people of God are not to be afraid -
astounded, or distracted by fear, (vs. 8).
a. That He has faithfully guided their destiny in the
past, they are witnesses, (43:10).
b. Beside Him there is no God - no Rock of refuge and
strength! (45:5; Deut. 4:35, 39; I Sam. 2:2; Joel 2:27; Isa.
17:10; 26:4; 30:29).
c. He Who knows ALL knows of NO
OTHER GOD! (I Sam. 2:3; Dan. 2:22; Heb. 4:13; Col. 2:3).
Vs. 9-11: THE VANITY OF TRUSTING IN TOOLS
They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and
their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their
own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be
ashamed. Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that
is profitable for nothing? 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.
1. It is in emptiness and confusion that one makes a
graven image that cannot be of any profit; if he were not
blind and ignorant he would be ashamed of such works of his
own hands, (vs. 9; 41:24; Psa. 115:4-8; I Cor. 8:4; Acts
14:15; Deut. 32:21).
2. No one has ever fashioned an idol that was profitable
for anything! (vs. 10; 41:29; Jer. 10:5; 14:22; Hab. 2:18;
Acts 19:26; 17:29-31).
3. But fear and shame is the end of all who put their
trust in manufactured gods! (vs. 11; 42:17; 45:16; comp. Psa.
97:1-7).
Vs. 12-20: PROPHETIC IRONY TURNED UPON IDOLS AND THOSE WHO
TRUST IN THEM
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. 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. 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. 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. He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part
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: And the residue 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 have not known nor understood: for he hath shut
their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they
cannot understand. 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 baken 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 of a tree? 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?
1. Isaiah has already insisted that idols can do nothing
because they ARE NOTHING but artistic blocks of metal or
wood.
2. Here his argument reaches its climax in an outburst of
derisive, prophetic laughter! (vs. 12-17).
a. With an irony that seems almost savage, he taunts
idolaters with the non-existence of their gods, Psa.
115:4-8.
b. With burning satire, he paints the stupidity of
anyone who would presume to make a god out of the same piece
of wood that furnished fuel for cooking his dinner!
c. For a descendant of Abraham to trust such an idol
was doubly stupid!
3. Isaiah views the God of Jacob as the God of history -
who plans and executes the affairs of men and nations
according to His own free and perfect will.
4. Israel must not presume that the calamity which has
overtaken her (that is, her captivity) is anything but a
necessary, and richly deserved, judgment upon her sin,
(42:24-25; 48:17-19); it is not an evidence of God's
helplessness, but has been HIS OWN DOING!
a. Israel has not understood because, having rejected
knowledge, God has blinded her eyes and hardened her heart,
(vs. 18).
b. She cannot comprehend her own folly, (vs. 19).
c. Thus, Isaiah pictures her as "feeding on ashes"
unconscious of a deceived heart, and that she holds a lie in
her right hand, (vs. 20).
5. The people of God must ever trust Him to bring history
to the goal for which He created the earth, called the
Israelites into a relationship of covenant-fellowship with
Himself, and commissioned them to be His witnesses to the
ends of the earth!
6. God still has a glorious future for this people once
they fully entrust the direction and keeping of their lives
into His capable hands.
Vs. 21-28: THE COVENANT PEOPLE CALLED BACK TO JEHOVAH
Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant:
I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt
not be forgotten of me. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud,
thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto
me; for I have redeemed thee. 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. 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; That frustrateth the
tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth
wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; That
confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the
counsel of his messengers; 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: That
saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers: 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.
1. The Lord's servant, whom He has formed, should
remember his Maker; the Lord surely will not forget Israel!
(vs. 21; 49:14-15).
2. Since He has blotted out her sin and transgression,
Israelis called upon to RETURN to her Redeemer - involving
genuine repentance! (vs. 22).
a. There can be no restoration without
repentance.
b. But, the nation WILL REPENT, and in an extraordinary
way, (Micah 7:15-20).
1) It will be accomplished through divine discipline,
(Isa. 30:18-19; Hosea 5:15).
2) It will be connected with the return of the King,
(Ezek. 20:33-44; Mic. 2:12-13).
3) It will be such as proves the faithfulness of God,
(43:25; Ezek. 36:22).
4) A marvellous transformation will take place in the
land of their fathers, (Ezek. 36:24-35; Jer. 32:37-44;
33:7-16).
5) Israel's repentance and restoration are closely
associated with the establishment of Messiah's reign, (Jer.
23-3-8; Ezek. 34:23-31).
3. The commands of verse 23 come in response to Israel's
repentance and restoration.
a. The heavens, mountains, and forests are called to
singing, the lower part of the earth to shouting, (vs.
23a).
b. The reason: "the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and
glorified himself in Israel" (vs. 23b; 43:1; 49:3; 60:21;
61:3).
4. The supremacy of Jehovah is manifested in His mighty
works, (vs. 24-28).
a. In the work of creation, (vs. 24; Psa. 19:1-3;
8:3-4; 89:11; 102:25; John 1:3; Col. 1:17).
b. In the frustration of liars and the humiliation of
proud pretenders, (vs. 25; 47:13-15; 29:14; Psa. 33:10-11;
Jer. 51:57; I Cor. 1:20, 27-30).
c. In confirming the word of His servant and performing
the counsel of His messengers, (vs. 26a; 55:11; Zech.
1:6).
d. In returning the exiles to Jerusalem and rebuilding
the cities of Judah, (vs. 26b; 48:7-20; Jer. 32:1,5,
44).
e. In drying up the deep with a word of command, (vs.
27; 42:15; 43:16; 50:2; Jer. 50:38; 51:36) possibly
suggesting that He inspired the engineering device whereby
Cyrus was enabled to take Babylon by surprise.
f. In His summoning of Cyrus to act as His shepherd -
accomplishing His will, (vs. 28; 45:1).
1) In the rebuilding of Jerusalem, (14:32; 45:13;
54:11-13; II Chron. 36:22-23).
2) And in laying the foundation for a new temple
therein, (Ezra 1:1-4).
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