Isaiah 44 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Isaiah 44

Israel the Lord’s Chosen

44:1   “But now hear, O Jacob my servant,
    Israel whom I have chosen!
2   Thus says the LORD who made you,
    who formed you from the womb and will help you:
  Fear not, O Jacob my servant,
    Jeshurun whom I have chosen.
3   For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
    and streams on the dry ground;
  I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring,
    and my blessing on your descendants.
4   They shall spring up among the grass
    like willows by flowing streams.
5   This one will say, ‘I am the LORD’s,’
    another will call on the name of Jacob,
  and another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’s,’
    and name himself by the name of Israel.”

Besides Me There Is No God

6   Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel
    and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
  “I am the first and I am the last;
    besides me there is no god.
7   Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.¹
    Let him declare and set it before me,
  since I appointed an ancient people.
    Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.
8   Fear not, nor be afraid;
    have I not told you from of old and declared it?
    And you are my witnesses!
  Is there a God besides me?
    There is no Rock; I know not any.”

The Folly of Idolatry

9 All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. 10 Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing? 11 Behold, all his companions shall be put to shame, and the craftsmen are only human. Let them all assemble, let them stand forth. They shall be terrified; they shall be put to shame together.

12 The ironsmith takes a cutting tool and works it over the coals. He fashions it with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He becomes hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water and is faint. 13 The carpenter stretches a line; he marks it out with a pencil.² He shapes it with planes and marks it with a compass. He shapes it into the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house. 14 He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it. 15 Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before it. 16 Half of it he burns in the fire. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, “Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!” 17 And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!”

18 They know not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand. 19 No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, “Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and have eaten. And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?” 20 He feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”

The Lord Redeems Israel

21   Remember these things, O Jacob,
    and Israel, for you are my servant;
  I formed you; you are my servant;
    O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.
22   I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud
    and your sins like mist;
  return to me, for I have redeemed you.
23   Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it;
    shout, O depths of the earth;
  break forth into singing, O mountains,
    O forest, and every tree in it!
  For the LORD has redeemed Jacob,
    and will be glorified³ in Israel.
24   Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,
    who formed you from the womb:
  “I am the LORD, who made all things,
    who alone stretched out the heavens,
    who spread out the earth by myself,
25   who frustrates the signs of liars
    and makes fools of diviners,
  who turns wise men back
    and makes their knowledge foolish,
26   who confirms the word of his servant
    and fulfills the counsel of his messengers,
  who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited,’
    and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built,
    and I will raise up their ruins’;
27   who says to the deep, ‘Be dry;
    I will dry up your rivers’;
28   who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,
    and he shall fulfill all my purpose’;
  saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’
    and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’”

Footnotes

[1] 44:7 Or Who like me can proclaim it?
[2] 44:13 Hebrew stylus
[3] 44:23 Or will display his beauty

Commentary

v1-2: The calling of God is irrevocable (Rom 11.29). Israel remained "my servant...whom I have chosen." We cannot doubt the God who made these promises. Today, "do not be afraid," and tomorrow, "I will help you."

v3-4: Floods on the dry ground, like rivers in the desert, as in 43.19. The barren will be made fruitful, 1 Sam 2.4-5. The image of the desert is the nation itself, which will be refreshed by God (Acts 3.19).

The references are to "your offspring...your descendants," Jewish people, as in Joel 2.28-29, where the Spirit will be poured out on the people. The coming of the Messiah is accompanied by the in-flowing of His Spirit.

v5: Again, references to the Jewish people, as they are restored in their relationship to God.

v6-8: The uniqueness of God, there is "no other Rock" (43.10-11); since He is utterly faithful and dependable, we need not fear. The existence of one God gives no room for another.

The prophet presents challenges, as in 41.21-24. The implied silence in response is a further testimony that God is who He says He is.

v9: Idolatry is useless; the people made a graven image, but were ignorant that to do so is sin, so they failed to repent. Those who trust in idols are described as "nothing," 40.17; 41.24.

v10: The root of idolatry, "Who shapes a god?" A man makes something apparently greater than himself to worship, see v17. But it cannot profit him; such is the folly of idolatry.

v11: The day will come when they realise their folly, and are brought together for judgment.

v12-17: Idols made of metal and wood. Today we consider ourselves more sophisticated, more civilised; yet there are many who claim the name of Christ, yet have created a god in their own image. Ps 106.28 suggests that the idolater joins him/herself to the spirit behind the idol (see also 1 Cor 10.21). Isaiah shows the folly of using the same piece of wood to make an idol, and to burn on the fire - can they not see the folly and futility of their actions, v19.

Idolatry, of whatever form, 'corrupts value systems, thought processes, and regard for human life' (Emeka Nwankpa, church leader from Nigeria and Ghana).

An insight here into the work of a carpenter, who grows his own trees, before cutting them down, v14.

v18: The effect of idolatry, indeed any false religion; it blinds the mind. They do not know nor understand;

Eph 4.17-18; the futility of their mind;
their understanding is darkened;
the ignorance that is in them;
2 Cor 4.4; whose minds the god of this world has blinded.

v19: They do not see the reality of the situation; "Shall I bow down to a block of wood?" puts the case against idolatry very well.

v20: The idolater is deceived, he cannot deliver his soul; he fails to see that his religion is a lie.

v21-23: Back to God's promises, as the prophet rejoices in what God has done for His people. Even though Israel had been guilty of idolatry, God's promises remained true; further their sins were blotted out. God's people rejoice, for 'the Lord has done it.' Without detailing any argument, the all-powerful and true God is contrasted with the useless idols.

God's blessings on Israel to be declared throughout creation, Rom 11.12.

v24-28: God needs no help from man; "I am the Lord...alone...by myself." See 63.5; Acts 17.25. By Himself He created all things; by Himself, He frustrated the schemes of the false prophets; and by Himself He would restore Jerusalem and Judah to their land. The glorious might of God is here used to bless His people. He brings it into the near future for Isaiah, in reference to the Persian King, Cyrus. He chose Cyrus for this purpose, as His servant; see chapter 45.