CHAPTER 44. ISRAEL WILL BE RESTORED BY THE POURING OUT OF HIS SPIRIT AND BY GOD'S INTERVENTION. Meanwhile having described Israel's current state the question would be asked, what can change the situation? The answer is now given. The only hope is the direct intervention of a gracious God. Notice ho... [ Continue Reading ]
THE COMING POURING OUT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (ISAIAH 44:1). Isaiah 44:1 ‘Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant, And Israel whom I have chosen.' This reversal of order of the names Jacob and Israel (see also Isaiah 43:22) compared with Isaiah 41:8 may arise from what has just been described. At present Is... [ Continue Reading ]
THE INCOMPARABILITY OF GOD (ISAIAH 44:6). Having declared this wonderful work of the Spirit Yahweh puts it in the context of what He is. Only He could have done such a thing. In the calling of Abraham and the bringing of him into the land He was ‘the first and with the last' (Isaiah 41:4), and now... [ Continue Reading ]
YAHWEH LAYS DOWN A CHALLENGE TO ANY WHO CLAIM TO BE GODS TO PROVE IT IN PROPHECY AND ACTION (ISAIAH 44:7). God has laid down the past and the future. What has happened and what will happen is under His hand. And He has declared Israel to be His people and what will come about through them. Who then... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH REVEALS THE FOLLY OF IDOLATRY (ISAIAH 44:10). Note the contrast of this passage with what precedes it. Isaiah brings out that while it is Yahweh Who formed Israel, the idol is merely fashioned by its owner (Isaiah 44:2 with Isaiah 44:9). While Yahweh can pour forth that which produces growth... [ Continue Reading ]
YAHWEH CALLS ON ISRAEL TO REMEMBER THEIR STATUS AND WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR THEM (ISAIAH 44:21). Having contemptuously dismissed the gods that men worship Yahweh now calls on His people to recognise how different He is. Isaiah 44:21 “Remember these things, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are my servan... [ Continue Reading ]
YAHWEH WILL RAISE UP CYRUS TO REBUILD JERUSALEM AND LAY THE FOUNDATIONS OF A NEW TEMPLE (ISAIAH 44:24 TO ISAIAH 45:13). In the Near East of Isaiah's day there were not many major powers. Egypt had been silenced by Assyria, Babylon was continually the enemy of God, sometimes independent, and sometime... [ Continue Reading ]