Isaiah 44 - Introduction
_GOD COMFORTETH THE CHURCH WITH HIS PROMISE. THE VANITY OF IDOLS, AND FOLLY OF IDOL-MAKERS: THE PROPHET EXHORTETH TO PRAISE GOD FOR HIS REDEMPTION AND OMNIPOTENCY._ _Before Christ 712._... [ Continue Reading ]
_GOD COMFORTETH THE CHURCH WITH HIS PROMISE. THE VANITY OF IDOLS, AND FOLLY OF IDOL-MAKERS: THE PROPHET EXHORTETH TO PRAISE GOD FOR HIS REDEMPTION AND OMNIPOTENCY._ _Before Christ 712._... [ Continue Reading ]
YET NOW HEAR— The prophet throughout this discourse alternately mixes reproofs and threats with consolations, because he had a two-fold subject before him; a church within a church; the true believers among the carnal Jews; each of them called by the name of _Jacob_ and _Israel._ The church of the s... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I WILL POUR WATER— A general promise of help and protection appearing less efficacious, God promises something more great and sublime to his church: for when that church might appear to apprehend nothing but destruction amid so many calamities, the Almighty promises to it, both a remarkable _enl... [ Continue Reading ]
_ISAIAH 44:6_.— Vitringa begins the third discourse of the fourth book of this prophesy at this verse, extends it to the 48th chapter, and divides it into four sections; the _first section,_ continuing the thread of the preceding disputation and conviction, from the deliverance of the church to be p... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHO, AS I, SHALL CALL, &C.— The meaning is, "Who, of the strange gods, like me, by an efficacious command of his will, orders all causes and events of things to exist according to his good pleasure?" _Who sets it in order for me?_ Who hath been of my counsel, to order and dispose these events? _... [ Continue Reading ]
FEAR YE NOT, &C.— The meaning is, _"Fear ye not, nor be terrified_ at the motions of the Medes and Persians rising up against the Babylonish empire, since those motions shall be for your advantage: For _have not I clearly foretold_ that this should come to pass, _from the time_ in which Isaiah and t... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT MAKE A GRAVEN IMAGE— _They that form the graven image are all of them vanity; and their most curious works shall not profit. Yea, their works themselves bear witness to them, that they see not and that they understand not:_ Isaiah 44:10 _that every one may be ashamed, that he hath formed a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SMITH WITH THE TONGS, &C.— From this verse to the 20th the folly of idolatry is set forth in the most lively colours, and the whole scheme of idol worshippers exposed in an elegant strain of refined irony. There is no need of any exposition. The prophet here describes the instruments necessary f... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER THESE— This whole exhortation, which is subjoined to the preceding reproof, is founded on this presumption, that, according to the prediction of Moses and the prophets, the Jewish and Israelitish nation, when carried into captivity, would turn themselves to God; namely, the faithful of that... [ Continue Reading ]
SING, O YE HEAVENS— The prophet here, by an elegant apostrophe, calls upon all creatures to glorify God for his singular blessing to his people, in delivering them from their captivity in Babylon; which also has a further respect to the great and spiritual deliverance of mankind by the Messiah.... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD THY REDEEMER, &C.— The prophet here continues the discourse of God, after having called upon the whole creation, in the preceding verse, to praise him for the blessing of that great redemption from Babylon, concerning which he treats in these verses; and therefore he prefixes to... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT SAITH OF CYRUS— Here at length the prophet clearly discovers the grand scope of his discourse. He speaks of Cyrus by name, as foreknown and decreed by the divine counsel, for the performance of the great work designed by providence, at least 170 years before the event. This is one of the most r... [ Continue Reading ]