God’s Forming of Israel
April 19, 2019
Commentary
In this chapter, Isaiah contrasts God’s forming of Israel (vv. 1-8) to the Gentiles forming of their gods (vv. 9-20). This chapter also contains one of the most amazing prophesies found anywhere in the Old Testament (v. 28). Cyrus, the king of Persia, is named as the coming deliverer of the Jewish people more than 140 years in advance. Isaiah says that the Lord will revive Israel physically (with water) and spiritually (with the Holy Spirit) (vv. 1-3). (see Joel 2:25-29). Redeemed Israel will prosper numerically, and they will desire to be known for righteousness (vv. 4-5). The Lord is Israel’s only God (v. 6). The Lord challenges anyone to tell of the past and the future like He can (vv. 7-8). Because He has redeemed them, they should have nothing to fear.
Isaiah describes how people make their own god’s (vv. 9-20). This exposure of idolatry is the most powerful in the bible. God made people in His own image and now they are making gods in their image. These helpless idols leave people without help or hope. It is utter foolishness when part of the tree becomes a god, and the rest of the tree becomes fuel for the fire (vv. 14-17). Those who worship idols are stupid and blind (vv. 18-19). But don’t we make our own gods today of money, fame or power? If so, we only deceive ourselves and cannot expect to be blessed.
Isaiah reminded His people of their proper relationship to God (vv. 21-22). All of creation is to burst forth in singing and praise because of the Lord’s redemption (v. 23). He is the one who has called Israel to be His people from eternity past (v. 24). He frustrates the liars and makes the soothsayers mad by overturning their false predictions (v. 25). He will make the message of His prophets come true (vv. 26-27). The fact that God predicted more than 150 years in advance that a man named Cyrus would release the Jews from exile is a great stumbling block to liberal theologians who refuse to acknowledge the reality of predictive prophecy (v. 28). He also predicted that the temple would be rebuilt about 200 years before it happened.
Application
There is a time coming when Israel will be proud of belonging to God (v. 5). I should be proud now to be one of His and be delighted to let everyone know about my relationship with Him.
Isaiah 44:1–28 (NET)
1 “Now, listen, Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen!”
2 This is what the Lord, the one who made you, says— the one who formed you in the womb and helps you: “Don’t be afraid, my servant Jacob, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water on the parched ground and cause streams to flow on the dry land. I will pour my Spirit on your offspring and my blessing on your children.
4 They will sprout up like a tree in the grass, like poplars beside channels of water.
5 One will say, ‘I belong to the Lord,’ and another will use the name ‘Jacob.’ One will write on his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ and use the name ‘Israel.’”
6 This is what the Lord, Israel’s king, says, their Protector, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: “I am the first and I am the last, there is no God but me.
7 Who is like me? Let him make his claim! Let him announce it and explain it to me— since I established an ancient people — let them announce future events.
8 Don’t panic! Don’t be afraid! Did I not tell you beforehand and decree it? You are my witnesses! Is there any God but me? There is no other sheltering rock; I know of none.
9 All who form idols are nothing; the things in which they delight are worthless. Their witnesses cannot see; they recognize nothing, so they are put to shame.
10 Who forms a god and casts an idol that will prove worthless?
11 Look, all his associates will be put to shame; the craftsmen are mere humans. Let them all assemble and take their stand. They will panic and be put to shame.
12 A blacksmith works with his tool and forges metal over the coals. He forms it with hammers; he makes it with his strong arm. He gets hungry and loses his energy; he drinks no water and gets tired.
13 A carpenter takes measurements; he marks out an outline of its form; he scrapes it with chisels, and marks it with a compass. He patterns it after the human form, like a well-built human being, and puts it in a shrine.
14 He cuts down cedars and acquires a cypress or an oak. He gets trees from the forest; he plants a cedar and the rain makes it grow.
15 A man uses it to make a fire; he takes some of it and warms himself. Yes, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Then he makes a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it.
16 Half of it he burns in the fire— over that half he cooks meat; he roasts a meal and fills himself. Yes, he warms himself and says, ‘Ah! I am warm as I look at the fire.’
17 With the rest of it he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships it. He prays to it, saying, ‘Rescue me, for you are my god!’
18 They do not comprehend or understand, for their eyes are blind and cannot see; their minds do not discern.
19 No one thinks to himself, nor do they comprehend or understand and say to themselves: ‘I burned half of it in the fire— yes, I baked bread over the coals; I roasted meat and ate it. With the rest of it should I make a disgusting idol? Should I bow down to dry wood?’
20 He feeds on ashes; his deceived mind misleads him. He cannot rescue himself, nor does he say, ‘Is this not a false god I hold in my right hand?’
21 Remember these things, O Jacob, O Israel, for you are my servant. I formed you to be my servant; O Israel, I will not forget you!
22 I remove the guilt of your rebellious deeds as if they were a cloud, the guilt of your sins as if they were a cloud. Come back to me, for I protect you.”
23 Shout for joy, O sky, for the Lord intervenes; shout out, you subterranean regions of the earth. O mountains, give a joyful shout; you too, O forest and all your trees! For the Lord protects Jacob; he reveals his splendor through Israel.
24 This is what the Lord, your Protector, says, the one who formed you in the womb: “I am the Lord, who made everything, who alone stretched out the sky, who fashioned the earth all by myself,
25 who frustrates the omens of the empty talkers and humiliates the omen readers, who overturns the counsel of the wise men and makes their advice seem foolish,
26 who fulfills the oracles of his prophetic servants and brings to pass the announcements of his messengers, who says about Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited,’ and about the towns of Judah, ‘They will be rebuilt, her ruins I will raise up,’
27 who says to the deep sea, ‘Be dry! I will dry up your sea currents,’
28 who commissions Cyrus, the one I appointed as shepherd to carry out all my wishes and to decree concerning Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and concerning the temple, ‘It will be reconstructed.’

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