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ISAIAH 44:24-45:25

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS TO ISAIAH 44:24-45:25

1. This is a very specific prophecy. Cyrus II, also known as Cyrus "the Great," is mentioned by name in Isa. 44:28 and 45:1. YHWH has claimed several times that He knows and controls events (cf. Isa. 41:22-23; 44:7,26). This prophecy is the major impetus for the theory of multiple authorship of Isaiah. I believe that Isaiah is written by only one author and that God not only reveals the future of the Assyrian Empire, but also that of the Neo-Babylonian and the Persian Empires through this 8^th century B.C. prophet.
   SPECIAL TOPIC: THE BIBLE (its uniqueness and inspiration)
   SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (OT)
   
   
2. This particular reference to Cyrus has to do with his decree of 538 B.C. that allowed all of the exiled people (exiled by Assyria and Neo-Babylon) to return to their native lands and rebuild their national temples with the help of the Persian treasury. For the specific reference to the Jewish return see Ezra 1:2-4; 6:3-5. Cyrus' primary motivation for this was for each of the nations to pray to their own god on Persia's behalf and Cyrus' successors (cf. Ezra 6:10; 7:23).
   
   
3. I think that Isaiah 45:6 is extremely significant. It shows again not only the purpose of God choosing Israel, but also of God choosing Cyrus. God chose Abraham to choose the world and He chose Cyrus for the same larger purpose.
   SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN
   
   
4. Notice the number of times the different words for create are used.
   1. BDB 427, KB 428 ‒ form, create, Isa. 44:24; 45:7,9 (twice), 18 (twice)
   2. BDB 793, KB 889 ‒ do, make, Isa. 44:24; 45:7,9,11,18
   3. BDB 135, KB 153 ‒ create, Isa. 45:7 (twice), 8,12,18 (twice)

   The theological emphases of this "new age" section are

   1. YHWH alone created everything
   2. YHWH formed Israel for a purpose
   3. YHWH is alone and unique (monotheism)
   4. YHWH proves His existence by
      1. predictive prophecy
      2. Israel's existence

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ISAIAH 44:24-28
²⁴Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb,
"I, the Lord, am the maker of all things,
Stretching out the heavens by Myself
And spreading out the earth all alone,
²⁵Causing the omens of boasters to fail,
Making fools out of diviners,
Causing wise men to draw back
And turning their knowledge into foolishness,
²⁶Confirming the word of His servant
And performing the purpose of His messengers.
It is I who says of Jerusalem, 'She shall be inhabited!'
And of the cities of Judah, 'They shall be built.'
And I will raise up her ruins again.
²⁷It is I who says to the depth of the sea, 'Be dried up!'
And I will make your rivers dry.
²⁸It is I who says of Cyrus, 'He is My shepherd!
And he will perform all My desire.'
And he declares of Jerusalem, 'She will be built,'
And of the temple, 'Your foundation will be laid.'"

44:24-28 This is one sentence in Hebrew. It is a series of relative clauses which are translated by the NIV as "who. . ." It is significant that this is a structured unit (i.e. Isa. 44:24-45:13) because the climax is found in the mention of Cyrus II by name in Isa. 45:28. It is basically a unit dealing with "the God who can" versus the idols who cannot. YHWH announces beforehand what will occur to prove His existence and power (cf. Isa. 41:22-23; 44:7,26).

Notice the list of "who. . ." in NIV (i.e. Qal PARTICIPLES).

1. who formed you in the womb, Isa. 45:24
2. who has made all things, Isa. 45:24
3. who alone stretched out the heavens, Isa. 45:24
4. who spread out the earth by Myself, Isa. 45:24
5. who foils the signs of false prophets, Isa. 45:25
6. who overthrows the learning of the wise, Isa. 45:25
7. who carries out the words of his servants, Isa. 45:26
8. who says of Jerusalem, "it shall be inhabited," Isa. 45:26
9. who says to the watery deep, "Be dry," Isa. 45:27
10. who says of Cyrus, "He is my shepherd," Isa. 45:28

44:24 Redeemer" This is the term Go'el, which has the same definition as "ransom" with the added idea of a near kinsman as the agent. It is often a title for God (cf. Job 19:25; Ps. 19:15; 78:35; Isa. 41:14; 43:14; 44:6,24; 49:7; 59:20; Jer. 50:34); it is used in this personal sense to reveal God's character and Israel as His chosen special family.

SPECIAL TOPIC: RANSOM/REDEEM

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT)

▣ "the one who formed you from the womb" This is imagery referring to the formation of the nation of Israel (cf. Isa. 45:2). It is used uniquely of the Exodus experience. This concept of birthing also lends itself to the concept of the people of God as the children of God.

▣ "I, the Lord, am. . ." This is literally the phrase, "I am YHWH," which is a key phrase in the OT. It is a play on the covenant name for God, from the VERB "to be" (cf. Exod. 3:14). Its basic meaning is "I am the ever-existing, only-existing God."

SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D.

▣ "maker of all things" This is the emphasis of God as both Creator (cf. Psalm 104) and Redeemer (cf. Isa. 45:12,18; Psalm 103).

▣ "Stretching out the heavens by Myself" Here again is God as Creator. This phraseology is used in Isa. 40:22; 42:5; 45:12,18; 51:13.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HEAVENS AND THE THIRD HEAVEN

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE CIRCLE OF THE EARTH

The MT has "who with me" (Ketiv), which parallels "alone" (BDB 94 II) in the previous line of poetry. The Masoretic Text scholars suggested "by myself" (Qere). No one gave YHWH counsel or suggestions when He created the earth (cf. Job 38:4ff).

Some scholars see the "Us" of Gen. 1:26; 3:22; 11:7, as referring to an angelic council, but even if this is true, this text asserts YHWH Himself created and performed these things (cf. "by myself" and "all alone").

SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVENLY COUNCIL OF ANGELIC BEINGS

SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM

44:25 "omens. . .diviners. . .wise men" This verse is an exposure of the occult practices of the surrounding nations, particularly Neo-Babylon. It is a literary foil for God to discuss His true prophets in Isa. 45:26. Biblically, the way to determine a true prophet is found in Deut. 13:1-3; 18:22. The false prophets and the true prophets are going to be contrasted in order to reveal that God is the only God.

It is possible that the Hebrew word translated "boasters" in the NASB can mean (i.e. "the omens of boasters")

1. liars, vain talkers (BDB 95 III)
2. soothsayers, from an Akkadian root (AB, vol. 20, p. 72), which would make it parallel to "diviners" (line 2). The Barim priests of Neo-Babylon were known for their predictions (Leupold, p. 133).

SPECIAL TOPIC: MAGIC

SPECIAL TOPIC: DIVINATION

44:26 "Confirming the word of His servant" God is in control of history. His forth-telling of future events is one way to prove to all mankind that YHWH is the only Creator, Redeemer God (cf. Isa. 41:22-23; 45:7,26; see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE BIBLE [its uniqueness and inspiration]). Throughout this section of Isaiah prophecy is used as a means of God demonstrating His ability over against the inability of the occult practices to determine future events.

The words "servant" (BDB 712) and "messengers" (BDB 521) are parallel. The first is SINGULAR (UBS Text Project, p. 122, gives the SINGULAR a "B" rating) and the second PLURAL. Is this meant to refer to

1. the Servant
2. the prophets (NET Bible)

or are both to be understood as the prophet? Thereby, "servant" would be a way to characterize all prophets.

This verse may be an allusion to Isa. 2:2-4 or Micah 4:1-4.

▣ "It is I who says of Jerusalem, 'she shall be inhabited'" This is a very specific prophecy of not only the restoration of Jerusalem but also of the cities of Judah (cf. Isa. 2:2-4; Dan. 2:24-27; Mic. 4:1-3).

44:27 There has been much discussion on the meaning of this verse. These are the theories:

1. YHWH controls the waters of chaos (cf. Genesis 1; Psalm 74:12-17; Isa. 51:10).
2. It is a reference to God's splitting of the Red Sea and the Jordan River and, therefore, is a reference to the Exodus.
3. It shows that God can overcome any barrier and is used in the sense of God drying up or overcoming the Euphrates River (i.e. note Isa. 11:15-16) so that Cyrus can defeat Babylon.
4. This is used in some sense that God is the controller of moisture which proves that He, and not Ba'al, is the true fertility God, the God of abundance.

SPECIAL TOPIC: WATERS/SEA

44:28 "It is I who says of Cyrus" Cyrus is mentioned by name for the first time in this context. He is also mentioned by name in Isa. 45:1. Josephus, in his book, Antiquities of the Jews, 11.1.2, says that Jewish tradition believes that these prophecies were shown to Cyrus and because of them he allowed the Jews to return to Judah. We also learn that Cyrus was impressed by these prophecies in 2 Chr. 36:22-23.

▣ "He is My shepherd" This term primarily speaks of a leader or administrator. There are two very strong kingly terms used here, "shepherd" (BDB 944 I) in Isa. 44:28 and "anointed one" (BDB 603) in Isa. 45:1. Both of these terms show that God will use Cyrus to accomplish His larger purposes. This does not imply that Cyrus became a believer (cf. Isa. 45:5c), but that God uses human instrumentality in order to accomplish His purposes (i.e. Exod. 3:7-10).

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANOINTING IN THE BIBLE, F. #4

▣ "Your foundation will be laid" The fulfillment of this prophecy, related to both the city of Jerusalem and the temple, is found in the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel (i.e. Dan. 9:24-27), and Haggai.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ISAIAH 45:1-7
¹Thus says the Lord to Cyrus His anointed,
Whom I have taken by the right hand,
To subdue nations before him
And to loose the loins of kings;
To open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:
²"I will go before you and make the rough places smooth;
I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars.
³I will give you the treasures of darkness
And hidden wealth of secret places,
So that you may know that it is I,
The Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.
⁴For the sake of Jacob My servant,
And Israel My chosen one,
I have also called you by your name;
I have given you a title of honor
Though you have not known Me.
⁵I am the Lord, and there is no other;
Besides Me there is no God.
I will gird you, though you have not known Me;
⁶That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun
That there is no one besides Me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other,
⁷The One forming light and creating darkness,
Causing well-being and creating calamity;
I am the Lord who does all these."

45:1 "anointed" This is a title in the OT used for several kinds of people.

1. for King Saul, 1 Sam. 12:3; 24:6
2. for the people of God, Hab. 3:13
3. for the Patriarchs, Ps. 105:15
4. for the priests, Lev. 4:3,5,16
5. for "the Coming One," Dan. 9:25; Ps. 2:2

It is used as a Messianic title developed during the inter-biblical period. The term "Messiah" comes from the Hebrew term "Anointed One." Cyrus being called by this term shows that election in the OT was primarily for service, not salvation.

SPECIAL TOPIC: MESSIAH

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANOINTING IN THE BIBLE

▣ "by the right hand" YHWH is actively guiding Cyrus II. See SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND

▣ "to loose the loins of kings" This imagery ("loose," BDB 834, KB 986, Piel IMPERFECT) refers to loosening the sash, which either

1. implies a man's garments were free-flowing which made it difficult to move (JPSOA footnote, "I made them helpless")
2. the sash may have held weapons and they, therefore, dropped to the ground (cf. Isa. 45:5; NET Bible, "disarm Kings")

The NRSV is literal ("make straight," BDB 448, KB 449, Qere, Piel IMPERFECT). It is also found in the DSS and LXX. "Mountain" may be imagery of problems or fears (JPSOA, cf. Isa. 40:4; 41:15; 42:15; 49:11).

▣ "shatter the doors of bronze, and cut through their iron bars" These are all imagery that YHWH will cause Cyrus II to succeed in his conquest over the walled cities of Mesopotamia and Palestine.

It is interesting that the historian, Herodotus, 1:179, mentions that the city of Babylon had over 100 brass gates.

45:3 "treasures of darkness" This is the hidden wealth of the empires of Mesopotamia and the Near East.

45:4 "For the sake of Jacob My servant,

 And Israel My chosen one" Here we have the first of two reasons why YHWH used Cyrus:

1. the restoration of His chosen people to Palestine
2. He wanted the people of Israel to be a light to the world, Isa. 45:6. Israel was not a light so God used Cyrus II (cf. Ezek. 36:22-36).

SPECIAL TOPIC: MY SERVANT

SPECIAL TOPIC: HE CHOSE US

SPECIAL TOPIC: ELECTION

▣ "Though you have not known Me" YHWH used Cyrus even though he did not know Him. There is a play on the word "know" in Isa. 45:4,5,6. In Hebrew the term "know" speaks of intimate personal relationship (cf. Gen. 4:1; Jer. 1:5), not only cognitive knowledge. There is no merit on Cyrus' part that God should choose him, but God used him for divine purposes.

SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW (using mostly Deuteronomy as a paradigm)

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN, D.

45:5 "I am the Lord, and there is no other" This is an affirmation of monotheism (cf. Isa. 44:24; 45:6-7,14,18,21,22).

SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D.

SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM

▣ "Besides Me there is no God" This is another way of referring to monotheism (cf. Isa. 44:6,8; 43:11). See Special Topic above.

▣ "I will gird you" This means "arm you." The weapons were worn on the girdle (cf. Isa. 45:1). This is the opposite of Isa. 45:1d.

45:6 "That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun

  That there is no one besides Me" Here again is the astonishing prophecy that YHWH chose Cyrus II for the same purpose that He chose Israel, which was to reveal Himself to all the world so that all the world might come to know Him (cf. Isa. 2:2-4; 12:4-5; 25:6-9; 42:6-12; 45:22-23; 49:5-6; 51:4-5; 60:1-3; 66:23).

45:7 This verse has caused much consternation among commentators because it seems to make God the creator of evil. Basically, what is seen here is the denial of a dualism in the universe. This may reflect the Persian influence of Zoroastrianism, but we are uncertain of Cyrus' relationship to this developed dualism. This verse is basically saying that there is only one causality in the universe (see full note at Isa. 14:24-27). God is in control of all things. He uses evil for His purposes! This is another way of affirming monotheism.

Verse 7 is a series of Qal PARTICIPLES relating to God's creating activities put in contrasting pairs.

1. forming ‒ BDB 427, KB 428
2. creating ‒ BDB 135, KB 153 (see John Walton, ANE Thought and the OT, p. 183)
3. causing ‒ BDB 793, KB 889
4. creating ‒ BDB 135, KB 153
5. doing ‒ BDB 793, KB 889

Be careful of taking one verse out of a poetic context and using it as the basis of a doctrinal statement. Genre and context are crucial in proper interpretation!

SPECIAL TOPIC: ONE CAUSALITY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ISAIAH 45:8
⁸Drip down, O heavens, from above,
And let the clouds pour down righteousness;
Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit,
And righteousness spring up with it.
I, the Lord, have created it."

45:8 The prophet is using the crisis of his own day to foreshadow the future kingdom of God (see SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY [OT]). In context, this verse is influenced by Isa. 45:6, which means that this is the idealistic future when all believing humans will know and worship God, which was the purpose of the original creation (cf. Gen. 1:26-27; 3:8).

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE KINGDOM OF GOD

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

▣ Verse 8 is a series of IMPERATIVES (i.e. prayers) directed toward God's created order.

1. drip down ‒ BDB 950, KB 1271, Hiphil IMPERATIVE
2. pour ‒ BDB 633, KB 683, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense
3. open ‒ BDB 834, KB 986, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense
4. bear fruit ‒ BDB 826, KB 963, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense
5. spring up ‒ BDB 855, KB 1033, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense

YHWH ends the paragraph/verse with His summary statement of His creating power (BDB 135, KB 153, Qal PERFECT)! This emphasis on God as creator introduces the rest of the chapter (esp. Isa. 45:18). As He created the earth, so too, Israel. Creation has a relational purpose (i.e. Gen. 1:26-27; 3:8).

Notice the goal is righteousness and salvation!

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ISAIAH 45:9-10
⁹"Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker ‒
An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth!
Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?'
Or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands'?
¹⁰Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting?'
Or to a woman, 'To what are you giving birth?'"

45:9 "Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker ‒" We have seen several allusions to the court scene literary model in Isaiah. Now "woe" identifies another prophetic literary model, "the funeral dirge." It was a "grave" warning to those (Jews or Gentiles) who question YHWH. In context, this strophe would refer to the shock felt by Judeans at the inclusion of Gentiles!

This shows the presence of some Judeans who reacted negatively to God's way of handling restoration to Palestine (cf. Isa. 10:15; 29:16; 45:11; also note Jonah). They were upset that God would use an unbelieving ruler such as Cyrus II (cf. Isa. 45:13). This is very similar to the prophet Habakkuk's incredulous thoughts about God using Neo-Babylon.

▣ "Will the clay say to the potter" This concept of humans as clay and YHWH as potter is common in the Bible, probably because

1. humans are made from the dust or clay and will return to dust (cf. Gen. 2:7; 3:19; Isa. 29:16; Jer. 18:1ff; Rom. 9:20-21)
2. it highlights YHWH's freedom to do with His creation whatever He desires and purposes (cf. Romans 9-11)

There are MSS variants here.

1. with the potsherds of clay (MT)
2. with the potters of clay (NEB, JPSOA)
3. with the potter of clay (RSV, NRSV)

The UBS Text Project, p. 123, gives a "C" rating to #1. This means the committee could not decide which option was original.

This can mean

1. the idols have no hands
2. the craftsmen have no skill
3. the vessel has no handles

It is best just to recognize the ambiguity and look to the other lines of poetry in Isa. 45:9 and Isa. 45:10 for a general contextual meaning. That which is created (i.e. a pot or an idol) cannot question the creator!

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ISAIAH 45:11-13
¹¹Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker:
"Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons,
And you shall commit to Me the work of My hands.
¹²It is I who made the earth, and created man upon it.
I stretched out the heavens with My hands
And I ordained all their host.
¹³I have aroused him in righteousness
And I will make all his ways smooth;
He will build My city and will let My exiles go free,
Without any payment or reward," says the Lord of hosts.

45:11 This verse starts out with several titles for God.

1. YHWH (see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D.)
2. the Holy One of Israel (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HOLY ONE)
3. Israel's Maker (BDB 427, KB 428, Qal PARTICIPLE)

It then continues the emphasis on YHWH as the predictor of future events (i.e. Cyrus' conquest).

The UBS Text Project (p. 125) suggests, "questions me about the things to come, (but) as to my sons and the work of my hands, let me take care of them!" (JPSOA, "will you question Me").

▣ "My hands" SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE GOD

45:12 Line 1 reflects Genesis 1.

▣ "stretched out the heavens" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE CIRCLE OF THE EARTH.

SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN

▣ "with My hands" SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE GOD

▣ "And I ordained all their host" Here again YHWH is magnifying His unique place as Creator of heaven and earth. The Babylonians worshiped the stars and planets. This is a strong statement that YHWH commanded (BDB 845, KB 1010, Piel PERFECT) all their hosts (cf. Isa. 40:26; 48:13; Ps. 33:6). This emphasis on YHWH as the creator and controller of the heavenly bodies (i.e. sun, moon, stars, planets, comets) functions like Genesis 1 in showing the folly of astral worship.

In Isa. 24:21-22 the word "host" is used for the angelic powers behind the nations (cf. the LXX of Deut. 32:8 and Daniel 10). Whether it is angelic or planetary, YHWH is in control of all the lesser spiritual beings of the universe called elohim. There is no other Supreme Being but YHWH, but there are other spiritual forces.

SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANGELS AND THE DEMONS

SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C.

SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVENLY COUNCIL OF ANGELIC BEINGS

45:13 "I have aroused him in righteousness" The NIV translates the "him" as Cyrus. YHWH stirred up Cyrus to do His will. This refers to

1. the rapid and complete conquests by Cyrus II
2. the decree of Cyrus II, which allowed all the exiled people groups to go home and rebuild their national temples. This decree was given in 538 B.C., one year after the fall of Neo-Babylon.

▣ "My city" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TWO CITIES IN ISAIAH

▣ "Without any payment or reward" YHWH will give Cyrus II victory and he in turn will let Israel return to Judah without a bribe or payment (TEV).

The Jewish Study Bible (p. 876) says that Isa. 45:14 refers to YHWH's reward to Cyrus.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ISAIAH 45:14-17
¹⁴Thus says the Lord,
"The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush
And the Sabeans, men of stature,
Will come over to you and will be yours;
They will walk behind you, they will come over in chains
And will bow down to you;
They will make supplication to you:
'Surely, God is with you, and there is none else,
No other God.'"
¹⁵Truly, You are a God who hides Himself,
O God of Israel, Savior!
¹⁶They will be put to shame and even humiliated, all of them;
The manufacturers of idols will go away together in humiliation.
¹⁷Israel has been saved by the Lord
With an everlasting salvation;
You will not be put to shame or humiliated
To all eternity.

45:14 It is uncertain if Isa. 45:14-17 comprises a literary unit. It is obvious that Isa. 45:15-17 is referring to Judah (cf. Isa. 43:3). It is possible that Isa. 45:14 may refer to Cyrus II and not to Judah.

However, these same nations are given as a ransom for God's people in Isa. 43:3. All the world was meant to come to God in Isa. 45:20-22. Therefore, Judah could be the subject of Isa. 45:14. This is very similar to the prophecies that all the nations will stream to a restored Zion (cf. Isa. 2:2-4; 60:1ff; Ps. 72:8-11; see SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN).

The summary line of Isa. 45:14, "No other God," carries over to Isa. 45:16 (i.e. "they"). Both the idols and their worshipers shall be

1. put to shame ‒ BDB 101, KB 116, Qal PERFECT
2. humiliated ‒ BDB 487, KB 480, Niphal PERFECT

But Israel will not (cf. Isa. 45:17)!

The MT has "men of stature." The JPSOA footnote mentions Ezra 4:20; 8:6; Neh. 5:4 as corroborative historical evidence for the emendation.

1. "men of" ‒ אנשׁו (BDB 60)
2. "tribute" ‒ אשׁכר (NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 552)

Option #2 fits the context best but there are no textual examples.

45:15 Notice the names for God

1. God (El, BDB 42)
2. God (Eloah, BDB 43) of Israel
3. Savior (BDB 446, KB 448, Hiphil PARTICIPLE)

The Savior of Israel did hide Himself from His people for a period of time because of their sin and rebellion (cf. Isa. 1:15; 8:17; 54:8; 57:17; Ps. 44:24; 88:14, also note Job 13:24). But that period of judgment has passed (cf. Isa. 40:2) and now the return and restoration has begun through Cyrus II.

The AB, vol. 20, p. 82, suggests this hiddenness is because Judah was a small and insignificant nation at this period of time.

45:16 See note at Isa. 45:14. Verse 16 is theologically parallel to Isa. 44:11.

▣ "put to shame" See SPECIAL TOPIC: SHAME

45:17 This is a wonderful promise but readers need to remember it is conditional on Judah's covenant obedience. Just to read this and forget that Israel was again conquered and destroyed by both Greece and Rome shows the limits of proof-texting.

The problem was not YHWH's love, power, and promises, but Israel's inability to keep His commandments. See SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT

The Hebrew terms "everlasting" (BDB 761) and "eternity" (BDB 761) are from a Hebrew root that has a wide range of meaning (i.e. semantic field).

SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam and aiōnios)

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ISAIAH 45:18-19
¹⁸For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens
(He is the God who formed the earth and made it,
He established it and did not create it a waste place,
But formed it to be inhabited),
I am the Lord, and there is none else.
¹⁹I have not spoken in secret,
In some dark land;
I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,
'Seek Me in a waste place';
I, the Lord, speak righteousness,
Declaring things that are upright."

45:18 "He established it and did not create it a waste place" This is an allusion to Gen. 1:2. It could be translated "without form" (BDB 1062). YHWH always had a purpose for this planet. That purpose is that it would be inhabited (i.e. Gen. 1:28; 9:1,7). There was a purposful, planned development in God's creation. This does not prove some kind of destruction between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 (i.e. the Gap Theory). See full note at Gen. 1:1-2 online. I have been blessed by a new understanding of Genesis 1; see John H. Walton, The Lost World of Genesis One: An Ancient Cosmology. This book sees Genesis 1 as Elohim preparing this planet for human population. Dr. Walton views this text in light of other ANE cosmologies and concludes that it is not addressing initial creation, but organization.

▣ "But formed it to be inhabited)" This is used by the rabbis to stress that everyone should marry (cf. Gen. 1:28; 9:1,7).

SPECIAL TOPIC: CELIBACY AND MARRIAGE

45:19 YHWH has asserted over and over in this section of Isaiah that He is the God who hears and acts; Who knows the future and sets its course! This theological assertion is a primary evidence of His existence! The other evidence is the existence of Israel and her return to the Promised Land.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ISAIAH 45:20-25
²⁰"Gather yourselves and come;
Draw near together, you fugitives of the nations;
They have no knowledge,
Who carry about their wooden idol
And pray to a god who cannot save.
²¹Declare and set forth your case;
Indeed, let them consult together.
Who has announced this from of old?
Who has long since declared it?
Is it not I, the Lord?
And there is no other God besides Me,
A righteous God and a Savior;
There is none except Me.
²²Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth;
For I am God, and there is no other.
²³I have sworn by Myself,
The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness
And will not turn back,
That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.
²⁴They will say of Me, 'Only in the Lord are righteousness and strength.'
Men will come to Him,
And all who were angry at Him will be put to shame.
²⁵In the Lord all the offspring of Israel
Will be justified and will glory."

45:20 "Gather yourselves and come;

Draw near together, you fugitives of the nations;

They have no knowledge"

Some say this refers to scattered, exiled Israelites returning home (i.e.,"you fugitives of the nations," also note Isa. 45:25), while others believe it is another general invitation to the Gentile nations, as in Isa. 45:6,22,23 (cf. Rom. 14:11; Phil. 2:10). Both are possible in this context.

There is a series of commands in Isa. 45:20-22 related to how humans are to approach YHWH and respond to His offer of availability.

1. gather yourselves ‒ BDB 867, KB 1062, Niphal IMPERATIVE, Isa. 45:20
2. come ‒ BDB 97, KB 112, Qal IMPERATIVE, Isa. 45:20
3. draw near ‒ BDB 620, KB 670, Hiphil IMPERATIVE, Isa. 45:20
4. turn to Me ‒ BDB 815, KB 937, Qal IMPERATIVE, Isa. 45:22
5. be saved ‒ BDB 446, KB 448, Niphal IMPERATIVE, Isa. 45:22

The NT uses Isa. 45:23 in two quotes that refer to all humans (i.e. Rom. 14:11 and esp. Phil. 2:10)! What a wonderful invitation and fulfillment of Gen. 3:15 and 12:3.

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

▣ "Who carry about their wooden idol" This is a recurrent call on the nations to reject their idols who cannot see, hear, or act, and come to the God of Israel who can act and who will save them.

45:21 This is the imagery of a court scene. It predicts

1. Cyrus II and his success
2. the return of Israel as an evangelistic tool to bring the world to God

Here, God is called a "Savior" and in this context implies not of Jews only but of the entire world (cf. Isa. 45:22; 49:6; 51:4; 52:10; Acts 13:47). The obvious implication of monotheism is that the One God loves all humans created in His image (cf. Gen. 1:26-27).

45:22 "Turn to Me" This is the Hebrew word that is used for worship (BDB 815, KB 937, Qal IMPERATIVE PLURAL). As the people turn to God they leave their idolatry and sin (cf. Isa. 55:7).

Humans have a choice. They can turn to YHWH and be saved or turn to idols (cf. Lev. 19:4,31; 20:6; Deut. 31:18,20) and have no hope!

This is a wonderful invitation for the nations to be included in the Family of God!

▣ "and be saved, all the ends of the earth" This is a reference to the universal salvation offered to all humans who will repent and trust in YHWH because there is no other God (cf. Isa. 45:21). This universal offer is so characteristic of Isaiah (cf. Isa. 2:2-4; 12:4-5; 25:6-9; 42:6-12; 49:5-6; 51:4-5; 60:1-3; 66:23).

This can be translated "save themselves" (Niphal IMPERATIVE), which would be a play on Gen. 12:3 (see exegetical notes online).

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

45:23 "I have sworn by Myself" There is no higher oath possible! This, of course, is imagery for God's truthfulness

▣ "The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness

  And will not turn back"  This is the ancient belief in the power of the spoken word (cf. Isa. 24:3; 25:8; 40:8; 55:10-11). God said it; He wants the world to be saved (i.e. John 3:16; 4:42; 1 Tim. 2:4; Titus 2:11; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 2:2; 4:14)!

▣ "That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance" There are several different ways (i.e. physical positions) that ANE people worshiped.

1. standing up ‒ 1 Sam. 1:26; 1 Kgs. 8:22; Jer. 18:20
2. kneeling ‒ 1 Kgs. 8:54; 2 Chr. 6:13; Ps. 95:6; Isa. 45:23; Dan. 6:10-11
3. prostrated ‒ Ps. 5:7; 95:6; 99:5,9; 138:2

A good example of multiple positions based on which part of the worship event is Nehemiah 9:2-5.

1. they stood while Torah was read
2. they knelt down to confess their sin
3. they stood up again at the direction of the Levite leaders

This is used in this context of YHWH. However, in Phil. 2:10 it is used of all conscious creation confessing Jesus Christ as Lord. The context again shows that God wants the whole world to come to Him and later revelation will show it is through His Messiah, Jesus Christ, that this universal offer is accomplished (cf. Mark 10:45; 2 Cor. 5:21; see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE GOSPEL).

The theological issue is very clear. If the NT is revelation, then the OT promises to national Israel have been widened. Neither Jesus nor any NT writer ever reaffirms a national promise to Israel!

SPECIAL TOPIC: WHY ARE OT COVENANT PROMISES SO DIFFERENT FROM NT COVENANT PROMISES?

The MT has "shall come and be shamed" (two Qal IMPERFECTS). The question is, "To whom does 'will come to Him' refer?"

1. those who acknowledge YHWH (v. 23d, JPSOA, cf. Ps. 65:2b)
2. those who are angry (v. 24c, TEV, NJB, NET, REB)

▣ "And all who are angry at Him shall be put to shame" This does show that one day all peoples, whether they believe in YHWH or not, will acknowledge Him as Lord (cf. Phil. 2:10-11). Some will have previously acknowledged Him and be saved, but some will acknowledge Him just before judgment and separation (cf. Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 20:11-15).

SPECIAL TOPIC: ETERNAL PUNISHMENT

45:25 YHWH not only desires the worship of the nations, but the vindication and glory of Abraham's seed.

As a Christian, this terminology, "all the offspring of Israel," causes me to note Rom. 2:28-29; 9-11, esp. 9:6; 11:26; also see Gal. 3:7-9,29; 6:16; 1 Pet. 3:6.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. List the characteristics of God mentioned in Isa. 44:24-28. (there are nine relative clauses)
2. Why did God choose Cyrus?
3. What is the significance of the Hebrew word "know" (cf. Isa. 45:4-6)?
4. Why is Isa. 45:6 so significant?
5. List the number of times and ways the doctrine of monotheism is mentioned in this passage.
6. Does Isa. 45:8 refer to the return from exile or the Messianic kingdom? Why?
7. What is the significance of Isa. 45:22?
8. How is Isa. 45:23 used in the NT and what significance does it have for this passage?

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