ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 44:1 God reminds his people how fully he has committed himself to them. JESHURUN (probably meaning “upright one”) is a name for Israel (see Deuteronomy 32:15; Deuteronomy 33:26). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=i [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 44:3 The “utter destruction” of Isaiah 43:28 reduces God’s people to THIRSTY LAND and DRY GROUND, but under the outpouring of MY SPIRIT, they thrive and multiply (see Isaiah 32:15; Isaiah 65:17; Joel 2:28; Luke 24:49).... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 44:5 There will be one enthusiastic conversion to the Lord after another. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 44:9 THEIR WITNESSES are the worshipers of idols, in contrast with “my witnesses” in v. Isaiah 44:8. PUT TO SHAME... PUT TO SHAME... PUT TO SHAME. The nothingness of idols dooms their worshipers to disgrace. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 44:12 HE FASHIONS IT. Contrast “he who formed you” in Isaiah 43:1 and “I formed you” in Isaiah 44:21. HIS STRONG ARM. This is meant ironically, in view of Isaiah 40:10, Isaiah 40:26, Isaiah 40:29. HIS STRENGTH FAILS. The human god-maker is [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 44:14 The false gods depend on human purpose for their existence. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 44:18 As in v. Isaiah 44:9, God judges idolatrous worship. ABOMINATION. See Deuteronomy 27:15. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 44:21 I FORMED YOU. Contrast “all who fashion idols” in v. Isaiah 44:9 and “he fashions it” in v. Isaiah 44:12 (see Isaiah 45:9, Isaiah 45:11). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 44:22 LIKE A CLOUD... LIKE MIST. Before God’s grace, sins fade away to nothing. RETURN TO ME, FOR I HAVE REDEEMED YOU. Repentance is motivated by grace (see Romans 2:4). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 44:23 The redemption of God’s people will be the joy of the whole creation, because God’s people will rule it wisely and well (see Isaiah 35:1; Isaiah 49:13; Isaiah 55:12; Romans 8:19). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 44:24 God names Cyrus the Great as the one through whom he will restore postexilic Jerusalem. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 44:27 I WILL DRY UP YOUR RIVERS. Probably a reference back to the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea at the exodus (see Isaiah 11:15; Isaiah 43:16; Isaiah 51:10). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.ge [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 44:28 CYRUS is predicted by name, validating God’s claim to be the One guiding history (see a similar prophetic naming in 1 Kings 13:1). SHE SHALL BE BUILT. Cyrus’s policy to rebuild Jerusalem expresses the deeper purpose of God (revealed in Isaiah 44:26), reversing Isaiah 6:11... [ Continue Reading ]