THE IMPOTENCE OF IDOLS 1-23. The reproach of God's people shall be entirely removed. Jehovah the Eternal, who rules the events of history, contrasted with the futile gods of the heathen. 24-28. This great Jehovah pledges the restoration of His people through Cyrus.... [ Continue Reading ]
JESURUN] i.e. 'upright,' a symbolic name of Israel (Deuteronomy 32:15), indicating its ideal character. FEAR NOT] i.e. on account of past failure and apparent inability to realise the future which God sets before you.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Isaiah 43:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
The meaning is that the nations of the world will count it an honour to associate themselves with Israel and be reckoned as the Lord's people. SUBSCRIBE, etc.] i.e. sign himself as the Lord's. SURNAME _himself_] as with a title of honour.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Isaiah 43:11; Isaiah 43:18. HIS REDEEMER] i.e. the deliverer of Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
A challenge to others to foretell the future, as Jehovah does by His prophet (Isaiah 41:22). RM 'And who, as I, can proclaim? let him declare it,' etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THAT TIME] RV 'of old.' MY WITNESSES] see Isaiah 43:10; Isaiah 43:12. NO GOD] RV 'no Rock.' Rock, as a title of God (cp. Isaiah 17:10; Deuteronomy 32:4; Deuteronomy 32:15; Deuteronomy 32:18), expresses the permanent strength and protection He affords. 8-20. The folly of idolaters exposed.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY _are_ their OWN, etc.] RV 'their own witnesses see not,' i.e. the witnesses on behalf of the idols (the heathen), as opposed to Jehovah's witnesses (the Jews), Isaiah 44:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL HIS FELLOWS] RM 'all that join themselves thereto.' THEY _are_ OF MEN] i.e. of human origin, and, therefore, cannot make God. Bead, 'The smith sharpeneth a _tool_ and worketh,' etc. (RM).... [ Continue Reading ]
Description of the making of a metal idol. The maker is frail man. 13, etc. Description of the making of a wooden idol. A LINE] RV 'a pencil. FITTETH] RV 'shapeth.'... [ Continue Reading ]
The v. describes the choosing of the wood, and the planting of the tree, for making an idol. CYPRESS.. ASH] RV 'holm tree.. fir.' STRENGTHENED] i.e. carefully tends its growth, or chooses, selects. 15-17. The uses to which the tree is put. Part is used for human purposes, part to make a god. 18-20... [ Continue Reading ]
A CLOUD] which soon disperses.... [ Continue Reading ]
He is supreme over all things. BY MYSELF] RV 'who is with me? 'implying that Jehovah alone does these things.... [ Continue Reading ]
He frustrates false prophets, but pledges Himself to fulfil the predictions of His own prophets as to the restoration of Jerusalem (Isaiah 44:26).... [ Continue Reading ]
SERVANT] here a synonym for 'prophet': cp. Isaiah 20:3. MESSENGERS] the prophets generally.... [ Continue Reading ]
The allusion is to the drying up, (_a_) of the waters which would impede the returning exiles, or (_b_) of the waters which protected Babylon (Jeremiah 50:38; Jeremiah 51:36). Cyrus, in fact, entered Babylon by diverting the Euphrates from its usual channel and marching by the river bed.... [ Continue Reading ]
As the Assyrian was Jehovah's appointed instrument for the chastisement of His people (Isaiah 10:5), so Cyrus is singled out as His instrument for their restoration. EVEN SAYING, etc.] literally fulfilled in the decree of Cyrus (Ezra 1:1; 2 Chronicles 36:22).... [ Continue Reading ]