The last eight verses of Isaiah 45 stress the objectives Yahweh had in the creation of the world. All nations will ultimately learn that He, the God of Israel, is the true God and that all other deities are a mere pretence. Witness to His purpose and Godhead has not been hidden from men, nor will th…
“Unto Me Every Knee Shall Bow” Read More »
43:14–17 Redemption from Babylon: a New Exodus
In this section the Exodus theme continues. The fall of Babylon is announced and promised. This is the first time Babylon is mentioned since 39:3–6 where the impending captivity in that land is foreshadowed. The captivity is to be followed, after 7…
Isaiah chapters 46 and 47 deal with the fall of Babylon and the utterly useless idols in which the nation had trusted (Dan 5:23). There is a contrast between them and Yahweh Who has preserved His people from their inception.
Chapter 47 focuses on the arrogance of Babylon and her swift demise. Cit…
In this chapter God foretells His vengeance upon the greatest city of antiquity, Babylon. The city is described as a virgin, “tender and delicate” and oblivious of her sins against the people of God. Her arrogance and boasts, her confidence in her sorceries, only serve to magnify the complet…
44:1–5 Despite Her Sin and Suffering (43:28), Israel will yet be Blessed and Delight in Yahweh’s Goodness
Verse 1 “Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen”
Notice that the opening words “Yet now”, are a translation of the same Hebrew word used to open the p…
This chapter concludes a lengthy section commencing in chapter 40 in which sins of Judah are enumerated and the reasons for the impending Babylonian captivity are given. But Yahweh’s purpose with His people will not fail “for his name’s sake” (v9). “New things” He declares which He …
44:9–20 The Idolater and His God
This section is in stark contrast with verses 6 to 8 in which Yahweh asserts His power and proclaims His involvement and activity on behalf of His people. In the case of idols, all the activity and initiative rests with men! There would not be an idol-god if the…
In Isaiah 41:21–29 a court scene is presented and the idol-gods are challenged to bring forth reasons to establish their credibility: their ability to foretell future events is put to the test and contrasted with Yahweh of Israel’s capacity to prophesy the future and to bring to pass His progn…
Poor Job knew only too well the experience of “wearisome nights”, tossing back and forth on his bed, as tormenting anxieties left him sleepless and depressed. The aim of our current series is to explore the theme of “Psalms for the Night Seasons” and for the most part we will limit our exhor…
Why Art Thou Cast Down, O My Soul? Read More »
The first seven verses of this chapter make up the First Servant Song. The chapter presents to us the failure of the national servant, Israel (18–20); and this is contrasted with the success of the individual servant, the Son of God, Jesus Christ (v1–7). It was a moral impossibility that the…
