Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

ISAIAH - CHAPTER 44

THE FAITHFUL GOD BLESSES HIS PEOPLE

Vs. 1-8: ISRAEL CALLED TO HEAR AND BELIEVE THE VOICE OF HER GOD

1. Jacob is Jehovah’s servant, (vs. 1-2; Isaiah 41:8).

a. Having formed him from the womb, the Lord will be his constant help, (vs. 2a; Isaiah 43:1; Isaiah 43:7; Isaiah 41:10).

b. Thus, Jesurun (a diminuitive farm of endearment, meaning "perfect" or "upright"), the Lord’s chosen, must not fear, (Deuteronomy 32:15; Deuteronomy 33:5; Deuteronomy 33:26).

2. Refreshment will be divinely provided for the Lord’s own heritage, (vs. 3-4).

a. Water for the thirsty, (vs. 3a).

b. The Spirit of God will be poured upon the seed of Jacob; divine blessings upon his offspring, (vs. 3b; Ezekiel 36:27; Ezekiel 37:14; Ezekiel 39:29; Isaiah 32:15; Isaiah 59:21).

1) The outpouring on the Day of Pentecost was a mere "earnest" of what is to be bestowed in its fullness during the millennium, (2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:5).

2) For the bodies of the saints it will involve: resurrection, quickening and glorification, (Romans 8:11; Romans 8:23; John 6:63; 2 Corinthians 3:6).

3) The souls of men will be enriched by the Spirit’s bestowment of: knowledge, wisdom, utterance and such endowments as will enable men to serve and worship God in a perfect way.

c. The offspring of Jacob will spring up luxuriantly, as willows by the water courses, (vs. 4).

3. Divinely refreshed, the seed of Jacob will joyfully acknowledge themselves servants of Jehovah, and the spiritual heritage that he has so richly bestowed upon them, (vs. 5; Jeremiah 50:5; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 8:5; comp. Psalms 87:4-5).

4. Jehovah is the King of Israel, (Isaiah 41:21; Isaiah 43:15); Jehovah of hosts his Redeemer, (vs. 6; Isaiah 41:14; Isaiah 43:1; Isaiah 43:14).

a. He is the first and the last, (Isaiah 41:4; Isaiah 48:12; comp. Revelation 1:8; Revelation 2:8; Revelation 22:13).

b. Beside Him there is no God, (vs. 8; Isaiah 43:11; Isaiah 45:5-6; Isaiah 45:21).

5. There is no other who can call and order the lives of a people as God has done with Israel, (vs. 7; Isaiah 41:22; Isaiah 41:26).

6. Therefore, the people .of God are not to be afraid - astounded, or distracted by fear, (vs. 8).

a. That He has faithfully guided their destiny in the past, they are witnesses, (Isaiah 43:10).

b. Beside Him there is no God - no Rock of refuge and strength! (Isaiah 45:5; Deuteronomy 4:35; Deuteronomy 4:39; 1 Samuel 2:2; Joel 2:27; Isaiah 17:10; Isaiah 26:4; Isaiah 30:29).

c. He Who knows ALL knows of NO OTHER GOD! (1 Samuel 2:3; Daniel 2:22; Hebrews 4:13; Colossians 2:3).

Vs. 9-11: THE VANITY OF TRUSTING IN TOOLS

1. It is in emptiness and confusion that one makes a graven image that cannot be of any profit; if he were not blind and ignorant he would be ashamed of such works of his own hands, (vs. 9; Isaiah 41:24; Psalms 115:4-8; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Acts 14:15; Deuteronomy 32:21).

2. No one has ever fashioned an idol that was profitable for anything! (vs. 10; Isaiah 41:29; Jeremiah 10:5; Jeremiah 14:22; Habakkuk 2:18; Acts 19:26; Acts 17:29-31).

3. But fear and shame is the end of all who put their trust in manufactured gods! (vs. 11; Isaiah 42:17; Isaiah 45:16; comp. Psalms 97:1-7)

Vs. 12-20: PROPHETIC IRONY TURNED UPON IDOLS AND THOSE WHO TRUST IN THEM

1. Isaiah has already insisted that idols can do nothing because they ARE NOTHING but artistic blocks of metal or wood.

2. Here his argument reaches its climax in an outburst of derisive, prophetic laughter! (vs. 12-17).

a. With an irony that seems almost savage, he taunts idolators with the non-existence of their gods, Psalms 115:4-8.

b. With burning satire, he paints the stupidity of anyone who would presume to make a god out of the same piece of wood that furnished fuel for cooking his dinner!

c. For a descendant of Abraham to trust such an idol was doubly stupid!

3. Isaiah views the God of Jacob as the God of history - who plans and executes the affairs of men and nations according to His own free and perfect will.

4. Israel must not presume that the calamity which has overtaken her (that is, her captivity) is anything but a necessary, and richly deserved, judgment upon her sin, (Isaiah 42:24-25; Isaiah 48:17-19); it is not an evidence of God’s helplessness, but has been HIS OWN DOING!

a. Israel has not understood because, having rejected knowledge, God has blinded her eyes and hardened her heart, (vs. 18).

b. She cannot comprehend her own folly, (vs. 19).

c. Thus, Isaiah pictures her as "feeding on ashes" -unconscious of a deceived heart, and that she holds a lie in her right hand, (vs. 20).

5. The people of God must ever trust Him to bring history to the goal for which He created the earth, called the Israelites into a relationship of covenant-fellowship with Himself, and commissioned them to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth!

6. God still has a glorious future for this people once they fully entrust the direction and keeping of their lives into His capable hands.

Vs. 21-28: THE COVENANT PEOPLE CALLED BACK TO JEHOVAH

1. The Lord’s servant, whom He has formed, should remember his Maker; the Lord surely will not forget Israel! (vs. 21; Isaiah 49:14-15).

2. Since He has blotted out her sin and transgression, Israel is called upon to RETURN to her Redeemer - involving genuine repentance! (vs. 22).

a. There can be no restoration without repentance.

b. But, the nation WILL REPENT, and in an extraordinary way, (Micah 7:15-20).

1) It will be accomplished through divine discipline, (Isa Isaiah 30:18-19; Hosea 5:15).

2) It will be connected with the return of the King, (Ezekiel 20:33-44; Micah 2:12-13).

3) It will be such as proves the faithfullness of God, (Isaiah 43:25; Ezekiel 36:22).

4) A marvelous transformation will take place in the land of their fathers, (Ezekiel 36:24-35; Jeremiah 32:37-44; Jeremiah 33:7-16).

5) Israel’s repentance and restoration are closely associated with the establishment of Messiah’s reign, (Jer 23-3-8; Ezekiel 34:23-31).

3. The commands of verse 23 come in response to Israel’s repentance and restoration.

a. The heavens, mountains, and forests are called to singing, the lower part of the earth to shouting, (vs. 23a).

b. The reason: "the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel" (vs. 23b; Isaiah 43:1; Isaiah 49:3; Isaiah 60:21; Isaiah 61:3).

4. The supremacy of Jehovah is manifested in His mighty works, (vs. 24-28).

a. In the work of creation, (vs. 24; Psalms 19:1-3; Psalms 8:3-4; Psalms 89:11; Psalms 102:25; John 1:3; Colossians 1:17).

b. In the frustration of liars and the humiliation of proud pretenders, (vs. 25; Isaiah 47:13-15; Isaiah 29:14; Psalms 33:10-11; Jeremiah 51:57; 1 Corinthians 1:20; 1 Corinthians 1:27-30).

c. In confirming the word of His servant and performing the counsel of His messengers, (vs. 26a; Isaiah 55:11; Zechariah 1:6).

d. In returning the exiles to Jerusalem and rebuilding the cities of Judah, (vs. 26b; Isaiah 48:7-20; Jeremiah 32:15; Jeremiah 32:44).

e. In drying up the deep with a word of command, (vs. 27; Isaiah 42:15; Isaiah 43:16; Isaiah 50:2; Jeremiah 50:38; Jeremiah 51:36) possibly suggesting that He inspired the engineering device whereby Cyrus was enabled to take Babylon by surprise.

f. In His summoning of Cyrus to act as His shepherd -accomplishing His will, (vs. 28; Isaiah 45:1).

1) In the rebuilding of Jerusalem, (Isaiah 14:32; Isaiah 45:13; Isaiah 54:11-13; 2 Chronicles 36:22-23).

2) And in laying the foundation for a new temple therein, (Ezra 1:1-4).