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Verse-by-Verse Bible Study

Isaiah 44

IsaiahOld TestamentEnglish
These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
  • Outline…
    • Isaiah 40-48 – Comfort: for a people CAPTIVE in Babylon…
    • Isaiah 49-55 – Redemption: for a people CAPTIVE to sin…
    • Isaiah 56-66 – Restoration: of Israel and the world
    • The Redeemer…
    • Israel had MISSED why they had been conquered by Babylon…
    • It would have been EASY for them to think the LORD had ABANDONED them…
    • But they were NOT to let [jussive] themselves be AFRAID – God had REDEEMED them…
    • They were NO longer Jacob [liar] – they were Israel [His people]
    • Though they would walk through DEEP waters and the FIRE [trials]
    • They would NOT be overwhelmed – they would NOT be BURNED!
    • Ends of the Earth…
    • Israel was NOT to let [jussive] themselves be AFRAID – God was still with them…
    • Although they had been SCATTERED [diaspora] because of their SIN – II Kings 17:18
    • God would NOT leave them DISPERSED – He would call them BACK…
    • He would bring them back from EVERY corner of the earth [rebirth of Israel]
    • Then even the BLIND nations would see that the LORD was God…
    • That He was the ONLY God – and there was NONE before or after Him!
  • 1st – The Choice… vs. 1-5
    • 1st – Fear Not… vs. 1-2
      • Listen… vs. 1
      • Yet hear now O Jacob My servant – and Israel whom I have chosen!
      • Although God had promised to bring His people out of BABYLON…
      • Yet Jacob did NOT call [perfect] on the LORD – Isaiah 43:22
      • Instead they had BURDENED [perfect] the LORD with their SINS…
      • Yet NOW [וְעַתָּה] – the LORD commanded them to LISTEN [שָׁמַע]
      • Jacob [rebellious] who was His SERVANT [servants must listen to their masters]
      • God CHOSE [perfect] him to be Israel [ruled by God] – so He was giving them another chance!
      • If we had an employee who will NOT listen to INSTRUCTIONS…
      • Chances are we will FIRE them right there on the SPOT…
      • But if we LOVE them [chose them] – we will likely give them another chance!
      • Help… vs. 2
      • Thus says the LORD who made you and formed you from the womb – who will help you:
      • Fear not O Jacob My servant – and you Jeshurun whom I have chosen!
      • This is what the LORD said who MADE [עָשָׂה] Jacob His [rebellious] servant…
      • The God who FORMED [יָצַר] him from the WOMB [guiding him from the day he was born]
      • And the LORD who would continue [imperfect] to HELP him…
      • Therefore he had NO reason [jussive] to be AFRAID [תִּירָא]
      • God would make sure His CHOSEN – would be JESHURUN [walk right]!
      • When we are REBELLIOUS and insist on going our own WAY…
      • The Lord does NOT reject us – He keeps reaching out to us…
      • Because He has CHOSEN us – He gives us GRACE…
      • He reminds us that we are His SERVANT – we need to LISTEN…
      • But we do NOT need to worry – He is working to help us walk RIGHT [יְשֻׁרוּן]!
    • 2nd – Blessed… vs. 3-5
      • The Spirit… vs. 3-4
      • For I will pour water on him who is thirsty and floods on the dry ground.
      • I will pour My Spirit on your descendants and My blessing on your offspring.
      • They will spring up among the grass – like willows by the watercourses!
      • The way the LORD would make Jacob into JESHURUN [walk right]
      • Was by pouring out WATER upon the THIRSTY…
      • Not just a little WATER – He would pour out FLOODS on the DRY ground…
      • NOT physical water – He was talking about His Holy SPIRIT [רוּחַ]
      • The LORD would pour Him out upon their SEED [decedents]
      • His SPIRIT would bring BLESSINGS [בְּרָכָה] to their CHILDREN [salvation] – Joel 2:28
      • So they would THRIVE like a WILLOW by the RIVERS of water!
      • When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the 120 in the Upper Room – Acts 2:1
      • He TRANSFORMED fishermen – and ordinary SINNERS…
      • Into EXTRAORDINARY men and women that God used to turn the world around!
      • The illustration of THIRST is common within the Bible…
      • In the same way our body THIRSTS for water – our spirit THIRSTS for the Lord…
      • If we are DRY spiritually – if it feels like we are missing the BLESSING…
      • All we have to do is LISTEN to the LORD – and He will pour out His SPIRIT on us – Luke 11:13
      • When He does it will TRANSFORM our lives – we will go from Jacob to JESHURUN!
      • Psalm 1:3 – ” [We] shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water… and whatever [we do] shall prosper.”
      • Their Name… vs. 5
      • One will say: I am the LORDs. Another will call himself by the name of Jacob.
      • Another will write with his hand: The LORDs – and name himself by the name of Israel!
      • Some will then say [imperfect] they belong to the LORD…
      • There will be others who still want to be CALLED by Jacob [rebellious]
      • But the rest will write the LORD on their hand – and be titled [piel] Israel!
      • Paul would go on to say that NOT all from Israel – are Israel – Romans 9:6
      • Not every Jew will be saved – there are some who are still Jacob…
      • But for those who receive the LIVING water [Spirit] – they mark themselves for the LORD!
      • God is always working to try and get our attention…
      • He wants to pour His SPIRIT out on us – TRANSFORM our lives…
      • He wants our identity to be ISRAEL – the people who belong to God…
      • But it is a CHOICE – we must decide who MARKS our lives!
  • 2nd – The Lord… vs. 6-8
    • 1st – First and Last… vs. 6
      • Their King…
      • Thus says the LORD the King of Israel!
      • To help the people see why they should LISTEN to the LORD…
      • Why they should be JESHURUN and NOT Jacob [rebellious]
      • God gave them the TWO options of WHO they could put their TRUST in…
      • FRIST – they were given the identity of the LORD
      • The LORD is the KING [מֶלֶךְ] over Israel [ruled by God]!
      • This was an IMPORTANT – because Israel NO longer had a KING…
      • The last king of Israel before the Babylonian captivity was Zedekiah…
      • Then the line of kings was CURSED [curse of Jehoachin] – Jeremiah 22:30
      • Their Redeemer…
      • And his Redeemer the LORD of hosts!
      • I am the First and I am the Last – besides Me there is no God!
      • The LORD is the REDEEMER of Israel – the LORD of Hosts [צְבָאוֹת]
      • But this is where it gets interesting – He ties another title to His REDEMPTION [גָּאַל]
      • He is the FIRST and the LAST – and other than Him there are NO [אֵין] gods [אֱלֹהִים]
      • Who is the REDEEMER – who is the LORD who saves – Jesus [יְהוֹשׁוּעַ]!
      • When Jesus appeared to John on the island of Patmos…
      • He gave Himself the title – I am the FIRST and the LAST!
      • Revelation 1:18 – “I am He who lives – and was dead – and behold I am alive forevermore.”
      • There can be NO doubt – the Old Testament is VERY clear…
      • The LORD [יְהוָה] – the ONE and ONLY God – is FIRST and the LAST…
      • Yet when did the LORD [יְהוָה] die – and then come back to life…
      • This is one of the most powerful proof texts in the Bible for the DEITY of Jesus…
      • There are THREE persons – but only ONE God – I John 5:7
    • 2nd – Only God… vs. 7-8
      • The Evidence… vs. 7
      • And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me.
      • Since I appointed the ancient people – and the things that are coming and shall come.
      • Let them show these to them!
      • WHO else can do what God has done…
      • God who established Israel thousands of years earlier [ancient people] – Genesis 12:2
      • And was able to tell them [imperfect] what the FUTURE held…
      • If there is someone else who can do this – let them bring their EVIDENCE [hiphil]
      • Let them show it [hiphil] – before the LORD [לִי] – and to Israel [לָמוֹ]!
      • Isaiah 46:9-10 – “I am God and there is no other. I am God and there is none like Me – Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things that are not yet done!”
      • God gave us prophecy NOT because He wanted us to know the FUTURE…
      • But so that when the FUTURE comes – we see God knew in advance…
      • Because ONLY the Lord is outside of time – ONLY he sees the end from the beginning…
      • The prophecies in the Bible are His FINGERPRINT proving He alone is God!
      • The Rock… vs. 8
      • Do not fear nor be afraid. Have I not told you from that time and declared it?
      • You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me?
      • Indeed there is no other Rock. I know not one!
      • Therefore – there was NO reason [jussive] for Israel to let themselves TREMBLE [תִּפְחֲדוּ]
      • There was NO reason [jussive] to let themselves be AFRAID [only here OT]
      • Because the LORD had [perfect] made them LISTEN [שָׁמַע]
      • Israel was His WITNESS that there was NO God like Him…
      • There is NO [אִין] Rock [צוּר] like God – the LORD does NOT know [יָדַע] of anyone!
      • When Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount…
      • He concluded by saying those who LISTEN and DO what His Word says…
      • He will liken them to a man who builds his house upon a ROCK – Matthew 7:24
      • There is NO God like the Lord – because He knows the END from the BEGINNING…
      • Therefore when we listen to and obey His WORD – we stand upon a SOLID foundation…
      • We do NOT have to FEAR what will happen – TREMBLE at the FUTURE…
      • Because we have put our TRUST in the God who knows what the FUTURE holds!
  • 3rd – The Lie… vs. 9-20
    • 1st – Worthless… vs. 9
      • No Profit…
      • Those who make an image – all of them are useless and their precious things shall not profit!
      • SECOND – men can put their TRUST in IDOLS…
      • Unlike the God who formed [יָצַר] us – and is a ROCK because He knows EVERYTHING…
      • Those who make [יָצַר] an IDOL [image] – those people are ALL [כֹּל] useless [תֹּהוּ]
      • Because the things people DESIRE [חָמַד] will NOT be able to HELP them!
      • When we think of IDOLS – we tend to imagine STATUES…
      • But an IDOL is anything that we put our TRUST in other than the LORD…
      • Things that we DESIRE [חָמַד] because we believe they are the ANSWER!
      • The Witness
      • They are their own witnesses. They neither see nor know that they may be ashamed!
      • Just as Israel was a WITNESS to the POWER of the ONE God…
      • Those who worshiped IDOLS were their own WITNESS…
      • Because they did NOT see [imperfect] and did NOT know [imperfect]
      • That what they were TRUSTING in could NOT help them…
      • And as a result – they would be put to SHAME!
      • In the same teaching [Sermon on the mount]
      • Jesus said that those who do NOT stand upon His Word [the Rock]
      • Build their lives on SAND – and when the storms come – they will FALL – Matthew 7:27
      • If we put our TRUST in anything other than the LORD – we are a FOOL…
      • Because NOTHING other than the LORD is certain [rock] in this life…
      • What are setting ourselves up for a FALL – we will be put to SHAME!
    • 2nd – Man Made… vs. 10-13
      • For profit… vs. 10
      • Who would form a god or mold an image that profits him nothing?
      • WHO would make [יָצַר] a god [אֵל] that has no PROFIT…
      • This is the question that very few people ever take the time to ask…
      • If the IDOLS in our lives have NO power – and CANNOT help us…
      • Then WHO is it that takes the time and EFFORT to make them – and WHY!
      • The answer is in the question – there is PROFIT in them…
      • People make a LOT of money convincing us to TRUST in IDOLS!
      • People are always trying to convince us they have the ANSWERS…
      • If we try their PROGRAM – if we buy their BOOK…
      • If we subscribe to their CHANNEL – if we join their GROUP…
      • But what all these things have in common – is they are trying to MAKE money off of us!
      • Ashamed… vs. 11
      • Surely all his companions would be ashamed and the workmen they are mere men.
      • Let them all be gathered together – let them stand up.
      • Yet they shall fear – they shall be ashamed together!
      • BEHOLD [הֵן] – all [כָּל] of those who make the IDOLS will be [imperfect] ASHAMED…
      • They are JUST men – even if they ALL [כָּל] stand TOGETHER [unity]
      • They will be [imperfect] AFRAID – and AHAMED together!
      • The world comes TOGETHER – putting their HOPE in their NUMBERS…
      • They VOTE to change LAWS – making WRONG seem RIGHT – Isaiah 5:20
      • But it does NOT make a difference what men say – God will always be TRUE!
      • Romans 3:4 – “Let God be true but every man a liar.”
      • Blacksmith… vs. 12
      • The blacksmith with the tongs works one in the coals – fashions it with hammers.
      • And works it with the strength of his arms – even so he is hungry – and his strength fails.
      • He drinks no water and is faint!
      • The LORD describes those who are making the IDOLS…
      • The BLACKSMITH – he works with the tongs in the hot fires [coals]
      • He hammers and makes [יָצַר] the IDOL by the strength of his arms…
      • But if he does NOT eat he has NO [אִין] strength – and if he does NOT drink he will faint!
      • We cannot make something GREATER than ourselves…
      • Therefore if we are WEAK – then what we make also has WEAKNESS!
      • Craftsman… vs. 13
      • The craftsman stretches out his rule. He marks one out with chalk – fashions it with a plane.
      • He marks it out with the compass and makes it like the figure of a man.
      • According to the beauty of a man – that it may remain in the house!
      • The CARPENTER – he measures out the wood and MARKS [piel] it with lines…
      • He shapes it down with a CHISEL [plane] – and a COMPASS [make circles]
      • So that it has the FORM [likeness] of a MAN [אִישׁ]
      • It has the glory of a MAN [אָדָם] – but just SITS in a HOUSE!
      • For all of the SKILL – the IDOL has no POWER…
      • It LOOKS like it has ability – it SEEMS like it should be able to talk and move…
      • But it has NO life – the best it can do is SIT in a home [décor]!
    • 3rd – Deceived… vs. 14-20
      • The Tree… vs. 14
      • He cuts down cedars for himself and takes the cypress and the oak.
      • He secures it for himself among the trees of the forest.
      • He plants a pine and the rain nourishes it!
      • To prove the POINT on how USELESS idols are…
      • The LORD takes us through the process of making an IDOL…
      • The CARPENTER takes his time to get just the RIGHT tree…
      • He might pick [piel] a CEDAR – CYPRESS [only here OT] – or an OAK…
      • Or if none of those will do – he will plant a PINE [only here OT]
      • But he CANNOT make the trees grow – the RAIN has to do that [Lord]!
      • The IRONY is intentional – he takes his time to pick just the right WOOD…
      • But he has NO ability to be able to make the WOOD he is using!
      • Dual Purpose… vs. 15-17
      • Then it shall be for a man to burn – for he will take some of it and warm himself.
      • Yes – he kindles it and bakes bread. Indeed – he makes a god and worships it.
      • He makes it a carved image and falls down to it.
      • He burns half of it in the fire. With this half he eats meat. He roasts a roast and is satisfied.
      • He even warms himself and says: Ah! I am warm. I have seen the fire.
      • The rest of it he makes into a god. His carved image. He falls down before it and worships it.
      • Prays to it and says: Deliver me for you are my god!
      • The MAN [אָדָם] takes the WOOD – and uses it to make a FIRE…
      • He uses the FIRE to keep himself WARM – and even says AH [הֶאָח] I am warmed by the fire…
      • Half he uses to bake BREAD [לֶחֶם] and cook MEAT – and he is FILLED [שָׂבַע]
      • Then he takes the remainder of the WOOD – and makes a GOD [אֵל]
      • He MAKES a idol and FALLS down before it to worship [hithpael]
      • He PRAYS unto it saying – you are my GOD save me [imperative]!
      • A man who is drowning – cannot pull himself out of the water…
      • He needs someone who is NOT sinking to reach out and HELP!
      • Sometimes when we say the CRAZY part out loud – it becomes OBVIOUS…
      • We cannot TRUST in something we have MADE – and expect it to SAVE us…
      • Because if we NEED to be saved – it means we are the ones who need HELP!
      • Block of wood… vs. 18-19
      • They do not know nor understand – for He has shut their eyes so that they cannot see.
      • And their hearts so that they cannot understand.
      • And no one considers in his heart – nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say.
      • I have burned half of it in the fire. Yes I have also baked bread on its coals.
      • I have roasted meat and eaten it and shall I make the rest of it an abomination?
      • Shall I fall down before a block of wood?
      • But the world does NOT see this [יָדַע] – they do NOT understand [בִּין]
      • Because [כִּי] the LORD has covered their eyes so their hearts [לֵב] are NOT wise [שָׂכַל]
      • Why would God cover their EYES – because they do NOT want the LORD – John 3:19
      • Therefore NO one stops to take this [שׁוּב] to heart [לֵב]
      • There is NO knowledge [דַּעַת] – NO understanding [תָּבוּן] – that would cause them to see…
      • I burned HALF of the WOOD in the fire – baked bread and roasted meat and ate…
      • With the REST should I make [imperfect] an ABOMINATION [תּוֹעֵבָה]
      • Should I fall down and WORSHIP a BLOCK of WOOD [not a god]!
      • We might think we do NOT have idols anymore – but people do NOT change…
      • People still carve IDOLS out of metal – we call them FORD or TOYOTA…
      • People still put their FAITH – in GOLD and SILER – invest in the STOCK market…
      • People still look to WOOD [paper money] to SAVE them…
      • Yet these things have no POWER to save us – in the end they will always DISAPPOINT!
      • The Lie… vs. 20
      • He feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has turned him aside.
      • And he cannot deliver his soul – nor say: Is there not a lie in my right hand?
      • That man feeds [participle] on ASHES [ruined life]
      • Because his HEART really deceived [hophal] him – turning him away from God…
      • To a USELESS idol that CANNOT save his SOUL…
      • Yet he is never willing to say [imperfect] – I am holding onto a LIE!
      • This is the MIC drop – the line that should make us STOP…
      • Are we the MAN who is still HOLDING the LIE in our hands…
      • Are we still CONVINCED that something the world offers can HELP [idol makers]
      • Are we DECEIVED into thinking something we can make will SAVE us…
      • We cannot MAKE enough MONEY – we cannot WORK hard enough…
      • We are SINKING – and the ONLY hope we have is TRUE God who is reaching down to save us!
  • 4th – Remember… vs. 21-28
    • 1st – Come back… vs. 21-23
      • Forgiven… vs. 21-22
      • Remember these O Jacob – and Israel for you are My servant.
      • I have formed you. You are My servant. O Israel you will not be forgotten by Me.
      • I have blotted out like a thick cloud your transgressions – and like a cloud your sins.
      • Return to Me for I have redeemed you!
      • Therefore – in light of the CHOICE that God gave…
      • Put their TRUST in the all-knowing LORD – or hold onto useless LIES…
      • Jacob [rebellious] must REMEMBER [imperative] these things [plural]
      • FIRST – that God was the one who FORMED [יָצַר] them [they did not make God]
      • SECOND – that they are His SERVANT – made to SERVE Him [2x for emphasis]
      • THIRD – Israel would NOT be forgotten [niphal] by the LORD [though they forgot Him]
      • FOURTH – their SINS God had wiped away like [כָ] a CLOUD that disappears…
      • Therefore – they must come BACK [imperative] to the LORD who REDEEMED [perfect] them!
      • When we STOP and REMEMBER who the LORD is…
      • It makes the CHOICE of where we put our TRUST very easy…
      • We need to come BACK to the One who MADE us – who called us to SERVE Him – John 4:23
      • We need to put our TRUST in the One who can COVER our sin!
      • Restored… vs. 23
      • Sing O heavens for the LORD has done it! Shout you lower parts of the earth.
      • Break forth into singing you mountains – O forest and every tree in it!
      • For the LORD has redeemed Jacob and glorified Himself in Israel!
      • At that CONTRAST – between the LORD and the LIE…
      • Isaiah command everyone to SING [imperative] to the LORD…
      • From the HEAVENS – to the MOUNTAINS – and FORESTS with every tree [that is not an idol]
      • Even to the LOWER parts [sheol] – those who have died…
      • Because the LORD redeemed Jacob [rebellious] – and is glorified [imperfect] in Israel!
      • And if God can REDEEM a people as STUBBORN as Jacob…
      • Who were in CAPTIVITY in Babylon because of their HARD hearts…
      • How much more can the LORD redeem us TODAY!
    • 2nd – The Redeemer… vs. 24-28
      • The Creator… vs. 24
      • Thus says the LORD your Redeemer – and He who formed you from the womb:
      • I am the LORD who makes all things – who stretches out the heavens all alone.
      • Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself!
      • Like a crescendo in a great concert – the Lord builds to the CLIMAX…
      • Thus says the LORD – their REDEEMER [participle] – the one who FORMED them [יָצַר]
      • He is the Lord – even He [אָנֹכִי] is the maker [participle] of ALL [כֹּל] things [no one else]
      • He ALONE spread out the UNIVERSE [שָׁמַיִם] and the EARTH [הָאָרֶץ]!
      • The Frustrater… vs. 25
      • Who frustrates the signs of the babblers and drives diviners mad.
      • Who turns wise men backward and makes their knowledge foolishness!
      • The LORD is the one who BREAKS [hiphil] – the oath [אוֹת] of the LIAR…
      • He drives the FALSE prophets [diviners] – CRAZY [piel]
      • And He turns [hiphil] the WISE back – to expose [piel] their FOOLISHNESS!
      • The Restorer… vs. 26
      • Who confirms the word of His servant and performs the counsel of His messengers.
      • Who says to Jerusalem: You shall be inhabited. To the cities of Judah: You shall be built.
      • And I will raise up her waste places!
      • How did the God who ALONE created the HEAVENS and EARTH – Genesis 1:1
      • Call out the LIARS – make the FALSE prophets crazy – and expose the FOOLS…
      • By confirming His WORD to Israel [servant] He gave through His MESSENGERS [prophets]
      • He said to JERUSALEM that it would be INHABITED again [hophal]
      • To the cities of JUDAH that they would be REBUILT [niphal]
      • And to all the DESOLATED places – the Lord would RAISE them up [piel]!
      • Remember that Isaiah is writing to Jews over one HUNDRED years in the future…
      • Jews who saw the destruction of Jerusalem and Judah…
      • To a nation who saw the Temple destroyed – and were now CAPTIVES in Babylon…
      • Yet his WORD to them – was that ALL will be RESTORED!
      • The River… vs. 27
      • Who says to the deep: Be dry! And I will dry up your rivers!
      • How – by the Lord saying to the DEEP [only here OT] – be DRY [imperative]
      • And the RIVERS flowing through Babylon would [hiphil] DRY up!
      • The DEPTH of the Euphrates River flowed through the city of Babylon…
      • When the Medo-Persian Empire besieged the city [539 B.C.]
      • They diverted the river allowing them to walk right into the city!
      • The Shepherd… vs. 27-28
      • Who says of Cyrus: He is My shepherd – and he shall perform all My pleasure.
      • Saying to Jerusalem: You shall be built. And to the temple: Your foundation shall be laid!
      • What Isaiah does next is one of the most controversial passages in the book…
      • A prophet who lived over a HUNDRED years before the rise of Babylon…
      • Calls out by NAME – the leader of the empire that would CONQUER Babylon [Medo-Persia]
      • The LORD says [participle] to CYRUS – you are my SHEPHERD [רֹעִי]
      • ALL that the LORD desired – He would make [hiphil] CYRUS do…
      • Even saying that Jerusalem and the TEMPLE would be REBUILT [niphal]!
      • When Cyrus conquered Babylon – and Belshazzar died – Daniel 5:30
      • He took the city without a fight – by redirecting the river flowing into the city…
      • It took THREE days for many of those who lived in the city to learn it had fallen…
      • Daniel [then an old man] is thought to have walked up and showed CYRUS this verse…
      • He was so IMPRESSED – he did EXACTLY what He was told to do!
      • Ezra 1:2 – “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.”
      • The simple question that this leaves us with is where our TRUST is…
      • Are we still looking for MONEY [wood] – to the useless things MEN have made…
      • Or to the God who can call our KINGS over a hundred years before they are born…
      • Are we putting our FAITH in the LORD or the LIE!