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 Choice…
- Although God had promised to bring His people out of BABYLON – Isaiah 43:5
- Yet Jacob did NOT call [perfect] on the LORD – Isaiah 43:22
- Instead they had BURDENED [perfect] the LORD with their SINS…
- So NOW [וְעַתָּה] – the LORD commanded them to LISTEN [שָׁמַע]
- He made Jacob – and formed Israel – so he could be Jeshurun [walk right]
- God would do so by pouring out His Spirit upon them!
- The Lord or the Lie…
- God gave them the TWO options of WHO they could put their TRUST in…
- The LORD – who is their KING and their REDEEMER…
- Their ROCK [there is no other] who can tell them the END from the BEGINNING…
- Or the LIE – man made IDOLS [block of wood] that they made who CANNOT see ANYTHING…
- People do NOT stop and realized what they are holding in their hands is a LIE!
- Remember…
- Therefore – remember the Lord who formed you – the one who can FORGIVE you…
- The God who knows the FUTURE – the one who called out CYRUS [Medo-Persia]
- Over a HUNDRED years before he was born – to send Israel back home – and rebuild the TEMPLE!
- 1st – The Plan of God… vs. 1-13
- 1st – The Chosen… vs. 1-3
- Cyrus… vs. 1
- Thus says the LORD to His anointed – to Cyrus whose right hand I have held!
- Having challenged Jacob to CHOSE – the LORD or the LIE…
- Painting a powerful contrast between a block of WOOD – and the OMNISCIENT God…
- Proven by the Lord calling out the leader of the Medo-Persian empire a century in advance…
- The LORD went on to say to His ANOINTED [Cyrus]
- ANOINTED [מָשִׁיחַ] – to pour out of smear OIL upon [Messiah or Christ]
- The idea here is the one God had CHOSEN – He also strengthened [hiphil] his right hand!
- When Samuel came to choose the NEW king over Israel – I Samuel 16:13
- He poured oil over the head of David – anointing him as the one God has chosen…
- In the same way God has CHOSEN Cyrus to be His tool to set Jacob free!
- Fall of Babylon… vs. 1-3
- To subdue nations before him and loose the armor of kings.
- To open before him the double doors so that the gates will not be shut.
- I will go before you and make the crooked places straight.
- I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron.
- I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places!
- Therefore – because God was the one who had CHOSEN Cyrus – God would [I will]
- FIRST – God would beat down [subdue] the NATIONS [גּוֹיִם] before him…
- SECOND – God would [piel] disarm [loose the loins] the KINGS [מְלָכִים]
- THIRD – God would OPEN the double doors [very specific] before Cyrus…
- FOURTH – God Himself [אֲנִי] would level [piel] the CROOKED [הָדַר]
- CROOKED [הָדַר] – translated at MOUNTAINS [LXX] – WALL [Targum] – LEADERS [Vulgate]
- The idea consistently points to God leveling an impossible challenge…
- FIFTH – God would SHATTER [piel] the bronze and iron bars [on the doors]
- SIXTH – God would give Cyrus the HIDDEN treasure – in the DARK – SECRET places!
- This very specific prophecy was fulfilled in the FALL of Babylon…
- Cyrus diverted the Euphrates River that flowed through the city…
- There were GATES that closed the city off from the river [Herodotus]
- But the people were so busy having a PARTY [Belshazzar] – Daniel 5:1
- They did NOT know RIVER had been diverted – and the BRONZE gates were left OPEN…
- Cyrus was able to do the IMPOSSIBLE – take the city without a FIGHT [Cyrus Cylinder]
- God of Israel… vs. 3
- That you may know that I the LORD who call you by your name – I am the God of Israel!
- Why did God have Isaiah write this down over a HUNDRED years before Cyrus was born…
- So that when the city of Babylon fell – Cyrus would [imperfect] KNOW [יָדַע]
- That the God who CALLED him by name – the God of Israel – had given him the VICTORY!
- We live in a world that seems to be out of CONTROL…
- We see NATIONS [גּוֹיִם] that are rouge – and LEADERS [kings] who seem unstoppable…
- But there was NEVER any doubt who is in CONTROL…
- God is the one who can do the IMPOSSIBLE – nothing can undo His sovereign purpose!
- Ephesians 1:11 – “Who works all things according to the counsel of His will.”
- 2nd – The Reason… vs. 4-8
- For Israel… vs. 4
- For Jacob My servants sake – and Israel My elect – I have even called you by your name.
- I have named you – though you have not known Me!
- Why did God CHOSE Cyrus – give him the VICTORY [three reasons]
- FIRST – for the sake of His servant JACOB – for the nation of ISRAEL that He chose…
- Cyrus was to send them back to Jerusalem – to rebuild the Temple – Isaiah 44:28
- For their sake God called Cyrus by NAME [שֵׁם] – given him the TITLE [anointed]
- Even though Cyrus did NOT know [יָדַע] the LORD [not a believer]!
- In a great house there are MANY different vessels – II Timothy 2:20
- All of them are USED by the master – but NOT all of them are honorable!
- God will use BELIEVERS and UNBELIEVERS to accomplish His purposes…
- EVERYONE is going to be used by the LORD – but NOT everyone will be honored…
- Although God used Cyrus – we have no guarantee he made it to heaven!
- For the nations… vs. 5-7
- I am the LORD and there is no other. There is no God besides Me.
- I will gird you though you have not known Me.
- That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me.
- I am the LORD and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness.
- I make peace and create calamity. I the LORD do all these things!
- What the Lord says next will be repeated NINE times in this one chapter…
- I am the LORD [יְהוָה] and there is NO [אֵין] other [1] – there are NO [אֵין] other [אֱלֹהִים] gods [2]
- SECOND – God raised [girded] up Cyrus – even though he did NOT know [יָדַע] the Lord…
- So that EVERYONE might KNOW [יָדַע] the LORD – from the rising [east] to setting sun [west]
- That there are NONE beside Him [3] – He is the LORD and there is NO [אֵין] other [4]
- He is the LORD who forms [יָצַר] the LIGHT – and creates [בָּרָא] the DARK…
- Parallel: He makes [עָשָׂה] PEACE – but he also creates [בָּרָא] adversity…
- The Lord is the one who can do ALL [כָל] these things!
- God is always working among the NATIONS [from the east to the west]
- He is willing to do WHATEVER it takes to get our attention…
- He will use LIGHT or DARK – give us PEACE or ADVERSITY…
- Because in the end the most important thing for everyone is to KNOW the LORD!
- I Peter 4:12 – “Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you.”
- For salvation… vs. 8
- Rain down you heavens from above – and let the skies pour down righteousness.
- Let the earth open. Let them bring forth salvation and let righteousness spring up together.
- I the LORD have created it!
- THIRD – God raised up Cyrus so He could send down RIGHTEOUSNESS…
- Isaiah used the imagery of a plants being watered by the RAIN…
- Just as when the earth is WATERED – it bears FRUIT…
- So also when people KNOW the Lord because of what God did with Cyrus…
- MANY would be SAVED by faith in the God of Israel – and become RIGHTEOUS [צֶדֶק]
- Not because of what they did – but because God did it [בָּרָא]!
- Fruit is NOT something that we PRODUCE – it is a BYPRODUCT…
- When we KNOW the LORD – then we will also bear FRUIT – we become RIGHTEOUS [צֶדֶק]
- John 15:5 – “He who abides in Me – and I in him – bears much fruit.”
- 3rd – Do not question… vs. 9-13
- Do not fight God… vs. 9
- Woe to him who strives with his Maker!
- Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth!
- Having CHOSEN Cyrus as His anointed – to defeat Babylon…
- And given the REASON – for Israel – for the nations – for salvation…
- The LORD gives a WARNING – woe to ANYONE who fights his MAKER [יָצַר]
- Men are just BROKEN piece of CLAY [potsherd] – lying among other BROKEN pieces!
- People think they are SMART – assuming they have life figured out…
- But people are BROKEN – not some of them – ALL of them…
- Therefore all of their SOLUTIONS are bound to FAIL!
- Romans 1:22 – “Professing to be wise they became fools.”
- Woe to you… vs. 9-10
- Shall the clay say to him who forms it: What are you making?
- Or shall your handiwork say: He has no hands?
- Woe to him who says to his father: What are you begetting?
- Or to the woman: What have you brought forth?
- Should the POT say to the one who is MAKING it [יָצַר] – what are doing [עָשָׂה] – Romans 9:20
- Can the POT say – You do NOT know what you are doing [literally You have no hands]
- In the same way – WOE to the one says to their FATHER – why did you conceive me…
- Or to their MOTHER – why did you give BIRTH to me!
- Jeremiah 18:6 – “As the clay is in the potters hand so are you in My hand – O house of Israel!”
- God knows exactly who we are – He [potter] made us [clay]
- How foolish to think that we can HIDE our motives from Him…
- How dangerous [woe] to think that we know more than He does…
- We might NOT like our circumstances – we may NOT enjoy our trials…
- But we are WISE to trust the Lord knows what He is doing!
- Ask the Lord… vs. 11-12
- Thus says the LORD – the Holy One of Israel – and his Maker:
- Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons.
- And concerning the work of My hands you command Me.
- I have made the earth and created man on it.
- I – My hands – stretched out the heavens and all their host I have commanded!
- Rather than QUESTIONING the WISDOM of the POTTER [Father]
- The Lord SAYS [perfect] – the HOLY [קְדוֹשׁ] one – and the MAKER [יָצַר] of Israel…
- Should we [imperative] ask the LORD about the work of His hands [His people]
- He is the one who MADE [עָשָׂה] the earth – and CREATED [בָּרָא] man – Genesis 1:26
- His hands stretched out the UNIVERSE [שָׁמַיִם] – and He commands all the stars [צִוֵּיתִי]!
- Many times I have gotten myself in trouble – because I ignore the INSTRUCTION manual…
- I assume that I can figure out how something works – need to get put together…
- But what in my PRIDE I neglect to remember – is the one who created it KNOWS best!
- Rather than guessing in life what is the best – what we should do…
- Why NOT got to the One who CREATED us – the One who made ALL things…
- The POTTER is always smarter than the POT – the Father than the child…
- Instead of FOOLISHLY thinking we know better – we should go back to the MANUAL [Bible]
- His Plan… vs. 13
- I have raised him up in righteousness and I will direct all his ways.
- He shall build My city and let My exiles go free.
- Not for price nor reward. Says the LORD of hosts!
- What was the PLAN that God for His people…
- God would RAISE [hiphil] up Cyrus – and He would direct [piel] ALL [כֹּל] of his ways…
- Cyrus would set Israel [the exiles] free [piel] – to go and rebuild His city [Jerusalem]
- Not for a PRICE [money] – there would be no BRIBE [reward]
- Cyrus would do it because the LORD of Hosts [צְבָאוֹת] told him to!
- We need to remember that God always has a plan…
- We might NOT see it at the moment – and we might NOT like where we are at [captivity]
- But we can TRUST our creator – that He is working – we just need to WAIT on Him!
- Psalm 37:7 – “Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him.”
- 1st – The Chosen… vs. 1-3
- 2nd – No other God… vs. 14-25
- 1st – Unseen God… vs. 14-15
- God is with you… vs. 14
- Thus says the LORD: The labor of Egypt and merchandise of Cush and of the Sabeans.
- Men of stature – shall come over to you – and they shall be yours.
- They shall walk behind you. They shall come over in chains and they shall bow down to you.
- They will make supplication to you saying: Surely God is in you and there is no other.
- There is no other God!
- Thus says the LORD again – He is not done with His work…
- The Medo-Persian Empire would move against Northeastern Africa…
- Egypt known for their LABOR – Cush and Seba for their WEALTH [merchandise]
- These LAST remaining kingdoms that remained unconquered…
- They would fall [belong to you] – they would walk behind in CHAINS – and BOW down…
- As they said TRULY [אַךְ] God is in you – NOTHING [אִין] else – there are NO other gods [5]!
- Cyrus conquered TWO of the THREE great empires of his day…
- He would defeat LYDIA [546 B.C.] – and BABYLON [539 B.C.]
- But he would die [530 B.C.] before he was able to conquer EGYPT…
- It would be his SON [Cambyses II] who would go on to defeat them [525 B.C.]
- And even the world could see the reason why – because the ONLY God was with them!
- Hidden… vs. 15
- Truly You are God who hide Yourself – O God of Israel – the Savior!
- YES [כֵן] – the God [אֵל] who chooses to remain HIDDEN [hithpael]
- Is the God [אֱלֹהִים] of Israel who causes them [hiphil] to be SAVED…
- If people just looked at the circumstances – they saw a POWERFUL nation [Medo-Persia]
- But the POWER behind the nation was none other than the LORD…
- Who raised up Medo-Persia to do His will – and save Israel from captivity!
- The Book of Esther is unique – the ONLY book of the Bible where God is NEVER mentioned…
- Yet it POWERFULLY shows the HAND of God at work to save…
- Esther becoming queen – Mordecai hearing the plot against the king…
- The invisible HAND of God can be seen moving throughout the BOOK!
- People often complain because they do NOT see God in their lives…
- But what they are missing is His HIDDEN hand at work in EVERY aspect of their lives…
- God never stops moving – He is always working – if we are just willing to LOOK!
- Romans 8:28 – “We [will see] that all things [are working] together for good.”
- 2nd – The Contrast… vs. 16-19
- Ashamed… vs. 16
- They shall be ashamed and also disgraced – all of them.
- They shall go in confusion together who are makers of idols!
- Those who put their TRUST in IDOLS will be DISAPPOINTED [בּוּשׁ]
- EVERYONE [כֹּל] who puts their CONFIDENCE there will be HUMILIATED [כָּלַם]
- Because the ONLY thing that comes from those who carve IDOLS [צִיר] is SHAME [כְּלִמָּה]
- We may NOT be able to see the LORD moving [hidden]
- But if we put our TRUST in ANYTHING else [manmade]
- Then there is NO movement – what we are TRUSTING in will fail us…
- Waiting on the LORD might seem FOOLISH – but looking to this world brings SHAME!
- Never ashamed… vs. 17
- Israel shall be saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation.
- You shall not be ashamed or disgraced forever and ever!
- Israel will be SAVED [niphal] by the LORD…
- Not just from their current CAPTIVITY in Babylon…
- They would be SAVED eternally – they would go to HEAVEN…
- Therefore – they would NOT [niphal] be DISAPPOINTED [בּוּשׁ] – both NOW and FOREVER!
- The HOPE we have in the HIDDEN work of the LORD is TWO fold…
- We have CONFIDENCE we will NOT be disappointed NOW…
- But we also BELIEVE we will NOT be disappointed [niphal] in the END…
- We KNOW that we will be with the LORD forever and EVER [עַד־עוֹלְמֵי עַד]
- No other God… vs. 18
- For thus says the LORD who created the heavens.
- Who is God who formed the earth and made it. Who has established it.
- Who did not create it in vain. Who formed it to be inhabited.
- I am the LORD and there is no other!
- Their CONFIDENCE in the LORD was built on a solid FOUNDATION…
- Because [כִּי] – the LORD is the One who is the CREATOR [בּוֹרֵא] of the UNIVERSE [הַשָּׁמַיִם]
- The God [הָאֱלֹהִים] who FORMED [יָצַר] the EARTH [הָאָרֶץ]
- He did NOT create [בָּרָא] it for NO reason – He formed [יָצַר] it to be INHABITED [by men]
- He [אֲנִי] is the LORD – and there is NO [אִין] other [6]!
- People will believe almost ANYTHING they are TOLD…
- Someone will post something on Social Media – and people accept is as TRUTH…
- They do NOT require proof – they will NOT stop to verify if it is CORRECT…
- But when the LORD says something – that is VERIFIABLE – people will NOT believe it!
- Our FAITH in NOT founded on rumors or speculation…
- We have all the EVIDENCE we could ever ask for to VERIFY God is real…
- The God who CREATED the world – to be INHABITED [and we are still here]
- Is the same God who says He has a PLAN – and we can TRUST in Him!
- No secrets… vs. 19
- I have not spoken in secret – in a dark place of the earth.
- I did not say to the seed of Jacob: Seek Me in vain.
- I the LORD speak righteousness. I declare things that are right!
- While we may NOT be able to see the LORD [hidden]
- His WORD was not SPOKEN [piel] in SECRET – in some DARK corner…
- He did NOT command [imperative] Jacob to SEEK Him without reason…
- His WORD [spoke] is RIGHTEOUS – telling them [hiphil] what is RIGHT!
- We do NOT need to guess where we can FIND the PLAN of God…
- He did NOT hide it – He wrote it down for EVERYONE to see…
- What we MUST [imperative] do is SEEK His will in His WORD…
- Take the time to STUDY our Bibles so we KNOW the RIGHT things to do!
- 3rd – The End… vs. 20-25
- Cannot save… vs. 20
- Assemble yourselves and come. Draw near together you who have escaped from the nations.
- They have no knowledge who carry the wood of their carved image.
- And pray to a god that cannot save!
- GATHER [imperative] – COME [imperative] – DRAW near [imperative]
- The Lord commanded His people who had ESCAPED from the NATIONS [Babylon]
- Having NOTHING to do with those NATIONS – because they KNOW nothing [לֹא יָדְעוּ]
- They CARRY around carved images from TREES [עֵץ]
- And PRAY [hithpael] to a god [אֵל] that CANNOT save [hiphil] them!
- II Corinthians 6:17 – “Come out from among them and be separate.”
- We do NOT want to share in the NONSENSE of this world…
- What they are HOLDING up – what they are TRUSTING in – cannot HELP them…
- Therefore – GATHER together – COME out – and DRAW near the LORD!
- Can Save… vs. 21-22
- Tell and bring forth your case. Yes let them take counsel together.
- Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time?
- Have not I the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me – a just God and a Savior.
- There is none besides Me. Look to Me and be saved – all you ends of the earth!
- For I am God and there is no other!
- STATE [imperative] what you know – BRING [imperative] your ADVISE and compare…
- WHO [מִי] else can PROCLAIM what has happened from ANCIENT time [the beginning]
- It is NOT the LORD [אֲנִי יְהוָה] – there are NO [אִין] other gods [ אֱלֹהִים] beside Him [7]
- The JUST God – the [hiphil] SAVIOR [participle] – there [אִין] is NO other [8]
- Therefore EVERYONE [כֹּל] must [imperative] TURN to Him and be SAVED [niphal]
- Because [כִּי] He is God [אֲנִי־אֵל] – and there is NO [אִין] other [9]!
- The scope here moves BEYOND Israel – to the WHOLE world…
- There is ONE hope – ONE salvation – ONE God that EVERYONE must look to!
- Every knee… vs. 23
- I have sworn by Myself.
- The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness and shall not return.
- That to Me every knee shall bow – every tongue shall take an oath!
- God has taken an OATH [sworn] by Himself – Hebrews 6:13
- The TRUTH [righteous Word] has gone out of His mount – and will NOT come back…
- Every [כֹּל] knee will [imperfect] BOW – Every [כֹּל] tongue will [niphal] CONFESS [שָׁבַע]
- Philippians 2:10-11 – “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
- This is what the whole chapter has been building to…
- There is only ONE God – and we will ALL stand before Him one day – Revelation 20:12
- The CHOICE we have is WHEN will be BOW and CONFESS…
- Today in SALVATION – or on the LAST day in JUDGEMENT– Romans 14:11
- Two ends… vs. 24-25
- He shall say: Surely in the LORD I have righteousness and strength.
- To Him men shall come and all shall be ashamed who are incensed against Him.
- In the LORD all the descendants of Israel shall be justified – and shall glory!
- Which just leaves us with TWO possible endings…
- While all [כֹּל] who were ANGRY [niphal] with the LORD – will be ASHAMED…
- In that day the person who says – I have RIGHTEOUSNESS and STRENGTH in the Lord…
- The LORD shall JUSTIFY [צָדַק] them – and they will GLORY [הָלַל]!
- People want EVIDENCE – they are looking for the PROOF…
- But the answer is the Lord has given it to them – He is the ONLY God – there is NO other…
- Therefore we MUST come to Him – BOW down and CONFESS Him today…
- Because only then will we KNOW His PLAN – and be set FREE!
- 1st – Unseen God… vs. 14-15