THE BABYLONIAN PERIOD, chapters 40 - 66
PART FOUR: THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE ONE TRUE GOD AND IDOLS (40-48)
I. THE INCOMPARABLE GREATNESS OF THE LORD IS THE BASIS FOR COMFORT (40:1-31) - As the title indicates, this chapter will serve as an introduction to the remaining chapters of Isaiah. In turn, the remaining chapters are given to prepare the people for the Babylonian captivity and their return. The prophet uses chapters 41-48 to show that God is a promise-keeping God. That is, God has the ability to foretell the future and to bring that future to pass. While this section does deal with the deliverance of the people from Babylonian captivity, it looks beyond that to a superior Deliverer who will save God's people from spiritual captivity. Many modern commentators have refused to accept these chapters as the work of Isaiah because of their predictive nature, but that very nature is what lends credence to their inspiration. Isaiah's prophecies only reinforce those of Moses (Deut. 30:2,3,8) and those later reiterated by Ezekiel (Ezek. 36:8-10). Many of Isaiah's predictions concern the spiritual kingdom and not physical Jerusalem and therefore were never meant to be fulfilled by the physical children of Israel.
A. The Prologue To A Section Of Comfort And Assurance (40:1-11) - The first nine chapters of this section wwill show Jehovah as preeminent and the idols impotent. Chapter 39 closed Part One of our study with the dark anticipation of captivity, Part Two however, opens with the joyous assurance of comfort and redemption. The prophecy looks over 100 years into the future to the time of Babylonian captivity.
1. Comfort: pardon through grace (40:1,2)
(1) Even though Isaiah will speak some threats, the theme of the remainder of the book is primarily one of comfort.
(2) The surviving remnant will be comforted because: 1, her warfare is finished, 2, she will be pardoned (conditioned upon her repentance, Deut. 30:2-3,8-10), 3, she has had her sins punished appropriately. Concerning "doubling" see (Isa. 61:7; Jer. 16:18; 17:18; Zech. 9:12).
2. Make preparation (40:3-5)
(3) The people will be taken captive to the east and from the east they shall return. Directly to the east of Jerusalem was desert and wilderness. Jehovah's return to Jerusalem will call for preparation.
(4) Here the voice is speaking figuratively of the hearts of the people. Their hearts must be prepared for a new relationship with Jehovah and for the blessings that have been promised.
(5) The destruction of Babylon by Cyrus is in view here, but even a greater wonder is in store in the person of John the Baptist (Mt. 3:1-3; Jn. 1:14,18,23). The assurance that these things would come to pass - the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it. God's ability to fulfill His words is a central theme of the following chapters.
3. The enduring word (40:6-8)
(6) All flesh is weak and will perish - including the great military leaders who have conquered the physical world. Human strength and achievement will be inadequate to accomplish God's purposes.
(7) As grass is withered by a blistering desert wind, so mankind will wither in the face of God's breath. This goes for Judah, Babylon, the U.S. of A., or any nation that stands in the way of God's will.
(8) The only things in this world that are truly permanent is God's Character, God's Promises, and ultimately God's Word.
4. Declare the tidings! (40:9-11)
(9) In addition to the voices of grace, hope, and faith, comes the voice of evangelism. The message will come forth from Zion-Jerusalem - Behold Your God! Jehovah's word has withsstood the test and He has returned to Zion, His promise is fulfilled. Note that fulfillment of this prophecy is so certain that the prophet speaks of it as already being accomplished.
(10) The Good News includes: 1, God will exert infinite power (as opposed to the limited power of man); 2, this power allows Him to overthrow His enemies, redeem His people, and exercise His rule; 3, the redeemed will be rewarded, the redeemed are His reward.
(11) All of these promises will be done with tenderness and compassion. Jehovah's strength will be used to gather and protect His sheep. The prophet has now set the stage for the trials and victories that lie ahead and has foretold the redeeming work of God through Cyrus and in the end through the Messiah.
B. The Unique Character Of The Everlasting God, The Lord (40:12-31) - God's word assured the people that he wouuld visit them in their captivity, redeem them, and care for them. In the wake of the destruction of their city and their exile the people would have two enemies that could lead to their spiritual destruction as well: idolatry and imperfect knowledge of the One True God. They would need to be reminded of God and His infinite greatness, unswerving love, and unwavering care. It is through Isaiah that God made provisions for His people to be forewarned concerning idols and to know that He would never forget them. This section shows that none is equal to Jehovah God - no not one!
1. Jehovah and creation (40:12-14)
(12) The prophet refers to five divisions of God's universe to show how no one or no thing compares to Jehovah. 1, His power over all the waters of the earth. 2, The heavens are merely a span of God's hand. 3, God measures the dust of the earth as we might measure out a cup of flour. 4, He can weigh the mountains as we might weigh a bale of cotton. 5, He can weigh the hills like a druggist uses a delicate scale to measure small quantities of medicine. God's greatness staggers man's imagination.
(13,14) Who taught Jehovah? No one! He is absolute. Absolute in every aspect of his being: knowledge, wisdom, and power (Rev. 4:11). The Creator will deliver and protect His creation.
2. Jehovah and the nations (40:15-17)
(15) No earthly nation can hold Judah against God's will. They are as a drop spilled from a bucket or a speck of dust that can be blown or wiped off a scale. Compared to Jehovah they are of no account. He is concerned for the nations, but in comparison to Him they are virtually powerless.
(16) Earth cannot provide an adequate sacrifice for God. All the trees of Lebanon piled high with all the animals of that region be still be inadequate.
(17) The relative powers of God and man have neither increased nor decreased. Nations will rise and fall, but Jehovah will remain infinite in power and eternal in scope.
3. Jehovah and the idols (40:18-21)
(18) Here the prophet introduces the contrast between God and the idols. The questions posed are rhetorical. Man is God-made, while idols are man-made, therefore there is very little comparison, but instead a large contrast.
(19) The idols are described as strictly the work of human hands, talented hands, but human hands nevertheless.
(20) If a man cannot afford a metal idol, then he has one made from wood and plated with metal. If that expense is still prohibitive he has one carved from a stump in the ground that cannot even be moved about. Who created this gold, silver and wood? God. Yet man makes his idols from these materials and worships them instead of God.
(21) From their beginnings Israel had been warned concerning idolatry (Ex. 20:4-6; Deut. 5:8-10). Yet even in NT times man had to be warned of the folly of idolatry (Rom. 1:20-25). What about today?
4. Jehovah and the princes of earth (40:22-25)
(22) Jehovah looks down upon the earth and sees its inhabitants as small, insignificant, and totally dependent on Him. He can stretch out the heavens like we would set up a tent.
(23) Are there great men? God is greater. In contrast, man is nothing, God is everything. Man cannot avoid the pitfalls of this life, to God there are no pitfalls.
(24) The breath of Jehovah is as a blast furnace, destroying everything that is subjected to its heat. Any man that thinks more highly of himself than he should will be subject to just such treatment.
(25) If God cannot be compared to any man, then he stands in a class by Himself. He transcends man, nations and all creation. Only Godhood is worthy of man's worship and devotion.
5. Jehovah and the glorious assurance (40:26-31)
(26) When we look to stars we are to see God. The stars are not there for our worship or our guidance, but to prove there is a Creator. If God cares for His lifeless creations (the stars) then will He not care for His people? When the times of discouragement come, look beyond the stars to see a God of infinite power, memory, and love. God will never forsake His true children.
(27) The captives in Babylon will feel deserted and charge God with being indifferent to their condition. These feelings are unjustified in light of God's infinite greatness as summarized in the following verses.
(28,29) He is: 1, the eternally existent, all-provident One; 2, the Creator; 3, the One who cannot grow weary; 4, omniscient as well as omnipotent; 5, able to convey His power and strength to those in need (Eph. 1:19-23; 3:14-21).
(30,31) Man on his own will become weary, but with God's help will have strength renewed. When the word finally reaches Babylon that Cyrus has decreed their freedom, those who waited for Jehovah will rejoice in their anticipation of returning to the homeland. But a long journey still remains, the trek from Babylon to Jerusalem must be completed. Here we see a type of our own conversion and walk on this earth as we press on toward the mark of the high calling. While the monotony of everyday life might make us weary and our faith might be tested, we must look up to God for help and renewal of strength. [TOP OF THIS PAGE]
II. THE LORD CHALLENGES IDOLS TO PREDICT THE FUTURE AND THEREBY PROVE THEIR DEITY (41:1-29) - As we study chapters 41-48 look for three characters that Jehovah calls into His service: Cyrus, Israel, and the ideal Servant. The major theme of these chapters is God's conflict and final victory over the heathen gods. God's power and might is shown in the names used by Isaiah to describe Him: El, the mighty one; Eloah, the Rock; Elohim, the united God with plural personalities; Yahweh, the I Am; Adonai, Lord or ruler; The Holy One of Israel; Creator; King; Maker; Redeemer; and Savior.
A. The Lord Addresses The Nations And Foretells A Deliverer From The East (41:1-7)
(1) Having addressed Israel in chapter 40, Jehovah now addresses the surrounding nations. The nations are challenged to turn to their gods, so that these gods might meet Jehovah in court. Finally, their gods (and themselves) will have judgment passed upon them.
(2) Jehovah looks 150 years into the future and speaks of Cyrus (Isa. 44:28; 45:1) as if he had already come. Persia was beyond Babylon and therefore considered to the east. The phrase the righteous man (KJV) would be more properly translated "him on whose footsteps righteousness waits," (Smith). Cyrus will be given the rule over kings, casting them down and pursuing them with his bow, (Isa. 44:28-45:6).
(3) Pursuing a course that he had never taken before, Cyrus will be completely triumphant. So thoroughly will he do his job that it will not demand a return visit.
(4) Man's choice of faith and obedience or unbelief and disobedience sends him along a pathway predetermined by God. The Persians will overcome Babylon because they were under the guidance of Jehovah.
(5) The speed and success of Cyrus will cause the ends of the earth to tremble. Even those in the remotest areas of the world will give heed to what is happening.
(6,7) Not knowing what to do, the nations will build larger, more elaborate idols. Each workman encourages the other until the work is completed and the new and improved god is fastened down tight, ready (so they hope) to withstand the God of Israel. Their fervor to build bigger, better, and more reminds Hailey of the arms race of the recent Cold War.
B. The Lord Encourages Israel To "Fear Not" (41:8-20)
(8) The people are reminded of the great honor that has been given them as God's chosen ones. Their illustrious ancestors are called up as witnesses. They will overcome all odds because it is their heritage.
(9) By choosing Abraham, God had chosen His nation. Even though God is calling up the deliverer from a foreign nation, this will not alter God's relationship with His people.
(10) With Jehovah's protection, the people are not to fear nor be dismayed. He makes three promises, He will: 1, strengthen, 2, help, and 3, uphold them. His right hand being a symbol of strength and power.
(11-13) There is no reason for the people to be discouraged. The nations that are against Israel fall into three categories: 1, those that have a burning anger against Israel, 2, those that have had verbal confrontations with Israel, and 3, those that have indeed been to war with Israel. All of these nations will have their plans frustrated by Jehovah. Jehovah stands as the guarantee of these promises of deliverance.
(14) Again the people are urged to fear not. Worm here signifies lowliness and helplessness. Even though only a remnant will survive, that remnant still represents Jehovah. The Holy One of Israel will act as the Redeemer of His people. He will avenge them, deliver them, and return them to the home of their ancestors.
(15) They will overcome their lowly state and rise up as the strongest spiritual nation (of the faithful) to ever have existed. All of this through the strength and power of their Redeemer, Jehovah.
(16) The heathen nations will be scattered, as Israel rejoices in its triumph. Note that the prophet emphasizes the superiority of spirit and righteousness over flesh and unrighteousness.
(17) This paragraph (through verse 20) should not be limited to the period of time encapsulated by the captivity and return from Babylon. These verses are a promise of God's abiding concern, care, and provision for His own, regardless of the time frame. The Lord will make provision for their spiritual and physical needs.
(18) God's providence will extend to physical needs. Water will be had where water does not naturally occur.
(19) Trees will be provided for shade and building materials. The naming of seven varieties shows that God will provide completely.
(20) God's purposes for providing water and trees is so that the people may: 1, see, 2, know, 3, consider, and 4, understand. The Lord was in effect preparing the people for their coming ordeal of captivity and subjugation by assuring them that He would care for them throughout their challenges. The basic theme here is beyond water and trees; more importantly, God will supply spiritual needs and guarantee victory.
C. The Lord Challenges The Idols To Prove What They Can Do (41:21-29)
(21) The idols have come to court and must now prove their capabilities, if any. Notice that Jehovah is viewed here as the King of Jacob, (1 Chron. 29:32).
(22) The idols are challenged to tell their purpose either prior to, or in the face of, the current danger.
(23) If the idols are truly gods, then they can declare what will become of themselves and the nations that serve them. They can also foretell what evil will come upon other nations as well (if they are true deity).
(24) The idols remain silent. Jehovah breaks their silence and charges them with being worthless and their followers with being an abomination and contemptible in the sight of God.
(25) Cyrus is now characterized as the man from the north. Upon conquering Media, which was north of Persia and Babylon, he would be from both the east and north. While there is no evidence that Cyrus converted to Judaism, he did believe that the God of Israel directed his victories (Ezra 1:2).
(26) Only Jehovah had spoken, so all that could clearly be known had come from Him, not from any idol.
(27) By speaking now, 150 years in advance, Jehovah makes Himself the first to speak concerning these things. The one to bring good tidings to Jerusalem is either Isaiah or Cyrus.
(28) No one or no thing is able to accept the challenge of the Lord, the courtroom remains silent.
(29) Jehovah declares all of the idol-gods and their followers to be vain and empty, both morally and spiritually. The victory is complete, the idols are crushed.