God Pours Out His Spirit
Study note
God again addresses Israel as his chosen servant, using the affectionate name 'Jeshurun' (meaning 'upright one'), a special name for Israel found only here and in Deuteronomy. God promises to pour water on the thirsty land and his Spirit on Israel's descendants. As a result, they will spring up like grass by streams of water. People will proudly identify themselves as belonging to the Lord and to Israel.
1 'But now listen, Jacob my servant — Israel, the one I chose.' Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
2 The Lord says this. He made you. He formed you before birth. He will help you. 'Don't be afraid, Jacob my servant. I chose you, Jeshurun.' Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
3 'I will pour water on the thirsty ground and send streams across the dry earth. I will pour out my Spirit on your children and my blessing on your descendants.' For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
4 'They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees growing along flowing streams.' And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.
5 'One person will say, I belong to the Lord. Another will proudly take the name of Jacob. Someone else will write on their hand, Property of the Lord, and will adopt the name Israel.' One shall say, I am the LORD's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.
There Is No God but the Lord
Study note
God makes one of the strongest statements of his uniqueness in all of Scripture. He is the King of Israel, their Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven's Armies. He is the first and the last. There is no other God beside him. He challenges anyone to step forward and declare things as he has done since he established his ancient people. His people are his witnesses, and they need not be afraid.
6 Here is what the Lord declares — the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord who rules over all: 'I am the first, and I am the last. There is no God except me.' Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
7 'Who is anything like me? Let them stand up and say so! Let them lay out before me everything that has happened since I established my ancient people. And let them tell what is coming next — what will happen in the future.' And who, as I, shall call, and shall 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 shew unto them.
8 'Do not panic, and don't be afraid. Did I not tell you about all of this long ago? I announced it, and you are my witnesses. Is there any other God out there? Is there any other Rock? I do not know of one.' Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
The Foolishness of Idol Worship
Study note
Isaiah delivers a brilliantly detailed and satirical description of how idols are made. A blacksmith works at his forge until he is hungry and thirsty. A carpenter measures and shapes a piece of wood into a human figure. But here is the absurdity: the same wood that a man burns for warmth and uses to bake bread, he also carves into a god and bows down to it! He prays to a block of wood, saying, 'Save me, you are my god.' Isaiah says their minds are shut. They cannot see the contradiction. They are feeding on ashes and holding a lie in their hand.
9 Everyone who makes an idol is wasting their time. The things they treasure are completely useless. The people who speak up for their idols are blind and understand nothing. They are setting themselves up for humiliation. They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.
10 Who would shape a god? Who would pour a metal idol? It cannot do a thing. Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?
11 Everyone connected to that idol will end up embarrassed. The craftsmen who made it are only human. Let them all show up and take their stand — they will be terrified and humiliated together. Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.
12 The blacksmith takes his tools and works over the hot coals. He hammers the idol into shape with his strong arms. But then he gets hungry and his strength fades. He drinks no water and starts to feel faint. The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.
13 The woodworker measures the wood with a line and sketches the outline with a marker. He carves it with chisels and traces the shape with a compass. He forms it to look like a human being, complete with human beauty, so it can stand in somebody's house. The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.
14 He chops down cedars, or he picks out a cypress or an oak. He lets a tree grow tall and strong among the forest trees. Or he plants a pine and the rain makes it grow. He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
15 Then the wood becomes fuel for his fire. He takes some of it and warms himself. He lights a fire and bakes bread with it. And with the leftover wood? He makes a god and bows down to worship it! He shapes an idol and kneels before it! Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.
16 He burns half the wood in the fire, roasts meat over it, eats until he is full, warms himself, and sighs, 'Ah, that feels good! The fire is so warm!' He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:
17 Then from what is left, he carves a god — his idol. He gets down on his knees, bows before it, prays to it, and begs, 'Rescue me! You are my god!' And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.
18 These people do not know a thing. They understand nothing. Their eyes are plastered shut so they cannot see. Their minds are sealed tight so they cannot think. They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
19 And none considers in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?
20 A person like that is feeding on ashes. A tricked heart has dragged him off course. He cannot free himself or ask, 'Is this thing in my hand a fake?' He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
God Redeems Israel and Names Cyrus
Study note
God calls Israel back to himself, reminding them that he formed them and will not forget them. He has swept away their sins like a cloud. All of creation is called to sing for joy because the Lord has redeemed Israel. God identifies himself as the one who does all things: stretching out the heavens, spreading out the earth, frustrating false prophets, and confirming the words of his servants. Then he makes a stunning prophecy, naming Cyrus as the shepherd who will carry out God's plan to rebuild Jerusalem and lay the foundation of the temple. This prophecy was given about 150 years before Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 BC.
21 'Remember all this, Jacob — Israel, you are my servant. I shaped you. You serve me. Israel, I will never forget you.' Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
22 'I have wiped away your rebellious acts like a cloud that dissolves in the sky. Your sins have vanished like morning mist. Come back to me, because I have already paid the price to set you free.' I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
23 Sing for joy, heavens, because the Lord has done it! Shout out loud, deep places of the earth! Burst into song, mountains, forests, and every tree! The Lord has rescued Jacob and put his glory on display through Israel. Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
24 Here is what the Lord says — your Redeemer, who formed you before you were born: 'I am the Lord. I made everything. I stretched out the heavens all by myself. I spread out the earth with no one helping me.' Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
25 'I am the one who shows false prophets to be liars and makes fortune-tellers look foolish. I overturn what the so-called wise say and turn their knowledge into nonsense.' That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
26 'But I stand behind the words of my servants and fulfill every prediction my messengers make. I say about Jerusalem, People will live there again. I say about the towns of Judah, They will be rebuilt. I will restore every ruin.' That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:
27 'I say to the deep waters, Dry up! I will make your rivers disappear.' That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:
28 'I say about Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and he will carry out everything I want. He will give the order: Rebuild Jerusalem! Lay the temple foundations!' That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.