Isaiah 44
DortA further promise concerning spiritual mercies, ver.1. etc. The Lord proveth that he is true God, 6. Etc. But that Idols are vain, and of no value, as also their makers, 9. And those that worship them. 17. Therefore God exhorteth the Jews to cleave onely unto him, 21.turning unto him: 22. And the other creatures are exhorted to praise the Lord, 23. The Lord speaketh further, of his power and works, 24. Confirming his promises concerning their bodily and spiritual deliverance, 26.
1. But new hear, Jacob my servant, and Israel whom I have chosen. [By Jacob and Israel are meant here the Elect among the Jews. Compare above chap.41.8. and 43.1. Jerem. 30.10. and 46.27.]
2. Thus saith the LORD thy maker, [See above chap.43.on ver.1.] and thy former from the womb, [as if he should say, from that very time when thou wast conceived in thy mothers womb: or, from the time that thou camest out of thy mothers belly into the world. See Judg.13.on ver.5.] who helpeth thee: [that is, who is wont to help thee] Fear not, O Jacob my servant, and thou O Jesurun [See the Annotat. Deuteronomy 32:15. where Moses giveth this name to the people of God] whom I have chosen.
3. For I will pour water [That is, the holy Ghost, as is presently expounded] Upon the thirsty, [that is, upon them that thirst after righteousness, Math.5. 6.] and streams upon the dry ground: [this is the same that was said immediately before. Compare above chap.35.7. Joel 2:28. Joh.7.38. (upon the dry ground) that is, upon them that have neither saving knowledge, nor are able o perform any good work.] I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, [that is, upon thy posterity, sons and daughters] and my blessing upon thy posterity. [Or, off-spring. See Job 5.on ver.25. See also above chap.22.24.]
4. And they shall spring forth between the grass, [Or, as between the grass] as the willows by the water-brooks.
5. This (man) shall say, I am the LORDS, and that (man) shall call himself by the name of Jacob: [the meaning is, both believing Jews and also believing Gentiles shall flock unto the Lord, acknowledging him, as likewise appertaining to his Church. See Psal.87.4. &c.] and another shall write (with) his hand, (I am) the LORDS, and shall name himself with the name of Israel. [that is, an Israelites, a believer, a Christian, as believers are called in the New Testament; They are in a spiritual manner Israelites, and Children of Abraham. See Rom.4.11, 12. And chap.11.ver.26. also Galat.3.19. and 6.16.]
6. Thus saith the LORD, the King of Israel, and his [To wit, Israels] Redeemer, the LORD of Hosts; I am the first, and I am the first, and I am the last, [God is without beginning and without end. See above chap.41.4. and below chap.48.12. Revel.1.17 and 23.13.] and besides me there is no God.
7. And who [What god among the gods of the Heathen] like as I shall call, and decline it, [when be can bring forth even that which is not yet, he giveth a being to all creatures by his word, he also upholdeth and governeth all things by his almighty providence, yea he also whensoever he pleaseth foretelleth things to come] and set it in order for me, [to wit, as I have created them at first, and dispersed or spread them abroad in several countries.] since I appointed an everlasting people? [to wit, a chosen people, which shall live with me forever, and without intermission be kept and preserved by me, and be called by the preaching of my word] and let them [to wit, those false gods] declare unto them [their ministers or servants] things that are coming and that shall come.
8. Fear not, neither be afraid, [or, be not dismaid, O ye my people, but trust in me] have I not caused thee to hear it from that time, [to wit, from that time that I appointed me an everlasting people, ver.7.] and declared (it) [to wit, that I am the onely everlasting true God, as I at all times have made it appear] for ye are my witnesses: [as chap.43.10.] is there also a God besides me? [Compare Deut.4.35,39. And 32.39. 1 Sam.2.2. below chap.45.21.] at least there is no (other) Rock [that is, no other God under whose protector one may safely dwell and hide himself. See Deut.32.4.] I know none.
9. The framers of gravens images [Understand under this name or notion all kinds Idolatrous images] are all of them vanity and, desirable things [that is, their fairest and costlier ornaments, wherewith they are beautified and adorned. Or, understand here by desirable things, their images which they eagerly desire, and wherein they take delight] profit nothing: yea they themselves [to wit, the Idols wherein Idolaters take delight] are their witnesses: [to wit, the witnesses of the Idolaters. That is, they convince them in their own consciences that they are vanities, and things of nought, in regard they see not, neither understand, as followeth in the text. See Psal.115.5.] they see not, neither do they know, therefore shall they [to wit, the Idolaters] he ashamed. Or that they may be ashamed. This cometh thus to pass by Gods providence, that Idolaters might come to shame.]
10. Who formeth a God, and casteth an image that is profitable for nothing? [This seemeth to be a question propounded by Idolaters, which is answered in the next verses. Or, they may be taken for the words of God, that derideth the folly and madness of Idolaters. (who formeth a God,) that is, an Idol, which in the opinion of Idolaters is a god, but is not so indeed and in truth] and casteth an image,) See above chap.40.ver.19. (that is profitable for nothing?) or, that profitable nothing: that is, which indeed and in truth is nothing but vanity.]
11. Behold, all their fellows [Or, their companions; To wit, the fellows or companions of Idolaters, or of those that make unto themselves images to represent God by them] shall be ashamed, [See Psal.97.7. above chap.1.29. and 42.17. and below chap.45.16.] for the workmen are of men [Compare Hest.8.6. or, and the workmen more them (other) men. Or thus; The workmen shall be men no more: that is, they shall be taken away from among men] let them all [to wit, all the Idolaters, as above chap.43.9.] gather themselves together, let them stand up, they shall fear [to wit, when God shall visit them, and shall destroy their Idols] they shall be ashamed together.
12. The black-smith, (maketh an Ax, [Wherewith the Carpenter heweth down tree: to make an Idol of it] and worketh in the burning Cole, [Others, in the Coles] etc. fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with his strong arm, [or, laboureth about it with the strength of his arm. Heb. With the arm of his strength] he also suffereth hunger until he growth feeble: he drunketh no water until he waxeth faint. [or is weary. The meaning is, he is so eager, and so diligent in foregoing of his Idol, and he is so busied about it, as that he suffereth hunger and want thereby (neglecting his other business) or, so as that he alloweth himself no time to eat or drink.]
13. The carpenter [Heb. The graver, or digger of trees] stretcheth out the line, [To wit, upon the tree whereof he intendeth to make an Idol] he marketh it [to wit, the wood, or the tree; and so in the sequel] out with a coloured thred. Others, with red earth. Or, oaker] he maketh it (smooth) with planes, [or, he heweth of fashioneth it with the axe] and market 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. [or, that it may dwell in the may remain in the house. [or, that it may dwell in the house. That is, that it may be placed in the Idols temple; or else in a private house of a zealous Idolater.]
14. When he heweth him down Cedars, then he taketh a cypress-tree, or an oak, etc. he strengtheneth himself among the trees of the forest: [Or, encourageth himself, or unseth his strength, etc. To wit, to hew down the trees. Or, he lets the trees grow strong is the forest; to wit, ere he cutteth them down and useth them to build therewith] he planteth an elm-tree [or, ash-tree] and the rain maketh (it) great.
15. Then it is for man to burn; [That is, then these trees serve for fuel] then he taketh thereof and warmeth himself by it, he also kindleth it, and baketh bread by it: moreover he market a God [that is, an Idol, an image, which he esteemeth and holdeth for his god] thereof, [to wit, of the tree, or of that piece of wood] and boweth himself (before it) , he maketh a carved Image of it, and kneeleth down before it.
16. He burneth half thereof [To wit, the half part of the tree] in the fire, by (the other) half thereof he eateth flesh; [The meaning is, he boileth or rosteth flesh by it, which he intendeth to eat: Or, he sitteth by the fire and eateth his meat] he rosteth a rost, and he is satisfied: also he warmeth himself, and he saith, Aha, I am grown warm, [or, Aha, I have warmed me] I have seen the fire. [That is, I have felt the heat or warmeth of the fire. So it is said, Joh.8.51. to see death, for to feel or taste of death, &c.]
17. Now the residue thereof he maketh a god, his carved Image: he kneeleth down before it, and boweth himself, and worshippeth it, and saith, Deliver me, for thou art my god.
18. They [To wit, the Idolaters] know not, nor understand, for it [to wit, the Image, or the Idol] hath anointed their eyes, to wit, with false opinions and belief, which do utterly blind their eyes. Others, for (God) hath shut their eyes, etc. as being an answer to the question of those that ask with administration wondering, how it is possible that any man should be so blind, as to commit such abominable Idolatry?] that they see not, (and) their hearts, that they understand not.
19. And none of (them) burgeth it into his heart, and there is neither knowledge nor understanding, [The meaning is, the hearts of Idolaters cleaveth so fast unto their Idols, as that they seem to be distracted and out of their wits] that he should say, I have burnt half of it [To wit, the half part of that tree whereof I have made this God] in the fire, yea I have also baked bread upon the Coles thereof, [Heb. Upon his Coles: That is, upon the Coles that came from the wooden tree, See Job 41.on ver.12.] I have rosted flesh (by it)( and have eaten it: and should I make the residue thereof an abomination? [that is, an Idol, which the true God loatheth and abhoreth] should I kneel down before the block, or bough, or stock of a tree.]
20. He [To wit, the Idolater] nourisheth himself with ashes, [Or, he feedeth himself with ashes; That is, he seeketh comfort and refreshing in his Idols, but all in vain; it is all one as if he should eat ashes, to be satisfied therewith. See Job 13.on ver.12. and Hos.12.2.] the deceived heart hath led him (aside) [to wit, from the true God, service or worship of God. Others, the heart is deceived, it hath led him away] so that he cannot deliver his soul, [to wit, from error and false worship] nor say, is there not a lie [or falsehood, or deceit; that is, a deceitful matter, or a deceitful thing] in my right hand? [that is, in this false god with whom I deal or converse.]
21. Remember these things, O Jacob and Israel, for thou art my servant, [All men are created to honour and serve God, but God had especially chosen Abraham and his feed, and given them his Law for this very purpose, Luke 1:74, 75.] I have found thee, thou art my servant, I Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. [Others; do not forget me, or, do not shew thy self forgetful of me.]
22. I blot out thy transgressions as a mist, and thy sins as a cloud: [Compare Psal.51.3. and above chap.43.25. That is, as I can make the thick clouds to vanish soon away, so will I also blot out your sins] return unto me, for I have redeemed thee.
23. Sing with joy, ye heavens, for the LORD hath done it: [Or, because the LORD hath done (it). To wit, because he hath redeemed his people, as immediately followeth. In this verse the prophet converteth his speech to the insensible creatures; as if he had said, the work which the Lord shall work upon his people shall so great, that even the insensible and unreasonable creatures shall stand amazed at it. Compare Isa.35.1.] shout ye nethermost parts of the earth; ye mountains make a great noise with joyful song, ye woods, and all (or, every) tree therein, for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
24. Thus saith the LORD thy Redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb: [See above ver.2.] I am the LORD that doth [or, who do; and so in the sequel of this verse, and ver.25,26.] all things, that spreadeth out the heaven [See Job 9:8. Psal.104.2.] I alone, and that stretcheth out the earth by it self. [See above chap.40.22. and 42.5. below chap.45.12.]
25. That frustrateth the tokens of the inverters of lies [That is, of the Idolaters. Or, of the interpreters of tokens, prognosticators, &c. to whose vain predictions the Babylonians and all heathens gave great heed] and maketh the diviners [See Prov.16.on ver.10.] mad: that causeth the wise [That is, those that account themselves to be wise. See Job 5.on ver.13.] to turn backward, [that is, that frustrateth or disappointeth their enterprises] and (that) maketh their knowledge foolish, [or that turneth their art or skill unto folly.]
26. That confirmeth the word of his servant: [Which he spake by the mouth of his servant Isaiah; to wit, that he would cause the city of Babel to be taken by Cyrus, and would bring his people again into their own country] and performeth the counsel [to wit, his counsel concerning the bringing of his people back again from the Babylonish captivity] of his messengers: [which his messengers the Prophets have declared unto his people, and shall yet declare] that saith unto Jerusalem, thou shalt be inhabited, and to the cities of Juda, ye shall be built again, [here the LORD declareth himself, shewing of what counsel he spake even now, (thou shalt be inhabited etc.) to wit, after the redemption or deliverance from the Babylonish captivity, after that they had lain threescore and ten years most miserably in sackcloth and ashes.] and I will raise up the desolate places thereof, [to wit, the desolate and decayed places of the land of Juda]
27. That saith to the deep: and I will dry up thy rivers, [The meaning is, I am he that saith unto the deep, &c. That is, I will remove or take away all lets and hinderances that hinder the return of my people, being as great depths and rivers of waters, through which they might come to pass. Some are of opinion, that God hath respect here unto that which Cyrus did; as if he had said, I am he that will put it into the mind of King Cyrus, to cut off the River Euphrates from the city of Babel, and to turn it another way, that so he might enter into the city with his army]
28. That saith of Cores, [Otherwise called Cyrus, a famous King of Persia, who was born at least an hundred years after this prophesy] he is my shepherd, [that is, he is appointed by me to shew and behave himself as a shepherd (that is, as a gracious Prince) towards my people, especially to bring them out of the Babylonish captivity, and to settle them again in their own country. Compare Dan.9.25.] and he shall perform all my pleasure: [concerning the bringing of my people again from Babel into their own country,] saying also to Jerusalem, be built, and (to) the Temple, be founded.