1 Thus says Yahweh to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him, and strip kings of their armor; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut: 2 "I will go before you, and make the rough places smooth. I will break the doors of brass in pieces, and cut apart the bars of iron. 3 I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, Yahweh, who call you by your name, even the God of Israel. 4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel my chosen, I have called you by your name. I have surnamed you, though you have not known me. 5 I am Yahweh, and there is none else. Besides me, there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not known me; 6 that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none besides me. I am Yahweh, and there is no one else. 7 I form the light, and create darkness. I make peace, and create calamity. I am Yahweh, who does all these things. 8 Distil, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open, that it may bring forth salvation, and let it cause righteousness to spring up with it. I, Yahweh, have created it. 9 Woe to him who strives with his Maker- a clay pot among the clay pots of the earth! Shall the clay ask him who fashions it, 'What are you making?' or your work, 'He has no hands?' 10 Woe to him who says to a father, 'What have you become the father of?' or to a mother, 'To what have you given birth?'" 11 Thus says Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: "You ask me about the things that are to come, concerning my sons, and you command me concerning the work of my hands! 12 I have made the earth, and created man on it. I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens; and I have commanded all their army. 13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways. He shall build my city, and he shall let my exiles go free, not for price nor reward," says Yahweh of Armies. 14 Thus says Yahweh: "The labor of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you, and they shall be yours. They will go after you. They shall come over in chains; and they will bow down to you. They will make supplication to you: 'Surely God is in you; and there is none else. There is no other god. 15 Most certainly you are a God who hidden yourself, God of Israel, the Savior.'" 16 They will be disappointed, yes, confounded, all of them. Those who are makers of idols will go into confusion together. 17 Israel will be saved by Yahweh with an everlasting salvation. You will not be disappointed nor confounded to ages everlasting. 18 For thus says Yahweh who created the heavens, the God who formed the earth and made it, who established it and didn't create it a waste, who formed it to be inhabited: "I am Yahweh; and there is no other. 19 I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness. I didn't say to the seed of Jacob, 'Seek me in vain.' I, Yahweh, speak righteousness. I declare things that are right. 20 "Assemble yourselves and come. Draw near together, you who have escaped from the nations. Those have no knowledge who carry the wood of their engraved image, and pray to a god that can't save. 21 Declare and present it. Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has shown this from ancient time? Who has declared it of old? Haven't I, Yahweh? There is no other God besides me, a just God and a Savior; There is no one besides me. 22 "Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. 23 I have sworn by myself, the word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and will not return, that to me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath. 24 They will say of me, 'There is righteousness and strength only in Yahweh.'" Even to him shall men come; and all those who were incensed against him shall be disappointed. 25 In Yahweh shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
The subject which was introduced in the previous chapter Isaiah 44:28 constitutes the main topic of this. God had there introduced the name of Cyrus as he who was to deliver his people from their captivity, and to restore them to their own land. This chapter is almost entirely occupied with a statement of the deliverance which would be effected through him - with an occasional reference to the more important deliverance which would be effected under the Messiah. The general subject of the chapter is the overthrow of Babylon, the deliverance of the Jews by Cyrus, and the events consequent on that, adapted to give consolation to the friends of God, particularly the future conversion of the Gentiles to the true religion.
I. An apostrophe to Cyrus, stating the design for which God had raised him up, and what he would do for him Isaiah 45:1-8. This statement also comprises several items:
1. God would subdue nations before him, open brass gates, and give him the treasures of kings Isaiah 45:1-3.
2. The design for which God would do this would be, that he might deliver his people, and that the world might know that Yahweh was the true and only God Isaiah 45:4-7.
3. The joyful consequences of this event - so great that the heavens are represented as dropping down righteousness, and the earth as bringing forth salvation in consequence of it Isaiah 45:8.
II. Those who strive with their Maker are reproved and rebuked Isaiah 45:9-10. This is probably designed to apply to the people of Babylon, or to complainers in general in regard to the government of God.
III. God vindicates himself against the calumnies and objections of his enemies, and states the evidence that he is God, and the consequence of his interposition in raising up Cyrus.
1. He condescends to reason with people, and is willing to be inquired of respecting future events Isaiah 45:11.
2. He had made the earth and all things, and he had raised up Cyrus for the purpose of delivering his people Isaiah 45:12-13.
3. He states the consequence of his raising up Cyrus, and thcir deliverance, for the purpose of comforting his people Isaiah 45:14.
4. All the worshippers of idols should be ashamed and confounded Isaiah 45:15-16.
5. They who put their trust in God should never be confounded Isaiah 45:17.
IV. God vindicates his own character; and calls on the nations of idolaters to come and compare the claims of idols with him, and especially appeals, in proof that he is God, to his power of predicting future evcnts Isaiah 45:18-21.
V. The chapter closes by a call on all nations to trust in him in view of the fact that he is the only true God; and with an assurance that all should yet trust in him, and that the true religion should yet spread over the world Isaiah 45:22-25. This is designed further to comfort the people of God in their exile, and is a striking prophecy of the final universal prevalence of the gospel.
Prophecy concerning Cyrus, the first king of the Persians. Every obstruction shall be removed out of his way, and the treasures taken from his enemies shall be immense, Isaiah 45:1-3, To whom, and on what account, Cyrus was indebted for his wonderful success, Isaiah 45:4-6. The prophet refutes the absurd opinion of the Persians, that there were two supreme beings, an evil and a good one, represented by light and darkness, here declared to be only the operation of the One true God, Isaiah 45:7; and makes a transition to the still greater work of God displayed in the dispensation of the Gospel, Isaiah 45:8. Great impiety of those who call in question the mysterious providence of God towards his children, Isaiah 45:9-12. The remaining part of this chapter, interspersed with strictures on the absurdity of idolatry and some allusions to the dark lying oracles of the heathens, may partly refer to the deliverance begun by Cyrus, but chiefly to the salvation by the Messiah, which, it is declared, shall be of universal extent and everlasting duration, Isaiah 45:13-25.
INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 45
This chapter contains prophecies concerning Cyrus, the deliverer of the Jews from captivity; and concerning the grace, righteousness, and salvation of Christ; and the conversion of the Gentiles. An account is given of Cyrus, and of the great things God would do for him, and by him, Isaiah 45:1 and the ends for which he would do these things, for the sake of his people Israel; and that he might be known to be the only true God, who is the Maker of all things, Isaiah 45:4 an intimation is given of the Messiah, as the author of righteousness and salvation; and of the contention and murmuring of the Jews about him, Isaiah 45:8, encouragement is given to pray for and expect good things by him for the children of God, in consideration of the greatness of God as the Creator, who would raise him up in righteousness, the antitype of Cyrus, Isaiah 45:11, the conversion of the Gentiles, the confusion of idolaters, and the salvation of the Israel of God, are prophesied of, Isaiah 45:14, which are confirmed by his works and his word, what he had done and said, Isaiah 45:18, the vanity of idols is exposed, and Christ the only Saviour asserted, to whom persons in all nations are directed to look for salvation, Isaiah 45:20 when it is affirmed with an oath that all shall be subject to him; that his people shall come to him for righteousness and strength; that his enemies shall be ashamed, and the spiritual Israel of God shall be justified, and glory in him, Isaiah 45:23.
(Isaiah 45:1-4) The deliverance of the Jews by Cyrus.
(Isaiah 45:5-10) God calls for obedience to his almighty power.
(Isaiah 45:11-19) The settlement of his people.
(Isaiah 45:20-25) The conversion of the Gentiles.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.