Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 46

Verses 1-2

ISAIAH - CHAPTER 46

DIVINE JUDGMENT ON THE IDOLS OF BABYLON

Vs. 1-2: THE HELPLESSNESS OF IDOLS

1. This chapter of Cyrus is shown to be the instrument of divine judgment upon the gods of Babylon.

2. Bel and Nebo were the chief deities of the Babylonian Empire -Bel corresponding to Jupiter, and Nebo to the Roman Mercury.

a. Bel is pictured as falling headlong, (Jeremiah 50:2-3; Jeremiah 51:44).

b. And Nebo would bow down until he would also fall on his face.

c. The Babylonians often incorporated the names of their gods in the names of their children - Belshazzar, NeBuchadnezzar, etc. v. 1.

3. An attempt was made to save the deities of Babylon from Cyrus by carrying them away on camels, dromedaries, elephants and other beasts.

a. But this scheme failed; they were captured; and taken into captivity, (comp. 2 Samuel 5:21; Jeremiah 43:12-13; Jeremiah 48:7; Hosea 10:5).

b. Not only were they unable to help Belshazzar and the Babylonians; they could not even help themselves! (Isaiah 21:9).

Verses 3-4

Vs. 3-4: CONTRASTING JEHOVAH’S PERPETUAL CARE OF ISRAEL

1. The house of Jacob, and remnant of Israel, are called to bear what God has done for them, (vs. 3; 12; Isaiah 45:19; Isaiah 10:21-22).

2. In contrast to the impotence of idols; their God has carried them - even from the womb, (Isaiah 49:1; Deuteronomy 1:30-33; Deuteronomy 32:11; Psalms 76:5-6).

3. He has ever cared for them - hearing their burdens, (Isaiah 63:9); their sufficiency has ever been in Jehovah, the great "I AM", (Isaiah 41:4; Isaiah 43:13; Isaiah 48:12; comp. John 4:26; John 6:35; John 8:23; John 9:5; John 10:7; John 10:36; John 11:25; John 13:13; John 14:6; John 15:1; Revelation 1:8; Revelation 1:17).

4. And He will continue to care for them - even to their old age, (Psalms 71:17-18).

5. Furthermore, He will deliver them - restoring them to that from whence they have fallen.

Verses 5-7

Vs. 5-7: THE ORIGIN AND IMPOTENCE OF IDOLS

1. The Lord returns to this theme and again - obviously because His people are so slow to comprehend.

a. They do not like to be different (except to lay exclusive claim to divine blessings); the taunts of their heathen neighbors (who constantly inquire: "Where is your God?") greatly impel them toward the making of visible objects of veneration.

b. This, of course, is a cowardly cop-out! They should declare the excellencies of the God of Jacob - thus bearing honorable witness of His goodness.

c. Much better had they responded with the Psalmist: "Our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased!" (Psalms 115:3).

2. It is impossible to properly equate or liken anything to Jehovah; He is the eternally incomparable One! (Isaiah 40:18; Isaiah 40:25).

3. To pour gold (or silver) from a bag, and then to hire a craftsman to fashion it into a "god" - before which one bows in adoration, and to which he cries for help in time of trouble - is not only stupid; it is nothing short of spiritual insanity! (vs. 6-7; Isaiah 40:19; Isaiah 41:7; Isaiah 44:12-17; Jeremiah 10:4).

a. A god that has to be carried on the shoulders of its devotees is certainly not worthy of comparison with Jehovah - who, from ages past, has carried His people and borne their burdens! (Isaiah 45:20; Jeremiah 10:5).

b. The investment of one’s assets, or trust, in an immobile, portable god - who cannot see, hear, speak, feel, or help - involves such waste as leaves one totally bankrupt in the hour of greatest need, (Isaiah 41:29).

Verses 8-11

Vs. 8-11: JEHOVAH’S DEITY PROVED BY HIS PROVIDENTIAL CONTROL

1. This passage is apparently addressed to the transgressors of Judah, who have forsaken their God and are called upon to admit their transgression, (vs. 8; Isaiah 50:1; Isaiah 57:3-6).

2. Remembrance of His faithfullness, in times past, should awaken their confidence in His supreme ability to bring them safely through the impending crises - the Babylonian Captivity, (vs. 9).

3. From ancient times He has worked all things according to the counsel of His own perfect will - even foretelling precisely what He would do, (vs. 10; Deuteronomy 32:7-12).

a. What He purposes, He always performs, (Isaiah 14:24; Isaiah 25:1; Isaiah 40:8; Psalms 33:11; Proverbs 19:21; Acts 4:27-28).

b. He is able to fulfill all His good pleasure, (Ephesians 1:11-12; Ephesians 3:20-21; Romans 9:11; Hebrews 6:17-20).

c. So certain is God to carry out His plan that He "calleth those things that be not as though they were" - though the actual fulfillment may await the passing of centuries! (Romans 4:17).

4. He has purposed to bring Judah back to Himself through the use of human instrumentality, (vs. 11).

a. Some consider "the ravenous bird from the east" to be Nebuchadnezzar - who led Judah captive into Babylon, to accomplish the divine discipline purposed upon her transgression, (Jeremiah 49:22; Ezekiel 17).

b. It seems more likely, however, that "the ravenous bird" and "the man that executeth my counsel" are both used of Cyrus.

1) The bird-figure is suggestive of the swiftness, power and destructiveness of his military strategy.

2) According to Xenophon, the standard of Cyrus was an eagle.

c. In His providential rule over the affairs of men, God summons heathen kings (unknown to themselves) to serve His high and holy purpose; by His over-ruling providence, He sends them forth victoriously, but in such a way that their careers redound to His own glory and praise - and to the ultimate benefit of His erring people.

Verses 12-13

Vs. 12-13: A WARNING OF IMPENDING JUDGMENT

1. Once again God summons men to "hearken" - to hear and obey, (vs. 12); He specifically addresses:

a. The "stouthearted" - those who stubbornly resist His will and refuse to acknowledge His supreme and sole deity, (Isaiah 48:4; Zechariah 7:11-12; Malachi 3:13; comp. Isaiah 10:12).

b. Those who are "far from righteousness", (Isaiah 48:1; Jeremiah 2:5; Psalms 119:150).

1) Despairing, because they cannot understand how God’s word can possibly be fulfilled, they no longer want to hear it.

2) Consequently, they are without the experience and joy of that salvation which He grants, to the believing, on the basis of His own righteousness, (Romans 3:21-26).

2. To such as will acknowledge His lordship, and believe His word, He gives assurance of the nearness of His saving strength, (vs. 13).

a. He is not a far-off God, but One whose righteousness (and sufficiency) is as near as one’s need, (Deuteronomy 30:13; Romans 10:6-10).

b. His salvation (deliverance) will not tarry once the nation has heeded His call to repentance, (Isaiah 59:20; Romans 11:26-27).

c. For Israel, His glory, He will bring deliverance to Zion so that His divine splendor will once again be reflected through His restored people, (comp. Ezekiel 9:3; Ezekiel 11:23).