Isaiah 44:2-12

2 This is the word of the Lord your Maker who shaped you from birth; He[a] will help you: Do not fear; Jacob is My servant; I have chosen Jeshurun.
3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants and My blessing on your offspring.
4 They will sprout among[b] the grass like poplars by the streambeds.
5 This one will say: I am the Lord's; another will call [himself] by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand: The Lord's, and name [himself] by the name of Israel."

No God Other Than Yahweh

6 This is what the Lord, the King of Israel and its Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts, says: I am the first and I am the last.[c] There is no God but Me.
7 Who, like Me, can announce [the future]? Let him say so and make a case before Me, since I have established an ancient people. Let these gods declare[d] the coming things, and what will take place.
8 Do not be startled or afraid. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? You are my witnesses! Is there any God but Me? There is no [other] Rock; I do not know any.
9 All who make idols are nothing, and what they treasure does not profit. Their witnesses do not see or know [anything], so they will be put to shame.
10 Who makes a god or casts a metal image for no profit?
11 Look, all its worshipers will be put to shame, and the craftsmen are humans. They all will assemble and stand; they all will be startled and put to shame.
12 The ironworker labors over the coals, shapes the idol with hammers, and works it with his strong arm. Also he grows hungry and his strength fails; he doesn't drink water and is faint.

Isaiah 44:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 44

In this chapter the Lord comforts his people with the promise of the effusion of his Spirit, and the blessings of his grace upon them; the consequence of which would be fruitfulness in them, and the conversion of others, who should profess themselves the Lord's people, Isa 44:1-5, he proves his deity in opposition to all false gods from his eternity, omniscience, and foretelling future events, Isa 44:6-8, exposes the stupidity of idol makers and the worshippers of them, Isa 44:9-20, makes gracious promises of the remembrance of his people, the remission of their sins, and their redemption by Christ, Isa 44:21-23, of which redemption from Babylon was a type; and of that assurance is given, from the Lord's creating all things by his power; from his frustrating and infatuating diviners and wise men; from his fulfilling his predictions delivered by his prophets; and from his mentioning by name the instrument of their redemption, Cyrus, Isa 44:24-28, which makes way for a particular prophecy concerning him in the next chapter.

Footnotes 4

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