Isaiah 45:8-16

God's Supreme Power

8 "1Drip down, O heavens, from above, And let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the 2earth open up and salvation bear fruit, 3And righteousness spring up with it. I, the LORD, have created it.
9 "Woe to the one who 4quarrels with his Maker - An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the 5clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands '?
10 "Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting?' Or to a woman, 'To what are you giving birth?' "
11 Thus says the 6LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his 7Maker: "8Ask Me about the things to come concerning My 9sons, And you shall commit to Me 10the work of My hands.
12 "It is I who 11made the earth, and created man upon it. I 12stretched out the heavens with My hands And I ordained 13all their host.
13 "I have aroused him in 14righteousness And I will 15make all his ways smooth; He will 16build My city and will let My exiles go 17free, Without any payment or reward," says the LORD of hosts.
14 Thus says the LORD, "The products of 18Egypt and the merchandise of 19Cush And the Sabeans, men of stature, Will 20come over to you and will be yours; They will walk behind you, they will come over in 21chains And will 22bow down to you; They will make supplication to you: 'Surely, 23God is with you, and 24there is none else, No other God.' "
15 Truly, You are a God who 25hides Himself, O God of Israel, 26Savior!
16 They will be 27put to shame and even humiliated, all of them; The 28manufacturers of idols will go away together in humiliation.

Isaiah 45:8-16 Meaning and Commentary

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, Isa 45:1-3 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, Isa 45:4-7 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, Isa 45:8-10, 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, Isa 45:11-13, the conversion of the Gentiles, the confusion of idolaters, and the salvation of the Israel of God, are prophesied of, Isa 45:14-17, which are confirmed by his works and his word, what he had done and said, Isa 45:18,19, the vanity of idols is exposed, and Christ the only Saviour asserted, to whom persons in all nations are directed to look for salvation, Isa 45:20-22 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, Isa 45:23-25.

Cross References 28

  • 1. Psalms 72:6; Hosea 10:12; Hosea 14:5; Joel 3:18
  • 2. Psalms 85:11
  • 3. Isaiah 60:21; Isaiah 61:11
  • 4. Job 15:25; Job 40:8, 9; Psalms 2:2, 3; Proverbs 21:30; Jeremiah 50:24
  • 5. Isaiah 29:16; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:6; Romans 9:20, 21
  • 6. Isaiah 43:15; Isaiah 48:17; Ezekiel 39:7
  • 7. Isaiah 44:2; Isaiah 54:5
  • 8. Isaiah 8:19
  • 9. Jeremiah 31:9
  • 10. Isaiah 19:25; Isaiah 29:23; Isaiah 60:21; Isaiah 64:8
  • 11. Isaiah 42:5; Isaiah 45:18; Jeremiah 27:5
  • 12. Psalms 104:2; Isaiah 42:5; Isaiah 44:24
  • 13. Genesis 2:1; Nehemiah 9:6
  • 14. Isaiah 41:2
  • 15. Isaiah 45:2
  • 16. 2 Chronicles 36:22, 23; Isaiah 44:28
  • 17. Isaiah 52:3
  • 18. Psalms 68:31; Isaiah 19:21
  • 19. Isaiah 18:1; Isaiah 43:3
  • 20. Isaiah 14:1, 2; Isaiah 49:23; Isaiah 54:3
  • 21. Psalms 149:8
  • 22. Isaiah 49:23; Isaiah 60:14
  • 23. Jeremiah 16:19; Zechariah 8:20-23; 1 Corinthians 14:25
  • 24. Isaiah 45:5
  • 25. Psalms 44:24; Isaiah 1:15; Isaiah 8:17; Isaiah 57:17
  • 26. Isaiah 43:3
  • 27. Isaiah 42:17; Isaiah 44:9
  • 28. Isaiah 44:11

Footnotes 12

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