Isaiah 45

CHAPTER 45

The Lord of All the Earth (45:1–25)

1–7 Over and over in these remaining chapters of the book of Isaiah, God teaches us about Himself, about His greatness, His uniqueness, His sovereignty over all the earth. We need to let these chapters enlarge our vision of God and increase our love and reverence for Him. Isaiah isn’t simply piling up poetic phrases here; he is teaching us about the most important subject in the universe and in our lives: the subject of God.

In the final verses of the previous chapter God (through Isaiah) has announced His intention to rebuild and resettle Jerusalem using Cyrus king of Persia as His instrument (Isaiah 44:24–28). Here in verses 1–7, God shows in detail how He will enable Cyrus to carry this out.¹⁷⁸

Addressing Cyrus, God discloses two purposes, one related to the near future and the other related to the distant future. God’s first purpose is to restore Israel; He has anointed Cyrus (verse 1) for the sake of . . . Israel (verse 4).

God’s second and more long-range purpose is to make Himself known, first to Cyrus¹⁷⁹ (verse 3), and then to the entire earth (verse 6). This second purpose is still being fulfilled today through the followers of Christ.

God tells Cyrus, His anointed one, that He will go before him and level the mountains and break down gates of bronze (verse 2). If God would do this for the unbelieving Cyrus, how much more will He do it for Christ, His true Anointed One, and for us, His followers! Indeed, as Christians go out into the world to spread the Gospel, God does go before them and removes the spiritual obstacles in their path. Look at history. Look at what God did for a handful of persecuted disciples after Jesus’ death! They were enabled to turn the world upside down, and Christians have been doing it ever since. In country after country God has been opening the door for the Gospel, leveling “mountains,” breaking down “gates,” and cutting through bars of iron (verse 2)—and He will continue to do so until Christ returns (Matthew 24:12).

8 Here the Lord describes a time when salvation and righteousness will spring up from the earth. Salvation and righteousness are closely linked throughout the book of Isaiah (see Isaiah 46:13; 51:5; 56:1), and indeed throughout the Bible. Righteousness is a requirement for salvation; salvation is the reward of righteousness. According to Old Testament revelation, righteousness is obtained through the law¹⁸⁰ and results in temporal salvation, or deliverance; according to New Testament revelation, righteousness is obtained through faith in Christ and results in eternal salvation, ETERNAL LIFE¹⁸¹ (see Romans 1:16–17; 3:21–24).

9–10 “Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker,” says God. God is anticipating that the Israelites will question what He is saying, especially about His using the pagan Cyrus to accomplish His purposes. But a man questioning God is like a potsherd (a piece of broken pottery) questioning the potter! (see Isaiah 29:16; Jeremiah 18:1–10).

11–13 Here God gives further reasons why the Israelites should not question Him; after all, He put the stars in their places! And so He will raise up Cyrus to deliver Israel. “I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness,” says God (verse 13)—“that is, for my righteous purposes” (see Isaiah 41:2). God will make Cyrus’ ways straight; He will enable Cyrus to accomplish his objectives of setting the exiles free. And God won’t have to pay a price or give a reward to Cyrus for doing it; Cyrus will be in God’s control—even though he doesn’t know it!¹⁸²

14 Earlier God told the Israelites that He would ransom them by giving Egypt, Cush and Seba to Cyrus, and God did give those nations into Cyrus’ hands (Isaiah 43:3–4); now God says that He will give these nations to Israel. Here God is speaking of a more distant future, of a day when Israel’s former enemies will be gathered into the Messianic kingdom (see Isaiah 14:1–2 and comment). These enemies will submit to the rule of Israel’s God—they will come in chains; yet they will come willingly, because they know that there is no other god.

15–17 Here Isaiah reflects on God’s mysterious and “hidden” ways. Isaiah is looking ahead not only to the restoration of Israel in the promised land, but also beyond that to the greater restoration of Israel in the Messianic kingdom of Jesus Christ. There Israel will experience true salvation—everlasting salvation (see verse 8 and comment).

18–19 God again speaks; He is not a God who hides himself (verse 15); He has not spoken in secret (verse 19). The Israelites—and believers today—do not seek God in vain (see Jeremiah 29:13–14).

20–21 God tells the world’s unbelieving nations that because He has predicted future events (such as Cyrus’ freeing of the Jewish exiles) He has established His claim to be acknowledged as the one and only God and Savior (see Isaiah 43:8–13; 44:6–8 and comments).

22–25 These verses are the climax of the chapter: “Turn to me and be saved,” God says to the unbelieving nations (verse 22). Those who deserve only God’s judgment are here invited to receive God’s mercy! To be saved, however, they must turn to God in faith. Those who refuse to acknowledge God now will be forced to acknowledge Him later: “Before me every knee will bow”¹⁸³ (verse 23).

In verse 25, Isaiah gives a final promise: . . . in the LORD all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous. Isaiah is speaking here of the faithful descendants of Israel, those who are “in the Lord.” And the Gentiles, who through faith in Christ are also “in the Lord,” will likewise be “found righteous”—reckoned righteous; and they, together with their Israelite brothers and sisters, will exult in their salvation.