Isaiah 45

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.