Isaiah 44

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 44:23

Sing, O ye heavens . The sympathy of external nature with the fortunes of Israel is assumed throughout Isaiah, as it is throughout the Psalms (see Psalms 11:6 -8; Psalms 24:4-7 ; Psalms 29:1-11 :17; 30:25, 26; Psalms 33:9 ; Psalms 35:1 , Psalms 35:2 , Psalms 35:7 , etc.). If Israel is depressed, the earth must "mourn and languish," the heavens grow dark; the mountains shrink and "be ashamed." If, on the contrary, Israel prospers, heaven and earth, mountain and forest, must... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 44:23-28

Joy in God's redeeming power. We have here— I. THE REACH OF ALMIGHTY POWER . It extends: 1 . Over all visible nature. ( Isaiah 44:24 .) He makes "all things." The heavens and the earth are the work of his hand. 2 . Over individual men. He can 3 . Over men in their collective capacity. Jehovah had fashioned Israel, making her all she had become, giving her strength to do all she had accomplished; it was he that "formed" her from the beginning, that shaped her... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 44:24

Thus saith the Lord . This is not a new prophecy entirely unconnected with the preceding, as Delitzsch supposes, lint a declaration to which the prophet has been working up, and which he intends as the crown and climax of all that he has been announcing with respect to Israel's deliverance. Not only is the deliverance absolutely determined on in God's counsels, but the Deliverer himself is already chosen and designated. He that formed thee from the womb (comp. Isaiah 44:2 ). I am the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 44:25

That frustrateth the tokens of the liars ; i.e. "who brings to nought the prognostications of the astrologers and soothsayers, that pretend falsely to a knowledge of future events" (see Isaiah 49:13 ; and comp. Jeremiah 29:8 , Jeremiah 29:9 ); and maketh diviners mad; i.e. "shows them to be thole or madmen" (see Job 12:17 ). That turneth wise men backward ; i.e. "repulses them—puts them to flight." Pretenders to wisdom, rather than truly wise men, are meant. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 44:26

That confirmeth the word of his servant ; that is, of Isaiah himself, whom God calls "my Servant" in Isaiah 20:3 . The "messengers" are the prophets generally. Before the return from the Captivity took place, it had been prophesied, not only by Isaiah, but by Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 29:10-14 ), by Ezekiel ( Ezekiel 39:25-28 ), by Joel 3:1 ), by Amos ( Amos 9:11-15 ), by Obadiah ( Obadiah 1:20 ), by Micah ( Micah 4:10 ), and by Zephaniah ( Zephaniah 3:14-20 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 44:27

That saith to the deep, Be dry (comp. Isaiah 42:15 ). "The flood" here is probably the main stream of the Euphrates, while "the rivers" are the various side streams which branched off from it and again united themselves with it. Some commentators regard the drying of Euphrates as a mere metaphor for the exhaustion and ruin of Babylon (Kay); but (with Delitzsch) I should be inclined to understand a reference to the action of Cyrus in drawing off the water of the river (see the comment on ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 44:28

That saith of Cyrus . The mention of Cyrus by name, here and again in Isaiah 45:1 , has no doubt been one of the main grounds on which has been set up the theory of two Isaiahs. It has been thought incredible, or at any rate contrary to the analogy of prophetical revelation, that so minute a matter as the name of a man should have been announced in prophecy more than a century before his birth. There is, however, the parallel case of Josiah, who, according to the author of the Books of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 44:28

The duty of kings to be God's shepherds. "By me kings reign," says God, "and princes decree justice" ( Proverbs 8:15 ). Though the expression, "the Divine right of kings, has been greatly abused, it is yet a truth which all must acknowledge, that monarchs are placed in their responsible position by God, and must answer to him for the use which they make of that position. The whole world is, in a certain sense, God's flock, and the various chief rulers who hold authority over different... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 44:28

God's rights in the individual. God made us, gave us breath and being. We are his, and for his use. He can call any man into any sphere he pleases. It ought to be true of him that he saith to one "Come," and he cometh; to another "Go," and he goeth. Every man s true attitude is figured m the attitude of the six-winged seraphim before the throne. "With twain he covered his face, with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly," or did stand ready to fly. Of every man, great and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44

It has already been observed (the note at Isaiah 43:28), that the commencement of this chapter is properly a continuation and completion of the argument commenced there; and that the division should have been made at what is now the close of the fifth vcrsc of this chapter. This chapter may be divided into the following parts:I. The assurance that though they had sinned Isaiah 43:23-28 God would have mercy on them, and would restore them to his favor, and to their land Isaiah 44:1-5. They had... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 44:23

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 44:23-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 44:24

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 44:25

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 44:26

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 44:27

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 44:28

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 44:28

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 44:28

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44

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