(12) The smith with the tongs.—We begin with the metal idol. Better, The smith uses a chisel. The work involves stooping over the charcoal furnace. The maker of the god is exhausted with his toil, and requires food and drink to sustain him. read more
The Immanence of God Isaiah 44:8 In the Christian view of God there are two attributes which it is not easy for the human reason to combine. One of them we call the transcendence of God; to the other we give the name of immanence. I. What do we mean by the Divine transcendence? We mean that apart from and above the universe there lives and reigns a personal Creator. And what do we mean by the immanence of God? We mean the presence of the Almighty in creation. A God transcendent, like some... read more
; Isaiah 44:1-28; Isaiah 45:1-25; Isaiah 46:1-13; Isaiah 47:1-15; Isaiah 48:1-22CHAPTER IXFOUR POINTS OF A TRUE RELIGIONIsaiah 43:1-28 - Isaiah 48:1-22WE have now surveyed the governing truths of Isaiah 40:1-31; Isaiah 41:1-29; Isaiah 42:1-25; Isaiah 43:1-28; Isaiah 44:1-28; Isaiah 45:1-25; Isaiah 46:1-13; Isaiah 47:1-15; Isaiah 48:1-22: the One God, omnipotent and righteous; the One People, His servants and witnesses to the world; the nothingness of all other gods and idols before Him; the... read more
CHAPTER 44 Jehovah Continues to Speak 1. Spiritual blessings promised by the gift of the Spirit (Isaiah 44:1-5 ) 2. Jehovah the First and the Last (Isaiah 44:6-8 ) 3. Idolatry rebuked (Isaiah 44:9-20 ) 4. Remember! Return! Sing! (Isaiah 44:21-23 ) 5. The faithful Jehovah, the Redeemer (Isaiah 44:24-27 ) 6. Cyrus named (Isaiah 44:28 ) The outpouring of the Spirit upon Israel’s seed promised in the beginning of the chapter has not yet taken place. Compare with Isaiah 32:15 and Isaiah... read more
44:12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is {s} hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.(s) He describes the raging affection of the idolaters, who forget their own necessities to set forth their devotion toward their idols. read more
ISAIAH INTRODUCTION TO PART TWO The chapters of Part 2 (chaps. 40-46) are chiefly millennial, and so different from the prevailing themes preceding, as to raise a query whether they were not written by some other author a second, or deutero-Isaiah, as some call him. We do not hold that opinion, the reasons for which are briefly stated in the author’s Primers of the Faith. In Synthetic Bible Studies, it was found convenient to treat this part as a single discourse though doubtless, such is not... read more
What a fine contrast does this view of the dung-hill god of a man's own creating, form with what went before, in which the glory of Jehovah is so sublimely set forth! If there were not facts existing to prove it, would it ever be credited, that any man, much less multitudes of men, should be found weak enough in intellect to form an image of wood, and fall down before it in worship? But, Reader! remark from it, to what an awful state is man reduced by the fall. Oh! how truly blessed is it here... read more
File. Hebrew mahatsad, (Haydock; Jeremias x. 3.) "to make an ax, with," &c. This is the remote cause of the idol. read more
9-20 Image-making is described, to expose the folly of idolaters. Though a man had used part of a log for fuel, he fell down before an image made of the remainder, praying it to deliver him. Man greatly dishonours God, when he represents him after the image of man. Satan blinds the eyes of unbelievers, causing absurd reasonings in matters of religion. Whether men seek happiness in worldly things, or run into unbelief, superstition, or any false system, they feed on ashes. A heart deceived by... read more
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John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 44:1-28
The Impotence of Idols1-23. The reproach of God’s people shall be entirely removed. Jehovah the Eternal, who rules the events of history, contrasted with the futile gods of the heathen. 24-28. This great Jehovah pledges the restoration of His people through Cyrus.2. Jesurun] i.e. ’upright,’ a symbolic name of Israel (Deuteronomy 32:15), indicating its ideal character. Fear not] i.e. on account of past failure and apparent inability to realise the future which God sets before you. 3. Cp. Isaiah... read more