Isaiah 44:21-28 WEB

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 44:21

Remember these - Remember these things which are now said about the folly of idolatry, and the vanity of worshipping idols. The object of the argument is, to turn their attention to God, and to lead them to put their trust in him.Thou art my servant - (See the notes at Isaiah 42:19; Isaiah 43:1). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:22

I have blotted out - The word used here (מחח mâchâh), means properly “to wipe away,” and is often applied to sins, as if the account was wiped off, or as we express it, blotted out (Psalms 51:3, Psalms 51:11; see the note at Isaiah 43:25). The phrase, ‘to blot out sins like a cloud,’ however, is unusual, and the idea not very obvious. The true idea would be expressed by rendering it, ‘I have made them to vanish as a thick cloud;’ and the sense is, as the wind drives away a thick cloud,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:23

Sing, O ye heavens - (see Isaiah 42:10). It is common in the sacred writings to call on the heavens, the earth, and all created things, to join in the praise of God on any great and glorious event (see Psalms 96:1, Psalms 96:11-12; Psalms 148:1-14) The occasion of the joy here was the fact that God had redeemed his people - a fact, in the joy of which the heavens and earth were called to participate. An apostrophe such as the prophet here uses is common in all writings, where inanimate objects... read more

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 44:21

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:22

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:23

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