Isaiah 45:9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 45:5-10

God here asserts his sole and sovereign dominion, as that which he designed to prove and manifest to the world in all the great things he did for Cyrus and by him. Observe, I. How this doctrine is here laid down concerning the sovereignty of the great Jehovah, in two things:?1. That he is God alone, and there is no God besides him. This is here inculcated as a fundamental truth, which, if it were firmly believed, would abolish idolatry out of the world. With what an awful, commanding, air of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 45:9

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker ,.... That contends with him, enters into a controversy, and disputes with him, or litigates a point with him; quarrels with his purposes and decrees; murmurs and repines at his providences, and finds fault with his dispensations: this seems to have respect to the murmurs, quarrels, and contests of the Jews about Christ, the author of righteousness and salvation, when he should appear: let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth ; let... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 45:9

Wo unto him that striveth with his Maker "To unto him that contendeth with the power that formed him" - The prophet answers or prevents the objections and cavils of the unbelieving Jews, disposed to murmur against God, and to arraign the wisdom and justice of his dispensations in regard to them; in permitting them to be oppressed by their enemies, and in promising them deliverance instead of preventing their captivity. St. Paul has borrowed the image, and has applied it to the like purpose... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:9

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive, etc.; rather, woe unto him that striveth with his Maker , a potsherd among potsherds of the ground : All men are equally made of "the dust of the ground" ( Genesis 2:7 ). Israel has no prerogative in this respect. He, too, is "a potsherd among potsherds"—day moulded by the potter; no more entitled to lift up his voice against his Maker than the vessel to rebel against the man who shapes it (comp. Isaiah 29:16 ; and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:9

The sin and folly of resisting God. The truth of the Divine sovereignty must be clearly and faithfully presented. But we must carefully guard God from all charges of caprice or favouritism. We must liken him to man, in order to apprehend him at all; but we must eliminate from our figure of man all that is weak and self-seeking. The infinite holiness and infinite wisdom of God glorifies his sovereignty. He does what he wills with his own; but what he wills to do is always the absolute best,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:9-11

Murmuring against God's arrangements at once foolish and wicked Man is very apt to consider himself wiser than God, if not altogether, at any rate in this or that particular matter. There are few who do not at times imagine that, had the arrangement of the universe been committed to them, they could have improved it in many respects. Some would have had no sin; almost all would have had no suffering. Every one would have made some change or other. Bishop Butler suggests that such... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:9-12

The argument for acquiescence. No doubt there are circumstances in which men find— I. A TEMPTATION TO REBEL . 1 . Men are bitterly disappointed , or they are greatly distressed ; their high hopes are dashed to the ground, or their chief treasures are taken from their grasp. 2 . Then they think themselves aggrieved ; they imagine that the Almighty is dealing with them as he does not with their fellows—that he is acting ungraciously and even unjustly toward them. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:9-13

ISRAEL WARNED NOT TO CALL IN QUESTION GOD 'S MODES OF ACTION . Apparently, Isaiah anticipates that the Israelites will be discontented and murmur at their deliverer being a heathen king, and not one of their own body. He therefore warns them against presuming to criticize the arrangements of the All-Wise, reminding them of his unapproachable greatness (verse 12), and once more assuring them that the appointment of Cyrus is from him (verse 13). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:9-13

The sovereignty of God. I. THE MURMURER AGAINST PROVIDENCE . He is compared to a "potsherd among potsherds on the ground." "Woe unto him who, though made of earth, and with no intrinsic authority over others of his race, presumes to find fault with the Maker!" (cf. Isaiah 29:16 ; Isaiah 64:8 ; Jeremiah 18:1-6 ; Jeremiah 19:1 , Jeremiah 19:10 , Jeremiah 19:11 ; Romans 9:20-24 ). In the account of the Creation, the Almighty is conceived as making man out of the dust of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 45:9

Wo unto him that striveth with his Maker! - This verse commences a new subject. Its connection with the preceeding is not very obvious. It may be designed to prevent the objections and cavils of the unbelieving Jews who were disposed to complain against God, and to arraign the wisdom of his dispensations in regard to them, in permitting them to be oppressed by their enemies, and in promising them deliver ance instead of preventing their captivity. So Lowth understands it. Rosenmuller regards it... read more

Group of Brands