Isaiah 45:13-25

Isa 45:13

I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.

Here God declares that he has raised up Cyrus for two specific but great purposes.  He tells them that Cyrus will not be doing it on his own but God is the one who will direct all the ways of Cyrus.  The first great task that Cyrus will do is to conquer Babylon and then release the captives so that many will return to Jerusalem.  The second great task which must be performed will be the rebuilding of Jerusalem since it was left in ruins by the Babylonians.  They will return and they will build the temple under Zerubbabel and Haggai.  Then about 60 years later many more will return for the purpose of rebuilding and repairing the walls under Nehemiah and Ezra.  The sorry reality as that many of them felt comfortable in Babylon and did not want to return.  Many of them started businesses and were making a good income.  One such person was Jacob Egebi who started a banking system where he would loan money out to people at high interest rates.  He became the father of modern banking.  Egebi’s name was confirmed as it was found on some of the recovered tablets on archaeology digs.  Then the verse states that the captives will be released without any payment to Babylon or reward for Cyrus but will be doing it as a divine decree is fulfilled.

Isa 45:14

Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.

Then the LORD speaks to them in the language of compensation.  All the labors they performed in Egypt, the merchandise of Cush or Ethiopia and the Sabeans were given into the hands of Cyrus.  The men of stature would be those of political or military leaders and they shall come to Jerusalem.  The chains they will be in will not be the chains of slavery but will be of their own making, that is, they will continue to come to Jerusalem of their own accord yet driven to come.  Then they will come with a very obedient spirit and will realize that while Cyrus was conquering other lands including theirs, he was releasing the Jews from captivity.  Then they will surely know that they are the children of God and that there are no other gods especially the false gods which were prevalent among all those conquered nations.  They will know that God is the true God because Israel would be free while others would be enslaved.  Everything that Israel had slaved and suffered for would be returned to them as children of the true God.  These countries will willingly bring their wealth to Judah.

For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. (Isaiah 43:3) 

The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. (Psalm 72:10)

Isa 45:15

Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.

This verse teaches us that God is hidden, not because he fears anything but he is hidden from the ungodly and is only revealed to his Elect.  The surrounding nations had made images of what they thought their false gods looked like but God cannot be graven or made into an image because he is Spirit.  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)  Yet all the nations will know that God exists simply because they will see the results of his workings in Israel and among the heathen nations.  He declares that he is the God of Israel and although he is invisible, he is very much alive and cognizant of all things.

Isa 45:16

They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.

Just because something is visible does not mean it carries any weight of reality especially in the arena of false religions.  Those who make the idols and cause people to follow them will be confounded or bewildered over the fact that their visible God will be overshadowed by the true invisible God.  Everyone who adheres to false religion will be perplexed at their impotence when they shall fail the followers.  The false gods will give no help since there are no other gods behind these “2 for a dinar idols.”

Isa 45:17

But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

Here is a promise of salvation to the entire body of Christ which is also called spiritual Israel.  This would not be pointing to the entire nation of physical Israel because there were many unbelievers among them as there are in many nations of the world.  The promise here is that those who become saved will never be ashamed or confounded since the gospel brings a sober mind which cannot deviate from the truth.  Once a person becomes saved, they will no longer need to search out other religions because they will have found their rest in Christ.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:29)  False religions are always in flux and keep creating new rituals for their adherents to keep but once a person has the true gospel, they know that all religions are false.  Then the LORD states “world without end” but not in its present state.  Once the last day has come and all the judgments are done, then the LORD is going to burn up the old world with all it sin and then will remake this world in righteousness for his redeemed people to live in eternally. 

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10)

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (Revelation 21:1)

Isa 45:18

For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

The LORD once again declares to the people that he is the one who created the heavens and formed the earth.  The reason that the LORD must keep declaring these truths is because all false religions have creation stories that read like a good novel of fiction.  He wants his people to know that he is the true God and has those capabilities to create whereas false gods have nothing and created nothing.  He established the world and did not create it in vain.  This is because the Messiah would one day walk upon the earth and die for his people.  The earth was formed and meant to be inhabited.  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (Ephesians 3:9)  The very one who created this world will come down and walk upon it giving his life for the Elect of God.  He reiterates the fact that he is the LORD and there is none else.  He tells this to Judah that when they are in Babylon they will be confronted with many false gods and idols and he wants it planted firmly in their minds that there is no other living God but him.

Isa 45:19

I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

Many of the false religions would do their teaching in caverns and caves which are dark places.  They never could speak in specifics.  A good example of ambiguous speech today is the horoscopes which many people order their lives with.  They are always in ambiguous or in general terms which can range from finding a nickel on the street to hitting the lottery when they state “you are under a lucky star today.”  One must never give any credence to the satanic system of horoscopes.  God spoke to his people plainly and made known to them through prophets and teachers what he expected of them and what his plans for them are.  God never had his people praying to him in vain as do those who follow false religions.  God would always answer the prayers of his people, even if “no” was the answer, because it is still an answer.  Today many Christians believe that God does not answer all their prayers.  Let me repeat, when God says “no” that is an answer whether we want to hear to or not.  The LORD always responds to our prayers even though it might not be in the manner we would expect.  The LORD always responds in righteousness and not spurious responses as to confound one of his children.  He does not play those kind of games.  God declares things that are right, that is, that fit the needs of the one who is seeking the LORD.  Once again, “no” might be the right answer for the individual.  God never responds according to our wisdom but his and we should be thankful that he does or else some of us could be in big trouble.

Isa 45:20

Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.

Then when the nations which Babylon had conquered and were now being freed when Cyrus conquered Babylon are now being asked of the LORD to assemble themselves.  They are being told that they have no knowledge because these are the Gentile nations which stuck with their false gods.  God is stating that they have no knowledge of the true God because they are still bent on setting up their idols and going right back to their false gods even after they had been freed by the true God.  Prayer to a false idol cannot bring any type of rest for the soul or salvation, whether it be physical salvation from an enemy or eternal salvation of their souls.

Isa 45:21

Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

Then Isaiah is commissioned and then he commissions the captives upon release from captivity that they are to speak to those who still adhere to false religions and idols.  Let them come together and create their defense of their false gods.  Let them state which one of their false gods had made declarations from ancient times and brought it to pass.  Which one of the false gods made the declarations?  Then the LORD states that he is the only one who made ancient declarations and brought them to pass according to his will and timing.  He once again impresses upon his people that he is the only God and there are no other gods in the heavens.  Not only is God a God of prophecy by declaring things and bringing them to pass, he is also a God who grants everlasting salvation, something which the false gods cannot do.  God watches out for the people he has named from the foundation of the world.

Isa 45:22

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

Then God declares that he is the God who gives salvation to his people and his people could be in every country in the world and the true gospel unlike false gospels will be perpetuated by the redeemed body of Christ all over the world until the last day.  There is no salvation in any false gods whether they be the ancient gods of past civilizations or the modern false gods like those of Hinduism or Buddhism.  And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: (Revelation 19:1)

Isa 45:23

I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

God being total truth did not have to swear or make an oath by himself.  For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, (Hebrews 6:13)  God made a promise to Abraham and although he did not have to swear an oath, yet he did for the purpose of Abraham and his children.  The word of God had gone forth from his mouth in righteousness which is what is right concerning the situation of both ancient Israel and the world.  His word shall not return to him as if it fell on spiritually dead ears.  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)  It would not return void but it will accomplish what God set it out to do.  The last part of this verse is also written in Romans 14:11.  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. (Romans 14:11)  As we read in Matthew 25:31-46, every human being who ever lived on earth is going to bow their knee to the Lord Jesus Christ. This includes all the enemies of Christ down through the ages which includes atheists, agnostics, religious people, evolutionists, etc. All the enemies of God who have denied Him and His existence, are going to verbally confess His existence and omnipotence. The word “confess” in this verse carries with it the meaning of “verbally expressing something.” Those who have repudiated Him will now acknowledge Him. Freedom of Belief does end on Judgment Day!

Isa 45:24

Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.

This is the testimony of the true believer.  Our righteousness is as filthy rags especially before salvation when we try to justify ourselves by our altruism but our true righteousness is from the LORD and that includes our spiritual strength.  When a person becomes saved the righteousness of Christ is imputed to that person and no longer does a Christian have to struggle to be righteous before a holy God because their righteousness is a gift from the LORD himself.  Then the Christian who has confidence in the imputed righteousness of Christ will become bold as they boast in the LORD and those people who come to the true Christian in an attempt to compare their righteousness to that of Christ’s will be ashamed because they will be found wanting and will come up short as no person can be saved of their own righteousness. 

Isa 45:25

In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.