Major Prophets · Chapter 44 of 66

Isaiah 44

God reassures Jacob His servant, promising to pour His Spirit on their offspring so they flourish. As the first and the last, He alone is God, and He mocks the folly of idol-making: a craftsman uses part of a tree for fire and cooking, then bows to the rest as a god. God calls Israel to return, having blotted out their sins. Creation is summoned to sing, and Cyrus is named to rebuild Jerusalem.

What happens in Isaiah 44

God addresses Jacob and Israel, His chosen servant, telling them not to fear. He promises to pour water on thirsty ground and His Spirit on their offspring, so they will spring up like willows by streams and gladly claim the LORD's name. Declaring Himself King and Redeemer, the first and the last beside whom there is no God, He calls Israel His witnesses. Isaiah then delivers a sustained satire on idolatry: the idol-maker labors, grows faint and hungry, cuts down a tree, burns part to warm himself and bake bread, and fashions the rest into a god he worships and prays to for deliverance, too blind to see the absurdity.

God calls Israel to remember and return, for He has blotted out their transgressions like a cloud and redeemed them. Heaven and earth are summoned to sing. God, the sole Creator, frustrates false prophets, confirms His word, promises Jerusalem's rebuilding, and names Cyrus as His shepherd.

Isaiah 44 in context

Still addressing exiles in or facing Babylon, where idol worship was pervasive and impressive, Isaiah contrasts the living God with lifeless images. The satire on idol-making would sting a people tempted to think Babylon's gods had triumphed.

The naming of Cyrus, the Persian king who would later free the exiles, is a striking prophecy meant to prove God's unique power to declare and accomplish the future, grounding hope for restoration in His sovereign word.

Main themes of Isaiah 44

Isaiah 44 (KJV)

1Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: 2Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. 3For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: 4And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses. 5One shall say, I am the LORD’s; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel. 6Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. 7And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. 8Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any. 9They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. 10Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing? 11Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together. 12The 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 hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint. 13The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. 14He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. 15Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. 16He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: 17And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. 18They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. 19And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? 20He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? 21Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. 22I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. 23Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel. 24Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; 25That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; 26That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof: 27That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers: 28That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

Verses to carry from Isaiah 44

“For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:”Isaiah 44:3

“Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”Isaiah 44:6

“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.”Isaiah 44:22

Reflection

Isaiah's satire makes me examine what I fashion with my own hands and then look to for security. Idols today are subtler than carved wood, but just as unable to save. Against them stands the God who pours out His Spirit, blots out my sins like a cloud, and simply says, return unto me, for I have redeemed thee.

A prayer from Isaiah 44