Presumably you are continuing your studies on from chapters 40 to 43 and therefore you should have read the Introduction there, that in many ways covers all of the subsequent chapters of Isaiah.

The Ongoing Nature of these Chapters

In the first 4 chapters (40-43) we saw the call to get ready for the coming of the Lord. We started to see the folly of idol worship and the Lord's challenge to the makers and worshippers of idols. We also saw Israel referred to as God's servant, not a good servant, contrasted with another who would come who was to be a saviour, and the warning of a new thing that the Lord was doing.

In these chapters the Lord continues to challenge the folly of idol worship and starts speaking about some future time when he brings Israel BACK to their land. The implication is that they will first leave it! The Lord then speaks about a king called Cyrus who He will use to achieve this, then how He will deal with Babylon and finally a call, for the future, to Israel to return to the Land. These prophecies speak very much to the future.

What we will find in these studies

In these chapters we will find the Lord:

• promising blessing for future generations

• deriding idol worship

• promising the rebuilding of Jerusalem using Cyrus

• telling how He will raise up Cyrus

• warning how He will chastise Babylon

• challenging the future Israel to return to the Land.

Part 1: “Idols, you're joking!”

In this first chapter we will see the Lord promising blessing for future generations – they have a future! Then the Lord declares truth about Himself and makes comparisons with the idols that foolish men make, which have no power. But He moves on and reiterates that He is cleansing and redeeming Israel and although destruction will come, the rebuilding of Jerusalem will follow. These prophecies will stand like a road marker for future generations to see the way of the Lord.

Chapter: Isaiah 44

Passage: Isaiah 44:1-5

A. Find Out:

1. How does the Lord address Israel? v.1,2a,b,d

2. What does He tell them not be be? v.2c

3. What does He say He is going to do? v.3

4. What effect will this have? v.4

5. How will they identify themselves? v.5

B. Think:

1. What does the Lord emphasise about His relationship with Israel?

2. Why does He emphasise that?

3. What is He going to do and with what result?

C. Comment:

At the end of chapter 43 the Lord had spoken strong words of judgement and in the previous study we said that He brings both judgement AND restoration. He clears away by bringing destruction and THEN brings resurrection. In today's passage we find the resurrection hope being spelled out.

First of all the Lord takes time to emphasise the relationship that He has with Israel. It's as if He is saying, “Look, I'm not going to obliterate you, because I chose you, brought you into being, and appointed you to be my servant to reach the world, so that's my long term purpose and I'm not going to change that because of your sin!”

Because of that He tells them not to be afraid. Sinners have every right to be afraid, but this is a word for His faithful ones and the ones He will draw to Himself in the centuries ahead.

He then says what He is going to do: pour out His Holy Spirit on their descendents. It would be centuries before Pentecost but the Lord works long term. When the Spirit comes it will be like pouring out water on dry ground. There will be such a need of life in Israel at that time. When Jesus came, Israel showed every sign of being a spiritually barren nation in great need. The result was of many turning to Lord, springing up all over the world as the Gospel was shared, a true fulfilling of verses 4 and 5.

D. Application:

1. The answer to dryness is not effort, it is the Holy Spirit.

2. God comes to build His faithful ones, not destroy them.

Chapter: Isaiah 44

Passage: Isaiah 44:6-8

A. Find Out:

1. How many ways does the Lord describe Himself? v.6

2. What does He first ask? v.7a

3. What does He then challenge them to say? v.7b-

4. What does He say not to do? v.8a

5. Why? v.8b

6. Who does He say they are, & how does He describe Himself? v.8c,d

B. Think:

1. What point is the Lord continually making about Himself here?

2. What impossible thing does He challenge humans to do?

3. Why do you think He's saying all this?

C. Comment:

The Lord has just spoken about judgement and restoration. Whenever such a prophecy comes, the human mind always is open to questioning by Satan as to its veracity (e.g. Gen 3:1), so the Lord seeks to reassure Isaiah's listeners over this. He does it by revealing and declaring truth about Himself.

He declares Himself first of all as Israel's King and Redeemer. In this He is reminding them of history. Such a description is founded in all that they have experienced over the centuries of the Lord.

When He describes Himself as Redeemer, He is reminding them of the Exodus, that previous time when He delivered them from Egypt.

When He describes Himself as the “Almighty I AM” (All powerful Eternal One) He is putting them in mind of His powerful acts of salvation in making them who they were.

When He describes Himself as the Only God, He puts them in mind of the Ten Commandments that enforced that truth.

Could anyone else have planned what had happened to Israel? Did anyone else know the future? Did anyone else know that all that was happening was foreseen? Is there a need to be frightened by what is going on? No, because the Lord KNOWS it all, and the Lord has the power to deal with it all. He alone is the one unmoveable thing in their lives (the Rock) so they can be secure in Him and in His plans and purposes. There is no surprise and no problem to God!

D. Application:

1. Am I convinced of the Lord's knowledge of all that is happening?

2. Am I convinced of the Lord's power to deal with it all?

Chapter: Isaiah 44

Passage: Isaiah 44:9-11

A. Find Out:

1. What does the Lord say about idol makers? v.9a,b

2. How does He describe such people? v.9c,d

3. What value does He put on making an idol? v.10

4. What will happen to such people? v.11a

5. What does He say about such makers of ‘gods'? v.11b

6. What will be their end? v.11c,d

B. Think:

1. Summarise how the Lord describes people who make idols.

2. Why do you think He is saying these things at this point?

3. How do we have “idols” in the 21 st century?

C. Comment:

The Lord has just declared truth about His greatness and particularly about His eternal presence and plan for history. He is the Lord who is over all things, who knows all things and acts into history so that it works out according to His plan and purpose.

Unfortunately in the life of Israel, there were those who relied upon and worshipped idols, and such people, full of unbelief, would act as a blockage to the rest of Israel believing what the Lord has been saying. So He exposes these people for what they are!

First, He says they are not worth listening to, they are nothing. They treasure worthless chunks of wood or metal. Their value system is completely haywire! They are spiritually blind and they are ignorant of the truth. They make these stupid idols which won't help them in any way. These idols are only made by men so why should anyone take any notice of them! These idol makers will be shown up for what they are, they will be shamed and will end up fearful and discredited. To compare them to God is crass stupidity!

Of course we don't have idols today! Oh really? An idol is anything that is a substitute for God – such as science, education etc. etc., anything we trust in to the exclusion of God. Let's not be so stupid! Let's get this in perspective!

D. Application:

1. Any “God-substitutes” are folly. Check out your life.

2. Be blessed by these “things” but rely on God alone!

Chapter: Isaiah 44

Passage: Isaiah 44:12-15

A. Find Out:

1. Who does what in his work? v.12a-c

2. What happens to him? v.12d,e

3. Who also is spoken about, doing what? v.13a-d

4. What does he make, for what purpose? v.13e,f

5. What was its origin? v.14

6. But what is it also used for? v.15a

B. Think:

1. What does the Lord say about the origins of idols here?

2. What do you think is the point He is making?

3. Why do you think He has to say such things?

C. Comment:

In the previous verses the Lord started speaking about the folly of worshipping idols. In these verses He continues, in devastating form, to undermine any thought of relying upon idols.

First He starts with the idol makers. He cites the blacksmith and the carpenter and reminds His listeners what they actually do. He then points out their frailty. Here is the strong blacksmith, but it only takes him a while going without water and food and he's weak and faint. These idols have very human origins!!!!!

Next He reminds His listeners what they must already know, that the wood for idols simply comes from trees that come from the forest, trees that are also used for providing fire wood. There is nothing special about the materials that are used in these idols.

It's like He is saying, “Look at the origin of these idols you worship and rely upon. They come from the hands of weak, ordinary men. They had no power to impart something special to these artefacts. And the materials that are being used; there is nothing special about them. It's the same material you use for heating your oven, so why are you attributing special powers to these ‘models'? Stop being stupid!”

Why do we rely upon “things”, possessions, money, or whatever else? It's foolishness. Rely upon the Lord alone.

D. Application:

Material things don't have special powers, only God does!

Chapter: Isaiah 44

Passage: Isaiah 44 :15-20

A. Find Out:

1. What 2 things does God say they do with wood? v.15

2. What again does He say they do with it? v.16,17

3. What does He say is their state? v.18

4. What don't they think to say? v.19

5. What does this man do? v.20a

6. What is the truth of this? v.20c

B. Think:

1. What, again, is the reality of what the Lord says is happening?

2. How does He describe such people?

3. Again, how do WE rely upon man-made things?

C. Comment:

Again and again the Lord keeps pressing the point: to worship idols is just simply stupid. Why? Because they are man-made and there is no special power in them. They are simply made out of wood and that same wood is used for fires to keep people warm or to bake bread. Man is putting his trust in an inanimate object! Yet they still do it, their minds are closed, they are blind, and no one stops to think about the craziness of worshipping a piece of dead wood. It stems from an unbelieving heart, a heart that doesn't want to face the truth but prefers to act on superstition because at least the idol doesn't make any claim on their life!

So how is this relevant to life today? Do we make idols? Well not those of us who don't follow Eastern religions! But we do provide and trust in other “God-substitutes”. We believe money, possessions, fame, qualifications, a good job, all bring security and as long as we have them we think we're all right! We're not, because they are all inanimate things, things to be used, yes, but not things that last, not things that bring wisdom, not things that bring life. Yes, good in themselves, but not things upon which to found your life. For that we need The Rock for He alone is the source of our security, He alone brings wisdom, guidance, power, life. Accept no substitutes.

D. Application:

1. I need to check out my life. What DO I rely upon?

2. I need to check out my life. Do I REALLY rely upon the Lord?

Chapter: Isaiah 44

Passage: Isaiah 44:21-23

A. Find Out:

1. What does the Lord tell Israel to do now? v.21a

2. What does He say Israel is? v.21b,c

3. What does He say He has done? v.22a,b

4. So what does He say they should do, and why? v.22c

5. What does the Lord tell all Creation to do? v.23a-c

6. Why? v.23d,c

B. Think:

1. What, again, does the Lord say He has done?

2. Yet what does he require Israel to do?

3. How can these two things be reconciled?

C. Comment:

The Lord has just demolished any false beliefs about trusting idols. His point is to get Israel to a place where they cease to trust in worthless things and instead trust in Him. So, He says, remember what I have just said and remember what I am about to say.

First He reminds them yet again that they are His servant. He called them into being for His divine purpose of revealing Him to the rest of the world. He's not going to forget that!

Next comes an amazing statement: He HAS put away Israel's sins. It is like He has completely blown them away, like the early morning mist. We must note before we move on that this is what the Lord HAS done. This can only be because of the work of Christ on the Cross at Calvary, because God does not ignore sins, they must be dealt with appropriately and justly. So, we suggest, He looks forward to the Cross and is able to say He's dealt with them.

But now comes an interesting command (v.22): Return to me! Merely because he has dealt with the past it doesn't mean they can continue sinning in the future. No, He wants to bring His full blessing on them but that cannot be while they continue sinning. He wants the whole of Creation to rejoice in the wonder of what He wants to do for His people, but He does need their cooperation.

D. Application:

1. Grace says, I have dealt with your past. We now have to live well.

2. Grace doesn't ignore sins, it deals with them.

Chapter: Isaiah 44

Passage: Isaiah 44:24-27

A. Find Out:

1. How does the Lord first identify Himself? v.24a

2. What does He then says He's done? v.24

3. What does He do to whom? v.25

4. What, by contrast, does He also do? v.26a,b

5. How did that happen in respect of Jerusalem? v.26c-e

6. And what else does He seem to speak into? v.27

B. Think:

1. What different ways does God show His sovereignty here?

2. Why do you think He's saying all this?

3. Why do we seem to need this?

C. Comment:

The Lord has just said that He has swept away Israel's sins and intends total restoration, with their cooperation. This word keeps coming. Israel needs to hear it again and again. When we are low we need repeated encouragement, and do they need it! But part of that encouragement is the constant repetition of who the Lord is. The veracity of the Lord's promise to restore depends entirely on who He is. Can He do what He says? Yes! Why? Because of the truths in these verses!

Again He reminds them that He is their Redeemer, the One who drew them out of Egypt and formed them into a nation. He is the Eternal One, the Creator of all the world, all powerful. He is the One who has an eternal plan which He reveals to His faithful ones, a plan that is not as man might think, so it confuses the false prophets. It's all about mercy, and grace AND righteousness and judgement. He speaks into apparently impossible situations and declares restoration for Jerusalem and Israel in the face of total destruction. He reminds them that He is the One who spoke to the Red Sea (watery deep) and made a way through (Be dry), who makes a way through the desert (dry up streams that would hinder). He is the Lord who HAS DONE these things and WILL DO them again! Future hope is built on past deliverance – and knowing WHO the deliverer was and is!

D. Application:

1. I am today what I am because of what the Lord has done.

2. I will be something more – because of Him.

RECAP - "Idols, you're joking!" - Isaiah Chapter 44

SUMMARY :

In this first group of 7 studies we have seen the Lord :

- promising restoration for their descendants (v.1-5)

- declaring there is no other like Him (v.6-8)

- deriding the makers of idols (v.9-20)

- reminding Israel that they are His servant (v.21)

- saying He has cleansed them (v.22,23)

- declaring He is their Redeemer (v.24)

- declaring that He fulfils His word. (v.24-27)

COMMENT :

These chapters are constant contrasts. In this chapter we again have the contrast between the Lord who knows all things and can do all things, and the idols made by man that are just wood crafted by ordinary weak human beings, that cannot say anything (let alone tell the future!) and cannot do anything. Great descriptions of the Lord here are, “Israel's King & Redeemer” (v.6), “the first and the last” (v.6), the “Rock” (v.8), Israel's Maker (v.21), creator of all things (v.24)..… and there is more to come! There is no mistaking the Lord's greatness.

LESSONS?

1. The H.S. is the answer to spiritual dryness.

2. God has no competitors.

3. We are His witnesses.

4. Any substitute is worthless and powerless.

5. The Lord alone is our Redeemer.

PRAY :

Thank, praise and worship the Lord for who He is and what He has done for us. Bow before the One who is the Lord of all things.

PART 2 : "The Works of Almighty God"

In this next Part we catch a first sight of one the Lord will use, called Cyrus. We will be shown the Lord's sovereign activity in both history and in Creation. This same God who created all things is the One who now speaks and acts into history to fulfil His plans and purposes as He interacts with Israel and the surrounding nations. He is God!