EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)
(6)
Thus saith the Lord . . .—A new section opens, repeating the argument of Isaiah 41, 43 against idolatry.
Isaiah 44:6-8.
Thus saith the Lord,&c. — Here God renews his contest with idols, which he insists an so often, and so much, because his own people were exceeding prone to idolatry.
And who— Which of all the heathen gods;
shall call, and shall declare it— Shall, by his powerful call, cause a future event to be, and, by his infinite foreknowledge, declare that it shall be.
And set it in order for me— Orderly relate all future events in the same manner as they shall happen.
Since I appointed the ancient people—
Αφ’
ου εποιησα ανθρωπον.
Since I first made manupon the earth: so the LXX.
And the things that are coming,&c. — Such things as are near at hand, and such as are to come hereafter.
Have not I told thee?— Thee, O Israel, whom he bids not to fear. The sense is, I call you Israelites to bear me witness, whether I have not, from time to time, acquainted you with things to come;
from that time— When I appointed the ancient people, (
Isaiah 44:7,) from the first ages of the world.
And have declared it— Have published it to the world in my sacred records.
Ye are even my witnesses — Both of my predictions, and of the exact agreeableness of events to them.
44:1-8 Israel is here called Jeshurun, which means the upright one. Such only are Israelites indeed, in whom is no guile. Those that serve God he will own. He will help them over difficulties, and in their services. Water is the emblem of the Holy Spirit; as water refreshes, cleanses, and makes the earth fruitful, so do his influences the soul. This gift of the Holy Ghost is the great blessing, the plentiful pouring out of which God kept for the latter days. Where God gives his Spirit, he will give all other blessings. Hereby shall be a great increase of the church; thus it shall be spread to distant places. Was there any other Rock, or Protector, that could defend them? None besides could foretell these things to come, of which God by his prophets gave notice. All was set in order in the Divine predictions, as well as in the Divine purposes. Could any other have done so? Who can compare with Israel's Redeemer and King?
Thus saith the Lord - This commences, as I suppose (see Analysis), the argument to prove that Yahweh is the only true God, and that the idols were vanity. The object is, to show to the Jews, that he who had made to them such promises of protection and deliverance was able to perform what he had pledged himself to do.
The King of Israel - (See the notes atIsaiah 41:21).
And his Redeemer - (See the notes atIsaiah 43:1).
The Lord of hosts - (See the notes atIsaiah 1:9).
I am the first - (See the notes atIsaiah 41:4).
And I am the last - InIsaiah 41:4, this is expressed 'with the last;' inRevelation 1:8, 'I am Alpha and Omega.' The sense is, that God existed before all things, and will exist forever.
And besides me there is no God - This is repeatedly declared (Deuteronomy 4:35,Deuteronomy 4:39; see the note atIsaiah 43:10-12). This great truth it was God's purpose to keep steadily before the minds of the Jews; and to keep it in the world, and ultimately to diffuse it abroad among the nations, was one of the leading reasons why he selected them as a special people, and separated them from the rest of mankind.
6. Here follows an argument for Jehovah, as the only God, and against the idols, as vanity (see on [792]Isa 41:4; [793]Isa 43:1; [794]Isa 43:10-12).
Here God reneweth his contest with idols; which he insisteth upon so oft and so much, because his own people were exceeding prone to idolatry.
Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel,.... The King of the whole world, and Governor among the nations; and in a peculiar manner King of Israel, that nation being a theocracy; and especially King of spiritual Israel, or King of saints, be they of what nation they will:
and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts; who redeemed Israel out of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and would again redeem them from the Babylonish captivity, and the whole Israel of God from sin, Satan, and the law; which he was able to do, being "the Lord of hosts", of the armies above and below:
I am the first, and I am the last; the first cause and last end, of all things in nature, and providence, and grace; all things are of him, through him, and from him; all things were made by him in creation, and for his pleasure they are and were created; and all things are disposed of in his providence for his own glory; and he is the first in reconciliation, justification, and salvation, and all are to the glory of his grace: or this is a periphrasis of his eternity, who is from everlasting to everlasting, without beginning or end, the Alpha and Omega; the same is said of Christ,Revelation 1:8, and all the other characters before mentioned agree with him:
and besides me there is no God: all others are only gods by name, not by nature, mere nominal fictitious deities, not real ones; and it is to the exclusion of these from the rank of deity, these words are said; but not to the exclusion of the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit, who, with the Father, are the one true God.
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts;{f} Iam the first, and Iam the last; and besides methere is no God.(f) I am always like myself, that is, merciful toward my Church, and most able to maintain it, as in Isa 41:4,48:12, Re 1:17,22:13.
