Isaiah Chapter 46
From The Open Bible Project
46:1 Bel bows down, Nebo stoops; their idols are on the animals, and on the livestock: the things that you carried about are made a load, a burden to the weary [animal].
- (a) These were the chief idols of Babylon.
- (b) Because they were of gold and silver, the Medes and Persians carried them away.
46:2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.
- (c) The beasts that carried the idols fell down under their burden.
- (d) He derides the idols, who had neither soul nor sense.
46:3 "Listen to me, house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, that have been borne [by me] from their birth, that have been carried from the womb;
- (e) He shows the difference between the idols and the true God; for they must be carried by others, but God himself carries his, as in (Deuteronomy 32:11).
46:4 and even to old age I am he, and even to gray hairs will I carry you. I have made, and I will bear; yes, I will carry, and will deliver.
- (f) Seeing I have begotten you, I will nourish and preserve you forever.
46:5 "To whom will you liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
- (g) The people of God setting their own calamity, and the flourishing estate of the Babylonians, would be tempted to think that their God was not so mighty as the idols of their enemies: therefore he describes the original of all the idols to make them to be abhorred by all men: showing that the most that can be spoken in their commendation, is but to prove them vile.
46:6 Some pour out gold from the bag, and weigh silver in the balance. They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god. They fall down--yes, they worship.
46:7 They bear it on the shoulder, they carry it, and set it in its place, and it stands, from its place it shall not move: yes, one may cry to it, yet it can not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.
46:8 "Remember this, and show yourselves men; bring it again to mind, you transgressors.
- (h) Become wise, meaning, that all idolaters are without wit or sense, like mad men.
46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; [I am] God, and there is none like me;
46:10 declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not [yet] done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure;
46:11 calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country; yes, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it.
- (i) That is, Cyrus, who will come as swift as a bird and fight against Babylon.
- (k) Him by whom I have appointed to execute that which I have determined.
46:12 Listen to me, you stout-hearted, who are far from righteousness:
- (l) Who by your incredulity would prevent the performance of my promise.
46:13 I bring near my righteousness, it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not wait; and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.
- (m) He shows that man’s incredulity cannot abolish the promise of God, (Romans 3:3).
