God
God had sent His people to Babylon. Now he is preparing them to go back to Israel.
This is a Bible Study. Have your own Bible handy to look up the references mentioned.
If you do not have a Bible, I invite you to go to BibleGateway.com or another online Bible.
“God formed Israel (Isaiah 44:21, 24), forgave His people their sins (v. 22; see 43:25), and is glorified in them (44:23).” Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament Prophets. [Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2002], 52)
21. The Israelites “need to ‘remember,’ to think about the fact that they are God’s servants (41:8-9; 43:10; 44:1), not the servants of other gods of wood.” (Smith, Gary V., The New American Commentary, Volume 15B, Isaiah 40-66. [Nashville, B & H Publishing Group, 2009], 237)
22. “The idea of redemption refers to the redemption from sin rather than deliverance from some enemy.” (Smith, 237)
23. “They must join in the hymns of praise to their Redeemer and sing for joy. Why? Because as God redeems his people, he displays his glory in Israel.” [Max Anders and Trent C. Butler (2012). HOTC Vol. 15: Isaiah. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
Redeemer
24. “God first laid the basis for his program by explaining precisely who he is: the Creator, the source of true prophecy, and the enemy of all Babylon’s false prophets and wise men.” [Max Anders and Trent C. Butler (2012). HOTC Vol. 15: Isaiah. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
25. This verse contains three participles that “express how God is sovereignly controlling this world at the present time.” (Smith 247)
26. “This promise expresses God’s commitment to have people live in Jerusalem and the land of Judah after a war; he will not forsake his land or them.” (Smith, 249
27. This “refers to the ‘drying up’ of the waters (a positive point) instead of the coming of an overwhelming flood (a destructive image), one must interpret this passage as a positive act concerning God’s deliverance of his people.” (Smith, 250)
28. “This is a remarkable prophecy concerning Cyrus. He is named here about two centuries before his birth. He is designated as ‘my shepherd.’ This is the only instance where a pagan potentate is given such a title.” (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume III. [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 294)
“May we never take for granted the privilege we have of knowing and worshiping the true and living God!” (Wiersbe, 52))
References
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
In this article Scripture quotations taken from KJV.
Max Anders and Trent C. Butler (2012). HOTC Vol. 15: Isaiah. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume III. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
Smith, Gary V., The New American Commentary, Volume 15B, Isaiah 40-66. Nashville, B & H Publishing Group, 2009
Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament Prophets. Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2002
