441 "But now listen , O Jacob , My servant , And Israel , whom I have chosen : 2 Thus says the Lord who made you And formed you from the womb , who will help you, ' Do not fear , O Jacob My servant ; And you Jeshurun whom I have chosen . 3 'For I will pour out water on the thirsty land And streams on the dry ground ; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring And My blessing on your descendants ; 4 And they will spring up among the grass Like poplars by streams of water .' 5 "This one will say , 'I am the Lord'S '; And that one will call on the name of Jacob ; And another will write on his hand , 'Belonging to the Lord ,' And will name Israel's name with honor . 6 "Thus says the Lord , the King of Israel and his Redeemer , the Lord of hosts : 'I am the first and I am the last , And there is no God besides e Me. 7 'Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it; Yes, let him recount it to Me in order , From the time that I established the ancient nation . And let them declare to them the things that are coming And the events that are going to take place . 8 'Do not tremble and do not be afraid ; Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses . Is there any God besides e Me, Or is there any other Rock ? I know of none .' "
9 Those who fashion a graven image are all of them futile , and their precious things are of no profit ; even their own witnesses fail to see or know , so that they will be put to shame . 10 Who has fashioned a god or cast an idol to no profit ? 11 Behold , all his companions will be put to shame , for the craftsmen themselves are mere men . Let them all assemble themselves, let them stand up, let them tremble , let them together be put to shame . 12 The man shapes iron into a cutting tool and does his work over the coals , fashioning it with hammers and working it with his strong arm . He also gets hungry and his strength fails ; he drinks no water and becomes weary . 13 Another shapes wood , he extends a measuring line ; he outlines it with red chalk . He works it with planes and outlines it with a compass , and makes it like the form of a man , like the beauty of man , so that it may sit in a house . 14 Surely he cuts cedars for himself, and takes a cypress or an oak and raises it for himself among the trees of the forest . He plants a fir , and the rain makes it grow . 15 Then it becomes something for a man to burn , so he takes one of them and warms himself; he also makes a fire to bake bread . He also makes a god and worships it; he makes it a graven image and falls down before it. 16 Half of it he burns in the fire ; over this half he eats meat as he roasts a roast and is satisfied . He also warms himself and says , "Aha ! I am warm , I have seen the fire ." 17 But the rest of it he makes into a god , his graven image . He falls down before it and worships ; he also prays to it and says , "Deliver me, for you are my god ." 18 They do not know , nor do they understand , for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend . 19 No one recalls e e , nor is there knowledge or understanding to say , "I have burned half of it in the fire and also have baked bread over its coals . I roast meat and eat it. Then I make the rest of it into an abomination , I fall down before a block of wood !" 20 He feeds on ashes ; a deceived heart has turned him aside . And he cannot deliver himself , nor say , " Is there not a lie in my right hand ?"
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 44:1-20
Commentary on Isaiah 44:1-8
(Read Isaiah 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?
Commentary on Isaiah 44:9-20
(Read Isaiah 44:9-20)
Image-making is described, to expose the folly of idolaters. Though a man had used part of a log for fuel, he fell down before an image made of the remainder, praying it to deliver him. Man greatly dishonours God, when he represents him after the image of man. Satan blinds the eyes of unbelievers, causing absurd reasonings in matters of religion. Whether men seek happiness in worldly things, or run into unbelief, superstition, or any false system, they feed on ashes. A heart deceived by pride, love of sin, and departure from God, turns men aside from his holy truth and worship. While the affections are depraved, a man holds fast the lie as his best treasure. Are our hearts set upon the wealth of the world and its pleasures? They will certainly prove a lie. If we trust to outward professions and doings, as if those would save us, we deceive ourselves. Self-suspicion is the first step towards self-deliverance. He that would deliver his soul, must question his conscience, Is there not a lie in my right hand?