21 " Remember these things , O Jacob , And Israel , for you are My servant ; I have formed you, you are My servant , O Israel , you will not be forgotten by Me. 22 "I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud And your sins like a heavy mist . Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." 23 Shout for joy , O heavens , for the Lord has done it! Shout joyfully , you lower parts of the earth ; Break forth into a shout of joy , you mountains , O forest , and every tree in it; For the Lord has redeemed Jacob And in Israel He shows forth His glory . 24 Thus says the Lord , your Redeemer , and the one who formed you from the womb , "I, the Lord , am the maker of all things , Stretching out the heavens by Myself And spreading out the earth all e alone e , 25 Causing the omens of boasters to fail , Making fools out of diviners , Causing wise men to draw back And turning their knowledge into foolishness , 26 Confirming the word of His servant And performing the purpose of His messengers . It is I who says of Jerusalem , 'She shall be inhabited !' And of the cities of Judah , ' They shall be built .' And I will raise up her ruins again. 27 "It is I who says to the depth of the sea , 'Be dried up!' And I will make your rivers dry . 28 "It is I who says of Cyrus , 'He is My shepherd ! And he will perform all My desire .' And he declares of Jerusalem , ' She will be built ,' And of the temple , 'Your foundation will be laid .' "
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 44:21-28
Commentary on Isaiah 44:21-28
(Read Isaiah 44:21-28)
Return unto me. It is the great concern of those who have backslidden from God, like the Jews of old, to hasten their return to him. The work of redemption wrought for us by Christ, encourages to hope for all blessings from him. Our transgressions and our sins are as a thick cloud between heaven and earth: sins separate between us and God; they threaten a storm of wrath. When God pardons sin, he blots out, he dispels this cloud, this thick cloud, so that the way to heaven is open again. The cloud is scattered by the Sun of righteousness; it is quite gone. The comforts that flow into the soul when sin is pardoned, are like clear shining after clouds and rain. Let not Israel be discouraged; nothing is too hard for God: having made all, he can make what use he pleases of any. Those that learn to know Christ, see all knowledge to be foolishness, in comparison with the knowledge of him. And his enemies will find their counsels turned into foolishness, and themselves taken in their craftiness. The exact fulfilling the prophecies of Scripture confirms the truth of the whole, and proves its Divine origin. The particular favours God designed for his people in captivity, were foretold here, long before they went into captivity. Very great difficulties would be in the way of their deliverance; but it is promised that by Divine power they should all be removed. God knew who should be the Deliverer of his people; and let his church know it, that when they heard such a name talked of, they might know their redemption drew nigh. It is the greatest honour of the greatest men, to be employed as instruments of the Divine favour to his people. In things wherein men serve themselves, and look no further, God makes them do all his pleasure. And a nobler Shepherd than Cyrus does his Father's will, till his work is fully completed.