441 And now, hear, O Jacob, My servant, And Israel, whom I have fixed on: 2 Thus said Jehovah, thy Maker, and thy Former, From the womb He doth help thee; Fear not, my servant Jacob, And Jeshurun, whom I have fixed on. 3 For I pour waters on a thirsty one, And floods on a dry land, I pour My Spirit on thy seed, And My blessing on thine offspring. 4 And they have sprung up as among grass, As willows by streams of water. 5 This 'one' saith, For Jehovah I 'am', And this calleth 'himself' by the name of Jacob, And this 'one' writeth 'with' his hand, 'For Jehovah,' and by the name of Israel surnameth himself. 6 Thus said Jehovah, king of Israel, And his Redeemer, Jehovah of Hosts: 'I 'am' the first, and I the last, And besides Me there is no God. 7 And who as I, doth call and declare it, And arrange it for Me, Since My placing the people of antiquity, And things that are coming, And those that do come, declare they to them? 8 Fear not, nor be afraid, Have I not from that time caused thee to hear, and declared? And ye 'are' My witnesses, Is there a God besides Me? yea, there is none, A Rock I have not known.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 44:1-8
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?