Isaiah Chapter 46
[Isaiah 46:1] BEL BOWETH DOWN, NEBO STOOPETH, THEIR IDOLS WERE UPON THE
BEASTS, AND UPON THE CATTLE: YOUR CARRIAGES WERE HEAVY LOADEN; THEY ARE A
BURDEN TO THE WEARY BEAST.
Amos Chacham (in “Safer Yishayahu”, Daat Mikra) says that these verses refer
to the capture of Babylon by Cyrus but he admites this explanation is problematic.
Cyrus did not destroy the gods of babylon but rather respected them. Similarly
the verses in Isaiah referring to Cyrus are not exactly appropriate. The
sages themselves noticed this and suggested that the reference was to “Another
Cyrus” who would appear in the future. This fits the direction we have been
indicating.
[Isaiah 46:2] THEY STOOP, THEY BOW DOWN TOGETHER; THEY COULD NOT DELIVER
THE BURDEN, BUT THEMSELVES ARE GONE INTO CAPTIVITY.
[Isaiah 46:3] HEARKEN UNTO ME, O HOUSE OF JACOB, AND ALL THE REMNANT
OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, WHICH ARE BORNE BY ME FROM THE BELLY, WHICH ARE CARRIED
FROM THE WOMB:
[Isaiah 46:4] AND EVEN TO YOUR OLD AGE I AM HE; AND EVEN TO HOAR HAIRS
WILL I CARRY YOU: I HAVE MADE, AND I WILL BEAR; EVEN I WILL CARRY,
AND WILL DELIVER YOU.
God is not a mortal and not subject to mortal restraints. He can help us
always. He has no limitations. He can make up for the limitations we have
or acquire.
[Isaiah 46:5] TO WHOM WILL YE LIKEN ME, AND MAKE ME EQUAL, AND COMPARE ME, THAT WE MAY BE LIKE?
[Isaiah 46:6] THEY LAVISH GOLD OUT OF THE BAG, AND WEIGH SILVER IN
THE BALANCE, AND HIRE A GOLDSMITH; AND HE MAKETH IT A GOD: THEY FALL DOWN,
YEA, THEY WORSHIP.
Money can be important yet it is only a means. Like strength, youth, and
life itself, it should be seen only as a means to fulfil the tasks God through
life places upon us.
[Isaiah 46:7] THEY BEAR HIM UPON THE SHOULDER, THEY CARRY HIM, AND
SET HIM IN HIS PLACE, AND HE STANDETH; FROM HIS PLACE SHALL HE NOT REMOVE:
YEA, ONE SHALL CRY UNTO HIM, YET CAN HE NOT ANSWER, NOR SAVE HIM OUT OF HIS
TROUBLE.
This is speaking about the statuetttes of idolatry. Sometimes these statues
themselves were attributed divine attributes. This phenomenon still
exists in Latin and Slavic countries and in Germany. There are statuettes
and icons of Mary, etc, that people believe have magical properties,
shed tears, blood, perform miracles, etc., and have adherents of their own,
dedicated to the statue, etc.
[Isaiah 46:8] REMEMBER THIS, AND SHEW YOURSELVES MEN: BRING IT AGAIN TO MIND, O YE TRANSGRESSORS.
[Isaiah 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,
[Isaiah 46:10] DECLARING THE END FROM THE BEGINNING, AND FROM ANCIENT
TIMES THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT YET DONE, SAYING, MY COUNSEL SHALL STAND, AND
I WILL DO ALL MY PLEASURE:
[Isaiah 46:11] CALLING A RAVENOUS BIRD FROM THE EAST, THE MAN THAT
EXECUTETH MY COUNSEL FROM A FAR COUNTRY: YEA, I HAVE SPOKEN IT, I WILL ALSO
BRING IT TO PASS; I HAVE PURPOSED IT, I WILL ALSO DO IT.
[Isaiah 46:12] HEARKEN UNTO ME, YE STOUTHEARTED, THAT ARE FAR FROM RIGHTEOUSNESS:
[Isaiah 46:13] I BRING NEAR MY RIGHTEOUSNESS; IT SHALL NOT BE FAR OFF,
AND MY SALVATION SHALL NOT TARRY: AND I WILL PLACE SALVATION IN ZION FOR
ISRAEL MY GLORY.
Chapter Forty-Seven
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