Charles Spurgeon Commentary Isaiah 41:4

"Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Jehovah, the first, and with the last, I am he." — Isaiah 41:4 (ASV)

Who has wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.

Long before Cyrus was born, God thus spoke of him. It is declared what work he should do. What better proof could there be that God is God? Do the false gods foretell the future? Are their oracles to be depended upon? Yet the Lord's word is true and stands fast forever. I Jehovah, first, and with the last, I am he.

Who has worked and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he. The isles saw it and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.

Everyone helped his neighbor; and everyone said to his brother, “Be of good courage.” So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he who smooths with the hammer encouraged him who struck the anvil, saying, “It is ready for the soldering,” and he fastened it with nails, so that it would not be moved.

A very graphic picture of the making of an idol. The people were afraid of Cyrus, so they began to appeal to their gods. A fine god it must have been that had to be made by a carpenter! Then the wood had to be covered with gold plates by the goldsmith, and the god would not be complete without the help of a man smoothing with a hammer and a smith striking the anvil. When it was made, they had to solder it to keep it together, and they had to get nails to fasten it in its place, lest, like Dagon, it should fall down and be broken.

This is nothing but literal truth; yet what sarcasm it is upon idolatry! What good can come from idols that are made by men, idols that cannot move, and must be fixed in their places with soldering irons?