Matthew Henry Commentary Isaiah 44:21-28

"Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. Sing, O ye heavens, for Jehovah hath done it; shout, ye lower parts of the earth; break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for Jehovah hath redeemed Jacob, and will glorify himself in Israel. Thus saith Jehovah, thy Redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb: I am Jehovah, that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth (who is with me?); that frustrateth the signs of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; that confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith of Jerusalem, She shall be inhabited; and of the cities of Judah, They shall be built, and I will raise up the waste places thereof; that saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers; That saith of Cyrus, [He is] my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure, even saying of Jerusalem, She shall be built; and of the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid." — Isaiah 44:21-28 (ASV)

Return to 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 accomplished for us by Christ encourages us to hope for all blessings from him. Our transgressions and our sins are like a thick cloud between heaven and earth: sins separate us from 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 Israel not be discouraged; nothing is too hard for God. Having made all, he can make whatever use he pleases of any. Those who learn to know Christ see all knowledge as foolishness in comparison with the knowledge of him.

And his enemies will find their plans turned into foolishness, and themselves taken in their own craftiness. The exact fulfillment of the prophecies of Scripture confirms the truth of the whole and proves its Divine origin. The particular favors 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 will all be removed.

God knew who would be the Deliverer of his people; and he let his church know it, so that when they heard such a name spoken of, they might know their redemption drew near. It is the greatest honor for the greatest men to be employed as instruments of Divine favor to his people. In things in which men serve themselves and look no further, God makes them do all his will. And a nobler Shepherd than Cyrus does his Father's will until his work is fully completed.