Matthew Henry Commentary Isaiah 45
Matthew Henry Commentary
Isaiah 45
Matthew Henry Commentary
Isaiah 45
"Thus saith Jehovah to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him, and I will loose the loins of kings; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut: I will go before thee, and make the rough places smooth; I will break in pieces the doors of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron; and I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that it is I, Jehovah, who call thee by thy name, even the God of Israel. For Jacob my servant`s sake, and Israel my chosen, I have called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me." — Isaiah 45:1-4 (ASV)
Cyrus is called God's anointed; he was designed and qualified for his great service by the counsel of God. The gates of Babylon, which led to the river, were left open the night that Cyrus marched his army into the empty channel.
The Lord went before him, giving entrance to the cities he besieged. He also gave him treasures, which had been hidden in secret places.
The true God was an unknown God to Cyrus; yet God foreknew him; He called him by his name. The exact fulfillment of this must have shown Cyrus that Jehovah was the only true God, and that it was for the sake of Israel that he was prospered.
In all the changes of states and kingdoms, God works out the good of His church.
"I am Jehovah, and there is none else; besides me there is no God. I will gird thee, though thou hast not known me; that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none besides me: I am Jehovah, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil. I am Jehovah, that doeth all these things. Distil, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, that it may bring forth salvation, and let it cause righteousness to spring up together; I, Jehovah, have created it. Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! a potsherd among the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? Woe unto him that saith unto a father, What begettest thou? or to a woman, With what travailest thou?" — Isaiah 45:5-10 (ASV)
There is no God besides Jehovah. Nothing is done without Him. He makes peace, which here signifies all good; and He creates evil (not the evil of sin, but the evil of punishment). He is the Author of all that is true, holy, good, or happy; and evil, error, and misery entered the world by His permission, through the willful apostasy of His creatures, but are restrained and overruled for His righteous purpose.
This doctrine is applied for the comfort of those who earnestly longed, yet quietly waited, for the redemption of Israel. The redemption of sinners by the Son of God, and the pouring out of the Spirit to give success to the gospel, are chiefly intended here. We must not expect salvation without righteousness; the Lord has created them together.
Let oppressors not oppose God's designs for His people. Let the poor and oppressed not murmur, as if God dealt unkindly with them. People are merely earthen pots; they are broken potsherds, and are largely made so by mutual contentions. To contend with Him is as senseless as for clay to find fault with the potter.
Let us turn God's promises into prayers, beseeching Him that salvation may abound among us, and let us rest assured that the Judge of all the earth will do right.
"Thus saith Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: Ask me of the things that are to come; concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands, command ye me. I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens; and all their host have I commanded. I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let my exiles go free, not for price nor reward, saith Jehovah of hosts. Thus saith Jehovah, The labor of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall go after thee, in chains they shall come over; and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, [saying], Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God. Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour. They shall be put to shame, yea, confounded, all of them; they shall go into confusion together that are makers of idols. [But] Israel shall be saved by Jehovah with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be put to shame nor confounded world without end. For thus saith Jehovah that created the heavens, the God that formed the earth and made it, that established it and created it not a waste, that formed it to be inhabited: I am Jehovah; and there is none else. I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness; I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I, Jehovah, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right." — Isaiah 45:11-19 (ASV)
Believers may ask in prayer for what they need; if it is for their good, it will not be withheld. But how common it is to hear God called to account for his dealings with man! Cyrus provided for the returning Jews. Those redeemed by Christ will also be provided for.
The restoration would convince many and convert some; and all who truly join the Lord find his service to be perfect freedom.
Though God is his people's God and Saviour, yet sometimes he lays them under his frowns; but let them wait upon the Lord who hides his face.
There is a world without end; and it will be well or ill with us, depending on how it will be with us in that world.
The Lord we serve and trust is God alone. All that God has said is plain, satisfactory, and just.
As God in his word calls us to seek him, so he never denied believing prayers nor disappointed believing expectations. He gives sufficient grace, and comfort and satisfaction for the soul.
"Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that carry the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. Declare ye, and bring [it] forth; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath showed this from ancient time? who hath declared it of old? have not I, Jehovah? and there is no God else besides me, a just God and a Saviour; there is none besides me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else. By myself have I sworn, the word is gone forth from my mouth [in] righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Only in Jehovah, it is said of me, is righteousness and strength; even to him shall men come; and all they that were incensed against him shall be put to shame. In Jehovah shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory." — Isaiah 45:20-25 (ASV)
The nations are exhorted to draw near to Jehovah. No one else is able to help; He is the Saviour, who can save without the assistance of anyone, but without whom no one can save.
If the heart is brought into the obedience of Christ, the knee will cheerfully obey His commands. To Christ people will come from every nation for blessings; all who hate His cause will be put to shame, and all believers will rejoice in Him as their Friend and Portion. All must come to Him: may we now come to Him as the Lord our Righteousness, walking according to His commandments.
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