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Commentary on Isaiah 40 verses 18–26
The prophet here reproves those, 1. Who represented God by creatures, and so changed his truth into a lie and his glory into shame, who made images and then said that they resembled God, and paid their homage to them accordingly. 2. Who put creatures in the place of God, who feared them more than God, as if they were a match for him, or loved them more than God, as if they were fit to be rivals with him. Twice the challenge is here made, To whom will you liken God? Isa 40:18, and again Isa 40:25. The Holy One himself says, To whom will you liken me? This shows the folly and absurdity, (1.) Of corporal idolatry, making visible images of him who is invisible, imagining the image to be animated by the deity, and the deity to be presentiated by the image, which, as it was an instance of the corruption of the human nature, so it was an intolerable injury to the honour of the divine nature. (2.) Of spiritual idolatry, making creatures equal with God in our affections. Proud people make themselves equal with God; covetous people make their money equal with God; and whatever we esteem or love, fear or hope in, more than God, that creature we equal with God, which is the highest affront imaginable to him who is God over all. Now, to show the absurdity of this,
I. The prophet describes idols as despicable things and worthy of the greatest contempt (Isa 40:19, Isa 40:20): "Look upon the better sort of them, which rich people set up, and worship; they are made of some base metal, cast into what shape the founder pleases, and that is gilded, or overlaid with plates of gold, that it may pass for a golden image. It is a creature; for the workman made it; therefore it is not God, Hos 8:6. It depended upon his will whether it should be a god at all, and of what shape it should be. It is a cheat; for it is gold on the outside, but within it is lead or copper, in this indeed representing the deities, that they were not what they seemed to be, and deceived their admirers. How despicable then are the worst sort of them - the poor men's gods! He that is so impoverished that he has scarcely a sacrifice to offer to his god when he has made him will yet not be without an enshrined deity of his own; and, though he cannot procure one of brass or stone, he will have a wooden one rather than none, and for that purpose chooses a tree that will not soon rot, and of that he will have his graven image made. Both agree to have their image well fastened, that they may not be robbed of it. The better sort have silver chains to fix theirs with; and, though it be but a wooden image, care is taken that it shall not be moved." Let us pause a little and see, 1. How these idolaters shame themselves, and what a reproach they put upon their own reason, in dreaming that gods of their own making (Nehushtans, pieces of brass or logs of wood) should be able to do them any kindness. Thus vain were they in their imaginations; and how was their foolish heart darkened! 2. See how these idolaters shame us, who worship the only living and true God. They spared no cost upon their idols; we grudge that as waste which is spent in the service of our God. They took care that their idols should not be moved; we wilfully provoke our God to depart from us.
II. He describes God as infinitely great, and worthy of the highest veneration; so that between him and idols, whatever competition there may be, there is no comparison. To prove the greatness of God he appeals,
1.To what they had heard of him by the hearing of the ear, and the consent of all ages and nations concerning him (Isa 40:21): "Have you not known by the very light of nature? Has it not been told you by your fathers and teachers, according to the constant tradition received from their ancestors and predecessors, even from the beginning?" (Those notices of God are as ancient as the world.) "Have you not understood it as always acknowledged from the foundation of the earth, that God is a great God, and a great King above all gods?" It has been a truth universally admitted that there is an infinite Being who is the fountain of all being. This is understood not only ever since the beginning of the world, but from and by the origin of the universe. It is founded upon the foundation of the earth. The invisible things of God are clearly seen from the creation of the world, Rom 1:20. Thou mayest not only ask thy father, and he shall tell thee this, and thy elders (Deu 32:7); but ask those that go by the way (Job 21:29), ask the first man you meet, and he will say the same. Some read it, Will you not know? Will you not hear it? For those that are ignorant of this are willingly ignorant; the light shines in their faces, but they shut their eyes against it. Now that which is here said of God is, (1.) That he has the command of all the creatures. The heaven and the earth themselves are under his management: He sits upon the circle, or globe, of the earth, Isa 40:22. He that has the special residence of his glory in the upper world maintains a dominion over this lower world, gives law to it, and directs all the motions of it to his own glory. He sits undisturbed upon the earth, and so establishes it. He is still stretching out the heavens, his power and providence keep them still stretched out, and will do so till the day comes that they shall be rolled together like a scroll. He spreads them out as easily as we draw a curtain to and fro, opening these curtains in the morning and drawing them close again at night. And the heaven is to this earth as a tent to dwell in; it is a canopy drawn over our heads, et quod tegit omnia coelum - and it encircles all. - Ovid. See Psa 104:2. (2.) That the children of men, even the greatest and mightiest, are as nothing before him. The numerous inhabitants of this earth are in his eye as grasshoppers in ours, so little and inconsiderable, of such small value, of such little use, and so easily crushed. Proud men's lifting up themselves is but like the grasshopper's leap; in an instant they must stoop down to the earth again. If the spies thought themselves grasshoppers before the sons of Anak (Num 13:33), what are we before the great God? Grasshoppers live but awhile, and live carelessly, not like the ant; so do the most of men. (3.) That those who appear and act against him, how formidable soever they may be to their fellow-creatures, will certainly be humble and brought down by the mighty hand of God, Isa 40:23, Isa 40:24. Princes and judges, who have great authority, and abuse it to the support of oppression and injustice, make nothing of those about them; as for all their enemies they puff at them (Psa 10:5; Psa 12:5); but, when the great God takes them to task, he brings them to nothing; he humbles them, and tames them, and makes them as vanity, little regarded, neither feared nor loved. He makes them utterly unable to stand before his judgments, which shall either, [1.] Prevent their settlement in their authority: They shall not be planted; they shall not be sown; and those are the two ways of propagating plants, either by seed or slips. Nay, if they should gain a little interest, and so be planted or sown, yet their stock shall not take root in the earth, they shall not continue long in power. Eliphaz saw the foolish taking root, but suddenly cursed their habitation. And then how soon is the fig-tree withered away! Or, [2.] He will blast them when they think they are settled. He does but blow upon them, and then they shall wither, and come to nothing, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. For God's wrath, though it seem at first to blow slightly upon them, will soon become a mighty whirlwind. When God judges he will overcome. Those that will not bow before him cannot stand before him.
2.He appeals to what their eyes saw of him (Isa 40:26): "Lift up your eyes on high; be not always poring on this earth" (O curvae in terras animae et coelestium inanes! - Degenerate minds, that can bend so towards the earth, having nothing celestial in them!), "but sometimes look up" (Os homini sublime dedit, coelumque tueri jussit - Heaven gave to man an erect countenance, and bade him gaze on the stars); "behold the glorious lights of heaven, consider who has created them. They neither made nor marshalled themselves; doubtless, therefore, there is a God that gave them their being, power, and motion." What we see of the creature should lead us to the Creator. The idolaters, when they lifted up their eyes and beheld the hosts of heaven, being wholly immerged in sense, looked no further, but worshipped them, Deu 4:19; Job 31:26. Therefore the prophet here directs us to make use of our reason as well as our senses, and to consider who created them, and to pay our homage to him. Give him the glory of his sovereignty over them - He brings out their host by number, as a general draws out the squadrons and battalions of his army; of the knowledge he has of them - He calls them all by names, proper names, according as their place and influence are (Psa 147:4); and of the use he makes of them; when he calls them out to any service, so obsequious are they that, by the greatness of his might, not one of them fails, but, as when the stars in their courses fought against Sisera, every one does that to which he is appointed. To make these creatures therefore rivals with God, which are such ready servants to him, is an injury to them as well as an affront to him.
For if we consider the different nations in all the world, from ocean to ocean, that is, from the Indian Sea to Brittania, and from the Atlantic up to the northern ice cap where the waters congeal and fine amber is frozen, we see that every race of human being lives like locusts within it.… Are we not amazed at the relative smallness of human beings whose bodies are like locusts when you consider their minute movements in the grand scheme of things?… The Lord is the one who stretched out the heavens and increased them so that the multitude of angels could live above them and the human race could dwell below as a house fit to contain all the reasonable creatures he had made.… Greek and Roman history tells of so many kings. Where is that uncountable army of Xerxes? Where is the Israelite host in the desert? Where is the incredible power of kings? What shall I say about those long ago? For present examples teach us that leaders are next to nothing, and the rulers of the earth are considered empty. The princes and judges of the earth … are neither sown nor planted nor fixed with a stable root. They are carried off at the command of God in an instant and perish like the blade of grass taken by the wind and storm, just as it is written, “And I crossed over, and he was not there; I sought him, and his place was not found.”
According to the moral sense we can say that the leaders of the heretics flourish, inventing different idols from their heart or by the charm of speech, which is what silver means, or by the splendor of gold, which appeals to the senses, or by the fine wood—these are the more vile teachings and are thought everlasting by those who invent them and are strengthened by dialectical skill lest they move and decay. Instead, they “stand fast” with a solid root.
(Verse 18 and following) To whom then will you liken God, or what image will you set before Him? Can the craftsman make a graven image, or the goldsmith overlay it with gold, and the silversmith spread silver plates upon it? Or perhaps the skilled craftsman chooses a piece of wood that will not rot and seeks out a proficient artisan to fashion an image that will not move. Having described the greatness of God and shown His power in part, and having compared the nations and islands to a drop from a bucket and a speck of dust on the scales, and having refuted the use of ashes and sacrificial ceremonies, he teaches those who follow that all the nations before Him are as nothing and are counted by Him as less than nothing. To whom then will you liken God, or what image will you set before Him, who is a Spirit, who is in all things and is everywhere present, and who holds the earth in His hand as if it were a small container? At the same time, he derides the foolishness of nations, because the artisan, whether a blacksmith or a goldsmith or a silversmith, makes their own god and fastens it with nails and firmly establishes it so that it is not blown away by the gusts of wind. And this is what he introduces: a wise artisan has chosen a strong and incorruptible wood, which is called Amsuchan in Hebrew; this type of wood is incorruptible and is used especially for making idols. However, he says this so that, rejecting idols, the way of the Gospel may be followed, and all wrongs may be made right; the valleys may be lifted up, and the hills may be brought low; and the glory of the Lord may be revealed, so that all flesh may see the salvation of God. According to the tropology, we can say that the leaders of the heretics are rebuked for inventing diverse idols from their own hearts; either by the charm of eloquence, which is interpreted as silver; or by the brilliance of gold, which appeals to the senses; or by the incorruptibility of wood, which represents the baser doctrines: and they are considered permanent by the inventors, and are supported by dialectical skill, so that they may not be moved or fall, but may stand firm on a solid root.
What art can produce an imitation of him who precisely is boundless?
At the moment when he gave the law, the God of the universe transmitted his commands in these terms: “You shall not make for yourself an image or likeness of any thing, whether of things in the heaven above, and in the earth beneath, and in the waters under the earth … for I am the Lord your God.” That is to say, of the God whose appearance you have not seen. Here also the prophetic text, while denouncing the lack of sense of those who fabricate idols and who worship them, strives to show the infinite character of divine capacity; but in [Isaiah’s] inability to teach people another way, he sets out the creation to indicate [its] extraordinary measure; that which, he says, is a drop in the bucket, a turning of a balance, or spittle, so much is all the human race in relation to that ineffable and unlimited power. Then [Isaiah] teaches that the collection of all kinds of beasts is a small thing and not enough for an offering in honor of the divine magnificence, and that [even] all the forests of Lebanon are incapable of satisfying the fire lit [on the altar of sacrifice]. What image could you, therefore, fashion that would be equivalent in nature?
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SUMMARY
Isaiah 40:19 offers a vivid and detailed portrayal of the human effort, skill, and precious materials expended in the creation of an idol. This meticulous description serves as a powerful indictment against idolatry, starkly contrasting the manufactured, dependent nature of false gods with the incomparable majesty, self-existent glory, and uncreated being of the one true God, thereby highlighting the profound absurdity of worshipping anything fashioned by human hands.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: This verse is strategically placed within the opening chapter of the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-66), a section of Isaiah that dramatically shifts from prophecies of judgment to messages of profound hope, restoration, and divine consolation for Israel, particularly in light of their impending Babylonian exile. Chapter 40 commences with a majestic declaration of God's coming glory and the ephemeral nature of all human endeavors and creations. Verses 18-20 form a cohesive unit, directly challenging humanity's propensity to compare God to anything or anyone, especially man-made objects. Isaiah 40:19 specifically details the laborious process of idol creation, setting up a sharp contrast with the rhetorical question posed in Isaiah 40:18: "To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?" The subsequent verses continue to magnify God's infinite power, wisdom, and transcendence, rendering human limitations and reliance on created things utterly futile.
Historical & Cultural Context: The historical backdrop for Isaiah 40 is the Babylonian exile, a period during which Israel was immersed in cultures deeply entrenched in polytheism and idol worship. Empires like Babylon and Assyria meticulously crafted elaborate images of their deities, believing these idols served as physical representations, or even dwelling places, for their gods. The process described in Isaiah 40:19 accurately reflects common ancient Near Eastern metallurgical and carving practices. Skilled artisans would sculpt images from various materials, then meticulously overlay them with precious metals like gold and silver, often adorning them with chains or other ornaments to enhance their perceived divine grandeur. This detailed description not only illuminates the significant physical labor and material cost involved but also implicitly critiques the spiritual blindness of a people who would invest such immense resources and devotion into lifeless objects while neglecting the living God who created them and sustains all things.
Key Themes: Isaiah 40:19 contributes significantly to several overarching themes prevalent throughout the book of Isaiah. Firstly, it powerfully underscores The Futility of Idolatry, exposing the inherent emptiness and powerlessness of worshipping objects fashioned by human hands. Despite the impressive craftsmanship and the use of precious materials, the idol remains inert, lifeless, and utterly dependent on its human creators, standing in stark contrast to the self-sufficient, living God. Secondly, the verse highlights Misdirected Human Effort, illustrating the immense labor, specialized skill, and valuable resources—both human and material—invested in creating something spiritually worthless. The "workman" and "goldsmith" pour their expertise into a creation that cannot hear, see, or save, a theme further developed in passages like Isaiah 44:9-20. Finally, by meticulously describing what idols are not, the passage implicitly emphasizes God's Incomparability. He is not manufactured, confined, or dependent on human skill or materials. This reinforces the core theological assertion that God is unique, transcendent, and utterly beyond human comparison or creation, a truth foundational to the entire "Book of Comfort" and the broader message of Isaiah.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Isaiah 40:19 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound message. Irony is central to the passage, as it meticulously details the immense human effort, specialized skill, and precious materials expended to create an object that is inherently powerless, lifeless, and utterly dependent on its makers. The very act of crafting a god highlights its inherent lack of divinity. This is further amplified by a sharp Contrast, implicitly pitting the manufactured, inert idol against the living, uncreated, and transcendent God introduced in the preceding verses. The detailed Imagery of the workman melting, the goldsmith spreading gold, and the casting of silver chains creates a vivid and tangible mental picture for the audience, making the absurdity of the process palpable and memorable. The idol itself, though inanimate, is described with actions performed upon it, subtly underscoring its passive reception of human effort and its profound lack of independent being or power.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 40:19 stands as a profound theological statement on the Creator-creature distinction and the very nature of true worship. By meticulously detailing the human fabrication of idols, the prophet underscores the fundamental absurdity of worshipping anything that is made, for a created thing cannot logically be the Creator. This passage serves as a stark reminder that God is not an object that can be fashioned, contained, or manipulated by human hands. His transcendence, self-existence, and absolute sovereignty are implicitly affirmed through the very critique of idolatry. True worship, therefore, must be directed exclusively to the One who is utterly distinct from His creation, the eternal, incomparable God who alone possesses inherent power, glory, and the ability to save. This truth calls believers to a profound self-examination, challenging them to identify and dismantle any "graven images" – anything that usurps God's rightful place of ultimate devotion, trust, and affection in their lives.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the literal crafting of physical idols may seem less prevalent in many contemporary societies, the spiritual principle articulated in Isaiah 40:19 remains profoundly relevant and convicting. Idolatry, at its core, is the act of placing ultimate trust, devotion, or value in anything other than the one true God. This can manifest in myriad subtle and pervasive forms: the relentless pursuit of wealth or possessions (materialism), the worship of self and personal achievements (narcissism), the unquestioning allegiance to political ideologies or human philosophies, or the prioritization of comfort, security, and pleasure above God's will and eternal purposes. The verse challenges us to critically examine where our most precious time, energy, and resources are truly invested. Do we pour our lives into building up earthly kingdoms, fleeting reputations, or transient comforts that are ultimately powerless to save or satisfy? Or do we direct our worship, our efforts, and our unwavering trust toward the Creator who alone is worthy, who cannot be made by human hands, and who alone offers eternal life, true satisfaction, and ultimate security? This passage calls us to a radical reorientation of our affections, ensuring that God alone occupies the undisputed throne of our hearts and lives.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why does Isaiah describe the process of idol-making in such detail?
Answer: Isaiah describes the process of idol-making in meticulous detail in Isaiah 40:19 primarily to underscore the profound absurdity and inherent futility of idolatry. By highlighting the extensive human effort, specialized skill, and precious materials (gold, silver) involved, the prophet emphasizes that idols are entirely man-made constructs. This vivid and detailed description serves to expose the stark irony that something requiring so much human labor and cost could then be worshipped as divine. It creates a powerful contrast with the self-existent, uncreated, and transcendent nature of the true God, making the undeniable point that any "god" who needs to be "made" is, by definition, no god at all. This imagery helps the audience grasp the utter powerlessness and dependency of idols, thereby reinforcing God's incomparable majesty and sovereignty.
What is the significance of "silver chains" in the context of idol worship?
Answer: The "silver chains" mentioned in Isaiah 40:19 likely served two primary purposes, both of which ironically highlight the idol's limitations. Firstly, they were almost certainly decorative adornments, adding to the idol's perceived grandeur, value, and visual splendor. In ancient cultures, precious metals and elaborate craftsmanship were commonly used to signify the importance and power of deities. Secondly, and more profoundly, these chains might have been used to secure the idol in place, perhaps to a pedestal or within a shrine. This practical function underscores the idol's inherent immobility and complete dependence on human support for its very stability. It further emphasizes its lifelessness and inability to act on its own behalf, let alone the behalf of its worshippers. The very need for chains dramatically illustrates the idol's utter powerlessness when contrasted with the living God, who moves and acts freely, unconstrained by any physical limitations.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 40:19 finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ, who stands as the ultimate antithesis to the manufactured, powerless idols described by Isaiah. While idols are crafted by human hands from finite materials, Jesus is the eternal Word who became flesh, the very image of the invisible God, not made but begotten, truly God and truly man. The futility of worshipping something that needs to be "melted" or "spread over with gold" is starkly contrasted with Christ, who is the radiance of God's glory and the exact imprint of His nature. He is not adorned with silver chains to secure His power, but rather, He possesses all authority in heaven and on earth, demonstrating His divine power through creation, miracles, and His triumph over sin and death. Unlike the lifeless idols that cannot save, Christ offered Himself as the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice for sins, providing true salvation and inviting humanity into a living, dynamic relationship with the Father. Our worship is not directed to a crafted image, but to the living Lord who rose from the dead and reigns forever, the only One truly worthy of all praise and devotion.