Isaiah45

Isaiah 45 declares the LORD's absolute sovereignty, specifically in raising up Cyrus, a pagan king, to fulfill His purposes for Israel. God proclaims Himself as the sole Creator and only God, asserting His power over all things, including light and darkness, peace and calamity. The chapter contrasts the futility of idol worship with the everlasting salvation offered to Israel and a universal call for all to look to the LORD and be saved.
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God Anoints Cyrus for Israel's Sake

1
Thus saith the LORD 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 before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; ​
2
I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: ​
3
And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. ​
4
For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. ​
5
I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: ​
6
That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
7
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. ​
8
Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.

The Creator's Authority Cannot Be Questioned

9
Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? ​
10
Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?
11
Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. ​
12
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.
13
I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts. ​

Israel's Everlasting Salvation

14
Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come 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. ​
15
Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour. ​
16
They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.
17
But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

The Lord, the Only God and Savior

18
For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. ​
19
I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
20
Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. ​
21
Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
22
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. ​
23
I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. ​
24
Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
25
In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory. ​

Study Notes for Isaiah 45

Verse 1

The term 'anointed' (*mashiach*) is applied here to Cyrus, a pagan king. This is unique in Scripture and demonstrates that God uses any agent, regardless of their knowledge of Him, to fulfill His sovereign historical purposes.

Verse 2

God promises to remove all obstacles for Cyrus’s conquest, specifically mentioning 'gates of brass' and 'bars of iron,' likely referring to the formidable defenses of Babylon, which history records fell unexpectedly.

Verse 3

The purpose of Cyrus’s success and the acquisition of wealth is theological: so that he (and the world) might recognize that Yahweh, who calls him by name, is the true God of Israel.

Verse 4

Cyrus’s election is not for his own merit but entirely for the sake of Jacob/Israel, God’s elect servant. God uses the powerful Gentile ruler as a means to restore His covenant people.

Verse 5

This reiterates the core theme of Second Isaiah: absolute monotheism. God equipped ('girded') Cyrus with strength and authority, even though Cyrus did not acknowledge Him, confirming God's supremacy over all national deities.

Verse 7

God asserts His ultimate sovereignty over all creation and experience. The word 'evil' (*ra'*) here means calamity, distress, or disaster, emphasizing that God is the source of all conditions, contrasting with dualistic systems that posit two equal opposing gods.

Verse 9

This 'woe' is directed at the exiles who question God’s mysterious plan, particularly His decision to use a pagan king (Cyrus) to deliver them. The analogy of the potter and the clay asserts God’s absolute right to define His purpose.

Verse 11

The phrase 'command ye me' is a rhetorical challenge, highlighting the arrogance of humanity attempting to dictate terms or understand the mysterious ways of the Holy One of Israel concerning His people.

Verse 13

God ensures that Cyrus will execute the restoration of Jerusalem and the release of the captives 'not for price nor reward,' emphasizing that the return will be an act of divine grace, not a political payoff.

Verse 14

This verse looks beyond the immediate return from exile to the final, glorious salvation, where powerful nations (Egypt, Ethiopia) will willingly submit to Israel, recognizing that God dwells among them.

Verse 15

This verse is a profound confession of faith. Even when God’s methods (like using Cyrus) or timing seem confusing, He is still the ‘God that hidest thyself’—His power is veiled, yet He remains the ultimate Saviour of Israel.

Verse 18

God appeals to creation as evidence of His character. He created the earth purposefully, 'not in vain,' but 'to be inhabited,' assuring Israel that His covenant promises are equally purposeful and reliable.

Verse 20

This is a global summons for all nations to assemble for judgment. The prophet mocks the ignorance of idolaters who rely on gods made of wood that 'cannot save,' contrasting them with the living God.

Verse 22

This is a universal call to faith. The salvation promised to Israel is extended to 'all the ends of the earth,' confirming Yahweh’s desire to be recognized as the sole God and Savior of humanity.

Verse 23

God swears by Himself, guaranteeing that universal submission will occur. This prophecy is quoted in the New Testament (Rom 14:11; Phil 2:10–11) to affirm the ultimate authority of Jesus Christ.

Verse 25

The final outcome of God’s sovereignty is the justification and glory of His people. Israel’s restoration is the means by which God’s righteousness and faithfulness are demonstrated to the world.

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