HIS ANOINTED: "All through the OT this exalted title is
used only of Messiah or a king reigning in Jerusalem. It is almost impossible to
believe that a prophet of the LORD would give this high dignity to a pagan
monarch" (WIsa 395).
WHOSE RIGHT HAND I TAKE HOLD OF: A play on name of
Hezekiah. The 2nd Moses (Isa 44:28; Num 12:7) is also a 2nd David (Isa 45:1; 2Sa
7:18-20).
TO STRIP KINGS OF THEIR ARMOR: The KJV has "to loose
the loins of kings", but this has no verbal connection with Dan 5:6 (KJV:
"joints of his loins were loosed", but NIV: "his legs gave way"), where very
different Heb words are used. The idea here is plainly: swords unbuckled and
laid aside.
TO OPEN DOORS...: The temple doors could now be safely
opened. And the gates of the city could be flung open to receive the released
captives, coming home: cp Isa 26:1,2; 40:4.
Isa 45:2
I WILL GO BEFORE YOU AND WILL LEVEL THE MOUNTAINS: Cp
Isa 40:4: captives returning from Babylon/Assyria.
BREAK DOWN GATES: "Your descendants will take
possession of the cities of their enemies" (Gen 22:17): First, Hezekiah with the
Assyrians; and then, Christ with death and the grave (Rev 1:18).
Isa 45:3
TREASURES OF DARKNESS: Treasures which had been hidden
in subterranean passages under the Temple, etc -- in anticipation of the
Assyrian conquest of Jerusalem -- were now brought out to public display again.
(NT) "All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col 2:3).
God, "rich in mercy" (Eph 2:4).
THE GOD OF ISRAEL, WHO SUMMONS YOU BY NAME: The same
thing is said of Jacob-Israel in Isa 49:1,3.
Isa 45:4
THOUGH YOU DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ME: Or, simply, "when you
did not know me".
Isa 45:5
I AM THE LORD, AND THERE IS NO OTHER: Repeated in vv
6,14,18,21,22; 42:8; 43:3,11; 44:8; 46:9. In ct v 1.
THOUGH YOU HAVE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED ME: A ref, not to the
religion of this Anointed ("Cyrus"?), but to his birth. Sb idea: "when you were
too young to acknowledge Me!" // refs: Isa 7:14; 49:1.
Isa 45:6
FROM THE RISING OF THE SUN TO THE PLACE OF ITS SETTING:
From east to west throughout the region, kings and nations now knew that the God
of Israel was the One true God, and capable of vindicating and protecting His
special people (2Ch 32:23).
I AM THE LORD, AND THERE IS NO OTHER: To apply or speak
such words to an idolater like Cyrus (v 1; Isa 45:28) would be
ridiculous.
Isa 45:7
// Gen 1:3-5. Spiritual relevance: light/dark = good/evil;
firmament = righteousness coming upon the earth; herbs/grass/trees = salvation
springing up out of the earth (resurrection!).
By parallel, light = prosperity, and darkness =
disaster.
DARKNESS: That is, lies in the mouth of prophets: 2Ch
18:22.
Isa 45:8
Vv 8-17: Righteousness -- for Jews and Gentiles. // Isa
55:9-11. The marvelous Year of Jubilee in Hezekiah's reign, when God sent
copious rains and a great natural fruitfulness to Judah (2Ki
19:29,30).
By parallel, rain = righteousness, and earth =
people.
SALVATION SPRING UP: Holy Spirit conception.
RIGHTEOUSNESS GROW WITH IT: Holy Spirit
resurrection.
GROW: Heb "tzamach" -- related to the Messiah, the
Branch (tzamach) in Isa 4:2; Jer 23:5; 33:15; Zec 3:8; 6:12. As also in Isa
44:4.
Isa 45:9
WHAT ARE YOU MAKING?: Jewish challenge to God's right
to fashion Gentiles in their mold (cp Rom 9:20,21).
'HE HAS NO HANDS': That is, 'He is a god who does
nothing.'
To this Paul comments: "But who are you, O man [the Jew], to
talk back to God? 'Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, "Why did you
make me like this?" ' [Isa 45:9] Does not the potter have the right to make out
of the same lump of clay [the same kind of human nature, no better in Jews than
in Gentiles] some pottery [even Gentiles!] for noble purposes and some [even
Jews!] for common use?"
Isa 45:10
Figure of mother and children in Isaiah: Isa 8:3,4; 11:8;
26:17,18; 28:9; 45:10,11; 46:3,4; 49:15,20-23; 54:1; 60:16; 66:11-13.
Isa 45:13
Not about Cyrus at all. In Isa 48:15 this is applied to
"Jacob-Israel" (cp Isa 48:12).
CYRUS: This name is not in original at all, but is
presupposed from elsewhere.
IN MY RIGHTEOUSNESS: Cp the same words in Isa
41:12.
I WILL MAKE ALL HIS WAYS STRAIGHT: Cp Isa 40:3: "Make
straight in the wilderness a highway for our God." (Could this reasonably be
applied to the pagan Cyrus?)
AND SET MY EXILES FREE: Those who fled to Egypt to
escape the Assyrians (Isa 18-20) may now return in peace. A new "exodus".
(NT) The fullest realization in Christ -- the true "heir" --
releasing the captives of death (Act 2:24; Eph 4:8; Zec 9:11).
BUT NOT FOR A PRICE OR REWARD: A redemption without
price (Rom 3:24,25; cp Psa 44:12).
Isa 45:14
EGYPT... CUSH... SABEANS...: The nations bring tribute
to Israel (Isa 18:7; 23:18; 60:5-14; 61;6) because Jehovah has exalted Israel
(Isa 49:7; 60:10; 61:9); and this proves Him to be the true God (Isa 40:5;
44:3-5; 48:20; 49:7; 52:10; 59:17; 61:9). These words were never true of Cyrus
in any way, but they are clearly applicable to God's glorifying of Israel (Isa
49:23; 60:9-16). It is easy to apply these words to Israel in the time of
Hezekiah, but not at all to the restoration from the later Babylonian
captivity.
SURELY GOD IS WITH YOU, AND THERE IS NO OTHER, THERE IS NO
OTHER GOD: Not only do the Gentiles bring their wealth, but they also bring
their devotion and worship!
Isa 45:18
Vv 18-25: Unto God every knee shall bow. The earth intended as
eternal habitation of the righteous. Behind creation was intelligence, purpose,
form, and planning!
TO BE EMPTY: "Tohu", without form, sw Gen
1:2.
Isa 45:20
A new courtroom scene. The witnesses this time: enlightened
Gentiles (not blind Jews!). Ct Isa 43:8,10.
Isa 45:22
TURN TO ME AND BE SAVED: 'Turn and look at me... and be
saved': Num 21:8; Heb 12:2; Joh 3:14-16.