Isaiah 45

13. him--Cyrus, type of Messiah, who redeems the captives of Satan "without money and without price" ( Isaiah 55:1 ), "freely" (gratuitously) ( Isaiah 52:3 , 61:1 , Zechariah 9:11 , Romans 3:24 ).
in righteousness--to fulfil My righteous purpose Isaiah 42:6 , Jeremiah 23:6 ).

14. The language but cursorily alludes to Egypt, Ethiopia, and Seba, being given to Cyrus as a ransom in lieu of Israel whom he restored ( Isaiah 43:3 ), but mainly and fully describes the gathering in of the Gentiles to Israel ( Acts 2:10 Acts 2:11 , 8:27-38 ), especially at Israel's future restoration ( Isaiah 2:2 , Isaiah 14:1 Isaiah 14:2 , 19:18-22 , 60:3-14 , 49:23 , Psalms 68:31 , Psalms 72:10 Psalms 72:11 ).
labour--wealth acquired by labor ( Jeremiah 3:24 ).
Sabeans . . . of stature--the men of Meroe, in Upper Egypt. HERODOTUS (3.30) calls the Ethiopians "the tallest of men"
thee--Jerusalem ("my city," Isaiah 45:13 ).
in chains--( Psalms 149:8 ). "The saints shall judge the world" ( 1 Corinthians 6:2 ) and "rule the nations with a rod of iron" ( Zechariah 14:12-19 Revelation 2:26 Revelation 2:27 ). The "chains," in the case of the obedient, shall be the easy yoke of Messiah; as "the sword of the Spirit" also is saving to the believer, condemnatory to the unbeliever ( John 12:48 , Hebrews 4:12 , Revelation 19:15 ).
God is in thee--( Jeremiah 3:19 ).

15. God that hidest thyself--HORSLEY, after JEROME, explains this as the confession of Egypt, &c., that God is concealed in human form in the person of Jesus. Rather, connected with Isaiah 45:9 Isaiah 45:10 , the prophet, contemplating the wonderful issue of the seemingly dark counsels of God, implies a censure on those who presume to question God's dealings ( Isaiah 55:8 Isaiah 55:9 , Deuteronomy 29:29 ). Faith still discerns, even under the veil, the covenant-keeping "God of Israel, the Saviour" ( Isaiah 8:17 ).

16. ashamed--"disappointed" in their expectation of help from their Psalms 97:7 ).

17. in the Lord--( Isaiah 45:24 Isaiah 45:25 ), contrasted with the idols which cannot give even temporary help ( Isaiah 45:16 ); in Jehovah there is everlasting salvation ( Isaiah 26:4 ).
not . . . ashamed--opposed to the doom of the idolaters, who, in the hour of need, shall be "ashamed"
not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited--Therefore, Judah, lying waste during the Babylonish captivity, shall be peopled again by the exiles. The Jews, from this passage, infer that, after the resurrection, the earth shall be inhabited, for there can be no reason why the earth should then exist in vain any more than now ( 2 Peter 3:13 ).

19. not . . . secret--not like the heathen oracles which gave their responses from dark caverns, with studied obscurity ( Isaiah 48:16 ). Christ plainly quotes these words, thereby identifying Himself with Jehovah ( John 18:20 ).
I said not . . . Seek . . . in vain--When I commanded you to seek Me (Jehovah did so, Isaiah 45:11 , "Ask Me," &c.), it was not in order that ye might be sent empty away ( Deuteronomy 32:47 ). Especially in Israel's time of trial, God's interposition, in behalf of Zion hereafter, is expressly stated as about to be the answer to prayer ( Isaiah 62:6 Isaiah 62:7-10 Psalms 102:13-17 Psalms 102:19-21 ). So in the case of all believers, the spiritual Israel.
righteousness--that which is veracious: not in the equivocal terms of heathen responses, fitly symbolized by the "dark places" from which they were uttered.

20. escaped of the nations--those of the nations who shall have escaped the slaughter inflicted by Cyrus. Now, at last, ye shall see the folly of "praying to a god that cannot save" ( Isaiah 45:16 ). Ultimately, those that shall be "left of all the nations which shall come against Jerusalem" are meant ( Zechariah 14:16 ). They shall then all be converted to the Lord ( Isaiah 66:23 Isaiah 66:24 , Jeremiah 3:17 , Zechariah 8:20-23 ).

21. Challenge the worshippers of idols ( Isaiah 41:1 ).
take counsel together--as to the best arguments wherewith to defend the cause of idolatry.
who . . . from that time--( Isaiah 41:22 Isaiah 41:23 ; namely, foretold, primarily as to Cyrus; ultimately as to the final restoration of Israel hereafter? The idolatry of Israel before Cyrus' time will have its counterpart in the Antichrist and the apostasy, which shall precede Christ's manifestation.
just . . . and . . . Saviour--righteous in keeping His promises, and therefore a Saviour to His people. Not only is it not inconsistent with, but it is the result of, His righteousness, or justice, that He should save His redeemed ( Isaiah 42:6 Isaiah 42:21 , Psalms 85:10 Psalms 85:11 , Romans 3:26 ).

22. Look . . . and be ye saved--The second imperative expresses the result which will follow obedience to the first ( Genesis 42:18 ); ye shall be saved ( John 3:14 John 3:15 ). Numbers 21:9 : "If a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass he lived." What so simple as a look? Not do something, but look to the Saviour ( Acts 16:30 Acts 16:31 ). Believers look by faith, the eye of the soul. The look is that of one turning (see Margin) to God, as at once "Just and the Saviour" ( Isaiah 45:21 ), that is, the look of conversion ( Psalms 22:27 ).

23. sworn by myself--equivalent to, "As I live," as Romans 14:11 quotes it. So Numbers 14:21 . God could swear by no greater, therefore He swears by Himself ( Hebrews 6:13 Hebrews 6:16 ).
word . . . in righteousness--rather, "the truth promise), and it shall not return (that is, which shall not be revoked)" [LOWTH]. But the accents favor English Version.
tongue . . . swear--namely, an oath of allegiance to God as their Isaiah 65:16 ). Yet to be fulfilled ( Zechariah 14:9 ).

24. Rather, "Only in Jehovah shall men say of me (this clause is parenthetical), is there righteousness" (which includes salvation, Isaiah 45:21 ,"a just God and a Saviour," Isaiah 46:13 ), &c. [MAURER].
strength--namely, to save.
shall men come--Those who have set themselves up against God shall come to Him in penitence for the past ( Isaiah 19:22 ).
ashamed--( Isaiah 45:16 , Isaiah 54:17 , 41:11 ).

25. all . . . Israel--the spiritual Israel ( Romans 2:29 ) and the literal Israel, that is, the final remnant which shall all be saved ( Isaiah 45:17 , Romans 11:26 ).
justified--treated as if they were just, through Christ's righteousness and death ( Jeremiah 23:5 ).
glory--literally, "sing" in His praise ( Jeremiah 9:24 , 1 Corinthians 1:31 ).