Isaiah 45:20-25

20 “Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save.
21 Declare what is to be, present it— let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.
22 “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.
23 By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.
24 They will say of me, ‘In the LORD alone are deliverance and strength.’ ” All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame.
25 But all the descendants of Israel will find deliverance in the LORDand will make their boast in him.

Isaiah 45:20-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 45

This chapter contains prophecies concerning Cyrus, the deliverer of the Jews from captivity; and concerning the grace, righteousness, and salvation of Christ; and the conversion of the Gentiles. An account is given of Cyrus, and of the great things God would do for him, and by him, Isa 45:1-3 and the ends for which he would do these things, for the sake of his people Israel; and that he might be known to be the only true God, who is the Maker of all things, Isa 45:4-7 an intimation is given of the Messiah, as the author of righteousness and salvation; and of the contention and murmuring of the Jews about him, Isa 45:8-10, encouragement is given to pray for and expect good things by him for the children of God, in consideration of the greatness of God as the Creator, who would raise him up in righteousness, the antitype of Cyrus, Isa 45:11-13, the conversion of the Gentiles, the confusion of idolaters, and the salvation of the Israel of God, are prophesied of, Isa 45:14-17, which are confirmed by his works and his word, what he had done and said, Isa 45:18,19, the vanity of idols is exposed, and Christ the only Saviour asserted, to whom persons in all nations are directed to look for salvation, Isa 45:20-22 when it is affirmed with an oath that all shall be subject to him; that his people shall come to him for righteousness and strength; that his enemies shall be ashamed, and the spiritual Israel of God shall be justified, and glory in him, Isa 45:23-25.

Cross References 24

  • 1. S Isaiah 43:9
  • 2. S Isaiah 44:19
  • 3. Psalms 115:7; Isaiah 46:1; Jeremiah 10:5
  • 4. Deuteronomy 32:37; S Isaiah 44:17; Isaiah 46:6-7; Jeremiah 1:16; Jeremiah 2:28
  • 5. S Isaiah 41:22
  • 6. Isaiah 46:10
  • 7. ver 5; S Psalms 46:10; Isaiah 46:9; Mark 12:32
  • 8. Psalms 11:7
  • 9. S Psalms 3:8; S Isaiah 25:9
  • 10. S Isaiah 44:22; Zechariah 12:10
  • 11. Numbers 21:8-9; S 2 Chronicles 20:12
  • 12. S Genesis 49:10; S Isaiah 11:9,12; Isaiah 49:6,12
  • 13. Hosea 13:4
  • 14. S Genesis 22:16; S Isaiah 14:24
  • 15. S Deuteronomy 30:11; Hebrews 6:13
  • 16. Isaiah 55:11
  • 17. S ver 14
  • 18. S Psalms 63:11; S Isaiah 19:18; Romans 14:11*; Philippians 2:10-11
  • 19. S ver 8; Jeremiah 33:16
  • 20. S Deuteronomy 33:29; S Psalms 18:39; S Isaiah 40:26; Isaiah 63:1
  • 21. S Isaiah 41:11
  • 22. S ver 19
  • 23. S Isaiah 4:3; S Isaiah 49:4
  • 24. S Isaiah 24:23; S Isaiah 41:16
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