Isaiah Survey of the Old Testament: The Prophets Fall 2005

The Deliverance of the Nation (Chapters 41 - 66)

The final 26 chapters of the book are prophecies of hope and restoration for Israel. There is the redemption of the nation as it returns from the Babylonian exile under Cyrus of Persia (Chapters 41-49). More important, however, is the redemption of Israel from its state of sin (Chapters 50-49). This redemption requires the sacrifice of one known as the Servant of Yahweh. The book ends with a description of the restored kingdom of Israel (Chapters 60-66)

Deliverance from Babylon by Cyrus (Chapters 41-49)

Chapters 41-48 prophesy the deliverance of the Jews from captivity. The agent of this deliverance is named specifically in 44:28-45:1 as King Cyrus. Yet while there is a primary fulfillment in Cyrus, some of the predictions also seem to have a secondary fulfillment in the suffering servant discussed below.

Isaiah wrote this passage almost two centuries before Cyrus was even born. Yet the details of his deliverance are remarkable. Because of this, many modern scholars who discount the predictive element of Isaiah state, for no other reason, that this half of Isaiah must have been written much later.

Cyrus was not a worshipper of God. In 45:4, it is states that he didn't even know God. But God can use a worldly leader even when he doesn't acknowledge that he is being used as an agent of God.

Do Not Fear, I am Yahweh

In chapter 40, Yahweh is revealed as the everlasting creator of the universe for whom the nations and kings of the earth are merely play things. He has all things under His control and no one can manipulate or interfere with his sovereign plan.

Because Yahweh is the one controlling the events, His people do not need to be afraid, even in the midst of their exile. They need not fear for He is their God, and He will strengthen, help, and uphold them with his righteousness (41:10). They need not fear for their redeemer is the Holy One of Israel (41:14).

They need not fear for He has called them by name and they belong to Him (43:1), for Israel is precious in His sight (43:4a). Even though they have been severely tested in the exile, they will not be destroyed. Though they have gone through the waters, they will not be drowned (43:2a). Though they have gone through the flames, they will not be burned (43:2b). He is Yahweh, their God and their savior (43:3). They need not fear for Yahweh will gather the nation from the ends of the earth and will restore the nation (43:5-6).

In chapter 44 Yahweh again tells His people not to fear (44:2b) for He will pour out His Spirit upon His people and they will declare to one another that they belong to Yahweh (44:5)

Deliverance from Babylon

Isaiah's prophecies become very specific about the deliverance of Israel. God will save the nation through God's manipulation of the geopolitical situation, for He is the one who delivers up nations and subdues kings (41:2b).

In this context, however, this means that it is the Lord who has brought a nation from the east (41:2a) and from the north (41:25) [1] to deliver His people from their exile in Babylon. While Babylon was God's agent of discipline against Judah (47:6a), they treated God's people poorly (47:6b) and thought that their empire would last forever (47:7). Therefore, God's arm will be against Babylon (48:14), and Israel will be allowed to flee from Babylon (48:20).

Isaiah names this agent of deliverance in 44:28-45:1. Cyrus would be the shepherd of the people, providing for the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple (44:28). He will also restore the temple treasury (45:3). For this reason, Cyrus is called Yahweh's anointed (or Messiah, in Hebrew) (45:1).

This prophecy was fulfilled when King Cyrus of the Medo-Persian empire defeats the Babylonian empire and then in 538 BC gives his permission for the Jews to return to their homeland. He also commissioned the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:2) and gave back the temple utensils which had been taken by King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the original temple (Ezra 1:7-11). He also provided funds to help with the building and to bring in cedar wood from Lebanon (Ezra 3:7). This was part of Cyrus' political strategy to win support of the people, for he also restored the temples in Babylon after defeating them. Nonetheless, God used this king to accomplish His purposes for His people.

The Purpose of the Deliverance

God was to deliver Israel from their Babylonian captivity for a specific purpose. First, to declare to His own people that He was their God, and that He alone was God. Secondly, the restoration of Israel would declare to all the nations that Yahweh was the one true God.

That Israel would know the one true God

In chapter 44, God declares that He is Yahweh, the King of Israel, and that:

I am the first and I am the last,
And there is no God besides Me. (Isaiah 44:6)

Isaiah then goes on to tell of the futility of idolatry (44:9-20). Idols are just made of iron and wood, but these graven images can not provide or deliver the people. All these gods are false gods. But Yahweh is the maker of all things (44:24).

The Babylonian gods, Bel and Nebo (46:1), do not compare at all to the one true God. Indeed, now that Israel has been released from their captivity, now these gods find themselves in captivity (46:2). There is no god who can compare to the one true God (46:5, 9), and He will accomplish His purposes (46:10). Even King Cyrus was called by God as He planned (46:11)

God will cause the deliverance of His people from the Babylonian exile so that Israel might know and believe that Yahweh is the one true God and that He is the only one who saves them.

"You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me. "I, even I, am the LORD, And there is no savior besides Me. (Isaiah 43:10-11)

That the world would know the one true God

From the time God called Abraham to be the father of His people, Israel had been called to be a witness to the world that Yahweh was the one true God (Genesis 12:3, 1 Kings 8:60). God will use his deliverance of Israel from exile as a witness so that all the nations of the earth will know that He alone is God.

There will be a day when the nations will be subservient to Israel and they will say:

“Surely, God is with you, and there is none else, no other God.” (Isaiah 45:14b)

In that day, those who make idols will be humiliated for the deliverance of Israel will irrefutably demonstrate that Yahweh is the only true God (45:15-17).

God has not hidden his deliverance of Israel (45:19), for this is how He will prove that He is the creator of the universe and that He is Yahweh and there is no one else (45:18).

Then God issues an invitation for all people to come to Him. He promises that He will deliver, not just Israel, but all who come to Him (45:22). Salvation and righteousness will be given not only to Israel, but all the world. Furthermore, even if the nations do not turn to Him, they will be forced to acknowledge that He is the Lord, for all will bow down and swear alliegence to Him (45:23). For this is the ultimate purpose of the nation of Israel (45:25).

"Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth;
For I am God, and there is no other.
I have sworn by Myself,
The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness
And will not turn back,
That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.
They will say of Me, 'Only in the LORD are righteousness and strength.'
Men will come to Him,
And all who were angry at Him will be put to shame.
In the LORD all the offspring of Israel
Will be justified and will glory" (Isaiah 45:22-25)

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