Isaiah Chapter 44
Isaiah 44, The LORD, Your Redeemer
Isaiah 44 continues the comfort of God’s people by showing that the Lord has not abandoned Israel, even after the warnings of judgment. The chapter begins with the promise of the outpoured Spirit, then moves to the promise that God’s people will openly identify themselves as belonging to the Lord. The Lord then declares that He alone is God, the First and the Last, the only Rock, and the only Redeemer. Isaiah exposes the absurdity of idolatry with one of the sharpest critiques in Scripture, showing a man cutting down a tree, using part of it for fire and food, then worshipping the rest as a god. The chapter closes with the Lord’s assurance that He has blotted out Israel’s sins, redeemed Jacob, and named Cyrus long before his birth as the shepherd who would help restore Jerusalem and the temple. The notes provided cover Isaiah 44:1-28, including the outpouring of the Spirit, the identity of those who belong to the Lord, the uniqueness of God, the folly of idols, the forgiveness and redemption of Israel, and the prophecy of Cyrus
Isaiah 44:1-4
Isaiah 44:1-4, KJV, “Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: And they shall spring up as among grass, as willows by water courses.”
The chapter begins with “Yet now hear.” This is grace after rebuke. Isaiah 43 ended with Israel’s sin, weariness toward God, and coming reproach, yet Isaiah 44 opens with the Lord still speaking to Jacob as “my servant” and Israel as the one “whom I have chosen.” God’s chastening did not cancel His covenant purpose. He still calls Israel to listen.
The Lord identifies Himself as the One “that made thee, and formed thee from the womb.” God’s claim on Israel is not accidental or temporary. He made them. He formed them. He brought the nation into being by His covenant, His providence, and His redeeming power. He is not merely Israel’s observer. He is Israel’s Creator and Former.
Because He made them, He also says He “will help thee.” The Lord does not form His people and then abandon them. The Creator becomes Helper. This is the ground of the command, “Fear not.”
God calls Israel “Jesurun,” a name meaning the upright one. This is remarkable because Israel had not always walked uprightly. Jacob speaks of weakness and sin, while Jesurun speaks of what God calls and intends His people to be by grace. The Lord sees His chosen people according to His covenant purpose, not merely according to their failure.
The promise is, “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground.” Thirst and dry ground picture spiritual need, barrenness, and helplessness. God promises abundance. He does not merely sprinkle a few drops. He pours water and floods. The Lord’s supply is greater than the dryness of His people.
The meaning is made clear, “I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring.” The water imagery points to the outpouring of the Spirit. True restoration cannot come merely through political return, rebuilt cities, or external reform. God’s people need the Spirit of God poured upon them.
Joel 2:28-29, KJV, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon servants and upon handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.”
The outpouring of the Spirit brings life where there was barrenness. The promise includes Israel’s descendants and offspring, showing that God’s covenant mercy extends generationally.
At Pentecost, Peter declared that the outpouring of the Spirit had begun in connection with the risen Christ.
Acts 2:16-18, KJV, “But this is that which was spoken by prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on servants and on handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.”
Pentecost was a real outpouring of the Spirit, and Isaiah’s promise also points ahead to the fullness of Israel’s national and spiritual restoration under Messiah.
The result is life. “They shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.” Willows by water grow because they are near constant supply. When the Spirit is poured out, God’s people become fruitful, alive, and established.
John 7:37-39, KJV, “In last day, that great day of feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.”
Christ gives the living water of the Spirit. The thirsty must come to Him and drink.
Isaiah 44:5
Isaiah 44:5, KJV, “One shall say, I LORD'S; and another shall call himself by name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto LORD, and surname himself by name of Israel.”
The outpoured Spirit produces open identification with the Lord. “One shall say, I am the LORD'S.” When the Spirit works in a person, he is not ashamed to belong to God. He confesses ownership. He says plainly, “I am the Lord’s.”
This is the opposite of idolatry. The idolater claims a god he made. The Spirit filled believer confesses that he belongs to the God who made him.
Another will call himself by the name of Jacob, and another will take the name of Israel. This shows identification with God’s covenant people. Under the blessing of the Spirit, belonging to the Lord is not hidden, vague, or private only. It becomes public confession.
The phrase “subscribe with his hand unto the LORD” may carry the idea of signing oneself over to the Lord, or even marking the hand as belonging to Him. The point is full identification and willing allegiance.
The New Testament teaches that the Holy Spirit seals believers as belonging to God.
Ephesians 1:13-14, KJV, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard word of truth, gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which earnest of our inheritance until redemption of purchased possession, unto praise of his glory.”
The Spirit is the seal of ownership and the earnest of inheritance. The believer belongs to the Lord.
Paul also speaks of bearing the marks of belonging to Christ.
Galatians 6:17, KJV, “From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body marks of Lord Jesus.”
The one who belongs to the Lord should not be ashamed of that identity. Isaiah 44:5 pictures a people glad to say, write, and name themselves as the Lord’s.
Isaiah 44:6-8
Isaiah 44:6-8, KJV, “Thus saith LORD King of Israel, and his redeemer LORD of hosts; I first, and I last; and beside me there no God. And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed ancient people? and things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. Fear ye not, neither afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye even my witnesses. Is there God beside me? yea, no God; I know not any.”
The Lord now declares His absolute uniqueness. He is “the LORD King of Israel,” and “his redeemer the LORD of hosts.” He rules as King and rescues as Redeemer. He commands the armies of heaven and binds Himself in covenant mercy to His people.
He says, “I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” This is one of the clearest declarations of the uniqueness of God in all Scripture. God is the first, deriving His being from no one. He is the last, remaining supreme when all created things have reached their end. No idol can claim this. An idol must be made, and an idol wears out. The Lord alone is eternal.
Revelation 1:17-18, KJV, “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I first and last: I he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I alive for evermore, Amen; and have keys of hell and of death.”
Jesus takes the same title, “the first and the last.” Since the Lord says in Isaiah that He alone is the first and the last, and Jesus claims the same title in Revelation, Jesus must be the Lord. He is not a lesser created being. He is fully divine.
The Lord challenges anyone else to declare the future as He does. “Who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me?” God proves His deity by His sovereign knowledge and control of history. He appointed the ancient people, and He declares things coming before they come.
The command follows, “Fear ye not, neither be afraid.” The doctrine of God’s sovereignty is not merely for debate. It is comfort. If God is the first and the last, if He rules history, if He alone is God, then His people do not need to live in fear.
He says, “ye are even my witnesses.” Israel has seen His acts, heard His Word, and received His promises. They can testify that there is no God beside Him.
The final phrase is strong, “Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.” The Lord knows all things, and He knows no other God. This rules out every form of polytheism, idolatry, and any idea of lesser true gods.
Deuteronomy 6:4, KJV, “Hear, O Israel: LORD our God one LORD.”
There is one God, eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There are false gods, metaphorical gods, and idols, but there is no other true God.
The Lord also calls Himself the Rock.
Deuteronomy 32:4, KJV, “He Rock, his work perfect: for all his ways judgment: God of truth and without iniquity, just and right he.”
The Lord is the only solid foundation for His people.
Isaiah 44:9-11
Isaiah 44:9-11, KJV, “They that make graven image all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may ashamed. Who hath formed god, or molten graven image that profitable for nothing? Behold, all his fellows shall ashamed: and workmen, they of men: let them all gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall ashamed together.”
Isaiah now exposes the folly of idolatry. Those who make graven images are “vanity.” Their precious or desirable things do not profit. They are their own witnesses against themselves because the very process of making an idol proves it is not God.
The question is devastating, “Who hath formed a god?” If a god must be formed, then it is no god. The maker is greater than the thing made. A molten image profits nothing because it cannot speak, act, save, judge, or answer.
The workmen are “of men.” This means they are mere men, weak men, dependent men. The idol comes from human labor. It depends on a craftsman. It cannot exist unless man makes it. That alone proves the absurdity of worshipping it.
Acts 17:24-25, KJV, “God that made world and all things therein, seeing that he Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.”
The true God made man. Idols are made by man. The true God gives life and breath. Idols depend on craftsmen and materials.
The idol makers will be ashamed together. Their gods cannot save them from fear. Their works cannot stand in the day of God’s truth.
Isaiah 44:12-17
Isaiah 44:12-17, KJV, “Smith with tongs both worketh in coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with strength of his arms: yea, he hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and faint. Carpenter stretcheth out rule; he marketh it out with line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with compass, and maketh it after figure of man, according to beauty of man; that it may remain in house. He heweth him down cedars, and taketh cypress and oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among trees of forest: he planteth ash, and rain doth nourish it. Then shall it for man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh god, and worshippeth it; he maketh graven image, and falleth down thereto. He burneth part thereof in fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I warm, I have seen fire: And residue thereof he maketh god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou my god.”
Isaiah now gives a detailed picture of idol manufacturing. The blacksmith works with tongs, coals, hammers, and the strength of his arms. Yet the smith becomes hungry, thirsty, weak, and faint. The maker of the idol cannot even sustain himself without food and water. How then can the thing he makes sustain him?
The carpenter works with rule, line, planes, and compass. He shapes the idol according to the figure and beauty of a man. That is another condemnation of idolatry. Instead of man being made in the image of God, man makes a god in the image of man.
Romans 1:22-23, KJV, “Professing themselves to wise, they became fools, And changed glory of uncorruptible God into image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.”
Idolatry exchanges the glory of the incorruptible God for images of corruptible creation.
Isaiah’s satire becomes sharper. A man cuts down a tree. Part of the wood becomes fire. He warms himself with it. He bakes bread over it. He roasts meat and is satisfied. Then from the remaining wood, he makes a god, falls down to it, worships it, prays to it, and says, “Deliver me; for thou art my god.”
This is spiritual madness. The same material that served as firewood is turned into an object of worship. Half is fuel. Half is god. The man does not see the absurdity because sin has darkened his heart.
Modern idolatry works the same way, though the objects often change. Man takes something created, money, pleasure, success, sex, career, government, family, image, comfort, or power, then treats it as ultimate. He expects created things to deliver what only the Creator can give. He warms himself with part of creation, then worships another part.
Romans 1:25, KJV, “Who changed truth of God into lie, and worshipped and served creature more than Creator, who blessed for ever. Amen.”
All idolatry is creature worship. It is the truth of God exchanged for a lie.
Isaiah 44:18-20
Isaiah 44:18-20, KJV, “They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. And none considereth in his heart, neither knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make residue thereof abomination? shall I fall down to stock of tree? He feedeth on ashes: deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not lie in my right hand?”
Isaiah now explains the blindness behind idolatry. The idolater does not know or understand because his eyes and heart are shut. This does not make God unjust. Scripture consistently teaches that sinners first love darkness, reject truth, and then God gives them over to the blindness they have chosen.
John 3:19-20, KJV, “And this condemnation, that light come into world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth light, neither cometh to light, lest his deeds should reproved.”
Men love darkness first. Judgment confirms them in the darkness they chose.
Paul describes the same pattern.
Romans 1:21-24, KJV, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart darkened. Professing themselves to wise, they became fools, And changed glory of uncorruptible God into image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves.”
God gave them up after they rejected the truth. The idolater chooses delusion and becomes deluded.
Isaiah says no one considers the obvious. The man does not say, “I burned part of it in the fire, baked bread on its coals, roasted flesh and eaten it, and now I will worship the rest.” He cannot see the lie in his own hand.
The phrase “He feedeth on ashes” is powerful. Idolatry is as nourishing as eating ashes. It cannot satisfy, strengthen, cleanse, or save. The deceived heart turns the sinner aside, and he cannot deliver his soul.
The final question is tragic, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?” He holds the idol in the hand of strength and authority, yet the idol holds him in bondage. He possesses a lie, but he cannot admit it.
Only the Lord can deliver a man from such blindness.
2 Corinthians 4:6, KJV, “For God, who commanded light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in hearts, to give light of knowledge of glory of God in face of Jesus Christ.”
God must shine light into the heart.
Isaiah 44:21-23
Isaiah 44:21-23, KJV, “Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou my servant: I have formed thee; thou my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not forgotten of me. I have blotted out, as thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. Sing, O ye heavens; for LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.”
After exposing idols, the Lord calls Israel to remember. “Remember these, O Jacob and Israel.” The people must remember both the folly of idols and the greatness of the Lord. Remembering the emptiness of false gods should drive God’s people back to the true God.
The Lord again says, “thou art my servant: I have formed thee.” Israel belongs to the Lord because He formed them. They are not to belong to idols. Their identity is not self made. It is God formed.
Then comes another word of comfort, “O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.” Israel may forget the Lord, but the Lord does not forget Israel. Exile, discipline, and suffering may make them feel forgotten, but God’s covenant memory remains.
Isaiah 49:15-16, KJV, “Can woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon palms of my hands; thy walls continually before me.”
God does not forget His people.
He then says, “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins.” Sin is pictured like a cloud covering the sky. God blots it out. He removes the barrier. The forgiveness is God’s work.
This repeats the mercy of Isaiah 43:25.
Isaiah 43:25, KJV, “I, even I, he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”
Because God has blotted out their sins, He calls them, “return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.” Redemption is the ground of return. God does not say, “Return so that I might redeem you.” He says, “Return, for I have redeemed thee.” Grace calls the redeemed back to fellowship.
The proper response is praise. The heavens sing, the lower parts of the earth shout, the mountains break forth into singing, and the forest with every tree joins praise. Creation rejoices because the Lord has redeemed Jacob and glorified Himself in Israel.
Romans 8:19-21, KJV, “For earnest expectation of creature waiteth for manifestation of sons of God. For creature made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected same in hope, Because creature itself also shall delivered from bondage of corruption into glorious liberty of children of God.”
Creation is tied to redemption. When God redeems His people and glorifies Himself, creation has reason to rejoice.
Isaiah 44:24-28
Isaiah 44:24-28, KJV, “Thus saith LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from womb, I LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad earth by myself; That frustrateth tokens of liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; That confirmeth word of his servant, and performeth counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt inhabited; and to cities of Judah, Ye shall built, and I will raise up decayed places thereof: That saith to deep, Be dry, and I will dry up rivers: That saith of Cyrus, He my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt built; and to temple, Thy foundation shall laid.”
The chapter closes with a powerful declaration of who the Lord is and what He will do. He is “thy redeemer” and the One who formed Israel from the womb. He is also the Creator of all things, the One who stretched out the heavens alone and spread abroad the earth by Himself. No idol helped Him. No counselor assisted Him. No rival stood beside Him. The Lord alone created.
Genesis 1:1, KJV, “In beginning God created heaven and earth.”
The Creator is also the Lord over false religion and false wisdom. He frustrates the signs of liars, makes diviners mad, turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish. Human occultism, pagan prediction, and worldly wisdom cannot stand against the Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:20, KJV, “Where wise? where scribe? where disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish wisdom of this world?”
God makes worldly wisdom foolish when it stands against Him.
In contrast, He confirms the word of His servant and performs the counsel of His messengers. False prophets are confounded, but God’s true word stands. When God speaks through His servants, He fulfills what He says.
Then the Lord makes a remarkable promise concerning Jerusalem and the cities of Judah. He says Jerusalem will be inhabited, the cities will be built, and the decayed places will be raised up. This is spoken before the Babylonian destruction and exile have fully unfolded. God is already declaring restoration before the devastation.
He also says to the deep, “Be dry,” and promises to dry up the rivers. This shows His authority over creation and may also anticipate the way Babylon would fall when the waters of the Euphrates were diverted.
Then comes the stunning prophecy, “That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure.” Isaiah names Cyrus long before Cyrus would fulfill this role. This is one of the clearest examples of predictive prophecy in Scripture. The Lord names the deliverer in advance to prove that He alone is God.
Cyrus would later issue the decree allowing the Jews to return and rebuild the temple.
Ezra 1:1-3, KJV, “Now in first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that word of LORD by mouth of Jeremiah might fulfilled, LORD stirred up spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, LORD God of heaven hath given me all kingdoms of earth; and he hath charged me to build him house at Jerusalem, which in Judah. Who there among you of all his people? his God with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which in Judah, and build house of LORD God of Israel, he God, which in Jerusalem.”
The prophecy was fulfilled. Cyrus did not save Israel because he was spiritually superior or covenantally faithful like David. He was God’s instrument. The Lord calls him “my shepherd” because Cyrus would serve God’s purpose in gathering and returning the exiles, like a shepherd leading sheep.
The Lord says Cyrus “shall perform all my pleasure.” Human kings may think they rule independently, but the Lord governs them.
Proverbs 21:1, KJV, “King's heart in hand of LORD, as rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”
God turned Cyrus’s heart to accomplish His purpose.
The chapter ends with specific promises, “Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built,” and “to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.” The city and temple would be restored. The God who blotted out sins, redeemed Jacob, mocked idols, ruled history, and named Cyrus would bring His people home.
This is why the Lord’s people must not fear. Their Redeemer is Creator, Savior, King, the First and the Last, the only Rock, the One who pours out His Spirit, blots out sins, remembers His servants, and fulfills His Word exactly.
