Isaiah 46
I. (1-39) Condemnation
A. Chapters 1-12—Prophecies against Israel and Judah
B. Chapters 13-23—Prophecies against the Nations
C. Chapters 24-27—Prophecies of the Day of the Lord
D. Chapters 28-35—Prophecies of Judgment and Blessing
E. Chapters 36-39—Historical accounts
II. (40-66) Consolation
A. Chapters 40-48—Israel’s God
1. \\#40:1-31\\ Be comforted by meeting your God
2. \\#41:1-29\\ Be Comforted by Meeting Your Protector
3. \\#42:1-25\\ Be Comforted by Meeting the Servant
4. \\#43:1-28\\ Be Comforted by Knowing Your God’s Desire
5. \\#44:1-47:15\\ Be Comforted by Knowing A Real God
a. \\#44:1-8\\ Future Promise of a great Israel
b. \\#44:9-20\\ The weakness of false gods
c. \\#44:21-45:4\\ A challenge to Israel
d. \\#45:5-19\\ A Conversation with Israel
e. \\#45:20-25\\ A Conversation with the World
f. \\#46:1-4\\ A Comparison Between Deities
I. \\#44:1-45:25\\ Be Comforted by Knowing A Real God
A. \\#44:1-8\\ Future Promise of a great Israel
B. \\#44:9-20\\ The weakness of false gods
C. \\#44:21-45:4\\ A challenge to Israel
D. \\#45:5-19\\ A Conversation with Israel
E. \\#45:20-25\\ A Conversation with the World
F. \\#46:1-13\\ A Comparison—God demonstrates that He is the true God
by a comparison with the gods of Babylon.
1. \\#46:1-4\\ The gods of Babylon versus Jehovah
a. \\#1-2\\ The gods of Babylon
(1) \\#1\\ Bel and Nebo are both Babylonian gods.
(2) \\#1\\ The image is that Bel and Nebo are stooped over
under the burden of trying to deliver Babylon from the
Assyrians. Even though Babylon would eventually rise
and conquer the Assyrians, at this time, it was the
other way around right now.)
(3) \\#1\\ As a result, these heavy gods were loaded onto
carts and beasts to be carried away to Nineveh.
(4) \\#2\\ These gods could not deliver their people. They
are gone into captivity.
b. \\#3-4\\ The God of Israel
(1) \\#3-4\\ Jehovah, on the other hand, bears Israel from
the womb to the grave. This is the kind of cradle to
the grave coverage that God’s people can get excited
about!
(2) \\#4\\ Jehovah promises to continue carrying and
delivering them. (Again, it is too bad they did not
turn to Him. Now this promise becomes one for the
future.)
2. \\#46:4-11\\ "Who do you think is superior?" God asks.
a. \\#5-7\\To whom will you compare God? God again compares
Himself to the man-made gods Israel worships.
(1) \\#6\\ Their gods are man-made.
(2) \\#7\\ Their gods cannot move themselves, let alone
help those who worship it.
b. \\#8-9\\ Remember
(1) \\#8\\ Remember that these gods are useless.
(2) \\#9\\ Remember that Jehovah is unique and alone.
c. \\#10-11\\ God’s Proofs - God repeats proofs that He has
already given.
(1) \\#10\\ His prophecies were given of old and they will
come to pass.
(2) \\#11\\ He will bring a "ravenous bird" from the East.
(a) This "bird" is Cyrus, of whom He has spoken
several times \\#44:28-45:4, 45:13\\. Some
also believe \\#41:2-7\\ describe this king.
(b) It is obvious that God places much emphasis upon
this near-at-hand prophecy.
(c) God again takes credit for Cyrus’ rise to power.
(d) God does connect this \\#Is 41:2-7\\ with this
passage by stating Cyrus is from the east.
(3) When this comes to pass, it should confirm to Israel
that Jehovah is the one true God.
3. \\#46:12-13\\ Call to Repentance
a. \\#12\\ And so God closes this section calling the stubborn
to repentance.
b. One day soon, His righteousness will come.
(1) God’s righteousness (also translated in some places
"justice" since God’s righteousness demands justice)
did come. Since Israel had not repented, it destroyed
them.
(2) "and my salvation shall not tarry" - God’s offer of
forgiveness and exaltation did not wait on Israel.
(3) "I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory" -
Yet, God is determined to redeem Israel so they will
have another opportunity to accept God.
(4) They actually will have two.
(a) When their Messiah, Jesus, came to the earth.
(b) When the anti-Christ comes to the earth during the
tribulation.
(5) At that last time, they will repent and see the glory
that God has promised them.
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