Chapter 46

1 The idols of Babylon could not save themselves. 3 God saveth his people to the end. 5 Idols are not comparable to God for power, 12 or present salvation.

1. Bel boweth down. In chs. 40:19, 20; 41:23, 24; 44:9–20; 45:16 Isaiah has pointed out the folly of worshiping idols; here he speaks specifically of the gods of Babylon. Bel, meaning “lord,” was the title applied to Marduk, the patron god of Babylon (Jer. 50:2; 51:44). During the annual New Year festivities Babylonian kings “took the hands of Marduk” and received confirmation of the kingship for the ensuing year. The same practice was followed by the kings of Assyria when they became rulers of Babylon (see Vol. II, p. 61). The name Bel appears in the names Belteshazzar (Dan. 1:7) and Belshazzar (Dan. 5:1).

Nebo. Or, Nabu, the Babylonian god of knowledge and literature. His seat of worship was at Borsippa, near Babylon. He attained a position second only to Marduk, and was regarded as his son. Nabu did homage to his father by making an annual visit to Babylon, during the New Year celebration (see below). In return, Marduk accompanied Nabu part of the way back to Borsippa. The name of Nabu appears in the names Nebuchadnezzar (see on Dan. 1:1) and Nabopolassar.

Upon the beasts. On the journeys aforementioned Bel and Nebo were carried by men or on the backs of animals. In contrast, Israel’s God has carried and delivered His people (v. 3). Whereas Bel and Nebo required the help of their devotees, the true God was the helper of those who worshipped Him.

2. Gone into captivity. When Sennacherib destroyed the city of Babylon in 689 b.c. he carried away the statute of Marduk to Ashur as one of the spoils of war (see Vol. II, pp. 64, 65). There this idol remained till the reign of Ashurbanipal, when it was restored to Babylon. Isaiah graphically portrays the utter helplessness of the greatest of the Babylonian gods.

3. Borne by me. See on Isa. 46:1; cf. Deut. 1:31; Isa. 63:9.

4. Even to your old age. The Lord would never cease to care for His own. So long as life endures He will watch over them as loving parents watch over their children.

5. To whom will ye liken me? Isaiah repeatedly asks this questions (see on ch. 40:18, 25).

6. He maketh it a god. See on chs. 40:19, 20; 41:7 cf. ch. 44:9–17. When men know God and yet refuse to honor Him their foolish hearts grow dark, and “professing themselves to be wise” they become fools.

7. They bear him. See on v. 1.

Not answer. See on ch. 44:9; see Ps. 115:5. Wood or gold when fashioned in the form of an idol is still only inanimate material, unable to hear the cry of a human soul. In hours of desperate need men look for a God who can hear the cry of their hearts and who can supply their needs (see Ps. 107:9). Idols leave only an aching void in the souls of the men who worship them.

8. Remember this. From the earliest times God had warned Israel of the evils of transgression (Deut. 28:14–68; 32:37–41), yet they failed to take heed (Isa. 6:9, 10). Now, Isaiah reiterated the same message (chs. 1:2, 4, 5, 21–23; 43:27; 58:1; 59:13) in the hope of saving the nation from disaster.

On the danger of forgetting God, see Deut. 6:12; 8:11; Rom. 1:21–23; see on Ex. 20:8. “We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history” (LS 196).

10. Declaring the end. See on ch. 41:4, 22; cf. chs. 44:7; 45:21.

My counsel shall stand. Isaiah repeatedly set forth this argument of God’s supreme authority and power (see on ch. 14:24; cf. chs. 14:26, 27; 43:13). History is not a mere matter of chance (see on Dan. 4:17). God has a purpose for the world, and that purpose will prevail (see on Isa. 45:18, 19).

11. A ravenous bird from the east. This expression is figurative of Cyrus (see on chs. 41:2; 44:28; 45:1). Cyrus was a “shepherd” to the scattered flock of Israel, but a ravenous bird of prey to Babylon, the enemy of God’s people.

12. Ye stouthearted. Literally, “strong of heart” (see on Ex. 4:21). The professed people of God had shown themselves to be obdurate and self-willed. They would listen neither to God nor to reason. Stubbornness is the archenemy of righteousness, whereas meekness is akin to godliness (see on Matt. 5:5).

13. Bring near my righteousness. That is, God would one day deliver His people from Babylon, through Cyrus (ch. 45:13). The deliverance from Babylon is a type of the greater deliverance from sin accomplished through Christ.

Not tarry. The Babylonian captivity was to be for a period of 70 years (Jer. 25:11, 12; 29:10), at the close of which the Jews were to return to their homeland under Cyrus’ decree (2 Chron. 36:21–23; Ezra 1:1–4). Toward the close of the 70 years the Lord revealed to Daniel the prophecy of restoration and the coming of Messiah (Dan. 9:2, 24, 25). The prophets often refer to the coming of Messiah as the climax of the work of restoration that began with the return from captivity (see Zech. 6:11–13; etc.). Had Israel proved faithful, the history of the plan of salvation would have soon reached its grand climax (see pp. 29, 30).

Ellen G. White comments

3, 4 MH 251

9     ML 293

9, 10    GC 344; 5T 698

10   GC 393; MB 100; ML 10; 7T 298

13   PK 696