Isaiah 46:1-2
Bel (another name for Marduk) and Nebo (his supposed son) were the most prominent gods of the Babylonian culture. These two were bowed down & stooped. This is a lowly positions for a god, but these were not gods, they were idols. They were worthless and powerless. They had to be carried by animals; at the mercy of their direction and strength. The idols were carried into captivity with the people with no power to stop it. Not only could they not stop the people from being led away, they couldn't prevent themselves from being led away. These people were held captive to their idols and false gods that they worshiped. They turned out to be captivated by them so much that they in turn were led away in captivity and their gods went with them.
Isaiah 46:3-4
In contrast to the idol that had been carried by the peoples, God presents Himself as the God who carries. Israel has been upheld and carried from birth. God said He would be with them forever. He is their Sustainer; even to old age and gray hairs.
God is just that good. He sets Him self apart from all others. He challenged the people to see Him and His goodness in contrast to the piece of wood they carried and bowed before.
Isaiah 46:5-7
Who else would do what He has done and can do? Who else would we look to for such care? Is there any equal to God? Can He be compared to another? He alone is Lord and there is no other.
The people took their precious metals and hired a craftsman to make a god. The god was beautiful, expensive and appealing; yet it was powerless, lifeless, mindless and thereby worthless. Yet, they bowed down to that god that was made by human hands. This shows our proclivity to self-deception.
While we may think this couldn't happen to us, we need to look around. Our gods are not much different; they have computer chips, video screens, they our toys that consume our time and passion. They are beautiful, expensive and appealing. They bring us some level of joy, yes, but they fail at all eternal things.
These men put their idol in its place and there it stood, cold and lifeless with no capability at all. Our idols are programmed to entertain us; to make us happy. They, too, are cold and lifeless. The happiness they bring is shortlived and in the end is forgotten. When people got in trouble, they cried out to their idol. They cried to their god for help. But these gods couldn't help them. They could not even answer.
Isaiah 46:8-11
God puts the pressure on the men; they were to show themselves as men. This was to take their responsibility as spiritual leaders. The idea was understood to 'pluck up courage'. They needed to remember and recall to mind what God has said and done verses what these idols have offered. God declares that He alone is God. He has been and always will be sovereign over the end from the beginning. He is the God over time because He created time and is beyond it. From the most ancient of days he gave counsel and it has never failed. He is sovereign over all the creation and when he speaks of something it will come to pass. It is his purpose and it will be done.
Isaiah 46:12-13
The people then were stubborn-hearted and didn't believe God could save them. This failure to believe is what turned them to idols. They were far from righteousness, but God was bringing His righteousness near. It is not far away, right there, offered by Him. He said he would bring His righteousness to Zion. We know this righteousness came by way of Jesus Christ and the work He would do on the cross. He would do it for His glory.
©20118 Doug Ford
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