Isaiah 45

God's Sovereignty and Purpose

God's Sovereignty and Purpose

1Thus saith the LORD to his anointed , to Cyrus , whose right hand I have holden , to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings , to open before him the two leaved gates ; and the gates shall not be shut ; 2I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight : I will break in pieces the gates of brass , and cut in sunder the bars of iron : 3And I will give thee the treasures of darkness , and hidden riches of secret places , that thou mayest know that I, the LORD , which call thee by thy name , am the God of Israel . 4For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect , I have even called thee by thy name : I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. 5I am the LORD , and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 6That they may know from the rising of the sun , and from the west , that there is none beside me. I am the LORD , and there is none else. 7I form the light , and create darkness : I make peace , and create evil : I the LORD do all these things .

The Uniqueness of God

8Drop down , ye heavens , from above , and let the skies pour down righteousness : let the earth open , and let them bring forth salvation , and let righteousness spring up together ; I the LORD have created it. 9Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker ! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth . Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work , He hath no hands ? 10Woe unto him that saith unto his father , What begettest thou? or to the woman , What hast thou brought forth ? 11Thus saith the LORD , the Holy One of Israel , and his Maker , Ask me of things to come concerning my sons , and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. 12I have made the earth , and created man upon it: I, even my hands , have stretched out the heavens , and all their host have I commanded . 13I have raised him up in righteousness , and I will direct all his ways : he shall build my city , and he shall let go my captives , not for price nor reward , saith the LORD of hosts . 14Thus saith the LORD , The labour of Egypt , and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans , men of stature , shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over , and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying , Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God . 15Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel , the Saviour .

God's Plan for Israel and the Nations

16They shall be ashamed , and also confounded , all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols . 17But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation : ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end . 18For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens ; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain , he formed it to be inhabited : I am the LORD ; and there is none else. 19I have not spoken in secret , in a dark place of the earth : I said not unto the seed of Jacob , Seek ye me in vain : I the LORD speak righteousness , I declare things that are right . 20Assemble yourselves and come ; draw near together , ye that are escaped of the nations : they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image , and pray unto a god that cannot save . 21Tell ye, and bring them near ; yea, let them take counsel together : who hath declared this from ancient time ? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD ? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour ; there is none beside me. 22Look unto me, and be ye saved , all the ends of the earth : for I am God , and there is none else. 23I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness , and shall not return , That unto me every knee shall bow , every tongue shall swear . 24Surely, shall one say , in the LORD have I righteousness and strength : even to him shall men come ; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed . 25In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified , and shall glory .