Isaiah 45:8, commentary and pictures

The verse belongs to Isaiah 41-45, which very fully reveal God's purpose for His people and should be prayerfully studied. It directs God's people to look to God alone for wisdom and not to turn away from His wisdom to finite human beings. The chapter shows what God has covenanted to do for His people and the encouragement He has given them, which is too little appreciated and must be reviewed to arouse to action. The verse affirms that God brought the earth and all things into existence by His word and created them for His purpose.

The verse pictures righteousness pouring down from above like refreshing rain and springing up on the earth, while the opened earth brings forth salvation and life, showing how God brings these gifts into the world. Righteousness and salvation appear together as gifts brought forth by God's creative power, poured out unstintingly from His fullness, and the verse declares that the Lord Himself created them. The verse reveals the greatness of God's love and compassion, requiring stretched faculties of mind to comprehend. In its setting God remembers Jacob and Israel as His servants, wipes away their transgressions like a dense cloud, redeems them and calls them to return to Him, and glorifies Himself in Israel.

At the same time it calls all the ends of the earth to look to Him and be saved because there is no other God, declaring that every knee shall bow and every tongue pledge to Him. It promises that righteousness and strength are in the Lord in whom His people are justified and glory, while all opposed to Him shall be ashamed. The impartation of Christ's justifying righteousness is a freely given blessing that fills its recipients with thanksgiving and praise, and as God's kingdom advances the earth is to be filled with His glory. The verse teaches that heaven is home and citizenship is above and lives must not be devoted to a world soon to be destroyed, showing the Word revealed in living characters.

As a valuable study with the loftiest themes of thought in pure and excellent language and elevating principles, better than romance or fable, it should be brought into schools. The surrounding message links this work to the church's mission of proclaiming salvation so people of every nation may come to God. Because time is passing it calls for more missionary work and more missionary spirit in the churches, with the Lord God of heaven using His people so His name can be glorified even out into the highways and hedges. The verse calls God's people in Melbourne to awaken out of sleep, exposing the lack of love, patience, forbearance and confidence that displeases Him. It urges them to heed His messages and open the door of the heart to faith that works by love and sanctifies the soul, to be born again and to cherish Christ's commanded love for one another in the church and in every institution.