Isaiah

Isaiah Chapter 46

• Isaiah 46:1 Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.
• 2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.
• 3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:
• 4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

The heaviness and vanity of idols is brought out here. Serving idols is compared to a beast bearing a heavy burden tied on its back that it cannot possibly deliver itself from. Idol worshippers are captives just like the beast is a captive to the burden it carries.

Bel was an idol that was worshipped by the Babylonians, Assyrians and others. It is amazing that as advanced, as some of those civilizations were that they trusted in the vanity of idols. Religious leaders of that time no doubt profited and took advantage of the fear of the idols. Many times throughout history false religions and idol worship was used to control the people causing them to believe that to worship the idol was to obey the leadership and do their bidding. The religion leaders in the day when Jesus came the first time were jealous of Him and were afaid to lose their power over the people. Idolatry brings bondage, Jesus makes us free. 

Those that serve idols and false religions are similar to the beast of burden. They cannot deliver themselves. They are bound. Only truth and the power of God can possibly deliver. Whether the burden is sin, false religion, idolatry or some other type of bondage, only the grace and mercy of God can possibly free us. Some want freedom in America. They desire freedom to do what they want without the church, family or anyone else telling them what to do. Satan must laugh at the rebellious for when they "Do what they want," they are actually doing what "Satan" wants them to do in order to bring them under bondage. Freedom to drink alcoholic beverages brings bondage that is hard to break. Freedom to commit adultery brings another type of bondage. Sin is really a bondage, from which comes the term, "To be free from sin." Freedom without restraint, freedom without the "Fear of God," brings bondage. No constitutional republic or Democray can remain free without moral restraints.

God reminds us here that He is the only one who can deliver and save. His care for Israel is seen everywhere in both the Old and New Testaments.

• Isaiah 46:5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?

Nothing can compare with God. None can equal Him in power and strength.

• Isaiah 46:6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.
• 7 They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.

Idols are made from gold or some other type of substance. Someone skilled in craftsmanship has to carve out the image. They have to be carried from one place to the other. The image has no power, no ability to save, and is profitable for nothing. Paul writes that worshiping idols are the equal to worshiping demons. There is a demonic spirit that accompanies idol worship which may explain why they would have been afraid to stop their worship of them. Also religious leaders and sometimes political leaders profit from the fear of people which I mentioned before.

The proper teaching of the gospel sets people free, it doesn't bring them into bondage. Religion is bondage, Christ frees us from the bondage of sin and gives us a new beginning and eternal life.

• Isaiah 46:8 Remember this, and show yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.
• 9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
• 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

God here is reminding us that He is God and there is none like Him who has the power to save or destroy. His counsel shall stand.

• Isaiah 46:11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

Whatever He says shall come to pass no matter what mankind may say or do. He has the last word.

• Isaiah 46:12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:
  13 I bring near my righteousness: it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory .

He speaks to all and admonishes us to listen. To listen means more than just hearing the words without any doing or action. To listen means to hearken, to carry out, to obey and to live by the Word of God. Here God shows us His plan to bring in salvation for a fallen creation. DC

Isaiah 47

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