Isa 45:1
45:1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to {a} Cyrus, whose
     {b} right hand I have held, to {c} 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;

     (a) To assure the Jews of their deliverance against the
         great temptations that they would abide, he names the
         person and the means.
     (b) Because Cyrus would execute the office of a deliverer,
         God called him his anointed for a time, but after
         another sort than he called David.
     (c) To guide him in the deliverance of my people.

Isa 45:2
45:2 I will go before thee, and make the {d} crooked places
     straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and
     cut asunder the bars of iron:

     (d) I will take away all impediments and hindrances.

Isa 45:3
45:3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden
     riches of secret places, that thou mayest {e} know that I,
     the LORD, who call [thee] by thy name, [am] the God of
     Israel.

     (e) Not that Cyrus knew God to worship him correctly, but
         he had a certain particular knowledge as profane men
         may have of his power, and so was compelled to deliver
         God's people.

Isa 45:4
45:4 For Jacob my servant's {f} sake, and Israel my elect, I
     have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee,
     though thou hast not known me.

     (f) Not for anything that is in you, or for your
         worthiness.

Isa 45:5
45:5 I [am] the LORD, and [there is] none else, [there is] no
     God besides me: I {g} girded thee, though thou hast not
     known me:

     (g) I have given you strength, power and authority.

Isa 45:7
45:7 I form the {h} light, and create darkness: I make peace,
     and create evil: I the LORD do all these [things].

     (h) I send peace and war, prosperity and adversity, as in
         Am 3:6.

Isa 45:8
45:8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour
     down {i} righteousness: let the earth open, and let them
     bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up
     together; I the LORD have {k} created it.

     (i) He comforts the Jews as if he would say, "Though when
         you look to the heavens and earth for comfort you see
         nothing now but signs of God's wrath, yet will cause
         them to bring forth certain tokens of your deliverance,
         and of the performance of my promise": which is meant
         by righteousness.
     (k) I have appointed Cyrus to this use and purpose.

Isa 45:9
45:9 {l} Woe to him that contendeth with his Maker! [Let] the
     potsherd [contend] with the potsherds of the earth. Shall
     the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou?
     or thy work, {m} He hath no hands?

     (l) By this he bridles their impatience, who in adversity
         and trouble murmur against God, and will not tarry his
         pleasure: willing that man would match with his like,
         and not contend against God.
     (m) That is, it is not perfectly made.

Isa 45:11
45:11 Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his
      Maker, Ask me {n} of things to come concerning my sons,
      and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

      (n) Instead of murmuring, humble yourselves and ask what
          you will for the consolation of my children, and you
          will be sure of it as you are of these things which
          are at your command. Some read it with an
          interrogation, and make it the application of the
          comparison.

Isa 45:12
45:12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, [even]
      my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their
      {o} host have I commanded.

      (o) That is, the stars.

Isa 45:13
45:13 I have raised {p} 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 {q} price nor reward, saith
      the LORD of hosts.

      (p) That is, Cyrus, that I may show by him the
          faithfulness of my promise in delivering my people.
      (q) Meaning, freely and without ransom, or any grievous
          condition.

Isa 45:14
45:14 Thus saith the LORD, The labour {r} of Egypt, and
      merchandise of Cush and of the Sabeans, men of stature,
      shall come over to thee, and they shall be {s} thine: they
      shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and
      they shall fall down to thee, they shall make supplication
      to thee, [saying], Surely God [is] in thee; and [there is]
      none else, [there is] no God.

      (r) These people were tributaries to the Persians, and so
          king Artahshashte gave this money toward the building
          of the temple, Ezr 7:27.
      (s) While they were your enemies, they will now honour you
          and you will rule them: which was accomplished in the
          time of Christ.

Isa 45:15
45:15 Verily thou [art] a God that {t} hidest thyself, O God of
      Israel, the Saviour.

      (t) By this he exhorts the Jews to patience, though their
          deliverance is deferred for a time: showing that they
          would not repent their long patience, but the wicked
          and idolaters will be destroyed.

Isa 45:18
45:18 For 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 {u} inhabited: I [am] the LORD; and [there is] none
      else.

      (u) That is, of men, but chiefly of his Church.

Isa 45:19
45:19 I have not spoken in secret, {x} in a dark place of the
      earth: I have not said to the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in
      vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things
      that are right.

      (x) As do the false gods, who give uncertain answers.

Isa 45:20
45:20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, {y} ye
      [that have] escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge
      that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray to a
      god [that] cannot save.

      (y) All you idolaters who though you seem to have worldly
          dignity yet in God's sight you are vile and abject.

Isa 45:22
45:22 Look to me, and be ye saved, all {z} the ends of the
      earth: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else.

      (z) He calls the idolaters to repentance, willing them to
          look on him with the eye of faith.

Isa 45:23
45:23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth
      [in] {a} righteousness, and shall not return, That to me
      every {b} knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

      (a) That is, that the thing which I have promise will be
          faithfully performed.
      (b) The knowledge of God and the true worshipping will be
          through all the world, Rom 14:11, Phil 2:10 by
          which he signifies that we must not only serve God in
          heart, but declare the same also by outward
          profession.

Isa 45:24
45:24 Surely, {c} shall [one] say, in the LORD have I
      righteousness and strength: [even] to him shall [men]
      come; and all that are {d} incensed against him shall be
      ashamed.

      (c) Meaning the faithful will feel and confess this.
      (d) All the contemners of God.