Isaiah 45:19

The heathen deities dictated those things to their worshippers which were the reproach of human nature and tended to the extirpation of virtue; but God speaks righteousness, dictates that which is right in itself and tends to make men righteous; and therefore he is God, and there is none else.

And here, as in many other parts of this prophecy, there is much of Christ and of gospel grace. Prophecies Concerning Cyrus. 1 Thus saith the L ORD 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;

quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-run:39w-of-66

I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth,....

I have not spoken in secret - The word rendered ‘secret’ (סתר sı̂ther) denotes a hiding, or covering; and the phrase here means secretly, privately. He did not imitate the pagan oracles by uttering his predictions from dark and deep caverns, and encompassed with the circumstances of awful mystery, and with designed obscurity. In a dark place of the earth - From a cave, or dark recess, in the manner of the pagan oracles.

Seek . . . in vain--When I commanded you to seek Me (Jehovah did so, Isa 45:11, "Ask Me," &c.), it was not in order that ye might be sent empty away (De 32:47). Especially in Israel's time of trial, God's interposition, in behalf of Zion hereafter, is expressly stated as about to be the answer to prayer (Isa 62:6, 7-10;

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

WE might gain much solace by considering what God has not said. What He has said is inexpressibly full of comfort and delight. What He has not said is scarcely less rich in consolation. It was one of these, "said nots," which preserved the kingdom of Israel in the days of Jeroboam, the son of Joash. "The Lord said not that He would blot out the name of Israel from under Heaven" (2 Kings 14:27).

WE might gain much solace by considering what God has not said. What He has said is inexpressibly full of comfort and delight. What He has not said is scarcely less rich in consolation. It was one of these, "said nots," which preserved the kingdom of Israel in the days of Jeroboam, the son of Joash. "The Lord said not that He would blot out the name of Israel from under Heaven" (2 Kings 14:27). In our text we have an assurance that God will answer prayer, because He has, "not said unto the seed of Israel, Seek you My face in vain." You who write bitter things against yourselves, I would have you remember that. Let your doubts and fears say what they will, if God has not cut you off from mercy, there is no room for despair—even the voice of conscience is of little weight if it is not seconded by the voice of God. What God has said tremble at! But suffer not your own fears and suspicions to overwhelm you with despondency and sinful despair. Many timid persons have been vexed by the suspicion that there may be something in God's decree which shuts them out from all hope—some secret, written in the great roll of destiny, which renders it certain that if they did pray and seek the Lord—He would not be found of them. Our text is a complete refutation to that troublesome fear. "I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth. I have not said," even in the secret of My unsearchable decree, "Seek you My face in vain." The decrees are "spoken in secret"—the decrees are hidden as, "in a dark place of the earth." But it is absolutely certain that the Lord has said nothing in any of them, or anywhere else, which can be interpreted to mean, "Seek you My face in vain." Oh, no, Brothers and Sisters, that Truth which God has so clearly revealed, that He will hear the prayer of those who call upon Him, cannot be contravened by anything which God may have spoken elsewhere.

I have not spoken tn secret, in a dark place of the earth - In opposition to the manner in which the heathen oracles gave their answers, which were generally delivered from some deep and obscure cavern. Such was the seat of the Cumean Sybil: - Excisum Euboicae latus ingens rupis in antrum. Virg. Aen. 6:42. “A cave cut in the side of a huge rock.” Such was that of the famous oracle at Delphi; of which, says Strabo, lib. ix., φασι δ’ ειναι το μαντειον αντρον κοιλον μετα βαθους, ου μαλα ευρυστομον. “The oracle is said to be a hollow cavern of considerable depth, with an opening not very wide.” And Diodorus, giving an account of the origin of this oracle, says “that there was in that place a great chasm or cleft in the earth; in which very place is now situated what is called the Adytum of the temple.” Αδυτον· σπηλαιον, η το αποκρυφον μερος του ἱερου. Mesych. “Adytum means a cavern, or the hidden part of the temple.” I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right “I am Jehovah, who speak truth, who give direct answers” - This also is said in opposition to the false and ambiguous answers given by the heathen oracles, of which there are many noted examples; none more so than that of the answer given to Croesus when he marehed against Cyrus, which piece of history has some connection with this part of Isaiah’s prophecies. Let us hear Cicero’s account of the Delphic answers in general, and of this in particular: Sed jam ad te venio, O sancte Apollo, qui umbilicum certum terrarum obsides, Unde superstitiosa primum saeva evasit vox fera. Tuis enim oraculis Chrysippus totum volumen implevit, partim falsis, ut ego opinor; partim casu veris, ut fit in omni oratione saepissime; partim flexiloquis et obscuris, ut interpres egeat interprete, et sors ipsa ad sortes referenda sit; partim ambiguis, et quae ad dialecticum deferenda sint. […]