◄ What Does Isaiah 45:23 Mean? ►

"I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.

Isaiah 45:23(NASB)

Verse of the Day

Israel broke their covenant with God. They followed after idols instead of remaining true to their Lord. They were His chosen people, but did not carry out His instructions to be a light to the Gentiles or to tell the nations that God is the eternal Lord, the great Creator of the heavens, and He formed the earth.

As well as bringing God's punishment upon themselves because of their sinful idolatry, Israel refused to share the good news of salvation, as instructed. They were told to teach the nations that the Lord speaks righteously – declaring things that are upright. However, they refused to tell others that He is a light to lighten the Gentiles as well as the Jews, and they did not instruct other nations that in Him alone is man's salvation.

But God never changes, and His plans and purposes can never be thwarted by sinful man or rebellious angels. And so, through the mouth of Isaiah the prophet, God challenged the Gentile nations to consult together and declare their case to Him.

They were summoned to present their defence to the God of Israel for their idolatrous ways. The Lord Himself reached out His saving hand to a lost and dying world, because Israel did not fulfil their instructions to tell the nations that God is the Lord.

"Am not I the Lord?" was His thundering challenge, through Isaiah: "There is no other God besides Me," He continued, "I am a righteous God and a Saviour. There is none except Me. Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other."

There is only one way to be saved, and God Himself proclaimed this to the nations: "I have sworn by Myself," was His sovereign challenge, "the Word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness and will not turn back – that to Me every knee will bow, and every tongue will swear allegiance."

God in His grace, extended His hand of salvation to the Gentiles, if they would turn away from their idols of wood and stone, and trust in the Lord for the forgiveness of sin and eternal salvation.

That same gracious hand of reconciliation continues to be extended today, to whosoever will hear, answer, and believe in the One Who paid the price for the sin of the world – the shed blood of a perfect sacrifice – Jesus Christ the righteous.

In the light of New Testament revelation, we know: "At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

The message of salvation is one of hope and blessing to those that believe, and one of condemnation and eternal separation from God for those that refuse to confess His name.

May we be ready and willing to go into the world, whether at home or abroad, and tell the good news of salvation to the lost – to Jew and Gentile alike: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord."

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that in spite of man's rebellion and sinfulness, You did not withhold Your offer of redemption and You made the way to receive Your offer clear to us, through the mouth of Your holy prophets. Thank You that the truth has gone out to the far corners of the earth, that Your offer of redemption will not be revoked nor Your righteous judgement withheld. While it is still the age of grace, I pray that many would come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and that many souls would be plucked from eternal damnation, by grace through faith in Him. In His name I pray, AMEN.