Isaiah 46 · The Lantern

Babylon’s Idols

Bel has bowed down, Nebo stoops; their images are for the beast and for the cattle. The things you carried are loaded up, a burden for the weary.

The prophecy has described those things concerning the conversion of the nations and those concerning the elect of the seed of the sons of Israel, and it now turns once more to address the Jews and intends the complete destruction of idolatry … (following Symmachus, "their idols have become the prey of animals," that is, cast aside into total destitution).

Having discussed the Deity, displayed the believers and confounded the unbelievers, the prophetic text also predicts the destruction of the idols. Some copies carry "Dagon." That was an idol of the Allophyles [foreigners]. As for Bel, some claim that he was Kronos.

Here he foretells the destruction of the enemies holding them captive, namely, the Babylonians, as to two things in which they gloried: first, as to the destruction of their idols; second, as to the ending of their kingdom, below: come down, sit in the dust (Isa 47:1). The first of these is divided into two.

They stoop, they bow down together; they were not able to rescue the burden, and their soul itself has gone into captivity.

By the same token, [Isaiah] says, as all the other burdens that are unable to walk but have to be carried, the idols, by reason of their inanimate nature, constrain their porters to toil. Their impotence is so great that they cannot even—as people do in war time—take flight.

Here [Isaiah] argues that the idols are weak since they will be carried into slavery as the cargo of elephants and even the burden of mules. And the people who carry them will bow low to put them on their shoulders. How can someone bearing God be weak like that? But these burdens are not God. Otherwise how could they be carried off as slaves of war?

He sets out the lack of aid on the part of the idols: they are consumed, that is, they fail, namely, the idols, him that carried them, namely, the beasts, or the men worshipping them: that which is made, together with him that made it, shall suffer torments (Wis 14:10); he sets out also the disgrace of captivity: and their souls, namely, the idols', metaphorically: that is, the…

Listen to me, house of Jacob and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been loaded on me from the belly, carried from the womb.

After your apostasies I will still continue to call you to repentance, since you are my creation. I created you; therefore I sustain you. I promise I will make atonement for your sins, if you change.

We hear the voice of the Holy Spirit with wonder when it tells us in many passages of Scripture that the Word of God, in an ineffable motion of love, has given human nature the names of "sister," "daughter," "bride." For example, the words in Isaiah, "Listen to me, Israel my people, the race of Abraham my friend, you whom I carry in my womb." … Our mind is set aflame with desir…

Second, he calls the Jews back to worship of him, the idols having been abandoned: hearken unto me. And first, he calls them back to worship of him; second, he promises the benefit of liberation to those who turn back to him: who show from the beginning (Isa 46:10). Concerning the first, he does three things.

And to old age I am he, and to gray hair I will bear you. I have made, and I will carry; and I will bear and rescue.

Woe to the audacious soul that hoped that by forsaking you it would find some better thing! It tossed and turned, on back and side and belly, but the bed is hard, and you alone give rest. Yet you are near. You deliver us from our wretched wanderings and establish us in your way. You comfort us and say, "Run, I will carry you. I will lead you home, and I will set you free."

But since their heart was not responsive to his promptings, he predicted the evils to come so that they would be gradually troubled by these terrors and would cease their irregular and foul way of life.

From the continuation of his carrying them: even to your old age, that is, to the end of the world: unto old age and grey hairs (Ps 71:18); from the reason for his carrying them: I have made you, it is fitting that he who made you should preserve you: he spread his wings, and has taken him and carried him on his shoulders (Deut 32:11).

To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we should be alike?

Those who lavish gold from a purse and weigh silver on a scale — they hire a goldsmith and he makes it a god; they worship, indeed they bow down.

And despite my exhortation you delayed in expelling such blasphemy and ungodliness, daring to compare me with those who lack being and in no way have my divinity. You esteemed me as equal to soulless wood that you shaped. You added gold and silver from contributions and made a statue from human hands, and you were not ashamed to worship it.

[Isaiah] has clearly mocked the impotence of the idols. And since he had made mention of their creation from a piece of wood in a preceding passage, but gold and silver are more precious material than wood, and many people on account of the material treated the gods of gold and of silver with the greater regard, he considers it necessary to give this instruction concerning them…

And as to their service, for they employed craftsmen to make gods from gold, because they are like misers who store up gold for ages: you that contribute gold: the works of the hand of the workman (Jer 10:3).

They lift it on the shoulder, they carry it, and they set it down in its place and it stands; from its place it does not move. One even cries out to it, and it does not answer; from his distress it does not save him.

Remember this and be firm; take it back to heart, transgressors.

(Verse 8 onwards) Remember this, and be established, and return, you transgressors, to the heart. Recall the former age, for I am God, and there is no other God, nor is there anyone like me. I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago the things that have not yet been done, saying: My purpose will stand, and I will accomplish all my desire.

"Return, you transgressors, to the heart." As I have already said, what the Lord repeatedly asks of us is not found in distant lands. He sends us within, into our own hearts. For he has placed within us that which he wants, in which consists the perfection of charity in the will and goodness of the soul.

Third, he concludes the calling back: remember this, what I have said of my love and the worthlessness of idols. Man ought to return to the heart, as to the throne of a judge, that he might examine himself: I meditated in the night with my own heart: and I was exercised and I swept my spirit (Ps 77:6); as to the principle of life, that he might guard himself: with all watchfuln…

Remember the former things from of old, for I am God and there is no other; God, and there is none like me —

telling the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what has not been done; saying, My counsel will stand, and all my delight I will do;

"Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." There cannot be a greater prayer than to desire that earthly things should deserve to equal heavenly ones.

For he says "I am the one possessing knowledge of all, and whatever happens, I give notice of it beforehand." That which is announced, I execute … for what the holy God wills, who will thwart it?

Here he promises liberation from captivity to those who are converted to him. And concerning this, he does two things. First, he promises liberation, setting out the power of him who announces it: who show the things that shall be at last, whatever is to come in the last times: he declares the things that are past, and the things that are to come (Sir 42:19); he also sets out t…

calling a bird of prey from the east, from a distant land the man of my counsel. Indeed I have spoken, indeed I will bring it about; I have formed it, indeed I will do it.

Listen to me, mighty of heart, you who are far from righteousness.

The inner man possesses a heart. "Listen to Me, you who have lost heart!" Those to whom the prophet is speaking have a heart by the flesh: it cannot be lost.

Again we perceive the depth of God's loving kindness, in that God mixes with the evils also the wonders, so that they are not wiped out. For he has saved them from the hand of their enemies. When Israel fell into the marsh of judgment, God dragged them out.

Second, where it says, hear me, he promises the nearness of liberation, setting out first their unworthiness, lest it be ascribed to their merit: O you hardhearted, for acting rightly, who are far from justice, through the multitude of their sins: a hard heart shall fear evil at the last (Sir 3:26).

I have brought near my righteousness; it is not far off, and my salvation will not delay. And I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel my beauty.

Isaiah46

Babylon’s Idols