Question 1

What does it mean that God has blotted out sins like a thick cloud?

Accepted Answer

The picture of sins being blotted out like a thick cloud shows how fully God forgives. Our sins are many and dark, like heavy clouds that block the sun. They come between us and God, hiding His face and bringing guilt and fear. God says He has wiped them away so they are gone from His sight, like morning mist that disappears when the sun rises. This is not about us cleaning ourselves up, but about God choosing to remove the record of our wrongs and restore the relationship.

Question 2

Why does God tell Israel, "Remember" and "return unto me"?

Accepted Answer

God tells Israel to remember who they are and who He is, and then to return to Him. They had been tempted by idols and discouraged by suffering. By saying, “Remember these,” God is calling them to think about their calling as His servants, His work in forming them, and His promise not to forget them. The command to return comes after He says, “I have redeemed thee.” That means repentance is a response to His grace. They do not return to earn redemption; they return because He has already taken action to rescue them.

Question 3

What is the significance of heaven and earth being called to sing?

Accepted Answer

When God calls the heavens, the earth, mountains, forests, and trees to sing, it shows how great His rescue of His people is. The picture is that all creation is invited to celebrate because God has redeemed Jacob and shown His glory in Israel. Their restoration is not a small, private event. It is something that reveals God’s character in such a clear way that even the created world is said to rejoice. This helps suffering people see that their story is part of something much bigger that touches all creation.

Question 4

What does this passage teach about God’s power over idols and diviners?

Accepted Answer

This passage shows that God alone is the true Creator and ruler. He stretches out the heavens and spreads out the earth by Himself. In contrast, He frustrates the signs of liars, makes diviners look foolish, and turns so‑called wise men backward. The message is that idols, fortune‑tellers, and star‑readers cannot predict or control history. Their words fail. God alone can say what will happen and then make it happen. This was meant to comfort Israel in a land full of astrologers and false prophets and to warn them not to trust in those voices.

Question 5

Who is Cyrus, and why is he called God’s shepherd here?

Accepted Answer

Cyrus was a future king from outside Israel who would conquer Babylon and allow the exiles to return home. In this passage, God calls him “my shepherd” because He will use Cyrus to care for and lead God’s people in a specific way, even though Cyrus does not come from Israel. God says Cyrus will do all His pleasure, including giving the command that Jerusalem be rebuilt and the temple’s foundation be laid. This shows that God can guide the decisions of powerful rulers and use even those who do not know Him personally to carry out His plans for His people.

Question 6

What does this passage say about rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple?

Accepted Answer

God clearly promises that Jerusalem will again be inhabited and the cities of Judah will be rebuilt. Their ruined places will be raised up. He even speaks of the temple, saying its foundation will be laid. At the time, this would have sounded almost impossible, since the city and temple were or would soon be in ruins. By naming the restoration in detail, God is giving concrete hope. He is not offering a vague comfort, but a real future in which the land is restored, worship is renewed, and His presence among His people is seen again.

Question 7

How does God show His control over nature when He says, "Be dry" to the deep?

Accepted Answer

When God says to the deep, “Be dry,” and promises to dry up rivers, He is reminding His people that the seas and waters answer to Him. This calls to mind past acts where He made a way for His people through waters that seemed like impossible barriers. The point is that, just as He once opened a path through the sea, He can remove any obstacle to their return and restoration. No river, nation, or power can block His plan. For people who felt trapped and powerless, this was a strong picture of His ability to clear the way for their deliverance.

Question 8

How can this passage encourage someone who feels forgotten by God?

Accepted Answer

This passage speaks directly to the fear of being forgotten. God tells Israel, “Thou shalt not be forgotten of me,” and reminds them that He formed them and calls them His servant. He points to forgiveness already given, saying He has blotted out their sins. Then He promises real restoration, even naming the ruler He will use. For someone who feels overlooked, this shows that God’s care is personal and lasting. Feelings may say, “God is far away,” but His word says He remembers, He has redeemed, He calls us to return, and He is able to rebuild what seems destroyed.

Isaiah 44:21

¶ Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.

Jerusalem to Be Restored

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Isaiah 44:21

¶ Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.

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Jerusalem to Be Restored

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