The Futility of Idols

Isaiah 41

21 "Present your case," says the LORD.
"Bring forth your strong reasons," says the z King of Jacob. 22 "Let a them bring forth and show us what will happen;
Let them show the b former things, what they were,
That we may 1 consider them,
And know the latter end of them;
Or declare to us things to come. 23 c Show the things that are to come hereafter,
That we may know that you are gods;
Yes, d do good or do evil,
That we may be dismayed and see it together. 24 Indeed e you are nothing,
And your work is nothing;
He who chooses you is an abomination.

25 "I have raised up one from the north,
And he shall come;
From the 2 rising of the sun f he shall call on My name;
g And he shall come against princes as though mortar,
As the potter treads clay. 26 h Who has declared from the beginning, that we may know?
And former times, that we may say, 'He is righteous'?
Surely there is no one who shows,
Surely there is no one who declares,
Surely there is no one who hears your words. 27 i The first time j I said to Zion,
'Look, there they are!'
And I will give to Jerusalem one who brings good tidings. 28 k For I looked, and there was no man;
I looked among them, but there was no counselor,
Who, when I asked of them, could answer a word. 29 l Indeed they are all 3 worthless;
Their works are nothing;
Their molded images are wind and confusion.

  1. Cross References
    Isaiah 43:15
    I am the LORD, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King.
  2. Cross References
    Isaiah 45:21
    Tell and bring forth your case; Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me.
  3. Cross References
    Isaiah 43:9
    Let all the nations be gathered together, And let the people be assembled. Who among them can declare this, And show us former things? Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified; Or let them hear and say, " It is truth.
  4. Cross References
    Isaiah 42:9
    Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them.
    Isaiah 44:7
    And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me, Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come, Let them show these to them.
    Isaiah 44:8
    Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.'
    Isaiah 45:3
    I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel.
    John 13:19
    Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He.
  5. Cross References
    Jeremiah 10:5
    They are upright, like a palm tree, And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot go by themselves. Do not be afraid of them, For they cannot do evil, Nor can they do any good.
  6. Cross References
    Psalms 115:8
    Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.
    Isaiah 44:9
    Those who make an image, all of them are useless, And their precious things shall not profit; They are their own witnesses; They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed.
    Romans 3:10 - 20
    As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one.
    1 Corinthians 8:4
    Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.
  7. Cross References
    Ezra 1:2
    Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.
  8. Cross References
    Isaiah 41:2
    Who raised up one from the east? Who in righteousness called him to His feet? Who gave the nations before him, And made him rule over kings? Who gave them as the dust to his sword, As driven stubble to his bow?
    Jeremiah 50:3
    For out of the north a nation comes up against her, Which shall make her land desolate, And no one shall dwell therein. They shall move, they shall depart, Both man and beast.
  9. Cross References
    Isaiah 43:9
    Let all the nations be gathered together, And let the people be assembled. Who among them can declare this, And show us former things? Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified; Or let them hear and say, " It is truth.
  10. Cross References
    Isaiah 41:4
    Who has performed and done it, Calling the generations from the beginning? 'I, the LORD, am the first; And with the last I am He.'
  11. Cross References
    Isaiah 40:9
    O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!
    Nahum 1:15
    Behold, on the mountains The feet of him who brings good tidings, Who proclaims peace! O Judah, keep your appointed feasts, Perform your vows. For the wicked one shall no more pass through you; He is utterly cut off.
  12. Cross References
    Isaiah 63:5
    I looked, but there was no one to help, And I wondered That there was no one to uphold; Therefore My own arm brought salvation for Me; And My own fury, it sustained Me.
  13. Cross References
    Isaiah 41:24
    Indeed you are nothing, And your work is nothing; He who chooses you is an abomination.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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