Isaiah 46
Big idea: Two ways of moving a god through a city. Babylon's are loaded onto pack animals and become a burden to the exhausted beasts carrying them; Israel's has been carrying his people since before they were born and says he will still be doing it when they are old.
The contrast is the whole chapter: carried gods versus a carrying God, argued in one sustained image.
46:1–13 — Even to old age I am he
The scene is an evacuation, and it is described from the animals' point of view. Bel bows down, Nebo stoops — the two chief gods of Babylon named — and their images are loaded onto animals and cattle; the things you carried around are made a load, a burden to the weary beast. They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, and they themselves have gone into captivity. The gods are described as freight, and the freight has been taken prisoner.
1 Bel bows down. Nebo stoops. Their idols are carried by animals, and on the livestock. The things that you carried around are heavy loads, a burden for the weary. 2 They stoop and they bow down together. They could not deliver the burden, but they have gone into captivity. 3 “Listen to me, house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, that have been carried from their birth, that have been carried from the womb. 4 Even to old age I am he, and even to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear. Yes, I will carry, and will deliver. 5 “To whom will you compare me, and consider my equal, and compare me, as if we were the same? 6 Some pour out gold from the bag, and weigh silver in the balance. They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god. They fall down— yes, they worship. 7 They bear it on their shoulder. They carry it, and set it in its place, and it stands there. It cannot move from its place. Yes, one may cry to it, yet it can not answer. It cannot save him out of his trouble. 8 “Remember this, and show yourselves men. Bring it to mind again, you transgressors. 9 Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done. I say: My counsel will stand, and I will do all that I please. 11 I call a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. Yes, I have spoken. I will also bring it to pass. I have planned. I will also do it. 12 Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, who are far from righteousness! 13 I bring my righteousness near. It is not far off, and my salvation will not wait. I will grant salvation to Zion, my glory to Israel.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).