The Idols of Babylon and the One True God
1 Jer. 50:2;51:44;[ch. 21:9]Bel bows down; Nebo stoops;
their idols are on beasts and livestock;
these things you carry are borne
as burdens on weary beasts.
2 They stoop; they bow down together;
they cannot save the burden,
but [Jer. 48:7;Hos. 10:5,6]themselves go into captivity.
3 "Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
[Deut. 1:31;32:11]who have been borne by me from before your birth,
carried from the womb;
4 [Ps. 71:18]even to your old age I am he,
and to gray hairs I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
I will carry and will save.
5 See ch. 40:18"To whom will you liken me and make me equal,
and compare me, that we may be alike?
6 See ch. 44:10Those who lavish gold from the purse,
and weigh out silver in the scales,
hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
ch. 44:15then they fall down and worship!
7 See ch. 45:20They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,
they set it in its place, and it stands there;
Ps. 115:7it cannot move from its place.
If one cries to it, it does not answer
or save him from his trouble.
8 "Remember this and stand firm,
recall it to mind, [ch. 43:25]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 ch. 41:26declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ch. 44:26,28;Ps. 33:11;Prov. 19:21;[Heb. 6:17]‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
11 See ch. 41:2calling a bird of prey from the east,
the man of my counsel from a far country.
Num. 23:19I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
I have purposed, and I will do it.
12 "Listen to me, you stubborn of heart,
you who are far from righteousness:
13 ch. 51:5;[ch. 56:1;Ps. 85:9] I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off,
and my salvation will not delay;
ch. 62:11;[Joel 2:32]I will put salvation in Zion,
for Israel my glory."