Frightened Peoples Trust in Idols

Isaiah now describes the reaction of the nations to this future  conqueror:  "The islands saw and began to fear. The  very extremities of the earth began trembling.  They drew near and kept coming.  They went helping each one his companion, and one would say to  his brother:  'Be strong.'  So the craftsman went strengthening the metalworker; the one doing the smoothing out with the forge hammer him that is hammering away a the anvil, saying regarding the soldering:  'It is good.' Finally one fastened it with nails that it could not be made to totter." -Isaiah 42:5-7.

Looking some 200 years into the future, Jehovah surveys the world scene.  Mighty armies under Cyrus move swiftly, conquering all in opposition.  Peoples-even the inhabitants of the islands, those in the most distant places-tremble at his approach.  In fear they unite to oppose the one whom Jehovah has called from the east to execute judgment.  They try  to encourage one another saying:  "Be strong."

Craftsmen work together to fashion idol gods to deliver the people.  A wooden frame is fashioned  by a carpenter, who then encourages the goldsmith to plate it with metal, perhaps gold.  A sculptor hammers the metal smooth and approves of the soldering.  Perhaps it is with some sarcasm that mention is made of fastening it with nails so that it does not totter or show weakness, as did the idol of Dagon that toppled before the ark of Jehovah.-1 Samuel 5:4.

Next time: Fear Not!

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, Volume II, 2001