OVERVIEW. An exegesis of Isaiah 45:23 by considering other passages in Isaiah and passages in the New Testament about Jesus.

“I have sworn by Myself,
The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness
And will not turn back,
That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.”

Isaiah 45:23

The context of this verse is the LORD speaking to the “fugitives of the nations” (45:20). He calls them to gather themselves and come, draw near “you fugitives of the nations.” Who are these “fugitives of the nations?” Remember that “the nations” are the Gentiles. Consider also that “fugitives” calls to mind scattered aliens (1 Peter 1:1), those who are being “persecuted but not forsaken” (2 Cor. 4:9), fleeing from one city to the next (Matthew 10:23). These fugitives of the nations are the elect from among the Gentiles, those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation (Rev. 7:9), whom the LORD has called out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).

The LORD commands the fugitives to “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth” (45:22). Later Jesus says the same thing with different words: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). A connection between Isaiah’s prophecy and the first advent of the Lord Jesus is beginning to emerge.

Now looking at our theme verse, the LORD says, “That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.” But we also note that the apostle Paul quotes this verse in Philippians 2:10 and explicitly applies this to the Jesus. Every knee will bow to Jesus. Thus, Jesus is the LORD. Jesus is the one to whom all the ends of the earth must turn for salvation.

Peter declares in Acts 4:12, “There is salvation in no other name.” It is only the name of Jesus by which we must be saved.

So, the LORD says, “Turn to Me and be saved.” Peter says that Jesus is the one by whom we must be saved. Necessarily then, Jesus is the LORD and the name of the LORD is Jesus.

Soli Deo gloria            rmb                 6/13/2025                 #718