………………………………………………………………………………………
It may seem odd to commence our study at chapter 6,
but therein lies the record of Isaiah’s call to the ministry. We will backtrack to the opening chapters in
our next study.
Along with chapter 53, chapter 6 is the only
well-known passage in the entire book.
Few Christians have taken the time to study all 66 chapters. And the very length of the book makes it an
awesome series for any preacher to cover with his congregation…
But this sixth chapter is familiar territory.
From WOE … (v. 5) ……… to GO! … (v. 9)
1. CONFRONTED
… vv 1-4
Isaiah catches a vision of the LORD of Hosts (vv 3
and 5) that changes his destiny.
He sees the angelic creatures and hears them speak
of God’s holiness. The Temple shakes
(v. 4).
It has been suggested that the three-fold “Holy,
Holy, Holy” is a hint of the Triune God-head.
Maybe so. But more convincing is
verse 8 where the Lord says, “Who will go for US?” Note the use of the plural … this is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
And in John 12:41 the gospel writer quotes this
chapter and tells us that Isaiah saw the Lord Jesus!…
Isaiah said this because He saw Jesus’ glory and
spoke about him.
2. CONVICTED
… v. 5
To see God’s glory also meant seeing his own sinful
condition. “Woe is me!” he cries.
3. CONFESSING
… v. 5
The cry “Unclean” is a reminder that King Uzziah had
become a leper. But Isaiah sees himself
as a moral leper … his lips are an indication of the state of his heart
(Matthew 12:34).
4. CLEANSED
… vv 6-7
The cleansing is effected by a coal from the altar
of sacrifice in the Temple courtyard.
And the basis of our cleansing is likewise the place of sacrifice …
Calvary!
5. CALLED
… v. 8
Many a missionary sermon has been preached from this
text. And rightly so.
But the Lord does not call until the candidate
realises their unworthiness, confesses their need, and comes to the Cross. NOW the Lord is able to use them.
Isaiah’s ready response is an example for every
child of God :
“Here am I … send me!”
6. COMMISSIONED
… vv 9-10
Here are some difficult verses … and it will not be
the last time we come across such in this Book of Isaiah.
(a) The
Puzzling Requirement! At first reading it sounds as
if the Lord does not want the Jews to be saved!!
But God is not willing that any should perish! 2 Peter 3:9.
He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked! Ezekiel 18:31-32.
No, God is telling His prophet to preach ironically
… “You Jews”, Isaiah will say, “you always listen to the preacher, but you
never do what he says! You love the big
rallies and Christian concerts and overseas preachers, but there is no
spiritual response!” (v. 9).
“So, Isaiah” the Lord continues (v. 10a), “you will make the heart of this people even harder as they hear the call to repentance and reject it.” It will not be Isaiah’s fault, or God’s fault, it is a condition they will bring upon themselves by rejecting the gospel.
“On the other hand (‘Otherwise’) IF they hear and see and understand and turn back to God, He will restore them to His favour…” (v. 10b).
(b) The
Prophet’s Reaction. How long will Judah rebel
against their God? … Until Jerusalem
lies in ruins and the Jews are taken away captive into a foreign land! (vv
11-12).
It was to be fulfilled when the nation of Babylon
invaded Judah and took the Jews into exile…
(c) The
Pious Remnant! … v. 13. Even though the great
majority of the nation will pay no heed to the prophet’s words, yet there will
be a ‘holy seed’ … a faithful remnant who keep their trust in God! And from now on that Remnant
becomes God’s chosen people.
There was a
time God called the nation of Israel to be His witnesses … but they have
failed.
Now we see the Doctrine of the Remnant come to the
fore … a doctrine that is carried over into the New Testament.
It is not the literal Israelite but the spiritual
Israelite who is really God’s child (Romans 2:28-29, 9:8; Galatians 3:29!!).
============================================================
These chapters highlight the theme of the book … the
CONDEMNATION that is coming upon the wicked, and the CONSOLATION that is
awaiting the people of God.
Here again is the prediction of a wholesale judgement
… and the survival of the faithful REMNANT.
Chapter 1 is generally regarded as having been
written at the time of the Assyrian invasion of Judah (after they had conquered
the House of Israel) in 701 BC.
……………………………….
1. Chapter
1 … THE COURT CASE
·
God
is the JUDGE (v. 2).
·
Heaven
(the angels?) and Earth (the animals) (v. 3) are the WITNESSES.
·
The
House of Judah is the ACCUSED (v. 4).
Despite the fact that the
“Daughter of Zion” (the city of Jerusalem) is besieged by the Assyrian army (vv
7-8), yet the nation persists in their sin.
The Lord even calls this
people “Sodom and Gomorrah!” (v. 10).
·
The CHARGES are brought against them…
(a) Rebellion (v. 2)
(b) Hypocrisy (v. 13).
They continue with their religious ritual but there is no
repentance. The outward show of their
ceremonies has no inner reality.
(c) Unrighteousness (v. 23).
There is no justice in the courts;
no care of the widows and orphans;
no honesty in business…
(d) Idolatry (v. 29) … worshipping ‘sacred oaks’ and other
Canaanite ‘gods’.
·
The SENTENCE is pronounced … the nation will be like an oak tree … chopped down and
burned in the fire! (vv 30-31.)
But even in the midst of all this is the promise of
a saved REMNANT! For God had sworn with
an oath (!) that one day the Seed of Abraham would come and be a blessing to
all nations. And that promise was
passed on to David … and that promise was to be fulfilled with the coming of
the Lord Jesus. Those who looked
forward, in faith, to His coming (and those today who look back, by faith, to
His coming) are God’s remnant.
The remnant will survive (v. 9), the day will come
when Jerusalem will be called a Faithful instead of a Rebellious City. The wicked will be destroyed (vv 26-27).
And when did … or will … all this be fulfilled … in
the ‘close up’ view, it may refer to the return from the Babylonian Exile. Although things were still far from perfect
then.
But in the long-range view, Isaiah sees the Church …
Spiritual Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22-23).
……………………………………….
of
Israel……………………
The Remnant……………………
The
Church
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A PROMISE FOR THE REMNANT
………………………………………………………………………………………..
From 2:6 – 4:1 we have a picture of the doom
that is coming… Note the phrase “in
that Day” (2:11, 17, 20; 3:7, 18; 4:1-2;
5:30).
These verses hardly need comment. They depict the wickedness of the nation and
the certainty of the coming judgement.
And the promise that a remnant will survive (3:10).
The word to the “haughty women” is savage in the
extreme (3:16-4:1).
Instead of a silken sash around their hair they will
have an enemy’s rope around their necks as they are led away into captivity
(3:24).
Instead of beauty-marks there will be brand-marks,
as they are rounded up and treated like cattle! (v. 24).
The shame of childlessness was great among Hebrew
women, hence the cry that will go forth when the men have been slain in battle
(4:1).
“In that Day” (4:1) when Nebuchadnezzar
leads the Babylonian armies against Jerusalem the rebellious Jews will realise
that God is not mocked… (3:11).
* * * * * * * * * *
From CONDEMNATION we move back to the CONSOLATION
… a better Day is coming! (4:2-6.)
Again we meet the promise of the surviving remnant
(v. 2) … the “holy” seed (vv 3, 6, 13).
The reference to the “Branch of the Lord” will later
be used of the Messiah (Isaiah 11:1; Zechariah
3:8; 6:12).
In Isaiah 4:2 a different Hebrew word is used and
the primary meaning seems to be the prosperity of the land after the remnant
returns from Exile in Babylon.
Hebrew poetry indicates that the phrase “Branch of
the Lord” be placed in conjunction with “fruit of the land” … and the
“survivors” are to be regarded as the same as the “holy (seed)”.
One line of Hebrew poetry says the same thing as the
next line (using different words, but the same thought), thus assisting the
reader in the interpretation.
See again, verse 4: The
Lord will wash away…
The Lord will cleanse...
Verse 5: The Lord will create a cloud of smoke
… and fire by night…
The glory (cloud) will be like a
canopy.
Likewise in verse 2: The
Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious …
The
fruit of the land will be the pride and glory…
In this verse the “Branch” is a reference to the
prosperity of Zion after the Babylonian Exile.
But … Isaiah does give us an illustration of
New Testament truth. The Messiah is “The
Branch” of David’s House. And He is the
One who is mighty to cleanse (v. 4) and protect (v. 5). He is, for the New Testament reader, “our
refuge and hiding place” (v. 6).
* * * * * * * * * *
The prophet stands in the market place with his
ukulele and sings a ‘protest’ song. God
planted a vineyard to bring forth fruit for His glory. And it produced ‘sour grapes’.
The vineyard is Judah and Israel (v. 7).
And God is about to punish them! (vv 5-6).
The vineyard is a constant emblem of the Hebrew
people … Hosea 10:1; Ezekiel
19:10; Jeremiah 2, and of course in the
New Testament the Lord Jesus speaks of the vineyard of the Jewish nation being
destroyed and the task of bringing forth fruit to God’s glory being given to
another nation … the Church (Matthew 21:33-44).
Our Lord described Himself as the TRUE vine (the
Jews of His day being the false vineyard), and those who ‘abide in Him’ are now
His vineyard (John 15:1-6). And we are
to “bring forth fruit” (John 15:16).
* * * * * * * * * *
The sins of Israel and Judah are outlined under a
series of six “Woes”:
5:8 Woe upon the Covetous … those rich
men who squeeze out the poor commoner with their take-over tactics!
5:11 Woe
to the Drunkards!
5:18 Woe to the Scoffers … who challenge
the Lord to do something about their blatant rebellion.
5:20 Woe
to the Immoral … who have perverted God’s Laws of right and wrong!
5:21 Woe
to the Self-righteous!
5:22 Woe again to the Drunkards … although
this time it is especially aimed at those who pervert justice in high places.
……
Therefore … Judgement is inevitable.
The
Lord has done all He could (5:4) … short of imposing upon their free-will … to
bring them back to Himself.
Now
He will “whistle” (like a bee-keeper) for the enemy to attack (v. 26).
============================================================
A MESSAGE FOR AHAZ
………………………………………………………….
As we come to this chapter it is important to notice
the background of Isaiah’s message to Ahaz against the background revealed in the
Books of Kings and Chronicles.
Ahaz, king of Judah (in the south!) had come to the
throne about 735 BC. He was a wicked
king … unlike his father, Jotham, and grandfather Uzziah. And during his 16-year reign the House of
Israel (in the north) and the Syrians join forces to topple him from the throne
and place the “son of Tabeel” thereon (Isaiah 7:6).
Isaiah tells Ahaz to turn to the Lord in this
chaotic hour … see 2 Chronicles 28:1-6 and 2 Kings 16:5.
But Ahaz is not interested in the God of his forefathers … he turns to the fast-growing Empire of Assyria to seek military help from them.
They come, and Judah finds themselves paying tribute
to Assyria – a situation that would exist off and on for another century (2
Kings 16:7; 2 Chronicles 28:20-21).
Isaiah and his children are ‘signs’ to Ahaz and
Judah that judgement is coming unless they turn to God … but even so, a remnant
will survive. The House of David MUST
continue…
And WHY must the House of David continue? Because through that family God had “sworn
with an oath” that one day He would send the Messiah.
It is probably early in the reign of Ahaz when the
prophet confronts him (7:1-4).
As the king inspects Judah’s precarious water supply
(in view of the forthcoming siege) Isaiah assures him that he need not fear the
two enemy kings (Aram and Syria) … they are nearly burnt out!
The Lord will even give Ahaz a sign that Judah will
survive the attack, but the idolatrous king piously (but hypocritically)
replies that he will not put the Lord to the test (v. 12).
The ‘sign’ has to do with the birth of a child who
will be named “Immanuel” … and by the time he is two or three years old the
Syrian-Israel threat will be over (v. 16).
But the prophecy has more to it than that. For Matthew quotes it in the New Testament
(1:23), and applies it to the birth of the Lord Jesus.
Again we come to the double fulfilment …
there is a LITERAL fulfilment in Isaiah’s day, and a SPIRITUAL fulfilment in
the Christian era.
‘Immanuel’ (735 BC) meant “God is with us”, and he
was a sign of judgement upon Syria and Israel … and a sign of salvation to
Judah.
Likewise, the Lord Jesus who was truly “God with us”
was a ‘sign’ (Luke 2:34 KJV) that God would punish the unrepentant sinner but
save His people (Matthew 1:21). Jesus
would cause the ‘fall and rise’ of mankind … depending on their relationship to
Him (Luke 2:34).
Now that word “VIRGIN” … Isaiah 7:14.
It is the Hebrew word ‘Almah’, which can be honestly
translated “a young woman”. It would be
taken for granted that being unmarried she would be a virgin … hence that is
also a legitimate translation.
Another Hebrew word ‘Betulah’ means virgin and
nothing else. But the more ambiguous
word, broader in its meaning that Betulah, is used here. And the fulfilment in Isaiah’s day was
simply that a young maiden was married … and had a son. Nothing miraculous.
But Matthew uses the Greek counterpart of Betulah,
‘Parthenos’, a word that means ‘virgin’ and nothing else. And the New Testament writers make it clear
that our New Testament Immanuel was virgin-born in a miraculous manner.
That Isaiah 7:14 had a fulfilment in 735 BC is
permitted by the use of “Almah” and confirmed by the context (vv 15-16).
But that the Lord Jesus, who came to deliver His
people from spiritual foes, was miraculously born, is demanded by the use of
‘Parthenos’.
* * * * * * * * * *
If the attack of Syria and Israel was an IMMEDIATE
THREAT (but not one to worry about), the FUTURE THREAT of an ASSYRIAN invasion
was far worse.
For Assyria will not only attack Israel, but will
also invade Judah!
God is likened to a bee-keeper whistling for the
Assyrians to attack Israel (7:18), and like a barber who will cut them (Israel)
down!! (v. 20).
To prove that he IS a prophet (and not some quack
fortune-teller) Isaiah writes the name of his second son on a scroll … before
witnesses (8:1-2).
The child’s name means “Haste to the plunder; quick to the spoil” … i.e. the Assyrians
will devastate and destroy Israel.
And in 721 BC that’s what happened.
But the name of Isaiah’s other son is “Shear-Jashub”
which means a “Remnant will survive”.
For this reason he had taken Shear-Jashub to see Ahaz of Judah (7:3).
Whilst the House of Israel is doomed by the imminent
Assyrian onslaught (2 Kings 15:29), yet “a remnant will survive” when the
Assyrian attacks Judah. They (Judah)
will keep their head above water!! … 8:7-8:
“Therefore the Lord is about to bring against them the
might floodwaters of the River – the king of Assyria with all his pomp. It will overflow all its channels, run over
all its banks and sweep on into Judah, swirling over it, passing through it and
reaching up to the neck …” BUT NOT THE
HEAD!!
The famous archaeological find, The Sennacherib
Prism, gives the Assyrian account of this attack on Judah. It can be seen in the British Museum. See 2 Kings 18:13.
Whilst most of Judah’s cities fell to Sennacherib,
king of Assyria, Jerusalem was miraculously delivered (2 Kings 18:19).
It happened as Isaiah had said … and the fact that
it had been foretold and written before witnesses … and given as his children’s
names … left no room for argument.
Do not run after the spiritualist to find answers to
your questions, Ahaz; turn to God’s
prophets and God’s written Law (vv 13, 19-20)!
Those who turn to Him will find Him to be a refuge (sanctuary … v. 14),
but those who refuse His Word will find Him to be a “rock” that makes them fall
(v. 14(.
It was true in Isaiah’s day … and Peter reminds us
that it is just as true in this age (1 Peter 2:5-10).
============================================================
THE MESSIAH’S TITLES
………………………………………………….
Thus far we have seen various strands emerging in
Isaiah’s prophecy …
The fact that judgement is coming upon the northern
House of Israel … in the immediate future from the armies of Assyria!
Judah, in the south, is threatened by a coalition of
Israel and Syria … but there is no cause to fear, Isaiah tells King Ahaz
(7:16).
But Assyria is on the warpath!
Despite all this, a remnant will survive, as
signified by the name of Isaiah’s on, Shear-Jashub.
Isaiah also sees the coming age of the Messiah. Many of his predictions see far beyond his
day to ours … and he describes the blessings we have in Christ in the language
of his day (2:3-5; 4:2-6).
Some of these prophecies have A DOUBLE FULILMENT,
first in his own day, but also in the Messianic Age (1 Peter 1:10-12)!!
* * * * * * * * * *
Again the prophet changes from the gloom of the
preceding verses (8:6-8, 21-22) to a picture of the coming glory (9:1-4).
The lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, which were first
to experience the Assyrian invasion (being in the far north), will one day be
blessed by the “great light” (v. 2).
Sure enough, Matthew quotes this passage and applies
it to our Lord’s Galilean ministry (4:12-16).
The day the Lord Jesus ministered in that area
caused great rejoicing (9:3), as was the case when Gideon defeated the
Midianites 600 years before Isaiah’s time (v. 4; Judges 7).
Whether there was any fulfilment of these verses in
Old Testament days, I can find no evidence.
There does not seem to be a double fulfilment, just a prophecy of the
blessing that will accompany the advent of the Messiah, i.e. His first coming
(despite what Vernon McGee says, who applies it to the Second Coming of our
Lord).
In verses 6-7 this coming Messiah is identified in
more detail…
As a “Child” He will be born … but as a “Son” who
has existed from all eternity He will be ‘given’ …
And He will come to rule His people. We who trust Him belong to His Kingdom (v.
6; Colossians 1:13).
Isaiah 9:6-7 form the triumphant chorus found in
Handel’s “Messiah”.
………………………………………….
HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED :
1. WONDERFUL!!
Some expositors consider this to be an adjective,
i.e. no comma between Wonderful and Counsellor.
In any case, the Lord Jesus was ‘wonderful’ in His
Virgin Birth, His Virtuous Life, His Vicarious Death, His Victorious
Resurrection… and He will be ‘wonderful’ at the time of His Visible Returning.
2. COUNSELLOR
…
He is the One who is able to guide His people
aright. Or we can take the title to
mean, “One who argues our case in court”.
He is the One who ever liveth to defend me against
the accuser of the brethren, Satan (Hebrews 7:25; Revelation 12:10).
I sinned. And straightway, post-haste, Then quickly One rose up from God’s
Satan
flew right hand,
Before the presence of the Most High Before
whose glory angels veiled their God, eyes.
And made a railing accusation there. He
spoke, “Each jot and tittle of the law
He said, “This soul, this thing of clay
must
be fulfilled; the guilty sinner
and
sod, dies!
has sinned. ’Tis true that he has named But
wait – suppose his guilt were all
Thy
name, transferred
But I demand his death, for Thou to
Me, and that I paid his penalty!
hast
said,
‘The soul that sinneth, it shall die.’ Behold
My hands, My side, My feet!
Shall
not One day
Thy sentence be fulfilled? Is justice I was made sin for him, and died that
he
dead? Might be presented, faultless, at Thy
Send now this wretched sinner to his throne!”
doom. And Satan flew away. Full well he
What other thing can righteous ruler knew
do?” that he could not prevail against such
And thus he did accuse me day and love,
night, for every word my dear Lord spoke was
And every word he spoke, O God, true!
was
true! by
Martha Snell Nicholson.
…………………………………………………………………………..
3. The
MIGHTY GOD!!
Whilst it is true that sometimes in the Old
Testament magistrates were referred to as ‘gods’ because they were the
representatives of God (Psalm 82:6;
John 10:34-35), yet the title “The MIGHTY God” can apply to none other
than the Creator of Heaven and Earth.
So it is in the Gospel record: we see the Lord Jesus accepting worship (which only belongs to God) and claiming power to forgive sins (which only God can do) (Mark 2:7), and actually claiming to be God (John 10:33), and even accepting that title without rebuking the one kneeling before Him (John 20:28) …
“In Him”, wrote an inspired Paul, “dwelleth all the
fullness of the Godhead, bodily” (Colossians 2:9).
Jesus was God the Son … and still is!!
…………………………………
4. The
EVERLASTING FATHER …
Hey! Wait a
minute! If the Lord Jesus is God the
Son, how can Isaiah speak of Him as the Father???
Some cults teach that Jesus is the Father … and deny
the doctrine of the Trinity in an effort to explain this dilemma.
But it simply means that the Lord Jesus will act in
a ‘fatherly’ way towards those who follow Him.
In the Gospels He often refers to His disciples as His ‘children’
(Matthew 15:26; Mark 10:24; John 13:33, 21:5).
Hebrews 2:10 tells us that the Lord Jesus, by His
death upon Calvary, ‘brought many sons unto glory’ – i.e. He was responsible
for giving them ‘spiritual birth’. He
is a Father to those who trust Him.
…………………………………………………….
5. The
PRINCE OF PEACE …
There is a sense in which this is true now … He has
provided peace between God and man by His sacrifice (Romans 5:1), and peace
between Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14-18).
But the Day is coming when He will come again and
put down all rebellion against His rule … and the world will have peace at
last.
No more war, no more crying, no more pain and
suffering, no more death … “These words are true and faithful!” (Revelation 21:4-5).
…………………………………………………
6. The
KING UPON THE THRONE OF DAVID!! (9:7)
That throne is already established. Peter says so in Acts 2:29-31… The Saviour
rose from the dead to sit on that throne!
And His Kingdom is already established too…
and those who crown Him King are in it (Colossians 1:13!).
There will, of course, be a greater fulfilment when
the Lord Jesus returns … “and He shall reign for ever and ever and ever …
Hallelujah!”
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SAD
SONGS
……………………………………………………………..
In this passage we have four brief songs of “Woe”
upon Israel … each one with a recurring theme (9:12, 17, 21; 10:4).
………………
1. THE
FIRST SONG
has to do with enemies from without (9:11) but still they did not repent. And His hand was still outstretched toward
them … in judgement (v. 12).
…………………………
2. SONG
TWO
speaks of the enemies within the nation (vv 15-16) … and still no turning to
the Lord.
………………………..
3. SONG
THREE
points to
the certainty and horrors of the coming judgement (like a forest fire … v. 18),
and…
………………………………
4. THE
FINAL SONG
points us to the inescapability of that judgement … no place to hide!! (10:3).
…………………………….
But God’s Hand is not always stretched out in wrath
as here described. It is also a Hand
stretched out to Save (11:11) … and to Bless (40:2) … and to Strengthen
(41:10).
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ASSYRIA’ DOOM
………………………………………………………………..
We now come to two prophecies dealing with the doom
of Assyria and the salvation of the remnant.
……………………………
1a. ASSYRIA’S
DOOM … 10:5-12
Despite the fact that the Assyrian is God’s club (v.
5) to punish His people, He will also punish the king of Assyria (v. 12).
…………………………………
2a. THEIR
ARROGANCE … 10:13-16
The Assyrians attribute their victories to their own
strength and their own gods. Therefore
the God of Israel will devour them like a forest fire “in a single day”
(v. 17). The fulfilment of this is
recorded in 2 Kings 19:35. Lord Byron’s
poem describes this destruction of the Assyrian army.
The Assyrian
came down like the wolf on the fold,
And his cohorts
were gleaming in purple and gold;
And the sheen
of their spears was like stars on the sea,
When the blue
wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee.
Like the leaves
of the forest when summer is green,
That host with
their banners at sunset were seen:
Like the leaves
of the forest when autumn hath blown,
That host on
the morrow lay withered and strown.
For the Angel
of Death spread his wings on the blast,
And breathed in
the face of the foe as he passed;
And the eyes of
the sleepers waxed deadly and chill,
And their
hearts but once heaved, and forever grew still!
And there lay
the steed with his nostrils all wide,
But through it
there rolled not the breath of his pride.
And the foam of
his gasping lay white on the turf,
And cold as the
spray of the rock-beating surf.
And there lay
the rider distorted and pale,
With the dew on
his brow and the ruse on his mail;
And the tents
were all silent, the banners alone,
The lances
unlifted, the trumpet unblown.
And widows of
Ashur are loud in their wail,
And idols are
broken in the temple of Baal;
And the might
of the Gentile, unsmote by the sword,
Hath melted
like snow in the glance of the Lord!
by
Lord Byron.
……………………………………..
3a. THE
SALVATION OF THE REMNANT … 10:20-23
But those who “truly rely on the Lord” (v.
20) will be saved!
* * * * * * * * * *
1b. ASSYRIA’S
DOOM … 10:24-27
Whilst the northern House of Israel will be “cut
off” (9:14), the southern House of Judah need not be afraid (v. 24). The Lord will punish the Assyrians as He did
the Midianites and the Egyptians.
Verse 27 means that God will release the Assyrian
yoke from the Jew’s neck.
…………………………………..
2b. THEIR
ADVANCE … 10:28-32
These verses list twelve villages through which the
Assyrian army will march on its way to Jerusalem. It has nothing to do with the approach of Anti-Christ to the
battle of Armageddon as Scofield suggests…
Again the prophet uses the figure of speech of Assyria being like a
forest and the Lord is the One who will cut them down (10:33; cf. v. 17).
………………………………….
3b. THE
SALVATION OF THE REMNANT … 11:1-16
Isaiah foretells the coming of the Seed of David who
will bring Justice and Judgement and Peace (vv 3-9). This peace is described in the poetic language of tamed animals.
“This will not happen in the millennium, for
millennialists believe that sin will not be utterly and finally conquered until
after that period. Yet this passage
will be fulfilled, so that all the evil effects of sin will be transformed, and
the kingdom of God will be made up of those who have been made over from the
inside. New men for a new kingdom! This is true NOW in the Church, but
will be more completely and gloriously fulfilled in heaven, of which the Church
has a foretaste.” (Wesleyan
Commentary.)
Verse 11 tells how the Lord will deliver His people
a second time. The first time was from
Egyptian bondage (11:16). The second
deliverance would be of the remnant of all Israel from Babylon. But vaster than that, Isaiah sees the
deliverance of God’s people from spiritual bondage. “In that day” His people will sing (and do sing) … “surely
God is my Salvation; I will trust and
not be afraid. The Lord is my strength
and my song” (12:2).
============================================================
THREE SONGS OF
PRAISE!
……………………………………………………….
Christianity is a singing religion!
The hymns and choruses in our Sunday services are
not to fill in time … but to lift the heart and mind God-ward.
And to instruct us in the Faith.
The early Methodists learned more theology from the
hymns of Charles Wesley than the sermons of brother John, I think it is true to
say.
The psalmist tells of the early Israelites who
believed God’s Word “and sang” (Psalm 106:12) … and then, later, when they did
not believe God’s Word … they murmured! (Psalm 106:24-25).
The Lord Jesus sang … Matthew 26:30.
And so did the apostle, Paul. Acts 16:25.
And Christians still have plenty to sing about!!
* * * * * * * * * *
Notice three Hymns of Praise in Scripture:
1. THE
SONG OF MOSES … Exodus 15
After years of bondage in Egypt, the people of
Israel are free. Pharaoh’s charioteers
are drowned in the Red Sea. Israel has
a new freedom, a new leader (Moses), and a new destination (the Promised Land)
… and a new song!! (15:1-3.)
God is praised because of who He is … “the One who
saved me” (i.e. from Egypt), and because of His victory over the enemy.
And in verse 17 He is praised because of what He is
going to do … lead His people into Canaan.
……………………………………………
2. THE
SONG OF ISAIAH … Isaiah 12
The prophet spoke in 11:11 of the Lord delivering
His people “a second time”. Just
as He led them out of Egypt (11:16) so He will deliver the remnant of the House
of Israel from Assyria … and the House of Judah from Babylon (11:11b; 16).
And “in that day” (12:1) they will sing a song similar to that of
Moses.
Once as Archbishop Temple went down to breakfast
he heard his host’s cook singing Nearer my God to Thee, and commended
her spirited rendering. She thanked him
but felt bound to explain: “It’s what I
always boil the eggs to, my lord – three verses for soft and five for hard.” (D.J.K.)
The prophet describes the Lord in various ways..
(a) My
Solace …
the One who comforts me (v. 1).
(b) My
Salvation
… in HIM is salvation to be found (in Isaiah’s day this meant salvation from
their literal enemies. But the song is
also a Messianic prophecy … when the “root and offspring of Jesse” (11:10)
comes He will bring spiritual deliverance, Isaiah says, from sin’s bondage.
(c) My
Strength,
v. 2 … the One who upholds when the going gets tough!!
(d) My
Song!
(v. 2). As the psalmist said, He put a
new song in my mouth when He saved me (Psalm 46:1-3).
(e) My
Satisfier
… like cool water in the heat of the battle (v. 3).
(f) My
Shared One
… the One I must needs tell others about … that they might know Him too (vv
4-6).
…………………………………………….
3. THE
SONG OF THE HEAVENLY CHOIR … Revelation 5
(a) The
Scene …
is in Heaven.
Dispensationalists take it to be a picture of the Rapture … but just because John is ‘caught up to Heaven’ (4:1). But old-time commentators interpreted this as John’s vision of our Lord’s arrival in Glory after the ascension.
The inhabitants of heaven are weeping because there
is no-one worthy to open the book … a book that describes the future of the
Church (?)
Then the Saviour arrives … as a Lamb recently slain
(5:6).
(b) The
Singers …
the heavenly inhabitants (as distinct from the angels, vv 8, 11) rejoice that
the price has been paid, the blood has been shed … to redeem those who place
their faith in Him.
(c) The
Subject Matter … The ‘great salvation’ purchased at Calvary.
But only those who sing the song of Isaiah (“He
is my salvation”) can know the reality of the heavenly choir’s Hymn of
Praise!
* * * * * * * * * *
SOME
HYPOCRITICAL HYMN-SINGING
We sing …
·
Sweet House of Prayer … and are content with 2-5
minutes a day of personal prayer.
·
Onward Christian Soldiers … and will not
be drafted into His service.
·
O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing … and don’t use
the one we have.
·
There shall be Showers of Blessing … but do not
come when it rains.
·
Blest be the Tie that Binds … and let the least little offence sever it.
·
Serve the Lord with Gladness … and gripe
about all we have to do for Him.
·
I Love to Tell the Story … and never
mention it at all.
·
We’re Marching to Zion … but fail to
march to worship or Sunday-School.
·
Cast Thy Burden on the Lord … and worry
ourselves into a nervous breakdown.
·
The Whole Wide World for Jesus … and never
invite our next-door neighbour.
·
O Day of Rest and Gladness … and wear
ourselves out travelling, cutting grass, or playing golf on Sunday.
·
Throw Out the Lifeline … and content
ourselves with throwing out a fishline.
Let us sing to the God of
salvation,
Let us sing to the Lord our
Rock!
Let us come to His House
with thanksgiving,
Let us come before the Lord
and sing.
============================================================
THE
DOOM OF BABYLON!
Chapters 13 - 14
We approach a new section of the Book of
Isaiah: a series of prophecies
concerning the judgement of God upon various nations … Babylon (13:1,ff), Assyria
(14:24,ff), Philistia (14:18,ff), Moab (15:1,ff) … and so it goes, until
chapter 24, when he turns his ‘guns’ on the Houses of Israel … and Judah.
But as in chapters 1-12 we will see the promise of
deliverance held out to the ‘remnant’.
* * * * * * * * * *
The first prophecy is directed against BABYLON (v.
19), the most glorious city of the ancient world.
In Isaiah 47:5 this magnificent metropolis is
described as the “Queen of Kingdoms”.
Rebuilt by Nebuchadnezzar, it became “the praise of
the whole earth” (Jeremiah 51:41).
Daniel 4 records the Babylonians King’s proud boast
(Daniel 4:30).
The walls:
60 miles in circumference, 300 feet high, 80 feet thick, 35 feet below
the ground. 100 gates of brass. 250 towers.
The fabled accounts of ancient historians were confirmed by the spade of
the archaeologist. Robert Koldewey
excavated Babylon from 1898 until 1917.
Wonder after wonder met the gaze of the diggers.
…………………………………………..
A few preliminary remarks…
(a) The
Date of Writing. Bear in mind that Isaiah 1:1
told us that the prophet lived from about 740 BC (when he received his call in
chapter 6) to his death, approximately 686 BC.
But Babylon at this time is merely a province of the
Assyrian Empire. Babylon does not
achieve any greatness until the days of Nebuchadnezzar, about 50 years
later. And Babylon is not destroyed
until something like 150 years after Isaiah died!!
This leads the critics, as usual, to argue that
Isaiah did not write these chapters. It
is true that the prophet’s disciples may have gathered his writings and put
them into the order we now have them … messages he gave over his 60-year
ministry, but there is no need to deny his authorship.
(b) The
Pre-Eminence given to Babylon. Why is
Babylon placed first in this compilation of prophecies against the
nations? Assyria was conquered before
Babylon … but is mentioned after Babylon.
The prophecies are not in chronological order … at least, as far as their fulfilment is concerned.
But Isaiah writes PRIMARILY from Judah … TO JUDAH …
and the number one enemy they will have to face is Babylonia. Not Assyria, see Isaiah 10:24 … they
are not the threat to Judah. But
Babylonia will be!!
(c) The
Style. Remember that this is POETRY!! And a poet does not always put things in
literal language. For example:
“See, the day of the Lord is coming – a cruel day,
with wrath and fierce anger – to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners
within it. The stars of heaven and
their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its
light” (Isaiah 13:9-10).
The same figure of speech is used in Isaiah 34:4
dealing with God’s judgement upon Edom.
And in Ezekiel 32:7-8 in respect to Egypt. Joel 2:28-32 probably refers to the destruction of Jerusalem in
AD 70.
But the stars did not literally go out … it
is a way of saying that ‘the sun has set’ on that which was once a great
empire! Beware of literalism.
(d) The
Time Factor. Read Isaiah 13:6-8. It is almost mind-boggling to read those
Bible teachers who assure us that the prophet is speaking of some ‘Tribulation
Period’ after the Second Coming of Christ!
The ‘Day of the Lord’ is the Day God judges some
nation … be it Babylon five centuries before Christ … or Jerusalem in AD 70.
It does not always refer to the end of the
world.
Even here Isaiah tells us that the Day “is near” …
just a few years hence.
But some prophetic expositors apply these verses to
the End of this Age. These events may
well typify the End Times ... but the immediate reference is to events about to
occur.
* * * * * * * * * *
1. THE
DOOM! … vv 11-13
There will be no escape from the coming
judgement. God is about to punish
wicked, arrogant and proud Babylon (v. 11).
Any man who survives will be rare indeed (v. 12).
……………………………..
2. THE
DESTROYER … vv 17-18
Isaiah even pinpoints the enemy that God will use to
overthrow Babylon.
The Medes … later joined by the
Persians (v. 17). And this happened in
538 BC, when the armies of Darius the Mede (under Cyrus the Great) conquered
Babylon.
The story is told in Daniel 5 (see v. 31).
…………………………………………
3. THE
DESOLATION …vv 20-22
Note : “at hand” in v. 22.
And thus it came to pass. For centuries Babylon lay buried beneath the sands. Today Saddam Hussein has been rebuilding it
as a tourist attraction. But not to be
inhabited. For that matter, nobody
seems like to take a holiday there…
Dispensationalists believe that Babylon will
be rebuilt … and destroyed during the Tribulation!
The prophecy was fulfilled in Old Testament days.
……………………………..
4. THE
DELIVERANCE … 14:1-3
These verses tell of the deliverance of the remnant
(which happened, 50,000 returned from Babylon to rebuild their temple and their
nation). And some ‘aliens’ (Gentiles)
will be converted to Judaism. Esther
8:17 tells of the fulfilment.
………………………………………………..
5. THE
DOUBLE FULFILMENT
It is true to say that Revelation 18 describes the
fall of ‘Babylon’ at the End of the Age (vv 1-5).
Here, in Isaiah, it is ‘literal’
Babylon that is in view. In Revelation
it is ‘Spiritual’ Babylon … the great enemy of God’s Spiritual Israel,
the Church.
And deliverance is promised on that Final Day of the
Lord for God’s people.
In Isaiah 14:12-17 the prophet describes the fate of
Babylon’s king – and here, too, some Christians see a picture of the Man of Sin
who exalteth himself in the Temple of God (the Church), even claiming to be
God! (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.)
Others have suggested that we have a flashback to
Satan’s rebellion in Heaven … when he led a host of defiant angels in an attempt
to dethrone God.
Both these suggestions have some merit … but
the primary interpretation has to do with the judgement upon the king of
Babylon … in poetic language.
============================================================
……………………………………………….
The prophet continues his ‘oracles’ against the
various nations. Remember that they
were not all given at the same time … nor are they in chronological order. Probably Isaiah … or one of his disciples …
collated them into this order at a later date.
And remember that he is writing Poetry … see Study
No. 9.
……………….
1. THE
DOOM OF ASSYRIA … 14:24-27
It was in the year 701 BC that the Assyrian army was
destroyed by some God-sent plague upon ‘my mountains’ (2 Kings 19:35 … see
Study No. 7).
The date this prophecy was given is unknown … maybe
10 to 20 years previous.
…………………………………………….
2. THE
DOOM OF PHILISTIA … 14:28-32
The ‘year King Ahaz died’ was 715 BC (v. 28).
(a) Lack of knowledge regarding
all the historical background makes the dogmatic understanding of these verses
difficult. Some commentators apply them
to Assyrian kings: Tiglath-Pileser,
Shalmaneser and Sargon (the serpent).
Others think Uzziah, Ahaz and Hezekiah are meant (2 Kings 18:8).
(b) In verse 31 Isaiah uses
another figure of speech … he points to ‘a cloud of smoke’ in the north, the
poetic parallelism suggesting the dust raised by the feet of the approaching
army.
A reference is made to the Philistine ambassadors
who came to Judah hoping to enter into a miliary alliance with them against
Assyria (v. 32).
But safety is to be found in trust the Lord … not an
unequal yoke (v. 32).
………………………………
3. THE
DOOM OF MOAB … Chapters 15-16
(a) Judgment
is decreed
… Moab shall be punished.
Sudden destruction will come upon their cities (15:1).
The rivers will run with blood (v. 9).
There will be weeping among the few survivors (v.
3).
The sin of Moab is outlined clearly for us in
16:6-7.
(b) The
Tone is Changed!! As Isaiah announces this
prophecy, he weeps. Such was not the
case with the oracle against Babylon or Assyria or the Philistines. But now we read 15:5; 16:9-11.
Is it because the Moabites are descended from Lot,
Abraham’s nephew?
Or because the great King David, and all the kings
of Judah since his reign, have Ruth, the Moabitess, for an ancestress?
In any case, Isaiah’s denunciation of judgement is
moist with his tears.
(c) Deliverance
is Offered … 16:1. If the
Moabites will turn from their sin and place themselves under the protection of
Judah’s king … and Judah’s God … they will be saved from the coming wrath
(16:1).
It is not difficult to see here an illustration of the gospel.
To escape the coming judgement we must come to God,
Who sits on the heavenly Mount Zion … and we, too, come with the offering of
the Lamb (John 1:29).
(d) The
Messiah is Foreshadowed … vv 4-5.
Those Moabites who do flee to Judah for refuge (16:4) find a just and
righteous king (Hezekiah?), who prefigures David’s greater Son. He, too, sits upon a throne established ‘in
love’ (v. 5) … and He, too, defends His people.
…………………………
4. THE
DOOM OF SYRIA and THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL … Chapter 17
(See also 2 Kings 16:9)
Syria and the House of Israel had joined forces to attack the House of Judah (7:1-2). Isaiah told the king of Judah not to worry (7:7-8).
Sure enough, Damascus, capital of Syria, was
destroyed in 732 BC, and Samaria, capital of Israel, in 722 BC.
Again the prophet speaks of a believing remnant who
will survive (17:6). They will turn to
God: their Creator (v. 7), their Holy
One (v. 7b), their Saviour (v. 10), their Strength (v. 10b).
============================================================
…………………………………………
Isaiah now continues his “Woe” messages …
introducing us to Ethiopia (chapter 18), Egypt (chapter 19) and both (chapter
20).
BACKGROUND…
These chapters are written at the time of the
Assyrian threat. Shalmaneser had
attacked the House of Israel … and the destruction and scattering of the people
was completed under the reign of Sargon II (721 BC).
Sargon then advanced south, conquering Ashdod
(20:1), possibly to open a route for his army to march to Egypt.
After his death in battle, his son Sennacherib laid
siege to Jerusalem.
It was probably during Sargon’s reign that Ethiopia
and Egypt sent ambassadors to Judah (King Hezekiah) to seek a military alliance
against the Assyrian invader.
Whilst some Jews favoured such an alliance, Isaiah
strongly opposed it, assuring all who heard him that God would fight for His
people … and twenty years later the next Assyrian ruler, Essarhaddon, conquered
Lower Egypt (i.e. the area closest to the Mediterranean!)
* * * * * * * * * *
1. ETHIOPIA
… Chapter 18
“Cush” (v. 1) is an ancient name for Ethiopia and
the surrounding area.
Their ambassadors “tall and smooth-skinned” (v. 2),
are bidden by the prophet to return to their own land “divided by the Nile and
its tributaries” … in their papyrus boats (v. 1). This passage has nothing to do with England and her battleships (G.
Williams Commentary) or events in the so-called Great Tribulation period (P
Ruckman … etc.)
The message they take back to their land is that
Jehovah will “cut down” the Assyrians in His own good time. No military alliance is needed (vv
3-6). And the news of the Assyrian’s
defeat will cause these ambassadors to return to Zion bearing gifts and
acknowledging the greatness of Judah’s God (18:7).
…………………………………..
2. EGYPT
… Chapter 19
The Lord is pictured coming in the clouds to
pronounce doom upon Egypt and her false gods (v. 1; cf. Matthew 24:30).
There will be civil war (v. 2) and a gradual decay
of the greatness of Egypt … and make no mistake, Egypt WAS great!
But, in poetic language, the life-blood of
Egypt (the Nile) will dry up (vv 5-10).
Wise men will become as fools (vv 11-15).
And the warriors will be “like women” (vv 16-17).
Some ingenious expositors have applied the verses
concerning the drying up of the Nile to the building of the Asswan Dam in the
1960’s. No. It is simply a poetic picture of the doom that was coming upon
Egypt, first by the attack of Essarhaddon of Assyria, a later defeat
under Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (586 BC), and a further crushing defeat
under Cambyses of Persia (525 BC).
The Nile was ‘drying up’.
HOWEVER, THE PROPHECY TAKES A SUDDEN TURN !!!
(19:19-25) …
“In that Day” (vv 18, 19, 23) there will be a
new language (of Canaan) in Egypt (v. 18), and a new altar (v. 19), and a new highway
(v. 23).
The ‘language’ may refer to a large Jewish
settlement (beginning in the days of the Babylonian Captivity. Jeremiah and some other Jews found
themselves in Egypt). The ‘altar’ may
refer to a Temple built in 164 BC near Heirapolis, to cater for the large
Jewish population there. But the
‘highway’ is difficult to explain literally.
It could be we have here an Old Testament
description of New Testament blessings.
All nations shall come into a new relationship with the God of
Israel. Christ has died for ALL peoples
to make them one.
The “language of Canaan” is the speech of His
people: Christians!
The “altar” is Calvary.
The “highway” is Christ Himself … the Way to
fellowship with God the Father (John 14:1-6).
The descendants of Shem (Israel), Ham (Egypt), and
Japthet (Assyria) can be “one in Christ” … by faith!
……………………………………
3. EGYPT
AND ETHIOPIA … Chapter 20
Isaiah is told by the Lord to walk the streets of
Jerusalem in his underwear … over a period of three years.
He becomes a walking sermon. Every step says, “Don’t make an alliance … trust God to deliver
you. The Egyptians and Ethiopians will
be led away captives by the Assyrians … even without their underwear?” (20:4).
The reference to Sargon, once considered a mistake
by Bible critics, was confirmed by archaeology in 1842. Sargon’s palace was discovered … and an
inscription mentioning the conquest of Ashdod (20:1).
See Isaiah, Where’s Your Trousers? by D.P.
(only $10.00) for further details!!!
============================================================
Isaiah’s messages of doom continue … Babylon
(21:1-10), Edom (21:11-12), Arabia (21:13-17), and then WOE upon
Jerusalem!! (22:1-14.)
At this stage, before continuing in chapter 23, more
woes upon the nations, there is suddenly a woe upon an individual – Shebna!
(21:15-25.)
After all, He is not just the God of the nations …
but the individuals!
* * * * * * * * * *
1. A
PROPHECY AGAINST BABYLON … 21:1-10
Babylon sits in the midst of a desert area, the
“sea” refers to the Euphrates River … or the Persian Gulf (v. 1).
And the remarkable thing is that this time he names
Babylon’s destroyers … Elam (an ancient name for Persia), and the Medes (v.
2). But Isaiah lived something
like 180 years previous!
Bible-believing Christians see here an example of
God-given prophecy. Bible critics are
forced to conclude that these verses were not written by Isaiah but someone who
lived 180 years later! (More of that
when we discuss the authorship problem.)
Isaiah goes on to describe the shock such a
revelation brings to his own soul. Even
though Babylon may be Israel’s enemy, yet the horrors of the Medo-Persian
attack cause him to grieve (vv 3-4).
He pictures the final night in the doomed city (v.
5), the night of which we have an historical record in Daniel 5. He re-enacts the day to come when watchmen
will announce the coming doom (vv 6-9).
A similar cry is given in Revelation 18:2… “Babylon the great is fallen!” But here (in Revelation) it speaks of a
symbolic Babylon … “drunken with the blood of the saints” (Revelation
17:5-6).
The fall of Babylon in 538 BC (foretold in Isaiah
21) is a preview of the “Mystery Babylon” yet to be destroyed at the Lord’s
Return.
……………………………….
2. A
PROPHECY AGAINST EDOM … 21:11-12
“Dumah” means “silence” … a play on words with
“Edom” … something like eDUMB!
And the prophet seems to be saying (it is
difficult to understand) that after a time of brightness (morning) the darkness
of judgement is coming. And today Edom
is still a land of silence … except for the tourists!
The latter part of verse 12 may be an invitation for them to repent … to “come back” to the Lord.
……………………………………………
3. A
PROPHECY AGAINST ARABIA … 21:13-17
Various desert tribes are bidden to give food and
water to any who escape the coming Assyrian conquest. It will take place within one year (v. 16).
“Kedar” was a son of Ishmael, and is used as a
synonym for the Arabs, just the same as “Ephraim” (son of Jacob) is sometimes
used as a synonym for Israel.
…………………………………………..
4. A
PROPHECY ABOUT JERUSALEM … 22:1-14
But now our prophet turns his eyes upon the
forthcoming attack by Assyria, and he notes the feverish attempts by many to
fortify their city … on the part of some … and the “eat, drink and be merry”
attitude on the part of others.
Notice that the inhabitants of Jerusalem are “on the
roof tops (v. 1) keeping an eye out for the advancing enemy.
Some have sought to flee the city, only to fall into
enemy hands (v. 3). The “revelry” may
explain the drunken brawls (v. 2).
Again Isaiah is moved in his spirit by the words God
is speaking through him (v. 4). He has
a deep love and concern for “my people” (v. 4).
Verses 5-7 describe that awful day (which, of
course, never happened, for the people repented and God wiped out the enemy
with a plague).
The Persians (Elam, v. 6), and the Moabites (Kir)
have joined forces with the Assyrians!!
And the men of Judah are turning to their armoury
(v. 8b), and have built a new water supply (v. 9) and torn down houses to use
the rubble in strengthening the wall around their city (v. 10).
And built a reservoir (v. 11). But they have not turned to their God (v.
11b).
Whilst others see no point in try to do battle with
the Assyrian horde (v. 13)!
The reference to water stored “in the Lower Pool”
has been vindicated by the archaeological discovery in 1890. Tourists today may walk through this tunnel,
which took water from Gihon Spring (outside the city wall) to the pool of
Siloam (inside).
………………………………….
** SHEBNA, Hezekiah’s steward, is
proud … and maybe a thief. He is
building himself a tomb (with embezzled money?) when Isaiah confronts him and
informs him that he will die in “a far country” (Assyria?) (v. 18).
In his place will be appointed Eliakim (v. 20), who
is a type of the Lord Jesus. He will
have the Key to the Temple (v. 22; see
Revelation 3:7-8). He will open and
shut. He will have all authority. He will act in a fatherly way toward his
people (v. 21).
He will be someone you can depend upon (v. 24).
But those who depend upon Shebna will come to a
sorry end (v. 25).
============================================================
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
If Babylon was the home of false religion (and it
was), and Assyria was the epitome of military aggression, Tyre was to be
identified with ungodly business practices.
Not only Isaiah but Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Amos,
Zechariah … etc., all raise their voices against this “market place of the
nations” (v. 3).
1. HER
DESCRIPTION … vv 1-12
Not only the world’s chief traders, but a city of
revelry (v. 7), especially at their idolatrous feasts where child sacrifice was
made.
She is described as a “bestower of crowns” (v. 8)
referring to the crown colonies she had established as far west as Spain
(Tarshish, v. 1), and maybe even to Britain.
Verse 12 reminds us that Sidon, 20 miles to the north,
had once been Phoenicia’s greatest city, and had ‘given birth’ to Tyre.
…………………….
2. HER
DESTROYER … vv 13-14
To understand the prophet is speaking of Babylonia
as the nation that will destroy the city of Tyre, one needs to read verse
13. At the time of writing Babylon is a
mere ‘suburb’ in the mighty Assyrian Empire … but they (Babylon) will lay siege
to Tyre and turn it into a ruin.
Ezekiel, who spends three chapters on the doom of
Tyre, is even more specific: “I will
bring upon Tyre Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon…” (Ezekiel 26:7).
…………………………….
3. HER
DOOM … vv 15-16
Sure enough, history tells us, in 585 BC the
Babylonians laid siege to Tyre for 13 years … finally the inhabitants fled to
an island half-a-mile off shore and the enemy destroyed their city.
The nations of the world who once traded with Tyre
are stunned … no harbour remains! (v. 1.)
Isaiah mentions the news reaching Cyprus (v. 1), and
Sidon (v. 2), and Egypt (v. 5), and Tarshish (v. 6).
The Lord has ‘brought low’ this proud city. Ezekiel even speaks about the Prince of Tyre
who is claiming to be God!! (Ezekiel 28:6-9).
…………………………………..
4. HER
DESTINY … vv 17-18
The destruction of the city of Tyre (on the
mainland) and Babylon’s control of the world is not the end of the story.
After 70 years Babylon fell to the Persians, who
allowed the captives to return to their own lands … and pay tribute from
thence.
Tyre, from its new city on the island,
was able to begin trading again (v. 17).
Some of that trade will even bring blessing to God’s
people … Ezra 3:7 and Nehemiah 13:16 speak of the remnant returned from Babylon
and their trade with Tyre.
It may be, as in the case of Egypt (Isaiah
19:24-25), and Ethiopia (Isaiah 18:7) there is a picture of Gentiles coming
into the Church in the Messianic Age.
* * * * * * * * * *
One of the most unusual prophecies in the Bible is
that concerning the ancient city of Tyre, as found in the book of the prophet
Ezekiel, chapter 26, written between 592-570 BC. Probably all books in defense of Christianity
will use this example, and with good reason.
Soon this reason will make itself clear.
Seven predictions…
1) Babylon will destroy Tyre (v. 8)
2) Many nations versus Tyre (v. 3)
3) Bare like a rock (v. 4)
4) Fishermen spread nets (v. 5)
5) Debris in water (v. 12)
6) Never rebuilt (v. 14)
7) Never found (v. 21)
These predictions serve as one of the most
convincing arguments for the supernatural inspiration of God’s Word.
The siege of Nebuchadnezzar did not exhaust the
prophecy. He destroyed the city on the
mainland … but a new Tyre grew on the off-shore island.
Number 1 was fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar … but what
about 2-7?
2) After
Tyre regained some independence (after 70 years, Isaiah 23:17), the Persians
attacked, and then, in 332 BC the Greeks, led by Alexander the Great. And he called on ships from Lycia, Cilicia
and Cyprus to help him conquer the ‘Alcatraz-like fortress’.
3) Alexander
also used the destroyed buildings of mainland Tyre to build a causeway to the
island … to get his troops across. Tyre
(mainland) was ‘bare like a rock’ by the time he had finished!
4) Even
to this day ancient Tyre is just a small fishing village.
5) Debris
in the sea? (v. 12). That is what the
Greeks did to build their causeway!
6) Never
rebuilt … just a few shacks for fishermen.
Despite the fact there is a magnificent fresh water supply.
7) Never
found, that is, never found to be a great maritime nation as once it was. Today archaeologists sift among the ruins.
And one more thing…
Ezekiel also predicted that Sidon would see
much bloodshed … but would continue to exist.
Today about 20,000 live there!
Why did he not foretell the same doom for Sidon as
he had done for Tyre?? (Ezekiel 28:22-23.)
The answer lies in 2 Peter 1:21 - “… these men of
God were inspired by the Holy Spirit…”
YOU can trust your Bible. It was right about Tyre and Sidon. And it is just as right about Heaven … and Hell … and the One who
died upon the Cross to provide salvation for those who put their trust in Him.
* * * * * * * * * *
“The
history of Tyre provides a striking example of the fulfilment of Bible
prophecy. First the mainland city
fell; then the island city was
destroyed. Both events were foretold.
“In the days of David and of
Solomon, friendly relations had existed between Israel and Tyre (1 Chronicles
14:1; 1 Kings 9:10-11). But the Tyrians were worshippers of Melkart
and Astarte. Tyre was devoted to
commerce. As she prospered, she became
proud. She became defiant toward
Jehovah, and Jehovah’s prophets foretold calamity for Tyre.
“Nebuchadnezzar
II besieged the city. From a military
standpoint, after many years it might have seemed futile to continue. But he persevered until Tyre fell at the end
of 13 years, thus fulfilling the Bible prophecy that had named him as its conqueror,
Ezekiel 26:7-12.
“Later,
Zechariah again foretold ruin for Tyre, but this time it was for the island
city. To reach it, Alexander the Great
scraped up the ruins of the mainland city to construct a causeway; he built huge siege towers. Though Tyre had built its walls 46 meters
high (150 feet), the prophecy was fulfilled (Zechariah 9:3-4; Ezekiel 26:4, 12).”
============================================================
………………………………………………………
The various “Woes” upon the nations, which commenced
in chapter 13, now reach their climax with this four-chapter description of
God’s judgement upon the “earth” (24:1)… a phrase that seems to describe the
whole Babylonian Empire of Isaiah’s day … and a preview of the end of the age.
Again we see the principle of a ‘double fulfilment’
… the immediate and the distant future.
And again we hear the prophet’s favourite theme …
the judgement is coming on the enemies of God’s people (Mahershalalhashbaz!!)
but there is deliverance for His people (Shear-Jashub … a remnant will
survive!)
What is true in these chapters of LITERAL BABYLON
and the LITERAL JEWS is but a foretaste of what will happen to MYSTERY BABYLON
(Revelation 17:5) and the SPIRITUAL JEWS … the Church (Galatians 3:29).
* * * * * * * * * *
1. THE
CLOSE-UP VIEW
(a) The
Return!! That there is a contemporary reference here
is unmistakable in the light of the closing verses (27:12-13).
It is a straight-forward prediction that one day the
exiles scattered around the Babylonian Empire will return to Jerusalem.
Remember that this is poetry … the imagery of the
trumpet calling the exiles home may not have been literal. To Isaiah’s readers it would remind them of
Numbers 10.
(b) The
Ruin. This is what Babylon will be like by the
time the Medes and Persians have overthrown it (538 BC).
(c) The
Resurrection! Don’t jump to conclusions …
this is poetry!! (26:19.)
And Ezekiel uses the same figure of speech for the same reason … to show that the Jews ‘buried’ in Babylonian captivity will one day ‘rise’ again and return to Zion (Ezekiel 37:12).
This verse simply means that the nation of Judah
would survive!
Shear-Jashub!!
(d) The
Refrain! When they, the remnant, went marching back
to Zion, they would express their joy in song!
The Lord is their Refuge (26:1-2), and their Rest (v. 3) and their Rock! (v. 4).
Chapter 25:4 takes up the same refrain…
“You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heart. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall and like the heat of the desert.”
………………………………………….
2. THE
FAR-OFF VIEW
(a) The
Rapture! Yes!
On that Final Day when Mystery Babylon is overthrown and Christ returns
to deliver His people the graves will literally give up their dead, whilst
those saints still living will rise – with them – to meet the Lord in the air!!
(1 Thessalonians 4.)
(b) The
Rejoicing … 25:9, 27:2-3. The song of the
Vineyard’s judgement (Isaiah 5:1-7) now becomes a song of Joy … for God’s
people have found His great salvation.
Instead of sinning against Him they are singing to Him.
(c) The
Reckoning
… 26:20-21. The New Testament reminds
us that the saints will be gathered into the Lord’s ‘barn’ whilst His
judgements are poured out upon the unsaved (Matthew 13:40-43).
(d) The
Rest …
25:5-6. Eternal Rest awaits the saints
of God!
The Book of Revelation describes not only the fall
of Mystery Babylon, and the Lord coming to save His people … but even the
‘feast’ prepared on the hills of the Heavenly Zion (Revelation 19:9) and the
joys that await us in Gloryland … Revelation 21:4-5.
============================================================
Chapters 28 – 33
…………………………………………………………….
These six chapters come to us from the prophet’s pen
during the reign of Ahaz.
The Assyrians are about to conquer Samaria, capital
of the House of Israel … and then turn their attention to the southern House of
Judah.
And these chapters deal, in the main, with Judah and
its capital, Jerusalem (28:14).
In 29:1 “Ariel” is a play on words … it means ‘Lion
of God’ (for so the folk in Jerusalem prided themselves), but it also means
‘hearth’ … a place of sacrifice! (v. 2).
The usual refrain we have heard before repeats
itself in these chapters … Judgement is coming … and so is deliverance “in that
day” for the faithful remnant.
The Coming Doom : 30:12-13.
The Coming Deliverance :
30:25-26.
Assyria is mentioned as the Destroyer … 33:1; 31:8;
30:31.
There follows a series of denunciations upon the
various inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Notice six of them…
1. WOE
TO THE DRUNKARDS!
The evil of strong drink on any community does not
need proving. The evidence abounds all
around us to this day.
Not only Ephraim (28:1, a synonym for the House of
Israel), but “these also” (v. 7 … in Jerusalem) are addicted to alcohol. A nation of drunkards is doomed.
…………………….
2. WOE
TO THE SCOFFERS!
Priests and rulers alike tried to silence Isaiah
(28:9-10).
These are the words of the scoffers … “Who does this prophet think he is … trying to teach us as if we were little children! Doesn’t he know WE have been to theological college and have a string of letters after our name!!”
………………………………
3. WOE
TO THE OCCULTISTS!
… to those who are seeking counsel from the
dead. Such a practice was forbidden in
the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 18:9ff).
But there are those in Jerusalem making a ‘covenant’ with the spirits
they are contacting!! (v. 15.)
There are many thousands today who still seek refuge
in occult practices: spiritualism;
astrology; witchcraft. God says these things are an “abomination in
His sight!” (Deuteronomy 18:12!!)
…………………………
4. WOE
TO THE HYPOCRITES!
Isaiah 29:13 … This text is quoted in Matthew 15:8-9
and applied to the Scribes and Pharisees of our Lord’s day. And it is still true.
For many there are all the outward trappings of
religion without a personal relationship with the Lord.
……………………….
5. WOE
TO THE UNEQUALLY YOKED!
There were those in Judah who sought to make a
political alliance with Egypt and Ethiopia to save them from the imminent
Assyrian attack (31:1; see also Isaiah
20:1-6).
……………………………
6. WOE
TO THE SPIRITUALLY BLIND!
… for they have shut their eyes to the truth of
God’s Word for so long, now they cannot see!!
(29:9-12).
* * * * * * * * * *
Before leaving these six chapters, let’s have a
quick look at six fascinating texts!
And the first has to do with a subject that is in
everybody-s mouth…
1. THE
SPEECH … 28:11-12
Because the priests have accused Isaiah of speaking
to them in ‘baby-talk’ (28:9-10), he replies that God will speak to them in an
unknown tongue, that of the Assyrians, to teach them a lesson. Paul quotes these verses in 1 Corinthians
14:21 to the Jews in his day. Tongues
are for a sign (of judgement!) to a rebellious people. The gift of tongues was not given for the
purpose of preaching the gospel, but to convince the Jews that they should turn
to their Messiah before the judgement comes (1 Corinthians 14:22).
…………………………………
2. THE
SPECTRE
… 30:1-2
Roy A. Anderson in his book, Secrets of the
Spirit World, gives a chilling account of his confrontation with a man who
claimed to be protected by ‘the White Wings of Egypt’ and the subsequent
attempt upon his life by a ghostly being.
It is a curious story that can only be explained by reference to the
world of the demonic.
………………………….
3. THE
SERENITY … 30:15
Here is Isaiah’s plea for the Jews to turn back to
their God.
Only in repentance and reliance upon Him is
salvation to be found (be it from the Assyrian … or the fires of Hell), and
only by a continual reliance upon Him day by day can one find the strength for
our daily walk.
This text was a favourite of Martin Luther … and
introduces John Keble’s famous book, The Christian Year.
……………………………………..
4. THE
SQUADRON … Bomber Squadron No. 14 to be exact ... 31:5
On November 14, 1917, it was this squadron from the
Royal Flying Corps that flew over Jerusalem and resulted in that city’s deliverance
from the Turks. Less than a month later
General Allenby marched into the city … a city that would have been bombed by
the Turks had it not been for the R.F.C.
Interestingly enough, the Prayer Book reading for
that period was Isaiah (chapter 31 on December 8). The Bomber Squadron’s motto was, “I spread my wings and keep my
promise.”
Certainly it is a remarkable co-incidence … but
whether it is any more than that, who can tell? Certainly God did watch over His people when the Assyrians came
upon them … and sent the plague that slew the invading army (Isaiah 37:36) ...
and certainly it is true today that the Lord watches over His own. But Squadron No. 14?
………………………….
5. THE
SAVIOUR … 32:1-2
Of course the initial reference would be to good
King Hezekiah, due to ascend the throne of Judah in a few years and lead the
nation in repentance when the Assyrians are laying siege to Jerusalem.
But vaster … wider … broader than that, Isaiah
catches a glimpse of the coming Messiah...
And
He is a ‘shelter in the time of storm!’
He is a refreshing, sustaining ‘stream’ for earth’s pilgrims.
He is
the ‘shadow’ of a mighty Rock in a weary land.’
………………………………………..
6. THE
SOVEREIGN … 33:17
You will see Assyria defeated, says our prophet, and
you will see Hezekiah lead the nation into a time of prosperity and blessing.
And to us Isaiah is saying: “One day you will see King Jesus … King of
kings and Lord of lords … in all His beauty.
And His Kingdom will stretch from shore to shore!”
Oh! What a
day that will be!!
============================================================
Chapters 34 - 35
…………………………………………….
Chapters 1-35 Gloom!
Chapters 36-39
Interlude!
Chapters 40-66 Glory!
As a climax to the first section of the book of Isaiah, we hear our prophet reiterating his theme: God’s judgement on the enemies of His people … and their deliverance.
The word ‘vengeance’ may need some explanation
(34:8; 35:4)...
“In our English language, vengeance has only a
negative connotation … it refers only to the unjust attitude of a person
determined to get even with someone else.
But the Hebrew word is set in the context of justice. It refers to the action of God toward people
whose case has been tried in God’s court” (Layman’s Commentary, page
75).
Even the parallelism in the above texts indicates
this. It is not merely the righteous judgement
upon the wicked, but the salvation of God’s people.
And also the reference to “Edom”: it needs to be realised that whilst other
enemies of Israel came and went (Canaanites, Philistines, Syrians, Assyrians,
Babylonians …) the Edomites were their bitter enemies from before they were
born!! (Genesis 25:22) right through until the time of Christ, when Herod the
Great (descendant of the Edomite race) sought to slay the Messiah.
* * * * * * * * * *
1. THE
DOOM OF GOD’S ENEMIES … Chapter 34
Remember, this is poetry.
The stars were not LITERALLY dissolved … nor is the
land LITERALLY on fire today (vv 7-10).
But we get the message! Utter destruction and desolation is the lot of the land of Edom.
And thus it came to pass, Petra – one of the major
cities – is now a tourist attraction.
The prophet also describes the wild animals that
shall inhabit the ruins of this ancient land (vv 13b-15).
These prophecies are to be recorded in a scroll …
and checked for their accurate fulfilment at a later time (v. 16).
These verses concerning the destruction of Edom seem
to have a ‘double fulfilment’ stretching on to that Day at the End of the Age
when the Heavens shall depart as a scroll and the earth shall be burned with
fire (2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 6:14).
The doom of Edom (B.C.) was a ‘sneak preview’ of
what lies in store for a rebellious, Christ-rejecting humanity at the Last Day.
……………………………………….
2. THE
DELIVERANCE OF GOD’S PEOPLE … Chapter 35
This is a Hymn of Praise … for the Lord will grant
victory to His faithful remnant. They
shall return from the captivity in Babylon with songs of joy.
But whilst such is the Old Testament fulfilment, our
prophet is also looking forward to the Gospel Age, commencing with the Birth of
our Lord and culminating in His Return.
What is spoken here concerning the Jews marching to
their earthly Zion is also true of believers heading for the Heavenly Zion.
Verses 1 and 2.
All
nature seems to rejoice as we journey Home … and God turns our deserts into
gardens.
Verse 3. Even the aged
and infirm are given strength for the pilgrimage.
Verse 4. There is
comfort … and assurance … of His deliverance.
Verses 5 and 6. Miracles
shall take place … and blind eyes were opened and deaf ears made to hear during
our Lord’s earthly ministry.
The
miracle of the ‘new heart’ continues to this day as folk respond to the
Saviour.
Verse 7. There is
refreshment in the dry and dangerous places.
(“Dragons” is translated “jackals” in the New
International Version).
Verse 8. There is
fellowship with like-minded believers as we journey Home along the Highway of
Holiness.
Verse 9. And there
is security along the way. The Lord
will protect from that which seeks us harm.
Verse 10. And one day
we shall enter through the Golden Gate of Glory singing the song of the
redeemed!
And there will be no more sighing or sorrow or
suffering…
* * * * * * * * * *
When we’ve been there 10,000
years,
Bright shining as the sun…
We’ve no less days to sing
God’s praise
Than when we first begun!
============================================================
Chapters 36 - 39
………………………………………………………..
These chapters are a parenthesis … and a bridge …
between chapters 1-35 (Gloom!) and chapters 40-66 (Glory!).
Chapters 36 and 37 give us an Assyrian
background. Chapters 38 and 39 lead us
into the Babylonian era, which is the theme of the last 27 chapters.
* * * * * * * * * *
1. A
LESSON IN INSPIRATION
Critics deny that Isaiah 40-66 was written by
Isaiah. After all, it mentions Cyrus,
king of Persia (Isaiah 45:1) … and Isaiah had died about 150 years previously!
BC 740
721 685? 606-586 536
↕
↕
↕ ↕ ↕ .
dies
falls dies attacks Judah rules
Hostility to supernatural prophecy lies at the root
of the critics’ attack. Bible-believers
have no difficulty in accepting the Isaiahan authorship of the whole 66
chapters.
In John 12 the inspired New Testament writer quotes
Isaiah 53 (John 12:38) and then says:
“Isaiah said again…” and quotes Isaiah 6 (John 12:40). The same prophet spoke on both
occasions. There are not two different
Isaiahs!!
……………………………………………….
2. A
LESSON IN DUPLICATION
These chapters in Isaiah are almost identical to 2
Kings 18:30-20:19.
Who copied from whom no one is sure.
But Bible writers often quote from other writings as
the Holy Spirit guided them to do so.
And Isaiah was guided by the Holy Spirit
(Acts 28:25).
………………………………………………..
3. A
LESSON IN SUPPLICATION
(a) Hezekiah’s
problem was
the army of Assyria surrounding Jerusalem.
(b) Hezekiah’s
petition was
the solution … “Take it to the Lord in prayer”! He did not deny the reality of the problem (Isaiah 37:18), but
knew that his God was ‘alive’ compared to the idols of the heathen (v. 19).
(c) Hezekiah’s
pre-eminent motive was the glory of God! He was
concerned lest the heathen think Jehovah was unable to deliver His people! (v.
20.) Daniel prayed in a similar vein
(Daniel 9:18-19). So did the psalmist
(Psalm 83:17-18). And Paul lamented the
fact that God’s Name was not glorified among the heathen (Romans 2:23-24).
============================================================
…………………………………………………………….
We move from the ‘gloom’ of chapters 1-39 to the
‘glory’ of chapters 40-66. It is like
passing from darkness to daylight.
Whereas the first 39 chapters may have been preached
in the zeal of Isaiah’s youth, these chapters are written in the seclusion of
his home … in later life.
They are addressed to the ‘remnant’ … those faithful
Jews within the Hebrew race who are the true children of Abraham
… those who have the same faith in God as did the Patriarch of their race.
And now Isaiah sees the end of the Babylonian
Exile. The Jews have been there for 70
years. Jerusalem has lain in
ruins. Now the time has come for their
deliverance.
And all this is penned by the prophet some 80 years before
the Jews were even taken into Exile!! (See Study No. 17.)
* * * * * * * * * *
1. THE
VOICE FROM HEAVEN … v. 1 : Consolation
Indicative of the tone of the chapters that follow
is God’s Word to His people:
“Comfort, comfort My people, says your God” (40:1).
And preachers, too, should remember that it is their
task to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable!!
Our God is described as “the God of all Comfort” (2
Corinthians 1:3).
…………………………
2. THE
VOICE TO JERUSALEM … v. 2 : Salvation
Isaiah is told to speak to the Jews (spoken of here
as Jerusalem) and inform them that their days of exile are at an end.
The sin that caused their 70 years in Babylon has
been atoned for by their suffering. Now
God will bless them … twice as much as they have suffered.
……………………………..
3. THE
VOICE IN THE DESERT … vv 3-5 : Preparation
When a king was journeying to some city in ancient
times, the ‘road crew’ would get to work smoothing the way, to make his trip as
‘even’ as possible … fill in the pot-holes and level the bumps!
Isaiah pictures the King of Israel getting ready to
lead His people home to Jerusalem … and in poetic language he calls for the
valleys to be raised and the hills made low ... which leads us to Luke 3:2-6,
concerning John the Baptist!! The
Gospel writer actually quotes these verses and applies them to John’s ministry
… lifting folk from the valley of despair and bringing down the mountains of
pride!!
Obviously not every Old Testament prophecy has a literal
fulfilment in the New Testament.
And it is a reminder of what we have called the Law
of Double Fulfilment (Study No. 4).
On the one hand Isaiah sees the preparation needed for the Jews to
follow their king out of literal bondage (in Babylon) and make their way home
to Jerusalem. But in a vaster sense
(and this is how all the Gospel writers see it … quoting these verses), Isaiah
sees the salvation of God’s people from spiritual bondage (in sin) and their
following the Saviour to the Heavenly Jerusalem.
Ahhh!!
………………………………………..
4. THE
VOICE ON EARTH … vv 6-8 : Revelation
In contrast to the things of earth that are but
temporal … the grass, the flowers, the trees, the people! … God’s Word endures.
It is His revelation to mankind … and that is why
the exiles will be going home … because God said so!!
Jeremiah had foretold that they would only be in
Babylon for 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11).
And He had also said that the seed of David would continue to exist …
until the Messiah came (2 Samuel 7:12).
………………………
5. THE
VOICE TO JERUSALEM … vv 9-10 : Jubilation
There is JOY … something to shout about!
There is PEACE … and an ASSURANCE of God’s presence
with them.
And there are BLESSINGS awaiting them if they now
walk in His ways.
All of which is a further picture of the gospel.
Verse 9 is even alluded to in Romans 10:15 … a
picture of the preacher declaring the ‘good tidings’ that God has provided
salvation for His people.
And He gives us joy and peace and the promise of His
presence with us. He paid the price for
our sin (v. 2), and His blessings are far greater than the condemnation we were
under (Romans 5:15).
And this “Sovereign Lord” (v. 10) is also revealed
to be our Shepherd (v. 11).
For the Lord Jesus to take this Old Testament title
of Jehovah upon Himself would be blasphemy were it not true.
But He did (John 10:14).
And He it is who cares for His sheep
...
And comforts them
when dangers threaten…
And carries
them when they cannot find the way…
And conducts
them into pastures green…
The Sovereign Lord is my Shepherd. “I shall not want.”
============================================================
Chapter 43
……………………………………………………………………………………..
We have said it before, and we will say it again –
what is said here of literal Israel and her deliverance from Babylon, is also
true in a vaster, greater sense of Spiritual Israel (the Church) and her
deliverance from spiritual bondage.
Isaiah 43:1 commences, “But now…”, which points us
back to the close of the preceding chapter (Isaiah 42:22; 24-5).
1. DOOMED
…
Here is a sorry picture of God’s people under His
Hand of Judgement. They are unable to
effect their own deliverance. Nor can
any other nation save them.
And in the New Testament we read that the sinner is
already under the condemnation of God, unable to save himself (John 3:36; Romans 3:23).
…………………………..
2. CREATED! “But now…” … 43:1
The God who created them (as a nation to be His
witnesses to the rest of the world) will save them…
The great Creator became my Saviour!…
How about that!!
………………………………..
3. FORMED
… v. 1
I wonder if there is a spiritual lesson here. ‘Created’ as “Jacob” … which means ‘Prince with God”. Is there a hint here as to why God saved us – to change our nature to be like one of His children?
……………………
4. REDEEMED
… v. 1
Spoken in the present tense, for it was all settled
in the heart and mind of God. Even
though the Jews were not out of bondage yet.
But it was a ‘sure thing!’ And
Peter tells us the great act of redemption provided by the Lord Jesus “was
foreordained before the foundation of the world!” (1 Peter 1:18-20.)
God knew what He was going to do to deliver His
people from spiritual bondage.
………………………..
5. CALLED
… v. 1
Not every Israelite responded to the call and made
the long journey home to Jerusalem.
And whilst the Spirit of God calls men and women and
boys and girls to flee to the Saviour for refuge, yet it is sadly true that
there are those who refuse to take the pathway to the Heavenly Jerusalem.
…………………………
6. SUSTAINED
… v. 2
It is as if the prophet says, ‘A new exodus is about to take place … not out of Egypt this time, through the Red Sea and on to the fiery Mount Sinai … but out of Babylonia. And billows of trouble will await you, and fires of tribulation … but I, the LORD, will be with you...’ (11:11).
In
the midst of life’s trials the Saviour still speaks: “Lo, I am with you always…”
Verse 2 is a promise for God’s people today as much as it was for the faithful remnant in the days of the Babylonian Exile.
What mighty troubles hast Thou shown
Thy feeble, tempted followers here!
We have through fire and water gone,
But saw Thee on the floods appear,
But felt Thee present in the flame,
And shouted our Deliverer’s Name!
Charles Wesley.
……………………………….
7. EXCHANGED
… v. 3
The latter parts of verses 3 and 4 seems to mean that God will grant the Persians (who conquer Babylon and set the Jews free) Egypt and Ethiopia into their hand in exchange…
In 538 BC Babylonia fell to the Persians.
In 537-6 BC the Jews trekked homeward.
In 525 BC Egypt fell to Persia…
Some commentators see here a picture of the great exchange that took place at Calvary … I was set free whilst the Lord Jesus suffered in my place.
But there is no comparison between the thousands of Egyptian lives and the vast riches of Egypt (that ransomed the Jews) and the sacrifice of the Son of God who ransomed us.
……………………………..
8. LOVED
… v. 4
And why did God save us from spiritual bondage?
“For God so loved ….” John 3:16.
……………………………
9. COMFORTED
… v. 1, 5
“Fear not…” says the Lord.
In verse 1 the ‘Fear not’ is because of the initial salvation He is about to effect.
In verse 5 the ‘Fear not’ is because of His presence on the Homeward journey. Through fire and flood!
……………………………..
10. DELIVERED
… v. 5
The Jews were not only captive in the actual city of Babylon, but throughout Babylonia; a massive empire.
Thus they are spoken of as returning from the east, west, north and south.
And out of ‘every nation and clime and tongue’ are gathered into the Heavenly Jerusalem (one day) those who have responded to His call (Revelation 5:9).
………………………….
11. RELATED!!
… v. 7
For His people are called by “My Name”! We belong to His family. We may call Him “Father”.
Alas, the Bible makes it clear that there are some who “are children of the Wicked One” (Matthew 13:38). He is the Creator of all, but only the Father of those who put their trust in the Lord Jesus.
……………………………..
12. UNITED
… vv 8-9
Most commentators are agreed that the subject of these verses are not the Jews … but Gentiles who come to trust in the God of Israel. Thus, Jew and Gentile are united in Jerusalem.
Likewise, some Gentiles will be in Heaven whilst some Jews will miss it (Matthew 8:11-12).
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Studies in Isaiah :
No. 20
CYRUS !!
Chapters 40 - 48
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It is good to study chapters 40-48 as a whole and get the overall thrust of what the prophet is saying.
Herein we have…
1. A
REMARKABLE PROPHECY
Cyrus is mentioned Cyrus is mentioned by name as the one who will deliver the Jews from their 70-year exile … despite the fact that Isaiah dies about 100 years before Cyrus is even born!! (45:1).
We know from secular history, outside of the Bible, that Cyrus was born about 600 BC. But Isaiah 1:1 tells us that our prophet lived until the reign of Hezekiah (or a year or two later), which means that he died about 698 BC.
And the actual deliverance from the exile can be dated as 536 BC.
This is a remarkable prophecy.
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2. THE
INCREDIBLE UNBELIEF!
But not everyone is convinced that it really is a remarkable prophecy…
(a) The Argument of the Critics. “Obviously”, writes George Stimpson, “Isaiah could not have written those parts of the book referring to later events” (A Book about the Bible, p. 184).
“Obviously”? Well, that depends upon the kind of God one has!
If God is God, then He can certainly reveal the events to
come. It is “hostility to the
supernatural” that causes the critics to reject the authorship of Isaiah. As a matter of fact, they even speak of a
later author as “Isaiah of Babylon” (in contrast to the earlier “Isaiah of
Jerusalem”.)
‘First Isaiah’ (of Jerusalem) is the one who lived until the days of Hezekiah … and wrote most of Isaiah 1-39. So they say.
But ‘Second Isaiah’ (of Babylon) lived at the time the exile was drawing to a close; looked over the walls at the Persian army led by Cyrus, and guessed that he might be the one to conquer the Babylonians and set the Jews free. It was not a remarkable prophecy … but a good guess. So say the critics.
Do we have an answer for such an attack on the inspiration of this Book? Indeed we do. Five of them!
i. The
counter-argument from History
Josephus, the Jewish historian, records how Cyrus was shown the writings of Isaiah when he finally conquered Babylon … especially that the prophet “had foretold my name”.
“This was foretold by Isaiah 140 years before the Temple was demolished (i.e. before the exile began!). Accordingly, when Cyrus read this … (he) … admired the Divine power…” (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 11, paragraphs 1-2.)
ii. The
counter-argument from Logic
The critics speak of “Isaiah of Babylon” as ‘the greatest of the prophets’. Yet nobody knows his real name. The Jews did not forget the name of Obadiah … or Zephaniah or Habakkuk … yet these only wrote a few chapters each. But “Second Isaiah” is supposed to have penned at least 18 chapters … was the ‘greatest’ … and they forgot his real name!
Moreover, his book got tacked on to the book of “First Isaiah” which, they say is different in style and language and refers to events 150 years later. Come on now! Much of Obadiah is similar, very similar for that matter, to Jeremiah 49. But his book did not get mixed up with Jeremiah’s.
It is difficult, if not impossible, to believe the Jews would tack “Second Isaiah’s” book on to the end of “First Isaiah’s” … and forget his name to boot! Unless “First” and “Second Isaiah” were one and the same person…
iii. The
counter-argument from Archaeology
Among the Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in 1948, was a
complete copy of the Book of Isaiah … 1000 years older than any previous
manuscript. And, as Dr Clifford Wilson
says, “The fact of no break between chapters 39 and 40 is not conclusive as to
single authorship … but it certainly did not bolster the argument as to dual
authorship!” (The Incredible Book…The Bible, p. 157).
iv. The
counter-argument from Context
And this IS important!!
There is a constant theme running through chapters 40 to 48. And it is this … that the God of Israel is the One True God … and there is none other (45:6, etc.)
Moreover, the so-called gods of the heathen are nothing but dead, dumb idols. (40:18-20, contrast v. 28.)
But God … our God … is not only a living God, in contrast to the idols of the heathen nations, He also flings out a challenge to them. Tell us what is going to happen in the future, He says! Then we will know that you are gods, too (41:21-23! and again in 42:8-9).
The same emphasis is continued in 43:9-12, 44:6-9, 45:20-21.
And so it continues in this section … chapters 40-48 (46:5-9, 47:14, 48:5-9).
The supremacy of God over idols is seen in the fact that He is the Creator (no one made Him out of wood!); He is able to save His people (the idols cannot even save themselves! 46:2); AND He CAN (!!) foretell the future!!
He can even name Cyrus 100 years before Cyrus is born! And in so doing He is offering proof that He is God!
“Will you not admit” that this is true? (48:6.)
v. The
counter-argument from the New Testament … John 12:37-41
Regardless of what these verses actually mean, it will be seen that John quotes the Book of Isaiah (‘Esaias’ is the Greek form) twice…
Verse 38 is a quote from Isaiah 53, which the critics claim was the work of “Second Isaiah”. But verse 39 quotes Isaiah 6 … which they say was penned by “First Isaiah”. John, however, indicates that the SAME Isaiah wrote both verses… “Isaiah said again…”
That is to say, Isaiah said verse 38 … and the same Isaiah also said verse 39.
An attack on the authorship of Isaiah is an attack on the inspiration of the Scripture … and a denial of God’s ability to foretell the future. And as for “Second Isaiah” being the ‘greatest’ of the prophets, he would really be the ‘greatest’ of liars and hoaxers. The whole argument that God is greater than the idols crumbles to nothingness if, instead of a remarkable prophecy, all we have here is a good piece of guesswork.
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3. THE
THRILLING FULFILMENT
Magnificent Babylon! The ‘glory of the kingdoms’ (13:19). “The city of gold!” (14:4).
Surrounded by a wall 300 feet high, 80 feet thick, extending 35 feet below the ground, 60 miles (!!) in length. 100 gates of brass … 250 guard towers…
Inside these walls were the famous Hanging Gardens, and the Temple of Marduk. The River Euphrates flowed through the city, with great walls on either side of it. There were ferry boats and draw-bridges (see Halley’s Bible Handbook).
And the Medes and Persians laid siege to this mighty city about 540 BC.
Herodotus, ‘the Father of Ancient History’ who lived about 50 years later, tells how Cyrus diverted the Euphrates into a man-made lake hereby; his army swarmed under the city walls along the dry river bed and even found some of the gates into the city itself, unlocked.
That night, as Belshazzar led his Babylonian lords in a drunken orgy, the Medes and Persians entered the city and conquered it (Daniel 5).
As Moody put it so well, “The blood of Belshazzar mingled with the spilt wine on the banqueting-room floor.”
And Cyrus made a decree permitting the Jews to return to their beloved Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple.
Now, all this was foretold by Isaiah. Look again at Isaiah 44:21-45:6…
· Cyrus was named as the deliverer (45:1, 44:28)
· The Euphrates was ‘dried up’ (44:27)
· The doors into the city were left open (45:1)
· He inherited the vast riches of Babylon…in her subterranean vaults (see Herodotus!) (45:3)
· He conquered the world of his day (45:1)
· He permitted the Jews to return and rebuild (44:26)
This IS a remarkable prophecy!!
4. THE
WONDERFUL ILLUSTRATION
For the God who raised up Cyrus to set literal Israel free from bondage, and send them on their way rejoicing home to Jerusalem, is the same God who sent the Lord Jesus to set ‘Spiritual Israel’ free (Galatians 3:29) and set them, rejoicing, out of bondage to sin, toward the Heavenly Jerusalem!
(a) His Coming
Cyrus was foretold by name, before his birth, by the prophet Isaiah (44:28).
And our Lord Jesus was foretold by name (“Immanuel”! Matthew 1:22-23) by the same prophet (Isaiah 7:14).
(b) His
Titles
Cyrus is called God’s “Shepherd” (44:28) and His “anointed” (45:1).
The Son of God likewise describes Himself as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), and the word “anointed” is the same word as “Christ” … the “Messiah”. It is all the same word.
(c) His Character
Whilst the Old Testament does not reveal this, yet ancient historians speak of Cyrus as a “unique character in the history of the world. No word of reproach is recorded against him in any writing, sacred or profane” (Rev. A. Carr).
And whilst not claiming that Cyrus was sinless, yet it can be said concerning our Heavenly Cyrus, “in Him was no sin” (1 John 3:5).
(d) His
Mission
… was to set God’s people free (Colossians 1:13).
(e) His
Victory
Cyrus conquered Babylon by diverting the River Euphrates and entering the city along the dried-up riverbed.
Might we suggest that the Lord Jesus diverted the river of judgement that sinners deserved … and took it upon Himself.
In my place
condemned He stood,
Sealed my pardon
with His blood…
(f) His
Decree
As Cyrus invited any who wished to return to Jerusalem to do so (Ezra 1), so the call goes out for all men to repent and appropriate the salvation provided at the Cross.
Alas, of the 2,000,000 or so Jews in the Persian Empire at that time, only 50,000 responded.
“Narrow is the way … and few there be that take it…” (Matthew 7:13-14).
Whilst the door is flung open for all to be saved, only those who trust in the Saviour can know the benefits of His sacrifice.
(g) His
Reward
To Cyrus was given “the treasures of darkness…” (45:3).
And to our Lord Jesus was given a dying thief … and a rebellious Pharisee (Paul) … and a battle-scarred Centurion … and a great host down through the church’s chequered history.
“Treasures of darkness” every one ... sinners saved by grace; lifted out of the miry clay and set on their way to Jerusalem above! Singing!!
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Studies in Isaiah -
No. 21
CREATOR OF
THE SPANGLED HEAVENS
Chapter 40:26
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As we continue our studies in Isaiah we take time to zero in on one text … 40:26!
1. THE
INVITATION OF THE CREATOR … 40:25-26
He tells us to lift up our eyes and behold … not ‘what’ … but WHO hath created all these things. The Heaven’s declare His glory! (Psalm 19:1.)
The spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim.
The unwearied Sun from day to day
Does his Creator’s power display;
And publishes to every land
The work of an Almighty hand.
What though in solemn silence all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball;
What though nor real voice nor sound
Amidst their radiant orbs be found?
In Reason’s ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice;
For ever singing as they shine,
“The Hand that made us is divine.”
By Joseph Addison (1672-1719).
Babylon, where the Jews were in exile, was the ‘home’ of astrology … seeking to guide one’s life by the signs in the sky.
It may be that the Tower of Babel, at the dawn of history, had been an astrological tower … a place to scan the heavens for signs and omens.
God, through His prophets, is emphatic in His denunciation of astrology (47:13-14).
When the fire of God’s wrath descends upon Babylon, her astrologers will perish also.
One of the emphases of these nine chapters (40-48) is that the God of Israel is the Creator … the idols of the heathen are created (44:6-10; 45:11-12; 46:4-7).
It is probably true to say that the advent of the theory of Evolution was a time that began an accelerated move away from Christian belief and morality in our world.
If there is no Creator … if man will never need to stand before his Maker … then “eat, drink and be merry…”
But Isaiah is constantly reminding us that there is a God … not some dead, dumb idol, but a Living God who will save His people (the faithful remnant) and judge His enemies. And that is a New Testament truth also.
……………………………………..
2. THE
IMMENSITY OF THE UNIVERSE … 45:18
So vast are the distances in God’s mighty universe that astronomers (as distinct from astrologers) speak in terms of light-years. Instead of saying that a star is 92 million, nine hundred thousand miles away they say that the light of that star (our Sun, in this case) takes 8 minutes to reach us.
Light travels … 186,000 miles a second!
That’s six trillion miles a year!
Yet the next closest star to Earth (after the Sun) is so far away, it takes its light 4⅓ years to reach us!
That means that if that star (Alpha Centauri) went ‘out’ tonight, we would still see it for another 4⅓ years.
If we go to the star furthest away from us, then we are talking in terms of it being … wait for it … ten billion light-years away!!
It is about … give or take a mile or two … 59 sextillion miles from Earth!!
And how many stars are there that our God has created?
In our solar system there is only one … the star we call the Sun. And there are 9 planets, 32 moons, 30,000 asteroids and about 100 billion comets.
But our solar system is just a small part of the galaxy to which we belong … and our galaxy (the Milky Way) is about 100,000 light-years (not miles) across!!
Another galaxy … ’cos there are many, many galaxies … is Andromeda … about 10 million trillion miles away (that’s 2 million light-years!!) and it contains some 100,000,000,000 stars.
· So a cluster of planets around a star is a solar system
· A cluster of solar systems becomes a galaxy
· And a cluster of galaxies becomes a quasar
· And a cluster of quasars … well, they haven’t got a telescope big enough yet (as far as I know) to find out!
But the further the astronomer probes, the more starry wonders he discovers. End there is not to the Universe of God …
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3. THE
INGENUITY OF THE COMMENTATORS … 40:25-26
(see also Psalm 147:4)
Do these verses mean that God called the Pleiades by that name? And Arcturus … and Orion … and Draco … and all the thousands of other stars?
After all, these names that are used by astronomers are pretty well universal … and as ancient as history records.
Did God name them? And if so, did He have a purpose for doing so?
And the picture signs in the Zodiac … why did someone draw a scorpion around that constellation … the stars did not form such a shape. Why a Centaur? Nobody had even seen this mythical creature … yet here it is enshrined in the Zodiac. Why draw a woman with child … or a leaping dolphin…?
But a number of evangelical Bible commentators have a THEORY (let’s not get dogmatic about this!) that just may fit the facts.
(a) The
Clues of Scripture
The book of Genesis makes it clear that the heavenly bodies were not only there for the purpose of giving light, but would also be for “signs” in the sky. In Genesis 1:14-16 (Amplified Version) we read:
“And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of
the heavens to separate the day from the night; and let them be for SIGNS and tokens (of God’s provident
care), and (to mark) seasons, days and years’ … He also made the stars.”
And notice this reference from one of the earliest books of the Bible …
“Can you bind the chains of (the cluster of stars called ) Pleiades, or loose the cords of (the constellation) Orion? Can you lead forth the signs of the Zodiac in their season? Or can you guide (the stars of) the Bear with her young?” (Job 38:31-32, Amplified Version).
Here we find three of the constellations mentioned, namely Pleiades, Orion and the Bear. “Pleiades” consists of a cluster of stars, sometimes known as the “seven sisters”.
Luke mentions “Castor and Pollux” in Acts 28:11 … these being the Twins in the constellation of Gemini (see Amplified New Testament).
Amos 5:8 speaks of Him “who made Pleiades and Orion”.
Job 26:12-13 refers to the Dragon … a reference to the constellation of Draco (see Moffat’s Translation).
Many times the Bible refers to these stars and even the Zodiac (Job 38:32).
Josephus claims that it was God who revealed these names to Adam!! (Antiquities of the Jews, 3/9, p. 35).
(b) The
Correlation with the Gospel
… and it is here the ingenuity of the commentators reveals itself.
God, they say, revealed the gospel to the patriarchs
in the signs of the Zodiac.
Commencing with the Virgin Birth (Virgo, the Virgin) one moves on to Libra (the Scales), symbolizing the price that needed to be paid for man’s sin. Then comes Scorpio (the Scorpion) ready to slay the Virgin’s Son. Sagittarius (the Centaur) half man, half horse, may suggest the two natures of the Son. Capricornus (the Dying Goat) speaks of His sacrificial death. And next comes Aquarius, the One who pours forth the water of life. So it goes … ending with Leo, the lion, King of kings at His return.
Now there is more to it than this brief survey. Meanings of the star’s names all shed light on this theory.
It just could be that there is something to it!!
(c) The
Counterfeits of Paganism
The theory of God having revealed the message of the gospel in the signs of the Zodiac explains many (if not all!) of those pagan legends that pre-date Christianity and yet bear a close resemblance to it.
There are stories of gods or a god coming from heaven … born of a virgin mother … dying and rising again. And in so doing he defeats the serpent or dragon.
Orion, the constellation connected with Taurus, for example … his name means “The Dayspring” … a title given to the Lord Jesus at His coming (Luke 1:78).
Orion’s foot stands on the River Eradanus … “the river of the Judge”. And one of the stars “Auriga” in this cluster, has a name meaning “Shepherd” … for He is coming to protect and save His flock from the Evil One. There is a club (or rod) in one hand and the head of a lion (1 Peter 5:8) … the Devil … in the other.
Now all this kind of thing may have been taught to the patriarchs and then distorted into pagan mythology.
It is a good theory.
* * * * * * * * * *
Whatever we think about the ingenuity of the commentators … it is good to hearken
back to the wonder of God’s magnificent creation … and gaze in awe. And yet it is not the creation but the Creator who holds our attention.
“If the stars were to come out but once every fifty years, how people would wait to gaze upon the spectacle with baited breath. But because we can view His handiwork every night, the wonder of it loses its awe.”
Someone has suggested that the starry heavens are like God’s flag … a reminder that the King is in residence, seated upon His throne.
How to Tell a Comet :
Astronomy made Easy
Though you may not know a planet
From the bird that’s called a gannet,
Nor distinguish Sagittarius from Mars;
Though the beasts in that strange zoo
May all look alike to you,
And you lump the whole caboodle just as “stars”;
Though you cannot place the lion,
Nor correctly trace Orion,
Nor discern the jewelled belt he proudly wears,
Nor the big and little hounds,
Through those happy hunting grounds,
Nightly chasing up the big and little bears;
Though you cannot tell the Dippers
From your grandpa’s old felt slippers,
And to name the constellations you would fail,
There’s on thing that you may know
And be very sure it’s so –
You can always tell a comet by its tail;
Its airy, hairy, winking, blinking, flowing, glowing
tail;
Its fiery, wiry, gleaming, streaming, flaring, glaring
tail!!
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Studies in Isaiah -
No. 22
FOUR FAVOURITE TEXTS
Chapters 40 - 48
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As we survey this section of Isaiah once more, we focus on some well-known verses … designed to bless our heart.
These chapters emphasise the Supremacy of God over the idols of the heathen (He is the Creator … they are created), and His ability to foretell future events (such as the coming of Cyrus to deliver the Jews from their Babylonian captivity).
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1. CONCERNING
OUR SAVIOUR
(a) A New
Testament Identification … Isaiah 44:6 and Revelation 1:17-18
It is important to notice that the LORD who speaks of Himself as “the first and the last” in Isaiah 44:6 is identified as the Lord Jesus in Revelation 1:17!
It would be blasphemous to ascribe such a phrase as this to any one other than God.
(b) A New
Testament Invitation … Isaiah 45:22-23
It was this text, on January 6, 1850, that led to the conversion of C.H. Spurgeon, the ‘Prince of Preachers’.
In John 3:14 the Lord Jesus tells us to look to Him; whilst Philippians 2:10 makes it clear that it is to the Lord Jesus “every knee shall bow”.
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2. CONCERNING
OUR SALVATION… Isaiah 43:25
There are many verses that remind us as to how God deals with our sins when we are saved.
He puts them behind His back (Isaiah 38:17); He washes them as “white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18); He buries them “in the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19); He removes them as “far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12).
Let’s hear it again, Isaiah!! 44:21-23, in particular verse 22.
What was true of national Israel in Old Testament days, at least the remnant who went out of Babylon to return to Jerusalem, is true of Spiritual Israel today … out of sin’s bondage, forgiven, and going Home.
Notice that God forgave their sins (after a period of exile and suffering, 40:2) for “His own Name’s sake”! He did not want the heathen attacking His honour, saying that He was unable to save His people!! Our salvation is to bring glory to Him…
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3. CONCERNING
OUR SUFFERING … Isaiah 48:1-12
(a) A Predicted Phase … of suffering in Israel’s history. Moses had spoken of Judgement upon them if they turned from His ways (Deuteronomy 28).
God told them ‘before it came to pass’ (48:5) so they might know that He is God … the One who is not some dead, dumb idol.
(b) A Puzzling Phrase … verse 10 “… not with silver”.
Dr A. Barnes gives seven different explanations of this phrase. Besides which, the translation is suspect in the KJV. It should read “I have refined thee, but not AS silver…”
That is, whereas silver is refined in the furnace of its own intrinsic value, the Jews were ‘refined’ in Babylon … not because they deserved it (they were obstinate and rebellious, verse 4), but because God’s honour was at stake. As we said under point 2 above, so it is here. It is “for My Name’s sake” (v. 11).
Let not the heathen say that God is unable to save His people!
But to do that He must pass them through the ‘furnace of affliction’ to cleanse them of their ways.
…………………………………..
4. CONCERNING
OUR STRENGTH … Isaiah 40:29-31
(a) The Unconventional Order … ‘fly … run … walk’ (v. 31). Wouldn’t we put it the other way around? But in the spiritual pilgrimage it is harder to plod when the way is tough than to fly and run when all is going well for us. Picture the exiles leaving Babylon … how they ‘fly’! See them in sight of Jerusalem … how they ‘run’! See them plodding through a thousand miles of sand and sun … that’s the difficult part of the journey! And God gives strength THERE!
(b) The Undying Principle … it’s just the same today. He gives strength in life’s barren places … ‘songs in the night’ (Job 35:10).
© The Underlying Condition … “Wait upon the Lord…” (v. 31).
Not ‘sit still and do nothing’ … rather think of the courtier who waited upon the king in some Eastern palace. Waiting upon him meant “serving” him … it probably included whole-hearted devotion to him. Maybe a willingness to die for him (taste his wine to see if it is poisoned!)
Now with that in mind we see what verse 31 means…
Waiting upon the Lord involves our whole-hearted dedication to His service. THEN we can expect His strength for our journey through the wilderness to our Heavenly Home.
Fruitful
Waiting … It’s good
to wait on the Lord – as long as you’re busy while you wait!
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Studies in Isaiah -
No. 23
THE SERVANT(S)
OF THE LORD
One of the most important parts of Isaiah’s prophecy relates to the Servant. Or should we say, “Servants”!
……………………………………………………
1. THE
LAW OF DOUBLE REFERENCE
We have already seen a number of times in our study that the prophecy oft-times has a two-fold fulfilment. Firstly there is the contemporary Old Testament fulfilment … and then in a vaster, wider sense, the prophet points us to the New Testament.
The Lord Jesus Himself reminds us that He is the great theme of the Older Testament Scriptures (John 5:29).
Moses wrote about Him (John 5:46).
Peter speaks of the prophets who sometimes didn’t even know what they were talking about!! (1 Peter 1:10-12).
The Holy Spirit is the One who inspired the Scripture writers (Acts 28:25).
Jesus is seen in prophecy and typology in the pages of the Old Testament. And one is tempted to add … especially in the Book of Isaiah.
Isaiah speaks of the forerunner, announcing to Jerusalem that the exiles are coming home. But it is also quoted in the New Testament as applying to John the Baptist (Isaiah 40:3; Luke 3:4).
Isaiah 7:14 foretold the birth of a child … and what would happen to the enemies of Judah before he was two or three years old (vv 1, 16).
But this is quoted in Matthew 1:22 as a prediction concerning the birth of the Lord Jesus.
There are many, many instances of this double fulfilment.
……………………………………………….
2. THE
SERVANTS OF THE LORD
There is no trouble working out who these prophecies speak of in the New Testament … the Lord Jesus.
But sometimes the reference to “the Servant” in Old Testament days is not so easy.
Sometimes it clearly refers to Israel, the nation, or remnant.
Sometimes it speaks of Cyrus, king of the Medo-Persian empire.
Some have thought there is a reference to another prophet … Jeremiah has been suggested.
Some consider these “servant passages” to be prophecies of the Lord Jesus without any Old Testament counter-part.
Commentators differ widely … but be assured of this: the inspired writers of the New Testament
often quote these passages and apply them to the Lord Jesus … so at least we
stand on certain ground there!
In a previous study (No. 20) we had a good look at the life of this remarkable character, Cyrus.
He founded and ruled the Persian Empire (559-530 BC).
He was instrumental in overthrowing Babylon and releasing the exiled Jews to return to their homeland.
And he is spoken of as God’s “servant” (42:1).
A survey of the six passages referring to this king is most rewarding…
1. Isaiah
41:2, 25-27
It is God who has ‘stirred up’ Cyrus (v. 2) and called him to deliver the Jewish exiles. Cyrus will conquer Anatolia and Lydia as well as Babylonia (vv 2b, 25b). The Medes came from the “north” … the Persians from the east “the rising sun” (v. 25).
And it was all foretold by God 150 years before it happened! (see Studies 20, 27).
2. Isaiah
42:1-7
Cyrus is spoken of as God’s servant (v. 1). The Lord has anointed him for his task (1b). He will be just (1c, 3c, 4), gentle (v. 2, merciful (v. 3), God will lead (6b) and keep him (6c), and use him to set the captives free (v. 7).
Verse 6 means that Cyrus will be the means of God fulfilling His covenant (agreement) with the ‘people’ (Jews), for He promised that they would endure as a race, at least until the Messiah came, and it will be a blessing (“light”) for the Gentiles. For from these returning Jews the Messiah will be born. Even their return in 536 BC was a light of testimony concerning the greatness of Jehovah.
Now the important thing to notice is that THESE VERSES ARE QUOTED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AND APPLIED TO THE LORD JESUS!!
Matthew makes it clear (12:14-21) that this prophecy concerning Cyrus has a vaster, wider fulfilment as it speaks of the Lord Jesus.
He, Jesus, was the True Servant of the Lord, and He was the “Beloved One” (12:18b), He was anointed by the Spirit of God (v. 18c) for His task of setting the captives free, and He is just and gentle and compassionate (vv 19-20).
3. Isaiah
44:24-45:3, 13
This passage is the subject of our earlier Study No. 20.
4. Isaiah
46:9-13
The God who declares events before they come to pass (vv 9-10) tells of one who will come like a “bird of prey”. Interestingly, Cyrus had an eagle upon his banner (A. Clarke).
5. Isaiah
48:14-15
The Lord’s “chosen ally” to conquer Babylon was Cyrus.
6. Isaiah
49:1-8
There are many difficulties in the interpretation of these verses. Rather than examine the varying theories … let’s just suggest the one that makes the most sense … to me, that is!
Many writers see no allusion to Cyrus at all herein. But notice verse 5 – surely that is addressed to Cyrus? (cf. Isaiah 44:24). And verse 6 speaks of this servant as a ‘light to lighten Gentiles’ … as it did in 42:6. Of course, the end view of the prophecy is the Lord Jesus (Luke 2:32 … a “light to lighten the Gentiles”!). But isn’t there a ‘close-up’ of Cyrus here too??
Let us examine this passage in more detail…
Verse 1. Cyrus speaks, telling of his call to serve the Lord even before he was born (44:24).
Now bear in mind that this is poetry … there is no evidence that Cyrus actually said this, although Josephus records how impressed he was on reading Isaiah’s prophecy concerning his victory over Babylon.
Verse 2. God equipped him for the task, and kept him safe until such a time that he would be used (like an arrow in its quiver).
Verse 3. Cyrus said to Israel …you will be my servants.
Verse 4 … instead of which I set them free! All the warfare was in vain. God told me to set them free … and He will reward me!
OR
Verse 3. God said to Cyrus … YOU are My servant (not to Israel) but YOU are a “Prince with God” (which is what “Israel” means).
OR
The word “Israel” should not be there … see Cambridge Bible Commentary.
Verse 5. Again Cyrus tells of God’s pre-natal call (vv 1; 44:24) to be His servant … why? To “gather Israel” out of Babylon.
And God strengthened him for the task.
Verse 6. God said to Cyrus that such a job is too “small” for him … and even greater task is his!! … “to bring God’s salvation to the ends of the earth!” … possibly a reference to the coming Messiah who would be born some 530 years hence.
Verse 7. This is what God says to Cyrus … who was once a lowly, despised shepherd. Herodotus even records that Cyrus’ grandfather sought to kill him! (Schaff-Herzog Encyclopaedia).
But … verse 7b … the time would come when rulers would bow before him!
Verse 8. Again we are told that he will be “a covenant for the people” (see on 42:6!). And he it is who will say to the exiles, “Be free!”
………………………….
Seems to me there is a good reason for seeing a picture of Cyrus in these verses. But that is not to say that the greater picture to emerge is that of God’s True Servant, our Lord Jesus Christ…
He was assigned to the task of setting the captives free, even before He was born (v. 1). A “sharp two-edged sword” goes forth from His mouth (v. 1b; Revelation 1:16). His death upon the Cross may have seemed a failure … one repentant thief … and deserting disciples … but God the Father ‘highly exalted Him!” (v. 4d). He it is who was called by aged Simeon, “A light to lighten the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32). And He it is who was once “despised and rejected” (v. 7). To Him, one Day, every knee shall bow (v. 7c). He it is who established the New Covenant … based on faith, not the works of the Law (v. 8). And He it is who says, “Be free!” to those in sin’s bondage. Hallelujah!
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Studies in Isaiah -
No. 24
AWAKE! AWAKE!
………………………………………….
We continue our survey of the Servant passages with a reminder of some of the problems that confront us…
………………………………………………
1. THE
DIVISION OF THE CHAPTERS
The original writing of Isaiah was not divided into chapters and verses. And sometimes the division in our Bibles obscures the fact that the subject flows on without a break … as we will see.
…………………………………………………
2. THE
DEVICE OF COMMUNICATION
… that is, Poetry! And poets do not always speak in factual terminology. Isaiah uses poetic devices to bring a word of comfort (to the exiles) that may not have been historically true 150 years later when the exile was about to end. That is not denying the inspiration of this Book, but recognising that poets do not always express themselves like someone writing history.
……………………………..
3. THE
DIFFERENCES AMONG THE COMMENTATORS
Off they go in all directions. Which warns us not to be too dogmatic in our interpretation.
And more problems…
………………………………………….
4. THE
PROBLEM OF THE SETTING
Many writers pen books on these chapters and ignore the background of the Babylonian exile. The historical background (although still way in the future from Isaiah’s day) is crucial to a right understanding.
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5. THE
PROBLEM OF THE SPEAKERS
As we consider chapters 50 to 52:12 we will notice that sometimes the Lord is speaking (in the first person), sometimes the prophet is telling us what the Lord is saying to His people, and sometimes the prophet is simply calling upon the nation to heed God’s word.
Notice…
(a) Isaiah 50:1 … The prophet speaks, telling the people what the Lord is saying.
(b) Isaiah 51:4 … Here the Lord Himself is speaking directly to His people.
© Isaiah 50:5 … The prophet tells of the Lord’s word to him.
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6. THE
PROBLEM OF THE SERVANTS
Sometimes (as we saw in our previous study) CYRUS is spoken of as God’s servant, e.g. 49:3-5.
But so is ISRAEL called His servant, 41:8; 44:1. And He chose them to be His servant nation that they might spread His truth among the other nations (43:10!!).
They failed, and were sent into exile as punishment. Back they came, 50,000 of them, only to sin again and become ‘exclusive’ … even refusing to talk to “Gentile dogs”! So in AD 70 God punished them again. And gave the task of spreading His word to the “Spiritual Israel” … the Church. WE are God’s servants during this Age of Grace (Matthew 21:43).
* * * * * * * * * *
50:1-3. Here is an instance of the chapter division being in the wrong place. Notice in chapter 49 the recurring refrain… “This is what the Lord says…” (49:5, 7, 8, 22, 25), and here it is again (50:1) continuing the same section. These verses really belong to the preceding chapter!
What is the Lord saying (through the prophet)? “Israel was once my bride! But she was unfaithful … she ‘made love’ to other gods. So I put her away (in Babylon). I sold her like a slave. Why? Not because I, the Lord, was capricious … or because I was sick of her … but because of her sin (v. 1b).
“I could have delivered and forgiven … but when I called and wooed her, she would not listen to Me (v. 2). I was mighty enough to save her (when the Babylonians attacked) but she refused to repent of her sin and turn from her idols…”
50:5-10. Now Isaiah speaks in the first person, telling of the Lord’s word to him. And although he has suffered persecution (v. 6) yet his faith is unshaken (v. 7). God will vindicate that what he says is true (v. 8)! He, Isaiah, is also a “servant” of God (v. 10), and his enemies will be destroyed (v. 9b).
In these verses we are reminded of the Lord Jesus, the True Servant, who likewise was smitten (v. 6), and who did not deviate from the path His Heavenly Father had assigned to Him (Matthew 26:67).
50:11-51:2. In verse 11 the Lord warns those who seek to deliver themselves (lighting fires to see their way of escape … devising their own methods) are doomed to failure. They will receive “torment” from “My hand!”
51:1. Instead, He says … “Look to Me!” The Lord called them to be His special people… He had called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees to be the Father of their race. Or should we say, in the light of the New Testament, to be the Father of those who have the same faith as did Abraham (Romans 4:12-16).
And the God who blessed Abraham and fulfilled His promise to him (v. 2) is able to bless his descendants (if they have the same faith as Father Abraham).
Isaiah breaks in … verse 3!
There is blessing and prosperity and joy in store for the exiles. Soon Cyrus will conquer Babylon and set them free! And Zion will again be their home, a fruitful place!
51:4-8. Now the Lord speaks again … notice vv 5, 7, etc. He tells (in the first person) of the soon coming deliverance from Babylon (v. 5) and the amazement of the Gentile nations. The God of Israel, they will say, has saved His people!
There is even a hint here of a future salvation, not just from an earthly doom, but a salvation that will “last forever” (vv 6b, 8b).
And the wicked will be destroyed (v. 8a).
51:9-11. Isaiah adds his comment … “Awake! Awake!” he cries. (And again in 51:17 and 52:1).
The Lord who delivered you from Egypt (described here as “Rahab, a mythical sea monster! v. 9), and who led His people out through the Red Sea in the days of Moses (v. 10) is about to effect a second exodus, out of Babylon.
The same illustration has been used by Isaiah back in 11:11, 16.
And the redeemed exiles will return to Jerusalem with singing! (v. 11) … a lovely picture of the Day when the redeemed Church leaves this old world for the Heavenly Jerusalem.
Will you be missing on that Day…?
51:12-16. The Lord speaks (v. 15) and it is a word of comfort to the exiles (vv 12-15). And then apparently a personal word for Isaiah (v. 16).
The Great Creator “who churns up the sea” is the same One who speaks through His prophets (v. 16a; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
51:17-20. Time to “awake and arise”, says Isaiah … the time of chastisement for your sins is at an end. The ‘goblet’ of God’s wrath (v. 17) is about to be removed (vv 22-23).
51:21-23. Notice, here is Isaiah telling the people what God says (v. 22), “the cup of wrath is to be taken from the Jews and passed on to the Babylonians.”
In Revelation (18:1-8) the same figure of speech is used. Mystery Babylon (17:5) … the enemy of God’s Spiritual Israel … had made them to suffer … now she shall be made to suffer in the same way. Even more so.
… and on that Day the Lord’s people will go on their way … to Heavenly Zion … rejoicing! (Isaiah 51:11).
52:1-12. Isaiah bids the captives ready themselves for their return. And assures them that the Babylonians will never destroy their city again (v. 1).
The returned exiles will see God’s promises come true (vv 3-5a). And “in that Day (v. 4b) they will know that Jehovah alone (!) is God (vv 5-6).
The prophet pictures the runner upon the hilltops announcing the Good News of the end of the exile (v. 7) … a verse used by Paul in Romans 10:15 with Christian overtones.
“Get out of Babylon” is the cry … then (v. 11) and now!! (Revelation 18:4).
No need to panic … God will protect you! (v. 12b).
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Studies in Isaiah :
No. 25
THE MESSIANIC
PROPHECY
Chapter 53
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1. THE
IMPORTANCE of this chapter cannot be overstated.
Here we have “the most perfect picture of our Lord’s atoning work in Scripture (H.L. Ellison).
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2. THE IMPACT of this chapter down through the history of the Church is seen in the lives it has touched and changed. And blessed!
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3. THE IMPRINT of this chapter is seen on the pages of the New Testament. There it is directly quoted seven times and alluded to another ten.
In Acts 8 Philip met the Ethiopian reading this chapter and explained to him that the One of whom Isaiah wrote was the Lord Jesus (vv 27-35).
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4. THE INSPIRATION of this chapter is seen in the numerous fulfilments during the life and death of the Lord Jesus.
And yet the prophet wrote 700 years before Christ was born. This is the God who is able to declare things to come! (46:10, etc.)
The critics of the Bible think that Isaiah is speaking in this chapter of the nation of Israel. Not only does such a view not make sense (although some evangelicals admit that there may be a double reference here), but the New Testament clearly tells us that these verses refer to the Lord Jesus. John 12:38-41 includes quotes from Isaiah 53:1 (and 6:9-10). “Esaias” is the Greek form of “Isaiah”.
Verse 38 …“These things said Esaias, when he saw his
glory, and spake of him” … spake of Who?
… of Jesus!!
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5. THE INTRODUCTION of this chapter commences at Isaiah 52:13. The chapter division is in the wrong place.
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6. THE INTERPRETATION of this chapter can be outlined under five headings…
THE SUPREME SERVANT Isaiah 52:13-15
THE SCORNED SON Isaiah 53:1-3
THE SMITTEN SUBSTITUTE Isaiah 53:4-6
THE SACRIFICIAL SHEEP Isaiah 53:7-9
THE SATISFIED SAVIOUR Isaiah 53:10-12
(a) The
Supreme Servant
i. The Translation … presents some problems. “Wisely” carries with it the thought of prospering (v. 13) … as the footnote in the NIV says. And it agrees with the parallelism of the verse.
So, too, in verse 15. Instead of “sprinkle” it may better be translated “startle” or “cause of marvel”.
ii. The Exaltation of the Servant … God will “prosper” Him. He will be “lifted up” (v. 13). Kings of the nations will be startled by His exaltation (v. 15).
iii. His Humiliation … Why the amazement at His exaltation? Because there had been a time when His sufferings beggared description (v. 14; Philippians 2:5-11).
(b) The
Scorned Son
Born in a stable, from a despised village (John 1:46) … with a stigma surrounding the circumstances of His birth! (John 8:41).
The Jews were looking for a ‘majestic’ Messiah (v. 2b).
One who would break the Roman yoke.
He came … “and they received Him not” (John 1:11).
(c) The
Smitten Substitute
“It was for us He hung and suffered there,” wrote the hymnist. And in so doing echoed the words of the prophet. He was smitten for our sins and we might be saved from wrath. He died as our Substitute … and doctrine despised by the critics.
But a doctrine taught in the New Testament as well as here (1 Peter 2:24; Romans 5:8, etc.)
(d) The
Sacrificial Sheep
i. The Simile of our Lord being like a sheep is on the lips of John the Baptist (John 1:29), and in 1 Peter 1:18-19.
ii. The Silence of our Lord as He was led away is depicted, a willing victim on the way to the Cross (v. 7).
iii. The Shame of the Trials … the false witnesses … the illegal trials … the altered accusation …
Moffat renders verse 8 : “They did away with Him unjustly.”
iv. The Suddenness of His death … “cut off” in the prime of life. About 33 years of age (v. 8b).
v. The Sepulchre wherein He was laid belonged to a “rich man” (John 19:38-42). Not the intended pauper’s grave after all! (v. 9).
vi. The Sinlessness of our Lord, guilty of no crime in deed or word (verse 9b).
(e) The
Satisfied Saviour
i. His
Resurrection may be alluded to in verse 10b. The Father will “prolong His days”!
ii. His Exaltation is again the theme … He will “divide the spoils” like a mighty conqueror after the victory is won (v. 12).
iii. His Satisfaction … He shall see the saved … those for whom He died … walking the golden streets of Glory … “and be satisfied”.
“I’m satisfied with Jesus,” goes the chorus.
God the Father was satisfied with the Son’s sacrifice … for He raised Him from the dead (Romans 1:3).
And the Son is satisfied with the results of that sacrifice!! (v. 11).
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Studies in Isaiah -
No. 26
THE GLORY
OF THE CHURCH!
Chapters 54:1 – 56:8
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Following the great Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 53 comes a revelation of the results of that great sacrifice. For from the Saviour’s wounded side the Church was born. Now, in the chapters which follow, the emphasis is upon the Church … the ‘Spiritual Israel’ … the New Testament people of God.
It is as if our prophet has turned his telescope around and now the Messianic Age is close up … and the events of the Babylonian exile are in the background.
Notice nine things concerning the Church in these verses…
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1. THE
VAST MULTITUDE … 54:1-3
Whilst there may still be an allusion to decimated Judah before the exile and the population explosion awaiting Judah when the exiles return, there are verses in the remainder of this passage that simply do not fit the Old Testament Jews (e.g. vv 15-17, cf. AD 70).
But here we have an exciting picture of the expansion of the Church.
[William Carey used verse 2 as the text of the ‘deathless sermon’ that sparked off the modern missionary movement.]
It is compared to a tent bursting at the seams, unable to hold the occupants. And those occupants include Gentiles (“nations”, v. 3) as well as Jews.
Revelation 7:9 points us to the final number of the redeemed … “a great multitude which no man can number…”
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2. THE
RESTORED MARRIAGE … vv 4-8
Whilst there is an obvious reference to Isaiah 50:1 here … the ‘putting away’ of the Jews because of their idolatry … yet there is a prophecy here of the New Testament Bride and Bridegroom. We are in union with our Redeemer who brought us out of spiritual bondage.
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3. THE
TWO-FOLD MAINSTAY … vv 9-10
… that is, two illustrations of God’s unalterable purposes for His Church.
(a) Just as the Lord promised Noah that He would not flood the Earth again (Genesis 9:11), so He will not destroy His people. Now that hardly squares with the literal seed of Abraham. The destruction of the Holy City in AD 70 was far worse than anything the armies of Babylon inflicted.
But apply it to the Church. The gates of Hell will not triumph over it! (Matthew 16:18.)
(b) The mountains may crumble … but God’s love for the Church will remain steadfast.
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4. THE
PROMISED MAGNIFICENCE … vv 11-17
Of course these verses were not literally fulfilled by the returned exiles. The new temple, rebuilt by Zerrubbabel and his men, brought tears of grief to the eyes of those who were old enough to remember seeing Solomon’s Temple.
Dispensationalists consider that this is a description of the Jews and the Temple during the Millennium.
But others see here a poetic picture of the beauty and glory of the Church in this Messianic era. NOW!
It is POETRY!! And it is a picture of peace and blessing and prosperity and victory … a picture of New Testament truths in Old Testament imagery.
Whilst verses 11-12 sound like the Heavenly Jerusalem, bear in mind that there are no enemies left to attack when we are there! (v. 15.)
This is the believer’s heritage (v. 17) for it comes to us as a result of the One who was “wounded for our transgressions” … (Isaiah 53:5).
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5. THE
USELESS MONEY … 55:1-3
Like to join this great worldwide fellowship of believers … the Church?? Mmmm?
How much does it cost?
Nothing. At least, it costs the sinner nothing. But it cost the Lord Jesus His life. On the Cross He paid the price for you and me. That’s what Isaiah 53 is all about… “He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities” (v. 5). He became our Substitute.
But whilst it is true that salvation is free (Ephesians 2:8-9) it has been pointed out that the ‘annual subscription’ is everything!!
Ephesians 2:9-10… For
BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH;
and that not of yourselves: it
is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest
any man should boast. For we are His
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus UNTO GOOD WORKS, which God hath before
ordained that we should walk in them.
Praise Him!!
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6. THE
PROMISED MESSIAH … vv 3-5
As he did in chapter 53, so now again Isaiah points us to the coming of Christ (“Messiah” in Hebrew).
Notice the text, verse 3. This verse is quoted in Acts 13:34, and specifically applied to the Lord Jesus!
If we had any doubts as to what era Isaiah was referring to in these verses, this should settle it. Paul says that God’s “everlasting Covenant” … based on the promise made to David, is fulfilled by the Risen Christ.
Verse 4 seems to apply likewise to this One who is presented in the pages of the New Testament as our “Leader and Commander”. Into His Kingdom will come Jews and Gentiles, as they are now doing in this Church Age … for God the Father has crowned Him with splendour! (Philippians 2:9-11).
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7. THE
PROFFERED MERCY … vv 6-7
He who died to save now lives, exalted at the Father’s right hand, and to all He extends this gracious invitation.
There must be repentance, a forsaking of the wicked ways (v. 7) … and there is an urgency here (v. 6), for unless we seek Him and find Him the day may come when we lose the use of those spiritual faculties.
It is possible to postpone entering into His great salvation once too often…
But now is the time when “He may be found” … and now is the time He awaits to “freely pardon”.
There’s a way
back to God from the dark paths of sin;
There’s a Door
that is open and all may go in;
At Calvary’s
Cross is where you begin
When you come as
a sinner to Jesus!
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8. THE
DIVINE MANDATE … vv 8-13
God’s Word goes forth to accomplish His purposes (v. 11). I suggest that His purpose revealed here is the continuity and beauty of His Church. But He does not force His will on individuals. You as an individual need to seek the Lord … repent … and trust the Saviour (vv 6-7).
Again, in a delightful poetic description, we see a picture of joy (v. 12) and prosperity and the Lord’s blessing upon His people (v. 13).
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9. THE
ALL-EMBRACING MEMBERSHIP … 56:1-8
Various classes of folk are here mentioned …
There are the Jews (v. 2)
and the foreigners (v. 3)
and the eunuchs (v. 3b)
The Lord’s House is for “ALL nations” (v. 7).
The Babylonian exile theme is still here (v. 8), but the vaster scene is that of the Gospel era.
And Isaiah reminds us that those who belong to God’s Church must obey Him.
“The faith that saves is a faith that proves its reality by the way it behaves!” (James 2:17.)
So, “do what is right” says the Lord (v. 1).
Whilst Sabbath keeping is nowhere commanded in the New Testament, the principle of serving the Lord with time, talent and treasure surely is. This is New Testament truth enshrined in Old Testament terminology (vv 2, 4).
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that as Christians we have come to Mount Zion (v. 7; Hebrews 12:22) … another name for the Church!
And we are God’s House (v. 7; Hebrews 3:6).
And we offer spiritual sacrifices (v. 7; Hebrews 13:15-16).
We are God’s chosen people today!! Galatians 3:29.
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Studies In Isaiah -
No. 27
DELIVERANCE AND
DOOM!
Chapters 56:9 – 59:21
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As we come to Isaiah 56:9 a sudden change of theme confronts us. Some commentators say that the prophet reverts to his own day … some apply it to the Babylonian exile … some to the Church Age … and some to the Millennium.
It seems to me that if chapter 53 dealt with the Messiah and His atoning sacrifice, and if chapters 54-56:8 dealt with the Church Age … we will not be far wrong in continuing this interpretation.
There is, of course, the historical background of the exile to be borne in mind.
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1. FALSE
TEACHERS … 56:9-12 and 57:1-2
The coming punishment of the wicked is likened to angry beasts devouring them (v. 9).
And 57:1-2 tells how those who die young will escape those days.
The reason for this judgement was that the people listened to false teachers … “dumb dogs!” … “blind leaders of the blind” (v. 10), “ignorant shepherds “ (v. 11) … it was true in the days of the exile (Ezekiel 13:2-5) and it is true in the Church Age (Jude 3-13). And it has been true throughout the history of Christendom.
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2. IDOL
WORSHIPPERS … 57:3-13
Even during the exile in Babylonia there were Jews … even priests! … who clung to idolatrous worship.
Ezekiel rebukes them face to face … Ezekiel being one of the exiles himself! (Ezekiel 14:6-8.)
In many parts of the world, even today, the images of Mary and the saints often usurp the place that belongs to our God.
Idolatry is a sin forbidden by the Second Commandment … and yet it is alive and well in some ‘churches’.
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Studies in Isaiah -
No. 28
ARISE AND
SHINE!
Chapters 60 – 63:6
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Again the prophet continues to describe the blessings in store for God’s New Testament people, the Church, using the language of his own day. As Dr A. Barnes puts it: “The language is such as would be addressed to the exiles in Babylon, but the main reference is undoubtedly to the times of the Messiah” (Commentary on Isaiah, Volume 2, p. 379).
As a matter of fact, Isaiah even seems to take in the final glory of the Church when the redeemed are finally gathered to their Heavenly Home.
………………………………………….
1. THE
OLD TESTAMENT ALLUSIONS
Some verses have a very real message to the exiles … Isaiah 60:13-18.
Jerusalem will be rebuilt!
God will bless it once more.
Verse 17 is a reminder of how Solomon’s son replaced the golden shields in his palace with those of brass … a symbol of the decay that had set in (1 Kings 14:26-27).
Again, in 61:4, is an allusion to the rebuilding of Zion. Likewise 62:4-5.
“Hephzibah” means “my delight is in her” and “Beulah” means “married”. It is a poetic way of saying that although the Lord had once ‘put away’ His people because of their sin (50:1), yet will He marry them again (54:4-5).
And, of course, WE who were once separated from our God have now been ‘engaged to Him’ and are awaiting the Bridegroom’s arrival to take us Home to the Marriage Supper (Revelation 19:7).
In this Messianic Age the Lord is building His Church with ‘living stones’ … and the title of ‘Jerusalem’ is applied to the Church in Hebrews 12:22.
The writer of Hebrews draws a contrast between the Old Covenant (or agreement) that God made with His Old Testament people at Sinai, and the New Covenant made at Calvary. WE came to Mount Zion… the Church…” (Hebrews 12:18-24.)
……………………………………………
2. THE
OLD TESTAMENT FULFILMENT
Whilst it is true that Cyrus, the Persian, conquered Babylon and set the Jews free from bondage, and that they went back and rebuilt Jerusalem, there are verses here that simply do not fit that scenario (60:5-6).
But the returned exiles never achieved the greatness and prosperity here predicted.
It is a picture of blessings upon the Church in Old Testament language.
Likewise, 60:11-12 simply did not come to pass for the Jews. They experienced attacks from the Samaritans … then the Greeks … then the Romans…
It was not true that…
“No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise” (60:18).
One has only to read the story of the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 to know that ‘violence’ and ‘ruin and destruction’ did come once more to the Holy City.
But this is a prophetic fore view of the Church, against which the gates of Hell will not prevail.
With Salvation’s
wall surrounded
Thou canst smile
at all thy foes!
By John Newton.
It is a picture of the Church … ultimately victorious!!
Chapter 62:8-9 is yet another prophecy that only finds a fulfilment in the Messianic Age.
It is a poetic way of saying that there is peace and security and joy in God’s Kingdom today!
……………………………………………..
3. THE
NEW TESTAMENT QUOTATIONS
To further reinforce the claim that Isaiah’s message finds a fulfilment in the Messianic Age, we only need to turn to the New Testament and see how the inspired writers quote from this passage and apply it to the Church Age … and beyond.
The Lord Jesus quoted Isaiah 61:1 in the synagogue at Nazareth and claimed that it was then being fulfilled. It was a prophecy of the coming Messiah and His mission … and the Saviour said that it was being fulfilled by HIS coming (Luke 4:18-21). “This day”, He said, “this Scripture is fulfilled!”
Isaiah 63:1-6 is a terrible picture of the Last Judgement
when the Saviour returns to put down His enemies … and the enemies of His
people. The language is that of the Old
Testament … the imagery agrees with that of the Book of Revelation (Revelation
14:14-20; 19:11-16).
“Edom” (63:1) is used as a symbol of the enemies of the Church.
The whole passage describes the Son of God in His final victory over those who refused to bow the knee to His Lordship.
At His first coming He came as a Saviour … but at His Second Coming He comes as a Judge. In the synagogue He “closed the book” after He had read “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour”, for the “day of vengeance” was not until His return (Luke 4:19-20; Isaiah 61:2; 63:3-4).
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4. A
CLOSER LOOK
Some verses tells us what the Lord will do … and others describe the blessings awaiting His people.
(a) For example, we read of His first advent … 60:1-3.
And because the ‘Light’ has come (John 8:12), the ‘nations’ (Gentiles) will also come and share in the blessing! (vv 3-4).
Simeon may well have been thinking of this prophecy that first Christmas time (Luke 2:25-33).
Isaiah goes on to picture crowds from every nation coming into God’s Church (60:7-9).
He sees the Lord establishing a new covenant with His people (61:8-9).
He speaks of the joy and peace and security of God’s people (60:19-21).
Nowhere in the New Testament speaks of the literal descendants of Abraham inheriting the land “from the Euphrates to the river of Egypt”.
The Jews had this land in Old Testament days during the reign of Solomon and lost it because of their sin (1 Kings 4:21).
Isaiah 60:21 is an Old Testament way of saying that believers (Abraham’s spiritual seed … Galatians 3:29) will inherit the New Heavens and the New Earth!!
Perhaps Isaiah 62:5 points us to the end of the age when the Marriage Supper takes place … and God, Himself, is spoken of as being delighted with His Bride.
See how Zephaniah pictures the same scene (Zephaniah 3:17).
(b) And notice some of the descriptions given of the manifold blessings that are ours…
· There is JOY! …61:7
· There is SALVATION! … 61:10
· There is GROWTH ! … 60:21-22
· There is PEACE! … 60:17
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CONCLUSION…
These chapters have described for us … “the happy and glorious state of the Church … referring ultimately to the Christian Church under the type (illustration) of that little gleam of outward peace which the Jews sometimes enjoyed after their return out of captivity…” (Matthew Henry, One Volume Commentary, p. 922).
Amen!!
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Studies in Isaiah -
No. 29
THE LION
AND THE LAMB
Chapters 63:7 – 66:24
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We come to our final study in this book of Isaiah.
Among the lessons we have learned is the necessity of seeing these Old Testament books against their historical background. Without a grasp of the Babylonian exile (606-536 BC) much of this prophecy is meaningless.
We have also noted the fact that much of the book is in poetic form … and often Isaiah uses Old Testament language to describe New Testament truths. The fact that his book is oft-times quoted in the New Testament justifies our seeing a New Testament application.
And we have been reminded of the uniqueness of our God … the One who is supreme over the so-called ‘gods’ of the heathen … the One who is able to tell the future event before it comes to pass … the One who alone is able to save … or punish … as the case may be. The promise of the coming Messiah who would deliver His people from spiritual bondage has been brought before us. There have been previews of the glory of the Church Age … and even the Age to Come.
As we come to the closing chapters these truths will be re-emphasised. There is joy, peace, comfort, security, blessing for the Old Testament remnant as they return to earthly Jerusalem … and the same for ‘Spiritual Israel’, the Church, as they journey Home to the Heavenly Zion.
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1. THE
REMNANT’S PLEA
From 63:7-64:12 we have the prayer of the remnant … the faithful Jews in exile.
There is an acknowledgement of God’s goodness to them in the past (63:7) ... especially of His deliverance of His people out of Egypt … through the Red Sea … and into the promised Land (63:11-14).
So the cry goes forth once more for God to deliver them … not from Egypt this time … but from Babylon (cf. Isaiah 11:11).
Notice in verse 18 the topical reference to the Old Testament era … Solomon’s Temple was in ruins!
There is repentance upon the lips of the remnant … and a plea for the Lord to deliver them (64:8-12).
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2. THE
LORD’S REPLY
He reminds them (65:1-66:24) that it was their sin that caused the exile.
Notice the various sins here listed…
· Stubbornness (v. 2)
· Idolatry (v. 3)
· Uncleanness (v. 4
· Pride (v. 5)
Therefore … verses 11-12!
But for the righteous man there will be deliverance … 65:8-10.
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3. THE
RENEWED CREATION
But, again, keep the context in mind (65:17-66:24). To read these verses and ignore the return of the exiles to Jerusalem is to get oneself into all kinds of mis-interpretation.
There is a POETIC picture here of the joys awaiting the remnant … and a picture IN OLD TESTAMENT LANGUAGE of the blessings awaiting God’s people today … and on into Eternity.
Before jumping to conclusions that the prophet is speaking about Heaven, notice the reference to the accursed person dying before he is 100 years old! (65:20.)
The “new heavens and earth” refer to the rebuilt Jerusalem … 536 BC. See v. 18.
We are not speaking of literal Jerusalem being rebuilt in the 21st century … or millennial blessings, or even Eternity.
We CAN say that what was true of earthly Jerusalem in Old Testament days has a spiritual counterpart for the Church in New Testament days.
This is the day when people experience a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
This is the day when God comforts His people (v. 19; 2 Corinthians 1:4).
This is the day when God’s blessings come upon those who trust in Him. Longevity in the Old Testament was such a sign. It is an Old Testament way of saying that sin’s effects will suffer a reverse (v. 20).
This is the day when there is (spiritual) security (v. 21) and peace (v. 25)…
The whole passage describes what could have been for the Old Testament Jews (had they not lapsed back into their sinful ways) and what experiences the Church can know … if they walk in His ways!
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Chapter 66 continues the same theme.
The wicked will be punished (vv 3-4) and the righteous will be blessed (v. 2b).
The people of God will tell others of His greatness (vv 19-20).
Gentiles will come into the fellowship of God’s people!!
And that includes me!!
Amen and Amen!!
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