Obedient unto Death
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Isaiah
48. An expository study of
Isaiah, chapter 53
To believe requires revelation
We will now open to one of the
most, if not the most, significant prophecy of Isaiah. As we turn to chapter
53, there will not be many readers, who do not recognize the fact that it was
fulfilled by the cross. It is cited directly in Matthew 8:17, Mark 15:28, Luke
22:37, John 12:38, Acts 8:28-35, Romans 10:16, and 1 Peter 2:21-25, and is
alluded to a good number of times more in the New Testament.
We marvel at the wonderful,
supernatural perception that is given to this man, Isaiah. Not only does he
foresee the crucifixion, but he sees its cause and its accomplishment. The
supreme importance of its theme makes me hesitate in taking on this study and
certainly causes me to do so with a keen sense of inadequacy. Then let us
together approach our text prayerfully and humbly, submitting our hearts and
minds to the divine Author, who alone can penetrate into the depths of our
being and teach us in a spiritual and heavenly manner.
Attention: New Visitors!!
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Important messages
We are
very happy to report that we have a significant increase in readers over the
last few months. May I suggest to those new visitors, who have been reading our
recent posts, that we have a wealth of old articles. Some of them are extremely
important and valuable and, I think, will be useful to you. Let me suggest a
few(just click on the blue links):
In my
opinion, this is one of the most important messages given to the church in the
last 50 years. It was a ministry-changer for me. It was given by a man, who is
not especially well-known in our days. Searching his heart to speak in a
conference, suddenly his thoughts turned to an Old Testament story of a wayward
priest. With just a few hastily written notes, he abandoned the message that he
originally prepared and delivered one that touched the heartstrings of many
sincere followers of Christ. One person told me: "After hearing this message,
I just dropped to my knees in worship!" Please read
this carefully.
Redeemed without Money
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Isaiah
47. An expository study of
Isaiah, chapter 52
An awakening
When Israel became a sovereign
state in 1948, the time began when Gentile rulers would no longer control the
nation’s destiny. We are living in the time, when the scene is being set for
Israel’s full restoration. Our expository study enters into Messianic chapters
of prophecy that extend far beyond Isaiah’s time into the future to the first
and second advent of Christ. Any fulfillment of this prophecy after the
Babylonian captivity is only partial. The promise that the uncircumcised and
unclean would no more enter into Zion can only belong to the Millennium.
“Awake, awake,
put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the
holy city; for there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the
unclean” (v.1). In
chapter 51:9, we first see God awakening to revival, a renewal of a
demonstration of His power over Israel’s enemies. In 51:17, we have the call to
Jerusalem to awaken to His work of comfort and restoration. Then, as we studied,
we saw the severe results of God’s anger, often symbolized in the Bible as
wine. Israel had drunken to the full and reeled uncontrollably without any
human help possible. It is from this state that God calls, and the call is
repeated, as our chapter begins. The time has come, prophetically speaking, for
Israel to put off its weakness and the drunken rags and be clothed with divine
strength and beautiful garments.
Joy Comes in the Morning
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Isaiah
46. An expository study of
Isaiah, chapter 50 and 51
Chapter 50
Jesus, speaking on behalf of
His Father, showed that divorce was never a divine consideration (Mt.19:3-6).
Isaiah is going back in time to the calling of God upon His people (in
referring to “the mother”), to assure the Jew of his day and in the future that
there is no breaking of the marriage contract at any point. Paul enforces the
divine principle: “If we are faithless,
he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself” (2 Ti.2:13). Divorce is
contrary to His nature of endless faithfulness, though His offspring may be
severely disciplined or cut off for a time: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce, with which I sent her
away?” In what way have I reneged on My responsibility towards you?
Due to extreme poverty and an
inability to pay a debt, children were sometimes taken from their parents in
payment. We have a case during Elisha’s
ministry in 2 Kings 4:1-7. Here, God continues to reason with the Jew, “Which of my creditors is it to whom I have
sold you?” Any concept of poverty or faithlessness on God’s part are
equally ludicrous. Whatever the people may suffer, being carried away captive
from their own land into another, is strictly a result of their sins (v.1). Sin
results in separation and indebtedness towards God.
The Messiah Restores Israel
Labels:
Isaiah
Due to travels, it has been a while since I wrote the commentary on the last chapter 48. Finally, I've gotten the chance to continue with chapter 49. I hope you will find it worth the wait. It's a beautiful picture of the Messiah and the Jews coming into the Millennium. I especially find the care of the Jewish children during the Tribulation a wonderful part.
45. An expository study of Isaiah, chapter 49
The calling of the Christ
“Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar.”
Isaiah again sends his call to distant lands, to those outside the
commonwealth of Israel. All creation is obligated to hear the word of
the Lord and submit to the consequences, if they do not. Their refusal
is voluntary, so ignorance is not taken into account, and in all cases
they will be judged for the word that God has uttered. No excuse is
granted. We face the same situation in these times, for Jesus
proclaimed, “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a
judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day”
(Jn.12:48).
“The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name” (v.1). The sinner is conceived in sin and the only remedy is the Messiah, the Lamb of God from all eternity, spotlessly conceived in the womb of a virgin. He is the Christ, the only hope of the world. He is named from the body of His mother: “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Mt.1:21).
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