Showing posts with label Isaiah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Isaiah. Show all posts
A Nation Born in a Day
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Isaiah
59. An expository study of
Isaiah, chapter 66
(Please read a few paragraphs, just added, from A. W. Tozer)
(Please read a few paragraphs, just added, from A. W. Tozer)
Resisting the Holy Spirit
“Thus says the
Lord: Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house
that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?” (v.1). Even
after constructing a temple, which was a wonder of the ancient world, Solomon
humbly recognized that it was not a worthy place, in which the Creator could
dwell. He said, “Will God indeed dwell
on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how
much less this house that I have built” (1 Kg.8:27). 
When the martyr, Stephen, gave
his indisputable argument about the ways that Israel had always resisted the
Holy Spirit, he included their devotion to the temple. “The Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet
says…” and then quoted this first verse of Isaiah’s last chapter. Two
verses later Stephen says, “You
stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the
Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you” (Ac.7:48-51).God had only
ordered the raising of a tabernacle in the wilderness, as He reminded Nathan,
the prophet (2 Sam.7:6-7). Until the literal reign of Christ upon the earth,
every building made by man for Him, is meaningless, as far as spiritual
significance is concerned. About Gentile and Jewish Times
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Isaiah
58. An expository study of
Isaiah, chapter 65
The Times of the Gentiles
Paul quoted Moses, “I will make you jealous of those who are
not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry” (Ro.10:19 from
Dt.32:21). He then turns to Isaiah: “Isaiah
is so bold as to say, ‘I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have
shown myself to those who did not ask for me” (Ro.10:20-21 from Is.65:1-2).
Paul exalted his ministry
among the Gentiles by quoting the Old Testament. The prophets from the early
history of Israel predicted the Times of
the Gentiles, the days of the New Testament, when the gospel would be
preached to all kindred, nation, tongue and tribe around the world. Even in the
Old Testament, God frequently showed His love for the people outside of Israel.
Wrath, Love and Prayer
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Isaiah
57. An expository study of
Isaiah, chapter 63 and 64
Chapter 63
Isaiah envisions a last-day
drama unfolding: “Who is this who comes
from Edom, in crimsoned garments from Bozrah, he who is splendid in his
apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? ‘It is I, speaking in
righteousness, mighty to save’” (v.1). It is obviously the Messiah, coming
from defeating His and Israel’s enemies. Edom, the descendants of Esau, Jacob’s
twin brother, are the perennial enemies of Israel. Isaiah’s prophecy took a
similar turn in chapter 34 and both accounts point to the final battle against
the nations of the world, typified by Edom. Bozrah was an important city, for a
time belonging to Moab, but in Isaiah’s time, it was a city of Edom.
In chapter 34:16, we see
instructions to “seek and read from the
book of the Lord”, showing the need to see the interpretation of the symbolic
nature of the prophecy. In this chapter, we see the Messiah is a champion,
returning from war, His garments stained with the blood of His defeated foes.
Their defeat is vengeance taken for the suffering of His people and it becomes
their salvation.
Another question follows: “Why is your apparel red, and your garments
like his who treads in the winepress?” (v.2). Towards the end of the book
of Revelation, John sees Christ on a white horse with His armies following Him.
“In righteousness he judges and makes
war,” John states. This is the
Word of God, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who “is clothed in a robe dipped in blood… He will tread the winepress of
the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty” (Rev.19:11,13,15). We have it
clear, then, when this battle takes place. It marks the end of the beast and
the false prophet, just before the Millennium.
The Messiah and the People
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Isaiah
56. An expository study of
Isaiah, chapter 61 and 62
Chapter 61
This chapter contains clear
Messianic prophecy that Christ Himself brought to the attention of His hometown
people in Nazareth. It was His custom to go to the synagogue on the Sabbath and
Luke 4:17 states that they gave Him the book of Isaiah to read. He found the
portion that is before us, read from it, and then made the dramatic statement: “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in
your hearing” (Lk.4:21).
Verse 1 declares that He is the Messiah, the
Christ, meaning the anointed of the Father: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed
me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who
are bound.” The first thing that I would like to point out is that the
ministry of Christ was a work of the trinity from beginning to end. At His
baptism, the Holy Spirit came upon Him like a dove and a voice from heaven said,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am
well pleased” (Mt.3:17). Concerning His resurrection, Jesus said: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I
will raise it up” (Jn.2:19). He was raised from the dead “according to the Spirit of holiness” (Ro.1:4).
The Father “God raised him from the
dead” (Ac.13:30).
A Thousand Years of Glory
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Isaiah
55. An expository study of
Isaiah, chapter 60
From time to time, as we have
contemplated the works of Isaiah, we have noticed some very heartening
beginnings to the chapters. However, with a few exceptions, because of present
or future conditions in Israel, known by the Spirit of the Lord, Isaiah needed
to turn to warning or rebuke before the chapter ended. Chapter 60 is probably
the brightest prophecy yet, concerning their future. It is refreshing to find
22 verses that tell of unalloyed blessing, reinforcing the proverb of Solomon, “The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and
he adds no sorrow with it” (Pro.10:22).
Literally, Israel will become the light of the world
It begins: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and
the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (v.1). The word is directed
towards Israel and specifically to Mount Zion. A literal fulfillment is the
most natural and logical one that we can give to its contents, especially in
light of Isaiah’s prophecies that have already been fulfilled. I refer to the word
concerning the destruction of the Assyrian Empire, fulfilled shortly after it
was predicted. I refer to the defeat of the Babylonian Empire by the Persians.
In the latter, the Holy Spirit gives the literal name of the conqueror, Cyrus, well
before he was born. We have studied a good number of Messianic prophecies,
foretelling the first advent of Christ, fulfilled to the letter.
Salvation… God’s Sovereign Work
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Isaiah
54. An expository study of
Isaiah, chapter 59
Where can we turn, outside of
the Word of God, to understand the vital issues of mankind? The Bible clearly
depicts the doctrine of man, which is so important for us to know and understand.
Then we can recognize our individual place among the human race and diagnose
our problem. From that point, we go on to find the remedy.
Sin, Fasting, and the Lord’s Day
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Isaiah
53. An expository study of
Isaiah, chapter 58
Cry aloud against sin!
“Cry aloud; do
not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their
transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins” (v.1). This is a forthright command,
emphatic and clear, that God gives to anyone, who can be considered His
mouthpiece. I can only see two possible reasons why someone would choose to
disobey, to soft-pedal, or undermine the importance of God’s command. 1) He
chooses to ignore it, succumbing to popularity, a feigned compassion and good standing
with people. Such a person is not worthy to be called a servant of God. 2) He
might argue that this is an Old Testament command, directed solely towards
Israel. A little scrutiny of the New Testament will destroy that argument.
My study of the gospels has
shown me that Jesus was more than a gentle, kind shepherd, mingling with
sinners and enjoying their company. Consider the Lord’s statement to His disciples
concerning a major part of His ministry: “If
I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but
now they have no excuse for their sin” (Jn.15:22). He uncovered their sin
and guilt and called it by its name.
The High and the Lowly
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Isaiah
52. An expository study of
Isaiah, chapter 57
The righteous perish
Now I find this verse before
us: “The righteous man perishes, and no
one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For
the righteous man is taken away from calamity” (v.1). Had there been ten
righteous people in Sodom, they would have averted its disaster. The principle,
concerning the raptured church, holds true today every time that a righteous
man goes to be with the Lord. They are the salt of the earth (a means of
preserving it). A restraining force is taken away from before the flood of
lawlessness, and this world becomes a little worse as a result.
Grace for Strangers and Outcasts
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Isaiah
51. An expository study of
Isaiah, chapter 56
The Kingdom is at hand
One of the main themes of our
last chapter was hunger and thirst and in the Beatitudes, Jesus proclaimed: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Mt.5:6). Here in this chapter God calls to a people to
“keep justice, and do righteousness”.
These are not a religious
people, trying to do good works, confiding in them in order to attain their
salvation. His salvation is at hand; they are anticipating His deliverance and
preparing their hearts: “Soon my salvation
will come, and my deliverance be revealed” (v.1). ). Isaiah may be encouraging
the Jews threatened by Sennacherib or those in Babylonian exile, but it is an
appropriate word also for the coming Messiah, of whom all the prophets spoke. Like
those that Jesus blessed in the Beatitudes, so these are a blessed people. Though
there may be many, they are addressed individually: “Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast.”
To Hunger and Thirst
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Isaiah
50. An expository study of
Isaiah, chapter 55
(click on the photos for larger views)
A passionate invitation
We meditated on the message of
salvation in chapter 53. We studied the one, who would bear the message and
bring forth children in chapter 54. Now we see the message’s recipients and the
manner, in which the message is to be received. Whether or not your translation
carries an exclamation point or points in verse one, these are exclamations, clearly seen by
the repetition of the word come. Come…
come… come!
Did the prophet know that his
invitation would reach to the 21st Century? Who can say? In any
case, the Holy Spirit, who inspired him, knew and willed that we should see it
before our eyes: “Come, everyone who thirsts, come
to the waters; and he who has no money, come,
buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price” (v.1).
It is impossible to miss the
good intentions of the heavenly Father. Seven hundred years later, the Word was
made flesh and renewed the invitation: “Come
to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt.11:28).
He added in John 6:37: “All that
the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast
out.” Many years later still, five verses before the Apostle John closes the New
Testament canon, speaking for the Spirit and the Church, he gives the readers one
last cry: “The Spirit and the Bride say,
‘Come’. And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty
come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price” (Rev.22:17).
The Song of the Barren
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Isaiah
49. An expository study of
Isaiah, chapter 54
In chapter 53, we studied a
message that Israel largely rejected and in this chapter, we see Israel as the
incapable messenger, the broken tool, the light that is snuffed out. Of course,
unbelief lies at the root of her problem and fosters idolatry and sin. It is
likened to a childless woman, a most disgraceful state in Bible times. It is
particularly addressed to a desolate Israel in Babylonian exile, but as we have
observed already a good number of times, the prophecy projects into the last
days. It also serves as an example of the heavenly Jerusalem, from which the
true church is born (Gal.4:27). These all prove the divine principle that
involves a naturally incapable people, empowered by God.
Unfaithful and desolate, she
is converted, God forgives her and takes her back. We see her repenting first under
the ministry of John the Baptist, and then, believing and following Christ. As
the book of Acts begins, they come by the thousands, Jews from many different
parts of the world. As we read on, we learn of the conversion of Saul of
Tarsus, the conversion of Cornelius, and then a movement throughout the Middle
East and into Europe among non-Jewish people.
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.
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
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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).
Rebels since Conception
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Isaiah
44. An
expository study of Isaiah, chapter 48
I am
more convinced every day that Christians need to come under the influence of
expository teaching of the Bible. Once again, I invite anyone, who chances to
read this article, to join us in this verse-by-verse study of the book of
Isaiah. I am learning and I am sure that you will learn, as well.
Jacob and Israel
One
thing that we must do in an expository study is to define the terms that are
used. Generally, the people in Bible times understood these terms, but often,
we might look in a very different way than that, which was intended by the
inspired writers. We dare not interpret them in “our way”! For example, Isaiah
in verse 1 addresses the house of Jacob.
Early in the book, in chapter seven, we read about the house of David and
saw that this phrase referred to the descendants of David. Simply then, the house of Jacob refers, in a natural
and general sense, to the descendants of Jacob.
However,
when Isaiah writes, “who are called by
the name of Israel”, he is being more specific and spiritual. This clause
reminds us of a crisis experience in Jacob’s life, when God worked a
transformation in him and called him by a new name, which meant prince of God. His name is included in
Israel’s. God expects that Jacob’s descendants be a transformed and spiritual
people, representing His own nature. There is another term that requires an
explanation… who came from the waters of
Judah. This is more specific yet and denotes a fountain, as a source from
which waters flow.
The
southern kingdom took its name from Judah to distinguish itself from the
northern tribes. Their people intended to be more loyal and faithful to
Jehovah, the ones “who swear by the name
of the Lord and confess the God of Israel.” It is the ministry of Isaiah to
uncover superficial claims and discover the heart. Their confession, he writes,
is “not in truth or right”. These two
necessary qualities… truth and
righteousness… must be present in order for a claim to be genuine.
Bel and Nebo Fall
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Isaiah
43. An
expository study of Isaiah, chapter 46-47
Chapter 46
A good portion
of the earlier chapters of Isaiah had to do with Assyrian history and prophecy.
Several of the last chapters project into the future and concern Babylon and
its downfall at the hand of Cyrus of Persia. Babylon’s idolatrous religion had
an effect upon the world of its day and some of its aspects live on to our day.
The Romans associated Bel to Jupiter and Nebo to Mercury.
Bel and Nebo are
Babylonian gods. Bel is an alternate spelling of Baal and we know the part that
Baal played among the Israelites. Baal-worship reached into Phoenicia and we
studied about its influence upon Queen Jezebel, wife of Ahab, the king of
northern Israel. Nebo is found in the root of some of the names of Babylon’s
kings, including Nebuchadnezzar. Bel is also: Bel-shazzar, the king, but also
Nebuchadnezzar named Daniel after the name of his god… Bel-teshazzar (Dn.4:8).
A point that is
made in the first verse is that the images of these gods are a burden to the people
and to the beasts that have to carry them. They cannot defend the city and they
do not escape the invasion of Persia, but the idols are carried away, along
with the people, who worshipped them (v.1-2). The defeat of Babylon was a
defeat of its gods. They did not bear the people, but are carried on the backs
of beasts of burden. I noticed this comment in Wikipedia, concerning a
superstitious action by the father of Bel-shazzar: “Nabonidus had ordered cult statues from outlying
Babylonian cities to be brought into the capital.”
Sovereign Lord Over All
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Isaiah
42. An
expository study of Isaiah, chapter 45
 |
| Cyrus the Great |
Isaiah’s
ministry, by a powerful inspiration of the Holy Spirit, has given to readers for
2,700 years, around the globe, clear insights into the nature of God. From the
day of his divine calling, he came to know the Holy One of Israel and that has
been his emphasis throughout the book. He also powerfully portrays Him as
Sovereign Lord over all the earth.
Cyrus and sovereign choice
I repeat what we
learned in the last chapter; God named Cyrus over 150 years before he was
born. If you are a child of God, you probably are aware of the fact that God
had His hand upon your life before you knew Him. Did you know that He has
worked in past generations to bring you into being? Ah, the Bible teaches us that
“he chose us in him before the
foundation of the world…” (Eph.1:4). No wonder Jesus knew the little man’s
name, when He saw him in the tree. “Zacchaeus,”
He called. He even knew the name of another little man… the rabid,
hate-inspired Pharisee on his way to Damascus to wreak havoc with the church.
He shouted to him from the blazing glory of His presence, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” A few verses later, we
see that Christ had chosen him: “He is a
chosen instrument of mine” Jesus taught us that He calls His own sheep by
name.
God Creator or Gods Formed
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Isaiah
41. An expository study of Isaiah, chapter 44
Chosen
Have you considered the many things in your life over
which you have had no control? The family into which you were born, the time
and place of your birth, your name, and your physical features are all things,
which were decided for you. You had no choice in the matter. In the earliest
stage of your life, you were totally dependent on others for care and
sustenance. You were left in their hands to be moved, fed and put to sleep.
They did your thinking for you.
As children, we yearned for freedom and independence,
for the day that we could leave our parents’ house and be on our own. So we got
a job and lived in our own place. Soon we found that we were not as free, as we
thought we should be. There were bills to pay and our employer thought that we
ought to obey his wishes. Then we married and found that our area of freedom
was smaller, because now we had to share our existence with another. Then
children came and chipped away even more at our little independent world.
Israel's Only Salvation
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Isaiah
40. An expository study of Isaiah, chapter 43
What the Spirit says now
We see in the book of Revelation that Jesus gave
different messages to each of the seven churches. He concluded each message
with the words, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
churches” (Rev.2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). Although every Christian should
be occupied with a systematic study of the entire scope of revelation, there is
a more specific word, which the Spirit of God applies in different places and
in different times. We must be attentive to that which the Spirit says to the
church now.
I want to keep reminding you to have your Bible open
to read along, as we go through the chapters. I assume that you will do that,
as I make comments. You will notice that verse 1 begins with the words “but
now”. The preacher of Ecclesiastes claims that there is a time for everything
(Ecc.3:1-7) and the preacher of the gospel must be sensitive to the Spirit in
order to know specifically what He wants the people to hear at any given time.
There is a time for rebuke and there is a time for comfort. The prophet Isaiah
knows how and when to do both.
“But now”, after the warning of judgment delivered at
the end of chapter 42, it is time for God to comfort Israel. There is no
comforter like the Holy Spirit. He inspires Isaiah to begin with Israel’s
creation. The Lord continues to create; He creates individuals in the wombs of
their mothers and He creates whole nations. Comfort begins with the knowledge
that we are created beings and therefore we have purpose and care from our
Creator.
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