by Ken Cayce
© Ken Cayce All rights reserved.
Copyright
Title: The book derives its title from the author, whose name means "Yahweh is salvation," and is similar to the names Joshua, Elisha, and Jesus. Isaiah is quoted directly in the New Testament over 65 times, far more than any other Old Testament prophet, and mentioned by name over 20 times.
Author - Date: Isaiah began his ministry in Judah around 740 B.C., "in the year that king Uzziah died" (6:1), some two decades before Assyria invaded and conquered the 10 northern tribes known as the nation of Israel. The prophet witnessed the final years of Israel's spiritual decline and the utter disaster that followed. And God called him to warn the tiny nation of Judah and its capital, Jerusalem, about a similar outcome.
Isaiah, the son of Amoz, ministered in and around Jerusalem as a prophet to Judah during the reigns of 4 kings of Judah: Uzziah (called "Azariah" in 2 Kings), Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (1:1; from 739-686 B.C.).
He evidently came from a family of some rank, because he had easy access to the king (7:3). He was married and had two sons who bore symbolic names: "Shear-Jashub" ("a remnant shall return"; 7:3), and "Maher-shalal-hash-baz" ("hasting to the spoil, hurrying to the prey"; 8:3), When called by God to prophesy, in the year of King Uzziah's death (739 B.C.), he responded with a cheerful readiness, though he knew from the beginning that his ministry would be one of fruitless warning and exhortation (6:9-13). Having been reared in Jerusalem, he was an appropriate choice as a political and religious counselor to the nation.
Isaiah was a contemporary of Hosea and Micah. His writing style has no rival in its versatility of expression, brilliance of imagery, and richness of vocabulary. The early church father Jerome, likened him to Demosthenes, the legendary Greek orator. His writing features a range of 2,186 different words, compared to 1,535 in Ezekiel, 1,653 in Jeremiah, and 2,170 in Psalms.
(2 Chronicles 32:32), records that he wrote a biography of king Hezekiah also. The prophet thrived until at least 681 B.C. when he penned the account of Sennacherib's death (compare 37:38). Tradition has it that he met his death under king Manasseh (ca. 695-642 B.C.), by being cut in two with a wooden saw (compare Heb. 11:37).
Background - Setting: During Uzziah's prosperous 52 year reign (ca. 790-793 B.C.), Judah developed into a strong commercial and military state with a port for commerce on the Red Sea and the construction of walls, towers, and fortifications (2 Chron. 26:3-5, 8-10, 13-15). Yet the period witnessed a decline in Judah's spiritual status. Uzziah's downfall resulted from his attempt to assume the privileges of a priest and burn incense on the altar (2 Kings 15:3-4; 2 Chron. 26:16-19). He was judged with leprosy, from which he never recovered (2 Kings 15:5; 2 Chron. 26:20-21).
His son Jotham (ca. 750-731 B.C.), had to take over the duties of king before his father's death. Assyria began to emerge as a new international power under Tiglath-Pileser (ca. 745-727 B.C.), while Jotham was king (2 Kings 15:19). Judah also began to incur opposition from Israel and Syria to her north during his reign (2 Kings 15:37). Jotham was a builder and a fighter like his father, but spiritual corruption still existed in the Land (2 Kings 15:34-35; 2 Chron. 27:1-2).
Ahaz was 25 When he began to reign in Judah and he reigned until age 41 (2 Chron 28:1, 8; ca. 735-715 B.C.). Israel and Syria formed an alliance to combat the rising Assyrian threat from the East, but Ahaz refused to bring Judah into the alliance (2 Kings 16:5; Isa. 7:6). For this, the northern neighbors threatened to dethrone him and war resulted (734 B.C.). In panic, Ahaz sent to the Assyrian king for help (2 Kings 16:7), and the Assyrian king gladly responded, sacking Gaza, carrying all of Galilee and Gilead into captivity, and finally capturing Damascus (732 B.C.). Ahaz's alliance with Assyria led to his introduction of a heathen altar, which he sat up in Solomon's temple (2 Kings 16:10-16; 2 Chron. 28:3). During his reign (722 B.C.), Assyria captured Samaria, capital of the northern kingdom, and carried many of Israel's most capable people into captivity (2 Kings 17:6, 24).
Hezekiah began his reign over Judah in 715 B.C. and continued for 29 years (to ca. 686 B.C.; 2 Kings 18:1-2). Reformation was a priority when he became king (2 Kings 18:4, 22; 2 Chron. 30:1). The threat of an Assyrian invasion forced Judah to promise heavy tribute to that eastern power. In 701 B.C., Hezekiah became very ill with a life-threatening disease, but he prayed and God graciously extended his life for 15 years (2 Kings chapter 20; Isa chapter 38), until 686 B.C. The ruler of Babylon used the opportunity of his illness and recovery to send congratulations to him, probably seeking to form an alliance with Judah against Assyria at the same time (2 Kings 20:12ff.; Isa. Chapter 39). When Assyria became weak through internal strife, Hezekiah refused to pay any further tribute to that power (2 Kings 18:7). So (in 701 B.C.), Sennacherib, the Assyrian king, invaded the coastal areas of Israel, marching toward Egypt on Israel's southern flank. In the process, he overran many Judean towns, looting and carry many people back to Assyria. While besieging Lachish, he sent a contingent of forces to besiege Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:17 - 19:8; Isa. 36:2 - 37:8). The side expedition failed, however, so in a second attempt he sent messengers to Jerusalem demanding an immediate surrender of the city (2 Kings 19:9ff.; Isa. 37:9ff.). With Isaiah's encouragement, Hezekiah refused to surrender, and when Sennacherib's army fell prey to a sudden disaster, he returned to Nineveh and never threatened Judah again.
Historical - Theological Themes : Isaiah prophesied during the period of the divided kingdom, directing the major thrust of his message to the southern kingdom of Judah. He condemned the empty ritualism of this day (e.g., 1:10-15), and the idolatry into which so many of the people had fallen (e.g. 40:18-20). He foresaw the coming Babylonian captivity of Judah because of this departure from the Lord (39:6-7).
Fulfillment of some of his prophecies in his own lifetime provided his credentials for the prophetic office. Sennacherib's effort to take Jerusalem failed, just as Isaiah had said it would (37:6-7; 36-38). The Lord healed Hezekiah's critical illness, as Isaiah had predicted (38:5; 2 Kings 20:7). Long before Cyrus, king of Persia appeared on the scene, Isaiah named him as Judah's' deliverer from the Babylonian captivity (44:28; 45:1). Fulfillment of his prophecies of Christ's first coming have given Isaiah further vindication (e.g., 7:14). The pattern of literal fulfillment of his already fulfilled prophecies gives assurance that prophecies of Christ's second coming will also see literal fulfillment.
Isaiah provides data on the future day of the Lord and the time following. He details numerous aspects of Israel's future kingdom on earth not found elsewhere in the Old or New Testaments, including changes in nature, the animal world, Jerusalem's status among the nations, the Suffering Servant's leadership, and others.
Through a literary device called "prophetic foreshortening", Isaiah predicted future events without delineating exact sequences of the events or time intervals separating them. For example, nothing in Isaiah reveals the extended period separating the two comings of the Messiah. Also, he does not provide as clear a distinction between the future temporal kingdom and the eternal kingdom as John does (in Rev. 20:1-10; 21:1 - 22:5). In God's program of progressive revelation, details of these relationships awaited a prophetic spokesman of a later time.
Also known as the "evangelical Prophet", Isaiah spoke much about the grace of God toward Israel, particularly in his last 27 chapters. The centerpiece is Isaiah's unrivaled chapter 53, portraying Christ as the slain Lamb of God.
Isaiah, in my opinion, is the most spiritual of the Old Testament books. The man, Isaiah, was a prophet and preacher at the time he wrote this book. Isaiah was prophet during the reign of 5 kings, most of whom were evil. His wife was a prophetess in her own right. Some believe that the word "prophetess" means wife of a prophet, but that is not correct. A person does not become a prophet, or a prophetess, because they are married to a prophet. The office of prophet, or prophetess, is a call from God. You are not called to preach, because your husband preaches. You may be called to preach, but if you are, the call is from God, not because of who you are related to.
History tells us that Manasseh had Isaiah tied to two boards and sawn in two. The following Scripture is believed to be in reference to the horrible fate of Isaiah.
Hebrews 11:37 "They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;"
Isaiah had great reverence for God. He was a serious, spiritual man. He was known as the prophet of redemption. There were more prophecies of the coming Messiah in Isaiah than any other book, except Psalms.
The book of Isaiah contains 66 chapters divided into 39, and 27 the same way the Old and New Testament is divided. The one thing that tells us beyond a doubt that Isaiah, the prophet, wrote all of it, is his use of the title "Holy One of Israel". It occurs 12 times in the first 39 chapters and 14 times in chapters 40 through 66. This expression of who God is, is only mentioned 7 times in all the other books of the Bible, and one of those times says, "Holy One in Israel". This is Isaiah's expression. If there is a key word in all of this, it would be salvation. Isaiah expressed over and over that the Light and the Savior are One and the Same. As we continue in this study, we will see Isaiah had a depth of understanding who God is, that few have.
It is commonly believed that Isaiah lived (from 750 to 680 B.C.). Isaiah prophesied during the reign of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, and Manasseh. He faced many hardships, but continued in his call from God. It is commonly believed that Isaiah was about 20 years old when his ministry began, and he continued until his death. The Dead Sea Scrolls, which were found in the caves near the Dead Sea, contained the writings of Isaiah, and were very close in interpretation to what we have in the King James version of the Bible.
That his book should stand at the head of the 17 prophetic works is no mistake. All who have an appreciation for literature must be impressed by Isaiah's excellence of style, seen in his vivid descriptions and dramatic rhetorical touches. The grandeur and dignity are paralleled by a liveliness of energy and profusion of imagery. He was without doubt the "Prince of Prophets".
Isaiah 1:1 "The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, [and] Hezekiah, kings of Judah."
We can quickly see from this, that these 4 kings did not include the wicked king Manasseh, who had Isaiah killed. We find, in this verse, that Isaiah's father was named Amoz. This does not give us any further background on Isaiah. It appears that God just chose him as an unknown for this job.
This prophecy, that Isaiah gave, was revealed to him in a vision from God. Kings, and also the people, listened when a prophet spoke, because they believed that prophets were bringing them a message directly from God.
This particular vision and prophesy had to do with Judah and Jerusalem. Isaiah was a prophet in the southern kingdom.
King Uzziah was sometimes called Azariah. (In 2 Kings 14:21), we find that he was called Azariah, and he was 16 years of age when he began to reign. We find in the 3rd verse of the 15th chapter of 2 Kings that Azariah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord.
(In 2 Kings 15:5), we read that Jotham was the son of Azariah, and was king in his father's place. (2 Kings 15:34), tells us that Jotham did what was right in the sight of the Lord.
Ahaz was known by several names; Achaz, and Jehoahaz. He was a wicked king. Hezekiah and Ezekias are the same. His mother's name was Abijah. She was the daughter of Zechariah (the reference for this is 2 Chronicles 29:1).
Hezekiah did what was right and prospered. Read (2 Kings 18:5-7) to get a more thorough view of this. Manasseh was very evil.
Verses 2-9 is like a courtroom scene in which the Lord is the plaintiff and the nation of Israel is the defendant. Instead of responding to God's ultimate care and provision for them, these people have failed to give Him the loving obedience that is His due.
Isaiah 1:2 "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me."
We must remember this is a vision from God. Isaiah is speaking for God here. Prophets were sometimes called seers, because of the visions they had. These were God's chosen people, and they have turned their back from serving God. They have sinned over and over.
God does not stop calling them His children, but is disappointed in their rebellion towards Him. The only thing now, that will stop the judgment of God from falling upon them, is national repentance.
Our land could take a warning from this. We need to repent as a nation, as well as individuals for the rampant sin in America. We belong to Jesus Christ. He paid for us with His precious blood on Calvary.
God intended Israel to be a channel of blessing to the nations, but instead He must call the nations to look on Israel's shame. The physical descendants of Abraham are God's chosen people, in spite of their disobedience.
Isaiah 1:3 "The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: [but] Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider."
The ox is spoken of here, because it is a dumb work animal, but still has enough sense to realize who feeds him. The ass here, is a donkey, supposedly a very dumb animal. Israel was God's people, and yet they did not follow Him. They were a people who did not consider the blessings He had bestowed on them.
Animals appear to have more powers of reason than God's people who break fellowship with Him.
Isaiah 1:4 "Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward."
"The Holy One of Israel": This is Isaiah's special title for God, found 25 times in this book, but only 6 times in the rest of the Old Testament. Isaiah also uses "Holy One" as a title 4 times and "Holy One of Jacob" once. In many contexts, the name contrasts the holiness of God with the sinfulness of Israel.
This seems as though it is describing our generation, as well as the physical house of Israel. Notice "Holy One of Israel" which seems to be a favorite name that Isaiah uses for God. It seems this is not just a single sin, but they have taken up a sinful way of life.
This is Isaiah speaking in this verse. He mourns over the sinful condition of the people and realizes the punishment that lies in store for them.
Isaiah 1:5 "Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint."
It seems that the greatest even unto the least are caught up in this sinful way of life. The "head" could symbolize the mind and the heart symbolizes the morality of the nation. The head could also mean, the leaders of the country.
It certainly does appear that they stay their mind on evil things, and those who should be leading them morally have been caught up in this evil as well.
Already in ruins because of rebellion against God, the nation behaved irrationally by continuing their rebellion.
Isaiah 1:6 "From the sole of the foot even unto the head [there is] no soundness in it; [but] wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment."
This is not speaking of physical sores, but is speaking of sin, as the leprosy spoken of in Leviticus symbolized sin. This sin is so rampant, that it has involved almost everyone.
It means also, that the sinful way of life has totally consumed them from their feet to their heads. This also means, that there has been no effort made to cure this degraded society.
Isaiah 1:7 "Your country [is] desolate, your cities [are] burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and [it is] desolate, as overthrown by strangers."
This is speaking of the judgment that came to pass, because of their wayward ways. This is speaking of a war waged against them that they seemed helpless to stop. Many times, wars are actually judgments of God against a nation. Strangers tell us that this war was not other Hebrews warring against them.
Since Isaiah is speaking part of the time in the near future, sometimes in the far future, and sometimes at their present time, it is difficult to pinpoint which war this is speaking of.
Isaiah 1:8 "And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city."
"Daughter of Zion" speaks symbolically of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ many times. Other times it is speaking of the city of Jerusalem. The phase occurs 28 times in the Old Testament, 6 of which are in Israel. It is a personification of Jerusalem, standing in this case for all of Judah.
This cottage in the vineyard was a temporary house. This was like the booths (spoken of in Leviticus), that were 8 day housing in the vineyard. The lodge was a more solid dwelling. The key word is "as" a besieged city.
This means that this attack against Jerusalem was yet to come. It would be left in such bad condition that it would appear the housing had been temporary.
Isaiah 1:9 "Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, [and] we should have been like unto Gomorrah."
Isaiah used the title "Lord God of hosts" 60 times. It pictured God as a mighty warrior, a leader of armies, capable of conquering all of Israel's enemies and providing for her survival.
Survivors, rendered "remnant", is a term designated the faithful among the Israelites. Paul cited this verse to prove the ongoing existence of faithful Israelites even in his day (in Rom. 9:29). Such a remnant will constitute the nucleus of returning Israelites in the nation's regathering when the Messiah returns to earth.
Even this terrible siege of Jerusalem was not as bad as the punishment levied against Sodom and Gomorrah. In destroying them, God rained brimstone and fire on these two Canaanite cites because of their aggravated sinfulness (Gen. 18:20).
These two cities thereby became a proverbial expression for the ultimate in God's temporal judgment against any people. Had God's grace not intervened, He would have judged Israel in the same way.
As bad as this was, God had spared a few. God will always have a remnant of His people.
(In verses 10-17), the prophet applied the names of the sinful cities, Sodom and Gomorrah, to Judah and Jerusalem in decrying their empty formalism in worship. God found their activities utterly repulsive when they engaged in the rituals prescribed by Moses, because when doing so, they persisted in iniquity.
Isaiah 1:10 "Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah."
This is speaking of Jerusalem as if it were Sodom and Gomorrah. This is a warning of the terrible fate that awaits this evil city, if they do not repent and turn to God. Isaiah is saying, you are just as evil as Sodom and Gomorrah. Isaiah's plea to them is to listen to the Word of God, before it is too late.
Isaiah 1:11 "To what purpose [is] the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats."
I have had enough ... I take no pleasure. God found all sacrifices meaningless and even abhorrent if the offeror failed in obedience to His laws. Rebellion is equated to the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness to iniquity and idolatry.
They are so laden with sin that God does not want an offering from them. They are going through the motions of being God's people, but God will not accept their offerings offered with sinful hands. Just sacrificing without true repentance will not be acceptable to God. You could not then, and you cannot now, buy your way into heaven.
1 Samuel 15:22 "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams."
He wants their obedience and love, not their sacrifices.
Isaiah 1:12 "When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?"
In 2 Timothy 3, it is called having a form of Godliness. God does not want formality, He wants sincerity. In carrying out the required sacrifices, they had lost the meaning of sacrifice. It had become a practiced habit, not an act of love for God.
2 Timothy 3:5-7: "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." "For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts," "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
He is just saying that all the sacrifice without meaning in the world would not save them. (If we go to church because it is expected of us, we might as well stay home). It should not be done from obligation, but because we love to fellowship with God and His people.
Isaiah Chapter 1 Questions
1. In the opinion of the author, _______ is the most spiritual of the Old Testament books.
2. Isaiah was a __________ and preacher at the time he wrote this book.
3. He prophesied during the reign of how many kings?
4. Why do we know that Isaiah's wife was a prophetess, instead of just being a prophet's wife?
5. What does history tell us about the fate of Isaiah? Is there any Scripture in the Bible that indicates the history account is true?
6. Describe the personality of Isaiah.
7. He was known as the prophet of ____________.
8. What does the name "Isaiah" mean?
9. How many chapters are in Isaiah, and how are they separated?
10. What tells us without question that Isaiah the prophet wrote all of Isaiah?
11. What is the key word in Isaiah?
12. When did Isaiah live approximately?
13. Name the kings in power when Isaiah ministered.
14. How old was Isaiah when he began his ministry?
15. What interpretation of the Bible were the Dead Sea scrolls of Isaiah very close to?
16. We read in Isaiah that the message was given to him by __________.
17. Who was the father of Isaiah?
18. Who did the vision concern?
19. The four kings mentioned in the first verse were kings of ___________.
20. Which wicked king was not included?
21. What did the people believe about a prophet?
22. What region did Isaiah prophesy in?
23. What was another name for Uzziah?
24. How old was Uzziah when he began to reign?
25. What kind of a king was Uzziah?
26. Hezekiah is the same as whom?
27. Who was the most evil of the kings Isaiah ministered to?
28. What were prophets sometimes called?
29. Why were they called by this name?
30. What is the only thing that would stop the punishment of God from falling on them?
31. Why are the ox and ass mentioned in verse 3?
32. What is God called in verse 4?
33. What is meant by the "head being sick"?
34. What does the heart in verse 5 symbolize?
35. What kind of sores are spoken of in verse 6?
36. What judgment is spoken on them in verse 7?
37. Who is "daughter of Zion" speaking of?
38. What does "as", in verse 8, tell us?
39. What kept them from being like Sodom and Gomorrah?
40. What is called Sodom in verse 10?
41. What chapter, in Timothy, relates to Isaiah chapter 1 verse 12?
Isaiah 1:13 "Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; [it is] iniquity, even the solemn meeting."
These were all occasions prescribed by the Law of Moses.
Vain oblations are worthless offerings. Even the solemn meeting became nothing more than a sinful gathering because of their wrong motives.
All of these things just remind God of His children He loved who had gone astray. Vain oblations would be those given to no avail. They would be given, not of the heart, but in formality. They were keeping the law in form only.
Isaiah brings to light some of the times when they would offer unto the Lord. These times now are just painful memories of their transgressions. Incense had been a sweet smell to the Lord, now it was a stench.
"I cannot away with" means endure.
This type of offering was a sin itself. To worship in form only, greatly displeases God.
Isaiah 1:14 "Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear [them]."
It is impossible to doubt the Lord's total aversion toward hypocritical religion. Other practices God hates include robbery for burnt offering (61:8), serving other gods (Jer. 44:4), harboring evil against a neighbor and love for a false oath (Zech. 8:16), divorce (Mal. 2:16), and the one who loves violence (Psalm 11:5).
The new moon was the signal of the first of the month and a time of special worship. The feasts were especially holy times, such as feast of Unleavened Bread. They had been a joy, but when done out of obligation and not from love, became a sad remembrance to the Lord.
Isaiah 1:15 "And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood."
The following Scriptures show us that Solomon knelt before the altar of God and held his hands up to heaven in praise, when he prayed.
1 Kings 8:22 "And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:"
1 Kings 8:54 "And it was [so], that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven."
This type of prayer is usually very pleasing to God. God looks into the heart of man and knows when the prayer offered is sincere. It would not help to lift your hands up in humble praise before the Lord, when you prayed, if the praise and prayer are not sincere.
God will not hear our prayers when we are not sincere. His eyes are closed to them, because they have bloody hands. This possibly is referring to the death of Isaiah.
Isaiah 1:16 "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;"
This is the answer to their problems. They must repent of their sins. "Repent" means to turn the other way. It actually means, turn in the opposite direction. To say we are sorry is not enough, we must walk in the salvation provided. A Christian washes in the blood of the Lamb to get clean and free from sin.
These Hebrews must repent and wash away their sins and then walk before God uprightly. The Hebrews had ceremonial washings which symbolize our water baptism. The old man of sin must be buried in water baptism. The new man rises to walk a wholesome life.
Wash does not indicate that the sinner may cleanse himself. Nor does it refer to mere ritual washing. Rather, it indicates that the sinner must accept the cleansing offered by the Lord, a cleansing of the heart resulting in true repentance.
The outward evidence of the emptiness of Jerusalem's ritualism was the presence of evil works and the absence of good works.
Isaiah 1:17 "Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow."
These Hebrews had been given the Law of God. They must set an example to the whole world of how to live. They were the chosen people. This is just exactly like the Christian walking in newness of life.
Doing well is a slow progressive learning of what is pleasing to God. You cannot do the will of God, until you know what His will is. First learn, and then do the will of God. Be fair in all of your judgments. Help those who cannot help themselves, especially the widow and orphans.
Illustrative of good works are deeds done on behalf of those in need (verse 23).
Verses 18-20: The prophet's appeal to come and reason together reveals God's gracious invitation to all men. It literally means to be "reasonable" by repenting and turning to God. Their sin is described as scarlet and red like crimson, referring to their bloodguiltiness before God.
The term crimson also means "worm", referring to the colorfast red dye of the scarlet worm. The eradication of this stain turns it snowy white and is symbolic of the life changing grace of God, which delivers men from the guilt and condemnation of sin. Thus, the prophet reminds his readers that God stands ready to cleanse and forgive all who will turn to Him.
In developing His call for cleanliness (in verse 16), the Lord pardoned the guilty who desire forgiveness and obedience. This section previews the last 27 chapters of Isaiah, which focus more on grace and forgiveness than on judgment.
Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
The two colors speak of the guilt of those whose hands were "covered with blood" (verse 15). Being covered with blood speaks of extreme iniquity and perversity (59:3; Ezekiel 9:9-10; 23:37 and 45).
White as snow ... like wool: Snow and wool are substances that are naturally white, and therefore portray what is clean, the blood guilt (verse 15), having been removed. Isaiah was a prophet of grace, but forgiveness is not unconditional. It comes through repentance as (verse 19 indicates).
The beautiful thing about Almighty God is that He will reason with us. There is no way that we can completely do away with our own sin. Even the blood of animals could just cover the sin for a year and not clear the conscience of man. The precious blood of the perfect Lamb, Jesus Christ, did away with sin for all time for everyone who would receive it.
The type of whiteness (as snow above), symbolizes the righteousness. Snow is beautiful white and falls from heaven with no effort on our own. Salvation is that way, as well. God, Himself, reconciles Himself to man. Salvation and freedom from sin, is a free gift coming down from God. We have no part in it, except to believe and receive it. We need to see in this that, even though the sin is very bad, God will cleanse it.
Verses 19-20: "Willing and obedient ... refuse and rebel". The prophet offered his readers the same choice God gave Moses (in Deut. Chapter 28), a choice between a blessing and a curse. They may choose repentance and obedience and reap the benefits of the land or refuse to do so and become victims of foreign oppressors.
"Eat ... be devoured": To accentuate the opposite outcomes, the Lord used the same Hebrew word to depict both destinies. On one hand, they may eat the fruit of the Land; on the other, they may be eaten by conquering powers.
Isaiah 1:19 "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:"
Throughout the Bible, obeying God brings great blessings, and disobeying God brings a curse. The beautiful thing about those who work for God is, God does not care about your technical training. He wants you to have a willing heart and obey Him. The Holy Spirit will train you.
Psalms 37:25 "I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."
Isaiah 1:20 "But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it]."
The fact that "the LORD hath spoken it" means it will certainly happen. God cannot and does not lie. About the most foolish thing a person could do, would be to refuse so great an offer. Rebellion is akin to witchcraft. To rebel against God would be a much more severe thing than to rebel against people.
Verses 21-31: recounts Jerusalem's current disobedience, with an account of God's actions to purge her (in verses 24-31).
This concluding passage is supplementary to the rest of the chapter. It looks forward to the millennial kingdom when Jerusalem will again be restored as God's faithful city.
Verse 24 uses three different divine names: Lord (Adon, lower case); LORD (Yahweh, caps), and mighty One of Israel (Abir Yisra'el). All refer to the same person of the Godhead. Converts are literally "turned ones" or "repentant ones."
Isaiah 1:21 "How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers."
Often in the Old Testament, spiritual harlotry pictured the idolatry of God's people. In this instance however, Jerusalem's unfaithfulness incorporated a wider range of wrongs, including murders and general corruption (verses 21 and 23). As Isaiah prophesied, ethical depravity had replaced the city's former virtues.
We see the results of refusing to follow God. The main thing to notice here is the fact that they had been faithful in the past. God speaks of Jerusalem as His bride. To become unfaithful, turns a beautiful bride into a harlot. This is true, whether it is a city, church, or an individual. To go against God is to commit spiritual adultery.
The blessings of God were upon His bride, but unfaithfulness causes all kinds of sin. Murder is a sign of total degradation.
Isaiah 1:22 "Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:"
Silver of this kind has trash mixed in it. It is not pure. Wine, many times, symbolizes the Holy Spirit of God. It appears the operation of the Holy Spirit has been stopped. Silver indicates that at some time these people were redeemed, but have gotten mixed up with the world and are become debased by the evil of society around them.
This is about what has happened in our society today. Even churches have gone so far as to deny the power of God in their services. This appears that there is great danger in wandering from the pure teachings of God.
Isaiah 1:23 "Thy princes [are] rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them."
The LORD is King. His sons would be called princes. Christians (sons of God), are princes, because our Father is the King. This "princes" is speaking of God's children who have rebelled against Him. The lost world is not spoken of here; these are God's people who have become worldly. They are disobedient to the teachings of God.
These rewards are speaking of bribes to pervert justice. This is a perfect description of our society today, even many Christians. The two most important commandments are love of God and fellowman. Both of these are broken in the verse above.
Isaiah 1:24 "Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:"
These titles of God emphasized His role as the rightful judge of His sinful people. "The Mighty One of Israel" occurs only here in the Bible, though "the Mighty One of Jacob" appears 5 times.
Now we see the judgment spoken upon the rebellious. In the physical, this is speaking of Jerusalem. Silver is purified by applying great heat to it. The redeemed (in this case), will be purified by great persecution and trials. Those who are not purified by the heat are destroyed by it.
Notice, the three names for God in the above verse: Lord, the LORD of hosts, and the Mighty One of Israel. The wrath of God is poured out to get the people to repent.
Isaiah 1:25 "And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:"
God's judgment of His people has future restoration as its goal. They were subsequently restored from the Babylonian captivity (Jer. 29:10), but his promise has in view a greater and more lasting restoration. It anticipates a complete and permanent restoration, which will make Jerusalem supreme among the nations.
The only such purging and restoration in Scripture is that spoken of in conjunction with the yet future "time of Jacob's distress" (Jer. 30:6-7), i.e. Daniel's 70th week and the second advent of the Messiah.
The tin, in the verse above, is the non-precious metal that had been used to take away the pure state of the silver. The Right Hand of God is Jesus Christ. Whether that is meant here, I cannot tell.
Jesus is the One who cleanses us with His blood and makes us righteous in God's sight. Tin symbolizes sin in the verse above.
Isaiah 1:26 "And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city."
This is a prophecy of the New Jerusalem, wherein dwelleth righteousness. It is also, speaking of the church which Jesus, Himself, purifies. Jesus is the Judge of all the world. Christians will reign with Him as His subordinates, when He sets up His kingdom. He is the Righteous Judge.
Isaiah 1:27 "Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness."
Zion was originally a designation for the hill Ophel, this name became a synonym for the entire city of Jerusalem. Isaiah always uses it that way.
"Be redeemed, her converts": That remnant of the city who repented of their sins would find redemption in conjunction with God's future restoration of Israel's prosperity (59:20).
"Zion", as we said before, is the church or the city of Jerusalem. Those who repent (converts), and receive Jesus as their Savior are redeemed and take on the righteousness of Christ.
Isaiah 1:28 "And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners [shall be] together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed."
When heat is applied to silver and the trash (dross), comes to the top, the dross is skimmed off and thrown away. It is no good to anyone. This is what happens to the transgressors who will not turn to God. Those who reject God will be put in the lake of fire with Satan and all of his followers.
Concurrent with the future blessing of the faithful remnant, the Lord will relegate the unrepentant to destruction. This is the only way Zion can become pure.
Isaiah 1:29 "For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen."
These were settings where Israel practiced idolatrous worship. It is ironic that the Lord has chosen Israel while some citizens of Jerusalem have chosen the "gardens". When God calls them to account for their rebellious choice, they will be ashamed and embarrassed.
It seems there was false worship being conducted under these trees and, also, places of worldly pleasure called gardens. This is just saying they chose the pleasures of the earth for a little season over God.
Isaiah 1:30 "For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water."
In the winter, the oak tree sheds its leaves. The evergreen tree symbolizes everlasting life. A garden would soon wither and die without water.
Isaiah 1:31 "And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench [them]."
The tow "tinder", would hold him back from doing what he desired to do. This, again, is speaking of the pull of the world being so great that they would go that way. This leads to destruction in the lake of fire.
Both the rebel and his works will perish. This is final judgment, not merely another captivity.
Isaiah Chapter 1 Continued Questions
1. Why does God say the oblations and incense are an abomination to Him?
2. They were given not of the __________, but in formality.
3. To worship, in form only, greatly __________ ______.
4. What did the new moon signify?
5. Name one of the feasts spoken of here?
6. They had been a joy, but when done from obligation and not from love, they become a _____ ________ to the Lord.
7. How did Solomon pray in the dedication of the temple?
8. When would it do no good to raise your hands in prayer to God?
9. What is wrong with the hands in verse 15?
10. What could these bloody hands be referring to?
11. What is the answer to their problem?
12. What does repent mean?
13. How does a Christian get clean and free from sin?
14. What did the Hebrews have that symbolized our water baptism?
15. What were the instructions in verse 17?
16. Why must the Hebrews set an example for others?
17. Who is the Perfect Lamb?
18. Whiteness like the snow comes from where?
19. First _____, then __, the will of God.
20. If ye are _________ and ___________, ye shall eat the good of the land.
21. What does Scripture mean when it says, "the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it"?
22. Rebellion is akin to _________________.
23. To become unfaithful, turns a beautiful bride into a harlot, whether it is a ______, ___________, or an __________.
24. What is murder a sign of?
25. What does wine symbolize many times?
26. What does the silver, in verse 22, tell us?
27. Who is the King?
28. Who are the "princes"?
29. What 2 commandments of God are broken in verse 23?
30. How is silver purified?
31. What are the three names given for God in verse 24?
32. What is the tin, in verse 25, symbolic of?
33. Who is the Right Hand of God?
34. Verse 26 is a prophecy of what?
35. What is "Zion" symbolic of?
36. What happens to the dross burned out of the silver?
37. What is intended by the leaf of the oak fading?
38. What problem would the tow cause?
Chapters 2 through 5 comprise a single connected discourse.
Verses 2:1-5: Gives the first of 3 pictures of Zion (Jerusalem), in this discourse that depicts her future exaltation.
"The word that Isaiah ... saw" indicates that this is a separate prophecy from that of chapter one. The prophetic perfect tense implies that the prophet sees the future as though it had already happened. The passage is repeated (in Micah 4:1-4), in similar form.
The setting is the millennial age, when the nations of the world will come to the Holy City (Jerusalem), to learn the ways of God. Christ Himself is pictured as the Judge who will direct the affairs of nations during His millennial kingdom. Thus, the weapons of war will be turned into tools of peace and economic productivity.
Isaiah 2:1 "The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem."
This is a prophecy of the last days beginning here. This is not the last days on the earth for the people living when Isaiah wrote this, but of the end of the age in, possibly, our time. It seems that the prophecy was directed to Judah and Jerusalem.
The book of Micah contains this portion of Isaiah's prophecy almost word for word (Micah 4:1-3), indicating that the younger contemporary of Isaiah may have obtained the words from him. Both passages present a prophetic picture of Zion in the future messianic kingdom when all people will recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the world.
Isaiah 2:2 "And it shall come to pass in the last days, [that] the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it."
The "last days" is a time designation looking forward to the messianic era (Ezekiel 38:16; Hosea 3:5; Micah 4:1). The New Testament applied the expression to the period beginning with the first advent of Jesus Christ.
Old Testament prophets, being without a clear word regarding the time between the Messiah's two advents, linked the expression to the Messiah's return to establish His earthly kingdom, i.e., the millennial kingdom spoken about (in Rev. 20:1-10).
This is speaking of the church. The true Zion is not only Jerusalem, but the church as well. The church is many times spoken of as a city on a hill which sends out the Light. This could be a time, when all, who are mentioned here, will attend the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is high and lifted up.
We must look up for our help. "Our help cometh from the Lord". This will be a time when the LORD's house (church), will be lifted up.
"Mountain of the Lord's house" is a reference to Mt. Zion, the location of the temple in Jerusalem. The expression occurs two other times in the Old Testament (2 Chronicles 33:15; Micah 4:1).
Isaiah 2:3 "And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."
Isaiah frequently called Mt. Zion the "holy mountain".
The church of the Lord Jesus Christ teaches the Word of God. The above Scripture is speaking of the Word of God being taught by God's servants. The written and the spoken Word of God comes forth from God, but is presented to the world by God's servants.
Isaiah 2:4 "And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."
With the Messiah on His throne in Jerusalem, the world will enjoy uninterrupted peaceful conditions. Warfare will continue to characterize human history until the Prince of Peace (9:6), returns to earth to put an end to it.
The One we know as Jesus is the Judge of all the world. There will be no war, or even thoughts of war, during this time. There will be perfect peace. Jesus is the King of Peace. The next verse helps us understand what causes this great peace.
Hebrews 8:10-11 "For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:" "And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest."
The house of Israel is not just the Hebrew nation, but all believers in Christ, as well. The Hebrews are physical Israel, and the Christians are spiritual Israel.
Galatians 3:29 "And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
When the King of Peace (Jesus Christ) comes, there is perfect peace.
Isaiah 2:5 "O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD."
Isaiah is saying, since they know the total outcome in the end days, why not live that way now? He is inviting them to walk in the Light which is Jesus Christ our Lord. They are God's children. They should not be walking in darkness.
When it speaks of "house of Jacob", it is speaking of his family. This then, is the Hebrew nation spoken of here.
Verses 2:6-4:1: After a glimpse of Judah's glorious future (2:1-5), the prophet returned to the present for a scathing rebuke of her idolatry and the Judgment of God it evokes.
Verses 2:6-9: Isaiah stated the Lord's formal charge against the people of Jerusalem.
The phrase "replenished from the east" means that they had become filled with pagan influences from the East, namely Assyria and Babylon. Soothsayers (Hebrew anan, "to cloud" or "cover"), clouded over the truth rather than shedding any real light on it. The mean man refers to the lower class of society and the great man to the upper class. Both were bowing to idols and in danger of God's judgment.
Isaiah 2:6 "Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and [are] soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers."
It seems they have picked up some of the sins of their neighbors. They have become worldly. They have followed the ways of the Assyrians and the Ammonites. God has always called His people to be holy and separate.
Through caravans from the East, an influx of religious superstitions had filled Jerusalem and its environs.
God has stopped hearing their prayers, because they are living in darkness. They are living worldly lives. They have even begun soothsaying like the evil Philistines around them. The countries around them have evil practices in worship, and these of the house of Jacob have picked up their evil ways. God had warned them not to be yoked with those of darkness.
Isaiah 2:7 "Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither [is there any] end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither [is there any] end of their chariots:"
Their wealth was probably one of the things that had drawn these Hebrews. Silver and Gold are not a sin, in themselves. It is a sin to get them by tricking, or cheating others. It is also, a sin to lust for them, or covet someone else's silver and Gold.
These Hebrews had none of these things in abundance. These Hebrews had abandoned their teachings in favor of earthly things.
Isaiah 2:8 "Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:"
The word that "idols" was taken from means nothings. These idols are not a god. They are nothing compared to God who created all things. The second commandment in the Bible forbids this type of worship.
Exodus 20:4 "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth:"
The Jews were given the 10 commandments. They knew not to do this. The Gentile world did not have these laws.
Jotham and Ahaz, two of the kings under whom Isaiah prophesied, failed to remove the idolatrous high places from the land.
Isaiah 2:9 "And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not."
This is just speaking of the fate of these evil ones. They must turn from all of this, before God will forgive them.
The "mean man" refers to the lower class of society where the "mighty man" refers to the upper class.
This section (from 2:10-22), pictures conditions during the future day of the Lord. Though some elements of the description could fit what Judah experienced in the Babylonian captivity, the intensity of judgment predicted here could not have found fulfillment at that time. The tribulation period before Christ's return will be the time for these judgmental horrors.
Isaiah warns his listeners to "run for cover" because of the coming judgment of the human government (Joel and 2 Thess. 1:7-2:12). Since this Day of Judgment is coming, when all human government shall collapse into the dust, the prophet urges his readers to trust in God. The ships of Tarshish refer to the fleet of Western Europe (Spain), which carried smelted ore. The reference to shaking the earth (is similar to Revelation 6:14).
Isaiah 2:10 "Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty."
This is speaking of them hiding in the caves in the rocks. It seems the land of Israel has many of these places, where they hid in time of great trouble. No one can hide from God. He knows everything, and He sees everything. Even though they are involved with these people, they still fear the LORD.
Isaiah 2:11 "The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day."
This is speaking of that day when every knee will bow.
Philippians 2:10 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;"
When the Judge of all the earth comes in all His glory, everyone will bow down in humble adoration of Him. God loves the humble, not the haughty.
Isaiah 2:12 "For the day of the LORD of hosts [shall be] upon every [one that is] proud and lofty, and upon every [one that is] lifted up; and he shall be brought low:"
The wrath of God is reserved for those who are too proud of themselves to admit they need a Savior. We know a day is certainly coming that will be the Lord's Day. It will be the day when He will say "It is enough". On that day, every person on the earth will be judged of God.
The phrase "day of reckoning" or "day of the Lord" appears 19 times in the Old Testament and 4 times in the New Testament to express the time of God's extreme wrath. The day of reckoning can refer to a near future judgment (Ezekiel 13:5; 30:3), or a far future judgment (Zech. 14:1; 2 Thess. 2:2).
Two "day of the Lord" expressions remain to be fulfilled:
(1) At the end of Daniel's 70th week; and
(2) At the end of the Millennium (see 2 Peter 3:10).
At times, the near fulfillment (Joel 1:15), prefigures the far fulfillment (Joel 3:14); on other occasions, both kinds of fulfillment are included in one passage.
Here Isaiah looks to the far fulfillment at the end of the time of Jacob's trouble (Jer. 30:7).
Isaiah 2:13 "And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, [that are] high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,"
The cedars and oaks were objects of great admiration to people of Old Testament times (Psalms 91:12; 104:16; Ezekiel 27:6; and 31:3). Yet even these impressive created objects would face destruction because of human rebellion.
When the wrath of God comes on the earth, the trees will be burned. You see, the wrath comes through burning of trees, the water becoming wormwood, etc. This could also, speak of a day near unto them when the trees were cut before the fall of the land.
Isaiah 2:14 "And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up,"
It seems these people had a false idea of their worth. They thought themselves to be above punishment from God. This is speaking of the fall of their country by judgment from God. This is not just speaking of those of Judah, but could also, be a warning to us today.
We are not above the judgment of God either. As we have said before, wars are sometimes judgments of God on His people.
Isaiah 2:15 "And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall,"
King Uzziah and King Jotham built great fortifications to hold back the enemy. In the corners on top of the wall, they had high towers to warn early of an attack. All of this will not protect them from God however.
Isaiah 2:16 "And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures."
This does not mean the handful of ships that were built to go to Tarshish, but means all of the great ships. The pleasant pictures, probably mean the various works of art. It appears these people had put their faith in things of this world. Nothing in this world can equal Almighty God, who made it all.
Isaiah 2:17 "And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day."
It appears this haughtiness was because of acquiring things thought to be valuable on the earth. They had a false sense of their own worth; because of the great accumulations of things they called wealth.
All of these things shall be brought low, and the LORD alone shall be exalted. Those who have put their faith in the LORD will be exalted. Those who have put their faith in things of the world shall be brought down.
Isaiah 2:18 "And the idols he shall utterly abolish."
This just means that there will be total destruction of every idol. This could be speaking of the time the Babylonians come and conquer them, and can also mean at the end times. God wants us to be His 100%, or not His at all. He will not tolerate us having idols.
Isaiah 2:19 "And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth."
(Revelation 6:12; 15; 16 uses this passage and 2:21), to describe man's flight from the terrors of tribulation during the period before Christ's personal return to earth. This shows that the final fulfillment of the prophecy will be during Daniel's 70th week.
Whether this means that great earthquake that will be felt around the entire earth, or whether this is something that greatly frightens them, is uncertain. This is saying, they will run from the city and hide in the caves. Their fear is not of man, but of the LORD. This makes me believe it is a great earthquake. It is however, impossible to hide from the LORD.
Isaiah 2:20 "In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;"
There will come a sudden awakening that these idols, made by hand, have no power to save them. They will toss them away, because they are of no help to them at all.
Isaiah 2:21 "To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth."
Be sure, your sins will be found of God, regardless of where you hide. It appears they try to hide in the rocks, but this will not save them. When the judgment of God comes, there will be no hiding place from Him.
Isaiah 2:22 "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?"
This is just a warning to stop trusting in mankind, or in the things he makes with his hands. This scripture calls readers to stop depending on other humans and to trust only in God, who alone is worthy.
The statement, whose breath in his nostrils, implies that even the breath of man is not a product of man, but God. God breathed the breath of life in man, and he became a living soul.
Even the breath of man, belongs to God. He can take it back any time He wants to. God is in control of the next breath man takes. When the breath of life leaves man, he must give account to God. Mankind is of no account at all on his own.
The only hope for mankind is to turn from his idols, repent, and receive the LORD.
Isaiah Chapter 2 Questions
1. The word that Isaiah saw in verse 1 was concerning whom?
2. What age is this really speaking of?
3. What does verse 2 say, will be established in the top of the mountains?
4. What is this speaking of?
5. Where can we expect help from?
6. What is the LORD's house?
7. What does the church of the Lord Jesus teach?
8. Who is doing the teaching?
9. Out of ________ shall go forth the law.
10. And the Word of the LORD from _____________.
11. They shall beat their swords into ______________.
12. Who establishes the peace spoken of in verse 4?
13. What Scripture tells us the believers in Christ are included in this?
14. Let us walk in the ________ of the LORD.
15. What does "house of Jacob" mean?
16. Why has God forsaken them?
17. What is one of the evil things they have begun to do in verse 6?
18. What was, probably, the thing that lured them to pick up the ways of these evil people?
19. The Hebrews had abandoned their teachings for what?
20. What did these evil people worship?
21. Why did they enter into the rock?
22. The lofty looks of man shall be _____________.
23. Who is the wrath of God reserved for?
24. What effect will the wrath of God have on the trees?
25. What are wars, sometimes?
26. Who were two of the kings who had built fortifications?
27. What had these people put their faith in?
28. What had caused these people to be haughty?
29. Where will they try to hide from the LORD?
30. What is the terrible shaking, probably?
31. What will the people do with their idols in that day?
32. What great awakening will come to the people?
33. Who has control of man's breath?
34. What is the only hope for mankind?
From (3:1 - 4:1), the Lord's indictment against and judgment of Jerusalem and Judah continued.
In verses 3:1-8: The prophet denounces the private sins of the affluent upper class of Judah by warning them that God will take away their leaders and replace them with incompetent ones. Stay and staff are two genders of the same noun and serve as a Hebrew idiom for "all kinds of things" He then lists the kinds of leaders who will fail, beginning with the mighty man (gibor, heroic leader).
In place of these national leaders God warns that He will give them children ... and babes to rule over them. This prophecy was literally fulfilled when Manasseh (at age 12), began his long and wicked reign, which eventually led to Judah's final downfall. "Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen" is stated in the prophetic perfect as if this future event were already a fact.
Isaiah 3:1 "For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water."
"The Lord, the LORD of hosts": Emphasizing His ultimate authority, God refers to Himself by the title Adonai ("the Lord"), the sovereign Lord of all, and by the mighty and warlike "God of hosts".
The Lord has always provided the needs of His people of Judah from Jerusalem. This is just saying that, this will no longer be. God will remove His help from the mighty of Jerusalem. The Bread and Water are both symbolic of Jesus. Whether this is a spiritual blessing being taken away or a physical blessing, I cannot say. Perhaps it is both.
From (verses 1-3), God's judgment was to include a removal of the people's leadership.
Isaiah 3:2 "The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient,"
These are all people who had been held in high esteem. The mighty man of war would probably be of great service in the battle to come. This is probably, speaking of the Babylonian captivity, but also is speaking of the end of the age.
The judge and the prophet had great power with the king and the people. In these days that Isaiah lived in, there was really no separation of church and state.
Isaiah 3:3 "The captain of fifty, and the honorable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator."
Again, these were people of authority in their land. God will bring them low, and they will be ruled by children. All those of skill were carried away by Nebuchadnezzar. The orator, in the verse above, was really an enchanter.
Isaiah 3:4 "And I will give children [to be] their princes, and babes shall rule over them."
This came true very soon after this was said, because the rulers of Judah were all under 25 years of age after the reign of Hezekiah. Manasseh was 12, and Josiah was 8, when they began to reign. Babes (in verse 4), means those who act in a child-like manner.
Isaiah 3:5 "And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbor: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honorable."
One of the reasons the youth would act proudly against the aged, is the fact that youth were ruling the land. It seems all respect for those in authority was wiped out, as well.
This society Isaiah spoke of, would not be practicing the golden rule to love thy neighbor as thyself. They would be against their neighbors.
Verses 6-7: "This ruin ... ruler of the people": Conditions of anarchy were to be so bad that no one would accept a position of authority over the people.
Isaiah 3:6 "When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, [saying], Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and [let] this ruin [be] under thy hand:"
No one wanted to be responsible for their brothers. Each was seeking to take care of himself. If one of them seemed to have more, they would try to get him to lead them, so they could share in his goods.
Isaiah 3:7 "In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be a healer; for in my house [is] neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people."
The rulers of households were expected to take care of their servants, as well as their own families. Isaiah is saying, there will be so little, no one wants to be the one to care for all of them. How can he feed the servants, if he does not even have enough to feed his own family?
The shortages will be so great that even the meager provisions, such as bread and clothing, will not be available.
Isaiah 3:8 "For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings [are] against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory."
The fall of Jerusalem (in 586 B.C.), was only a partial fulfillment of the prophecy. The final fulfillment awaits the times just prior to Christ's second coming.
"Against the Lord": The root of Zion's problem surfaces: overt rebellion against the Lord. The people sinned shamelessly; they made no effort to conceal it (3:9).
We can easily see the reason for the judgment of God against Jerusalem. They have sinned against the LORD. Notice, their speech had been opposed to the LORD and their deeds, as well. We will read in other lessons where God's fury has come up in His face.
(In Romans 10:9), we know that confession of the LORD is the very means to receive salvation. This is speaking of God's people renouncing Him with their mouths. This would bring about the wrath of God, not salvation.
Verses 9-15: "The show of their countenance" means "the look of their faces." Their guilty faces clearly revealed their sinful hearts.
"Children are their oppressors, and woman rule over them", indicates the utter failure of male leadership in their society (verse 12).
"Isaiah 3:9 The show of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide [it] not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves."
The sin of Sodom was the practice of homosexuality. Those, who are habitual sinners, have a hard look in their faces. Not only, have their hearts been hardened to sin, but it shows in their faces.
This is speaking also, of proclaiming their sins as an alternate life style. God calls this type of sin an abomination. He gives them over to a reprobate mind. Sin of this kind, in our days, can bring the plague of A.I.D.S. on you.
The sad thing, in the verse above, is they do not even have a repentant heart. They are proud of their sins.
Isaiah 3:10 "Say ye to the righteous, that [it shall be] well [with him]: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings."
The best way to explain this is with another Scripture.
Galatians 6:7 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
This Scripture of the righteous is in direct contrast to those who commit these terrible sins (of verse 9). The righteous are those who have placed their faith in the LORD, and are made righteous by that faith. Abraham's faith was counted unto him as righteousness.
Christians take on the righteousness of Christ, when they receive Him as their Savior. There will be tremendous rewards awaiting those who put their faith in the LORD.
Isaiah 3:11 "Woe unto the wicked! [it shall be] ill [with him]: for the reward of his hands shall be given him."
Those who plant the seed of sin will reap sin. The wicked will be judged, by the Judge of all the world, not fit for heaven and eternal life with Him. In fact, they will have their place in the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:15 "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
There are only two places to go, heaven, or hell (the lake of fire). It is our choice while we are still alive, but on judgment day, it will be up to the LORD.
Isaiah 3:12 "[As for] my people, children [are] their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause [thee] to err, and destroy the way of thy paths."
"Children ... women". Children and women were considered ill-suited for governmental leadership so they figuratively depicted the incompetent rulers.
This is not speaking in a factual sense, but is saying the rulers will behave as children and will be effeminate. These rulers did not have the characteristics of strong rulers, but acted as women and children. The blind leading the blind is what has gotten them into trouble.
In our day, the Scripture above could be taken literally. Women should not rule over their husbands in the flesh; in their homes. The father should be the head of the house. Children should not be able to oppress their parents either, but both things are happening in our society.
Isaiah 3:13 "The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people."
The LORD has always stood up for the oppressed. In the verse above, it perhaps means that those in authority have over-stepped their bounds and are ruling harshly those of lesser wealth.
Isaiah 3:14 "The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor [is] in your houses."
The spoiling of the vineyard by the leaders amounts to their inequities in ruling the nation. Isaiah gave a more detailed comparison of God's people to a vineyard (in 5:1-7).
The LORD, back in Leviticus, had told them never to pick the entire crop, but to leave the edges to the poor and oppressed. It seems here, their greed has overcome them, and they have left nothing for the poor. The part of the crop that belonged to the poor had been gathered and carried into their houses.
Isaiah 3:15 "What mean ye [that] ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts."
The LORD always helped the poor, who could not help themselves. It seems the poor had been mistreated by God's people.
Verses 16-26: The arrogant and fashionable women of Jerusalem are condemned by the prophet for being more interested in the latest fads of fashion than the spiritual well-being of the nation. They are described as haughty, proud and wanton (suggestive). They walk with heads held high and with mincing steps, tinkling the bangles on their feet; they have flashing, seductive veils.
Suits of apparel, or festal robes. Mantles, or tunic. Wimples, or cloaks. Glasses, or mirrors. Thus, the prophet predicts that the women of Judah will cease to delight in these feminine accessories and will perish with the men of Judah.
Isaiah 3:16 "Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing [as] they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:"
When women cultivate beauty for beauty's sake, they thereby reflect the moral decay of the nations and detract from the glory of God. Rather than emphasizing outward apparel and activities (verses 16-24), ladies should cultivate the beauty of the inner person.
Mincing steps. Ornamental chains about the ankles necessitated shorter steps and produced tinkling sounds to attract attention.
Isaiah 3:17 "Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts."
We are now looking at the sins of the women. In the spiritual sense, this could also be speaking of the sins in the church. Zion many times is speaking of the church. In any case, this is speaking of lust of the eyes and the flesh.
Their "stretched forth necks" mean that they are puffed up with pride. The wanton eyes mean they are flirting and desire the men. This type of sin causes a woman to lose her beauty.
This says, the LORD will bring baldness to them and sores on their body. Their secret part I believe to be their hearts. God sees their heart and knows it is stayed on evil.
Isaiah 3:18-23 "In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of [their] tinkling ornaments [about their feet], and [their] cauls, and [their] round tires like the moon," "The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers," "The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings," "The rings, and nose jewels," "The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins," "The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the veils."
All of these things are outward adornment which they are trying to appeal to the men with. God looks on the inward man, not on the outward. All of the things above are earthly things which will pass away.
1 Peter 3:3-4 "Whose adorning let it not be that outward [adorning] of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;" "But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."
Isaiah 3:24 "And it shall come to pass, [that] instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; [and] burning instead of beauty."
This is an explanation of exactly what comes from being a loose woman. Notice, the punishment from God fits the sin. God is righteous.
Isaiah 3:25 "Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war."
This is speaking of the coming war, when Jerusalem is overcome by the enemy. When God does not stand up for the Hebrews, they fall to their enemies.
Isaiah 3:26 "And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she [being] desolate shall sit upon the ground."
Captivity is not a pretty thing. The city was plundered. It is too late to lament and mourn. It is done. The "sitting upon the ground" indicates that everything is gone. They have no chairs to sit on.
Isaiah Chapter 3 Questions
1. In verse 1, what has the LORD of hosts taken away from Jerusalem?
2. What is "Lord, the LORD of hosts" speaking of?
3. What does Lord mean in verse 1?
4. What does LORD in verse 1 mean?
5. What are the Bread and Water symbolic of?
6. Who are the mighty men in verse 2?
7. What captivity is this probably speaking of?
8. What other time is it probably speaking of?
9. Who are the eloquent orator, counselor, and honorable man speaking of in verse 3?
10. Who will be their princes?
11. What is "babes", in verse 4, really speaking of?
12. Why were the youth acting proudly against the ancient?
13. Who were they trying to choose to rule them?
14. What was the reason not to want to be a leader?
15. For ____________ is ruined, and _________ is fallen.
16. What was the reason for the judgment of God against them?
17. What city's sin was theirs compared to?
18. What was the evil city's sin?
19. What is the saddest thing of all about verse 9?
20. Who are the righteous?
21. What do those who put their faith in the Lord have awaiting them?
22. What chapter and verse, in Revelation, tells us about the lake of fire being for those whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life?
23. What is verse 12 speaking of really?
24. Who should be the head of the home?
25. Who has always stood up for the oppressed?
26. In Leviticus what instruction had been given to God's people about the poor, pertaining to their crops?
27. How are the daughters of Zion described in verse 16?
28. Verse 16 and 17 are speaking of the sins of whom?
29. What do the "stretched forth necks" show?
30. What are all the things in verses 18 through 23?
31. What comes of being a loose woman?
32. What happens to the Hebrews, when God does not stand up for them?
33. What does "sit upon the ground", in verse 26, show us?
Isaiah 4:1 "And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach."
"Seven women ... one man". In the day of reckoning, or the day of the Lord, He will judge wicked women indirectly by allowing a slaughtering of males, thereby producing a shortage of husbands.
This verse serves as a summary of the proceeding chapter. As a result of the coming devastation of the land, seven women shall take hold on one man, meaning that the male population will be so devastated that there will be seven women for every surviving male.
We must remember that it was thought to be a curse from God, if a woman was barren. It appears, in the verse above, that there are so few men that seven women want to wed one man, to be able to have his name, and perhaps, his child.
They are certainly aware that one man cannot afford to take care of seven families, so they offer to support themselves just to be able to use his name. War takes a great toll upon the men.
The branch of the Lord is the Messiah Himself. This same title is used (in Jeremiah 23:5, 33:15 and Zechariah 3:8 and 6:12). Thus, in the midst of his warning of judgment, Isaiah reveals a glorious promise of the future hope of the coming of the Messiah.
He sees ahead to the millennial kingdom when once again the cloud of glory shall rule them by day and the pillar of fire shall lead them by night. The phrase for upon all the glory shall be a defense should read: "the glory shall be spread over them as a canopy of protection."
The third picture of Zion resembles the first (2:1-5): an eventual purification and prosperity in the Land.
Isaiah 4:2 "In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth [shall be] excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel."
Sometimes when the Branch is mentioned, it symbolically means the Lord Jesus. The Messianic title "Branch" occurs also (in Jer. 23:5; 33:15; Zech. 3:8 and 6:12). The thought behind the title relates to (2 Sam. 23:5), that of growth. The life of the Branch will bear spiritual fruit.
Notice that the fruit that grows is for the branch. We see those who have escaped (remnant), as those who are believers in Christ (Christians).
Isaiah 4:3 "And it shall come to pass, [that he that is] left in Zion, and [he that] remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, [even] every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:"
Holy or set apart is another way of describing the remnant who will inherit God's prosperity in that day (1:9, 27; and 3:10).
This "living" could easily be those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. They inherit eternal life. Christians are righteous, because we have taken on the righteousness of Christ.
This "holy" could be speaking in the sight of the LORD. All who put their faith in the LORD and live for Him are holy, because He has made us holy. Notice also, that there is an "and" between Jerusalem and Zion in the verse above.
The 144,000, spared by being sealed with the Father's mark, are physical Israel. They are the remnant of the Father. Christians are spiritual Israel. We are heirs with Abraham, because of our faith. Jesus will reign 1000 years from Jerusalem.
Isaiah 4:4 "When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning."
"The daughters of Zion" could be speaking of the bride of Christ. We are made holy by the washing of the water of Jesus' shed blood.
Revelation 1:5 "And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,"
Jesus Christ is the Judge of all the earth. God is also, a consuming fire. The fire is for purification purposes.
For other instances of purging by burning (see 1:25 and 6:6-7).
Isaiah 4:5 "And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory [shall be] a defense."
Defense ... refuse (in verses 5-6). The future inhabitants of Jerusalem will enjoy the Lord's protective covering over the glory on Mt. Zion. This recalls Ezekiel's prophecy of the return of the Shekinah to the temple (Ezekiel 43:2-5).
God's dwelling place is with the Christian.
2 Corinthians 5:1 "For we know that if our earthly house of [this] tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
Revelation 21:3 "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God."
LORD (in verse 5 above), means the fullness of the Godhead. This is the name for the eternally existing One. Mount Zion is the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. The LORD protects the church with a cloud, and smoke by day and a flaming fire by night.
"Assemblies" shows you that this is the congregation of the church. He is our Defense. He builds a hedge of protection around His followers. His blood protects us from the enemy. God's glory is manifest in His church. The pillar of fire by night, and the smoke by day, symbolized the presence of God.
Isaiah 4:6 "And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain."
This is divine protection from the storms of life, whether physical, or spiritual. We can see the protection the church has from the LORD.
Isaiah Chapter 4 Questions
The conclusion of the extended discourse (begun at 2:1), comes by way of a comparison of God's people to a vineyard which He cultivated, but which did not bear fruit.
These verses (from 5:1-7) explain a parable of the vineyard, which symbolizes Israel. The poem is called the song of my believed, and resembles the Song of Solomon, but in this passage, it becomes a song of lament. The beloved is the lord, and Israel is the vineyard that has brought forth wild grapes.
There is a play on sounds and letters in the Hebrew of "he looked for judgment, (mishpat), but behold oppression, (mispach); for righteousness (tsedaqah), but behold a cry (tse'aqah). The prophet's point is that the judgment of God will bring the opposite of what they expect.
Isaiah 5:1 "Now will I sing to my well-beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:"
The Lord is the friend who is well-beloved by Isaiah. The vineyard belongs to Him (5:7).
"Well-beloved" is speaking of the Lord. The vineyard is His followers. The word "Well-beloved" is an expression of appreciation to Creator God and God our Savior. When we sing to God, we are expressing joy for what He has done. Song is a form of praise.
The "vineyard in a very fruitful hill" is speaking of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, which cannot be hid. The "vineyard" can also mean, the house of physical Israel. Both physical and spiritual Israel is spoken of as God's vineyard. The difference is the very fruitful hill.
Isaiah 5:2 "And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes."
The owner made every conceivable provision for the vine's productivity and protection, illustrating the Lord's purely gracious choice of Israel. Justifiably, He expected a good yield from His investment, but the vine's product was "sour berries," inedible and fit only for dumping.
The Hebrew nation was chosen from all of mankind to be God's people. They, in the beginning, were the choicest vine. The "tower" symbolized the protection they had from their enemies. The "winepress" was a source of squeezing the choice wine out of the grape. "Wine" symbolizes the Holy Spirit of God.
The sad thing about this vine was the fact that the grapes were not fit to be used to make pure grape juice. This, in a sense, is saying they went back to their worldliness. "Wild grapes" symbolize worldliness. They were not acceptable for God's purposes, because they were worldly.
We Christians, must be careful how we grow, as well. God has planted the seed of the Word of God within us. We must grow toward Him and not go back into worldliness. The new Christian is like the baby vine. It is just planted. What kind of fruit the vine produces has to do with the way we feed it. The way to have beautiful fruit is to feed the vine the pure Word of God, regularly.
The Christian must not be drawn back into the world by getting fed the impure teachings. Read your Bible for yourself and feed upon God's Word as you would your daily food. Then you will produce fruit fit for God.
Isaiah 5:3 "And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard."
Jesus Christ is the holy One. Christians should be Christ like. Some should drop the name, Christian, because they follow the world, instead of Christ.
Isaiah 5:4 "What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?"
This is primarily speaking of God sending the prophets and judges of old to His vineyard, and yet they did not receive them. They killed them and went the way of the world.
Isaiah 5:5 "And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; [and] break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:"
As punishment for her unfruitfulness, Israel became desolate and accessible to any nation wishing to invade her, such as happened in the Babylonian invasion of 586 B.C., and will happen repeatedly until her national repentance at the second coming of the Messiah.
When the LORD was with the Hebrews, they won their battles against the enemy. The LORD was their very present help. It was as if He had built a fence of protection around them, and the enemy could not destroy them.
When they became worldly, the LORD removed His protection from them, and they were overcome by their enemies. In the basic sense, this is speaking of them being overcome by the Babylonians.
Isaiah 5:6 "And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it."
This is speaking of a time when the protection of the LORD is removed, and their enemies come and destroy them. Even the blessing of rain is withheld, because of their unfaithfulness to God.
Isaiah 5:7 "For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts [is] the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry."
As we have said before, there is a physical house of Israel and a spiritual house of Israel. This is primarily speaking of the physical house of Israel.
God expected them to produce good fruit. He expected them to be fair in their judgments and to be righteous, but instead they oppressed others and caused a cry to go forth. They were a great disappointment to God.
In this lesson, we are looking primarily at the judgment that came upon the physical house of Israel, and primarily the men of Judah. As I have said before in these lessons, we are looking at all of the Scriptures in the Bible as a guide to us and what brings blessings from God.
We must also, be aware of the curses that come from disobeying God. I cannot stress enough the need to study the Bible for yourself, so that you will not be deceived by many of the modern (worldly), teachings. It is just as dangerous today to let the world creep into your worship as it was for the people of those days.
In the parable of the wheat and the tares, the tares were growing with the wheat. They possibly, were in the same church together. One was worldly (tares), and the other was Godly (wheat). The thing that makes one different from the other is the fact that the wheat was fed on the Truth. The tares listened to the call of the world.
Just as in this lesson today, it was possible for the vineyard to produce two types of grapes. One pleasing unto God, and the other was pleasing to the flesh and the world. Be careful to please God. His Word (Bible), will set you free from worldliness.
Isaiah Chapter 5 Questions
The prophet Isaiah pronounces a six fold "woe" on the sins of Judah. Join house to house means they are greedy land grabbers. By foreclosing mortgages, the wealthy landowners acquired all the adjoining land to form huge estates.
A bath was a liquid measure equivalent to an ephah of dry measure (about 8 gallons). A homer was about 83 gallons. Strong drink (shekar), refers to fermented drink.
Draw iniquity with cords refers to pulling a load of sin with a rope on a cart. Thus, the people of Judah are condemned for parading their sin before God.
Isaiah 5:8 "Woe unto them that join house to house, [that] lay field to field, till [there be] no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!"
This first woe was against real estate owners because of their greedy materialism.
"House to house ... field to field": God gave the land to the Israelites with the intention that the original allocation remain with each family (Lev. 25:23-25). By Isaiah's time, land speculators had begun putting together huge estates (Mica 2:2 and 9), and the powerful rich used legal processes to deprive the poor of what was rightfully theirs (Amos 2:6-7).
This is speaking of someone who has no regard for his neighbors. He tries to buy up all the acreage around him and just builds a bigger house for his own use. This land owner has moved all of his neighbors out to build himself a bigger estate.
Pretty soon, the whole town will belong to him alone.
Isaiah 5:9 "In mine ears [said] the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, [even] great and fair, without inhabitant."
This is speaking of a time when the houses will be empty. This is speaking of beautiful buildings without inhabitants. It appears to me, that the Lord of Host has said this in the ears of Isaiah.
Isaiah 5:10 "Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of a homer shall yield an ephah."
God judged the greedy rich by reducing the productivity of their land to a small fraction of what it would have been normally. About one half bushel would be produced from about six bushels of planted seed. Such amounts indicate famine conditions.
A bath is approximately 7-12 gallons. That would be a very small amount for ten acres to produce. The homer was the same as ten ephahs. The homer was thought to be the amount a donkey could carry.
We see from this, that they planted more seed than they yielded. We can see the futility of farming or raising a vineyard with these results. It seems that God had cursed these crops.
Isaiah 5:11 "Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, [that] they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, [till] wine inflame them!"
The second woe addressed the drunkards for their neglect of the Lord's work of judgment and redemption, and their devotion to pleasure.
In our day, we would call this person an alcoholic. Someone, who drinks in the morning, is addicted to alcohol. It would be especially so of someone who drank all day. The Lord speaks a woe on people addicted to alcohol.
We know from our society today, the destruction of lives that this type of drinking brings.
Isaiah 5:12 "And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands."
The instruments, mentioned above, had been used in worship services in the past. It seems, in this case, they were used in drunken parties.
It seems this message is saying, they have turned away from the tried and true methods of worship of the past, and have gone to new methods. This has become a place to meet and socialize, instead of a place of worship.
Isaiah 5:13 "Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because [they have] no knowledge: and their honorable men [are] famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst."
The people have gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge of the Lord. Their concerns have been on worldly things and not that of God. Now they are in punishment because of their evil deeds.
We find in this the punishment for such behavior is swift and exacting. Isaiah speaks of it as if it had already happened. The outcome of drinking in excess and revelry has been slavery. This slavery can be literal, as in this case, or it could be the slavery of alcoholism.
Again, the thirst could be literal, or it could be thirst for the truth in God; either way, it is terrible.
Isaiah 5:14 "Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it."
The term Sheol in this context pictures death as a great monster with wide open jaws, ready to receive its victims. Such was to be the fate of those who perish in the captivity God will send to punish the people's sinfulness.
A sinful way of life leads to total destruction and to hell. I personally believe to be a Christian in name only brings about the same thing. God does not want luke-warm followers, He wants 100% of you, or none of you at all.
Notice the word "multitude" in the verse above. Christianity is not a religion of the masses. It is a walk through life in personal relationship with Him. He does not save the masses, but individuals in those masses. "Pomp" indicates someone who is conceited.
Some-one not humble, but pompous, finds it very difficult to be humble before God. The accepting of the Lord with our head is not what He wants. He wants our heart.
"Hell enlarging herself" indicates that it must be enlarged to hold, not only the professing non-believer, but also those who are Christians in name only.
Isaiah 5:15 "And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:"
The "mean man" refers to the lower class of society where the "mighty man" refers to the upper class.
There will come a time when all the proud, lofty, arrogant, and all unbelievers will be brought down, and will know Him for who He is. In some cases, it will be too late.
The Bible says every eye shall see Him. This will be the time when many, who did not believe, will believe, because they see Him in all His majesty. (Faith in the Lord Jesus purchases our salvation, not fact). If we see Him with our eyes, it takes no faith to believe.
John 20:29 "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed."
Isaiah 5:16 "But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness."
Jesus Christ is Judge of all the earth. The very ones who denied Him will exalt Him, when they realize He is the Judge of all the earth. Only God has His own righteousness and holiness.
Our righteousness, as Christians, is a gift from Jesus. It is His righteousness that makes us holy in the sight of the LORD.
Isaiah 5:17 "Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat."
Lambs are baby sheep. These "fat ones" could mean those who had all of the food of life, and yet perished because of being alien to God. This land and its food are left for those young Christians who are willing to follow the Shepherd.
Isaiah 5:18 "Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:"
To me, this would be saying that they draw sin unto themselves and embrace it. They have so many sins they cannot carry all of them, so they must pull them along with them tied to them by this rope. The sin is never very far away from them. It is within the distance of the rope. They can embrace this sin, just by pulling the rope to them.
This third woe was against those who defied the Lord and ridiculed His prophet.
Isaiah 5:19 "That say, Let him make speed, [and] hasten his work, that we may see [it]: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know [it]!"
"Let him make speed" is what the taunting unbelievers said, "Where is the judgment of which you have spoken, Isaiah? Bring it on. We will believe it when we see it."
This challenge for God to hasten His judgment represented their disbelief that the Holy One of Israel would judge the people. See Isaiah's response in the naming of his son: "Swift is the booty, speedy is the prey" (8:1; 5:26).
They are expressing a desire for the judgment to come, thinking they will be spared. They think there will be no judgment. Speaking literally, these Jews cannot and will not believe, God will judge them harshly. They have been spared so many times, because of His great love for them. They believe this will be no different, and they will be spared. They are arrogantly saying "come on and do what you will". They have no idea what lies ahead for them.
Christians today, are doing the same thing as many are saying; I have been baptized, it does not make any difference how I am living. God will save me, I am a Christian. Those who are a Christian in word only, will be surprised when He says "Get away from me, I never knew you".
Matthew 7:21-23 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Christians, do not play church. If you profess Christianity, live the Christian life every day and bare fruit fit for the kingdom.
Isaiah Chapter 5 Continued Questions
Isaiah 5:20 "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
"Evil good and good evil": The fourth woe condemned the reversal of morality which dominated the nation. They utterly confused all moral distinctions.
In this fourth woe, we see wolves in sheep's clothing. These are those who pretend to be believers, and yet, in their heart they are not followers of God at all. These are pretenders. They are so involved in the ways of the world; they have forgotten what is good and what is evil.
They look at the darker side of life and call it light, because they are blinded. They have eyes to see, but they do not see. Sin is sometimes spoken of as the bitter cup. Sin seems to be sweet, until the consequences of that sin arrive. Then we realize that sin is a bitter pill.
Isaiah 5:21 "Woe unto [them that are] wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!"
"Wise in their own eyes": The object of the fifth woe was the people's arrogance. "Pride goes before destruction ..." (Proverbs 16:18).
Those who are wise in their own eyes cannot learn, because they believe they already know everything. You must be humble to receive the Lord. To put faith in yourself in place of faith in God is destructive.
A conceited person has trouble receiving the simple good news of Jesus Christ. In this scripture, "prudent" is associated with cunning. This then, is just repeating that he is wise in his own eyes. This type person would see no need for salvation. They would believe they could save themselves.
Isaiah 5:22 "Woe unto [them that are] mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:"
Verses 22 and 23 is the sixth woe that pointed to the unjust sentence passed by drunken and bribed judges.
This is a problem very prominent in our society today. This is someone who drinks and goes on with the daily functions of his, or her, life. They would not be aware that the wine or strong drink impairs their thinking ability.
In fact, many of these people are deceived into thinking that their ability to function as a salesperson is improved because of their drinking. Since alcohol of any kind dulls the senses, they are not able to function at full capacity, but are not aware of their inability.
They do not make sound decisions, because their thinking ability is slowed down by the drinking.
Isaiah 5:23 "Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!"
This is speaking of bribes. The person will pretend nothing wicked has happened, because they have been bought off. This seems to be a judgment in favor of the wicked against the righteous, because of the bribe he received.
This hurts both parties. The wicked are hurt, because one sin leads to another. The righteous are hurt, because the truth was not accepted, and they were judged against.
Verses 24-30 is the conclusion of the discourse announced God's action in sending a mighty army against Judah to conquer and leave the land in darkness and distress.
Isaiah 5:24 "Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, [so] their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel."
The word "therefore" shows us the connection of this Scripture with the previous Scriptures. We see the judgment against the ones who have committed the evils. The Hebrews were always breaking the law of God. They seemed to believe that God would forgive them, even if they did not keep His law.
"Word", in the verse above, is speaking of the Word the prophets spoke under the influence of God. You could class them as Words from God spoken through the prophet's mouth. Burning the tops of these plants is sometimes done to make a better crop, but this speaks of total destruction of the roots, as well. This would leave desolation.
This could, also, prophetically be speaking of the time in Israel when the law of God was disregarded, and God sent His Son (the living Word). Jesus was despised and rejected. This would bring great punishment. In fact, God would turn from the house of Israel (physical Israel), to the Gentile believers who would become spiritual Israel.
Isaiah 5:25 "Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases [were] torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still."
Now we see the anger of the LORD and what it brings. The sad thing is that the anger is vented against the LORD's own people. They have been like a disobedient child. I have always said, I would rather have the devil attack me, rather than feel the anger of God.
We can resist the devil in the name of Jesus and he will flee, but there is no place to hide when the anger of the LORD is against you. There is no higher power than the LORD. The specific judgment spoken by the LORD on these people is the soon-coming war, when they will be overcome of the enemy.
Looking to the shadow of the judgment at the end time speaks of a time of terrible unrest and war as well. Only those who are sold out to the LORD will be spared this terrible holocaust. At the presence of an angry LORD, even the hills tremble. A "carcass" is the body of the dead. This indicates many will die.
Isaiah 5:26 "And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly:"
Principal among the nations God would bring against Israel were:
(1) Assyria, which conquered the northern kingdom (in 722 B.C.); and
(2) Babylon, which completed its invasion of Jerusalem (in 586 B.C.), and destroyed the temple.
This battle against God's people will not be like Sodom and Gomorrah, when the punishment came from the heavens from an angry God. This war will be waged by the nations that the LORD calls to battle.
All leaders of every country are subject unto the LORD. To "hiss" is a way of calling them. When they are called of the LORD to battle, they waste no time getting there. This war would be what we would call sudden onslaught.
The ensign is of the LORD. It would be a symbol (probably made of wood, or metal). This is a recognizable emblem, very much like a flag. It would not be a flag, because each country flies its own flag.
This Scripture has at least two prophesies. It is speaking of the soon fall of these Israelites, but it also speaks of the gathering of the nations at the end times, as well. This is the great battle that comes against the Israelites.
Isaiah 5:27 "None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken:"
This speaks of a war without stop. It speaks of not even stopping at night long enough to take their shoes off. This is speaking of an army ready to go and carry out the purposes God has called them to, even if they are unaware what the war is for.
God uses heathen people to carry out His wishes sometimes. All are subject to God from the least to the greatest.
Isaiah 5:28 "Whose arrows [are] sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind."
This speaks of any army in readiness. They will travel so fast that the dust they stir up will look like a whirlwind. A flint is strong and hard. When they are moving fast, there will not be time to shoe the horses. The bow being bent indicates their readiness to shoot.
Isaiah 5:29 "Their roaring [shall be] like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry [it] away safe, and none shall deliver [it]."
We find many Scriptures in the prophetic books, such as Ezekiel and Daniel, about those in battle being as a roaring lion. This is probably speaking of the great fury when they will take Jerusalem. They shall suddenly jump on these people as their prey, just as a lion pounces on his prey.
The battle over Jerusalem was a fierce battle with no mercy. I believe this is what this Scripture is saying.
Isaiah 5:30 "And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if [one] look unto the land, behold darkness [and] sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof."
"Darkness": God's wrath against the people was to eliminate light (8:22; 42:7), but His promised deliverance of the remnant will ultimately turn that darkness into light at the coming of the Messiah (9:2; 42:16; 58:10; 60:2).
"That day" is speaking of a specific day. The Light is symbolic of God. Jesus is the Light. This absence of Light indicates, to me, that the Lord is not fighting this battle for them. They will have to defend themselves without the help of the Lord. The darkness is spiritual and physical.
We know there was darkness in the earth for three hours, when Jesus was crucified. Darkness in the heavens shows great sorrow of God for what is happening. Remember, this war is a product of the wrath of the Lord.
Isaiah Chapter 5 Second Continued Questions
Verses 1-5: In preparation for calling Isaiah to be the prophet who would proclaim the coming judgment, God gave him a vision of His majestic holiness so overwhelming that it devastated him and made him realize his own sinfulness.
In chapter 6 Isaiah recounts his original call to the prophetic ministry, dating it from the year that king Uzziah died (740 B.C.), With the death of godly Uzziah, Judah's golden age was fast slipping away. No human leader appeared on the scene to reverse the decadence that had begun during Uzziah's final years of isolation due to leprosy. At this crucial hour, the prophet's attention was turned to God Himself, the true Sovereign in the affairs of men. A throne refers to the throne of heaven (see Rev. 4:2).
His train refers to His royal robes. Seraphim ("burning ones") are six winged angelic creatures that continually fly in the presence of God, declaring His holiness. Holy, holy, holy is a threefold declaration of God's person and may be taken as a suggestion of the Trinity.
Note that when God speaks, He uses the plural pronoun us (verse 8).
Isaiah 6:1 "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple."
King Uzziah's death: After 52 years of reigning, leprosy caused the death of king Uzziah, and Isaiah began his prophetic ministry that year. He received the prophecies of the first 5 chapters after his call, but at (6:1), he returns to authenticate what he has already written by describing how he was called.
"I saw": The prophet became unconscious of the outside world and with his inner eye saw what God revealed to him. This experience recalls the experience of John's prophetic vision (in Rev. 4:1-11).
"High and lifted up": The throne was greatly elevated, emphasizing the Most High God. "Train" refers to the hem or fringe of the Lord's glorious robe that filled the temple.
"Temple": Though Isaiah may have been at the earthly temple, this describes a vision which transcends the earthly. The throne of God is in the heavenly temple (Rev. 4:1-6; 5:1-7; 11:19; 15:5-8).
Many Bible students believe this happened at the very beginning of the book of Isaiah. I tend to believe the book is in the order it should be. Many of those called to work for God have a deeper experience with the Lord, after they have begun to serve Him. This is not unusual, as far as I am concerned.
This vision Isaiah had was a specific time. It is very similar to the first vision that Ezekiel had. Lord is speaking of Adonay. The name Adonay is just a way to express the name of the Lord more reverently, referring to the Hebrew Yahweh.
We know from other Scriptures, that there is a throne in heaven, and that Jesus (as we know Him), sits at the right hand of the Father. The Holy of Holies in the tabernacle was a type of this throne. This majestic throne is above all. The curtain was pulled aside, and Isaiah was allowed to see the throne of God.
This train is like the train brides have on their wedding dresses, but this is more elaborate and fills the temple.
Isaiah 6:2 "Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly."
The seraphim are an order of angelic creatures who bear a similarity to the 4 living creatures (of Rev. 4:6), which in turn resemble the cherubim (of Ezekiel 10:1).
"Six wings": Two wings covered the faces of the seraphim because they dared not gaze directly at God's glory. Two covered their feet, acknowledging their lowliness even though engaged in divine service. With two they flew in serving the One on the throne. Thus, 4 wings related to worship, emphasizing the priority of praise.
A seraphim in the near presence of God was like a flaming fire. It is interesting to me, that there are 6 wings. The number 6 symbolizes mankind. The seraphim are in the near presence of God, waiting on the instructions of God.
It is interesting to me, that they can fly. When God appears to man, or one of His creatures, male or female, there must be some kind of shielding to keep him from the direct view of the Lord's face. Usually there is a smoke around Him to keep Him somewhat hidden.
Isaiah 6:3 "And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the LORD of hosts: the whole earth [is] full of his glory."
"Cried unto another": The seraphs were speaking to each other in antiphonal praise. Holy, Holy, Holy" The primary thrust of the 3-fold repetition of God's holiness (called the trihagion), is to emphasize God's separateness from and independence of His fallen creation, though it implies secondarily that God is 3 persons. (See Rev. 4:8, where the 4 living creatures utter the trihagion).
"Full of His glory": The earth is the worldwide display of His immeasurable glory, perfections and attributes as seen in creation (see Rom. 1:20). Fallen man has nevertheless refused to glorify Him as God (Rom. 1:23).
This crying out Holy seems to be part of their task. The fact of the Holiness of God is the very thing that separates Him from mankind. We are told to be holy, because He is Holy. Personally, I believe the word holy being said 3 times indicates Father, Word, and Holy Ghost.
We know from the Scripture (in 1 John 5:7), there are three that bear record in heaven, and those 3 are One.
1 John 5:7 "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
LORD is generally used when it is speaking of the fullness of the Godhead. The whole world is full of His glory. We can take a look around us and see the glory of God. The whole earth speaks out in glory to God. The sun, the moon, the stars, the flowers, and the mountains in their majesty.
The greatest thing to glorify God is His creation of mankind. The human body is one of the most outstanding mysteries. When I see someone who does not desire to glorify God, because they are so caught up in self, I ask them, have you created any worlds lately?
That pretty well explains the glory of God. He is so far above anything and everything else in the world; it leaves no room for anything except to glory in Him. Then, it is not just the seraphims that should cry Holy, holy, holy, but all mankind, as well.
Isaiah 6:4 "And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke."
The trembling and smoke symbolize God's holiness as it relates to His wrath and judgment (Exodus 19:16-20; Rev. 15:8).
The volume of the seraphims crying out to God made such a powerful sound that it shook the foundations the posts were set upon. Smoke is many times the sign that God is there. He had shown Himself present in the camp with the Israelites with a smoke by day and a fire by night.
Isaiah 6:5 "Then said I, Woe [is] me! for I am undone; because I [am] a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."
Isaiah's confession" Having seen God in the full glory of His holiness, Isaiah pronounces the prophetic "Woe" upon himself. This was a legal charge meaning "ruined" or "dead." His self-evaluation was I am undone, from Hebrew damah, meaning "to be dumb" or "silent". Thus, his response was a statement of total self condemnation: "I am dead ... I am speechless!"
Recognizing that he has no legitimate excuse for himself, he further realizes that he is unclean (tame, "defiled" or "polluted"). This self-evaluation is made in light of the fact that he has seen the King, the Lord of hosts. The heavenly King is identified as Yahweh Himself, who is called "Lord of hosts" 62 times in Isaiah and 261 times throughout the Old Testament.
This scripture just means that he had been in the presence of God. It does not mean that he looked into the face of God. You cannot look upon the face of God and live. This is speaking of being in the presence of God.
To be a mortal man and come into the presence of God would be a terribly humbling experience. There is no comparison between Almighty God and man. To be in His presence, would show the person the sinful nature he had. It would turn God's great Light on the man to such an extent that the man would be totally aware of all his faults.
Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. Perhaps, Isaiah thought he would die, because he was in the presence of God. "Unclean lips" just means that every word that proceeded from his mouth was not perfect. Out of the heart the mouth speaketh.
If the lips are unclean then, so too is the heart. This vision of God's holiness vividly reminded the prophet of his own unworthiness which deserved judgment. Job (Job 42:6 and Peter, Luke 5:8), came to the same realization about themselves when confronted with the presence of the Lord.
He knew anything he said had revealed that he was not a perfect man, and no one living was perfect either. He was overwhelmed by being in the presence of Holy God who is perfect.
Verses 6-7: Isaiah's Consecration: Isaiah's confession of his personal sin brought the response of God's cleansing to equip him for service to the Lord. The altar was the place of blood sacrifice, called by later rabbinic writers the Paraclete, or place of expiation or intercession. The coal has no redemptive ability of its own but is symbolic of the efficacy of the burnt offering consumed on the altar. Thus, Isaiah's sin was purged (cleansed).
Isaiah 6:6 "Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, [which] he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:"
The hot coal taken from the altar of incense in heaven (Rev. 8:3-5), is emblematic of God's purifying work. Repentance is painful.
We know the throne of God in heaven is the original that the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle was patterned from. We know that all things in the close proximity of God must be pure gold.
This altar was possibly, the altar of incense. This fire never went out. The live coal would have been some kind of stone that was lying on the altar. Notice this scripture says that the seraphim had the coal in his hand. This tells us seraphims have hands.
Another thing we must notice is the seraphim took the golden tong to remove the coal from the golden altar. He was not allowed to touch the altar itself.
Isaiah 6:7 "And he laid [it] upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged."
Our God is a consuming fire. This cleansing of Isaiah's mouth symbolically cleansed the source of iniquity. The heart is the source, but the iniquity comes out the mouth. We have spoken earlier in these lessons of how the fire burns away the sin and leaves the person pure.
The baptism Jesus gave us was the baptism of fire of the Holy Ghost. "Purged", in this Scripture, means canceled.
Isaiah 6:8 "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here [am] I; send me."
"Isaiah's call": Isaiah states that he heard the voice of the Lord asking whom He should send and who will go for us? The plural pronouns are used here (as in Genesis 1:26), to refer to the triune God. The prophet himself is now a changed man. Having his burden of guilt and worry removed, he spontaneously volunteers: Here am I; send me. His consecration by God prepared him to answer God's call to service.
This is the most beautiful call to minister and the answer to that call. Not only was Isaiah aware of the presence of the Lord in the smoke and in the fire, but now he hears the voice of God. The answer Isaiah gave showed his willingness, and even eagerness, to serve God.
Verses 9-13: Isaiah's commission: God warns Isaiah that his ministry, for the most part, will fall upon deaf ears. The syntax of the sentence indicates that "hear ye indeed" means "keep on hearing."
"Fat, heavy ears" "shut their eyes": indicates that the more he preaches, the more the people will harden themselves to his message until the Babylonian captivity, after which only a tenth shall return.
Isaiah 6:9 "And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not."
Isaiah's message (in verses 9 and 10), was to be God's instrument for hiding the truth from an unreceptive people. Centuries later, Jesus' parables were to do the same.
There is no understanding or true sight, until the Holy Spirit of God reveals what the words of the prophet are saying. Isaiah will bring the message as God has given him, but these people are not willing to understand and believe.
Isaiah 6:10 "Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed."
Jesus spoke in parables, so the people would not accept Him with their mind and be saved. God wants the heart of mankind, not his mind. These people were so hardened to the teachings of God, that they would not receive the message Isaiah gives them from God. They will be without excuse, because they were told and did not listen.
Isaiah 6:11 "Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,"
Because of such rejection from his people, the prophet asked how long he should preach this message of divine judgment. God replied that it must continue until the cities are desolate (verse 11, and the people have gone into exile (verse 12).
God will have a remnant, but many will perish in their unbelief. Isaiah is to continue to preach, until the country is taken by the enemy. This is a punishment from God.
Isaiah 6:12 "And the LORD have removed men far away, and [there be] a great forsaking in the midst of the land."
Thousands will be taken captive and taken to a foreign land. The land of Judah will be desolate.
Isaiah 6:13 "But yet in it [shall be] a tenth, and [it] shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance [is] in them, when they cast [their leaves: so] the holy seed [shall be] the substance thereof."
"A tenth": Though most will reject God, the tenth, also called "stump" and "holy seed", represents the faithful remnant in Israel who will be the nucleus who hear and believe.
A teil tree is a lime tree.
God always has a remnant. The Jews would be taken by the Egyptians, Persians, and Syrians. Any, or all of these, could be intended.
These trees are mentioned, because they are known to shoot up again from a root, and make another tree. This remnant will always be for God. He leaves Himself a portion of His people to spring forth again.
Isaiah Chapter 6 Questions
The Immanuel Prophecy (7:1-12:6), introduces the hope of the future in spite of pending judgment. Ahaz ruled Judah from 736 to 720 B.C. He was an ungodly king who refused Isaiah's words of encouragement. Rezin was the last king of Syria to reign in Damascus. He was later killed by Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria. Pekah was the king of northern Israel from 740 to 732 B.C. He usurped the throne by assassinating his predecessor, Pekahiah, and was later murdered by his successor, Hoshea, the last king of Israel.
Syria is confederate with Ephraim refers to the fact that they had formed an alliance against Ahaz to force him into an alliance with them against Assyria. This event is generally dated at 734 B.C. What Ahaz fears is an invasion of Judah by Syria and Israel.
Isaiah 7:1 "And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, [that] Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it."
An unsuccessful invasion of Judah by Aram or Syria and Israel, i.e., the northern 10 tribes, led to a continued presence of King Tiglath-Pileser's Assyrian forces in Israel. Shortly after Ahaz assumed the throne, this threat to Judah's security brought great fear to the king and the people of Judah (see 2 Chron. 28:5-8; 17-19).
Ahaz was a wicked king. Jotham, his father, was a better man. He rebuilt the temple gates. Uzziah did what was right, as well. We find in this a desire to change rulership over Jerusalem. Jerusalem is God's, so they did not overthrow Jerusalem, and Ahaz remained as their ruler.
These two, Rezin and Pekah, did not overthrow Ahaz.
Isaiah 7:2 "And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind."
This expression, house of David, refers to the Davidic dynasty, personified in the current king, Ahaz.
It was told to the descendent of David that these two evil groups, Israel and Syria, had made an agreement to overthrow the king of Judah and rule in Jerusalem their selves. Notice in this, that Ephraim is actually speaking of Israel at this point.
The blowing wind shakes the tree. The news of the confederacy of these two caused Ahaz to fear in his heart.
Verses 3-9: Isaiah is sent by the Lord to warn Ahaz not to form an alliance with Assyria, but to trust Him to rid the land of its enemies. Accompanying the prophet was Shear-Jashub ("A remnant Shall Return"), his son, whose name was indicative of hope. The location at the end of the conduit of the upper pool is the same place that the Assyrian Rab-Shakeh would later defy Hezekiah (36:2). The invading kings are described as smoking firebrands (literally "smoldering sticks"). The prophet predicts that the threatened invasion will not succeed and that within three score and five years (65 years) the northern kingdom will fall into captivity.
Isaiah 7:3 "Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field;"
The presence of Isaiah's son is an object lesson of God's faithfulness to believers among the people.
The son of Isaiah was named Shear-jashub, which means a remnant shall return. The fact that Isaiah took his son with him to meet Ahaz could have been to encourage Ahaz that truly a remnant would return even though they were overtaken.
This conduit was a way to gather water and bring it underground to the city. Water was caught in the high places and funneled into pools for use, especially when they were under siege.
Isaiah 7:4 "And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah."
Isaiah's message to Ahaz is one of reassurance the two invading kings will not prevail.
The two tails were Pekah and Rezin. Notice, that Ahaz was not to panic, but have faith. Ahaz was to be strong in the Lord, not fainthearted. In this instance here, there was a great deal of smoke, and very little fire. At best, their confederacy was shaky.
Pekah was the general of Pekahiah. Pekah had killed him and taken his job. Both men were very evil. It is only fair that Pekah's successor killed Pekah, as well.
Isaiah 7:5 "Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,"
The son of Remaliah was Pekah. They are against Ahaz, of course.
Isaiah 7:6 "Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, [even] the son of Tabeal:"
We see from this, they were not as interested in destroying Judah, as they were of overthrowing Judah's king and putting a king of their own liking in Judah. Tabeal seems to be a Syrian name. "Tabeal" means pleasing to God.
The "breach" could be a break in the wall, or it could be a break in the confidence of the people in Ahaz.
Isaiah 7:7 "Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass."
This particular conspiracy against Judah and its king will not be successful. Jerusalem will remain in the same hands for now.
Isaiah 7:8 "For the head of Syria [is] Damascus, and the head of Damascus [is] Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people."
"Ephraim be broken". This tribe represented all the northern 10 tribes. The prophet predicted the coming demise because of idolatry (Hos. 4:17). In 65 years they would cease to be a people, first through the captivity of most of them in 722 B.C. and then with the importation of foreign settlers into the land.
All of this is just saying that Syria is headed up by a mortal man who is no match for God, who is the head of Judah. The overthrow of Ephraim as a distinct race of people was accomplished in 65 years after this prophecy is spoken.
Ephraim is later on spoken of in a spiritual sense.
Isaiah 7:9 "And the head of Ephraim [is] Samaria, and the head of Samaria [is] Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established."
The choice belongs to Ahaz. He could trust the Lord's word or fall into the enemy's hands or, even worse, experience a final heart hardening (6:9-10).
The Samaritans had inner-married so much, that they nearly destroyed the entire race of people. This is a call for Ahaz to stand firm in the faith. To doubt would bring destruction, but faith would remove this mountain of problems the evil neighbors had brought.
Ahaz (like us), should have faith in God's ability, not his own.
Verses 10-13: As the spokesman of the Lord (Yahweh), Isaiah urges Ahaz to ask thee a sign (miracle). However, the king responded with a surprising pious ploy announcing that he would not ask for such a sign nor tempt the Lord. Instead, Isaiah announced that God Himself had chosen a miraculous sign addressed to the house of David.
Isaiah 7:10-11 "Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying," "Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above."
Since the Davidic line, and hence the messianic line, was at stake, the prophecy was directed to all generations. It was a prediction of hope: though Israel and Judah may be cut down, a Child will spring forth as a Branch out of its roots.
God is trying to encourage Ahaz by offering to give him a sign. The fact of the depth and height above shows that nothing is impossible to God. Look at "thy God". The Lord is trying to let Ahaz know that He is Ahaz's God.
It is not always the correct thing to ask the LORD for a sign, but in this particular case, God told Ahaz He would show him a sign to help him have faith.
To encourage his faith, the Lord offered Ahaz a sign, but Ahaz feigned humility in refusing the sign (verse 10).
Isaiah 7:12 "But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD."
Even though God offered Ahaz a sign, Ahaz refused, believing he might be tempting the LORD. We know that Gideon asked for a sign from God and got his sign. It helped Gideon have enough faith to believe God could use him.
Gideon's lack of faith was in his own ability. He just wanted to be sure that God had truly called him. He had no lack of faith in God's ability, just his own. Ahaz would have been better off to handle this as Gideon did.
Isaiah 7:13 "And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; [Is it] a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?"
Upon hearing Ahaz's refusal, the prophet broadened his audience beyond Ahaz (see verse 2), to include the whole faithless house of David. The nation was guilty of wearying God (1:14).
"House of David" was mentioned here, because God had promised that there would be a ruler from the house of David on this throne. Also, this message is not just to Ahaz, but to all of the house of David as well.
Refusing God is a very dangerous thing to do. This is not a man that Ahaz has said no to, but to God.
Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
Since Ahaz refused to choose a sign (verses 11 and 12), the Lord chose His own sign, whose implementation would occur far beyond Ahaz's lifetime. A virgin: This prophecy reached forward to the virgin birth of the Messiah, as the New Testament notes (Matthew 1:23).
The Hebrew word refers to an unmarried woman and means "virgin" (Gen. 24:43; Prov. 30:19; Song of Solomon 1:3; 6:8), so the birth of Isaiah's own son (8:3), could not have fully satisfied the prophecy. Immanuel, the title applied to Jesus (in Matthew 1:23).
This, of course is the promise of the Messiah. This is the One we call Jesus Christ being prophesied to be born of a virgin. The name "Immanuel" means God with us. In fact, God the Word became God the Son, when He was born of the Virgin Mary and the Spirit of God.
His flesh was as a man, but the Spirit within that flesh was of God. The prophecy of Messiah being in this particular place, seems to be awkward. We must remember the terrible things, mentioned here of Judah, come to an end.
Messiah, the Son born of the virgin Mary, is the hope for their future. It gives them something to look forward to in this time of gloom. It is a promise that God will visit Judah again. I do not believe it is out of place at all. This is a little glimmer of hope that God has not forsaken them.
Isaiah 7:15 "Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good."
Curds result from coagulated milk, something like cottage cheese. This diet indicated the scarcity of provisions which characterized the period after foreign invaders had decimated the land.
Butter and honey was not all that Jesus ate, but is a symbol here to show that He would be in a humble family here on the earth. Jesus always knew right from wrong, He did not have to be taught that. In fact, He is the Truth. He alone is righteous in His own behalf.
The righteousness of a Christian is because we have taken on His righteousness. This is speaking of time, and not the personality of Jesus.
Isaiah 7:16 "For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings."
"Refuse evil": Before the promised son of Isaiah was old enough to make moral choices, the kings of Aram, or Syria, and Ephraim were to meet their doom at the hands of the Assyrians.
Verse 16 happens even before the birth of Jesus, so you can see it is not speaking of a condition of Jesus, but a time. Of course, the land that he abhorrest is Syria and Samaria. They became overthrown spiritually, as well as physically.
Verses 17-25: The day that Ephraim departed from Judah refers to the division of the kingdom between the northern and southern tribes after the death of Solomon (in 931 B.C.). The king of Assyria is named as the source of the coming destruction of northern Israel, which was fulfilled (in 722 B.C.).
The fly symbolizes Egypt and the bee symbolizes Assyria. Within two years after Isaiah's prophecy to Ahaz, Syria fell to Assyria (732 B.C.), and Pekah no longer ruled Israel. Within another 10 years, Israel, (Ephraim), had also fallen to Assyria.
Isaiah 7:17 "The LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; [even] the king of Assyria."
Not only did the Lord use the Assyrians to judge the northern kingdom, He also used them to invade Ahaz's domain of Judah. This coming of the Assyrian king was the beginning of the end for the nation and eventually led to her captivity in Babylon.
Since Ahaz will not use God's help, destruction will come. He is comparing the time with the time when the 10 tribes broke away from the twelve, just leaving the two, of which Judah was one.
This terrible happening is not just on Ahaz, but all of his people. This is speaking of terrible times to come. This will happen prior to the birth of Jesus.
From here to the end of this chapter, the desolation prophesied in this section began in the days of Ahaz and reached its climax when the Babylonians conquered Judah. Its results continue to the time when the Messiah will return to deliver Israel and establish His kingdom on earth.
Isaiah 7:18 "And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the LORD shall hiss for the fly that [is] in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that [is] in the land of Assyria."
"Fly ... bee": Egypt was full of files, and Assyria was a country noted for beekeeping. These insects represented the armies from the powerful countries which the Lord would summon to overrun Judah and take the people into exile.
Isaiah 7:19 "And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes."
Not even inaccessible areas of the land were free from the invading armies.
Please notice that God just has to hiss (call), the fly and bee, and they will come. They are subject to God. It does not matter how far away they are, they must obey the voice of God. Satan is not the ruler, ultimately, God is.
Isaiah 7:20 "In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, [namely], by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard."
The Assyrians were the Lord's hired blade to shave and disgrace the entire body of Judah (1:6).
This is not a man being shaved, but a land. It speaks of the utter destruction and barrenness.
Isaiah 7:21 "And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep;"
The foreign invasion would cause a change from an agricultural economy to a pastoral one.
This is just saying that the remnant, which is left, will live a very meager life, sustained by, perhaps, one cow and two sheep. Poverty has overtaken those who are left, and they wander with their families just barely getting by.
Isaiah 7:22 "And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk [that] they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land."
Milk, butter and honey will be their food. We see from this, that it is possible to get by on just a very little bit. God will bless the cow, and it will give an abundance of milk to help them survive.
This will not be a prosperous life, but one of survival. The honey will be found wild. This is the land God had promised them, when they came out of Egypt. He had said it would be a land of milk and honey.
Isaiah 7:23 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall [even] be for briers and thorns."
The presence of these uncultivated growths was a sign of desolation (as in 5:6).
"Silverlings" means pieces of silver.
The vineyard with 1000 vines would have been very valuable. God has stricken the vineyard, and all of the vines have died. Nothing but briars and thorns grow where the vines used to flourish.
Isaiah 7:24 "With arrows and with bows shall [men] come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns."
The "arrows and bows" speak of a hunter out to kill some wild game. The land that is grown up with briars is a good place for wild game to hide. It is no good for cultivation, and the farmers have moved.
Isaiah 7:25 "And [on] all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle."
A "mattock" is a hoe. This is, possibly, speaking of an area that had been cultivated with a hoe in the past. This is, possibly, saying that it would be a place the cattle could go into to find something to eat, but would not be fit for man.
The lesser cattle could be speaking of wild animals similar to a deer. They like to hide in briar thickets. A person navigating the same briars and thorns would probably get stuck.
Isaiah Chapter 7 Questions
Maher-shalal-hash-baz, his name was to symbolize the swift and successful Assyrian conquest of Damascus (Syria), and Samaria (Israel). Uriah is referred to as a faithful witness and may be the priest named (in 2 Kings 16:16). Zechariah is one of the 28 men so named in the Old Testament. He is here distinguished as the son of Jeberechiah.
Isaiah 8:1 "Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz."
"Great roll" Isaiah was to prepare a large placard for public display. That placard read reiterated, from another perspective, the prophecies just concluded (in 7:18-25).
We know the sign that was to be given in the previous lesson was the sign of the virgin having a child, who would be their Messiah. We now see that the warnings Isaiah had given these people had not been heeded to the extent God wanted them to.
We see now, God tells Isaiah to take a tablet and write the warning on the tablet with a natural pen that can be read with natural eyes. The Message was just four words. The words being connected just shows that one will immediately follow the other.
The meaning of Maher-shalal-hash-baz means, plunder speeds, and spoil hastens. Not only was this a sign to be posted and read, but Isaiah named his son this. This sign being posted was a sign to all the people, and not just to the king.
Isaiah 8:2 "And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah."
"Faithful witnesses": After the prophecies fulfillment, the respected leaders Uriah and Zechariah verified to the people that Isaiah had spoken it on a given date before the Assyrian invasion. This verification accredited the Lord's word and upheld His honor (Deuteronomy 18:21, 22; Jeremiah 28:9).
Uriah was a priest who was not separated from the king. We will find in later lessons, that Ahaz had great influence on Uriah. It appears that at this writing he was respected as a true witness. The priesthood was to be Godly men, who were in direct contact with God and could not be controlled by the king. It seemed Uriah was not a strong priest.
The name "Zechariah" means Jehovah remembers. This particular Zechariah seems to have been just an ordinary man of this time in extraordinary circumstances. The name "Jeberechiah" means Jehovah blesses. Very little is known of him.
Isaiah 8:3 "And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz."
We got into the discussion earlier about the wife of a prophet not being a prophetess. The office of prophetess is a call from God, and not a station in life received because of marriage to a prophet. We know then, that Isaiah's wife was called of God to be a prophetess.
The reason I stress this is the fact, that a man being a preacher does not make his wife a preacheress. The call to be a prophet, or prophetess, is an individual calling. The fact that a woman is married to a prophet does not give her the messages from God that she would need; to be a prophetess.
Isaiah's wife was called a prophetess because the son to whom she gave birth was prophetic of the Assyrian conquest. Maher-shalal-hash-baz told the Assyrian invaders with no doubt as to who was to win the battle. Hash-baz told them to reap the benefits of the conquered land quickly, (5:26).
We mentioned earlier in this lesson, that Isaiah's son was named the same as the wording of the sign that Isaiah had posted.
Isaiah 8:4 "For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria."
Isaiah is speaking of the swiftness with which this prophecy will come. Many children can speak mother and father by the time they are a year old.
"Before the child" The time before the plunder of Aram, or Syria, and the northern kingdom of Israel began was very short. The Assyrians initiated their invasion before Isaiah's child learned to talk. That prophetic limit resembled the one set (in 7:16), but there the prophecy was more far-reaching. Fulfillment of the closer prophecy verified the one relating to the distant future.
The waters of Shiloah refer to the waters of the pool of Siloam, known for their healing powers (John 9:7). Since the people of Israel have refused the Lord in a time of peace, God will bring upon them the waters of the river, which are contrasted to those of the Gentile pool. This phrase is used figuratively of the overflowing of the Army of the King of Assyria.
Thus, Isaiah names in advance the nation that will destroy Israel. That this invasion will also pass through Judah, and will overflow even to the neck, indicates that the Assyrian invasion will wipe out the northern kingdom and nearly drown the southern kingdom. Judah's narrow escape is described (in Isaiah 36 and 37). "O Immanuel" indicates that Immanuel is no ordinary person born in the days of Isaiah. He is the One who owns the land Himself (a claim reserved in Scripture only for God).
Thus, the invading nations are told that their alliances will not stand against Judah because God is with us. There can be no doubt that the use of these terms is intended to connect this chapter with the prophecy of the virgin birth of Immanuel and to serve as a link to the prediction of His birth as King (in chapter 9).
Isaiah 8:5 "The LORD spake also unto me again, saying,"
We see from this, that God spoke to Isaiah more than once.
Isaiah 8:6 "Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;"
"These people", literally "this people" (the Hebrew word is "sing"). These were the people of Judah (6:9), but perhaps secondarily the whole nation of Israel. Ahaz had called on Assyria for help rather than relying on the Lord.
"Waters of Shiloah" this was a stream from the Gihon spring outside Jerusalem's city wall flowing to the Pool of Siloam inside the city which supplied the city's water (see 7:3), symbolized the cities dependence on the Lord and His defense of the city, if they were to survive. First, the northern 10 tribes refused that dependence, later, King Ahaz of Judah in the South did the same.
Isaiah 8:7 "Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, [even] the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:"
"Waters of the river": In place of the waters of Shiloah, the waters of the River Euphrates were to overflow its banks and flood all the way to and including Judah. In other words, the King of Assyria was to sweep through the Land with his devastating destruction. Though outwardly Ahaz's submission to the Assyrians brought peace to Judah (2 Kings 16:7-18), Isaiah saw the reality that David's throne was merely a hollow sham.
People are many times spoken of as waters. This is the case here. This is speaking of the armies that come. Shiloah sometimes means Jesus. To refuse the waters of Shiloah would be to refuse to worship God who gave the water.
Rezin was the king of Damascus at the time Pekah was king of Israel, and the same time of Jotham and Ahaz in Judah. Pekah was the son of Remaliah.
This water coming up over the land is the flood of the Assyrian army. There could have been a natural flood that accompanied this, as well. The primary thought, I believe, is the flood of the army.
Isaiah 8:8 "And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach [even] to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel."
"O Immanuel". Because of the Assyrian onslaught, the land of Immanuel (7:14), was to be stripped of all its earthly glory. What a pity that He who owns and will someday possess the land must see it in such a devastated condition!
The word that gives this away as being an army and not a literal flood is "he". We will see this army continue on, until it is in Judah. They will be up to their neck with this army. There will be a remnant left, however. They do not go beyond the neck and totally destroy them.
It does not speak of this army covering their head. "O Immanuel" is a cry similar to "come quickly Lord Jesus". "Immanuel" means God with us. It is as if he is saying, O God be with us.
Isaiah 8:9 "Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces."
The "broken": Less Assyria and other foreign powers think they conquered in their own strength; the prophet reminded them that they were holy instruments for the Lords use and would eventually come to nothing.
If they resist, they would be fighting against the wishes of God. The army may be the Assyrians, but God allows this to happen to them, because of their idolatry.
Isaiah 8:10 "Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God [is] with us."
"God is with us". The Hebrew is Immanuel. The name of the virgin's child (7:14), guaranteed the eventual triumph of the faithful remnant of Israel.
Plans made against God and His people will never work. The Assyrians will be the sufferers in the end. These people the Assyrians are attacking are God's people. This could not happen, had God not allowed it. The victory for Assyria is short-lived.
Verses 8:11-18: The stone of stumbling and ... Rock of offense (in verse 14 is quoted in Romans 9:33 and 1 Peter 2:8), as predictably referring to Christ. A gin is a trap. Instead of finding asylum in the Lord, the unbelievers will stumble over Him in disbelief.
The prophet closes this section by stating that he and his children are intended to be "signs and ... wonders" to the nation of Judah. Their symbolic names were to serve as a final warning to the people of Zion.
Isaiah 8:11 "For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,"
"With a strong hand". God inspired Isaiah with compelling power to speak a message that by its nature distanced him from the people he ministered to.
This is the LORD speaking to Isaiah. Isaiah was in the hand of the LORD. Isaiah was not an idolater. He was separated from the sins of this people. He was speaking all of this representing God. He was speaking as an ambassador for God with God's message to this people.
God was his protection. It was as if he were hidden in the hand of the LORD.
Isaiah 8:12 "Say ye not, A confederacy, to all [them to] whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid."
A Confederacy means conspiracy. Many in Israel considered Isaiah, Jeremiah, and other profits to be servants of the enemy when they advocated a policy of non-reliance on foreign powers and complete dependence on the Lord alone (see Jeremiah 37:13-15).
Isaiah was to say, "Do not make a deal with these Assyrians". Isaiah is calling for the few who would, to stand up for God and be counted. He reminded them, their strength is in the LORD, and they should not fear what these worldly people could do to them.
Isaiah 8:13 "Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and [let] him [be] your fear, and [let] him [be] your dread."
"Sanctify" in the verse above means to separate the LORD and worship only Him. Fear God only. The fear, or reverence, of God is the beginning of wisdom. They were not to fear the Assyrians. This is a call to worship and fear only the LORD.
Isaiah 8:14 "And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem."
"Sanctuary ... Stone of stumbling": Isaiah found encouragement in the Lord as his holy place of protection from his accusers. The New Testament applies this verse to corporate Israel in her ongoing rejection of Jesus as Messiah (Luke 2:34; Romans 9:32-33; 1 Peter 2:8). Both the houses of Israel will be collapsed until the return of the Messiah to the earth restores them.
Those, who fear and reverence the LORD, will be hid in Him. He will be their safe haven. He will protect them from all harm. Those, who do not, will stumble and fall. The same Rock (Jesus Christ), which saves the believers is a stone of stumbling to those who do not believe. He is their downfall.
He is saying that those of the house of Israel, or of Judah, who do not continue in faith in the LORD, will fall. This message can be to the many Christians today who do not remain with the Lord.
Jerusalem would fall then. Zion (the church of the Lord Jesus Christ), will fall now, if we do not fear and reverence the Lord and walk daily in His ways.
Isaiah 8:15 "And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken."
Many will stumble, another prediction anticipated the stumbling of Israel, which included a rejection of her Messiah at His First Advent (Luke 20:18; Romans 9:32; 28:16).
This is just a warning to those who are not hid in the LORD. It was impossible then, and it is impossible now, to live victorious lives, unless we find our sanctuary in the Lord.
Isaiah 8:16 "Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples."
"My disciples": These were God's faithful remnant, and hence disciples of Isaiah and a secondary sense. They have the responsibility of maintaining written records of his prophecies so that they could become public after the prophesied Syrian invasion (see 8:2).
A "disciple" is someone who has disciplined themselves to follow a particular teaching. In this instance, Isaiah is speaking of those who have disciplined themselves to walk with him.
These are a dedicated few, who still loved and reverenced the LORD. They were of one mind with Isaiah. God wants them to protect the testimony. They are to bind it up to keep it safe.
Isaiah 8:17 "And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him."
"I will wait ... Look for him". The speaker is Isaiah whose disposition was to await the Lord's deliverance, the national salvation promised to the faithful remnant (40:31; 49:23).
Isaiah was willing to stand firm and wait as long as was necessary. Isaiah is saying that the house of Jacob had displeased the LORD, so the LORD would no longer look with favor upon them.
Isaiah 8:18 "Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me [are] for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion."
"I and the children": In their historical setting, the words referred to Isaiah and his two sons, whose names have prophetic significance (i.e., as "signs and wonders").
We know that the names that were given to Isaiah's children were actually living messages to these people. This could be the signs spoken of here. Mount Zion is speaking spiritually of the church, but it also speaks of God's holy hill in Jerusalem.
Verses 8:19-22: Familiar spirits refer to witches and wizards refer to male soothsayers. Peep and ... mutter is better translated "chirp and whisper." In times of distress people often turn to witchcraft instead of God.
The prophet warns them not to seek these mediums for the living to the dead, that is, "Do not consult the dead on behalf of the living." This warning speaks against Spiritualism and calls the reader back to "the law and ... the testimony" as the only basis for interpreting a claim to divine revelation.
Isaiah 8:19 "And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?"
People of Isaiah's day were using spiritualists to communicate with the dead as king Saul did through the medium at En-dor (1 Samuel 28:8-19). The law strictly forbade such consultations (Leviticus 19:26; Deuteronomy 18:10-11).
We know that king Saul had made the terrible mistake of seeking information from those with familiar spirits. We should learn a lesson from that, not to ever seek for answers from wizards and those who have familiar spirits.
Those who do these things are dead and dying. They minister death to those who come to them. Jesus Christ ministers life. Isaiah was saying God is life. Do not choose death over life.
Isaiah 8:20 "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them."
The law and the testimony is the Word of God. The Word of God is Light. Light came through the prophecies of God's spokesman, Isaiah. There is no darkness where the true Word is. Those who do not live by the Word of God are filled with darkness and death.
John 1:1-5 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." "The same was in the beginning with God." "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." "In him was life; and the life was the light of men." "And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."
The Word and the Light are the same One (Jesus Christ, as we know Him).
Verses 8:21-22: Contains a dismal picture of those who are frustrated, desperate and angry even to the point of cursing God, all because they refused to accept the truthfulness of what Isaiah had predicted regarding the nation's future hardships.
Isaiah 8:21 "And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward."
This is speaking of those who walk through life in darkness. They curse their own life, because they are not filled with the Light which brings life and hope. When these people are hungry, they have no one to go to, since they have rejected God.
Isaiah 8:22 "And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and [they shall be] driven to darkness."
Darkness brings eternal death and no hope while you are alive.
John 3:19 "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."
John 12:35 "Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth."
Isaiah Chapter 8 Questions
9:1-5: The dimness of Israel's rejection was especially prevalent in the northern tribal areas of Zebulun and Naphtali, which would suffer greatly under the Assyrian invasion. Galilee is named and identified with the nations (Gentiles). To those in the darkness of the North, God promises to send a great light, which is quoted (in Matthew 4:15-16), as being fulfilled in Jesus' ministry in Galilee. The prophet sees these events as though they were already happening. Thus, he predicts the future with certainty, as though it had already come to pass.
Isaiah 9:1 "Nevertheless the dimness [shall] not [be] such as [was] in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict [her by] the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations."
"Zebulun ... Naphtali ... Galilee": Zebulun and Naphtali on the northern border in Northeast Galilee west of the Jordan River were the first to suffer from the invasion by the Assyrian king (2nd Kings 15:29), marking the beginning of dark days for Israel.
In earlier times, the days were to be full of gloom, but later on God would transform that gloom into honor. The New Testament applies this prophecy of Galilee's honor to the time of Jesus Christ's First Advent (Matthew 4:12-16; Matthew 4:15-16 quotes Isaiah 9:1-2 directly). Ultimately, its fulfillment will come at His Second Advent when the area is free from the yoke of foreign invaders
This chapter is encouraging them. Even though God has allowed them to be overrun with the Assyrians, there is the promise of Messiah coming and bringing the Light to them. Notice, the word "dimness" which means the light did not go completely out. It was darkened by their disobedience to God, but did not go out.
Isaiah 9:2 "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined."
A great light: The coming of the Messiah is synonymous with the coming of light to remove the darkness of captivity (42:16; 49:6; 58:8; 16:1, 19-20).
2 Corinthians 4:4 "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."
This is most assuredly speaking of the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not only will his Light shine on those of Judah and give them the power to be, but it will shine on the Gentiles as well. The world was in a terrible state when the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Light, came. He came to bring the Light.
John 8:12 "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
This Light is available to whosoever will.
Isaiah 9:3 "Thou hast multiplied the nation, [and] not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, [and] as [men] rejoice when they divide the spoil."
"Multiplied the nation": Once again the Lord confirmed His covenant with Abraham to multiply his physical descendants as the sands of the seashore (Genesis 22:17).
The blessings of God had been on the Hebrews, always. From time to time, when their sins became great, God would partially remove the blessings. In the fuller sense, they belonged to God, and He blessed them as His children.
It seemed they were never satisfied. Their joy was more in material things, instead of in Him.
The harvest spoken of here, is the harvest of the crops in the fall. They had a feast of harvest at that time. Their joy was in things and not in God. There will be a great harvest of the wheat at the end of the world.
Isaiah 9:4 "For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian."
"Broken the yoke": eventually the Lord will free national Israel from bondage to Assyria, Babylon, and every other foreign power that has oppressed her.
When the Lord Jesus Christ (their Messiah) comes, He will set the captives free. True worship of the Lord sets everyone, who practices it, free. I have always said the reason they did not recognize Jesus as their Messiah, is they were expecting a mighty warrior king like David had been.
Jesus sets us free from the bondage of sin and death. His freedom is not an outward freedom, but a freedom of the soul and spirit of man.
Isaiah 9:5 "For every battle of the warrior [is] with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but [this] shall be with burning [and] fuel of fire."
"Burning and fuel of fire": The world will no longer need the accessories of warfare because a time of universal peace will follow the return of Christ.
The battle they were familiar with was a battle of the flesh. The battle familiar to them had shed blood, and was a noisy battle of physical strength. This battle will be a battle in the spiritual.
Jesus baptizes with fire. His sword is the Word of God. His battle is fought for the soul of man, not for earthly plunder.
Verses 9:6-7: The Gift-Child in this passage is the same divine Child as Immanuel. Again, using the prophetic perfect, the prophet sees Him as though He were already born. Wonderful, Counselor is actually one term in Hebrew. A wonder is indicative of a miracle. Counselor is often used in parallel with king (Micah 4:9). Plus, miraculous counsel is given by this God-like King.
The mighty God (El Gibor) is the strongest of these titles. In Isaiah; El is always used of God and never refers to man. Gibor means "Hero". Together they describe One who is indeed God Himself. Everlasting Father literally means Father of eternity. He alone is the source of eternal life. Prince of Peace indicates that the mighty God will be a benevolent ruler bringing eternal peace on earth through the establishment of His kingdom. Thus, the obscure figure of Immanuel is now brought to clear light: He is Himself God incarnate!
Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
"Child ... Son": these terms elaborate further on Immanuel, the child to be born to the Virgin (7:14). The virgin's child will also be the royal Son of David, with the rights to the Davidic throne (9:7; Matthew 1:21; Luke 131-33; 2:7, 11).
In fulfillment of this verse (and Psalm 2:9), the Son will rule the nations of the world (Revelation 2:27; 19:15).
"Wonderful ...Counselor": in contrast to Ahaz, this King will implement supernatural wisdom in discharging His office (2nd Samuel 16:23; 1 Kings 3:28).
"Mighty God": as a powerful warrior, the Messiah will accomplish the military exploits mentioned (in 9:3-5; 10:21; Deut. 10:17; Nehemiah 9:32).
"Everlasting Father": The Messiah will be a Father to his people eternally. As Davidic King, He will compassionately care for and discipline them (40:11; 63:16; 64:8; Psalms 68:5-6; 103:13; Proverbs 3:12).
"Prince of Peace": The government of Immanuel will procure and perpetuate peace among the nations of the world (2:4; 11:6-9; Micah 4:3).
The child, spoken of here, is the Lord Jesus Christ who was born of a virgin and God. He would be Immanuel (God with us). The Son of God would become the Savior of all mankind.
1 Timothy 4:10 "For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe."
We must accept Him as our Savior, for Him to save us. The government of the earth will be upon His shoulder, when He reigns on the earth for 1000 years. The power He has is unlimited.
Philippians 2:10 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;"
All persons and things are subject unto Him. The fact that the Word of God took on the form of flesh and dwelt among mankind on the earth is Wonderful. He was God in the flesh of man. The counsel of the Lord Jesus is beyond comparison. We can put our trust in Him.
"Mighty God", lets us know that He was truly God. He was God the Word in heaven. When He came to the earth to save us from our sins, He was God the Son, mighty in works and deeds.
"Everlasting Father" shows the eternity of the One we call Jesus. He and the Father were One in the Spirit (read 1 John chapter 5 verse 7). This is beautiful in its application. We are even told that we can be one with them, if we accept Jesus as our Savior.
There is only one King of Peace, and it is Jesus. When Jesus comes into your life, He brings perfect peace. This is the peace that passes all understanding. It is peace in the midst of a troubled world.
Isaiah 9:7 "Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."
"Throne of David": the virgin's Son will be the rightful heir to David's throne and will inherit the promises of the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Psalms 89:1-37; Matthew 1:1).
The kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ is His church. Christianity started with Jesus and truly has spread to all the world. Jesus is the Judge of all the world. His judgment is just. The wonderful thing is that Jesus has done it all for us.
We do not have to earn our salvation by good works. Salvation in Him is a free gift. The only thing we must do is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and receive His salvation.
Verses 9:8-10:4: This poem tells of great warning calamities sent by the Lord that have gone unheeded by Israel. The same refrain recurs 4 times (9:12, 17, 21; 10:4), dividing it into for strophes.
Verses from Chapter 9:8-12: The prophet warns Ephraim "northern Israel" that she cannot rebuild with the bricks that are fallen down. This refers to the invasion of Israel by Tiglath-Pileser (in 732 B.C.). All hope of rebuilding the northern kingdom will finally be lost. His hand is stretched out still means that God's hand of judgment is still stretched out in anger to punish Israel.
Isaiah 9:8 "The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel."
We now see a return to the more immediate prophecy. The word sent to them was a warning from God. The more severe warning was for Israel, but Judah was also warned.
Isaiah 9:9 "And all the people shall know, [even] Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,"
"Pride and stoutness of heart": Israel's downfall was her feeling of self-sufficiency, whereby she thought she could handle any eventuality (verse 10).
Their pride was possibly, one reason they did not repent and come to God. They have begun to believe that their victories were because of their own strength, instead of giving God credit. This is definitely not for Judah alone, but for Ephraim and Samaria as well.
Isaiah 9:10 "The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycamores are cut down, but we will change [them into] cedars."
We see the arrogance of these people. They are forgetting where their victories came from. They are putting their faith in their own ability to build back. They have forgotten the following Scripture.
Psalms 127:1 "(A Song of degrees for Solomon). Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh [but] in vain."
They are puffed up with pride.
Isaiah 9:11 "Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;"
"Adversaries from Rezin": The Aramean or Syrian king's enemies were the Assyrians.
God must teach them a lesson. The word "therefore" shows us that the Lord setting up the adversaries against them is because of their pride. They believe they do not need the LORD, and He will show them differently.
Isaiah 9:12 "The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still."
"His hand is stretched out still": the outstretched hand will punish (5:25), beyond what the people had already experienced.
Israel has turned its back on the LORD. The LORD Himself causes these enemies of Israel to form a partnership and come against Israel. Notice, even though this happens, the Lord is still reaching out to Israel. Even though the Lord is angry, He still will save them, if they will look to Him for help.
Verses 9:13-21: "The people turneth not unto him" means they refused to repent and turn back to the Lord. To "turn" means to repent (Hebrew shub), with the change of mind that results in a change of direction. Branch and rush means "palm branch and bulrush". The leaders are specifically condemned for misleading the people. Isaiah's words here are reminiscent of his message (in chapter 3).
Isaiah 9:13 "For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts."
The enemies of Israel are not on the side of the LORD of hosts. This is happening to Israel because of their disobedience, but God still loves them.
Isaiah 9:14 "Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day."
The Lord will cut off the rich and the poor. The leaders (head), and the prophet of lies (tail), will be affected by this punishment from God. One day here, is meaning the short time of the war to overtake them.
Isaiah 9:15 "The ancient and honorable, he [is] the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he [is] the tail."
We did not need the explanation above. Isaiah explains it himself. The ancient and honorable is speaking of the prophets who are bringing truth.
Isaiah 9:16 "For the leaders of this people cause [them] to err; and [they that are] led of them [are] destroyed."
The aggravated wickedness of Israel extended to all classes, even the fatherless and widows" (verse 17), who often were the objects of special mercy (1:17).
Israel was led into idolatry by their spiritual leaders. They even mixed pagan rituals with their worship of God. Jeroboam included worship of the calf. Those of Judah had not slipped that far, but were guilty themselves to a lesser degree.
Isaiah 9:17 "Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one [is] an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still."
God's wrath allowed wickedness to cause a society to self-destruct. A senseless mutual exploitation resulted in anarchy and confusion (see verse 20).
The young men were a joy to the Lord, when they served the One True God. God's blessings on His people come, when they are obedient to Him. If they are not obedient to Him, they bring a curse upon themselves.
A hypocrite is someone professing one thing and doing something entirely different. They were professing to be God's children, but they were living evil lives. Even though God was so angry with them for their sin, He still wanted them to repent and turn back to Him, and He would have blessed them. He was still reaching out to them. They were just not reaching out to Him.
Isaiah 9:18 "For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up [like] the lifting up of smoke."
Sin is very much like a fire started by a very small match. The first sin may not be too serious, but sin brings on more sin. The condition of a person living in sin (who has not repented), gets worse and worse.
Each time they sin, their conscience is deader. They become more and more evil with each sin. The person who throws a lit match down in the forest does not intend to start a forest fire, but that is the end result.
Isaiah 9:19 "Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother."
"No man spares his brother": God's wrath allowed wickedness to cause the society to self-destruct. A senseless mutual exploitation resulted in anarchy and confusion (see verse 20).
The wrath of the Lord has caused this terrible happening. The people will be destroyed in the wake of the wrath. "No man will spare his brother" speaks of a time when even friends and relatives will be against each other. They will be lacking in natural affection.
Isaiah 9:20 "And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:"
This is not speaking literally. This does not actually mean human flesh. It means the man turns against his neighbors on the right and left. He destroys his friends who were the only help he had, since he had turned on God.
Isaiah 9:21 "Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: [and] they together [shall be] against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still."
The sentence of Joseph's two sons (Manasseh and Ephraim), had engaged in civil war with one another before (see Judges 12:4), and united only in their opposition to Judah.
Ephraim and Manasseh were Hebrews, the same as Judah. They had banned together to come against Judah. God would forgive Ephraim and Manasseh the same as He would Judah, if they would repent and come to Him. God is willing. They were not willing.
Isaiah Chapter 9 Questions
Verses 10:1-4: A prophetic Woe is pronounced against those administrators who pervert justice. These government officials have abused their power and are now called to God's bar of justice.
Isaiah 10:1 "Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness [which] they have prescribed;"
In these first two verses, the prophet returned to assigned reasons for God's wrath again;
(1) Iniquities in administering the laws; and
(2) Harsh treatment of those in need.
This is speaking of those who are listened to by others. It is bad to sin yourself, but to lead someone else into sin through statements you make is much worse. This woe is spoken to those who lead others astray, with the things they say.
Writing plans for others to live by is very dangerous, as well, when they are things the writer has decided, and not God. The leader, who writes or speaks, better speak as an oracle of God. Their writing and speaking must be from God and not from themselves.
Isaiah 10:2 "To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and [that] they may rob the fatherless!"
This is speaking of those who favor the wealthy over the poor in judging them. This is also, speaking of people who take advantage of a widow or orphan. God teaches that we are to take care of the widow and orphan, not cheat them out of the little they have.
Isaiah 10:3 "And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation [which] shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?"
"Day of visitation": The Assyrians were the first to invade, then Babylon and other foreign powers followed.
There is a day of reckoning when Jesus will stand and Judge the whole world. His judgment will be righteous. Who can help you when that day comes? The answer is no one, because you cannot deceive the Lord.
Just because you have had some place of authority on this earth will not speak in your favor before the Lord. In fact, if you have been a cruel leader, or one who taught them falsely, you will be judged the more severely. To whom much is given, much is required.
Isaiah 10:4 "Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still."
This seems to be a little different rendering of the stretching of His hand. In this case, it is the wrath of God. Since they have turned from God, they will go into captivity. The wrath of God is not immediately removed, even after they are captured. They endure many hardships in prison.
Verses 10:5-19: Like an offended father dealing with the disobedient son, God used the Assyrian as a rod of anger to discipline Israel. "Howbeit he meanest not so" indicates that the Assyrians did not intend to cooperate with God, but in the providence of God they cooperated unwittingly. The cities listed (in verse 9), are on a direct line from Nineveh (capital of Assyria), to Jerusalem (capital of Judah).
Note that Samaria is already listed as fallen. The prophet's intention is to make it clear that Assyria will not conquer Israel by her own power but by God's permission.
Isaiah 10:5 "O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation."
"Rod of mine anger": God used Assyria as His instrument of judgment against Israel and Judah. He did the same with Babylon against Judah later on. (Habakkuk 1:6).
The Assyrians are the instrument God uses to carry out His will. They are the rod of His anger. This tells us that even worldly people are sometimes used to carry out the will of God.
All are subject to the wishes of God. The Assyrians are not on the side of God. He is just using them to carry out His wrath on His people.
Isaiah 10:6 "I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets."
This verse is speaking of Israel and Judah.
This is just another way of saying, "judgment begins at the house of God". These hypocrites are thought of as God's people. They actually say they are God's people, but they are not living like God's people. The wrath of God is against them to get them to repent and live right.
This is very much like those Jesus spoke to that thought they were Christians. He told them to get away from Him, because He never knew them. They said they were Christians, but they were not acting Christ like. They were not feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, etc.
Are you truly a Christian? Are you a hypocrite, saying you believe, but acting as if you do not believe?
Isaiah 10:7 "Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but [it is] in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few."
Assyria did not realize that she was the Lord's instrument, but thought her conquest were the result of her own power.
This is speaking of the heart of the Assyrian. In his heart, he wants to war and take by force anything he can. He is worldly. This is why God chose him for this job. Assyria is not aware God is using her for His purpose.
Isaiah 10:8 "For he saith, [Are] not my princes altogether kings?"
This is speaking of there being secondary kings under the king in their country. Instead of calling them princes, the king had made them kings. It would be no problem for the king to set one of his secondary kings over a country he had conquered.
Isaiah 10:9 "[Is] not Calno as Carchemish? [is] not Hamath as Arpad? [is] not Samaria as Damascus?"
"Calno ... Damascus": the cities and territories all capitulated to the Assyrian invaders.
The cities mentioned in the verse above, except for Samaria as Damascus, were all cities that had been overrun by the Assyrians.
Verses 10:10-11: Proud Assyria warned Jerusalem that she would overcome that city just as she had been the instrument used by God against other nations.
Isaiah 10:10 "As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;"
These conquered countries were called, in the verse above, kingdoms of idols. Notice, this is in the eyes of the Assyrians. All gods, besides their false gods, were thought to be idols.
We have discussed before that the word translated "idols", means nothings. The Assyrians regarded no ones gods, but their own.
Isaiah 10:11 "Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?"
The Assyrians were not aware that Jerusalem was the center for the One True God. True, the people of Jerusalem had strayed from the One True God. That was part of the reason for the Lord allowing this terrible overthrow to happen.
This was a very bold statement to make to the people who belonged to the One True God.
Isaiah 10:12 "Wherefore it shall come to pass, [that] when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks."
"Punish ... The king of Assyria": The Lord expressed his intention of punishing proud Assyria after He had finished using that nation to punish Jerusalem.
We see that the strength of the Assyrian will last long enough to carry out the wrath of God upon the Hebrews, who God has chosen to punish. The minute this task is finished, God will turn on the Assyrian, and show him where the strength came from. God will bring the Assyrians down Himself. Notice the "fruit".
This means that the descendants of this Assyrian king will be brought low, as well. The punishment was against the Assyrians in general, not just the king and his family.
The prophet proved the Assyrian Kings pride by reiterating his boast (in verses 13 and 14; see versus 8-11).
Isaiah 10:13 "For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done [it], and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant [man]:"
Now we see the reason for the Lord bringing the king and the Assyrians down. They thought they won the battle because of their own personal strength. They did not give credit to God for this at all.
Their arrogance is what really brought them down. The word "I" brings the punishment on the Assyrians.
Isaiah 10:14 "And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs [that are] left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped."
The land was left ravaged, because the greed of the king of Assyria. He had robbed them of their wealth. Assyria had devastated these Israelites. The ten tribes of Israel had broken away from Judah, and the main part of the devastation by these Assyrians were on these of Israel.
Isaiah 10:15 "Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? [or] shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake [itself] against them that lift it up, [or] as if the staff should lift up [itself, as if it were] no wood."
Here we see the axe, saw, club, and rod which are nothing more than instruments of the Lord (verses 5, 24). Assyria had no power or wisdom of her own.
This is just saying that the Assyrians are just the instrument God used to show His wrath against His people. They are boasting against God, who was the power behind them to do the task the Lord sent them to do. An axe is of no use to anyone, unless there is a hand to use it. God is the hand, and the Assyrians are the axe.
We had read earlier that Assyria was the rod that God would use against Israel. Assyria is like the axe, the rod, or the staff. The instrument has no power in itself. The power and ability to do this came to them, because they were carrying out a task for God.
They were unaware that it was God who was the power, or that they were actually doing this for God. It did not make any difference what they thought, they were doing this in obedience to God's will.
Verses 10:16-19: When God had finished using Assyria as His instrument, the Lord terminated the kingdom's existence (see verse 12).
Isaiah 10:16 " Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire."
We know this verse is speaking of the destruction that will come on Assyria. The Assyrians will become weak within their country, and they will, also, fight the Babylonians, and the Medes from without.
Many times, God uses other countries to bring about the punishment on a nation.
Isaiah 10:17 "And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day;"
The Light of Israel is the Light of the world (Jesus Christ), as we know Him.
John 1:9: "[That] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."
Hebrews 12:29: "For our God [is] a consuming fire."
The fire and the Light are of God. God is actually the One who will be fighting against Assyria. They will not be able to stand against the fire of God. The destruction will be so quick and complete, that it will appear to happen in one day. Man (no matter how strong he is), is no match for God.
Isaiah Chapter 10 Questions
Isaiah 17-18 "And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day;" "And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standard-bearer fainteth."
We have repeated (verse 17), to get a better picture of where we are picking up on the punishment that God brings on the Assyrians. They were not God's people, but God had used them to come against Israel. They were just the instrument He used, but they thought it was by their great power they had done this thing.
We saw in the last lesson that the Light and the fire was from God. The quick destruction had made it appear to be in one day. The forest and the fruitful field show the total destruction of the people, and the things useful to them for a livelihood.
They are not of God, so this destruction is not just of their body, but their soul, as well. The battle is lost when the standard-bearer falls.
Isaiah 10:19 "And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them."
The trees left, after this destruction, are so few that even a small child would be able to count them. This is destruction to the utmost.
Verses 10:20-34. The remnant of Israel are those who have come to trust in the Lord. The remnant shall return is reminiscent of the prophet's son, Shear-Jashub. The slaughter of Midian at the rock Oreb occurred centuries earlier in the days of Gideon (Judges 7:15). It symbolizes the overwhelming power of divine intervention in human affairs.
Isaiah 10:20 "And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth."
"The remnant of Israel": A small nucleus of God's people, preserved by His sovereign grace, form this righteous remnant in the midst of national apostasy. There were always the obedient few who preserved, obeyed and passed on God's law. There will always be a remnant because God will never forsake the Abrahamic Covenant (Micah 2:12-13; Romans 9:27; 11:5).
Those left of Israel have turned to God. They place their faith and trust in the only One who can help them, and that is God. The time, spoken of here, is the time when Assyria is destroyed.
There will be no worship involving false gods of Assyria, but they will now worship and adore the One True God. Their strength will be in Him. Lord, the Holy One of Israel, is the One True God.
Isaiah 10:21 "The remnant shall return, [even] the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God."
The remnant of Jacob is speaking of the family of Jacob, the Israelites. God will always have a remnant. He is Mighty God.
Isaiah 10:22 "For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, [yet] a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness."
The promise to Abraham, handed down through Isaac and Jacob, was their seed would be as many as the sand of the sea. The physical house of Israel had been into the millions for number, but never reached the number as large as the sand of the sea.
The remnant, spoken of, is of the physical house of Jacob (Israel). The descendants that are as the sand of the sea for number (promised to Abraham), are spiritual Israel.
Galatians 3:29: "And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
The promise is fulfilled in the spiritual house of Israel, the Christians. The remnant of physical Israel, and the number without number of spiritual Israel, are full of righteousness. Christians may not appear to be righteous, but we have taken on the righteousness of Christ.
Isaiah 10:23 "For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land."
The word "consumption" was translated from the word kalah, which means completion, or utterly consumed. We can see from this, that the completion was done by the Lord God of hosts. It is not by the efforts of the people it is finished, but by the wishes of God.
They must face the wrath of God (see Paul's use of this verse in Romans 9:28).
Isaiah 10:24 "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt."
We see the Lord God of hosts speak to both houses of Israel here. The physical house of Israel that God is speaking to here, dwell in God's holy city. The spiritual house of Israel dwells in the church (Zion).
This does not mean just the Assyrian. It means do not fear the world and its people. Egypt is a type of the world. We are not to fear. We have hope. Our faith is in Jesus Christ and His resurrection.
Matthew 10:28 "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Isaiah 10:25 "For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction."
"Indignation" is speaking of the wrath of God. God is a forgiving God. He forgave Israel over and over and restored them to Himself. God is like a loving parent, who punishes his child and then restores him.
The indignation covers the entire period of Israel's exile (26:20; Daniel 11:36). Here is a promise that it will end with the return of the Messiah (11:1-16).
Isaiah 10:26 "And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and [as] his rod [was] upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt."
"Midian ... Egypt". Isaiah selected 2 examples from the past to illustrate the Lord's future deliverance of Israel: Gideon's victory over the Midianites (Judges 7:25), and the slaughter of the Egyptians who pursued the Israelites through the Red Sea (Exodus 14:16, 26, and 27).
In this, we see the LORD of hosts stirring up a punishment against Assyria, as he did when Gideon took three hundred men and destroyed the army of Midian at the rock of Oreb.
God also destroyed the army of the Pharaoh of Egypt, when they were drowned in the Red Sea. God fights the battles for His people. He is our very present help in trouble.
Isaiah 10:27 "And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing."
"Burden ... Yoke": The removal of this yoke speaks of the future freeing of Israel from compulsion to render service to foreign oppressors.
"Christ" means the Anointed One. Jesus Christ set the people free from the bondage of sin and death. This could also, be speaking of the physical yoke. They had been under the rule of a sinful man. God will send them a king who will do right.
Hezekiah is spoken of as a man who trusted God. He prospered, because of his trust in God. He was a good king. The people were released from the wicked rule of Ahaz.
Hezekiah means strengthened of Jah. His power was in his anointing from God.
Verses 10:28-32: Isaiah visualize the Assyrian army approaching Jerusalem from the North. The places he names grow closer to Jerusalem as his vision progressed.
Isaiah 10:28 "He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages:"
Aiath is probably the same as Ai, which is near Beth-el. Migron was in the land of Benjamin. Michmash was 7 miles north of Jerusalem. It seems these cities were on the way to Jerusalem. This is a description of the attack by an Assyrian army on Jerusalem.
Isaiah 10:29 "They are gone over the passage: they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled."
Geba is near a valley just out of Jerusalem. Ramah is Er-Ram, probably. It is even nearer Jerusalem. All of this is just explaining the route they take to get to Jerusalem. Fear causes the people to flee from the oncoming army.
Isaiah 10:30 "Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth."
Both, Gallim and Laish, are both believed to be near Jerusalem. Anathoth was, probably, Anata, a city of refuge.
Isaiah 10:31 "Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee."
These were, probably, little suburbs of Jerusalem. It seems the people were so frightened that they ran in front of the army.
Isaiah 10:32 "As yet shall he remain at Nob that day: he shall shake his hand [against] the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem."
Nob was the city destroyed by Saul. This is speaking of the Assyrians, probably. His real attack is against the mount of the daughter of Zion, or the hill of Jerusalem. It is a dangerous thing to come against God and His people.
Isaiah 10:33 "Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature [shall be] hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled."
"Lop ... Hewn down ... Humbled": though the Assyrian army reached the walls of Jerusalem, the sovereign Lord, the Lord of hosts, intervened and sent them away in defeat. Later Isaiah recorded the literal fulfillment of this prophecy (37:24, 36-38; 2nd Kings 19:35-37; 2 Chronicles 32:21).
Notice, it is the Lord God who defeats these Assyrians. Lopping the bow with terror, to me means, they are so afraid they are not able to raise their weapon. These Assyrians have taken on more than they are able to handle.
The Lord strikes down their leaders, the haughty ones. They would have to be at least haughty to think they could destroy people protected by the Lord.
Isaiah 10:34 "And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one."
The Old Testament equates Assyria to Lebanon (Ezekiel 31:3 Isaiah 2:13; 37:24).
Lebanon is speaking of these Assyrians who think they are as strong as the cedars of Lebanon. The strong tree must be cut down with a strong saw. That is what is meant by iron. The Mighty One is the Lord God Jehovah. Who can fight against God? No one.
Isaiah Chapter 10 Continued Questions
The millennial reign of Christ is described (in 11:1-12:6). The time of the Messiah's coming was undoubtedly a puzzle in Old Testament times. In this section, the prophet indicates that His coming is yet in the distant future. Isaiah predicts that the "tree" of the line of David will be cut down and that a shoot must grow out of the stock of Jesse before it will flourish again.
He predicts that a rod (choter, "shoot" or "sprout"), will come forth from the stem (geza, "root" or "stump"), of Jesse (David's father and the forefather of the Davidic line). Branch (netser), is used in parallel with rod.
Isaiah 11:1 "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:"
Stem ... Roots. With the Babylonian captivity (of 586 B.C.), the Davidic Dynasty appeared as decimated as the Assyrian army. A major difference between the two was the life remaining in the stump and roots of the Davidic line. That life was to manifest itself in new growth in the form of the Rod and Branch.
"Jesse": Jesse was David's father through whose line the Messianic King was to come (Ruth 4:22; 1 Samuel 16:1, 12, 13).
"Branch": This was a title for the Messiah (see 4:2).
We have seen in the last lessons, that the wrath of God came against His people, and God allowed the Assyrians to devastate their country. Except for God's remnant, they would have been annihilated.
There was a remnant left, however. It was as if the tree had been cut off even with the ground. It seems though a tree will come up again from the roots, if it gets enough water.
The word "rod" here, was translated from the word "choter", which means twig. It appears that the growth that came forth was weak, but alive.
Job 14:7: "For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease."
"Stem", in this verse, means resemble. We can see this twig was not a literal twig, but a race of people stemming from Jesse through David. This remnant was like the roots of the tree. When the Spirit of God (water), was applied to the root, it grew again. At first it was weak.
The "Branch", of course, is Jesus. He was spoken of as Son of David, because David was in His earthly ancestry.
Jeremiah 23:5 "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth."
These Scriptures should leave no doubt that this Branch is speaking of Jesus Christ. Jesus is actually the Tree of Life.
Verses 11:2-5: The Branch is personalized (in verse 2), as the Messiah himself. The spirit of the Lord refers to the sevenfold Spirit of God (Revelation 4:5), described here in relation to His seven attributes. The words for counsel and might are the same as used (in 9:6), to describe the divine Child. Because the Spirit of God is upon Him, the Messiah will not judge after the sight of his eyes, for He will have true spiritual vision and judge the poor with righteousness. He will rule the earth with the rod (shebet, scepter), of his mouth, the power of His spoken word, by which He will slay the wicked with His breath (Revelation 19:15).
Isaiah 11:2 "And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;"
The Spirit of the Lord: As the Spirit of the Lord came upon David when he was anointed king (1 Samuel 16:13; Psalm 51:11), so He will rest upon David's descendent, Christ, who will rule the world.
This verse refers to the 3 persons of the Holy Trinity (see 6:3).
Wisdom and understanding ... Console and might... Knowledge ... Fear of the Lord. These are Spirit-imparted qualifications that will enable the Messiah to rule justly and effectively. Compare the 7-fold Spirit in Revelation 1:4.
Look with me, at the time when Jesus said this very thing about Himself.
Luke 4:16-19 "And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read." "And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written," "The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised," "To preach the acceptable year of the Lord."
Jesus was of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit of God hovered over Mary, and she conceived of the Spirit of God. Jesus was God the Son housed in the flesh of man. Jesus is the Spirit of Wisdom. Wisdom is a gift from God. Jesus is the source of all Wisdom. "Understanding", in the verse above, comes from a word that means helper.
The Holy Spirit is Helper, Teacher, and Guide. Jesus was full of the Spirit. In Him all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt. We find that counsel and might go hand in hand with wisdom. "Knowledge" is accumulated learning.
Jesus does not need to learn. He is all-knowing, so He is the source of knowledge. Fear, in the verse above, is speaking of a willingness to carry out the wishes of God. Jesus said, Father, not my will, but thine. He fulfills every statement in the verse above.
Isaiah 11:3 "And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:"
"Sight of His eyes ... What His ears hear": These are ordinary avenues for a king to obtain information needed to govern, but the future King will have supernatural perception beyond these usual sources.
Since Jesus is the Judge of all the world, and contains all knowledge and understanding, He will not judge as a man from outward appearances. He will not depend on his eyes, or His ears to guide Him in His judgment.
He will judge in truth, because He knows all things, even the heart of man. His judgment will be just. He will not need to hear the witnesses. He already knows everything about every individual on the earth.
Isaiah 11:4 "But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked."
"Poor ... The meek": The Messiah will reverse Israel's earlier dealings with the underprivileged (3:14-15; 10:2).
"Rod of His mouth": The Branch's rule over the nations will be forceful. The New Testament uses the equivalent terminology to describe the warrior King at his triumphant return to earth (Revelation 19:15; Isaiah 49:2; Psalm 2:9).
"Breathe of His lips": This is another figure for the Messiah's means of inflicting physical harm. Paul draws upon this to tell of the distraction of the man of lawlessness at Christ's second advent (2 Thessalonians 2:8).
His judgment is righteous. He is not influenced by earthly things. The poor will get fair judgment from Him, because He is not impressed by the earthly greatness of man, or great wealth. Many earthly judges can be bought. This is not so with Jesus. He is righteous.
Whatever He decides about any of us, we can say we deserve it, because He knows all about even what is in our heart. The "rod of His mouth" is the spoken Word of God.
Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
The breath of His lips caused the soldiers, who had come for Jesus, to fall backward to the ground.
John 18:6: "As soon then as he had said unto them, I am [he], they went backward, and fell to the ground."
The spoken and the written Word are the 2 most powerful forces in the earth. The Word of God created all things. The Word of God will condemn us to hell, or reward us with eternal life in heaven.
Revelation 20:15 "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Our fate is in the hands of Jesus, the Word of God.
Isaiah 11:5 "And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins."
Girdle ... Girdle. The belt, which gathered the loose garments together, is figurative for the Messiahs readiness for conflict. Righteousness and faithfulness are His preparation. Ephesians 6:14.
He is surrounded by righteousness. In fact, He has clothed the Christians in His righteousness.
Revelation 1:5 "And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,"
Isaiah 61:10 "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh [himself] with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth [herself] with her jewels."
Faithfulness as a girdle is speaking of Jesus as the Truth.
Verses 11:6-9: Peace and harmony will characterize the Messiah's kingdom. Ravenous predatory animals, Wolf, leopard, lion and bear are set in deliberate contrast to the more defenseless lamb, kid, calf, cow, and ox. That the lion should eat straw implies a change of diet. Even the Asp and the cockatrice (snakes), will be harmless to a small child. Isaiah sees the Messiah ruling the world in righteousness and a peace that extends even to the animal kingdom. During this time the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord. Thus, the prophet sees beyond the restoration of Judah to a time when the Messiah will rule the entire world.
Conditions of peace will prevail to the extent that all enmity among men, among animals (rapacious or otherwise), and between men and animals will disappear. Such will characterize the future millennial kingdom in which the Prince of Peace (9:6), will reign.
Isaiah 11:6 "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them."
This is speaking of that wonderful time when the devil is bound up. There will be no evil where Jesus reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords. There will be no danger from anything, when the devil is bound. Jesus, who is the King of Peace, brings perfect peace to all of mankind and all the animals, and in fact, the elements of the earth.
All of the animals, mentioned in the verse above, are violent against man. From the little child leading them, you can see the extent of the peace that will reign, because the King of Peace is among them. This will be a glorious time of no problems.
Isaiah 11:7 "And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox."
We see in this, animals that had been enemies in the past that now will not fear each other. The Peace extends to all the animals, as well as the people. The whole world will be at peace.
Isaiah 11:8 "And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den."
Both the asp and the cockatrice would have been deadly to anyone, if they bit them. We see, in this, that the curse spoken on the serpent against the woman in the Garden of Eden has been broken. Jesus has won. Peace extends even unto the serpent.
Isaiah 11:9 "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."
"Full of the knowledge of the Lord": Everyone will know the Lord when He returns to fulfill His new covenant with Israel (Jeremiah 31:34).
Not only will the people be full of the knowledge of the LORD, but the animals and the earth itself. Just as surely as the water covers the sea, the peace of the Lord Jesus will cover the earth. The "holy mountain" speaks of the people of God, the Christians.
Isaiah 11:10 "And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious."
"In that day": The time of universal peace will come in the future reign of the Lord.
"An ensign of the people": The Root of Jesse will also attract non-Jews who inhabit the future kingdom (49:6; 52:10; 60:3; 66:18). Paul saw God's ministry to Gentiles during the church age as an additional implication of this verse (Romans 15:12).
The Messiah is again referred to as a root (shoresh), of Jesse (as in verse 1). He is clearly Jewish, for He will stand for an ensign of the people (amim, a term applied to the Jewish people). Yet Isaiah goes on to say that this is this banner the Gentiles seek. Thus, Isaiah is predicting a time when salvation will come to the gentiles as well as to the Jews.
When Isaiah wrote this, it was unheard of for a Gentile to seek God. This is speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ and His church. The church is primarily made up of Gentile converts. He (Jesus), set up a standard, or an "ensign". We cannot get to heaven by any other name. We must go through faith in the name of Jesus.
The root here, is the same as the Branch in the earlier part of this lesson. He is our mediator, even now at the throne of God. He is our standard. There is a rest that comes to the believer. When the presence of the Lord is with us, then there will be perfect peace and rest.
The Prophet foresees a time when the hostile in a maze of Israel will be at peace with her during the millennial kingdom. Assyria to the North and Egypt to the South are especially in view, as are Pathros in Upper Egypt. Cush (Ethiopia), Elam (the Persian Gulf), Shinar (Babylon), and Hamath on the Orontes River in Syria.
Isaiah 11:11 "And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea."
"2nd time": The first return of Israel to her land was from Egyptian captivity (Exodus 14:26-29). The second will be from her worldwide dispersion (51:9-11).
Isaiah had seen that the people of God, the Hebrews, would be scattered all over the earth into many countries. The Scripture above is speaking of the time when they will come back to the land of Israel.
This Scripture is being fulfilled in our lifetime. Since Israel became a nation in 1948, the return of the people has been almost continuous. The "islands of the sea" could cover lands that were unknown at the time of Isaiah.
Isaiah 11:12: "And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth."
"From the four corners of the earth": figurative expression depicts the whole world (Revelation 20:8). The faithful remnant of Israel will return from a worldwide dispersion to their Land.
The number four means universal. We see from this, then, that this is all over the world. We decided Jesus Christ is the Ensign. The word that "outcasts" was translated from a masculine word. "Dispersed" is taken from a word that is feminine. We see in this, that the Lord is calling male and female.
He is also calling all of the original 12 tribes back unto Himself. He is calling all believers. Even Christians are included in this, because we are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. This is both a physical calling of the physical house of Israel back to the land of Israel, but is also a spiritual calling of all believers to draw closer to the Lord.
Isaiah 11:13 "The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim."
"Ephraim ... Judah": these are the 2 major divisions of Israel after the schism under Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:16-20). Ephraim was the name representing the northern 10 tribes, and Judah the southern two. When the Messiah returns, they will reunite in a lasting peace
Judah is speaking of the physical house of Israel. In my opinion, "Ephraim" symbolizes all the believers in Christ. The two sticks in the book of Ezekiel chapter 37 that come together are the physical and the spiritual house of Israel. Notice in this, God has forgiven Ephraim.
Isaiah 11:14 "But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them."
"West ... East": and that day Israel will be free from all foreign oppression and will be the dominant political force.
All of the countries listed above are enemies of the Israelites. We know the church will have no difficulty in handling these enemies.
The Christians will reign over the worldly people. The Lord is their strength.
Isaiah 11:15 "And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make [men] go over dryshod."
"The river": just as He dried up the Red Sea in the deliverance from Egypt, the Lord will in the future dry up the Euphrates in connection with the final deliverance of his people.
The mighty breath of the LORD will blow on the great river and turn it into 7 smaller streams. In places, the streams will be shallow enough for the people to walk over them in their regular shoes. There will be no physical barriers that will restrain God's people in that day.
Isaiah 11:16 "And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt."
"Highway": Isaiah has much to say about a way for the remnant returning to Jerusalem (35:8-9; 42:16; 43:19; 48:21; 49:11; 57:14; 62:10).
The Israelites walked on dry land in the middle of the Red Sea, when the nostrils of God heaped the water to allow His people to walk over on dry land. The dry road across the Red Sea was called a highway. It was only open to God's people.
When the Egyptians tried to use it, they were drowned. God will make a way for His people to come home.
Isaiah Chapter 11 Questions
This chapter is a song of triumphant praise and serves as a dramatic climax and doxology to the Immanuel prophecy (7:1-12:6). I will praise thee is an imperfect verb expressing continual action. Behold, God is my salvation literally means, "My salvation is God Himself!" The Lord Jehovah is our strength, song and salvation. The expression is similar to the song of deliverance sung by the people of Israel when they crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 15:12).
(John 4:14), is reminiscent of the water out of the wells of salvation. Excellent things are majestic things. These great things are to be preached to the whole world and sung and shouted aloud, for great is the Holy One of Israel. With beautiful imagery, Isaiah closes this section of prophecy with a triumphal doxology of praise.
Two brief songs of praise (verses 1-3 and 4-6), which redeemed Israel will sing at the outset of the millennial kingdom. They are the earthly counterpart to the heavenly doxology (in Rev. 19:6-7).
Isaiah 12:1 "And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me."
We know that numerous occasions, such as the crossing of the Red Sea, brought victorious song from the Israelites. Praise can be done in many ways. It can be by lifting of the hands to heaven in prayer and thanksgiving, or it can be done by lifting the voice in song of praise unto the LORD.
It seems these Israelites had a lot of practice in repenting of their wayward ways and receiving God's forgiveness. This immediately brought a spirit of praise to the LORD. In this particular verse above, it is probably speaking of them being lost as a nation, because of their sin, and God saving a remnant that grow into a mighty family of God.
God's anger is seldom forever. He is a forgiving and a restoring God. When God turns His anger away, He comforts them and sets them upright to live again. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We are not sinless, we are forgiven. In fact, we are totally pardoned, as if we had never sinned.
Jesus paid the price in full for our transgression. The day (mentioned in the verse above), is any day that deliverance from our sin comes. For them, this was a physical deliverance and restoration. For you and me, it is the day we receive Jesus as Savior and Lord.
"Thine anger is turned away". For the future remnant who will recognize the substitutionary death of Christ for their sins, Christ bore God's anger in their place. Otherwise, that anger against them would remain.
Isaiah 12:2 "Behold, God [is] my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH [is] my strength and [my] song; he also is become my salvation."
"God is my salvation". God will deliver the faithful of Israel from both their political opponents and the spiritual consequences of their sins. LORD JEHOVAH: The doubling of the personal name of God serves to emphasize His role as the covenant keeping One.
"My strength and my song ... my salvation": Moses and the Israelites sang a similar song to celebrate their deliverance from the Egyptians (Exodus 15:2; Psalm 118:14).
The word "Jesus" in its fullest expression, means JEHOVAH SAVIOR. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Faith is the opposite of fear.
David said the same thing in Psalms 27: "A Psalm of David".
Psalms 27:1 "The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be Afraid?"
John 10:9 "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."
1 John 3:23 "And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment."
Salvation is in the name of Jesus.
Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Faith and trust go hand in hand. Trust is when you rest in the knowledge that Jesus is acting on your behalf in every situation, and you know all is well. The fact that we know we are saved, through Jesus, puts a song of praise in our heart.
The following verse leaves no doubt at all where our strength comes from.
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Isaiah 12:3 "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation."
The "water" here, is the Spirit of God. Jesus told the woman at the well, if she drank of this water, she would never thirst again. This is the water of the Holy Spirit of God.
John 4:10-14 "Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water." "The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?" "Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:" "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
The "water" Jesus was speaking of is the water of life.
John 3:5 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
The following Scripture is speaking of the Holy Spirit within.
John 7:38 "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."
"Water ... springs": Isaiah's readers doubtless thought of how God satisfied the physical thirst of their ancestors in the Wilderness of Sin (in Exodus 17:1-7). The same provision will apply for their descendants when the Messiah comes to deliver the nation. The New Testament amplifies this provision to include the supply of spiritual water for the thirsty soul (John 4:10, 14; 7:37; Rev. 7:16-17; 21:6 and 22:17).
This water of the Holy Spirit brings God's Word alive to us. Joy comes from knowing we are saved.
Verses 4-5: Following the future Day of the Lord, Israel will testify to the rest of the world about His greatness and majesty. This was His purpose for His earthly people from the beginning.
Isaiah 12:4 "And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted."
The commandment Jesus made unto His followers was to go into the world and testify of Him.
Mark 16:15-18 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;" "They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
The Scripture above could also be speaking to the natural house of Israel. Since God has forgiven them and restored them, they are obligated to tell others of His greatness. Notice they praise the LORD, and also tell others to call upon His name. They witness the greatness of God to others, to cause them to come to God.
His name is exalted among all names.
Philippians 2:10 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;"
I will repeat a Scripture which will show the exalted state of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Isaiah 12:5 "Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this [is] known in all the earth."
In that glorious day, all will know Him.
Hebrews 8:10-11 "For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:" "And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest."
There will be plenty to sing about. The Lord Jesus Christ has come through the tribe of Judah and saved us. Let me give you a few Scriptures which say it so well.
Ephesians 1:10 "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him:"
Ephesians 4:13 "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:"
Colossians 1:19 "For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all fullness dwell;"
Colossians 2:9 "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."
Isaiah 12:6 "Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great [is] the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee."
"Cry out" speaks of telling all who are in hearing distance of His greatness. There is a literal Zion (Jerusalem), and there is a spiritual Zion (church). Are you the church of the Lord Jesus Christ? Then shout the good news of the gospel to all who will listen.
"Thou inhabitant of Zion": The Hebrew of this verse personifies Zion as a woman by commanding her to "cry aloud and shout" in celebration of the Lord's greatness.
The greatness of God is so far beyond the comprehension of the fleshly mind. It is only through the spirit that we get a glimpse of the greatness of God. The glory of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He is with them. His light burns brightly in His church.
So many churches have locked Him out, and He is knocking to get in, but the true church is filled with the Light of the Lord so greatly, that it sends out a beacon of Light to the entire world to see. The Light draws men to it.
Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
His name is WONDERFUL, JESUS my LORD. ALMIGHTY GOD is HE.
Isaiah Chapter 12 Questions
This section of Isaiah's prophecy concerns the message of God's judgment against Israel's neighbors. The prophet's message of judgment begins with the word burden (masa), which may also be rendered "oracle." The fact that Isaiah did see these events indicates that he saw then in a vision as though they were actually happening.
The prophet's first message was delivered against Babylon, the very nation that would eventually carry Judah into captivity. Sanctified ones and mighty ones are the armies of Medo-Persia, which God will raise up against Babylon to fulfill His purpose.
Verses 13:1 - 23:18: These 11 chapters group together prophecies against foreign nations, much the same as those (in Jer. 46-51 and Ezekiel 25-32).
Verses 13:1 - 14:27: The section (13:1-14:24), deals specifically with Babylon (and the verses 25-27), with Assyria, though Babylon was not yet a world power at the time of this prophecy. Isaiah foresaw a time when Babylon would overthrow the current dominant nation Assyria and be an international force.
Isaiah 13:1 "The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see."
"Burden or oracle": In the sense of his having heavy responsibility to deliver the message. It is used 15 other times in the Old Testament in superscriptions like this.
This is a very strange statement. "Burden" here, was translated from the word masa, which means tribute, utterance, or spoken doom. It can also mean oracle or prophecy.
We do know that Babylon carried the inhabitants of Jerusalem captive in the 8th year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar made his uncle Mattaniah king, and changed his name to Zedekiah about this same time. All of this occurred about 14 generations before the birth of Jesus.
Matthew 1:17 "So all the generations from Abraham to David [are] fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon [are] fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ [are] fourteen generations."
We know that Isaiah received this prophecy in some sort of vision, because the verse above uses the word "see". Notice again, the mention of Amoz as the father of Isaiah. The main thrust of this, however, is judgment against Babylon.
Babylon ... Isaiah ... did see": This chapter foretold the city's destruction. Even during the Assyrian Empire, the city of Babylon was formidable and stood at the head in the list of Israel's enemies to be conquered.
Isaiah 13:2 "Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles."
The lifting of the ensign would be similar to our raising of our flag. The high mountain is mentioned, because it would be easier to see it. They are calling out with their voices to call the army to fight against Babylon.
(As in 5:26), the Lord summoned foreign armies to conquer Babylon in all her greatness.
Isaiah 13:3 "I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, [even] them that rejoice in my highness."
I, in the verse above, is speaking of God. "Sanctified", possibly, means those set aside for God's purpose. We know in this that God is in control of all nations in the end. He is calling those to battle on the side of the Lord to bring judgment against Babylon.
"I have commanded ... called". The Lord told of His gathering of armies to overcome Babylon. "My anger": God's anger had turned away from Israel (12:1), and toward this oppressive foreign power.
Isaiah 13:4 "The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle."
"The noise of a multitude" is from the large army that comes to fight against Babylon. The army coming is a strong army of men who are strengthened by the Lord. The great people, just means a large number of people.
The Lord of hosts is mustering the army. Literally "the Lord of armies musters the army." This anticipated the end time coming of the Lord to crush the final Babylon and to dash His enemies in pieces and establish a kingdom over all nations (Rev. 19:11-16).
Nations lets us know there will be more than one nation. The Lord of hosts has called this battle in judgment against Babylon.
Isaiah 13:5 "They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, [even] the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land."
The "indignation", spoken of here, is God's fury. My own opinion of this is that the Lord is taking vengeance on Babylon for the terrible things they had done to God's people. He has given them ample time to repent and come to Him, and they have not. I believe this to be speaking of the time of the end, spoken of in the 24th chapter of Matthew.
The fall of Babylon to the Medes was merely a short term glimpse of the ultimate fall of Babylon at the hands of the universal forces of God (Rev. 18:2).
The countries of the world will come against Israel and God's people at that time. God will punish Babylon and all their evil neighbors, when they are defeated. There are many Babylons in the sense of what they believe. See why God comes against them in the following Scripture.
Romans 1:18 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;"
Babylon, and those with ideas similar to Babylon, will come to destroy and will be destroyed themselves. The wrath of God comes because of disobedience to His Word.
Ephesians 5:6 "Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience."
"From the end of heaven" means many of the countries come from the other side of the world.
Isaiah's reference to the day of the Lord is both immediate and eschatological. The destruction that he has immediately in view is the fall of Babylon (in 539 B.C.). But he also saw the ultimate fall of "Babylon" in the last days (Rev. 14:18). The Medes are named in advance (in verse 17; as is Cyrus in chapters 44 and 45), since they rose to power before the Persians.
Isaiah 13:6 "Howl ye; for the day of the LORD [is] at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty."
"The day of the Lord is at hand": The prophecy looked beyond the more immediate conquest of the city by the Medes to a greater day of the Lord and anticipated the final destruction of Babylon by the personal intervention of the Messiah.
You see, this destruction does not come from the devil. This destruction comes, because the judgment of God has come.
Joel 1:15: "Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD [is] at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come."
The word "Almighty" in the verse above is showing the power of the Lord to do whatever He wishes. In this case, it is punishment after He has passed judgment. "Howl" is a strong expression of sorrow.
Acts 2:20 "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:"
Isaiah 13:7 "Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:"
"Heart shall melt": Courage was to vanish (19:1; Ezekiel 21:7; Nahum 2:10).
Luke 21:26 "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken."
These two Scriptures seem to be speaking of the same thing. Man can fight against another man, but there is no way to win against the wrath of God.
Isaiah 13:8 "And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces [shall be as] flames."
The pain comes suddenly and unexpected (similar to a woman at childbirth). Whether the face being as a flame means that their blood pressure has risen from the suddenness of their troubles, or whether this is speaking of a time when they will be burned by the sun, is hard to say. Either way, it has to do with the judgment of God on these wicked people.
"As a woman that travaileth": The comparison of labor pains is often a figure to describe human sufferings in the period just before the final deliverance of Israel. Usually it was the suffering of Israel, but here it pictured the misery of Babylon.
Isaiah 13:9 "Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it."
The reason we know this is not just speaking of the evil Babylon, is the fact that just the sinners are destroyed. It appears there are others here, who are not sinners. This is a much wider scope than just physical Babylon.
This occurs when Messiah returns in judgment of all living on earth. In this case the prophet moves forward to the Babylon which is the final evil world city to be destroyed with all its inhabitants (see Rev. chapters 17 and 18).
Romans 13:4: "For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil."
Isaiah 13:10 "For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine."
The following Scriptures are speaking of a time when the sun and moon and stars will not give light to the earth.
Scripture frequently associates cosmic upheavals with the period of tribulation just before Christ's return.
Matthew 24:29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:"
Mark 13:24 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,"
The Scriptures we just gave are speaking of something that happens at the time of the great tribulation upon the earth at the second coming of Christ. This could be caused by a natural happening, or this could occur when oil well smoke covers the atmosphere.
Isaiah 13:11 "And I will punish the world for [their] evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible."
The word "world" here, means the globe. It can also mean, the inhabitants of the globe. We can easily see, this is speaking of more than just physical Babylon. This is a global judgment of God on all people who have chosen to disobey Him.
The same sin of pride that led to Israel's judgment will cause Babylon's downfall (47:5, 7-8; Rev. 18:7).
It includes those who have not accepted Jesus as their Savior. This is a warning to all evil people in every country in the world.
Isaiah 13:12 "I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir."
Because of this visitation human mortality will be extremely high, but not complete. God will spare a faithful remnant.
Fine gold has been tried in the fire. It has undergone purification by fire. Gold of Ophir was pure gold.
Isaiah 13:13 "Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger."
These upheavals are associated with the ones (in verse 10).
We read in an earlier verse from (Matthew 24:29), how the heavens and the earth will be shaken just after the days of tribulation. If we follow that to (verse 30), we will see when this happens.
Matthew 24:30 "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
This is just before the second coming of Christ.
Isaiah 13:14 "And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land."
Humans are frightening to the shy gazelle, but indispensable to the helpless sheep. The Babylonians will find the Lord as their enemy and lose Him as their shepherd. All they can do is flee the land.
When the Christians are removed from the earth, great fear will overtake those remaining here, and they will run for safety.
Matthew 24:31 "And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."
The true sheep will be caught up in this catching away of the church. Notice, it says, as a sheep. The ones left are not the Lord's sheep. Some of them may be professing to be sheep, but that is just in outward appearance.
Verses 15-16: The prophet for the moment returned to the immediate future, when the Medes committed all those cruel atrocities in captured Babylon.
Isaiah 13:15 "Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined [unto them] shall fall by the sword."
This very thing did happen when they were overthrown, but the message is two-fold. It will happen again at the end of the age.
Isaiah 13:16 "Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished."
This has been true in wars of the past. Children are seldom spared in a vicious war. The captor does not want to be bothered with them. The wives were sexually assaulted and then killed.
Isaiah 13:17 "Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and [as for] gold, they shall not delight in it."
These people from an area southwest of the Caspian Sea, North of Persia, East of Assyria, and Northeast of Babylon later allied themselves with the Babylonians to conquer Assyria and later with the Persians to cause the fall of Babylon (in 539 B.C.).
God established gold and silver as worth in the book of Genesis. Mankind has done away with the money God established and put out worthless paper notes. Anyone, or any nation, who disregards standards the Lord established is in for a great deal of trouble.
In recent years that the United States went off the gold and silver standard. The fact that gold means the purity of God and silver means redemption should tell us something. God will not bless those who tear down His standards and make their own standards.
Isaiah 13:18 "[Their] bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children."
This is speaking of evil people who do not regard children's lives as anything. The Medes and the Persians were skilled in warfare using bows and arrows, and they were known for their disregard for human life.
Verses 19-22: From the near future, Isaiah returned to the distant future. The ultimate fulfillment of these prophecies of Babylon's desolation will come in conjunction with Babylon's rebuilding and utter destruction when Christ returns (Rev. 14:8; 18:2).
Obviously, Isaiah was unable to see the many centuries that separated Babylon's fall to the Medes from the destruction of the final Babylon by God (see Rev. chapters 17 and 18).
Isaiah closes this chapter by predicting the Babylon will be destroyed and will never be rebuilt. Instead it will remain desolate and shall never be inhabited. The reference to wild beasts should be taken literally and not interpreted as demons. Owls, satyrs and dragons are better rendered ostriches, wild goats, and jackals.
Isaiah 13:19 "And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah."
In the physical sense, Babylon took a punishment in the recent war with the world against them. Much life was lost from the bombing on Iraq. Sodom and Gomorrah were totally destroyed by God for their evil habits of homosexuality. Babylon had been a great city and had great kings as the world views things.
God will overthrow rebuilt Babylon in the same supernatural way He did these two ancient cities, (Gen. 19:24; Rev. 18:8).
God has a different view. God sees the evil of the heart. This is speaking of the literal city, but is, also, speaking of all evil cities as well. God will not always overlook sin. There is a day of reckoning.
Isaiah 13:20 "It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there."
Where Sodom and Gomorrah stood, there is nothing but desolation. Physical Babylon did not keep its greatness either. It is a wasteland, as well. Spiritual Babylon will be the same. God will destroy, where perversion and unnatural life styles prevail. The Arabians believe harm will come to them at this sight, and they will not inhabit Babylon anymore.
Though nothing like its glorious past, the site of Babylon has never been void of inhabitants. A city or town of one type or another has always existed there, so this prophecy must point toward a yet future desolation.
Verses 21-22 "doleful creatures, owls and satyrs" This is the utter devastation referred to (in 21:9 and further described in Rev. 18:2).
Isaiah 13:21 "But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there."
This just speaks of the total desolation that comes upon this place from the judgment of God. These are animals and fowls repulsive to man.
Isaiah 13:22 "And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in [their] pleasant palaces: and her time [is] near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged."
Animals sometimes have a sense of impending danger. The fall of physical Babylon was nearly 200 years after this was prophesied. The fall of spiritual Babylon is coming soon.
As already noted (in verse 6), once Babylon becomes great, her days are numbered.
Isaiah Chapter 13 Questions
Verses 1-14: This section is a song of triumph over Babylon. The nation that will one day send Judah into captivity will herself be severely judged by God. In spite of this displeasure with Israel, there is coming a time when He will have mercy on Jacob and will choose Israel.
This refers to Israel's future restoration in her own land. Hell (Sheol), is the Old Testament name for the abode of the dead, a fiery place of judgment for the unrighteous. In the proverb used here the king of Babylon is viewed as being welcomed into hell by the kings of the nations (Gentiles), who are astonished that he has become weak as we.
In the first three verses, the primary view was the prophet looked at the final Babylon at the end of the tribulation. The language is that which characterizes conditions during the millennial kingdom after the judgment of the final Babylon. The destruction of future Babylon is integrally connected with the deliverance of Israel from bondage. Babylon must perish so that the Lord may exalt His people. God's compassion for physical Israel receives fuller development (in chapters 40-46).
Isaiah 14:1 "For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob."
We know that God always forgives His people. There was a time of punishment while they were captive of the Babylonians, as there was a time of terrible trial for the modern house of Israel in World War 2.
God always establishes His people again in their Promised Land. There was no limit of time on the promises God made to Abraham.
God restores their land and their freedom, not because they deserve it, but by His grace.
I have a tendency to believe the "strangers", in the verse above, are the Jewish proselytes who join themselves to the nation in the final earthly kingdom of Christ.
Looking to the end of the age, I believe is looking to the two sticks of Ezekiel that come together in Christ.
Isaiah 14:2 "And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors."
The "land of the LORD" spoken of here, is probably speaking of the Promised Land or Israel. The word "take" lets us know they did not come voluntarily. We also see in this, that the enemies of God's people will serve God's people.
Take their captives captive is the great role reversal. Instead of their miserable state of captivity, endured in the tribulation under antichrist, the Israelites will be the rulers of those nations that once dominated them.
This had a near meaning in the fact of those who returned to Israel, but also has to do with the Lord Jesus Christ reigning as King and all His followers ruling with Him.
Isaiah 14:3 "And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,"
"Rest": The future earthly kingdom of Messiah is in view.
There was great oppression in the land of Babylon against God's people. When they come back into the land, there will be a great relief from their oppression. Peace and rest is never real, if it comes from anyone except the Lord.
In World War 2, we know the Jews suffered greatly in the Holocaust. We know that after the war, they were given the land of Israel for their homeland. Many have returned to their homeland, but there is very little peace there today.
There will be no real peace and rest, until the King of Peace (Jesus Christ), returns and sets up His kingdom of peace. Then there will be no sorrow or fear.
Isaiah 14:4 "That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!"
The prophet instructed the delivered nation to sing the song (of verses 4-21), celebrating the downfall of the king of Babylon.
The receiving the king of Babylon into the regions of the dead, shows there is a world of spirits, to which the souls of men remove at death. And that souls have converse with each other, though we have none with them; and that death and hell will be death and hell indeed, to all who fall unholy, from the height of this world's Grandeur, and the fullness of its pleasures. Learn from all this, that the seed of evil-doers shall never be renowned.
The royal city is to be ruined and forsaken. Thus, the utter destruction of the New Testament Babylon is illustrated (Rev. 18:2).
This could also refer to the final Antichrist, who will rule Babylon, which will rule the earth (Rev. 17:17-18). It is looking prophetically to the world Babylonian system controlled by the devil himself.
The oppressor ceased means that the nation that made life bitter for God's people disappeared.
Isaiah 14:5 "The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, [and] the scepter of the rulers."
Jesus defeated Satan on the cross. He even took the keys of hell and death away from the devil. Notice the fact that the staff (power), of the wicked people has been broken. All wicked people everywhere are under the influence of the devil, or Satan. His name in heaven was Lucifer.
The scepter was just an outward way to show who the ruler was. LORD is translated here, from Jehovah. Jesus is Jehovah Savior.
Isaiah 14:6 "He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, [and] none hindereth."
"Smote the people ... ruled the nations". These picture the tyranny of the Babylonian king.
The key in this is the fact that it speaks of nations. The rulers under the influence of Satan, himself, are those who smote the people. Satan's tricks never change. He uses all who will allow him to bring his destruction. Satan finds he is no match at all for God. God turns on Satan and persecutes him, as he has the people.
Isaiah 14:7 "The whole earth is at rest, [and] is quiet: they break forth into singing."
With the tyrant off the throne, the whole world will have peace. This has to be millennial.
The "whole earth" reveals that this is not just a localized thing. The singing is praise for the deliverance of the people from the oppressor.
Psalms 118:14 "The LORD [is] my strength and song, and is become my salvation."
Isaiah 14:8 "Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, [and] the cedars of Lebanon, [saying], Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us."
The fir tree and the cedars of Lebanon are constantly reaching upward. They are praising God for coming against the devil.
Those "kings of the nations" already in the place of the dead stage a welcome party for the arriving king of Babylon.
Isaiah 14:9 "Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet [thee] at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, [even] all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations."
Jesus took the keys to hell when he defeated Satan on the cross. Satan is an inhabitant of hell. He will be chained for a thousand years and not able to have any power on the earth at all. He will be like those who followed him and were committed to hell. He has no power in the face of the Lord.
The kings of nations who were under his influence, like Hitler was, have their place in hell with him. They looked to Satan on the earth for their power. It will be no different in hell. They will still look to him for help, but he will be rendered helpless.
This does not mean that every king of a nation is evil; it is speaking of those under the devil's influence, (evil kings).
Isaiah 14:10 "All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?"
The kings mock the king of Babylon, reminding him that human distinctions are meaningless among the dead.
They will look to him for power, but he has been rendered powerless by the Lord Jesus Christ. He is defeated. The answer to their question is yes. He is as weak as they are.
Isaiah 14:11 "Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, [and] the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee."
"Maggots": Human pride vanishes for a rotting corpse covered with worms.
Verses 12-14, "Fallen from heaven ... I will be like the most High". Jesus' use (of verse 12), to describe Satan's fall (Luke 10:18; Rev. 12:8-10), has led many to see more than a reference to the king of Babylon. Just as the Lord addressed Satan in His words to the serpent (in Genesis 3:14-15), this inspired dirge speaks to the king of Babylon and to the devil who energized him. (see Ezekiel 28:12-17), for similar language to the king of Tyre and Satan behind him.
Isaiah 14:12 "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!"
The scene suddenly shifts from the underworld to heaven to emphasize the unbridled pride of the king and Satan energizing him. Son of the morning, translated star of the morning. Tradition of the time saw the stars as representing gods battling among themselves for places of preeminence.
The devil, or Satan, was named Lucifer in heaven, and he was proud and arrogant. His desire was to be God. He is a counterfeit.
Everything God has done that is beautiful, the devil tries to copy. He is so evil himself, that everything he does in the way of a copy becomes evil too. Beautiful, spiritual music is from God. Satan's counterfeit, which I believe we see in much of the rock music today, is a sickening example of what Satan does with everything he touches.
"Lucifer" came from a word which means having the appearance of brightness. Lucifer is not the morning star; he is son of the morning. He would like to be the morning star, but cannot.
Revelation 22:16: "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, [and] the bright and morning star."
Lucifer most certainly refers to Satan. Now we see the real power behind the Gentile monarchs. Thus, Isaiah uses that fall of Satan, which is an assumed fact, to illustrate the fall of the Babylonian king. The name Lucifer is actually the Latin designation for the morning star (literarily, Light bearer"). The Hebrew (helel), means the "bright one." As the morning star speedily disappears before the rising sun, so Satan, the angel of light, will be banished to outer darkness by the coming of the Son of God.
Satan: Originally created as one of God's highest angels, possessing all angelic attributes, Satan ("Adversary"), led angels in a rebellion. He is described as the originator and chief practitioner of sin (1 John 3:8), "that wicked one" (1 John 5:18), a thief and destroyer (John 10:10, a deceiver (Rev. 12:9), murderer and liar (John 8:44), and the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10).
A Christian can overcome Satan when he remembers four basic principles:
Lucifer wants to be as God.
2 Corinthians 11:14 "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."
Notice in this verse from Corinthians that, Satan is not the Light, but made to be a light. Lucifer was cast down by God, because he wanted to be as God. His conceit and greed for power caused him to be cast out of heaven. He was the essence of evil, and influenced many evil leaders to follow him. Greed and lust for power and money causes much sin.
Verses 13-14: We find five "I wills" emphasizing the arrogance of the king of Babylon and of Satan, from whom he takes his cue.
Isaiah 14:13 "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:"
The mount of the congregation or the mount of the assembly was a mountain in northern Syria, according to local tradition, where the Canaanite gods assemble. The human king aspired to kingship over those gods.
This is not only speaking of Lucifer here, but all who hunger for power and greed. The king of Babylon (literally), and Lucifer are both intended. You could include in that all who desire to be God. Notice the "I will" statements.
This is a statement from someone who is not speaking of doing this through the power and might of God, but believing that they have power to control all of this within themselves. This is a very arrogant attitude. In the main sense, this is Lucifer, himself. He is thinking of himself as God.
Isaiah 14:14 "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."
The Babylonians, and many today, want to be God. The father of all of this evil thinking was Lucifer, himself. He was one of the three archangels mentioned in the Bible. He was so powerful in heaven that a third of the angels followed him.
He forgot that God was God, and that he was subordinate to God. He had so much lust for power that he wanted to be as God. Many of the evil kings were worshipped as if they were God. This Scripture goes further than that. This is Lucifer.
The will of man can follow the flesh, or the spirit. The will of man pleasing his own flesh leads to hell and total destruction.
Isaiah 14:15 "Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."
We see that the will of man, or Lucifer, following their fleshly desires (their own will), brings them to total destruction and eventually an eternity in hell.
Death awaits those who try to be like God.
Verses 16-21. The final section of the dirge elaborates on the disgrace of the king, on display before all as an unburied corpse.
Isaiah 14:16 "They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, [and] consider thee, [saying, Is] this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;"
"Is this the man"? The complete role reversal from the most powerful to utter humiliation will provoke universal amazement.
A king who has fallen under God's judgment is no better off than the people he tricked into believing he had great power. They are both in hell together. The very same thing is true of the devil, Satan, or Lucifer. Jesus defeated him on the cross. He is a defeated foe.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from thee. Satan has no power over the Christians. The only thing that he can do to a Christian is what God allows him to do.
Verses 16-21. The final section of the dirge elaborates on the disgrace of the king, on display before all as an unburied corpse.
Verse 16 from our last lesson is shown again here.
Isaiah 14:16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, [and] consider thee, [saying, Is] this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
"Is this the man"? The complete role reversal from the most powerful to utter humiliation will provoke universal amazement.
Isaiah 14:17 "[That] made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; [that] opened not the house of his prisoners?"
Most expositors believe this to be speaking again, of the Babylonian captivity and the fallen king of Babylon, literally.
The evil people's hero has fallen. The devastation caused by Satan through all the evil rulers of the earth is caught up in this one statement. You see, it might be the evil king of Babylon who carried out the evil on the earth, but it was Satan, himself, who directed the evil.
We mentioned Hitler in the previous lesson. He struck fear in many a heart, and left devastation everywhere he went, but there came a day when God said, it is enough. Hitler, the Babylonian king, and all other wicked rulers come to the same fate as Lucifer.
They are thrown down to the pit. They may have struck fear in the hearts of many when they were in power, but now they have no power at all, and we wonder why we ever feared them. In defeat, they are no more than any other man. They will suffer great punishment for the cruelty they inflicted on others on the earth. Hitler and the Babylonian king were under the influence of the devil himself.
Isaiah 14:18 "All the kings of the nations, [even] all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house."
Kings, such as king David, are buried and remembered for their greatness. An evil king is not remembered. It is good to forget their evil life as soon as possible.
"All the kings ... lie in glory": The king of Babylon is the sole exception. The rest of the kings received honorable burials.
Isaiah 14:19 "But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, [and as] the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcass trodden under feet."
"Carcass trodden under feet": Among the ancients, this was the deepest degradation. Not having a burial, as in the case of king Jehoiakim (Jer. 22:18-19), indicated complete disrespect and disregard for one's life. To die without mourners or honors was considered worse than being born dead, even if one had many children and a full life.
The Babylonian, or Hitler, was not buried with honor and pomp. They did not receive a heroes' grave. Their branch is cut off and thrown away. No one wants to be their offspring. A branch, such as the verse above mentions, is burned or completely destroyed.
They have been dressed in fine garments, but they are blood stained and torn now, of no use to anyone. Bodies of the fallen in battle in the time of the Babylonians, many times, were just left to decay and be forgotten. The main reason is no one claims the body of someone this evil.
Isaiah 14:20 "Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, [and] slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned."
Evil rulers' monuments are torn down; they are not remembered with fondness. God would not let an evil race continue on. Just as He killed all in Sodom and Gomorrah, so the evil of the city would not spread, God will not allow evil to continue from generation to generation. He will stop their line of inheritance.
Because the king of Babylon was an evildoer, he had no monument or posterity to keep his memory alive.
Isaiah 14:21 "Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities."
The thing this is saying to me, is that God does not want evil to live on in the children of the evil one. He will not allow evil to prosper and fill the cities with evil.
Isaiah 14:22 "For I will rise up against them, saith the LORD of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the LORD."
Israel will have a remnant, but not Babylon, according to the Lord's promise (in verses 22-23; Rev. 18:2 and 21).
Isaiah 14:23 "I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts."
The city of Babylon was thought to be indestructible. The hanging gardens of Babylon, also, were thought to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World. We find that world renowned seldom remains. Babylon fell and has never been rebuilt. It is in total destruction, as are many of the evil kings who had reigned here.
It fell to Cyrus of Persia, but really God destroyed Babylon, as He will destroy any city, or people, with the spirit of Babylon today. The spirit of Babylon is the spirit of Satan, himself.
In 1983, Saddam Hussein started rebuilding the city on top of the old ruins (because of this, artifacts and other finds may well be under the city by now), investing in both restoration and new construction. He inscribed his name on many of the bricks in imitation of Nebuchadnezzar. One frequent inscription reads: "This was built by Saddam Hussein, son of Nebuchadnezzar, to glorify Iraq". Saddam Hussein, another evil leader and we all know what happened to him. An article published in April 2006 states that UN officials and Iraqi leaders have plans for restoring Babylon, making it into a cultural center. As of May 2009, the provincial government of Babil has reopened the site to tourism.
Verses 24-32. As a part of the same burden (begun in 13:1), the prophet turns his attention to the Assyrian. He promises that God will break the Assyrian upon my mountains (the Judean hills). This promise was later fulfilled during the prophet's own lifetime when the Assyrian army was struck by the Angel of the Lord (37:36). The year that king Ahaz died (was approximately 727 B.C.). Palestina refers to Philistia. Here the prophet warns Israel's perennial enemies not to rejoice in their plight because they too shall be invaded from the north, i.e. Babylon.
Isaiah 14:24-25 "The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, [so] shall it stand:" "That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders."
The Lord is not a man that He should lie, God is Truth. Every thing He has said would happen will happen. It may not happen in the time frame that we wish it to, but it will happen.
Isaiah has stopped looking to the far future here, and is dealing with the more immediate problem of the Assyrians. This breaking of the Assyrian is a direct intervention by God. They will not be burdened by the Assyrian. Their rule will cease shortly.
Isaiah 14:26 "This [is] the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this [is] the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations."
God is not just God of one little people, but is God of all nations. They may be rebellious and serve other gods, but God is their Creator and their God. When God stretches His hand forth, no one can remove it, but Himself.
The scope of this judgment against the whole earth represents His final wrath against the ungodly in Israel (5:25; 9:17), and the nations (23:11).
Isaiah 14:27 "For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul [it]? and his hand [is] stretched out, and who shall turn it back?"
This just puts greater emphasis on what was said (in verse 26). Man may desire something contrary to the will of God, but once God has set the plan, there is no turning back. There is none greater than the LORD, so no one can turn Him back.
Isaiah 14:28 "In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden."
We learned earlier in these lessons, that the word translated "burden" means prophecy. Ahaz died approximately 725 B.C.
Isaiah 14:29 "Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit [shall be] a fiery flying serpent."
Israel need not think an alliance with the Philistines would save them from the Assyrians, since Assyria would conquer this neighbor of Israel too. "Rod ... broken": The prophet pictured the Assyrian weakness, their conquest of Philistia notwithstanding.
Isaiah is saying, that because one enemy is overturned, it does not mean their troubles are over. Another more wicked will come forth seemingly from the same root. Palestina is thought to be a region of Syria. It could be Syria of the Philistines.
Isaiah 14:30 "And the firstborn of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety: and I will kill thy root with famine, and he shall slay thy remnant."
The poor of Judah who depend on the Lord are to find Him to be a refuge, but the Philistine oppressors are to meet their doom. God protects the poor and the needy. They shall have food. God will bring famine to the Philistines. Another army will come to destroy them, but they will be killed by the famine.
Isaiah 14:31 "Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, [art] dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none [shall be] alone in his appointed times."
This is speaking to all of the cities of Philistia. They shall all be destroyed. The smoke is the army of Assyria who overwhelms them and destroys them.
Isaiah 14:32 "What shall [one] then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it."
The messengers were the Philistine envoys who sought an alliance with Israel. Isaiah's answer saw the Lord as Zion's only security. They may come for help, but the only help they will get will be safety in Zion. Those in the world who are wretched and poor of spirit, as well as physically, shall find help in the Lord. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and you shall be saved.
Isaiah Chapter 14 Continued Questions
"The burden of Moab" is aimed at Israel's enemies in the eastern Trans-Jordan. The prophet reminds his readers of the fall of Ar, the capital of Moab, and Kir, their chief fortress. Bajith, Dibon, Medeba, Heshbon and so on, form a list of Moabite cities that will be overrun by the coming Assyrian invasion. Zoar was the city to which Lot fled after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Nimrim was a Moabite oasis near the Dead Sea.
Verses 15:1 - 16:14: The demise of Moab taught Israel not to depend on that nation any more than others, but to depend on the Lord.
Isaiah 15:1 "The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, [and] brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, [and] brought to silence;"
Moab was a country about 30 miles square, east of the Dead Sea, South of the Amon River, and North of the Zered River. Ar and Kir were the two major cities of Moab.
We decided that "burden" probably was a prophecy speaking against (in this case) Moab, who had been enemies of God's people on the east. The two cities mentioned here are no longer in existence, and it is believed that they were attacked at night and destroyed.
Isaiah 15:2 "He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads [shall be] baldness, [and] every beard cut off."
Moab chose the temple of the Moabite god Chemosh, (they were three miles North of the Arnon), as the place of weeping because that god had failed to deliver the nation.
"Nebo ... Medeba". Nebo is the mountain at the North end of the Dead Sea where the Lord took Moses to view the Promised Land. Medeba is 5 miles southeast of Nebo.
"Bald ... every beard". Shaving heads and beards expressed disgrace and humiliation.
The high places were where they went to worship their false god. The shaving of their head, and beards was done as a type of mourning to get their god's attention. They could cry to these false gods all day, and get no help.
Isaiah 15:3 "In their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth: on the tops of their houses, and in their streets, every one shall howl, weeping abundantly."
In this, we see the mourning was not just the leaders, but all in the community. When they did not go to the high places, they would get on top of their houses and put on sackcloth, and throw ashes on their heads as a form of mourning.
Howling shows great grief. They wept, because no help came.
Wearing of sackcloth occurs 46 times in the Bible as a sign of mourning.
Isaiah 15:4 "And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh: their voice shall be heard [even] unto Jahaz: therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out; his life shall be grievous unto him."
The city Heshbon was just under 20 miles east of the northern end of the Dead Sea in a territory claimed by both Israel and Moab. Elealeh was about a mile away from Heshbon. The location of Jahaz was over 10 miles south of Heshbon.
This just shows that the mourning and grief would even reach the soldiers in the field. The soldiers saw how useless it was to try to win against the army blessed of God.
The cities mentioned here had been part of Reuben's land he had inherited, when they had separated the land by tribes.
Isaiah 15:5 "My heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives [shall flee] unto Zoar, a heifer of three years old: for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of destruction."
"My heart shall cry out". The prophecy expresses much greater sympathy for Moab's plight that for the other nations to be judged, even allowing for a surviving remnant.
It is unusual for a prophet to sympathize with those being destroyed, but that is the case here. It could possibly be, because Moab is the country Ruth will come from. The word that was translated "heifer" here, means a female calf.
The only connection that I can make is, possibly, that the city is as helpless as the 3 year old heifer. The heifer has no control of her destiny, and neither does this city.
Isaiah 15:6 "For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing."
This is speaking of a great drought. Ordinarily, this water of Nimrim is gushing forth with water from springs. The springs have been dried up. When there is no rain and the waterway is dry, there is no way for the land to have moisture to produce hay. Everything requires water to be green.
This is possibly the Wadi Numeira, the drying up of whose waters, along with the dead grass, pictures widespread devastation in Moab.
Isaiah 15:7 "Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away to the brook of the willows."
Probably this is the Zered River; the refugees from Moab had to cross this to pass over into Edom to escape their invaders.
The animals, or the people, cannot live where there is no water. It appears the flowing waterway from the springs had provided so much water in the past they had an abundant crop of hay and plenty to drink. Now with the water dried up, they have no prosperity at all.
Isaiah 15:8 "For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab; the howling thereof unto Eglaim, and the howling thereof unto Beer-elim."
The shouts of the fugitives reached all the way from the northern part of Edom (Eglaim), to its southern extremity (Beer-elim).
This is just speaking of the battle being great. All of their howling to their false god got them nothing. Though the howling is wide spread, it is to no avail. The troops swarm down upon them and destroy them.
It appears they swept across the border, and did not stop until they were defeated. I am saying this in the past tense, because it is past tense to us, but to Isaiah it was future tense, because this was prophecy.
Isaiah 15:9 "For the waters of Dimon shall be full of blood: for I will bring more upon Dimon, lions upon him that escapeth of Moab, and upon the remnant of the land."
This shows the severity of the battle. Dimon is the same as Dibon. These waters would probably be from the Arnon.
The blood in the river shows that many will be thrust through with the sword. There will be so much blood shed that the blood will run into the river.
This religious center of heathendom is appropriate as a closing representation of the whole land of Moab.
Lions: Flight from invading armies would not bring security, but new dangers from the beasts of the wilderness.
Isaiah Chapter 15 Questions
Moab's only hope is in making peace with Judah. "Send ye the lamb" means they must pay tribute to the Davidic dynasty. Sela refers to Petra, the capital of Edom, which was carved out of the rocks and served as a natural hiding place. "Let mine outcasts dwell with thee" seems to refer to Israel's fleeing to Petra during the last days to escape the invasion from the north (predicted in Ezekiel 38 and 39). The reference to one sitting on the throne in the tabernacle of David would seem to place this passage in a millennial context.
Isaiah 16:1 "Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion."
"Send ye the lamb": This was an action showing submission to an overlord, as Mesha did to Omri king of Israel (in 2 Kings 3:4).
Sela was a place in Edom not far from Petra (2 Kings 14:7), from which fugitives of Moab were to send to Judah for help. Mount of the daughter of Zion speaks figuratively of Jerusalem and her inhabitants.
We will see a call for repentance and recompense in these first few verses. In the physical sense, this is saying; send the lambs you owe in tribute. "Sela" means rock, and many believe this place to be Petra.
Zion sometimes means Jerusalem, and other times it is speaking of the church. This then, in the spiritual, is a call for repentance.
Isaiah 16:2 "For it shall be, [that], as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, [so] the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon."
A wandering bird, cast out of the nest, has very little hope for survival. Arnon is the largest river in Moab. If the Arnon is full of blood, what help will that be? Possibly, the daughters of Moab, here, are speaking of the people of the little villages.
Perhaps, they are spoken of as daughters, because they are not strong against such an attack.
The fugitives fled to the south to escape the Assyrians entering Moab from the north.
Isaiah 16:3 "Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth."
Isaiah could be saying that they should call their council together and think about the judgment. Perhaps, they should take more consideration for those who have sought refuge here.
Moab asked Judah for shade from the wilting noonday sun, i.e., from their invaders.
Outcasts and wanderers appear to me, to be those who have fled their homeland seeking refuge.
Isaiah 16:4 "Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land."
In a sense, this is exactly what Moab was to Naomi, and her husband, and sons. They had fled their homeland because of a famine in the land. They sought and found refuge in Moab.
Covert indicates covering, or hiding place. The extortioner being at an end means that they will not have to protect them for long.
Moab continued its plea to Judah for refuge. The prophet anticipated the day when the oppression by the Assyrians would be no more.
Isaiah 16:5 "And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness."
"Throne ... tabernacle of David": The Davidic king will some day sit on His throne in Zion, ending all injustices such as those committed by the Assyrians.
This has to be speaking of Jesus who will come, full of mercy. The judgment and sitting on the throne of David appears to be speaking of the 1000 year reign of Jesus at His second coming. The reign of righteousness is surely the reign of Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Isaiah 16:6 "We have heard of the pride of Moab; [he is] very proud: [even] of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: [but] his lies [shall] not [be] so."
This immediately jumps back to the near future of Moab. The pride of Moab caused them not to receive the forgiveness needed. They would not do what Isaiah had shown them, and they are condemned afresh. Though a small nation, Moab's pride was well know.
Moab is too proud and haughty to ask for the mercy offered. They lie to cover up their sin.
Isaiah 16:7 "Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kir-hareseth shall ye mourn; surely [they are] stricken."
This is a renewed warning of the great destruction, and how all the people living in Moab will cry out in mourning for the land of Moab.
This is the same city called Kir (in 15:1).
Isaiah 16:8 "For the fields of Heshbon languish, [and] the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come [even] unto Jazer, they wandered [through] the wilderness: her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea."
We studied in chapter 15 about how the water had been turned to blood. Now we see the grape vines being torn down and destroyed. The area mentioned here had been given to Reuben for an inheritance.
Sibmah was a suburb of Heshbon. "Jazer ... sea". Moab's vines rather than being on stakes, ran along the ground to Moab's extreme northern border, stretching from the desert of the east to the Dead Sea on the west. This perhaps signified the export of raisins and wine to Judah.
It seemed the vines were flourishing so in the past that they had voluntarily grown into other areas, possibly into the land that was given to Gad. It appears it was questionable whether Heshbon was actually in Reuben's or Gad's inheritance. Jazer was a city of Gad.
Isaiah 16:9 "Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen."
This is just saying, there was no water to water the vines with. It was so bad; Isaiah is speaking of catching his tears for water to put on the vines. The vines had been destroyed, as well. There would be no harvest in the early summer, as there had been in the past.
Isaiah displayed genuine emotion over the destruction of so rich an agricultural resource. This reflected the Lord's response too.
Isaiah 16:10 "And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in [their] presses; I have made [their vintage] shouting to cease."
The normal gladness at harvest time is not to take place.
There had always been gladness at the harvest time of the grapes. The grapes, many times, had been crushed and made into wine. We see the joy being taken away from these people, because there is no harvest of grapes.
Notice, that this came upon them because they had left God. The punishment was from God.
Isaiah 16:11 "Wherefore my bowels shall sound like a harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kirharesh."
It grieves Isaiah to tell them this. He feels for them so much that his stomach hurts.
The prophet and the Lord reflected deeply felt sorrow over this necessary judgment of Moab.
Isaiah 16:12 "And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail."
Moab's religion had utterly failed. Rather that deliverance, the nation found weariness in their repeated rituals to their national god.
It appears that Moab will see the error of worshipping Baal in the high places, and return to the worship of God. The problem is, they have waited too long to come. God will not hear them.
Isaiah 16:13 "This [is] the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning Moab since that time."
Isaiah assures them that, this is not something he has decided to say against Moab. This Word came from the LORD.
Isaiah 16:14 "But now the LORD hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant [shall be] very small [and] feeble."
It appears from this that Moab had been very prosperous. Isaiah is giving them a time on this prophecy. Within 3 years, this terrible punishment from God would descend upon Moab. Not only will the greatness of Moab cease, but their population shall be greatly reduced.
"Within three years". Moab had 3 more years of "glory," perhaps till 715. B.C. when the Assyrian king, Sargon, overran the country. Assyria was not to completely obliterate Moab. Babylon received no such promise.
God always saves a remnant. This is no exception. He will allow a remnant to live. They will be small and feeble.
Isaiah Chapter 16 Questions
"The burden of Damascus" refers to the capital city of Syria. This chapter is contemporaneous with (chapter 7), and predicts the downfall of the coalition between Syria and Ephraim. Tiglath-pileser of Assyria destroyed Damascus (in 732 B.C.), a fulfillment of this prophecy. Jacob shall be made thin refers to the famine that followed the devastation and deportation of the northern tribes by Sargon of Assyria (in 722. B.C.).
Isaiah 17:1 "The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from [being] a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap."
This city served as the capital of Aram, or Syria. Its location northeast of Mt. Hermon on the main land route between Mesopotamia and Egypt made it very influential. Its destruction by the Assyrians (in 732 B.C.), is the subject of this chapter.
This is just a prophecy from Isaiah that Damascus will be destroyed. Damascus was one of the earliest cities in the area. It was thought to be the earliest by many historians. The destruction will not be partial, but will be so terrible that nothing will be left of the city.
Isaiah 17:2 "The cities of Aroer [are] forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid."
Aram's or Syria's domain extended as far south as Aroer east of the Dead Sea, on the Arnon River (2 Kings 10:32-33).
The cities of Aroer are pretty hard to discover anything about. They were possibly, known by another name. We do know that they will be totally destroyed at some time after Isaiah gave this prophecy. In fact, there will be such destruction that no one will be living to protest the cows grazing there.
Isaiah 17:3 "The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts."
Ephraim: The northern 10 tribes, also known as "Israel", joined with Syria as objects of this oracle. They formed an alliance with Syria to combat the Assyrians, but many of their cities fell victim to the campaign in which Syria fell (see verse 1). Remnant of Aram: Aram, or Syria, was to have a remnant, but not a kingdom left after the Assyrian onslaught.
It appears that Ephraim, Damascus, and Aroer were somehow thought of as a unit, perhaps, because they were all enemies of Jerusalem. Damascus must have had a remnant who rebuilt her.
Ephraim had been fortified, but it appears the fortress had been destroyed. We will find in later lessons, that God forgives Ephraim. Just as there was a remnant of Israel, there will be a remnant of Ephraim.
Isaiah 17:4 "And in that day it shall come to pass, [that] the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean."
The waning of this glory pictured the judgment of God against the northern 10 tribes, descendants of Jacob.
"The glory of Jacob being made thin" just means there will be only a remnant left of Jacob's ancestors. Israel, as a whole, will not recover. The remnant will survive, but they will not have the greatness they were once known by.
Isaiah 17:5 "And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim."
In the valley of Rephaim, David won a great victory over the Philistines. The "valley of Rephaim" is also called the valley of the giants. It seems the "harvestman" has to do with the reaping of the people, or death. The "corn" spoken of is the Israelites.
As harvesters stripped bare that fertile valley west of Jerusalem, so God's judgment would leave nothing fruitful in the northern kingdom.
Isaiah 17:6 "Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two [or] three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four [or] five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the LORD God of Israel."
This is just stating how small a percentage of the Israelites will be left. When a tree was shaken and beaten to get the fruit, the few that were left were not to be taken.
We learned in Leviticus that they were left for the widows, orphans, and strangers. This, however, is just explaining that most of them are killed. The order to leave the remnant was from the LORD God of Israel.
Two or three ... Four or five: God's judgment against Ephraim was to leave only sparse pieces of her original abundance of olives.
Isaiah 17:7 "At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel."
Those that are left are the ones who looked to God their Creator for safety. Their gratitude will be to the Holy One of Israel for saving them. They will be very aware that His grace is what saved them.
In the future, severe judgments are to awaken a remnant of Ephraim to their failure to depend on the Lord. Then they will repent.
Isaiah 17:8 "And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect [that] which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images."
Repentance is to lead to the forsaking of idolatry, which for so long beset the nation.
The awakening is to the fact that these false gods and idols made with human hands could not save them. The few that remain have realized their only hope is in God.
Isaiah 17:9 "In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation."
The cities will be totally destroyed. The tree is stripped clean except for the branches the remnant was on. Even the remnant will feel the desolation of the land from this great judgment of God.
Isaiah 17:10 "Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:"
"Forgotten the God of thy salvation": Failure to remember God had left Israel unprotected.
God is the "Rock" of their salvation. Jesus Christ is our Rock of salvation. The "slips", spoken of here, are the false doctrines the Israelites had planted. This is almost like what we are seeing today in our churches. Many of the new ideas on worship are for the pleasing of the fleshly sight of mankind.
"Strange slips", then, is speaking of bringing new doctrines into the church that the LORD is not pleased with. There is only one true doctrine, it is found in our Bible. Almost everything pleasant to the flesh of man is opposed to the Spirit. We must choose between flesh and spirit.
Isaiah 17:11 "In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: [but] the harvest [shall be] a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow."
"Make thy plant to grow": The prophet reminded his readers of the futility of trying to meet their needs without the Lord's help.
It seems false doctrine grows faster than the truth. You can plant the seed of false doctrine, and it may even grow rapidly. It sometimes even spreads to other churches, but when harvest time comes, the plant the false doctrine has produced will be gathered up and destroyed.
This is the same as the wheat and the tares (in Matthew 13 beginning with verse 25).
Isaiah 17:12 "Woe to the multitude of many people, [which] make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, [that] make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!"
"Many people": The prophet turned his attention to the coming armies of Judah's enemies and pronounced a "woe" upon them.
There are two distinct meanings in this verse. In one instance, this is speaking of armies of many nations in a great battle. The second I believe is the true message we are to see in this. It is a civilization of many nations rushing to their own destruction.
There is a direct connection between the word "seas" and large numbers of people. Just as God saved a remnant of the physical house of Israel, He will save a remnant of the spiritual house of Israel.
Church, we must realize what we are doing, and get back into right fellowship with God. The Word of God should be our guide. Do not accept other teachings. I pray this woe is not to the present day church.
Isaiah 17:13 "The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but [God] shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind."
"But God shall rebuke them": God's rebuke put those enemies to flight.
This again, is probably speaking to the people who would be destroyed in battle. To me, this is speaking of our time when people are rushing to and fro. Many are following false gods. Worse than all of that, is the slack attitude of the church. God is Holy. We must walk holy before Him. These next Scriptures, in Jesus' Words, say it so well.
Matthew 7:21-23 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Do you go to church to be entertained? If you said yes, you might as well stay at home.
God wants a family who will reverence Him and desire fellowship with Him. True worship is repenting of our sins, accepting Jesus as our Savior and Lord, believing that the price for our sin was paid in full at Calvary by the shed blood of Jesus, and believing that He rose again.
Isaiah 17:14 "And behold at eveningtide trouble; [and] before the morning he [is] not. This [is] the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us."
When morning came, the invading force had disappeared. God protects His people.
God had always promised to bless those who bless Israel, and to curse those who curse Israel. This is no exception. To come against physical or spiritual Israel and their God, brings certain disaster.
Isaiah Chapter 17 Questions
Verses 18:1-7: God's care for his people; and the increase of the church. This chapter is one of the most obscure in Scripture, though more of it probably was understood by those for whose use it was first intended, than by us now.
Here the prophet now pronounces Woe (doom), on the land of Ethiopia (Cush), which rose to such power that it overran all of Egypt (in 715 B.C.). The Ethiopian dynasty of this period (Egypt's twenty fifth), was headed by Pharaoh Shabaku (716-701 B.C.), and Shebitko (701-690 B.C.). Sennacherib of Assyria finally crushed the Ethiopian-Egyptian forces at Eltekeh (in 701 B.C.).
Swift messengers are sent by water to a nation marked by Providence, and measured out, trodden under foot. God's people are trampled on; but whoever thinks to swallow them up, finds they are cast down, yet not deserted, not destroyed. All the dwellers on earth must watch the motions of the Divine Providence, and wait upon the directions of the Divine will.
God gives assurance to his prophet, and by him to be given to his people. Zion is His rest for ever, and he will look after it. He will suit to their case the comforts and refreshments he provides for them; they will be acceptable, because seasonable. He will reckon with His and their enemies; and as God's people are protected at all seasons of the year, so their enemies are exposed at all seasons.
A tribute of praise should be brought to God from all this. What is offered to God must be offered in the way he has appointed; and we may expect him to meet us where he records his name. Thus, shall the nations of the earth be convinced that Jehovah is the God, and Israel is His people, and shall unite in presenting spiritual sacrifices to his glory.
Happy are those who take warning by His judgment on others, and hasten to join him and His people. Whatever land or people may be intended, we are here taught not to think that God takes no care of his church, and has no respect to the affairs of men, because he permits the wicked to triumph for a season.
He has wise reasons for so doing, which we cannot now understand, but which will appear at the great day of his coming, when he will bring every work into judgment, and reward every man according to his works.
Isaiah 18:1 "Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which [is] beyond the rivers of Ethiopia:"
Wings: These may speak of Ethiopia's strong armada of ships. Cush is the Hebrew word for Ethiopia. The country was south of Egypt, including territory belonging to modern Ethiopia.
The more generally received sense is, that either Egypt or Ethiopia themselves are pointed at, described as "shadowing with wings"; not with the wings of birds, as Jarchi interprets it, which flocked thither in great numbers, the country being hot, and so shaded it with their wings; but rather with mountains, with which Ethiopia, at least some part of it, was encompassed and shaded; or else with ships, whose sails are like wings, and which resorting hither, in numerous fleets of them, and hovering about their coasts and ports, seemed to shadow them; to which agrees the Septuagint version, "Woe to the land, the wings of ships!" and so the Targum, "Woe to the land to which they come in ships from a far country, whose sails are stretched out, as an eagle that flies with its wings.
Isaiah 18:2 "That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, [saying], Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!"
"Sea ... water ... rivers": These all apparently refer to the Nile River and its tributaries.
Ambassadors, messengers sent to Jerusalem at the time that negotiations passed between Tirhakah and Hezekiah against the expected attack of Sennacherib (Isa 37:9).
Ezekiel 30:9 "On that day messengers will go out from me in ships to frighten Cush out of her complacency. Anguish will take hold of them on the day of Egypt's doom, for it is sure to come."
"By the sea": What "sea" is here meant cannot be accurately determined. The word 'sea' (yam), is applied to various collections of water, and may be used in reference to a sea, a lake, a pond, and even a large river.
"By the sea", on the Nile (Isa. 19:5): As what follows proves, vessels of bulrushes-light canoes, formed of papyrus, daubed over with pitch: so, the "ark" in which Moses was exposed. It does not elsewhere occur. That the ancients were in the practice of making light boats or vessels from the papyrus is well known.
Exodus 2:3 where the little ark is described in which Moses was laid near the Nile. The "rush" (in Job 8:11); and "rushes," (in Isaiah 35:7).
Both the Egyptians and Ethiopians, used boats of rushes or reeds, which were more convenient for them than those of wood, because they were both cheaper and swifter, and lighter for carriage from place to place.
"Go": Isaiah tells them to take back the tidings of what God is about to do (Isa 18:4), against the common enemy of both Judah and Ethiopia.
"Go, ye swift messengers": To this nation before mentioned, who, by the Nile, and by their numerous canals, have the means of spreading the report in the most expeditious manner through the whole country: "go, ye swift messengers", and carry this notice of God's designs in regard to them. These are ordered to publish this declaration made by the prophet throughout Egypt, and to all the world; and to excite their attention to the promised visible interposition of God.
Peeled "Smoothed": Either relating to the practice of the Egyptian priests, who made their bodies smooth by shaving off their hair, or rather to their country's being made smooth, perfectly plain and level, by the overflowing of the Nile.
As Herodotus characterizes the Ethiopians as "the tallest and fairest of men," G. V. Smith translates, "tall and comely"; literally, "extended" (Isa 45:14, "men of stature"), and polished (the Ethiopians had "smooth, glossy skins").
To a nation scattered; that dwelt in towns, villages, and houses, scattered about here and there; or who would be scattered and dissipated by their enemies. Or, "drawn out", and spread over a large tract of ground, as Ethiopia was. And peeled; of their hair, as the word signifies; the Ethiopians, living in a hot country, had very little hair upon their bodies.
"Trodden down", true of the Jews. But Maurer translates it actively, a people "treading under foot" all its enemies. That is, victorious (Isa 14:25), namely, the Ethiopians.
Isaiah 18:3 "All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye."
"All ye inhabitants ... dwellers": This prophet calls upon the whole human race to be alert for the signals that God is at work in the world.
Isaiah 26:11 "LORD, [when] thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: [but] they shall see, and be ashamed for [their] envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them".
"All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth". All the men of the world are here called upon, either by the Lord, or rather by the prophet, to be eye and ear witnesses of the judgment that should be inflicted upon the above nation, and of the salvation of his own people; which should be so manifest, that all should see it as easily as an ensign set up on a mountain.
And the news of it should ring through the earth, and be as plainly heard as when a trumpet is blown. Unless it should be thought that these are the words of the messengers sent to the above nation, addressing them in such terms, assuring them, that, however stupid and secure they were now, they should quickly see the sign and hear the alarm of war. It being usual to call any large kingdom the world, and the earth.
Isaiah 31:9 "Their stronghold will fall because of terror; at sight of the battle standard their commanders will panic," declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, whose furnace is in Jerusalem."
This is when God shall gather together the nations, as it were, by the lifting up of an ensign, or by the sound of a trumpet, to execute his judgments upon this people.
Jeremiah 51:27 "Lift up a banner in the land! Blow the trumpet among the nations! Prepare the nations for battle against her; summon against her these kingdoms: Ararat, Minni and Ashkenaz. Appoint a commander against her; send up horses like a swarm of locusts."
This (the eighteenth chapter), declares the coming overthrow of those armies whose presence is announced (in Isaiah 17:12-13). The same motive, which led Hezekiah to seek aid from Egypt, led him to accept gladly the Ethiopian Tirhakah's aid (Isa 36:6; 37:9).
This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
Isaiah 49:22 "Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in [their] arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon [their] shoulders".
Isaiah 18:4 "For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, [and] like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest."
Yahweh has revealed his purpose, that is, to execute punishment on the people who have been described in the previous verses. Their state as there described is that of a fierce people making ready for war, and probably designing an alliance with the enemies of Judea, and marshalling their armies for that purpose.
Yahweh here reveals to the prophet that they shall be discomfited, and shows the manner in which it will be done. He says he will sit calm while these preparations are going on, as the sun shines serenely on the earth while the harvest is growing, and the dew falls gently on the herb; but that "before" their plans are completed, he will interpose and destroy them, as if one should appear suddenly before the harvest is ripe and cut it down.
The "design" therefore, of this part of the prophecy is to comfort the Jews, and to assure them that there is no danger to them from the preparations which were made against them, for Yahweh calmly beholds the proud rage of the enemy.
Proverbs 19:12 "A king's rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass".
The subject of the remaining part of this chapter is, that God would comfort and support his own people, though threatened with immediate destruction by the Assyrians; that Sennacherib's great designs and mighty efforts against them should be frustrated; and that his vast expectations should be rendered abortive, when he thought them mature, and just ready to be crowned with success.
That the chief part of his army should be made a prey for the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, (for this is the meaning of the allegory continued through verses 5-6); and that Egypt, being delivered from his oppression, and avenged by the hand of God of the wrongs which she had suffered, should return thanks for the wonderful deliverance, both of herself and of the Jews, from this most powerful adversary.
God would be still and quiet, and as one asleep and at rest, that took no notice of what was doing, nor interpose between parties preparing for war, and laying schemes for the ruin of each other; not help the one nor hinder the other, but let them go on a while with their designs.
Isaiah 26:19 "But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead."
Isaiah 18:5 "For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away [and] cut down the branches."
"Cut off ... take away ... cut down": As an all-wise farmer, God's pruning activity (i.e. His direct intervention) will be neither too early nor too late.
"For afore the harvest": - This verse is evidently figurative, and the image is drawn from that which is commenced in the previous verse. There, God is represented as calmly regarding the plans of the people here referred to, as the sun shines serenely on the herb, or the dew falls on the grass.
That supposes that they had formed plans, and that they were advancing to maturity, like a growing harvest, while God surveyed them without interposition.
This verse continues and affirms "that those plans shall not be mature;" that God will interpose and defeat them "while" they are maturing, as if a man should enter the harvest field and cut it down after it had been sown. Or go into the vineyard, and cut down the vines while the green grape was beginning to ripen.
Its meaning is, when their plans are maturing, and there is every human prospect that they will be successful. It is, therefore, a most beautiful and expressive figure, intimating that all their plans would be foiled even when they had the prospect of a certain accomplishment.
Isaiah 27:11 "When its twigs are dry, they are broken off and women come and make fires with them. For this is a people without understanding; so their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor."
"He shall both cut off the sprigs". The shoots; the small limbs on which the grape is hanging, as if a man should enter a vineyard, and, while the grape is ripening, should not only cut off the grape, but the small branches that bore it, thus preventing it from bearing again.
The idea is, not only that God would disconcert their "present" plans, but that he would prevent them from forming any in future. Before their plans were matured, and they obtained the anticipated triumph, he would effectually prevent them from forming such plans again.
Isaiah 18:6 "They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them."
Dropping his metaphorical language, Isaiah describes in grotesque language the fallen carcasses of the victims of God's judgment.
The sense is that the army shall be slain and left unburied. Perhaps the "branches and twigs" in the previous verse denoted military leaders, and the captains of the armies, which are now represented as becoming food for beasts of the field and for birds of prey.
"And the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them." They shall be unburied through the winter; probably indicating that they would furnish food for the fowls and the wild beasts for a long time. On the multitude of carcasses these animals will find nourishment for a whole year, that is, they will spend the summer and the winter with them.
Jeremiah 7:33 Then the carcasses of this people will become food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and there will be no one to frighten them away.
The following is the Biblical account of Sennacherib's siege of Jerusalem:
It begins with the destruction of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (in 722 B.C.), and its capital Samaria. This is how the ten northern tribes came to be known as the Ten Lost Tribes, because as recorded (in 2 Kings 17), they were carried off and settled with other peoples as was the Assyrian policy.
2 Kings 18-19 (and parallel passage 2 Chronicles 32:1-23), details Sennacherib's attack on Judah and capital Jerusalem. Hezekiah had rebelled against the Assyrians, so they had captured all of the towns in Judah. Hezekiah realized his error and sent great tribute to Sennacherib. But the Assyrians nevertheless marched toward Jerusalem.
Sennacherib sent his supreme commander with an army to besiege Jerusalem while he himself went to fight with the Egyptians. The supreme commander met with Hezekiah's officials and threatened them to surrender; while hailing insults so the people of the city could hear, blaspheming Judah and particularly Jehovah. When the King Hezekiah heard of this, he tore his clothes (as was the custom of the day for displaying deep anguish), and prayed to Jehovah in the Temple.
Isaiah the prophet told the king that Jehovah would take care of the whole matter and that he would return to his own lands. That night, the angel of Jehovah killed 185,000 Assyrian troops. Jewish tradition maintains that the angel Gabriel (along with Michael in the Targum's version), was the angel sent to destroy the Assyrian troops, and that the destruction occurred on Passover night.
Sennacherib soon returned to Nineveh in disgrace. Some years later, while Sennacherib was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, two of his sons killed him and fled. Some suggest that Psalm 46 was composed as a Song of Deliverance that was led by the Korahite Levitical singers and accompanied by the Alamoth (maidens with tambourines), and sung by the inhabitants of Jerusalem after their successful defense of the city from the siege.
Whenever it was fulfilled, it is quite evident that the design of the prophecy was to give comfort to the Jews, alarmed and agitated as they were at the prospect of the preparations which were made, by the assurance that those plans would fail, and all the efforts of their enemies be foiled and disconcerted.
Isaiah 18:7 "In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion."
"Place of the name of the Lord of hosts": Jerusalem was and remains the location on earth where the Lord has chosen to dwell (Deut. 12:5). Isaiah's prediction here extends to the future bringing of tribute to Jerusalem in the Messiah's kingdom.
"Of a people scattered and peeled; this explains what the present is, that shall be brought to the Lord; it is a people, and therefore not the spoils of Sennacherib's army, as some interpret it; nor yet the people of the Jews, that shall be brought by the Gentiles out of all nations in the latter day, as an offering to the Lord.
Isaiah 11:11 "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
But the Ethiopians or Egyptians (described Isaiah 18:2 as here), who, being converted, shall stretch out their hands to God, submit unto him, and present themselves soul and body as an acceptable sacrifice unto him. When these prophecies (in Psalm 68:31), shall be fulfilled, and which began to be in the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:27). And of which there were other instances in the times of the apostles, and in following ages.
And from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto. That is, some of the people, not all of them; the same people are designed as before, only this Hebraism is used, to show a distinction among them. A nation meted out, and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled.
These descriptive characters, with those in the preceding clauses, are retained, to show that the same people are here meant as (in Isaiah 18:2), and to magnify the riches of God's grace, in the conversion of a people to whom such characters belonged. Which show that it was not owing to themselves, or any deserts of theirs, but to the free favor and good will of God.
To the place of the name of the Lord of hosts, Mt Zion. Here the present was to be brought, and here the persons to present themselves to the Lord, even in Mt. Zion, the church of God. Where the name of the Lord is named and called upon, his word is preached, his ordinances are administered, and where He dwells, and grants his presence.
In that time shall the present be brought to the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and stripped, and from a people terrible from their beginning to this time. A nation measured by line and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, Mt. Zion. Meaning that God will pity his Church, and receive that little remnant as an offering to Himself.
Isaiah Chapter 18 Questions
10.Their _______________ _______ _______ because of terror.
11.A king's ________ is as the roar of a _______.
12.What happens to Sennacherib's vast army?
13.But you _________ ______ _______; their bodies will _______.
14.What is the meaning of the bud is perfect, the grape is ripening?
15.Will any of their plans mature in the future?
16.What indicates that?
17.What happens to Judah's enemies?
18.What happens to their bodies?
19.For how long does this go on?
20.Which was the first of Israel's kingdoms to be taken capitivity?
21.What was the year?
22.Where were the people carried off to?
23.Did Hezekiah rebel against the Assyrians?
24.What was the purpose of Hezekiah tearing off his clothes?
25.What did Hezekiah do after that?
26.Did God answer Hezekiah?
27.How?
28.What happened that night?
29.Who was that angel?
30.Where did Sennacherib go after that?
31.What happened to him there?
32.Why was this prophecy given?
33.Where was "the place of the name of the Lord of hosts"?
34.In what book did we find the Ethiopian eunuch?
Verses 1-10: The burden of Egypt is a message of both judgment and hope for Egypt. Isaiah then pictures the coming Egyptian civil war of the seventh century B.C. The Egyptians fell to Esarhaddon of Assyria (in 671 B.C.). Idols, charmers, familiar spirits, wizards refer to various aspects of Egyptian religion, which was dominated by the occult. The cruel lord and fierce king are references to the Assyrian overlords who were to dominate Egypt for nearly 20 years.
(In verses 1-4), disunity and internal strife because of idolatry are to spell the end of Egypt's greatness.
Isaiah 19:1: "The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it."
"Burden" is a prophecy against Egypt. There is a physical Egypt and there is a symbolic Egypt (the world). In this sense, I believe this is speaking of the world. The world away from God would be a more specific designation.
"The LORD riding upon a swift cloud" means the LORD will come quickly. Clouds are vehicles for the Lord's coming to execute judgment elsewhere.
God will destroy the idols just as He did with the 10 plagues He brought on Egypt and the Pharaoh in Genesis. We know that God can melt our hearts when He gets ready.
Isaiah 19:2 "And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbor; city against city, [and] kingdom against kingdom."
In the physical, this could be speaking of the different rulers within the country fighting among their selves. This is speaking of upheaval within the country. In the spiritual sense, the world (Egypt), is always trying to do others in for their own self gain.
They do not care whether it is a brother, or not. They are thinking of their own flesh and do not care what happens to others.
Noted for its internal strife through the centuries, the nation will experience even worse under God's judgment.
Isaiah 19:3 "And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards."
"Familiar spirits ... wizards": Internal strife will lead to disorientation and depression. With nowhere else to turn, the Egyptians will consult spiritualists. Israelites of Isaiah's day did the same (8:19).
"The spirit of Egypt" is the spirit of evil in the world. It is worldliness. They were a sinful people seeking power and fame. If we were to go through all the lists of sins that physical Egypt committed, we would find the same sins those worldly people (out of fellowship with God), are committing today.
Instead of going to the true source of help in their lives (God), they go to fortune-tellers, wizards, and all sorts of evil people for help. They are caught up in worldliness. They take no thought of God. Their failure will come because of their unfaithfulness to God.
They are evil and directly opposed to God.
Isaiah 19:4 "And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts."
Egypt was subject to foreign rule beginning with the Assyrian conquest of the middle seventh century B.C.
At the time of Moses, there were hundreds of false gods in Egypt. The ten plagues were directed at the false gods of Egypt. It seems even the plagues did not stop Egypt from worshiping false gods. God is not slack, but longsuffering. He gave them ample time to seek forgiveness and turn to God.
(Verse 4), is speaking of the day of punishment which comes on these idol worshippers. It is the very same thing, even if they are not living in Egypt. God will not always look the other way. His punishment may be long in coming, but it is sure they will be punished.
In physical Egypt, they were given over to cruel kings. In spiritual Egypt, they are given over to the devil himself.
Verses 5-10: we see that God will act to take away the country's only fresh water resource, the Nile and its tributaries.
Isaiah 19:5 "And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up."
In Egypt, it is a serious happening when the Nile dries up. Their livelihood and their own well-being is influenced by how much water comes from the Nile. Perhaps, that is why they worshipped the Nile.
Whether you are part of physical Egypt or spiritual Egypt, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Lord. God has cut off their water supply. This could bring about famine in the land.
Isaiah 19:6 "And they shall turn the rivers far away; [and] the brooks of defense shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither."
If there is no water, the plants dry up and die. The "brooks of defense" had been water which surrounded an area making a natural defense. There was usually just one bridge over the water to give access to the outside world. The fortress would be easier to protect from the enemy with the water completely around it.
Isaiah 19:7 "The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no [more]."
The alluvial deposits left by the flooding of the Nile yielded rich agricultural crops, permitting Egypt to export grain to the rest of the world.
The crops had been planted next to the Nile for irrigation. Some of it had actually been like a rice field which is under water part of its growth period. This just speaks of total crop failure. This type of crop failure is brought on by God.
Isaiah 19:8 "The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish."
There are no fish where the water dries up. The fish will all die. It really would not matter whether you were an individual fishing, or whether you were a commercial fisherman, the results are the same.
The loss of the Nile's important fishing business would mean a great loss to Egypt's population.
Isaiah 19:9 "Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded."
This "fine flax" is speaking of linen. There would be nothing to make the linen from. They would have no linen for sale to their usual buyers.
Egypt was famous for its production of linen from flax. Both the growth of the plant and the manufacture of the cloth depended on water.
Isaiah 19:10 "And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices [and] ponds for fish."
The "they" refer to its foundations or pillars.
God was to remove the foundations or "pillars", on which the working class depended. The word refers either generally to the economic structure of the society or specifically to the upper class which organized the businesses of the land.
Some will try to build their own ponds and wet areas to keep their crops from dying, but God will see to it that it does not help. It appears also, that these ponds were made for fish, as well. Fish are not good from stagnant water.
Verses 11-17: Isaiah predicts the failure of Egyptian wisdom, and the pride of Egyptian culture. Princes of Zoan refer to the capital of Tanis. Noph is Memphis, located at the apex of the Delta. Egypt will fall into utter confusion because the Lord has mingled a perverse spirit among the Egyptians to cause them to err in their discernment. Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt because Egypt is so weakened that even little Judah frightens her.
Verses 11-15: God's judgment was to confound Egypt's famed wisdom (1 Kings 4:30).
Isaiah 19:11 "Surely the princes of Zoan [are] fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I [am] the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?"
"Zoan" This major city of northern Egypt east of the Nile Delta region was the first large city a Semite would encounter in traveling toward the Nile. "Tanis" was also a name of this city that was a capital of northern Egypt at one point when the country split into two parts.
The 30th chapter of Ezekiel speaks of the destruction of Zoan by fire. It seems princes ruled in this area. God calls them fools. They were worshipping false gods.
The fact that they were descended from some one, did not give them the wisdom they needed. The advice they received was bad. True wisdom comes from the One True God.
(In this verse and verse 12), we see that whatever wisdom Egypt's experts may have possessed formerly, they were helpless to deal with the crisis because they were ignorant of the Lord's judgment against the land.
Isaiah 19:12 Where [are] they? where [are] thy wise [men]? And let them tell thee now, and let them know what the LORD of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt.
God is saying through Isaiah here, if they are so wise, let them advise you now. The wise men of all the ages put together are no comparison to the wisdom of God. God says, Tell them what the LORD is about to do and let them advise you how to avoid it.
The wisdom of this world is but foolishness to the LORD of all the earth.
Isaiah Chapter 19 Questions
Isaiah 19:13 "The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, [even they that are] the stay of the tribes thereof."
Noph is an ancient Memphis which was the capital of northern Egypt at one time. This city had leaders who were in a state of confusion regarding a true perspective on Egypt's crisis.
"The stay of the tribes" were the cornerstones. If the cornerstones of a society suffer from delusion, they can do nothing else than delude the people they lead.
When the blind lead the blind, they both fall in the ditch.
Isaiah 19:14 "The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken [man] staggereth in his vomit."
In the lesson just prior to this one, we learned that the Egyptians had been worshipping false gods. They even practiced sorcery and witchcraft. We see that part of their punishment God brought upon them was a perverse spirit. This spirit was one that brought confusion among the leaders.
Since their mind was controlled by this perverse spirit, they could not make good clear decisions, and everything they put their hand to failed. They were so confused; they were staggering as a drunken man would stagger.
The Lord had caused dizziness that resulted in a complete loss of productivity when the invaders came.
Isaiah 19:15 "Neither shall there be [any] work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do."
This is just saying they could profit from nothing they did. Everyone is pulling in his own direction. Not anyone is working in union with anyone else. I want to stop and remind you, Egypt in the symbolic sense, means the unconverted world.
Our world is in just such a state of confusion today. The only true unity that any of us have is in Jesus Christ our Savior and LORD.
From (verse 16 to the end of this chapter), turning from Egypt's destitution just described (in verses 1-15), the prophet proceeds to describe Egypt's eventual turning to the true God, "in that day" (verse 16), referring to the time of the millennial rule of Christ. These features have not been true of Egypt yet.
Isaiah 19:16 "In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it."
In this particular instance, being "like unto women" means they have become weak. Their hearts are failing them for fear of things God is bringing upon the earth. When God shakes the earth, it is time to be afraid, because who is able to win against God, no one?
God's judgment will immobilize mighty Egypt to the point that the nation realizes it is defenseless and helpless.
The shaking taking place then, and the wrath that is to come on the earth, is very similar. The only thing that would have stopped the shaking was repenting and turning to God.
Isaiah 19:17 "And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it."
Egypt had come into confrontation once before against Judah and their God. I am sure that they were aware of the terrible plagues God had brought on Egypt to get the Pharaoh to release His people. They are not so much afraid of Judah, as they are of Judah's God.
The LORD of hosts has taken counsel against Egypt in behalf of Judah. When Judah attacks Egypt, it is God really using Judah. This is what brings the fear.
Instead of Judah fearing Egypt, the reverse will be true. God's great power on behalf of Israel will cause this to happen. Such will occur at Christ's second advent.
Isaiah 19:18 "In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction."
"Five cities": Humanly speaking, the chances of even one Egyptian city turning to the Lord were remote, but divinely speaking, there will be five times that many.
Language of Canaan: Egypt is to speak the language of Judah. Not only are they to fear Judah, (verse 17), they are also to convert to Judah's form of worship.
"Swear to the Lord of hosts": Egypt will "in that day" turn to God in a dramatic way. This prophecy anticipates the personal reign of the Davidic King on earth.
"City of destruction": More likely this was the "City of the Sun," i.e., Heliopolis, which was the home of the Egyptian sun god (see Beth-shemesh"; Jer. 43:12-13).
We see in this, that certain parts of Egypt will have begun to believe in the God of Judah. This says that at least five cities have begun speaking the language of Canaan. This does not just mean they are speaking Hebrew, but means they have accepted the God of the Hebrews.
We see from this that before Christ came to the earth as Savior and Lord, there was a group who were worshipping Jehovah in Egypt. We do know from history that a Christian church was begun in Alexandria, probably established by Mark.
It seems that one of the cities that turned to the worship of Jehovah had been an evil city (city of destruction), where they had worshipped the sun god. They have been converted, and now place their faith in the One True God.
"Swear by the LORD of hosts", just means they have placed their trust and faith in Him.
Isaiah 19:19 "In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD."
"Altar ... pillar": These speak figuratively of Egypt's conversion to the Lord "in that day" of the Messiah's reign on earth (Genesis 28:22).
We do know that there will be a place set aside to meet with God. There are many who connect this with the great pyramid. I will not make that assumption here.
We do not need facts to lead us to the Lord. He will accept simple faith, and nothing else. I believe we would be in error to look to a pyramid to give us answers from God.
I have said many times that I believe the reason we have never been able (in the masses), to see Noah's ark with our natural eyes, is the fact that God does not want us to come to Him because of being convinced in our mind by things we see with our natural eye. He wants us to come to Him with faith in our heart.
John 20:29 "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed."
Isaiah 19:20 "And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a savior, and a great one, and he shall deliver them."
"Savior" God is to act on behalf of Egypt as He did earlier in delivering Israel (Judges 2:18; 3:9, 15; 6:7-9; 10:11-12).
In my opinion, this is not speaking of physical Egypt alone. Jesus Christ is the Savior. He came to save all mankind. There are signs that do verify things of Christ. Jesus said it was wrong to base what we believe on signs alone.
Luke 11:29 "And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonah the prophet."
The sign in the verse above, however, is not God giving them a sign, but them giving Him a sign. Their recognition of God is a sign to God they are no longer heathen, but seeking the One True God. Now God has a people even in Egypt.
Isaiah 19:21 "And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform [it]."
We see from this that, the Lord became recognized by some Egyptians. In the physical, there were Egyptian Jews who went to the temple in Jerusalem to worship. These converts have taken their belief in God so seriously that they do not take vows casually. They make sure that they keep their vows to Him.
The future kingdom will be a time when everyone will know the Lord, because the New Covenant will dominate, (Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:11; Isa. 11:9; Hab. 2:14).
Isaiah 19:22 "And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal [it]: and they shall return [even] to the LORD, and he shall be entreated of them, and shall heal them."
This is saying that God reached down with His right hand, and touched Egypt, and healed them. "Smite", in this instance is not a blow, but a touch. Smiting can, also, be like a father correcting a child which causes them to come to Him in a fuller sense.
Just as a parent disciplines a child for purposes of betterment, so the Lord has dealt and would deal with Egypt, (Hos. 6:1).
Isaiah 19:23 "In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians."
"Highway out of Egypt to Assyria": The two great warring nations of Israel's time are to reach a lasting peace with each other during "that day" of Christ's reign (27:13; 2:2-4).
This is saying that, the Assyrians will worship with the Egyptians. There will not be barriers between these two nations anymore. It is so strange, but those of us who have decided to follow Jesus have no barriers between brothers and sisters of other nationalities.
Christians do not see black and white people; they see their brothers and sisters in Christ.
Isaiah 19:24 "In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, [even] a blessing in the midst of the land:"
"A blessing in the midst of the land": Israel "in that day" will become what God intended her to be, a blessing to the rest of the world.
These 3 have been enemies in the past. They will come together in a common faith. Their belief in God makes them one. The blessing, of course, comes from God. They will be blessing each other also, in the fact that there is no more war.
Isaiah 19:25 "Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed [be] Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance."
"My people ... the work of my hands": Elsewhere scripture uses these epithets to speak only of Israel. In the future kingdom, Israel is to be God's instrument for drawing other nations into His fold.
Egypt had a great deal to do with the Scriptures being translated from Hebrew into Greek. Their Zeal for God was great. Great works for God are never overlooked by Him. They will be blessed greatly. Egypt has always been a place of refuge for God's people, as well.
Two times that quickly come to mind, are when Jesus was brought by Mary and Joseph there when He was a baby to keep Herod from killing Him. The other time was when Joseph was sold into slavery and rose to second in command in Egypt. That will bring them great blessings, as well.
The believers in Assyria kept idolatry from overcoming the land. They kept alive the belief in the One True God. Israel was God's chosen people from the beginning. He had saved them from great trouble in Egypt, and brought them to the land God had promised Abraham.
They had been given the law of God by Moses on their way to the Promised Land. They actually gave us the Old Testament. They kept wonderful records which have helped us know of the past. They belong to God. They are His inheritance.
Isaiah Chapter 19 Continued Questions
Verses 1-6: This prophecy is dated in the year of the Assyrian invasion of the Philistine coast (in 711 B.C.). Tartan is an Akkadian military title (2 Kings 18:17). He was sent by Sargon to subdue the Philistine city of Ashdod. God then instructs Isaiah to become a living illustration of His coming judgment by walking naked and barefoot like a captive slave.
Egypt and Ethiopia would be taken into captivity by Assyria, which was known not only for stripping its captives naked, but in some cases peeling their skin off while they were still alive.
Isaiah 20:1 "In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it;"
Tartan was an office, not a person's name. It means commander in chief.
Sargon seemed to be in power (about 722 to 705 B.C.). Ashdod was one of the 5 largest Philistine cities, all located southwest of Jerusalem. Sargon, mentioned only here in the Bible, was Sargon II, king of Assyria (from 722-705 B.C.).
Ashdod was one of the five most important cities of the Philistines. Tartan was commander in chief of the Assyrian army. It seems Sargon sent him to come against the Philistines. He did and won the battle.
The Assyrians captured Ashdod (in 711 B.C.), and so frightened the Egyptians that they backed away, thus teaching Judah the folly of reliance on a foreign power such as Egypt for protection.
Isaiah 20:2 "At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot."
"At that time": Isaiah began his object lesson 3 years (verse 3), before his speech (in verses 3-6), which came just prior to the Assyrian attach (in 711 B.C.).
This seems like a very strange thing to do, but Isaiah did as God had told him. This could have meant stripped of his outer garment, as most suppose.
"Sackcloth": This apparel may denote Isaiah's mourning or it may signify his prophetic office.
"Naked and barefoot": The Lord commanded stripping off all of his outer garments as an act denoting disgrace and humiliation. I believe he was actually naked as the Scripture says. Look, with me, at a Scripture where the word naked in the same sense was used.
Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
You can see from this that this means totally without clothing. We find this has a great purpose in the fact that the Jews were looking to earthly sources to save them. The LORD probably had Isaiah to do this to remind them that they came into this world naked, and their only help lay in the LORD.
Sackcloth is a garment of mourning. Man is useless to provide for himself. God must intervene for them, or they would not be saved. This is showing they must be stripped of everything they had, before they would realize who their provider was. Isaiah is in total obedience to God.
Isaiah 20:3 "And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years [for] a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia;"
"My servant" designates that places Isaiah among a select group such as Abraham, Moses and others. Isaiah's nakedness and bare feet symbolized the coming desolation and shame of Egypt and Ethiopia at the hands of the Assyrians.
Three years are an important length of time throughout the Bible. We find that Jesus' formal ministry upon the earth lasted 3-½ years. Even in Daniel, he speaks of time, times, and half a time. I could go on and mention many others, but I believe you see the connection with this time.
Isaiah and his family had been a sign to others, even in their names. Notice, God calls Isaiah by a special name given to just a few of His followers. He used "my" when He called Isaiah servant. Had he been partially clothed, it would not have made much impression on the people he was a sign to.
This sign was from God to them as a reminder. Their trust must not be in Egypt, or in Assyria, or even in Judah, but in the One True God. The three years showed the captivity would not be a short one.
Isaiah 20:4 So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with [their] buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.
"Captives ... exiles": Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, fulfilled this prophecy (in 671 B.C.). Far from being a suitable object of Judah's trust, mighty Egypt will go off in shame.
In this instance, it is stressing clearly that they carried nothing with them when they were captured. If they were naked when they were captured, they did not give them time to return and dress. No one was spared. They captured young and old, men and women. They did not give them time to even put their shoes on.
This was such an embarrassment, because they were caught totally off guard. Egypt had been a proud, powerful nation. Far from being a suitable object of Judah's trust, mighty Egypt will go off in shame as now they are carried away with nothing, not even clothes on their back.
Isaiah 20:5 "And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory."
They had expected Ethiopia to help them, and Ethiopia could not even help themselves. Egypt had been a very powerful country. They were thought to be one of the grandest countries in the area. They had trusted in someone who looked good on the surface, but lost the war.
Isaiah 20:6 "And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such [is] our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?"
This is not really an island, but a strip of land which was next to the sea. There was no place to escape but into the sea, and that would be certain death.
"We" refers to the people of Judah. Trust in Egypt has proven itself misplaced. Is there any adequate source of help?
Isaiah Chapter 20 Questions
Verses 1-10: The desert of the sea is unclear but seems to refer to Media and Persia, which lay beyond the desert and the Persian Gulf. Therefore, Elam and Media are pictured as going up against Babylon. Thus, in the vision, Isaiah sees the Medo-Persian invasion of Babylon. The reference to the night of my pleasure may well refer to Belshazzar's banquet (in Daniel 5), for on that night self-sufficient Babylon fell (539 B.C.).
Babylon is fallen, is fallen is repeated twice for emphasis. The same exclamation is used (in Revelation 14:8), to refer to the fall of symbolic "Babylon."
Isaiah 21:1 "The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; [so] it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land."
The prophet referred to an area of southern Babylon near the Persian Gulf known for its fertility. "As windstorms in the south pass through" The simile drew from the suddenness with which storm winds come from the Negev and sweep through the land of Israel. So sudden is to be Babylon's overthrow.
This is thought to be the fall of Babylon, possibly by the Medes and Persians. The deserts of the sea would be a desert that joins on one side to the sea. The dust raised from a mighty army does look like whirlwinds.
The word "terrible" is speaking of their strength in war. Persia is modern day Iran.
Isaiah 21:2 "A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease."
"Elam ... Media". The Elamites and Medes were part of the Persian army that defeated Babylon (in 539 B.C.).
This vision of Isaiah was sad to him. He did not want to give it, because it was so terrible. He must give the message, because that is the very thing a prophet does. They warn of things to come. This is probably, the army of Cyrus that is spoken of as being treacherous.
Whoever it is, speaks of someone whose nature it is to deal in treachery. They "spoil the land" (take away the goods of others for themselves), just because of their greed. Babylon had caused great pain to the rest of the countries, but now they are under attack and will not be able to ruin others anymore.
In verses 3-4 The severity of the violence about which Isaiah must prophesy caused him extreme agitation.
Isaiah 21:3 "Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing [of it]; I was dismayed at the seeing [of it]."
Comparing this to a woman at childbirth, means this attack will come suddenly and without warning. The pain will continue until the entire city is taken. The battle is so fierce and ruthless that Isaiah can scarcely bare to even bring the message.
Isaiah 21:4 "My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me."
The prophet experiences the feeling of the prophecy he is to bring. Sometimes the message is in a vision, sometimes it is in a dream, but the prophet feels the pain with those he prophesies against.
Isaiah 21:5 "Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, [and] anoint the shield."
This part of the oracle recalled Belshazzar's feast (in Daniel 5), when amid the celebration came a call to fight the attacking enemy invading the city.
Prepare for war, is what this is saying. Watch and be ready, war is coming. The table being set shows that even though war is coming and they have set men to watch, they are still having their parties.
Isaiah 21:6 "For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth."
Isaiah stationed a watchman on the city walls.
This prophecy is not for immediate happening, because of the watchman being set. Watchmen watch for things that indicate a war. Then, they cry out of the impending danger.
Isaiah 21:7 "And he saw a chariot [with] a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, [and] a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed:"
"Couple", in this verse, probably does not mean there will be only two, but means they will be two horses side by side attached by harness. Horses, asses, and camels were all used to carry the men in the battle.
Horsemen, donkeys, camels: Isaiah heard the watchman warn of an approaching military force.
Isaiah 21:8 "And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:"
The Lookout called "My Lord" according to the Dead Sea Scrolls. "The watchman cried, my Lord". The watchman whom Isaiah had stationed (verse 6), continued his report.
Isaiah 21:9 "And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, [with] a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground."
The watchman proclaimed the tragic end of mighty Babylon, which initially fell to the Assyrians (in 689 B.C.), and again to the Persians (in 539 B.C.). Yet Isaiah's prediction looked forward to the ultimate fall of the great enemy of God, as verified by John's citation of this verse (in Rev. 14:8, 18:2; Jer. 50:2 and 51:8, 49).
The Babylonian idols were not destroyed in the early war, so this is looking beyond the time to the great fall of Babylon in the book of Revelation. Many of these prophecies have two fulfillments. That is the case here.
Revelation 14:8 "And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication."
Read (Revelation 16:19 and Revelation 18:2). The only time all of her images are broken, is at the end of the age.
Isaiah 21:10 "O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you."
The violent threshing of grain portrayed Babylon's oppression of Israel, and the resultant grain was Israel's deliverance by God. The concise saying offered God's people hope.
God is the One who separates the wheat from the chaff. Isaiah is expressing the fact that he has warned them exactly as the LORD has given him instruction.
Verses 11-12. Dumah refers to Edom, which was south of Moab. Seir is another name for the same area where the descendants of Esau settled. Here Edom is pictured as hiding in Seir wondering whether it is safe to come out. Isaiah is called a watchman and warns them of impending judgment unless they return (shub, repent).
Isaiah 21:11 "The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?"
Dumah here, is probably speaking of Edom. Burden means prophecy. This prophecy is to Edom. Edom of course, was the land of Esau. Seir was the possession of Esau's descendants, and the Israelites were forbidden to go there.
Seir is another name for Edom, located South of the Dead Sea and the home of Esau's descendants. This is the source of an inquiry directed to Isaiah.
"What of the night", was asking when the attack would come and how long would it last.
Isaiah 21:12 "The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: return, come."
Edom is one country God said he would never forgive. They would not allow God's people passage to the Promised Land. Their ancestor Esau was a flesh man and not a spirit man.
The prophet promises a short-lived deliverance from Assyrian oppression, but quickly added the threat of Babylonian domination to follow soon.
I believe the Scripture above is speaking of times of prosperity the land had, followed immediately by war. They could inquire of God, repent and hope God would hear their prayer. We do not see where they do.
Verses 13-17: The burden upon Arabia refers to the various Arabian tribes of the desert beyond Edom. Dedanim refers to Dedan, a region in Arabia. Tema was an oasis where Nabonidus spent much of his time while his son Belshazzar ruled over Babylon. Kedar is a tribe of Ishmaelite descent. The prophet predicts that these desert tribes will be no match for the coming Assyrian invasion.
Isaiah 21:13 "The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim."
The Dedanites are really of Edom. They hide and run from place to place. They were traveling tradesmen. This expressly speaks of them hiding in the forests of Arabia. Arabia is a desert, so this forest probably means hiding places.
Isaiah 21:14 "The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled."
The prophet indicated that those fleeing the Assyrian army will need supplies. Tema was on the Red Sea route about 200 miles southeast of Dumah, in the northwestern part of the Arabian Desert.
Since these Dedanites are tradesmen, they probably trade these people out of water and bread for their families and animals.
Isaiah 21:15 "For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war."
It appears from this that those traders did not fight with the others, but went right on with their merchandising. They took no part in the war of their country. They fled to the desert where they could hide out.
The interior area of Arabia was a place of refuge for fugitives fleeing from the sophisticated armament of the Assyrians.
Isaiah 21:16 "For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:"
Now, we see that this prophecy even has a time for it to happen. It is what we would call an immediate prophecy. These Kedarenes were also traders in the desert. They were a little more prominently known than some of the others.
It matters not that they were more prominent, they will fall with all the rest within a year.
Kedar covers the area in the northwestern part of the Arabian desert. "Glory of Kedar shall fail": This prophecy anticipated the conquest of the region by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (Jer. 49:28).
Isaiah 21:17 "And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken [it]."
This prophecy was coming through Isaiah, but was spoken by the LORD God of Israel. The word "diminished" makes me believe they were not all killed. A large number of them did die, but not all. Residue means remnant.
Isaiah Chapter 21 Questions
1. Who overthrew them?
2. What kind of vision did Isaiah call this in verse 2?
3. Why did Isaiah give the prophecy?
4. What is meant by "spoil of the land"?
5. How did Isaiah feel in all of this prophecy?
6. What did he compare the pain to?
7. What is verse 5 saying prepare for?
8. Verse 6 says, set a ___________.
9. What was pulling the chariots in verse 7?
10. What does "couple", in verse 7, mean?
11. What did the watchman cry out?
12. When will the Babylonian idols be destroyed?
13. Who separates the wheat from the chaff?
14. Who is Dumah in verse 11?
15. Edom was the land of __________.
16. What is the forest of Arabia?
17. Who were the Dedanites?
18. What does Tema do in the desert?
19. How quickly will the prophecy occur?
20. Why will all this happen?
Verses 22:1-14: The valley of vision refers to Jerusalem, located on the hills surrounded by dominating mountain ranges. The gathering storm of judgment will dump its greatest torrents on Jerusalem herself. The coming Babylonian invasion will cause the people to go up to the housetops to observe the siege of the city.
Verses 22:1-7: Why is Jerusalem in such terror? Her slain men are not slain with the sword, but with famine; or, slain with fear, disheartened. Their rulers fled, but were overtaken. The servants of God, who foresee and warn sinners of coming miseries, are affected by the prospect. But all the horrors of a city taken by storm, faintly shadow forth the terrors of the day of wrath.
Kir and Elam are pictured as mercenaries of Babylon. The choicest valleys which had known the blessing of prosperity, will then be full of chariots of the invading army. The prophet calls for weeping, mourning and sackcloth (repentance), but instead the people have developed the attitude of eat and drink; for tomorrow we shall die.
Isaiah 22:1 "The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops?"
"Valley of Vision" referred to Jerusalem, since God often revealed Himself to Jerusalem in visions. However, the unrepentant inhabitants displace a marked lack of vision in their oblivion to the destruction that awaited them.
"What aileth thee now?" The prophet reproached the people for celebrating with wild parties when they should have been in deep repentance because of their sins. Apparently, he anticipated a condition that arose in conjunction with Jerusalem's fall to the Babylonians (in 586 B.C.). But similar incursions by the Assyrians (in either 711 or 701 B.C.), from which the Lord delivered the city, had prompted the revelry among the people.
It was a custom of the people, in and around Jerusalem, to rest on the roofs of their houses. It appears much of their recreation took place there as well.
We remember from another lesson that we decided that "burden" meant prophecy. It appears that Isaiah had seen this vision from a low area near Jerusalem, looking up to the city. It seems they have overlooked weightier things and become idle. They are all on the housetop most of the time.
This is describing a society fixing its mind on worldly pleasure.
Isaiah 22:2 "Thou that art full of stirs, a tumultuous city, a joyous city: thy slain [men are] not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle."
"Stirs", in the verse above means crashing, or loud clamor. It appears from this, they did not even go to fight against the enemy that was now encamped around them. It really seems there was no armed combat at all in the city, but they were surrounded by the enemy. The city was wholly given to pleasure.
"Sword ... battle": Death came through starvation or disease as the Babylonians besieged the city.
Isaiah 22:3 "All thy rulers are fled together, they are bound by the archers: all that are found in thee are bound together, [which] have fled from far."
It seems the rulers have given up without a fight. The rulers of importance here, does not just mean the ruler, but all in authority. It really appears they quickly saw they were trapped, and tried to escape. The enemy caught them and put leg or arm chains on them, and hooked them together with the others.
Rather than defend the city the way they ought, the leaders fled to save their own necks and in doing so, were captured (2 Kings 25:4-7).
The archers are completely surrounding the city, so they are the ones who have captured those fleeing the city.
Isaiah 22:4 "Therefore said I, Look away from me: I will weep bitterly, labor not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people."
Isaiah's pain was deep. He could not participate in the revelry because he saw the reality of the spiritual issues. The terrible outcome of the land and the people is so great, that Isaiah's grief is overwhelming just telling of it.
I will weep bitterly; or, "I will be bitter", or, "bitter myself in weeping". It denotes the vehemence of his grief, the greatness of his sorrow, and the strength of his passion. Because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people; his countrymen, which were as dear to him as a daughter to a tender parent. Now spoiled, plundered, and made desolate by the ravages of the enemy, in many cities of Judea.
In war, it seems sometimes the women are spoiled, as well as the stealing of gold and silver in the land. This could be one of several times, such as the trouble Jerusalem will have at the end of the age.
We can even apply this to the society we live in today. The lifestyle of most is one based on pleasure of the flesh. Even much church worship is based on an appeal to the flesh of man over the spirit of man.
Isaiah 22:5 "For [it is] a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord GOD of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains."
The physical "breaking down of the walls", could be speaking specifically of the wall that surrounds old Jerusalem. In the spiritual sense, "breaking down of the walls", could be loosening up one's moral values.
For it is a day of trouble. To Hezekiah, and also Jerusalem, and all the inhabitants of the land. And of treading down; and of perplexity by the Lord of hosts in the valley of vision. In Jerusalem, besieged, and threatened with desolation. Which threw the king and his nobles, and all the inhabitants, into the utmost perplexity, confusion, and distress.
And all this was not merely from men, nor was it by chance, but by the permission and appointment of God. To humble his people for their sins, and bring them to a sense and acknowledgment of them. Breaking down the walls: of the fenced cities, with their battering rams, at the time they besieged and took them.
And of crying to the mountains: looking and running to them for help and succor, for shelter and protection. And crying so loud, by reason of their distress, as that it reached the distant mountains, and made them echo with it. For it is a day of trouble and of treading down. When our enemies trample on everything sacred and dear to us, and endanger all our best interests.
On a former occasion when the city was about to fall, terror had reigned among the citizens. It was to occur again, leaving no room for merriment.
"The valley": Of Judah; and especially of Jerusalem, called a valley, because great part of it flood in a valley. And "the valley of vision", because of the many and clear visions or revelations of God's mind, in that place.
"Vision", came from a word which means revelation. This could be a valley of prophecy. Notice, where this perplexing is coming from, the Lord GOD of hosts.
Isaiah 22:6 "And Elam bare the quiver with chariots of men [and] horsemen, and Kir uncovered the shield."
"Elam ... Kir": These lands had representatives in the Assyrian army that besieged Jerusalem.
The fact that they carried the quiver, means they were ready to fight. It appears they were equipped for fairly faraway places. They were equipped with chariots. It also appears, that Kir discovered their weakness.
Isaiah 22:7 "And it shall come to pass, [that] thy choicest valleys shall be full of chariots, and the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate."
Valleys lying both in and around Jerusalem are to be full of enemy troops.
This shows a readiness to fight, which we did not see in the previous verses of this chapter. The difference being, the others were pleasure seekers. These Elamites were equipped for war and standing ready.
They had arranged guards to stay at their gate at all times. They were not foot soldiers. They had horses.
Verses 22:8-14: The weakness of Judah now appeared more than ever. Now also they discovered their carnal confidence and their carnal security. They looked to the fortifications. They made sure of water for the city. But they were regardless of God in all these preparations.
They did not care for His glory in what they did. They did not depend upon Him for a blessing on their endeavors. For every creature is to us what God makes it to be; and we must bless Him for it, and use it for Him. There was great contempt of God's wrath and justice, in contending with them.
God's design was to humble them, and bring them to repentance. They walked contrary to this. Actual disbelief of another life after this is at the bottom of the carnal security and brutish sensuality, which are the sin, the shame, and ruin of so great a part of mankind.
God was displeased at this. It is a sin against the remedy, and it is not likely they should ever repent of it. Whether this unbelief works by presumption or despair, it produces the same contempt of God, and is a token that a man will perish willfully.
Isaiah says (in Isa 22:8-13), his countrymen will look to their own strength to defend themselves, while others of them will drown their sorrows as to their country in feasting, but none will look to Jehovah.
Isaiah 22:8 "And he discovered the covering of Judah, and thou didst look in that day to the armor of the house of the forest."
"House of the forest": constructed by Solomon out of cedars (1 Kings 7:2-6), the structure housed weaponry (1 Kings 10:17), and other valuables (2 Chron. 9:20; Isaiah 39:2).
"The covering of Judah" is possibly speaking of the covering of weaknesses. It could be saying, the armor is not very satisfactory, since it is made of wood.
Isaiah 22:9 "Ye have seen also the breaches of the city of David, that they are many: and ye gathered together the waters of the lower pool."
"The breaches of the city of David:", Not Jerusalem in general, but the fortifications of which, in times of peace, had gone to decay. And which they had seen before, but took no notice of, being in safety; but now besieged, and in great danger.
They looked upon them in good earnest, in order to repair them, and secure themselves from the irruption of the enemy; for this is not to be understood of breaches now made by the Assyrian army, but of old ones, which had lain neglected (see 2 Chronicles 32:5).
The city of David, of course, is speaking of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is known for its water supply gathering. Some of the conduits are directed into holding tanks, or pools.
The pool of Siloam furnished the city's water supply. Hezekiah's lengthy underground conduit fed the pool for the Gihon Spring.
Isaiah 22:10 "And ye have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses have ye broken down to fortify the wall."
It seems that the houses which were not necessary for living purposes were torn down, and the material used to fortify the crumbling wall.
Hezekiah rebuilt the damaged wall (2 Chron. 32:5), but did so while trusting God. His faith contrasts with that of the people Isaiah currently addresses (verse 11b).
Isaiah 22:11 "Ye made also a ditch between the two walls for the water of the old pool: but ye have not looked unto the maker thereof, neither had respect unto him that fashioned it long ago."
This refers to the Gihon Spring, which the prophet sometimes referred to as the "upper pool" (7:3; 36:2; 2 Kings 18:17).
"Had respect unto him that fashioned it": Preparations for the city's defense were purely external. The people gave no thought to the Creator of the city, the pool, or the present crisis (32:1), against whom their physical defenses were useless.
This is a reprimand, because these dwellers in Jerusalem had not followed God who made the water supply in the first place. It appears they were looking for the physical use of the water, and not at the One who provided the water in the first place.
This problem has come upon Jerusalem and the fallen away church of our day as well, because they have forgotten God. I can also see in this that they were looking to the Old Testament (water), and not to the New Testament. The Word of God is associated with the water.
Verses 12-13, "sackcloth ... joy and gladness:" In the face of a crisis that required genuine repentance, the people responded with hilarity and self-indulgence. Contrast this spirit with the legitimate joy and gladness of God's people (in 35:10; 51:11).
Isaiah 22:12 "And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:"
This is a time of mourning brought on because of their falling away from God. Baldness and wearing of sackcloth tell us so much about what is going on here. They tell us this is a spiritual problem.
These people, to whom much was required, were weeping and mourning because God was allowing this to happen to cause them to repent. God was saying to them, "Repent and I will turn to you again".
2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Isaiah 22:13 "And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we shall die."
Paul cites the same philosophy (1 Cor. 15:32): if there is no resurrection enjoyment in this life is all that matters. It utterly disregards God's eternal values.
This is the attitude of those who do not have a close relationship with God. It seems to be very prevalent in our society today. This describes a very fleshly attitude toward life. I would call it having every thought and deed centered on self. Eat all they want, stay drunk, and have a big time until they die.
Isaiah 22:14 "And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord GOD of hosts."
Isaiah is saying, "Surely they will die in their sins". They are not willing to repent and turn from their wicked ways. Their sins will not be forgiven, because they have not repented and turned to God.
The Lord's prediction about the outcome of Isaiah's ministry (6:9-10), found fulfillment.
Verses 15-25: Shebna is referred to as the treasurer and apparently was the leader of the pro-Egyptian faction in Jerusalem. Thinking his position was secure, he had already ordered a large sepulcher (tomb), to be raised in his memory. Instead, Isaiah predicts that he will soon be demoted and will eventually die a pauper in a foreign country.
Shebna was replaced by Eliakim during the reign of Hezekiah, as indicated (in 2 Kings 18:18). The key of the house of David refers to the responsibility of protecting the Davidic line.
Isaiah 22:15 "Thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, [even] unto Shebna, which [is] over the house, [and say],"
Where do you have your treasure hidden? Are you of God, or the world?
Possibly of Egyptian extraction, this man was second in authority only to the king. Other Old Testament references to Shebna refer to him as a "scribe" (36:22; 37:2; 2 Kings 18:37; 19:2), his position after his demotion from steward as prophesied by Isaiah (see verse 19).
Isaiah 22:16 "What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulcher here, [as] he that heweth him out a sepulcher on high, [and] that graveth a habitation for himself in a rock?"
Shebna arranged construction of a tomb fit for a king as a memorial for himself, when he should have been attending to the spiritual affairs of Judah. The prophet condemns his arrogance.
This "sepulcher" is speaking of a grave. I believe this is asking the question, where is your final resting place? We choose our own eternity. The sepulcher (final resting place), will be in heaven, or hell. We choose our destiny. If we are written in the Rock, we will spend eternity in heaven with Jesus.
This is the same meaning as the sepulcher on high. Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. The sepulcher, based on the earthly dwelling, leads nowhere but to the destruction of the body. Dust you are, and to dust you shall return.
Isaiah 22:17 "Behold, the LORD will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee."
Literally, mighty or valiant man. Isaiah referred to Shebna's glorious estimate of himself.
It is the Lord Jesus Christ who separates the sheep (His followers), from the goats (the lost). Jesus, at harvest time, gathers His own to heaven with Him. The goats, or the chaff, are gathered and burned.
Isaiah 22:18 "He will surely violently turn and toss thee [like] a ball into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory [shall be] the shame of thy lord's house."
Far from receiving a luxurious burial in Jerusalem, Shebna died a shameful death in a foreign country.
This is speaking of the wrath of God. It will be such a shame that many, who profess to belonging to the Lord, will be thrown away in that day. Christians, there is more to belonging to God than just joining the church.
Isaiah 22:19 "And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down."
"Drive thee from thy station": Arrogance caused Shebna's demotion from steward to scribe some time later in Hezekiah's reign (but before 701 B.C.; 36:1-2).
Notice, it is not Satan who drives the transgressors out. It is the Lord. Notice in the next two verses, it appears that God is saying something about law and grace. Those who were taught the law of God had turned away into selfishness and sin.
Isaiah 22:20 "And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:"
Eliakim, who replaced Shebna as steward or prime minister, was highly honored in being called "My servant".
Isaiah 22:21 "And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah."
"Father ... Judah": The steward had supreme authority under the king's oversight.
To me, this is speaking of the robe of authority being removed from the law and given to grace, or Jesus Christ our Lord. Eliakim, in the furthest sense, is speaking of Jesus. The "robe" speaks of authority, the girdle speaks of God. It is said of Jesus, "The government shall be upon His shoulders".
The true believer in Christ is on His shoulders and on His heart. He (Jesus), is our High Priest. He is even spoken of as Everlasting Father. There is no other way given unto men to be saved, but through Jesus.
Isaiah 22:22 "And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open."
This authority to admit or refuse admittance into the king's presence evidenced the king's great confidence is Eliakim. Jesus applied this terminology to Himself as one who could determine who would enter His future Davidic kingdom (Rev. 3:7).
Jesus opened the door to the Father for all believers in Christ, when the veil in the temple was torn from the top to the bottom at the time of His crucifixion. The veil symbolized the body of Christ. Jesus also took the keys to hell away from Satan.
Jesus is the key to life. He opens, and no man can close; and closes, and no man can open. He is Life. He is the only Way.
Isaiah 22:23 "And I will fasten him [as] a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house."
"Throne of glory": The "throne" symbolized the honor Eliakim was to bring to his family.
Jesus is eternal. He is fastened, and no man can unfasten. Jesus is even now seated at the right hand of the Father. We will reign with Him. We will sit with Him at the throne of God, if we are believers.
Isaiah 22:24 "And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons."
"Hang upon him": Returning to the figure of a peg (verse 23), Isaiah noted how Eliakim's posterity will use him to gain glory for themselves.
The Christians will receive glory with Christ. There is no other name. All believers in Christ are sons of God; we have been adopted into the family of God. We are heirs with Christ. There are vessels of silver and vessels of gold. We are not all the same, except that we are saved.
Isaiah 22:25 "In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that [was] upon it shall be cut off: for the LORD hath spoken [it]."
"Nail ... removed": After a time of faithful service, Eliakim faltered and fell, and all "hanging" on him fell as well.
This is speaking of the time when Jesus said "It is finished". His work is done. He is seated in heavenly places at the right hand of the Father. We (Christians), will not be a burden to Him any longer.
The reason we know this is absolutely true, is because the LORD spoke it. If He said it, it will come to pass. We see the full payment for our salvation has been paid, and we are justified (just as if we had never sinned), in Jesus.
Isaiah Chapter 22 Questions
Verses 1-12: The burden of Tyre focuses the prophet's message on the major coastal city of the Phoenicians to the north. The Greeks called them "purple folk" because of their famous purple dye. They were the shipping merchants of the Near East. Zidon (Sidon), was another prominent Phoenician coastal city. Isaiah foresees the coming destruction of this great commercial empire.
Tarshish is the common designation for the westernmost part of the Mediterranean, as far as Spain. Chittim refers to western lands, especially the island of Cyprus. Thus, the prophet announces that trade with these distant places will cease because of Tyre's destruction. Both Isaiah and Ezekiel (chapters 27 and 28), predicted the fall of Tyre. Ezekiel prophesied that the entire city would be thrown into the sea.
Isaiah 23:1 "The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them."
Tyre, a Phoenician seaport on the Mediterranean Sea, was located about 35 miles north of Mt. Carmel and 28 miles west of Mt. Hermon. Tyre supplied lumber for King Solomon's temple (1 King 5:1, 7-12), and sailors for his navy (1 King 9:26-27).
"Ships of Tarshish": Tarshish was most likely in Spain, so "ships of Tarshish" were large trading vessels capable of making distant voyages on the open sea all the way to the port of Tyre. The Old Testament refers to them frequently.
"Laid waste": Tyre was under siege 5 times between this prophecy (and 332 B.C.). Only the last of these attacks (in 332 B.C., by Alexander the Great), completely leveled and subdued the city. Ezekiel prophesied this destruction (in Ezekiel 26:3 - 27:36).
"No house ... no entering in": Weary from their long, difficult journey, sailors would find no customary haven of rest upon arrival at their destination of Tyre.
"Cyprus": Upon reaching this island in the eastern Mediterranean, the seamen would learn of Tyre's overthrow.
We have mentioned before, that "burden" means prophecy.
Tyre had undoubtedly, been a city of much trade. Now that the destruction has come, we see the ships are not able to unload, or load here anymore. The commerce has stopped. It appears the destruction is so great, that there are no houses left.
Isaiah 23:2 "Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished."
Sidon (Zidon), was the other important Phoenician seaport along with Tyre. Here it represented the rest of Phoenicia as reflecting the country's response to Tyre's overthrow.
It seems the needs of the lives of the people of the isle had been furnished by boat. Now that the boats have stopped running, it would be difficult to live.
Isaiah 23:3 "And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, [is] her revenue; and she is a mart of nations."
Phoenicians carried much grain grown in Egypt aboard their ships. They also bought and sold much of the commodity.
"The seed of Sihor", probably means crops which were popular at that time which were grown in the farmland by the Nile River. When the Nile was full of water, the fields produced great crops. These full crops were sometimes sold to the other surrounding countries to feed them.
"Mart" means profit, trade, or merchandise. This is just speaking of her as a nation of merchants.
Isaiah 23:4 "Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, [even] the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, [nor] bring up virgins."
"I travail not, nor bring forth children": Isaiah spoke of barrenness, labor and childbirth frequently. Here the figure described Tyre, "the strength of the sea," bemoaning her desolate condition.
Zidon was an ancient city located on the Mediterranean. It was located about 25 miles from Tyre. Tyre is so without children that it is as if they had never had children. It must have been a bloody battle at Tyre, to destroy the children.
Isaiah 23:5 "As at the report concerning Egypt, [so] shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre."
Even though Egypt was not a country with charitable ways, it would be grieved to hear that Tyre had fallen to the enemy. Its main concern would be that the same enemy would come against Egypt.
Verses 6-7, Tarshish ... inhabitants of the isle": Tyre's refugees had traveled throughout the Mediterranean world (see verse 1). They too lamented the city's fall.
Isaiah 23:6 "Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle."
Sennacherib, king of Assyria, was a man of war. This is just saying, they should flee from him and go to Tarshish. The word "Tarshish" means smelting plant, or refinery. Howl is a cry of anguish. If they went to Tarshish, they could possibly find work there.
Isaiah 23:7 "[Is] this your joyous [city], whose antiquity [is] of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn."
Tyre was a very old city, dating from about two millennia before Christ. Tyre had been a beautiful city of great wealth. Now, it is in rubbles. Isaiah is saying, could these ruins be that beautiful city?
Tyre had been a city from ancient times, and now it is gone. There is nothing left, so their people will have to go elsewhere to live, until it can be rebuilt.
Isaiah 23:8 "Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning [city], whose merchants [are] princes, whose traffickers [are] the honorable of the earth?"
Tyre had very high international prestige.
It is amazing that this city would be thought of as vulnerable to war. It had been a city of people who worked and were honorable people. This city was the home of honest merchant seamen. They were not low-class people out to cheat someone, they were thought of as princes.
Isaiah 23:9 "The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, [and] to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth."
"Pride of all glory": This furnished the reason the Lord of Hosts brought the overthrow of Tyre, their arrogance stemming from the city's prestige. They were foolish to rely on human glory.
Even though they were honorable men, they were filled up with pride. Their pride was offensive to God, because they did not give God any of the credit for their successes. They were puffed up with self pride.
God allows this to happen to them to cause them to realize where their strength comes from. This example stands out, not just for them, but for all who hear of it. Pride goeth before a fall.
Isaiah 23:10 "Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: [there is] no more strength."
The prophecy invited the colonies of Tyre to exercise their freedom in taking advantage of the city's fall.
Stop looking to Tyre, because Tyre is no more. This is saying flow over the land as a river out of its banks does.
Isaiah 23:11 "He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD hath given a commandment against the merchant [city], to destroy the strong holds thereof."
The Lord had caused the downfall of the territory of Canaan, which included Tyre and Sidon.
Sennacherib might have sent the troops, but this is the hand of the LORD. The sea, in this instance, is speaking of the masses of people. The LORD spoke destruction on Tyre. Every city in the area looked on at the destruction, and learned it could have been them.
Isaiah 23:12 "And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest."
A city once noted for its freshness and revelry (verse 7), will become like a used up old woman, piecing together what is left. God used the Assyrians to crush her (contrast the virgin daughter of Zion in 37:22).
This is a warning, that even Zidon will be attacked and overcome. Chittim is Cyprus. They are to flee to Cyprus before any of the trouble starts.
Verses 13-18: The Chaldeans refers to the founders of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, including Nebuchadnezzar who besieged and destroyed Tyre. The Assyrian people thought of themselves as being an older people than the Chaldeans, but the Assyrians were conquered by them (in 612 B.C.).
The prophet predicts that Tyre will be laid waste, yet will survive, being forced to sing as a harlot, meaning she would no longer enjoy her independence but would have to pander to the desires of her conquerors.
Isaiah 23:13 "Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, [till] the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; [and] he brought it to ruin."
The example of the Chaldeans, another name for the Babylonians, reminded Tyre of their hopelessness against Assyria. Assyria ravaged Babylon (in 689 B.C.).
Behold, just means, take a look at. Chaldea was originally a small territory in southern Babylonia. Chaldeans are natives of Chaldea. They were natives of the area of Mount Ararat. This area had been under siege as well, and destroyed.
The Assyrians had destroyed it. They did not kill all of the people, just destroyed their property.
Isaiah 23:14 "Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste."
Isaiah is saying, they will cry out with mourning for the destruction that has come. This is speaking of those who traded with Tarshish by ship. They will not be able to trade anymore.
Verses 15-16: "Sing as a harlot ... forgotten ... remembered": Harlots sang to draw attention to themselves, attention not so hard to obtain in ancient days. Like those harlots, the people of Tyre were invited to sing songs drawing attention to their earlier prosperity.
Isaiah 23:15 "And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as a harlot."
The devastation of Tyre was not permanent. A little village remains on the site of the ancient city to the present day. The time frame of the 70 years is obscure.
It seems the prophecy of the fall of Tyre is that Tyre will not be restored until 70 years later. Tyre had been prominent in not only their commercial enterprise, but in politics as well. This will be no more, until after their restoration.
Sometimes the conditions of the people cannot change until the death of the king and another takes power. The harlot, many times, was a musician, as well as one selling her body.
Isaiah 23:16 "Take a harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered."
A harlot might sing sweet songs to entice the men. This however, is speaking of this city as if it were a harlot. This city had been selfish and worldly, not interested in the things of God.
Isaiah 23:17 "And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth."
With God's help the city was to return.
The reason they had this problem, in the first place, was because they had eliminated God from their lives. We will find that the problem they had, will bring them to God. We find now, their whole outlook on trade is different.
Isaiah 23:18 "And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing."
Even Tyre's sinful gain was to support Judah as her colonies once supported her.
Praise God, they have learned their lesson. Their profits from their trade are not used for their own greed now. They have dedicated their work to the Lord. They will have their needs taken care of, but their excess will go to God's work.
Merchandise being holiness to the Lord, means that even their transactions in daily business are dedicated to the LORD.
I know by now, you are asking, how can this help us today? We must realize from this, that without God we are bound to fail. With Christ, I can do all things. When we carry on our day to day lives selfishly, seeking gain for only ourselves, we are headed for destruction.
When all that we do is dedicated to God, and we share with others less fortunate than ourselves, we cannot fail.
Isaiah Chapter 23 Questions
This section of Isaiah's prophecies (24:1 - 27:13), is often called the Little Apocalypse because it looks beyond the immediate judgment of Israel's Gentile neighbors to the final judgments of the Tribulation period and the ushering in of the messianic kingdom. These chapters present universal judgments followed by universal blessings. The Lord moves in cataclysmic judgment upon the earth (erets), not simply on the "land" of Israel.
In these verses "land" should read "earth". The severity of the Tribulation period is indicated by the statement that "the Lord maketh the earth empty, and ... waste". "Turneth it upside down" is better read "distorts." Thus, through war God empties the earth and leaves it a devastated and distorted wasteland. The cities of the earth are described as "desolate" and "burned" as a result of this universal destruction.
Isaiah 24:1 "Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof."
"Waste ... upside down ... scattereth": The prophet generalized and broadened the destruction about which he had written more specifically (in chapters 13-23). The Lord is to deal with the whole earth more severely than He did at the tower of Babel or through the Noahic Flood.
This lesson has jumped from the problems of the Mediterranean world to the problems of the entire earth at the end of the age. We see from the statement above, that there will be a time of trouble such as the earth has never known.
To make "the earth empty" is saying that most life will be gone. This is specifically speaking of the time when the wrath of God is poured out on the earth. The few inhabitants, that are left, are scattered.
Isaiah 24:2 "And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him."
"People ... priest ... borrower ... taker": Neither rank, wealth, nor power were able to deliver from God's judgment.
This is just saying that the wrath is for all. It will not matter what station you have in life; God's wrath is for the children of disobedience. That includes the rich and poor, the young and old, the educated and uneducated, the church leaders, as well as the congregation. All of these are those who turned from God. To disobey God brings the wrath of God.
Isaiah 24:3 "The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word."
"The Lord has spoken". Isaiah used this expression or a comparable one nine other times to emphasize the certainty of his predictions. (1:20; 21:17; 22:25; 25:8; 37:22; 38:7; 38:15; 40:5; 58:14).
This just means that there are no areas spared. The Lord warned, and was not heeded, and it happened. In the beginning of sorrows, there will be worldwide war.
Isaiah 24:4 "The earth mourneth [and] fadeth away, the world languisheth [and] fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish."
The prophet again called attention to pride as the reason for God's judgment (23:9).
This is speaking of the time when the true believers have been removed from the earth, so the wrath of God can be poured out. Even though this terrible destruction includes members of the church, they are here because they had not made Jesus Christ their Lord. They were living in sin, pretending to be servants of God.
"Languish" means to droop, or be sick. "Haughty people" would be those who felt they did not need God. They are too proud of themselves.
Isaiah 24:5 "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant."
"Defiled", in this instance, is speaking of soiled in a moral sense. We see the reasons for the earth being destroyed in this verse. Sin is transgression of God's law. They have transgressed not only the law of God, but the law of nature, as well.
God had put limits, or ordinances, on the conduct of the people. It appears they had disregarded God's limits, and gone beyond His limits. They changed the ordinance of God to suit themselves. God had made a blood covenant with His people, and they disregarded the covenant.
In the Old Testament, the circumcision of the men was a sign of keeping the covenant made between Abraham and God. The covenant the Christian has with God is the acceptance of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ in full atonement for his, or her, sin. Without the shedding of blood, there is no life.
"Everlasting covenant". Likely, this referred to the Abrahamic Covenant, frequently referred to as "everlasting" (Genesis 17:7, 13, 19; 1 Chron. 16:15, 17; Psalms 105:8, 10; 111:5, 9), which contained devotion to God's moral law and salvation by faith in Him.
Isaiah 24:6 "Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left."
This Gentile remnant differed from that of Israel. Presumably they will join in support of Israel when the Messiah returns.
May I say right here, those who have kept covenant with God will be in heaven when all this destruction comes. The "curse", spoken of in the verse above, is the wrath of God poured out on the wicked.
It appears from this there will be some terrible happening, such as global atomic war. It is almost total annihilation.
Verses 7-9: "Merry-hearted do sigh": The future Day of Judgment will terminate all merriment derived from natural sources (Rev. 18:22).
Isaiah 24:7 "The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merry-hearted do sigh."
All of the drunken parties will stop. Those who had been merry-hearted before, now have nothing to be merry about.
Isaiah 24:8 "The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth."
"Tabrets" are the same as what we call tambourines. The harp, of course, is a stringed instrument. It is not a time for singing accompanied by joyful music. You think of both of these instruments when you think of merriment.
Isaiah 24:9 "They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it."
This drinking will be to drive their sorrow away from their minds, not to be joyful. When a person drinks enough to get drunk, the hangover that goes with it is worse than the problem they had before they started.
Isaiah 24:10 "The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in."
Houses normally provided security from outside harm, but they became inaccessible.
This really means there is confusion in the cities. Can you imagine what would happen in the large cities with no electricity, nothing but contaminated water, and people running to and fro? The houses would have to be boarded up to keep them from being looted.
Isaiah 24:11 "[There is] a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone."
This crying for wine is to deaden the pain of their mourning.
Isaiah 24:12 "In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction."
There is no need for a gate, when the walls of the city are collapsed. You can enter anywhere, but who would want to enter into such destruction?
Verses 13-23: The universal nature of this eschatological judgment leaves the people of the earth "as the shaking of an olive tree" (i.e. empty and retaining only negligible remains). The reference to the "uttermost part of the earth" emphasizes the universal extent of this prophecy. This devastation will be so great that "the foundations of the earth do shake" from the aftershock.
Thus, the "earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard". God's judgment will rock the very stability of the planet, reminding the people of earth that they have rebelled against Him. The "host of the high ones" (Satanic powers), and the "kings of the earth" (earthly powers) will be "gathered in the pit ... shut up ... many days."
After a period of time "shall they be visited" (literally "punished"). Notice the obvious parallel to (Revelation 20:1-3), where Satan is bound in the bottomless pit for a thousand years and then loosed for a "little season," only to be finally cast into the lake of fire.
Isaiah 24:13 "When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, [there shall be] as the shaking of an olive tree, [and] as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done."
"Shaking of an olive tree": The same figure spoke of leanness in the judgment against Ephraim (in 17:6).
We know this is speaking of how the olive tree is stripped of olives, and the grape vine is stripped of grapes. This is how few will be left after the destruction spoken of. In the vineyard, there were a few grapes left for the poor and of the olives the same.
This is what is said here. The majority of the people will be destroyed, just a few will remain.
Isaiah 24:14 "They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea."
"Lift up their voice ... cry aloud": The songs of the godly remnant (verse 6), celebrating God's righteous judgment, replace the drunken music (verse 9).
We see those who remain are turned to God. In the midst of all this trouble, they lift their voices in praise to God. There is a song in their hearts, because the LORD has spared them. This is one reason I believe there will be some saved during the wrath of God.
Sea, in this instance, is speaking of the people of the world.
Isaiah 24:15 "Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, [even] the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea."
"Glorify ye the Lord": This call summoned all people worldwide to attribute to the Lord what was due Him.
I believe the devastation that came on the earth had to do with fire. Perhaps, the fires were from a war. Even though all is burned out around them, they will glorify the LORD in the rubble. The fires could also mean, the fiery trials that come on the earth.
Isaiah 24:16 "From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, [even] glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously."
"Glory to the righteous" refers to God. "But I": Isaiah could not yet join in the celebration of God's glory because he pondered the grief and corruption in the world before that final celebration of God's victory.
The righteous shall reign with Jesus for 1000 years upon the earth after all of this destruction, which takes place during the wrath of God. These who have turned to God in the middle of this destruction have something wonderful awaiting them.
The treacherous dealers are the ungodly. I do not believe that all who are left come to God, because the Scripture will describe some terrible happening on the earth, and then it will be said, "they repented not". If it were not possible for them to repent, this statement would not have been made.
Verses 17-18 "Pit ... snare": The figure of an animal caught in a trap set by humans frequently symbolized the principle that life is a series of inescapable traps.
Isaiah 24:17 "Fear, and the pit, and the snare, [are] upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth."
We are in the world, but we are not of the world, if we are believers. The inhabitants of the earth are speaking of the unsaved. We are told men's hearts will fail them for looking to the things that are coming upon the earth. They are caught in the snare of their unbelief.
Isaiah 24:18 "And it shall come to pass, [that] he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake."
"Windows from on high": In Noah's day, God judged with a flood (Genesis 7:11). He will judge again from heaven, but not with a flood.
"Foundations of the earth do shake": Unparalleled earthquakes will mark the future visitation during and after the fulfillment of Daniel's 70 week prophecy.
Fear is the opposite of faith. Those who do not have faith are lost and headed for the pit. He that cometh up out of the pit is Satan. We know he will be bound for 1000 years. The punishment is not a flood, but comes from the heavenlies.
"The earth do shake". The largest earthquake ever in history will take place at this time. The Bible says, even the mountains will go into the sea.
Isaiah 24:19-20 "The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly." "The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again."
"Drunkard ... cottage": Two more comparisons picture the ultimate collapse of the presumably strong and dependable planet earth: a staggering drunkard and a flimsy lean-to shack or cottage.
This is speaking of the destruction of the earth, as we know it, making way for the new heaven and the new earth.
Revelation 21:1 "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea."
Isaiah 24:21 "And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones [that are] on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth."
In the climactic phase of the Day of the Lord, He will strike against rebelling forces, both angelic (Eph. 6:12), and human.
Isaiah 24:22 "And they shall be gathered together, [as] prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited."
"Shut up in the prison": The New Testament teaches more about the imprisonment of fallen angels before their final assignment to the lake of fire. It does the same with fallen humans. This verse announces the preliminary punishment of both angelic and human princes:
"And they shall be gathered together ....". First to the battle of the great day of God Almighty at Armageddon (see Revelation 16:14).
And there being overcome and taken, "they shall be gathered together as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison". In the prison or the grave, and in hell; as captives are, till such time as something is determined and ordered what to be done with them:
"And after many days shall they be visited"; or punished. That is, after the thousand years are ended, when the wicked dead will be all raised; after the battle of Gog and Magog. When Satan, the beast, and false prophet, and all their adherents, shall be cast into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.
Revelation 19:20. "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone."
We may see from (2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 1:6), how this is to be understood. The reference is to the abyss of Hades, where they are reserved in chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
According to this parallel, yippâkedu (shall be visited), ought apparently to be understood as denoting a visitation in wrath every impenitent sinner will sink under his transgression, and rise no more.
Revelation 20:10 "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
Isaiah 24:23 "Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously."
"Moon ... confounded ... ashamed": In the eternal state after Christ's millennial reign, the glory of God and of the Lamb will replace the sun and moon as sources of light (Revelation 21:23).
Matthew 24:29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:"
This and the verse above are similar happenings, if not the same happening. The sun and moon are for light. In the new heaven and the new earth, there will be no need for the sun and the moon, because Jesus will be the Light.
"Reign in mount Zion": John confirmed this clear prophesy of Messiah's future earthly reign in Jerusalem.
Zion is the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is made up of individuals who belong to Jesus. The Jerusalem, spoken of here, is the New Jerusalem. All the angels in heaven will see this.
Matthew chapter 24 and Isaiah chapter 24 are companion Scriptures.
Isaiah Chapter 24 Questions
Verses 1-12: Chapter 25 begins with a song of exaltation and praise to God for the triumph of His judgment of the world. The survivors of the Great Tribulation lift their voices in praise to God for His protection. The cities of mankind have fallen into "ruin" and the nations of earth have been "brought low" (i.e. humbled), before the mighty God who alone has been a "refuge from the storm".
The "veil" does not refer to the veil of the temple but to the covering of death that hangs over all "nations". Yet God "will swallow up death in victory" (1 Cor. 15:54), and the "Lord God will wipe away tears" (Rev. 7:17). This act of His grace will then bring in the millennial kingdom.
Isaiah 25:1 "O LORD, thou [art] my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful [things; thy] counsels of old [are] faithfulness [and] truth."
Isaiah responded to God's final judgment of the world (chapter 24), with praise to Him for planning His actions long before their implementation.
Isaiah is suddenly overcome with praise for God, and all that He is, and all that He does. The fact that God has established His people in heaven has brought this beautiful expression of praise from Isaiah.
Notice, Isaiah puts it personally when he says, my God. God is not God of the masses. He is God of the individuals in the masses.
Christianity is a personal thing. Jesus purchased our salvation as individuals. Each person has to decide to come to Christ. Notice, Isaiah does not say "we" will exalt Thee. Just as we sing this praise to God in our churches today, I believe Isaiah sang this to God then.
Notice, there is a reason for his praising God. He has done wonderful things. God not only tells the absolute truth, but is in fact, Truth itself.
Isaiah 25:2 "For thou hast made of a city an heap; [of] a defensed city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built."
"A city an heap ... shall never be (re)built": The prophet did not stipulate which city, but a prophecy of Babylon's final destruction is in keeping with the context (21:9; Jer. 51:37; Rev. 18).
This is just showing that when judgment from God comes upon a city, that city is utterly destroyed. Sodom and Gomorrah are good examples. Cities of such great evil will never be rebuilt. The "defensed city", can be anything from guards to fences.
Isaiah 25:3 "Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee."
"Strong people ... terrible nations": When Christ reigns on earth, nations from the whole world will glorify and fear Him (see 24:14-16).
A sensible person has to be fearful of God who has that much power. The word that "city" was translated from is a plural word which makes me believe this is not a particular city, but many cities.
Verses 4-5: "Storm ... heat": Two weather extremes of Judah's climate illustrate how God will harbor the poor and needy: the sudden thunderstorm and the relentless heat.
Isaiah 25:4 "For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones [is] as a storm [against] the wall."
"Poor ... needy": Another indicator of God's worthiness to be glorified is His upholding of the oppressed (11:4; 14:32).
God always is a help to those we would call the underprivileged. He (God), expects all of His followers to help the widows and the orphans. That is one way you can tell whether a person is a believer, or not. If they help those who cannot help themselves then you can number them among the believers.
Jesus said, "Inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these, you have done it unto me".
Isaiah 25:5 "Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; [even] the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low."
"Noise", in this particular instance, is speaking of horrible destruction. The heathen nations are, probably, what is meant by strangers. God did destroy heathen nations, and will in the future destroy heathen nations.
The heat comes from heaven, and so will the destruction. This also, speaks of God silencing the bragging of the nations which have been opposed to God's people.
Isaiah 25:6 "And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined."
"This mountain": In the kingdom, the Lord will host His great banquet on Mt. Zion for the faithful remnant.
This Scripture has jumped to some of the blessings the saved will receive. This feast seems to be a heavenly feast prepared for the believers by God. The mountain, here, is the mount Zion. This symbolizes the church, or Jerusalem.
The fat things, marrow, and things of that nature were the choicest of the foods, and were for God only. This however, appears to be God preparing the feast for the redeemed. Could this be the marriage supper of the Lamb?
Isaiah 25:7 "And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations."
"Covering ... veil": God will remove the death shrouds from those in attendance at His banquet.
There is no veil between God and the Christians. It was removed when Jesus gave His flesh on the cross. Jesus opened the way to all those who would believe in Him, when the veil was torn from top to bottom. The "veil" symbolizes the flesh of Jesus.
The covering over all people could be speaking of death, or the fact that all things of God are covered somewhat on this earth. In heaven, all of that will be opened. The nations will be at war on the earth, but there is coming a time when they will understand things better, and not go to war.
Isaiah 25:8 "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken [it]."
"Swallow up death": God will swallow up death, which itself functions as a swallower of human beings. Paul notes the fulfillment of the promise in the resurrection of believers.
"Wipe away tears": The Lord God will remove the sorrow associated with death (65:19). Revelation alludes to the tender action of this verse twice, (once in 7:17), to describe the bliss of the redeemed in heaven, and (once in 21:4), to describe ideal conditions in the nations and no longer the fall (Deut. 28:13).
Revelation 7:17 "For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."
This is most assuredly taking place in heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:52-54 "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality." "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."
You can easily see from the above verses, this is speaking of heaven. The latter part (of verse 8 above), could also be speaking of the time period when Jesus will reign as King of kings on the earth. The Christians will reign with Him for 1000 years. This will truly be a time when the Christians will feel no more rebuke.
Whether in heaven or earth, the Christians will taste the victory of Jesus.
Isaiah 25:9 "And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this [is] our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this [is] the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."
To wait for God entails an ultimate trust in Him, not becoming impatient when His timetable for final salvation differs from ours (26:8; 33:2; 40:31).
Christians suffer a great deal on this earth. The time of suffering is over. This is speaking of that glorious day when Jesus has redeemed His own from the earth. They will know Him, for they shall be like Him.
1 John 3:2 "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."
Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Our salvation rests in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Isaiah 25:10 "For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill."
Moab represented the rest of the nations as does Edom elsewhere.
Again, the "mountain" here is the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Right Hand of God (Jesus Christ our Lord), protects the church with His hand. "Moab" is a symbol of evil here. They were thought of as enemies of God. The serpent and all his followers were at the heel of the believers. All evil is trodden down at this point.
Isaiah 25:11 "And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth [his hands] to swim: and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands."
It is Jesus who judges the evil and condemns them. Their pride has kept them from repenting and coming to the Lord. The spoils of their hands have to be earthly treasures they have accumulated. They were so proud; they did not realize they needed a Savior.
Pride goes before a fall.
Isaiah 25:12 "And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, [and] bring to the ground, [even] to the dust."
"Fortress ... wall": Moabite cities had highly fortified and elevated walls. Even these will not withstand God's judgment.
The fortress of the evil ones is no match for the Lord. He will bring them down like powder. They had been opposed to God's people, now they get their just reward. They were but dust in the beginning, and now they are dust again.
Isaiah Chapter 25 Questions
Verses 1-11: Chapter 26 opens up with a great song of praise that will be sung in "Judah" (Literally, "Praise"). The redeemed remnant will sing praise to God over their impregnable city, Jerusalem.
The picture is that of the redeemed who enter the millennial kingdom. Notice that the "wall and bulwarks" are not physical but spiritual. The command "Open ye the gates" may indicate that the city (New Jerusalem), has never before been occupied. In this fixed moral and spiritual state Israel is promised "perfect peace" (shalom, shalom, literal "peace, peace").
This emphatic expression indicates a peace that goes beyond human comprehension (Phil. 4:7). To have one's "mind ... stayed" means to lean on God in total confidence and security. "Trust" is the ultimate expression of the confidence. Notice that the object of one's faith is as important as the act of trust. Here the object of faith is "the Lord Jehovah."
Isaiah 26:1 "In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will [God] appoint [for] walls and bulwarks."
The song, spoken of here, is the song of the redeemed. "Strong city": In contrast to the typical city of confusion (24:10; 25:2 and 26:5), that was doomed, God has a future city of prominence, the millennial Jerusalem (Zech. 14:11).
This is a specific time, because it says that day. We see the city will be safe, because of the salvation through Jesus. This is the time of restoration. This is, speaking of the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and new earth.
Revelation 3:12 "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name."
Revelation 21:1 "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea."
There will be no need for walls of defense, because God is the defense. To be exact, the salvation through Christ is the defense. There will be no evil there, so there will be no need of defense.
Isaiah 26:2 "Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in."
Isaiah envisions the future Jerusalem, where only righteous Israel (physical and spiritual), may enter. The redeemed remnant from other nations will come periodically to worship. (Zechariah 14:16-19).
This request from God to open the gates for all the believers to come in is given, probably, to angels. Those in right standing with God (the righteous), will enter in and take up habitation in the city. The gates are of pearl.
Revelation 21:21 "And the twelve gates [were] twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city [was] pure gold, as it were transparent glass."
Isaiah 26:3 "Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee."
"Perfect peace ... trusteth in thee": A fixed disposition of trust in the Lord brings a peace that the wicked can never know (48:22; 57:21). Such reliance precludes double mindedness (James 1:6-8), and serving two masters (Matthew 6:24).
Jesus Christ (as we know Him), is King of Peace. If we have taken on the mind of Christ, we have our mind stayed upon the peace that God provides. To place our faith and trust in Jesus brings perfect peace.
Isaiah 26:4 "Trust ye in the L ORD for ever: for in the LORD J EHOVAH [is] everlasting strength:"
"Everlasting strength or Rock": Literally the expression is "Rock of Ages," a rocky cliff where the trusting one may find shelter from attackers (12:2).
We see in this that, simple faith and trust on our part brings an eternity of peace. He is our Refuge. He is our very present help. In Him we have our very existence.
Acts 17:28 "For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring."
The LORD is the source of everything that exists. He is the source of all power.
Verses 5-6: "Them that dwell on high ... layeth it low": The arrogant inhabit the lofty city during its overthrow; the humble inhabit the strong city (verse 1), in its exaltation (James 1:9-10; 1 Peter 5:5).
Isaiah 26:5 "For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, [even] to the ground; he bringeth it [even] to the dust."
Isaiah is reminding us here, that God Himself brought down the enemies of the believers. He won the victory for us. In the last lesson, we saw where God destroyed the cities that had been home for the evil.
Isaiah 26:6 "The foot shall tread it down, [even] the feet of the poor, [and] the steps of the needy."
The poor and the needy had been trodden down on the earth, but now they are exalted.
Isaiah 26:7 "The way of the just [is] uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just."
"Way of the just": In a land of hilly, twisting roads, Isaiah spoke of a straight and level path for the feet of the poor and needy (40-3-4; 42:16; 45:13).
My prayer is that God will light the path that He has for us to walk. It is a straight and narrow path that leads to everlasting life with Him. The Light of Jesus guides us on this path. If we are His, we will stay in that path.
Isaiah 26:8 "Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of [our] soul [is] to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee."
"Waited for thee": The future remnant divulges the key to its redemption, their complete dependence on the Lord, not humanly devised schemes.
We Christians, are awaiting the coming of Christ now. We do not know just how long the wait will be, but we do know we must not wander off, but wait for His appearing. The desire of our heart should be for His appearing. Only God knows when that time will be. We must trust His judgment on this.
2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
The greatest thing all believers in Christ are waiting for is the time when they can see Jesus.
Isaiah 26:9 " With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments [are] in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness."
The pious long for God at all times. "Judgments ... will learn righteousness": God's punishing hand benefits sinners in leading them to repentance.
The desire of the Christian, the same as Isaiah, is to see the Lord. This is speaking of those who decide early to come to the Lord. The inhabitants of the earth will learn righteousness through suffering, if they wait.
Every believer desires that everyone they know will come to the knowledge of God.
Isaiah 26:10 "Let favor be showed to the wicked, [yet] will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the L ORD."
"Will he not learn righteousness": God evidences His love and mercy toward other wicked ones, but they turn their back on it.
This is a plea from Isaiah that God will forgive the wicked. In the very next statement he is saying, you cannot force belief upon him. We may desire them to come to Christ with all our heart, but some of them will still live unjustly.
Isaiah 26:11 "L ORD, [when] thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: [but] they shall see, and be ashamed for [their] envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them."
"They will not see ... but they shall see": The wicked, who are blind to God's authority and imminent judgment upon them, will be conscious of His compassion for His people Israel, to their own shame.
All of the judgments against the rebellious people that God brings are to cause them to repent. Even when God has already raised His hand to judge them, they will not repent. He gives them plenty of time to repent, and He warns them of His judgment, but some will not repent.
Verses 12-21: Next Isaiah predicts that God will "ordain peace" for those who trust in Him. "Other lords" are other gods they may have previously worshiped. Now they must recognize that "they are dead." Though the people of Israel have been "removed ... unto all the ends of the earth," their dispersion will be reversed and they will be regathered in their land.
This section also contains one of the strongest promises of physical resurrection in the Old Testament. "Thy dead men shall live ... my dead body shall ... arise." Those who have previously died are called upon to "awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust." The prophet further predicts that the "earth shall cast out the dead."
Isaiah 26:12 "L ORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us."
Though Israel's immediate future looks bleak, Isaiah expresses strong confidence that the nation will ultimately prosper.
The works spoken of here, have been done for the Christian by Jesus. He paid the price for our salvation and the peace He brings.
Isaiah 26:13 "O L ORD our God, [other] lords beside thee have had dominion over us: [but] by thee only will we make mention of thy name."
Israel's history was replete with periods of foreign domination by the likes of Egypt and Assyria.
The worldly "lords" is not capitalized. This is speaking of people of the world who rule over us. Their rule is for their own selfish gain.
The name, they are speaking of, is the name of Jesus. At that name, every knee will bow, and every tongue confess.
The worldly lords have nothing to offer their subjects. Our LORD brings everlasting life. He, also, gave us power of attorney to use His name.
Isaiah 26:14 "[They are] dead, they shall not live; [they are] deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish."
These foreign overlords are to be a thing of the past; they are not to appear again on the earthly scene.
This is speaking of the earthly lords being dead. They did not rise from the grave. Only the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the grave. These earthly lords are not remembered, because they are dead.
Isaiah 26:15 "Thou hast increased the nation, O L ORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed [it] far [unto] all the ends of the earth."
With prophetic certainty from the perspective of Israel's future restoration, Isaiah saw the expansion of Israel's borders as an accomplished fact.
The nation, spoken of here, is the righteous. This really is speaking of the multitude of Christians too vast to number, who makes up the righteous nation of God. They had been scattered throughout the known world. Now, they have taken up habitation with God.
Isaiah 26:16 "L ORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer [when] thy chastening [was] upon them."
The hard experience of Israel's history drove her to call on God.
"Chastening" is for the children to make them come back to God. Perhaps, that is what caused this vast multitude to come back to God. Sometimes, the only thing that will make us come to the LORD is trouble. This is saying, in trouble they cried out to God, and He heard them.
Verses 17-18: Israel's tumultuous history is compared to a pregnant woman in labor.
Isaiah 26:17 "Like as a woman with child, [that] draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, [and] crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O L ORD."
When life comes into existence, it is through much pain. This is true in the physical world and in the spirit, as well. Chastening is always painful, but brings life. In this case, everlasting life.
Isaiah 26:18 "We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen."
All the nation's effort was to no avail because they did not depend on the Lord.
Much of the effort to save everyone in the world never comes to be. A few are brought into this new life with the Lord. The inhabitants of the world are those who are lost. This is of their own free will. Salvation is offered to everyone. Not all accept it.
Isaiah 26:19 "Thy dead [men] shall live, [together with] my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew [is as] the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead."
This speaks of the raising of corporate Israel to participate in the great future banquet (Ezekiel 37). Daniel 12:2 speaks of the resurrection of individual Old Testament saints.
This is speaking of the resurrection, when the bodies of the saints rise at the blowing of the trump of God. The graves shall open, and all who belong to Jesus will arise and those who are still alive will meet them in the air. (See 1 Thess. 4:13-17).
The hope of the saints is the resurrection.
Isaiah 26:20 "Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast."
"For a little moment": Israel's final restoration was not immediately at hand. Hence she had to continue praying in solitude for that restoration until the time of God's indignation would pass. This could be speaking of the time the saints live in heaven waiting for the wrath of God to be fulfilled on the earth.
Isaiah 26:21 "For, behold, the L ORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain."
The innocent killed by their oppressors are to come to life (verse 19), and testify against their murderers.
The wrath of God falls on those of unbelief. There is nothing hidden from God. God knows of all the murders which were not reported. The wrath of God is not for His children, but for those wicked unbelievers. This is speaking of the 3 1/2 years of the wrath of God upon the earth.
Isaiah Chapter 26 Questions
Verses 1-13: "Leviathan" is a symbolic monster also referred to here as "that crooked serpent ... the dragon," or Satan. The context indicates that Isaiah has in view the final victory of God over Satan (Rev. 20:2). The prophet then bursts into a joyful song of the "vineyard" (Israel) of the Lord (Isaiah 5:1-7).
Now the vineyard will succeed because "I the Lord do keep it." The wandering Israelites will now "take root" and will "blossom and bud" during the kingdom age when all the nations will come up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord.
Isaiah 27:1 "In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that [is] in the sea."
"Leviathan": This term appears in four other Old Testament texts (Job 41:1; Job 3:8; Psalms 74:14; 104:26). In each case Leviathan refers to some mighty creature who can overwhelm man but is no match for God. Since this creature lives in the sea among ships (Psalms 104:26), some form of sea monster, possibly an ancient dinosaur, is in view.
Some feel it was a crocodile, which had scaly hide (Job 41:15), terrible teeth (Job 41:14), and speed in the water (Job 41:31-32). Some have thought it was a killer whale or a great white shark because he is the ultimate killer beast over all other proud beasts (Job 41:34). It could also have been some sea going dinosaur.
Whatever it is, it is a symbol of evil. This is all speaking of the spirit of Satan, in the form of a serpent.
Notice, the judgment against these serpents is threefold. This leviathan also symbolizes Babylon. These three could be speaking of three very evil nations God brings judgment against. The fact that there are three could also mean, God comes against antichrist, the false prophet, and the beast. All of these make up the antichrist system.
The dragon mentioned could be Satan himself. Whoever or whatever they are, they symbolize evil, and God destroys them.
Verses 2-6: This vineyard of the Lord contrasts sharply (with the one in 5:1-7). Far from a disappointment to the vine keeper, this one bore abundant fruit (verse 6).
Isaiah 27:2 "In that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine."
(Verse 6), identifies this vineyard as Israel.
The vineyard is speaking of the believers. We know God is the Lord of the vineyard. We know the parable of the vineyard was spoken by Jesus. This red wine comes from a rich grape. The vineyard is the same as the wheat. This takes place on earth. The Christians sing the joyous song.
Isaiah 27:3 "I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest [any] hurt it, I will keep it night and day."
"I will keep it night and day": God's future provisions for restored Israel will be complete.
This speaks of the protection awarded to all the believers in Christ. He is our very present help. Water indicates the Spirit, and also, the Word. It is the Word of God which builds us up. The Spirit is our Teacher and Guide. God's protection is continuous.
We are covered in the blood of Jesus and protected from the enemy. Our safety is in the LORD.
Isaiah 27:4 "Fury [is] not in me: who would set the briers [and] thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together."
The time for Israel's punishment by God will pass.
"Briers and thorns ... burn them": The enemies of His people.
This is like the tares that grew with the wheat. These are in the vineyard, but were planted there by the devil. Just as the tares were to grow with the wheat until harvest, these briers and thorns grew with the grape vines.
This is speaking of those who say with their mouths they are Christians, but do not believe in their hearts. They are against God and His followers. The answer to the question above, is the devil himself set them against God.
Isaiah 27:5 "Or let him take hold of my strength, [that] he may make peace with me; [and] he shall make peace with me."
The enemies of Israel today may make peace with God.
God leaves the door open for them to repent and come to Him. God will accept their repentance and forgive them, if they will come to Him.
Isaiah 27:6 "He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit."
In the future kingdom of the Messiah, restored Israel will rule with Him and fill the earth with the fruit of righteousness and peace.
Jacob is Israel. We have discussed many times that there are two Israels. The family of Jacob in the physical is physical Israel. Spiritual Israel makes up all believers in Christ. The fruit, spoken of here, are souls of men. Christianity has flourished. The fruit are plentiful and scattered around the world.
Isaiah 27:7 "Hath he smitten him, as he smote those that smote him? [or] is he slain according to the slaughter of them that are slain by him?"
"Smitten ... smote": God has tempered His dealings with Israel, but not so with those He used to punish Israel. His compassion for the other nations has come to an end.
We could look at this, as if God is the one who has smitten. We already know of the judgments of the evil nations, such as Babylon. The punishment for the evil nations would be much more severe, than the punishment for the family of Jacob.
The smiting of the family of Jacob would be more in the line of chastisement. God will always have a remnant of the physical house of Israel (Jacob).
Isaiah 27:8 "In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it: he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind."
The Lord sent Judah into captivity to awaken the nation to trust in Him.
Notice, the chastisement on Jacob is in measure. It is carefully meted out to accomplish what God wants. We know the punishment on Jacob's family will not be severe. It would greatly grieve God that it was necessary at all to chastise His own.
Isaiah 27:9 "By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this [is] all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up."
"Iniquity of Jacob be purged": Jacob atoned for his iniquity by undergoing punishment from God.
Now, we see why they were chastised at all. It is to purge them and make them pure. We have spoken earlier about the vessels of Gold and silver that can withstand the heat of purging. God turned up the heat to purify them. This is the same thing here. God is taking away all the evil from them and leaving a pure vessel.
This is a destruction of the evil in the church, as well. This will remove the false worship, such as the images and groves.
Isaiah 27:10 "Yet the defensed city [shall be] desolate, [and] the habitation forsaken, and left like a wilderness: there shall the calf feed, and there shall he lie down, and consume the branches thereof."
"Defensed city": The city symbolized Judah's oppressors (24:10; 25:2; 26:5).
The city of Jerusalem will never be completely flattened as some of the other cities are, but it will be forsaken of people and partially destroyed. The citizens will flee, and it will be like a feeding place for the calf. Jerusalem will be rebuilt, however.
Isaiah 27:11 "When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, [and] set them on fire: for it [is] a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will show them no favor."
"Will not have mercy on them": In contrast with His dealings with Israel, the Creator will deal a fatal blow to her enemies.
The sad thing is that judgment begins at the house of God and among His people. We see in this, the city spoken of as a tree. The tree is not uprooted, but the branches that have withered are cut off and burned. God will not have mercy on those who have turned against Him, even if they are His chosen.
Isaiah 27:12 "And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel."
After the judgment of her enemies at the end of Daniel's 70th week, the faithful remnant of Israelites will return to their Land (Matthew 24:31).
This is similar to the olives that were harvested in another lesson. God will harvest (beat off), His people. This appears, to me, as the harvest of souls at the trump of God. Individual Israelites will go to be with Him. That is what is meant by one by one.
Remember one more time; this can be the physical house of Israel and the spiritual house of Israel. Salvation is one at a time. Egypt symbolizes the world.
Isaiah 27:13 "And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem."
The prophet reiterates one of his great themes; future worship of regathered Israel on Mt. Zion (24:23; 25:6-7, 10).
This is the final gathering of spiritual Israel into the church. Physical Israel is coming back to the Holy Land today. God is preparing His church for the sound of the trumpet, also. All of this is speaking of the time when the Christians will be called to worship in that heavenly Jerusalem.
It will not matter what denomination they belonged to, or how wealthy they are, or even if they are of the physical, or the spiritual house. They will be called as individuals out of every nation and every kindred. This would be the day of the LORD.
Isaiah Chapter 27 Questions
The prophecies of this section (28:1-33:24), each announce a Woe (hoy, "doom"), upon Israel and Judah. They probably date from the reign of Hezekiah and the time of the Assyrian threat. Each "Woe" is a legal condemnation of death. The first one is pronounced against the "crown of pride ... the drunkards of Ephraim."
The reference is to Samaria, the capital of Ephraim (the northern kingdom), which was situated on a hill that resembled a crown. The prophet denounces them because they have "erred through wine" and "strong drink". Both "priest" and "prophet" have joined the debauchery of the nation.
The familiar reference to "precept upon precept; line upon line" is to be taken negatively, not positively. The prophet is quoting the people who are weary of his prophecies and are complaining that his repetitious message ("rule upon rule") is annoying.
Since they will not listen to God's messenger, He will speak to them with "another tongue," that of the Assyrians who will take them into captivity.
Isaiah 28:1 "Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty [is] a fading flower, which [are] on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!"
"Woe". The prominent thought in this word is impending disaster. "Crown": The walls of Samaria were the "crown" of a beautiful hill overlooking a lush valley leading toward the Mediterranean coast. "Ephraim": The northern kingdom of Israel had fallen to the Assyrians, leaving a lesson for Jerusalem under similar circumstance to learn about foreign alliances. "Overcome with wine." Licentious living prevailed in Ephraim before her fall.
We do know from other lessons that, Ephraim had received the right hand blessing from God. The right hand symbolizes the spiritual blessing. "Ephraim" means double fruit. Wine and strong drink has been the downfall of many individuals.
This Scripture returns from prophecy about the end time to the conditions in Isaiah's time. Samaria seems to be spoken of as Ephraim in this Scripture. The fact that Ephraim had received the favorite son blessing made him proud. He had not lived up to the blessing he received, and now we see his greatness fading away.
It seems worldly living had brought them down. Drinking and taking of drugs go along with worldly living.
Isaiah 28:2 "Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, [which] as a tempest of hail [and] a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand."
"A destroying storm ... mighty waters": Isaiah drew on forceful figures of speech to wake his readers from their lethargy in the face of the awfulness of an impending Assyrian invasion.
This is speaking of God bringing a mighty judgment on Samaria. It will be so terrible; it will seem to be hail and a destroying storm. The war that comes will be like a destroying storm. The hand symbolizes the work, or force behind it.
Isaiah 28:3 "The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:"
They will have nothing to be proud of anymore. It is very easy to overcome a drunkard.
Isaiah 28:4 "And the glorious beauty, which [is] on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, [and] as the hasty fruit before the summer; which [when] he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up."
The hasty fruit is referring to the first ripe fruit, fig. Figs ripened before the end of summer harvest were devoured immediately. So the Assyrian conquest of Ephraim would be rapid.
We see that Samaria was a beautiful land. It was desired of the Assyrians. It is compared to the first fruit that comes on the tree. It is very tempting to take and devour. This fat valley just means the farm products are plentiful.
Isaiah 28:5 "In that day shall the L ORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,"
"Crown of glory": The true crown will replace the fraudulent "proud crown" (verse 1). "Residue of his people": Isaiah again sounded the note of a faithful remnant in the Day of the Lord (10:20-22; 11:11, 16; 37:31-32; 46:3).
Samaria was destroyed, because they had wandered away from God. They had become worldly. Not everyone was a drunkard. Again, there is a remnant saved who place God in His rightful place as the Head.
You remember from a previous lesson, that Hezekiah, son of Amoz, is a good king. He tears down the places of idol worship and brings the people back to God. In the spiritual sense, this could be looking forward to Jesus, as well. "Diadem" is a crown circling the head.
Jesus is the true Head of all believers. His crown is glorious. The LORD of hosts is speaking of Jesus. The residue of the people will be crowned with the glory of Jesus.
Isaiah 28:6 "And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate."
"Spirit of judgment": In that day of Messiah's reign, the empowering Spirit will prevail in bringing justice to the world (11:2).
The One who sits in judgment is the Lord Jesus Christ. He has the spirit of judgment. All Christians are told to resist the devil, and he will flee from you. I believe this is speaking of that on-going battle between the Spirit and the devil.
The strength, spoken of here, is God's. But it is operating through His followers.
Isaiah 28:7 "But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble [in] judgment."
"Priest ... prophet ... stumble": Drunkenness had infected even the religious leadership of the nation, resulting in false spiritual guidance of the people.
It seems no one is immune to the terrible influence of alcohol. In the time of Isaiah, the rule of Hezekiah cleaned up some of the false worship, but it seems it did not clear up the moral uncleanness of the people. Drunkenness was even going on in the priesthood.
You remember the 2 sons of Aaron who brought strange fire into the temple, and were killed by God for it. Most people believe they were drunk on alcohol. Strong drink impairs the thinking and the judgment.
This can apply to our day, as well. Ministers of the gospel must keep themselves from strong drink. It impairs your ability to minister the truth. It also impairs your judgment. It weakens your will.
Isaiah 28:8 "For all tables are full of vomit [and] filthiness, [so that there is] no place [clean]."
When leaders wallowed in filth, what hope did the nation have?
Vomit does go along with drunkenness. I am not sure that is to be taken literally, however. This just means that a person, whose will is weakened, will go on to other sins. Filthiness will prevail.
Isaiah 28:9 "Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? [them that are] weaned from the milk, [and] drawn from the breasts."
"Weaned from the milk": The drunken leaders resented it when Isaiah and other true prophets treated them as toddlers by reminding them of elementary truths of right and wrong.
This is speaking of people who have grown in the Lord, and are able to handle the meat of the Word. They are no longer fed on milk and honey, but have learned to know the Word of God. The easiest person to teach the Word of God is someone eager to know the Word in its fullness.
These erring priests and prophets might have thought they knew, but they did not, if they had gotten into error by worldliness. Those who are just weaned from the breast are really just above babes in Christ.
Isaiah 28:10 "For precept [must be] upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little:"
"Precept upon precept ... there a little": This is the drunkard's sarcastically mocking response to corrective advice from the prophet. These imitations of a young child's babbling ridicule Isaiah's preaching.
"Precept" means commandment. We know the commandments are sure, and not to be changed. The fact it was mentioned twice establishes it as fact. Isaiah was not giving them a new or different way.
He is just saying, over and over things they know are in God's commandments. He gives them a little of it here and a little of it there.
Isaiah 28:11 "For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people."
"Another tongue": Since the drunkards would not listen to God's prophet, he responded to them by predicting their sub-servience to Assyrian taskmasters, who would give them instructions in a foreign language. The New Testament divulges an additional meaning of this verse that anticipates God's use of the miraculous gift of tongues as a credential of his New Testament messengers.
It would not matter what tongue he spoke to them, they would not listen. Hearing is involved in receiving a message. They have ears to hear, but they do not hear. Whether this is in Hebrew, or in the Assyrian language, they would not receive it.
The stammering comes when a person is speaking in a tongue unfamiliar to them.
Isaiah 28:12 "To whom he said, This [is] the rest [wherewith] ye may cause the weary to rest; and this [is] the refreshing: yet they would not hear."
"Rest ... refreshing ... not hear": In simple language they could understand, God offered them relief from their oppressors, but they would not listen.
The rest, spoken of here, is in Jesus. They turned Him down, and would not accept Him as their Messiah. The refreshing is a spiritual blessing, as is the rest. Even in the days of old, God had promised to bless them, if they kept His commandments. If they did not keep His commandments, judgment came.
Jesus, the King of Peace, brought a refreshing and rest to all who would accept Him as their Savior. They would not accept Him, and they would not hear, or accept Him.
Isaiah 28:13 "But the word of the L ORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken."
"Precept upon precept ... there a little": In light of their rejection, the Lord imitated the mockery of the drunkards in jabber they could not understand.
The LORD had given them the commandments. There had been no wavering in the message. They needed to repent. They needed to be broken of God. They needed to belong to God, and they would not.
In the time of Isaiah, they would be conquered by the Assyrians. If they would not hear the prophet, then the judgment was war. They would be moved backward, broken, snared, and taken in war, since they would not heed the prophet.
Isaiah Chapter 28 Questions
Verses 28: 14-19. The prophet turns his attention to the people of Jerusalem, who have made a "covenant with death", by foolishly thinking that a pro-Assyrian alliance will protect them when Samaria falls. In contrast to their covenant, God promises to "lay in Zion ... a precious corner stone".
New Testament writers clearly identify that cornerstone as Jesus Christ (Romans 9:33 and 1 Peter 2:6). Those who believe in Him find Him "a sure foundation". To those who reject Him, He becomes a stumbling stone.
Isaiah 28:14 "Wherefore hear the word of the L ORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which [is] in Jerusalem."
"Wherefore": In light of the tragedies that had befallen Ephraim (verses 1-13), the scornful leaders in Jerusalem needed to steer a course different from relying on foreign powers for deliverance.
In the last lesson, we saw God angry with His people, because of their drunkenness. Even the priests and prophets had been involved in the sin. Now we see, they have scorned the truth. Now, Isaiah is reminding them to hear the Word of the LORD.
This is a terrible indictment on those who rule over Jerusalem. Their scorn is a rejection of God and His Word.
Isaiah 28:15 "Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:"
"Covenant with death": Scornful leaders in Jerusalem had made an agreement with Egypt to help defend themselves against the Assyrians.
"Overflowing scourge": Combining images of an overflowing river and a whip, the people bragged about their invincibility to foreign invasion.
"Lies ... falsehood": Jerusalem's leaders yielded to expediency for the sake of security. Without directly admitting it, they had taken refuge in deceit and falsehood.
In this, we see people who believe they are safe from harm, and are not. In the case of the physical house of Israel, this would be people who thought themselves protected, because they were descendants of Abraham. In the case of the spiritual house of Israel, this would be those who have been baptized, but not saved.
They would believe they were safe, because of their baptism. Baptism does not save. Even John the Baptist said, repent and be baptized. The change of heart is what is really important. Romans 10:9-10 tells it so well.
They have believed a lie. A person is not saved because of whose child, or grandchild he is. He is not saved by the formality of baptism either. The person who is saved has a converted heart and then is baptized. He has become a new creature in Christ.
Isaiah 28:16 "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste."
"Corner Stone, a sure foundation": The Lord God contrasted the only sure refuge with the false refuge of relying on foreigners (verse 15). This directly prophesied the coming of the Messiah (Matt. 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Romans 9:33; Eph. 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6-8; Isa. 8:14-15; Psalm 118:22).
"Haste": The Hebrew word is "hurry." The Greek Old Testament interprets this Hebrew verb for "hurry" in the sense of "put to shame"," furnishing the basis of the New Testament citations of this verse (Romans 9:33; 10:11; 1 Peter 2:6).
Zion symbolizes the church. The stone and the chief cornerstone are Jesus. To base your salvation, or help, on any other is to fail. There is no other way to heaven, but in the name of Jesus. "Jesus" means Jehovah Savior. This is Jehovah GOD.
Jesus is the Cornerstone that we build upon. We are the lively stones that are held together by the Cornerstone. The foundation of all salvation is in Jesus. Notice the word "believeth".
Isaiah 28:17 "Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place."
"Judgment ... line": When the Messiah rules His kingdom, the system of justice will contrast strongly with the refuge of lies in which Jerusalem's leaders engaged (verse 15).
Judgment is just and balanced to all alike is the statement about the line. Justice is exact when Jesus is the Judge. It is exact. This is what the plumb does. We saw in a previous verse, that some thought they were saved, when they were not. They thought their doubts had been hidden.
The hail is probably in the physical, speaking of the Assyrian invasion which comes like a storm. In the spiritual, it could be similar to the parable of the ten virgins. The Lord came before they were ready.
There is no place to hide in the Assyrian invasion. There is even less place to hide from the Lord. He will come like a thief in the night, when you least expect it, and He will find you.
Isaiah 28:18 "And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it."
"Covenant with death ... shall not stand": Trusting in foreign deliverers will utterly fail (see verse 15).
We find that all of their plans for safety are done away with. They will not be saved, because they are Abraham's descendants. The so-called Christians will not be saved, because they have carried out a custom. The pretenders, then or now will be destroyed.
Isaiah 28:19 "From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only [to] understand the report."
"Morning by morning": The Assyrians repeatedly plundered the area around Jerusalem, provoking great terror among the city's inhabitants.
The Assyrian army will come in waves, until the whole land is defeated. The population will be greatly reduced by death. Many will be carried away captive. Vexation here, means fear, or agitation.
It seems there were several wars. The fear grew more and more with every invasion.
Verses 20-29: Man made covenants are humorously depicted by the illustration of a "bed" that is "shorter than that a man can stretch himself on" or by a "covering" that is "narrower than that he can wrap himself in it." This clever illustration emphasizes the frustration of attempting to sleep in such a manner, and it illustrates the futility of trusting in human alliances.
He then turns to an illustration of the "plowman" who does not plow just for the sake of plowing but that he might reap a crop. "Fitches" means "black cummin" a plant with black seeds used for seasoning.
Isaiah 28:20 "For the bed is shorter than that [a man] can stretch himself [on it]: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself [in it]."
"Bed is shorter ... covering narrower": A proverbial expression about shorts beds and narrow sheets, telling Jerusalem that foreign alliances are inadequate preparations for the defense of the city.
Isaiah 28:21 "For the L ORD shall rise up as [in] mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as [in] the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act."
"Mount Perazim ... valley of Gibeon": Just as the Lord defeated the Philistines at Mt. Perazim (2 Sam. 5:19-20; 1 Chron. 14:10-11), and the Canaanites in the Valley of Gibeon (Jos. 10:6-11), He will do so against any who mock Him, even Jerusalemites.
This Perazim is remembering a battle where David defeated the Philistines with divine intervention from God. These people belong to God, as David did, but they have grieved God. The strange part here is the fact that God is helping the enemy of His people.
This is actually a judgment on God's people. God is just using ungodly people to carry out His punishment for Him. God is in control of all, even Satan.
Isaiah 28:22 "Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth."
"A consumption": God had decreed something unusual (verse 21), the destruction of His own wicked people. Yet, they could escape if they repented.
Isaiah is telling them to be thankful their punishment is no worse than it is. If they start bragging about the light affliction, God will see that it is made more severe.
Isaiah 28:23 "Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech."
"Give ye ear": The parable of a farmer underlined the lessons of judgment threats (in verses 18-22). As the farmer does his different tasks, each in the right season and proportion, so God adopts His measures to His purposes: now mercy, then judgment, punishing sooner, than later. His purpose was not to destroy His people, any more than the farmer's object in his threshing or plowing is to destroy his crop.
Isaiah is telling them not to turn a deaf ear to him, but listen. We will see in the midst of this, comfort to those who will listen.
Isaiah 28:24 "Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?"
"Plow all day... break the clods": No ordinary farmer plows and turns the soil endlessly. He sows also in accord with what is proper.
To plant a crop, you must first plow the field. The field (church), must be prepared to receive the seed (Word of God). The plowing and breaking the clods seems cruel, but you cannot have a good harvest without first preparing the field.
Isaiah 28:25 "When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place?"
After preparing the soil, the farmer carefully plants the seed.
The word "appointed" lets us know that each thing was planted in its proper place. After the field is ready, the seed is put in to grow into wheat, and other things for making bread.
Fitches means fennel-flower. Cummin is a condiment. Wheat is not only food, but symbolizes the believers in Christ, as well. Barley and rie are less expensive grains than wheat.
Isaiah 28:26 "For his God doth instruct him to discretion, [and] doth teach him."
"God doth instruct ... him": Farming intelligently is a God given instinct.
The laws governing planting are found in the Leviticus study. One that comes to mind quickly is that you do not put different seed in the same place. Another is the land must rest the seventh year.
Verses 27-28: God given understanding prevails in the threshing of various types of grain.
Isaiah 28:27 "For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod."
The fitches were too tender to be sent through the threshing process. The grain was sometimes run over by a cartwheel to mash the grain out, but the cummin could not be handled in this manner.
Isaiah 28:28 "Bread [corn] is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break [it with] the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it [with] his horsemen."
We see the reasoning now, in the manner it is harvested. It would bruise, if handled differently. The main thing we can learn from this is the fact that God does not deal with all of us alike, any more than the grain is handled alike. Our needs are taken into consideration, when God deals with us.
Isaiah 28:29 "This also cometh forth from the L ORD of hosts, [which] is wonderful in counsel, [and] excellent in working."
Wonderful in counsel: If God's way in the physical realm of farming is best, why did Jerusalem persist in refusing to accept His spiritual guidance?
God has a perfect plan. He makes no mistakes. The only correct way to do anything is His way. He has taken everything into consideration. We might overlook something. His wisdom is unsurpassed.
Isaiah Chapter 28 Continued Questions
The next prophetic "woe" is pronounced against "Ariel, the city where David dwelt". Ariel is another name for Jerusalem.
The prophet condemns religious formality, pointing out that their empty religion will not stop the judgment of God. Therefore, Jerusalem will become "as Ariel," meaning that God will turn it into what in fact that it is, a place of burnt sacrifice.
Isaiah 29:1 "Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city [where] David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices."
The word Ariel means "lion of God," referring to the city's strength and perhaps "hearth of God," referring to the place where the altar of God always burns. (Verses 7-8), show this to be a name for Jerusalem and the chapter looks to the invasion of Jerusalem because of unbelief.
David named Jerusalem the city of David where he had once camped. Jerusalem's cycle of religious ceremonies was meaningless to God.
This year to year could be saying within a year from then. It appears, this means they could go ahead and sacrifice for that next year.
Isaiah 29:2 "Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow: and it shall be unto me as Ariel."
The distress will come after the year mentioned (in verse 1). There will be much sorrow for the attack on Jerusalem. Jerusalem will not fall completely.
Isaiah 29:3 "And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee."
God encamped against Jerusalem through His instruments, first the Assyrians (701 B.C.) and then the Babylonians (586 B.C.).
The siege that comes against Jerusalem is by another country, but it is really sent against them by God as judgment. The Assyrians camp around the walls of Jerusalem. They are not aware God is using them in this way.
Isaiah 29:4 "And thou shalt be brought down, [and] shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust."
"Out of the ground ... out of the dust": Jerusalem will be like a captive, humbled to the dust. Her voice will come from the earth like that of a medium spirit, like the voice of the dead was supposed to be. This would be fitting for her sins of necromancy.
The haughtiness of Jerusalem will be no more. They will be brought so low, it will appear they are speaking from the ground. Sometimes evil people pretend to communicate with the dead. The evil spirit will speak from underneath the ground.
Verses 5-8: In God's time, after Jerusalem's punishment, those who fought against the city will themselves come under God's judgment.
Isaiah 29:5 "Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones [shall be] as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly."
"Instant suddenly": God's demolition of Israel's enemies will be very abrupt, as was the repulsion of the Assyrians from Jerusalem (in 701 B.C.).
Isaiah 29:6 "Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire."
"Thunder ... earthquake ... loud noise": This terminology points to the storm theophany marking the termination of the seals, trumpets and bowls in Revelation (Rev. 8:5; 11:19; 16:18).
Now, we see the reason the enemy fled. God has always fought for Jerusalem. The enemies quickly saw that God would fight for Jerusalem, when the earth quaked, it thundered and the storm came. The flame of the devouring fire is the very presence of Almighty God.
God appeared in a flaming fire to hold Pharaoh away from the Israelites at the Red Sea. This flaming fire has come against the unbelievers more than once.
2 Thessalonians 1:8 "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:"
When the Assyrians see they are not coming against Jerusalem alone, but against God, they flee.
Isaiah 29:7 "And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision."
All the threat to the city from enemy nations will fade like a bad dream when one awakens.
The attack will be so short lived; it will appear to have been a dream. God fights for Jerusalem. It would not matter, if it were all the nations coming against Jerusalem. They would still lose. They are no match for God.
Isaiah 29:8 "It shall even be as when a hungry [man] dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, [he is] faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion."
Jerusalem's attackers will frustrate themselves, as a dreamer who has the illusion that he eats and drinks, but awakens to find himself still hungry and thirsty.
The nations who come against Jerusalem believe it is easy to win. They have the victory in the palm of their hands and then, God comes into the picture. The enemy could visualize victory, but they did not take God's care of Jerusalem into consideration. They went away sorrowful. It happened so quickly, it seems like a dream.
"Mount Zion" means Jerusalem, but it also means the church. To come against Jerusalem, or the church, is to come against God. You cannot win.
Verses 9-14: The prophet returned to the theme of the blindness of mechanical religion.
Isaiah 29:9 "Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink."
The blindness and drunkenness came from the people's inability to comprehend Isaiah's message about trusting God instead of Egypt.
Isaiah warns them to be steadfast in their beliefs. They are not impressed at all with Isaiah's prophesies. He warns them to be astonished at the great work of God on their behalf.
We saw in another lesson, where the people were drunkards. This is not the same thing here. These people act like drunkards, but have drunk nothing intoxicating. Their weakness is from God.
Isaiah 29:10 "For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered."
"Spirit of deep sleep": Because Israel refused to hear her true prophets initially; their ability to hear has been impaired. God gave them up judicially to their own hardness of heart. Paul applied this verse specifically to the general condition of Israel's blindness during the age of the church (Romans 11:8).
"Prophets ... seers": False prophets and seers have blinded their listeners with their false prophecies.
The deep sleep, here, is an unawareness of their surroundings. They have eyes to see, but do not see. This blindness is toward things of God. They do not heed the warnings God has sent. They do not believe the warnings to be true. They will not believe God's prophets.
Isaiah 29:11 "And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which [men] deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it [is] sealed:"
Those with ability to read could not do so because they had surrendered their spiritual sensitivity (Isa. 6:9-10; Matthew 13:10-17).
This is just saying that Isaiah's warnings are not believed by the people. They will not even read them to see what they say. It is as if the book is closed on the matter.
For instance, the Bible is a sealed book to every man, learned or unlearned, till he begins to study it with a simple heart and a teachable spirit, that he may thence learn the truth and the will of God. To worship God, is to approach him. And if the heart be full of his love and fear, out of the abundance of it the mouth will speak; but there are many whose religion is lip-service only.
Isaiah 29:12 "And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned."
The uneducated had two reasons for not knowing the book's contents:
(1) The book was sealed; and
(2) He could not read it even if it was not.
It is deplorable when no one is capable of receiving God's rich revelation.
This message is even given to the unlearned people, but they will not receive it either. It seems everyone has an excuse. Theirs is that they are unlearned. I have heard many people use that excuse for not reading their Bible.
Verses 13-24: Jesus (Mark 7:6-7 quotes verse 13), as the epitome of Pharisaism. The prophet condemns his own people for honoring God with their "mouth" and "lips" but not their "heart". He further notes that their "fear" or reverence was merely an intellectual accommodation "taught by the precept of men".
True worship must begin with a proper reverence for God and His Word. Isaiah further announces that since the intellectual leaders of Israel will not follow the Lord, the "deaf, blind, meek," and "poor" (i.e. the Gentiles), "shall rejoice" in Him.
Isaiah 29:13 "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near [me] with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:"
Empty ritualism does not bring closeness to God. Jesus used this verse to describe the Judaism of His day (Matthew 15:7-9; Mark 7:6-7).
We see a following who are not really sold out to God. They are believers in word only. They say they are believers, but they do not believe in their hearts. These inhabitants of Jerusalem, and many of our church people today, profess belief with their mouth, but their hearts do not believe.
"Precept of men", I believe, has to do with going through the motions of worship (rituals), but having no real commitment to God.
Isaiah 29:14 "Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, [even] a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise [men] shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent [men] shall be hid."
"Wisdom ... perish ... understanding ... hid": The principle of resorting to human wisdom rather than divine wisdom was the spiritual plague of Jerusalem. The same principle was the downfall of the Greek world in Paul's day (1 Cor. 1:19).
The marvelous work, I believe, is the coming of their Messiah. He is the Savior of all mankind. The wonder of it all is that mankind did not deserve to be saved. Jesus brought salvation to whosoever will as a free gift. The only part we play in that is we must believe, and then receive so great a salvation.
Their wise men would be the Pharisees and rulers in the temple who would not receive Jesus as Messiah. Their (wise men), denied Jesus, and even were instigative in crucifying Him. They were so wise? They crucified the Lord of Glory.
Isaiah 29:15 "Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?"
The prophet probably referred to a secret plan of the leaders to join with Egypt to combat the Assyrians. The Lord had counseled otherwise, so they had their strategy from Him.
There is nothing hidden from God. They believe their evil will be hidden, because it is done in the dark. The Light reveals all the hidden things. Light does away with darkness.
Isaiah 29:16 "Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?"
"He made me not": For man to make plans on his own without God is a rejection of God as Creator. Paul reasons that it is also a questioning of the sovereignty of God (Romans 9:19-21). Does the clay think itself equal to the potter?
God is Omniscient. Omniscient means having perfect and complete knowledge of all things. How ridiculous for the thing that was created by God, to not realize God knows everything about them.
He is the Potter, we are the clay. He can mold us as He wishes. How could any creation of God doubt His ability to know His creation fully?
Isaiah 29:17 "[Is] it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?"
"Fruitful field ... a forest": In the future, a reversal of roles between the mighty and the weak will transpire, when God intervenes to bless Jerusalem. The moral change in the Jewish nation will be as great as if the usually forested Lebanon were turned into a field and vice versa.
In the last few years, we have seen this come to pass. That part of the world has certainly become fruitful. They ship fruit and vegetables to many parts of the world.
Isaiah 29:18 "And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness."
"Deaf hear ... blind shall see": The spiritual blindness of Israel will no longer exist. Jesus gives the words an additional meaning, applying it to His ministry of physical healing for the deaf and blind (Matthew 11:5; Isa. 35:5).
Jesus had said, they have ears to hear, and they do not hear. There is a receiving unto you that comes with the type of hearing, spoken of here. The book, of course, is the Bible. Their understanding will be opened. They had eyes to see, and did not see.
Their spiritual eyesight will be opened, and they will see and know the truth. Their spiritual darkness shall be turned into light.
Verses 19-20: The future messianic age will bring a reversal of status. Rejoicing will replace the hardships of the oppressed; the oppressors' dominance will end.
Isaiah 29:19 "The meek also shall increase [their] joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel."
Look with me, at two Scriptures that Jesus spoke about the poor.
Matthew 11:5 "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them."
Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,"
The meek and the poor accepted Jesus as their Savior, when the more learned in the law rejected Him.
Isaiah 29:20 "For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:"
The terrible one is Satan. He is defeated by Jesus. Remember, the scorners are those who scorned God. This says they are destroyed. Those who look for sin will find it. The sinners will be cut off.
Isaiah 29:21 "That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought."
Those with political and judicial authority are no longer to misuse their power to oppress.
It seems this is someone speaking false accusations against another. It could also, be some sort of false words being spoken about the character of another. The gate area was where many of the people went to accuse others.
This was similar to our court. The one word I see of importance in this is reprover. It seems these verbal, false attacks are against someone like Isaiah, who has reproved them for their wrong doing.
Isaiah 29:22 "Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale."
God delivered Abraham from his pagan background when He brought him from beyond the Euphrates River into the land of Canaan (Joshua 24:2-3). Paul elaborates on the theme (in Romans 4:1-22).
"Not now be ashamed": Israel in her history had frequently suffered disgrace, but the personal presence of the Messiah is to change that (45:17; 49:23; 50:7; 54:4). After the salvation of Israel in the end time, the children of Jacob will no longer cause their forefathers to blush over their wickedness.
Abraham lived in a land filled with idolatry. When God told him to leave and go where He would show him, he believed and went. Abraham's faith was counted unto him for righteousness.
Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac was the father of Jacob (Israel). In this, God remembers His covenant with Abraham and restores Jacob. He will no longer be ashamed, for God will help him. It happens, because the LORD said it.
Isaiah 29:23 "But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel."
"Sanctify ... fear the God of Israel": Jacob's descendants will marvel at the strong deliverance of the Lord and set Him apart as the only one worthy of utmost respect. God will cleanse Israel (54:13-14).
God restores Jacob to his former greatness. The descendants of Abraham belong to God. They are a separated people. They are set aside for God's purpose. The chastisement of God's people is to help them become what God wants in their lives.
The Holy One of Jacob is the LORD. The surrounding people will see that God fights for Israel (Jacob), and will fear their God. They are not afraid of Jacob, but they are afraid of Jacob's God.
Isaiah 29:24 "They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine."
With their newfound respect for God, the formerly wayward ones were to gain the capacity for spiritual perception.
Now, we see why they were chastised. They understand better about the loyalty they must have to God. They learned more about God's ways and stopped murmuring (complaining). The growth of these Israelites was that their understanding in their spirit is improved.
What can we learn from this lesson? We must realize that we are not exempt from punishment from God, just because we have professed faith in Him. We must live like Christians every day to please Him.
Isaiah Chapter 29 Questions
Verses 1-7: The "rebellious children" are the people of Judah who are determined to "go down into Egypt," that is, to seek an alliance with Egypt against Assyria. "Hanes" is mentioned in the bible only here. It was apparently near Zoan (Tanis), the largest Egyptian city near the Israelite border. It served as the capital of the Twenty first and Twenty second Dynasties of Egypt.
Isaiah 30:1 "Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:"
"Not of me ... not of my spirit": Hezekiah's advisers urged him to turn to the Egyptians, not to God, for help against the invading Assyrians. Isaiah denounced this reliance of Egypt rather than God, who had forbidden such alliances.
The children (in verse 1), are those belonging to God. In the physical sense, this is speaking of the descendants of Jacob (Israel). We can see from this, God does not want them seeking counsel from other people. God wants them to seek His counsel.
They are looking for another country (Egypt), to protect them, or be their covering. This is a sin, and is just adding this sin to those they have already committed. They should seek forgiveness from God and take counsel of Him. In their behalf, we must remember the way to the Father was closed to them at this time.
The way for the Christians to the Father was opened, when the temple veil was torn from the top to the bottom, when Jesus was crucified. In the spiritual sense, here, we can see that God does not want His sons (Christians), to take counsel of the world (Egypt), either.
The Holy Spirit of God is the teacher and guide for the Christian. We are protected by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 30:2 "That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!"
"Have not asked at my mouth": They had failed to consult God's prophet.
"Egypt ... Pharaoh ... Egypt": The Lord had warned Israel against returning to Egypt (Deut. 17:16). Now He warns them against an alliance with Egypt (31:1). Note the similar advice for the Assyrian Rabshakeh, while laying siege to Jerusalem (36:9).
The worst thing of all is where they are going for help. Egypt is a symbol of the world and worldliness. This would be the blind leading the blind. The only help believers have is in the LORD. We cannot, and should not, look to the world for answers. They will lead us astray with them.
Pharaoh is just a man. God had shown the inability of the Pharaoh against God in the 10 plagues he brought on Egypt. This Pharaoh is not a specific person, but symbolizes whoever is ruling in Egypt. The Egyptians cannot even take care of themselves, or Egypt how could they help God's people?
God is a jealous God. He will be angry at them for looking for help other than from Him.
Isaiah 30:3 "Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt [your] confusion."
Shame ... humiliation. The Assyrians had already defeated the Egyptian army only 100 miles from the Egyptian border.
God had His children's needs first in His mind. The leader of Egypt (probably Tirhakah), had Egypt's interest at heart. They were looking at Pharaoh as if he were god. He is not.
Throwing in with Egypt is like bringing the world into the church. Neither will survive for very long. They are based on worldliness.
Isaiah 30:4 "For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes."
"Zoan ... Hanes": Judah's emissaries had penetrated from Zoan in the Northeast of Egypt to Hanes fifty miles south of Memphis.
It seems Zoan was at one time a prominent city of Egypt. It, like many other cities of that day, did not survive. The ambassadors are those representing the leader of Egypt. It seems there was a meeting place to discuss all of this.
Isaiah 30:5 "They were all ashamed of a people [that] could not profit them, nor be a help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach."
These descendants of Jacob should be ashamed, but whether this means them, I cannot tell. Egypt thought of Jacob's descendants as being of no help to them. They were a reproach to heathen countries, because of their God.
Isaiah 30:6 "The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence [come] the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people [that] shall not profit [them]."
Isaiah pictured a rich caravan, trudging slowly through rugged territory fraught with dangers, on its way to Egypt to purchase assistance.
It appears from this that, they were carrying their treasures to give to Egypt in exchange for Egypt protecting them. The place they were to meet and make the deal was thought to be full of evil, such as the lion, flying serpent, and the viper.
Isaiah 30:7 "For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength [is] to sit still."
Egypt was unwilling to help so the prophet calls the powerful Egypt "Rahab", meaning "strength", or "sitting idle" (Hebrew). "Rahab" is used of Egypt (in Psalms 87:4; 89:10).
After all of their plans, Egypt is no help to them at all. It appears from this that, Egypt sits by idly and allows them to be overrun. Even if they did help some, it was to no avail.
Verses 8-17: The prophet is commanded by God to write His message in a "table" (tablet), and a "book" (sepher). He is to write down God's message "for the time to come" (or for succeeding generations to read). He is to note that the people of Judah are a "rebellious people," Who are telling the prophets "See not ... Prophesy not."
They have refused the truth and would rather hear prophets to "cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us". While the nation was busy sending out emissaries of peace they had failed to make peace with God. "Returning" and "rest" refer to repentance and faith, which are necessary to true salvation.
Isaiah 30:8 "Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:"
The Lord's instruction to Isaiah was to make a permanent written record so that future generations could learn Israel's folly of trusting in Egypt instead of in the Lord.
This is not to be forgotten. They are to write it down and remember their folly of getting help from Egypt.
Isaiah 30:9 "That this [is] a rebellious people, lying children, children [that] will not hear the law of the L ORD:"
"Rebellious people ... Lying children": The people's unwillingness to obey the Lord necessitated the keeping of a permanent record of their misdeeds.
These children of God have rebelled against God, when they sought help from Egypt. They claim to be children of God, but they do not obey Him. They are not even interested in the law of the LORD given to them to live by.
All of their troubles would be over, if they would repent and turn to God. God is their very present help. They should not look to the world for answers.
Verses 10-11: Isaiah's listeners were tired of hearing counsel that was contrary to the path they desired to follow and wanted him to change his message to accommodate them.
Isaiah 30:10 "Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:"
These Israelites did not want to hear the truth from the prophets. They wanted to hear things that pleased them, not the truth. That is so much like what people in the church say today. They want to hear that God loves them, but they do not want to hear anything they have to do. They do not want their sins pointed out, so that they can repent and be saved.
They wanted even the prophets to prophesy only things they wanted to hear.
Isaiah 30:11 "Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us."
Holy One of Israel was a name of God that Isaiah frequently used. Perhaps he used it so much to compare God's holiness with the people's unholiness. They felt so guilty when Isaiah kept reminding them of their failures. They went so far as to say, they did not want God before them anymore.
Verses 12-14: Since the people opted not to hear the world of the Lord's prophet, they will hear from the Lord's judgment.
Isaiah 30:12 "Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:"
It is obvious they are not interested in the Word of God. They do not want to be led by the Spirit of God, and they do not have respect for His law. Since they have put their trust in the things of this world, such as brute strength and evil, God will not help them.
He gave them a free will, and they have chosen oppression and perverseness over Godly things. They can stay in their evil.
Isaiah 30:13 "Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant."
They have pulled away from God. There is a break (breach), in their relationship with God. Their sin has separated them from God. Their punishment for their sin will come suddenly upon them.
They have built a wall separating themselves from God. The wall will crumble and fall. Their handiwork will fail.
Isaiah 30:14 "And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water [withal] out of the pit."
Judah's fall is compared here, to the shattering of a fallen pitcher. There will not be anything left of it. There will not even be enough left to get water with, or to pick a piece of fire up with. It is totally shattered.
Isaiah 30:15 "For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not."
The Israelite rebels refused the true avenue of salvation and strength, i.e. resting and confidence in the Lord.
If the Israelites had just come home and quietly waited upon the Lord in rest and peace, He would have fought for them. They would have been safe. They would not listen to God, and they did not trust His promises. Abraham's faith saved him, not something he did. Placing their complete trust in God would have saved the Israelites.
Psalms 29:11 "The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace."
2 Corinthians 12:9 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Isaiah 30:16 "But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift."
"Horses ... swift": The people put their trust in Egypt's horses instead of the Lord. No horse could deliver them from their God-appointed oppressors (Deuteronomy. 17:16; Psalms 33:17; 147:10).
They are not interested in the help of God. They are depending upon their own strength and the strength of the Egyptians in battle. They are feeling as if these swift horses are all they need. God says, since you depend on that, we will see that your enemy's horses are swift, as well.
Isaiah 30:17 "One thousand [shall flee] at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on a hill."
"One thousand ... one": Similar figures elsewhere describe Israel's victories (Lev. 26:36; Joshua 23:10), and defeats (Deut. 32:30).
We see they will be so frightened that just a handful (5), of the enemy will cause them to run and hide. They will be stripped of all their equipment, and will stand helpless in front of the enemy. They will be like a flag that symbolizes their defeat.
Verses 18-33: Because God is "gracious" and has been willing to "wait" for His people to return to Him, He will certainly bless those who "wait for him." "Waiting" is a confident and dependent trust in God.
The reference to the "bread of adversity and the water of affliction" shows that God teaches us lessons through circumstance when we will not listen to our "teachers" who call us to walk in "the way" (i.e. the way of God). "Tophet" is used as a symbol for the fires of hell where the "breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone," kindles the flame.
Isaiah 30:18 "And therefore will the L ORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the L ORD [is] a God of judgment: blessed [are] all they that wait for him."
Since Judah would not wait on the Lord to deliver, He must wait to be gracious to the nation.
The LORD will wait till they have been humiliated, and then will He graciously lift them up. God will have mercy upon them, because they are His and He loves them, not because they deserve it. The only thing they had to do was to look to God and ask for His help.
God had allowed all of this to happen to them in the way a father chastises a child, to teach them a lesson. If they will repent and come to Him for help, He will save them.
Isaiah 30:19 "For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee."
The prophet emphatically pointed to a result of God's grace toward Israel, the survival of the city of Jerusalem as the center of her domain (65:9; Ezekiel 37:25, 28).
This is speaking of those who remain in Jerusalem. Zion also means the church. This could be speaking two messages. One to the physical house, who had disobeyed God, and He had forgiven them. It could also, be speaking of the church saved by the grace of God. Salvation is available to all who call on the name of the Lord.
Isaiah 30:20 "And [though] the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:"
"Eyes shall see thy teachers": After their period of judgment because of disobedience, God is to open Israel's eyes to the soundness of the message of His prophets (29:24).
Bread and water is given to God's people, even though there is great adversity and affliction. The people will look to God to guide them. He will not be hidden from them anymore. He will teach them openly by His Spirit.
Isaiah 30:21 "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This [is] the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."
"A word behind thee": The teachers will be near and the pupils' sensitive to the Lord's prophets, in strong contrast to the callousness formerly manifest (29:10-11).
They will even be guided in the path they are to walk. Their instructions will not come from other people, but will be from God. We could think of this as the Great Shepherd which leads His sheep in the way of righteousness.
Jesus said, "My sheep know my voice and follow me."
Isaiah 30:22 "Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence."
The Babylonian captivity rid Israel of her idolatry in fulfillment of this prophecy.
"Defile", in this verse, means to contaminate, or pronounce unclean. The Egyptians, and the other earthly kingdoms around them, had images of silver and gold that they worshipped. We see the Israelites will pronounce them as no gods and will destroy them.
The menstruous cloth should be burned. This is what Isaiah is telling them to do with these false gods. Their righteousness was as filthy rags. The only righteousness acceptable is the righteousness of Christ.
Verses 23-25: In the messianic kingdom of that future day, agriculture, cattle rising, food production and water resources will prosper. The prophet predicted the redemption of nature (Romans 8:19-21).
Isaiah 30:23 "Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures."
The blessings of God will be upon them and their crops, when they denounce the false gods of the world. The fields will produce bountifully, and even their cows will be fat on the pasture.
Isaiah 30:24 "The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan."
This is not a skimpy crop. The oxen will eat grain that was thought of as being the highest grade. They were tossed (winnowed), and all the trash removed. The fan is the same thing. This was high grade provender for the animals.
Isaiah 30:25 "And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers [and] streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall."
Powerful nations that oppress Israel will come to an end.
Mountain streams provide pure water. These streams could be channeled and used to irrigate the crops. Water was plentiful, because God had provided it.
Isaiah 30:26 "Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the L ORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound."
"Light of the moon ... light of the sun": The benefits from the natural bodies of light will be much greater. Increase in the intensity of their light will work to people's advantage (60:19-20), not to their detriment (as in Rev. 16:8-9).
This is just saying, there will be plenty of sunshine, along with the water, to make the crops grow.
Verses 27-33: Isaiah followed the promise of Judah's redemption (verses 19-26), with a promise of Assyria's destruction.
Verses 27-28, the Lord will come suddenly upon His enemies as a great storm with its accompanying flood, to overwhelm them.
Isaiah 30:27 "Behold, the name of the L ORD cometh from far, burning [with] his anger, and the burden [thereof is] heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:"
"The name of the LORD": His name focuses particularly on His revealed character as Sovereign and Savior (Deut. 12:5).
Isaiah 30:28 "And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and [there shall be] a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing [them] to err."
This has to be speaking of the coming of the Lord Jesus. Jehovah Savior is what the name Jesus means. When Jesus came to the earth, He separated people out of families and separated nations, as well. The Words that came from the mouth of Jesus burned the evil out, wherever it was spoken.
We must never forget that Jesus is Judge, as well as Savior. He will judge these nations that are constantly in error, as well as the individuals. This seems to jump into the time when the wrath of God will come. The vanity of the nations is speaking of their sins.
Isaiah 30:29 "Ye shall have a song, as in the night [when] a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the L ORD, to the mighty One of Israel."
While God's judgment devastated the Assyrians, the people of Jerusalem conducted a time of joyful celebration as at one of their feasts, perhaps a Passover.
While the wrath of God is being poured out on the evil nations, there will be a song of rejoicing for those of His followers. The coming into the place of worship in Jerusalem was many times led by someone playing a flute with all the procession singing.
They were on the way to the house of the Lord in His holy mountain. This could also, be speaking of the believers who sing around the throne in heaven. They sing the song of the redeemed. The mountain of the LORD, sometimes, is indicative of heaven, or the New Jerusalem, as well as the mount of God in physical Jerusalem.
Verses 30-31: Assyria in particular, but in the long range, any enemy of God's people will fall victim to divine storm and flood (verses 27 and 28).
Isaiah 30:30 "And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall show the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of [his] anger, and [with] the flame of a devouring fire, [with] scattering, and tempest, and hailstones."
This again, speaks of the wrath of God. This terrible destruction is accompanied by use of all the elements, including fire.
Isaiah 30:31 "For through the voice of the L ORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, [which] smote with a rod."
God speaks judgment against Assyria.
Isaiah 30:32 "And [in] every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the LORD shall lay upon him, [it] shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it."
With each blow of punishment against the Assyrians will come joyful celebration in Jerusalem.
Assyria shall be beaten down of God, and its enemies shall rejoice. This does not mean just Assyria, but all who have the spirit of Assyria.
Isaiah 30:33 "For Tophet [is] ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made [it] deep [and] large: the pile thereof [is] fire and much wood; the breath of the L ORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it."
Tophet is literally a place of abomination. Idolatrous Israel had burned to death human victims in this valley just south of Jerusalem, an area sometimes called the Valley of Hinnom (2 Kings 23:10). Later it became known as Gehenna, the place of refuse for the city, with constantly burning fires, symbolizing hell. The defeat was to be so complete that the fire burns continually.
"Tophet" is a place of burning. This could be speaking of the lake of fire. This is a burning place for the evil of all the world. It is waiting for the breath of Jesus to order the devil and His angels there. The false prophet, and the antichrist, and the beast will go there too.
The sad thing is that all who do not receive Jesus as their Savior and Lord will be cast into the fire, as well.
Revelation 19:20 "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone."
Revelation 20:10 "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
Revelation 20:14-15 "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
Isaiah Chapter 30 Questions
Verses 31:1-9: Isaiah turns his attention again to those who would advocate a pro-Egyptian alliance for the protection of Judah. He observes that they "stay" (or "lean"), "on horses" and "trust in chariots" rather than God who is a "spirit". The use of the symbols of a "lion" and "Birds flying" reflects the national symbol of Assyria, the winged lion. The prophet again calls on his listeners to "turn" or repent. This is the very heart of his message to the wayward nation.
Isaiah 31:1 "Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because [they are] many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD"
Egypt's horses and chariots were numerous (1 Kings 10:28-29). Its flat topography was well suited for chariotry. They would be useful to Israel against the Assyrian cavalry.
"Neither seek the Lord," what made Israel's turning to Egypt most despicable was her turning away from the Lord.
We saw in the last lesson that, God is terribly displeased, when they look to Egypt for help, instead of to Him. As we have said so many times, Egypt is a type of the world. Notice this stresses more than ever, that their trust is in the horses and chariots that the Egyptian army can bring against Assyria.
They have turned away from God, and sought help from the world. The world does not have answers to problems. They are good at making problems, but they have no solutions. This seems to be a totally separate prophecy against God's people trusting in the world (Egypt).
They not only trusted Egypt, but they did not trust God at all. They had no faith in the Living God.
Isaiah 31:2 "Yet he also [is] wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity."
Sarcastically, Isaiah countered the unwise royal counselors who had advised dependence on Egypt. "Will not call back his words": The implied exception is, of course, when the sinful nation repented, as in the case of Nineveh (Jonah 3:5-10).
God is not also wise, He is Wisdom. There are no wise who have not received their wisdom from God. Wisdom is a gift from God. Worldly wisdom is folly in God's sight. God is not only Wisdom, but is Truth and Life, as well.
When God speaks something, it is established. He will not retract His Words. He regards His Word above all else. We have spoken over and over of the blessings for those who obey and follow God, and the curse that comes against those who rebel against God.
"The house of the evildoers" here, is the Israelites. The help of them that work iniquity is Egypt.
Isaiah 31:3 "Now the Egyptians [are] men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together."
"Flesh ... spirit": For example, Hezekiah wisely chose to rely on the Lord, not on the arm of flesh (2 Chronicles 32:8).
These children have chosen the world over God. They are placing their trust in things of this world. They have chosen to follow flesh, instead of spirit. The battle for the will of mankind is between the flesh and the spirit. In this particular case, they have given their will over to the flesh.
They are trusting in the flesh of horses, rather than in the Spirit of God. The flesh is weak and cannot save anyone. We see the judgment God speaks, here, is failure for the flesh of His children, who cry out to the flesh of the world to help them, and the flesh that tries to help them. They will both fail.
Just as there were no worldly answers to their problems then, there are no earthly answers to our problems now. Alcohol and drug problems cannot be solved in the flesh. They are spiritual problems that only God can cure.
People who are born of the Spirit of God overcome fleshly problems, because their hearts are changed. They no longer need drugs and alcohol to help them face the day; they have the love of Jesus instead.
Isaiah 31:4 "For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, [he] will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof."
In His defense of Jerusalem, the Lord is to be like a strong and determined lion, unafraid of shepherds summoned against him.
We know the problem will not go away with the multitude of worldly counselors. The shepherds have no control over the devil, except in the use of the name of Jesus. There is no flesh strong enough to take the prey away from the captor. Only Jesus Christ can do that.
The Lord of hosts will fight for Jerusalem and for His church. The Lord of hosts will win. The devil is no match for Jesus. Jesus is the powerful Lion of Judah.
Isaiah 31:5 "As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver [it; and] passing over he will preserve it."
This help comes from the sky as a bird that flies. A bird will hover over its young and protect them. We see that in this. God protects His own. We see in other Scriptures where the wings hover over God's people. The bird shows the tender care of the Lord for His own.
The Lord is like a hovering mother bird with a strong attachment to her little ones and a willingness to do whatever is necessary for their safety.
God has always protected Jerusalem. His presence in the wilderness wanderings taught us that. God fights for Jerusalem. His presence brought victory to His people against their enemies. We can see a similarity in the passing over and preserving Jerusalem here, with that night in Egypt when the Hebrews were protected by their God, and their first born were spared.
God always watches over His own, whether they are His Hebrew children, or whether they are the Christians of today.
Isaiah 31:6 "Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted."
The prophet called rebellious Israel to repent in light of God's gracious dealings with them (verses 4-5; 30:18-19).
The children of Israel were almost constantly falling away from God, and being forgiven, and restored. He never left them. All they had to do was repent, and turn to Him, and He would forgive them, and take them back.
2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
This was a constant promise to them.
Isaiah 31:7 "For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you [for] a sin."
Their biggest sin was making false gods out of silver and gold that they worshipped. God is not something created. He is Creator of all. Just as they made a golden calf when Moses was on the mount getting the 10 Commandments, they were still making idols they could touch and see to worship.
The obvious helplessness of the idols to deliver rendered them completely useless.
God is not something material that you can touch with natural hands, God is Spirit.
John 4:24 "God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."
They will throw away those idols (nothings), made with hands, because they will realize their error and turn to the One True God.
Isaiah 31:8 "Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited."
The defeat of Assyria by other than human means matched this prophecy well (37:36-37), but other such foreign oppressors meet the same fate in the distant future of Israel, during the time of Jacob's trouble (Jer. 30:7).
Assyria will not fall by the efforts of man. God will fight the Assyrian. They will fall at the Word of God (Sword). Who can fight God? No one. God is a consuming fire. It would be no problem to get the enemy to flee from this Fire of God.
This really appears to me, to be the Word of God that defeats the enemy here. Possibly, the young men shall be captured and held by these sons of God.
Isaiah 31:9 "And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire [is] in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem."
"Fire is in Zion ... furnace in Jerusalem": Both in Isaiah's near future and in the distant future, Jerusalem will be God's headquarters for bringing judgment on foreign nations. God Himself is the fire, waiting for all the enemies who attack Jerusalem.
Zion is Jerusalem, but it is also the church of the Living God. The presence of God in a fire has always been with God's people. He was a fire by night and a smoke by day. This is speaking of the presence of God.
Elijah called down the fire of God and destroyed the prophets of Baal. This is the same thing here. The sign is from God. They are afraid, not of Israel, but of the God of Israel.
Isaiah Chapter 31 Questions
Verses 32:1-20: The "king" who "shall reign in righteousness" is Christ Himself. The prophet foresees a time when government will exist that is totally characterized by "righteousness" and "judgment". Such a description does not fit even Hezekiah, the best of Judah's kings.
Rather, Isaiah sees a much greater day coming when the godly character of Judah will be "as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." This will be a time when the ignorant will "understand knowledge" (da'at, a moral discernment). He also sees a time of complete national conversion when the "spirit" will be "poured upon us" (Joel 2:28).
Isaiah 32:1 "Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment."
"A king ... princes": In contrast to bad leaders already discussed (28:14-15; 29:15), the prophet turned to the messianic king and His governmental assistants during the future day of righteousness. These will be the apostles (Luke 12:13), and the saints (1 Cor. 6:2; 2 Timothy 2:12; Rev. 2:26-27; 3:21).
This is speaking of the coming Messiah. It is really speaking of the 1,000 year reign of Jesus as King. The Christians are the princes, spoken of, that will rule under Him.
Revelation 20:6 "Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
Jesus is the Judge of all the earth. He is righteousness. The righteousness of the Christian is actually the righteousness of Christ. We are clothed in His righteousness. This is the righteous Branch, spoken of, that will rule.
Jeremiah 23:5 "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth."
Isaiah 32:2 "And a man shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land."
During the millennial reign of Christ, leaders will provide protection like "the shade of a huge rock in a parched land", instead of posing threats to the people's well-being.
This is also, speaking of Jesus (man). No other (man), has ever been a hiding place from the storm and a covering for us. Jesus gives us a river of living Water that comes from deep within. He told the woman at the well, He would give her water that she would not thirst again. He also, is the Rock of our salvation.
His shed blood even protects us from God's judgment. We Christians, are clothed in white robes cleansed by His shed blood.
Revelation 7:14 "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
Isaiah 32:3 "And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken."
A future generation of Israelites will experience a reversal of receptivity compared to Isaiah's generation (6:9-10; 29:18, 24; 30:20).
1 Corinthians 13:12 "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."
We will have eyes to see and ears to hear. We will have our understanding opened to the things of the Lord. We will never grow old anymore.
Isaiah 32:4 "The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly."
The stammerers were former drunkards who uttered nonsense in their drunken stupor (28:7-8; 29:9).
This is speaking of a time when all will understand. The fact that Jesus chose the uneducated to confound the wise in ministry here on the earth, tells us that He is our understanding. The gospel was spread by fishermen, and tax collectors, and uneducated men by world standards.
The day this is speaking of, is a day when knowledge of God will flourish.
Hebrews 8:10-11 "For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:" "And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest."
Moses gave the excuse that he could not speak well, and God asked him who made his mouth. God will empower the speakers in the day this is speaking of.
Isaiah 32:5 "The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said [to be] bountiful."
In the future earthly kingdom envisioned by Isaiah, false appraisals of leadership qualities will be impossible, because everyone will see and speak clearly.
The vile person is someone who seeks to do evil. He will not be allowed to do this in the reign of Jesus. "Churl" is translated from a word that means niggardly, or withholding. Niggardly has nothing to do with the color of one's skin, but is a statement of someone, white or black, of low character.
People of low character will not prosper in the reign of Jesus. In fact, they will be ruled over by the Christians. The word "bountiful" was translated from, is used to describe the wealthy in many other verses. The wealthy will get no special treatment from the Lord.
Verses 6-8: An unwillingness to care for the needy reflects the character of a fool, but the noble person in dependence on God provides for the poor. These qualities will be evident to all in the age to come.
Isaiah 32:6 "For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practice hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail."
This is a description of those who are not truly Christian. A person's speech reveals what he is within. The vile person speaks the condition of his heart and that is why it is villany. Villany, in this verse, means wickedness. "Hypocrisy", in this Scripture, is taken from the word choneph, which means, moral filth.
We see a people whose morals have turned to filth. The morality of our country (as a whole), today might be described as such. To utter error against the LORD would be to bring in false doctrines. The soul hungers after righteousness.
The verse above is speaking of a person who has been starving for spiritual food, because it is food for the soul, not the stomach. The water, spoken of, is the thirst for spiritual water.
Jesus is the Spiritual Water. He is also, the Spiritual Bread. The sad thing to me about this, is the fact that this seems to be the people in the church. To be a Christian, in name only, will not be enough.
Isaiah 32:7 "The instruments also of the churl [are] evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right."
We discovered, above, that this churl meant someone of very low character. The person, spoken of here, takes advantage of the poor. He lies to get his way. You might even say he was of a fraudulent character. The poor might be in the right, but it seems they had no power to overcome this evil person.
Isaiah 32:8 "But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand."
Liberal, in the verse above, is translated from a word that means generous. The generous person is the opposite of the person (in verse 7). You cannot out give God. The generosity of the person (in verse 8), will sustain the man.
Verses 9-14: The prophet warns the women of Judah against complacency (3:16 - 4:1). God's eventual blessing on their nation gave no excuse for business as usual, i.e. the dependence on Egypt instead of God.
Isaiah 32:9 "Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech."
"At ease" ... careless": "At ease" translates the word rendered "quiet" and "complacent" the word rendered "secure" (in verse 18). The difference between the bad senses here and the good senses (in verse 18), is the object of trust, Egypt or God. Ease and security in God are proper.
This is saying, the women felt secure in their present state, and were not aware of the coming judgment. Isaiah addresses them directly here to become more involved. Listen to his speech and take heed.
They were careless, because they were taking everything for granted and not checking it out for themselves. He was speaking to literal women here, but the message was prophetic, as well.
The church of the Lord Jesus is spoken of as a woman. The church is the bride of Christ. This is speaking of the church who is self-satisfied. Look with me, at the type of church this is.
Revelation 3:14-17 "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;" "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot." "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth." "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:"
This is speaking of the self-satisfied church.
Isaiah 32:10 "Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come."
Perhaps specifying a time when the Assyrian army came and pillaged the land, the prophet warned of how God's coming judgment was to spoil agricultural production.
Isaiah says, wake up and realize what is about to happen. To be called a careless Christian is quite an indictment. As we said in the verse above, this is spoken to physical women, but it is, also, speaking to the church.
Complacency in the church will cause a great falling away and not produce fruit for God the Husbandman.
Present satisfaction with the status quo shortly gave way to an entirely different set of emotions.
Isaiah 32:11 "Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird [sackcloth] upon [your] loins."
This is just a strong warning of the things to come to those who do not take the things of the Lord seriously. He is saying, "You should be afraid". Sackcloth has to do with repentance and mourning. This is actually a call to repentance for their luke-warm attitude.
Isaiah 32:12 "They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine."
And here the sense doubtless is that they would mourn over the fields which once contributed to sustain life, but which were now desolate. The fruitful earth being compared to a woman, its fields are like breasts or paps, which yield food and nourishment, but now should not afford any, and therefore there would be cause of lamentation.
Alas! how many careless ones there are, who support self-indulgence by shameful niggardliness! We deserve to be deprived of the supports of life, when we make them the food of lusts. Let such tremble and be troubled.
Isaiah 32:13 "Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns [and] briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy [in] the joyous city:"
Without harmony with God, the land of God's people became just as desolate as any other forsaken territory (1:7; 5:6; 7:23).
The word 'yea' will express the sense, meaning that desolation, indicated by the growth of thorns and briers would come upon the cities that were then filled with joy.
The houses of nobles, princes, and rich men, who lived voluptuously, in great sensuality and carnal mirth, drinking wine in bowls, and chanting to the sound of the viol, and using all instruments of music; but now their houses, in which they enjoyed so much pleasure, should be demolished, and briers and thorns should grow upon the spot where they stood.
This does not refer to Jerusalem, which was not taken by Sennacherib, but to the other cities that were destroyed by him in his march, and this account accords with the statement in Isaiah 7:20-25.
Isaiah 32:14 "Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;"
"Multitude of the city": Jerusalem too was to become desolate through the Lord's purging judgments of the nation (Luke 21:24).
The world and all of its people are in a desperate condition, just before God pours out His Spirit.
(In verses 15-20), the promised kingdom was to eventually come to Israel with its accompanying fruitfulness, peace and security.
Isaiah 32:15 "Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest."
"The spirit be poured upon us": The infusion of God's Spirit was to transform the land into productive fruitfulness. (Joel 2:28 - 3:1).
The very same time is mentioned in Acts, and in the following Scripture.
Joel 2:28 "And it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:"
We see in this that, the Lord will pour His Spirit on all flesh. There will be a time when God will open the understanding of the people, and they will produce much fruit. The church will be fruitful. It will be so fruitful; it is compared to a forest.
Isaiah 32:16 "Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field."
"Judgment ... righteousness": Noble spiritual values were to thrive in the future messianic reign.
This fruitful field is speaking of the church. The church is righteous, because we have taken on the righteousness of Christ. The church shall reign with Christ over the world, with Christ as Judge.
Isaiah 32:17 "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever."
Where righteousness dwells, there is perfect peace. This quietness and assurance comes when the King of Righteousness reigns on the earth.
Isaiah 32:18 "And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;"
The people of Israel will enjoy lasting security with the Messiah personally present to ensure peace.
The 1,000 year reign of Christ upon the earth will be a time of perfect peace on the earth. We will not even have to lock our doors at night, because of the perfect peace we will live in at that time.
Isaiah 32:19 "When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place."
"City ... laid low": Jerusalem must learn humility before the prophesied ideal conditions can become reality.
Isaiah 32:20 "Blessed [are] ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth [thither] the feet of the ox and the ass."
As with the beatitudes of Christ (Matt. 5:3-12), Isaiah pronounced the blessedness of those who participate in the future glory of Christ's kingdom.
This speaks of a time when the water flows and the seed grows that is planted. It also speaks of a time when the Word (seed), that was planted in many lands will be fruitful and produce believers. There will be those saved from all nations of the world.
The ox and ass speak of work. There are many missionaries who have worked like beasts of burden to plant the gospel in many lands. They will truly be blessed of God.
Isaiah Chapter 32 Questions
Verses 33:1-12: Isaiah's final "Woe" on Israel and Judah looks beyond the coming Assyrian invasion to the ultimate devastation that will come on the land in the final days. "Thee that spoilest" and was "not spoiled" is a reference to the Antichrist and his kingdom. "The time of trouble" refers to the Tribulation period. The invading army is likened to a horde of "locusts" that shall cover the land of Israel.
"He hath broken the covenant ... he regardeth no man" is certainly reminiscent (of Daniel 9:27), which refers to the Antichrist. Thus, both prophets foresee a time when the one who has promised to defend Israel will turn against her during the Tribulation period.
Isaiah 33:1 "Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou [wast] not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; [and] when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee."
Though the immediate reference is to Assyria (2 Kings 18:13-16; 19: 32-37), the prophecy looks beyond Assyria to any power that sets itself against Israel.
This is just another way to say, whatever you sow, you will reap. In this particular instance, this is saying this to a country, rather than to an individual. We can safely assume that Isaiah is specifically speaking of Assyria here.
The countries that spoil other countries in battle can expect the very same treatment in return.
Isaiah 33:2 "O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble."
"We have waited for thee": Israel refused to do this earlier (30:15; 31:6), but had repented (25:9; 26:8; 33:2).
This statement is not to Assyria or about Assyria, but is a prayer of Isaiah. Isaiah is praying for his country, as well as himself. The saddest thing about being a prophet is that they see the danger even before it is there. In a sense, they suffer twice. Once when they see it in vision or dream, and once when it actually happens.
Isaiah knows how badly they need the grace of God. He is fully aware that the only way of escape is in the salvation of God.
Verses 3-4: Just as Sennacherib took flight suddenly (37:37; 2 Chronicles 32:21), so the nations will scatter before the Lord, leaving their spoils behind.
Isaiah 33:3 "At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered."
The people flee from the enemy, and are no match for these Assyrians. When God reaches out His hand, the tables are turned. No nation is able to fight against God and win. These nations are afraid of God (even if they do not recognize Him as their God). When God rises up, they flee in defeat.
Isaiah 33:4 "And your spoil shall be gathered [like] the gathering of the caterpillar: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them."
They fled from God so quickly; they had no time to gather up their spoil from the nations they defeated. They left it behind in their hurry to get out. When locusts are turned on a field, there is nothing left to harvest.
Isaiah 33:5 "The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness."
We have said over and over that the LORD fights for Jerusalem and, also, for His people. Zion can mean Jerusalem, but it also symbolically means His church. When God's people repent, and turn to Him for help, He saves them every time.
The LORD is seated in heavenly places. He is exalted above the earth. He is the Judge of all the earth. It is His righteousness that fills the church. These people and the Christians have no righteousness of their own. It's the righteousness of Christ that fills Zion (church).
Isaiah 33:6 "And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, [and] strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD [is] his treasure."
"Fear of the Lord": The same Spirit imparted qualifications possessed by the Messiah (11:2), will belong to His people when He returns.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We find God's blessings on Israel, when they follow the teachings of the LORD. Wisdom is a gift from God. Knowledge is accumulated learning.
I have repeated many times in these lessons, the only way not to be deceived in the end times is to accumulate all the wisdom and knowledge of the Scriptures we can. Those who are not really familiar with the teachings in the Bible will be deceived. The strength of our salvation is in Jesus Christ who is the Word of God.
Verses 7-9: From the vision of future glory, Isaiah returns to the disastrous present. Jerusalem's situation was hopeless when (in 701 B.C.), the Assyrian army had the city surrounded and was ready to move in.
Isaiah 33:7 "Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly."
Both men of war and diplomats had failed in their attempts to thwart the invaders.
We see a little more detailed explanation of the first 6 verses here. Judah has many valiant warriors. They see the futility of trying to make peace with the world. All of their strength and power (without God's help), will just bring defeat.
Isaiah 33:8 "The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man."
The enemy surrounding the city had cut off all travel and trade with the outside world.
To a worldly man, previous peace treaties mean nothing. How long will it take Judah (and us), to realize our strength does not lie in our own abilities? The only strength capable of taking care of this evil world force is God.
Covenant, of course, is speaking of an agreement. The Spirit and the flesh will never keep covenant. This is like the Jew and the Arab today. One represents flesh, the other Spirit. There can be no real peace in the world, until Jesus brings peace.
In the end times, there will be a 7 year treaty between the Arabs and the Jews. It will not bring true peace, however. Jesus brings the only true peace to the world.
Isaiah 33:9 "The earth mourneth [and] languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed [and] hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off [their fruits]."
The enemy had spoiled places renowned for their lush fertility.
This is speaking of how wide the destruction is. Languisheth, in this verse, means droop. There is no possibility for this very fruitful land to produce anything in this confusion. Lebanon, which usually produced beautiful, strong trees, possibly, had them destroyed as well. Without God, all is lost.
Isaiah 33:10 "Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself."
When the oppressor's power had reached its zenith, the time had arrived for the Lord to assert Himself in judging the plunderer, in Isaiah's case the Assyrian troops.
The LORD will rise up and fight for His people. What a shame, He must lift up Himself.
When all else fails for Judah, God rises up and saves them.
Isaiah 33:11 "Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, [as] fire, shall devour you."
"Chaff ... stubble": References to Assyria reaffirm that the plunderer is to be plundered (verse 1).
This is speaking to the enemies of Judah and the enemies of the Christian. The weapon they formed against God's people shall turn on them and destroy them. Their own breath shall destroy them.
Isaiah 33:12 "And the people shall be [as] the burnings of lime: [as] thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire."
"Lime ... thorns": Burned limestone became dust; thorn bushes burned rapidly.
Lime burns quickly, but puts off a terrible odor. This reminds us of the destruction at Armageddon, where the stench will be so bad. Thorns cut up and burned would burn quickly, as well. I believe this is speaking of the quick destruction.
Verses 13-24: God's judgment is pictured as a "devouring fire", which is so awesome that only the righteous will be spared (Matt. 24:22). The "king in his beauty" is Christ Himself, and the description of the magnitude of His kingdom is reminiscent of the New Jerusalem (in Revelation 21:16-17).
Here the prophet foresees the millennial kingdom when Christ will rule the world in peace. All that Israel needs will be fulfilled in the Lord her God, who will be the "judge, lawgiver," and "king". Thus, in this threefold capacity, "he will save us."
Isaiah 33:13 "Hear, ye [that are] far off, what I have done; and, ye [that are] near, acknowledge my might."
"Far off ... near": When God puts down the final enemies of Israel, He will receive worldwide acknowledgment of His might.
Everything that happened in the Bible was not only for the people it was happening to at the time, but as an example for us, as well. The following is one example of that.
2 Peter 2:6 "And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned [them] with an overthrow, making [them] an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;"
Isaiah says; whether you are far away, or near, acknowledge the might of Almighty God.
Isaiah 33:14 "The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"
When sinners (false professors among the elect), comprehend the might of God, fear takes hold of their lives (Acts 5:11; Heb. 12:29).
Sinners in Zion (Jerusalem), and the church now, must take heed. A "hypocrite" is one who says he believes, but does not live like he believes. He says one thing and does something else. In the verse above, the word "hypocrites" means soil, in a moral sense.
God is a consuming fire. We cannot deceive Him. He knows what we believe. Many will stand before Jesus, who call themselves Christian, and He will say, "Get away from me, I never knew you". Judgment begins at the house of God.
Isaiah 33:15 "He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;"
"Walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly": The only survivors in the presence of mighty God will be the righteous (Psalms 15:1-5; 24:3-4).
Now, we see just who will be saved. Those who walk with Christ on a daily basis shall be saved. We must live the salvation we have received. These people of Jerusalem are the same. They must walk and talk uprightly on a daily basis. We are what the condition of our hearts are.
Taking bribes is for the hypocrite, not for believers. We must stay on the narrow path which leads to everlasting life in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Isaiah 33:16 "He shall dwell on high: his place of defense [shall be] the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters [shall be] sure."
"Defense ... bread ...water": Those who are right with God will enjoy perfect security and ample provisions (32:15, 17-18).
When we dwell on high, we are living in the presence of the Lord. The Rock of protection, spoken of here as munitions, is the Lord. He is the Bread of life. He actually was the Manna which fell from heaven to feed them. Look, with me, at what Jesus said about this.
John 6:58 "This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever."
Jesus is also the Water of life, spoken of in the verse above. Jesus Christ our Lord is our Bread, our Water, and even our Life.
Isaiah 33:17 "Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off."
"King in his beauty": The prophecy moves beyond Hezekiah in his sackcloth, oppressed by his enemy, to Messiah in His beauty. Seeing Him in glory is another reward of the righteous. The near future deliverance from Sennacherib anticipates a more distant wonder when the Messiah will sit on His throne.
This is a prophecy of Messiah who will reign as King. This is speaking of the beauty of the King of kings, when He comes in power and great glory to the earth. His beauty is so great; it cannot be compared with mortal man. The "far" land, here, could be speaking of the vastness of the land He will reign over.
Verses 18-19: Speak of that future day God's people will remember past hardships under foreign domination.
Isaiah 33:18 "Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where [is] the scribe? where [is] the receiver? where [is] he that counted the towers?"
Not only will every eye see Him, but terror will befall those who denied Him. The scribe, receiver, and the one who counted the towers, had their eyes on things of the earth. They had overlooked the weightier things of the Spirit. They feel terror, because they rejected their Messiah.
Isaiah 33:19 "Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, [that thou canst] not understand."
This is speaking to God's people. They would not see these foreign oppressors again. God won the battle. The people received the victory. Jesus won the battle over the devil for you and me at Calvary too. We must accept His free gift of victory for us.
There will be no foreign languages. We will all speak the same language in the New Jerusalem.
Isaiah 33:20 "Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle [that] shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken."
God's presence is to permanently inhabit restored Jerusalem in the millennial kingdom.
"Solemnities": This was the chief part of Zion's glory that God was solemnly worshipped, and the solemn assemblies and feasts kept in her.
This city of "solemnities", is where the saints solemnly assemble together for religious worship; where the word of God is solemnly preached, and where the ordinances are solemnly administered, and the sacrifices of prayer and praise are solemnly offered up:
The "solemnities", in the verse above, probably are speaking of such things as Passover, Sabbath etc. The tabernacle that shall not be taken down has to be after the time of the destruction of the temple about 70 A.D. This prophecy leads far into the future, even unto now.
This could be speaking of the everlasting nature of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. It could also, be looking to the time when God will remember their iniquities no more. The tabernacle that shall never be destroyed is in the New Jerusalem which comes down from God.
We read about that tabernacle in Revelation.
Revelation 15:5 "And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:"
Revelation 21:1-3 "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." "And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God."
This is that everlasting tabernacle that we read of in the Scripture in Isaiah above.
Isaiah 33:21 "But there the glorious LORD [will be] unto us a place of broad rivers [and] streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby."
God is to restore wide rivers and streams as a means of defending the city.
Isaiah 33:22 "For the LORD [is] our judge, the LORD [is] our lawgiver, the LORD [is] our king; he will save us."
"He will save us": In explicit language, God, not the surrounding nations, is to deliver Israel.
We can see from the following Scripture who the Judge is.
2 Timothy 4:8 "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
Jesus is our Judge. Jesus is our Lawgiver. Jesus is our King. Jesus is our Salvation. Put your trust in Jesus, and He will not fail you.
Isaiah 33:23 "Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey."
In her own strength, Jerusalem is as helpless to defend herself as a ship deprived of its ropes and pulleys.
The earthly strings that had us tied down will be no more. Judah then or the Christians now, cannot sail their ship to safe port. Our strength is in Jesus.
Isaiah 33:24 "And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein [shall be] forgiven [their] iniquity."
"Forgiven their iniquity": When Christ returns to rule, Jerusalem will be free of physical and spiritual problems.
There is no sickness, nor suffering in this city we have been reading about.
Revelation 21:4 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."
Jeremiah 31:34 "And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
Isaiah Chapter 33 Questions
This section of Isaiah's prophecy (34:1 - 35:10), is again apocalyptic in nature. The object of God's wrath will be the "nations", "the earth", and "the world." Here the prophet depicts the worldwide carnage of the Battle of Armageddon when God's "indignation" and "fury" are poured out on "all nations" (goyim, Gentiles).
So great is this destruction that "mountains shall be melted" and the "host of heaven shall be dissolved" (i.e. melt or vanish). So severe is this devastation that the atmospheric "heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll." This apocalyptic judgment will be so cataclysmic that it will affect the earth and its atmosphere, and it will usher in "new heavens and a new earth" (65:17).
"The day of the Lord's vengeance" refers to the Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:16). This is the final devastation of the world that culminates at the end of the Tribulation period. "Day of the Lord": (Joel 2:2; Zeph. 1:15; Zech. 14:1; Mal. 4:5); "time of trouble": (Daniel 12:1); "time of Jacob's trouble": (Jer. 30:7); "the wrath to come": (1 Thess. 1:10); "wrath of the Lamb": (Rev. 6:16-17).
Isaiah 34:1 "Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it."
This message is for all the people of the world. Isaiah is speaking this as a warning to the inhabitants of the earth. The time for this prophecy could be any time from the time it was spoken, until now.
"Come near": Isaiah invited the nations to approach to hear God's sentence of judgment against them.
Isaiah 34:2 "For the indignation of the LORD [is] upon all nations, and [his] fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter."
The indignation of the Lord is upon all nations; they are all in confederacy against God and religion, all in the interests of the devil and therefore he is angry with them all, even with the nations that forget him. He has long suffered all nations to walk in their own ways (Acts 14:16), but now he will no longer keep silence.
As they have all had the benefit of his patience, so now they must all expect to feel his resentment. His fury is in a special manner upon all their armies.
This to me, is speaking of judgment and punishment from God on a people who have no intention of following Him. They try to settle their grievances with war. They place their trust in their armies, instead of in God.
Isaiah 34:3 "Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood."
This speaks of a great destruction of these enemies of God and His people.
Prolonged exposure of dead corpses was and is repulsive and disgraceful (see 14:19).
Ezekiel describes the defeat of Evil and the triumph of God and His people. As the prophet predicted the advance of Evil under the figure of the invasion of an actual army; so he declares the overthrow of Evil by the figure of a host routed and slain, and the consequent purification of a land, partially overrun and disturbed. Some forgetting that this is a figure, have searched history to find out some campaign in the land of Israel, some overthrow of invaders, on which to fix this prophecy, and have assigned localities to the burial-place "Hamon-Gog" (Ezekiel 39:11). There will be so many dead it will take 7 months to bury them. The blood will run to the horses' bridle in this great destruction.
This type of destruction really comes from God. The stink will be so bad from this battle; the people will have to put stoppers on their noses. The battle in Ezekiel is speaking of the battle of Armageddon.
Isaiah 34:4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling [fig] from the fig tree.
"Heavens ... scroll": Not even the heavens are to escape the effects of God's wrath. Rev. 6:14 affirms the future fulfillment of this prophecy during Daniel's 70th week.
Revelation 6:12-14 "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;" "And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind." "And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places."
Isaiah, in the verse above, is prophesying of something at the end of the age. This was not a prophecy of the near future. The fig tree symbolizes Israel. This is a time when even the powers of heaven are shaken.
Matthew 24:29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:"
This will be a time when mankind will not be able to trust in the material world he sees. Men's hearts will fail them for the things they see.
Luke 21:26 "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken."
Isaiah 34:5 "For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment."
It is very important to see that this judgment comes from God. Idumea is the land of Edom. You remember from earlier studies in Genesis, that Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of soup. This (in verse 5), is judgment against his descendants.
Edom: The prophet selects Edom as a representative of the rest of the nations. The negative expression of this scripture stems from their involuntary devotion to God.
"The people of God's curse" is speaking of those who disobey God. It is for those who totally reject Jesus as their Savior. Notice also, the sword of judgment is clean. It is righteous judgment.
Verses 6-7: "Lambs ... goats ... rams ... unicorns (wild oxen), ... bulls": Since the nations had not repented and obeyed God's way of sacrifice for sins, they became the sacrificial penalty for their own sins.
Isaiah 34:6 "The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, [and] with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea."
Bozrah was a chief city of Edom located about 20 miles southeast of the southern end of the Dead Sea.
This is speaking of the judgment of God as a sacrifice to Him. This great judgment is like a sacrifice to God. These people, in their rejection of God, had denied Him His sacrifice. The blood, fatness, kidneys are all God's portion of the sacrifice.
Isaiah 34:7 "And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness."
Unicorns are wild bulls in this particular instance. So much blood is shed here, that it will appear the blood soaks the land.
Isaiah 34:8 "For [it is] the day of the LORD'S vengeance, [and] the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion."
"The day of vengeance of the LORD" is the same time as the wrath of the Lord, which is poured out on the wicked and unbelieving of the world. Notice the word "year" in the verse above that shows us the wrath will not be for a very long time.
The controversy of Zion is speaking of the rejection of God's people by these evil people. Edom is spoken of specifically, because they refused passage across their land to the children of Israel. God fights the battle for His people.
Verses 9-10: God's judgment is to reduce the nations to a state of perpetual volcanic waste.
Isaiah 34:9 "And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch."
Fire and brimstone from God rained down on Sodom and Gomorrah. The water turning to pitch, in the verse above, certainly indicates such a judgment on Edom. No one was left alive in Sodom and Gomorrah. It appears the same is the case here.
Isaiah 34:10 "It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever."
God's judgment is to reduce the nations to a state of perpetual volcanic waste.
In areas of such total destruction, there would be no reason to go there. In World War 2, the areas bombed by a nuclear bomb were said to be like this.
For hundreds of years, or even thousands of years they would be uninhabitable. This is speaking of this area becoming a waste land.
Verses 11-17: The desolation and depopulation of Idumea (Edom), is symbolic of God's judgment on the entire Gentile world. The depopulation of the world by God's judgment is emphasized by the words "confusion" and "emptiness" which are also used (in Genesis 1:2), to describe the earth as empty and lifeless.
Various forms of animal and bird life symbolize the depopulated condition into which the nations fall after God's judgment upon them (34:11-15; 14:23).
Verses 11-13; pelican ... owl ... raven ... ostriches": The presence of unclean birds was a sign of desolation and wilderness. Similar symbolism portrays the final state of Babylon in the future (Rev. 18:2; compare 13:21; Jer. 50:39; Zep. 2:13-14).
Thus, the great civilizations have been reduced to a "habitation of dragons" ("jackals" or "scavengers"). For "cormorant" read "pelican"; for "bittern" read "porcupine"; for "satyr" read "wild goat." The "book of the Lord" refers to God's inspired prophecies predicting that such a day will certainly come to pass.
Isaiah 34:11 "But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness."
Edom, in all of this, is really speaking to the ungodly world as well. Man, given enough time, will destroy himself and the planet. Just as Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt (world), the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior is leading us out of this chaotic world.
The 11th verse, above, is just describing a place where humans cannot survive. Only the scavengers of the world can make it here. They are loners, living off the destruction of others.
Isaiah 34:12 "They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none [shall be] there, and all her princes shall be nothing."
The princes shall be nothing, because they died in the wrath poured out. The place the kingdom was is still there, but it is uninhabitable.
Isaiah 34:13-15 "And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be a habitation of dragons, [and] a court for owls." "The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest." "There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate."
These vultures have come to clean up the dead carcasses. They live on dead carcasses. The fact that her mate is there shows there will be plenty to clean up the dead bodies. God Himself commanded the vultures to be there to clean up.
This means this place was unfit for anyone except the devil. We do see from the words "island" and "desert" that this is not a localized destruction.
Isaiah 34:16 "Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them."
The prophecies against the nation (in verses 1-15), were just as certain as God's sovereign command through His prophet.
This means that every prophecy that Isaiah gave shall come about, because Isaiah was speaking for God.
Isaiah 34:17 "And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein."
God had partitioned off Edom just as He once did Canaan (Num. 26:55-56; Joshua 18: 4-6), and allotted it to the wild animals listed (in verses 11-15).
God is the One who decides what land belongs to whom. God gave this desolate land to the vultures.
Isaiah Chapter 34 Questions
Verses 35:1-10: The prophet Isaiah now turns to a message of hope for the future. After the great destruction of the Tribulation period will come the blessing of the millennial age when the desert "shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose."
In the Messiah's kingdom, all spiritual evil and physical catastrophe will be reversed and the land and people will be blessed. "Carmel and Sharon," the normally fertile regions of Israel, though devastated by the Battle of Armageddon, will once again be fertile and productive.
One day they will blossom more beautifully than the cedar forests of "Lebanon." The "highway" is contrasted to the desolate desert and its endless maze of shifting sands. It will be the "way of holiness" and will be reserved for the "ransomed" and "redeemed" of the Tribulation period who will enter the millennial kingdom.
Verses 1-4: In contrast to luxuriant Edom that is to become as desert (34:1-17), during Messiah's reign on earth the whole world is to become like a flourishing garden and this will offer encouragement to the weak.
Isaiah 35:1 "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose."
(In chapter 34), we read about the judgment of God on a people who were alienated from God. In this chapter, we read of the blessings of God on those who choose to follow Him.
Dramatic changes in the land are to come during the Messianic age (see Isaiah 30:23-25; 32:15-20).
The same desert that had been desolate from the evil ones, blossoms for the beloved of God. Just after the wrath of God is over, the Christians come back to the earth to reign with Jesus.
Isaiah 35:2 "It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, [and] the excellency of our God."
"Lebanon ... Carmel and Sharon": Areas near the sea noted for their agricultural fertility. "They will see": Israel is to recognize the earth's newfound fruitfulness as coming from the Lord and attribute to Him the appropriate credit.
The church of the Lord Jesus Christ has been delivered from the troubles of the world during the wrath of God on the earth. We see them now, dancing and singing, rejoicing in the Lord. The glory of the LORD will be upon the earth in the presence of God's people at this time.
Revelation 20:6 "Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
During this reign of Jesus as King, the devil will be chained. There will be nothing harmful, or negative at all. The weather will be perfect. The crops will grow abundantly. The Light of the world will be present. All of nature will be operating in cooperation with Jesus our King. Even the temperature will be perfect.
This is speaking of the 1,000 year Sabbath of rest for the Christian that is spoken of as the Millennium reign of Jesus Christ upon the earth. The six 1,000 year days have ended and the one 1,000 year day of Sabbath is here.
Isaiah 35:3 "Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees."
"Weak ... feeble": The future change in Israel's international role is to serve to encourage the discouraged among the people. The writer of Hebrews gave an additional application of this verse to strengthen endurance among Christians suffering persecution for their faith (Heb. 12:12).
Isaiah encourages the people he is giving this prophecy to. He says strengthen each other in the knowledge this great day is coming. Build each other up in the most holy faith.
Romans 15:1 "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves."
Isaiah 35:4 "Say to them [that are] of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come [with] vengeance, [even] God [with] a recompence; he will come and save you."
The vengeance of God (34:8), is to furnish the means to redeem His long-oppressed people of Israel.
Those who are strong must help those who are of a fearful heart. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Encourage those who are weary and fearful. To be fearful means the faith is not as strong as it should be. Build others up in the most holy faith.
Some become fearful, because they have given up on the Lord coming back to save them. The best way to encourage them is with Scripture.
Isaiah 35:5 "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped."
"Eyes ... opened ... ears ... unstopped": This is to reverse the spiritual condition of the immediate objects of Isaiah's ministry (see 29:18; 32:3).
This prophecy was fulfilled in part, when Jesus ministered on the earth for 3-1/2 years and did miracles. This has a larger fulfillment, in the fact that all will hear and understand during His reign on this earth as King. In the presence of our King, all will hear and all will see.
Unfortunately, from the children born to those who go into the Millennium, many will rebel and not follow Christ even in such a perfect environment.
Verses 6-7: Water was and is a precious commodity in Israel (41:18). In the Millennium, there will be no scarcity.
Isaiah 35:6 "Then shall the lame [man] leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert."
God's restoration in the millennial age is to include physical restoration to the afflicted. Jesus' first coming gave a foretaste of that future day (Matt. 11:15; 12:22; Mark 7:37; Luke 7:21; Acts 3:8).
The devil is the author of blindness, deafness, and lameness. Since he will be chained, there will be no one who cannot walk, or talk, or see, or hear. The hearing and seeing are not only in the physical, but in the spiritual, as well.
No one will have to teach of Jesus then, because all will know Him.
Isaiah 35:7 "And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, [shall be] grass with reeds and rushes."
The rocky crags normally inhabited by jackals (34:13), are to become splashy meadows.
There is not just a total restoration to man in that day, but to all of nature as well. The earth will be like the Garden of Eden.
Where the land had been parched in the time of the wrath of God, now the rivers flow. There will be natural springs rising out of the ground that will bring clear, pure water. Life will spring forth in the desert areas. The grass and plants will flourish in the desert.
Isaiah 35:8 "And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it [shall be] for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err [therein]."
This refers to the way leading the redeemed back to Jerusalem, the throne of Messiah, literally and spiritually. Christ Himself is to be the leader on that way (called in 40:3), the "way for the Lord."
The straight and narrow path will still be there, but it will be no problem to stay in the way. The temptation to sin will not be coming from every direction then. This road, provided by God for His followers, will be well marked. It will be holy. All who walk on this road are headed for an eternity in heaven with God.
The Light of Jesus will light up the path that we are to walk. He is the Way. The world may think you to be a fool, but you will be wise unto salvation. This path is not for the worldly. This is the path of the righteous.
Isaiah 35:9 "No lion shall be there, nor [any] ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk [there]:"
No ferocious beasts are to threaten the safety of those traveling the Highway of Holiness. "The redeemed": Mentioned only rarely (in chapters 1-39; 1:27; 29:22), whose theme is judgment; terms for redemption occur frequently (in chapters 40-66).
The lion will be harmless to man at this time.
Isaiah 11:6-7 "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them." "And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox."
Just as Moses led the children of Israel to their promised land, Jesus will lead those He has redeemed to their promised land (heaven).
Revelation 5:9 "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;"
Isaiah 35:10 "And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."
"The ransomed ... flee away" (see 51:11), where the words occur again. Gladness is to replace sadness across the board in the day of Israel's restoration.
Zion, in this Scripture, could be that heavenly Zion. Ransomed means we have been purchased back. Jesus purchased (ransomed) us with His precious blood at Calvary. We had been held hostage by the old devil. Jesus paid the ultimate price to ransom us.
The song we sing, only the redeemed can sing. The joy to be set free is overwhelming. This joy lasts forever. Once we are with Him, joy and gladness are ours to keep. He will wipe all tears away from our eyes. There will be no more sorrow.
To be with Jesus is the greatest joy a Christian can experience. The greatest part of all this is, we will never be separated from Him again. PRAISE THE LORD!
Isaiah Chapter 35 Questions
Verses 1-3: Standing like a beacon in the middle of Isaiah's prophecies is the Historic Interlude (36:1 - 39:8), which records the fulfillment of the prophet's predictions concerning the overthrow of Assyria and the rise of Babylon. The 4 chapters duplicate almost verbatim (2 Kings 18:13 - 20:19; 2 Chronicles 32:1-23).
(Chapters 36 and 37), are the historical consummation (of chapters 1-35), Jerusalem's deliverance from Assyria (and chapters 38 and 39), the historical basis for (chapters 40-66), a preview of the Babylonian captivity.
This section shifts from poetry to prose and is parallel to the accounts recorded (in 2 Kings chapters 18-20 and 2 Chron. chapter 32).
Sennacherib ruled Assyria (from 705 to 681 B.C.). He immediately ousted the usurper Merodach-baladan of Babylon (see Isaiah 39), and invaded Judah (in 701 B.C.). His initial campaign against the cities of Judah was completely successful, as the Assyrians swept through the area, with Ashkelon and Lachish suffering the worst. The Chronicle of Sennacherib claims that he captured 46 towns and 200,000 people.
From Lachish, he sent officers to Hezekiah to demand the surrender of Jerusalem. The archaeological discovery of the Taylor Prism reveals Sennacherib's own description of the siege of Jerusalem: "I shut him (Hezekiah), like a caged bird within his royal capital." However, the account makes no claim to the actual conquest of Jerusalem or Hezekiah. The conduit of the upper pool is where Hezekiah had dug a new water tunnel to help maintain the water supply for the city.
Isaiah 36:1 "Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, [that] Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the defensed cities of Judah, and took them."
Since Sennacherib's attack came (in 701 B.C.), this places the beginning of Hezekiah's reign (in 715 B.C.). But since (2 Kings 18:1), says he began to reign in the third year of Hoshea (729 B.C.), Hezekiah served as co-regent with Ahaz (729-716 B.C.), before assuming the throne exclusively. It was customary for the later kings of Israel to assume their sons into partnership in the government during their lives.
Sennacherib, the king of Assyria (705 to 681 B.C.).
"Defensed cities": The discovery of the ancient Annals of Sennacherib reveals the cities he conquered in his campaign southward from Sidon on the Mediterranean coast.
We can quickly see from this, the change of time in this chapter. (In chapter 35) we had been looking at prophecy of the end time. Now we are back to the time when Isaiah lived. The time of this could be dated sometime about (715-700 B.C.).
The date something happened is not extremely important for our teachings, because we are looking at the Spiritual meaning, rather than the literal. We do need to note that this happens in the fourteenth year of the reign of Hezekiah.
We see that Assyria was an enemy of Judah, even then. We also see that the king of Assyria, Sennacherib, came against Judah and defeated them. The walls of the city did not save them.
Isaiah 36:2 "And the king of Assyria sent Rab-shakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field."
Rab-shakeh was the spokesman for Sennacherib's three highest officials, who represented the king against Jerusalem on this occasion (according to 2 Kings 18:17).
"Great army": This was a token force of the main army (37:36), with which Sennacherib hoped to bluff Judah into submitting.
Lachish was a city about 25 miles southwest of Jerusalem. Sennacherib's conquest of this city was in its closing phase when he sent the messengers.
"Conduit of the upper pool": Isaiah met Ahaz at the same spot to try unsuccessfully to dissuade him from trusting in foreign powers.
Lachish is an ancient city of the Amorites. This area seems to be a favorite place for others to attack Judah.
Isaiah 36:3 "Then came forth unto him Eliakim, Hilkiah's son, which was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, Asaph's son, the recorder."
"Joah ... the recorder": The position was that of an intermediary between the king and the people.
Let us pause for a moment and look at the meaning of these people's names. "Eliakim" means God will establish. "Hilkiah" means portion of Jehovah. Shebna was actually secretary to Hezekiah. Joah recorded all the affairs. The main thing we need to see here, is that Hezekiah sent three of his men to meet with them.
Verses 4-10: Rab-shakeh (2 Kings 18:17), is a title meaning "chief aide" and refers to a high court official. Ironically, he actually came to the very spot where Isaiah met Ahaz 30 years earlier to warn him not to trust in Assyria (see 7:3). Then Rab-shakeh demands that Hezekiah surrender to the "great king ... of Assyria" (i.e. Sennacherib).
He shows his ignorance of Hebrew theology by assuming that Hezekiah had torn down the "high places ... and altars" of Jehovah, when in reality Hezekiah had brought about a great spiritual revival by destroying the altars of Baal. The demand to "give pledges" means to pay tribute.
Rabshakeh's logic was twofold:
(1) Egypt was to be unable to deliver Jerusalem; and
(2) The Lord had called on the Assyrians to destroy Judah (verses 7 and 10).
Isaiah 36:4 "And Rab-shakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence [is] this wherein thou trustest?"
"The great king, the king of Assyria": The self appropriated title of Assyrian kings. In contrast, Rabshakeh rudely omitted any title for Hezekiah (verses 4, 14-16).
Rab-shakeh spoke for Sennacherib. He sends a message to Hezekiah by the three men Hezekiah sent to meet them. The main issue is where do they put their trust?
Isaiah 36:5 "I say, [sayest thou], (but [they are but] vain words) [I have] counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?"
Words amounted to nothing when it came to warfare. In other words, Judah was defenseless.
Sennacherib is prepared for war to come against Hezekiah. His men tell Hezekiah's men they are prepared to fight. They ask Hezekiah's men, where are your weapons and men to fight? Where are you putting your trust?
Isaiah 36:6 "Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so [is] Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him."
"Broken reed ... Egypt": The Assyrians' advice strongly resembled that of Isaiah's (19:14-16; 30:7; 31:3).
Egypt had been a powerful force in times past, but Assyria here, says they are rotten within. If Hezekiah tries to rely on Egypt, they will crumble and fall. He uses the word Pharaoh, because it was uncertain which of the princes in Egypt really was the leader.
Isaiah 36:7 "But if thou say to me, We trust in the LORD our God: [is it] not he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and said to Judah and to Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar?"
Rabshakeh mistakenly thought Hezekiah's reforms in removing idols had removed opportunities to worship the Lord. That all worship should center in Solomon's temple was utterly foreign to the polytheistic Assyrians.
This leader of Assyria did not realize when Hezekiah had the altars and high places torn down, he was pleasing God, not offending Him. Hezekiah was a man after God's heart. It would be correct for him to look to God for help.
The brazen altar in the temple in Jerusalem is where offerings should have been made. The Assyrian did not realize that Hezekiah was doing it God's way, when he told them to sacrifice in Jerusalem exclusively.
Rabshakeh taunted and minimized Judah's best defensive efforts, even with Egypt's help.
Isaiah 36:8 "Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them."
This Assyrian was trying to make a covenant with Hezekiah. He is really making fun of Hezekiah's ability to put an army together to fight, when he offers him 2000 horses. He is saying you cannot find 2000 men to fight on the horses, even if I gave them to you.
Isaiah 36:9 "How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?"
Sennacherib was a very powerful force to be reckoned with. Egypt could possibly send help, but that would not necessarily mean Hezekiah would win the battle.
Isaiah 36:10 "And am I now come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it? the LORD said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it."
Rabshakeh's boastful claim of the authority from Judah's God for his mission may have been a ploy on his part to get a surrender, but it aligned with Isaiah's prophecy that the Assyrians would be His instrument to punish His people (8:7-8; 10:5-6).
The Assyrians may have heard this from partisans or may not have known this, but Judah did.
This is a strange message to come from Sennacherib. He says, God told him to come and destroy Judah. I can say for sure, that God uses His enemies to carry out His judgment sometimes. God controls them the same as all of His followers.
Verses 11-22: Fearful that the words of the Rab-shakeh might panic the common people, the Jewish representatives requested that he speak to them in the "Syrian language" (Aramaic), instead of the "Jews' language" (Judean or Hebrew). By this period of history, Aramaic had become the common language of international diplomacy. "Make an agreement with me by a present", means to make an alliance to pay tribute to Assyria.
Isaiah 36:11 "Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rab-shakeh, Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand [it]: and speak not to us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people that [are] on the wall."
Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah represented Hezekiah. They were sent for this special job, since they spoke the Syrian language, which was Aramaic.
"Syrian language ... Jew's language": Hezekiah's representatives, aware of the alarm created by the suggestion that the Lord was on the Assyrian side, asked Rabshakeh to change from Hebrew, or Judean, to Aramaic, the language of diplomacy.
The reason the 3 from Hezekiah wanted them to speak Aramaic, instead of Hebrew, was so the soldiers guarding the wall would not be able to understand and become afraid.
Isaiah 36:12 "But Rab-shakeh said, Hath my master sent me to thy master and to thee to speak these words? [hath he] not [sent me] to the men that sit upon the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?"
The foreign emissary continued his efforts to damage the city's morale by speaking of the horrors of famine that a long siege would entail.
This is a nasty way of saying their defeat will be so bad they will have no food and water for their provisions. He wants Hezekiah's soldiers to hear and understand so they will be afraid. He wants these soldiers to rebel against Hezekiah.
Verses 13-17: Rabshakeh spoke longer and louder, suggesting that Hezekiah could not save the city, but the great king, the king of Assyria, would fill the people with abundance.
Isaiah 36:13 "Then Rab-shakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Assyria."
This Assyrian was crying aloud so all the people could hear and turn against Hezekiah. He spoke loudly for all to hear, hoping their fear would overcome them.
Isaiah 36:14 "Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you."
The Assyrian was trying to break their confidence in Hezekiah.
Isaiah 36:15 "Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria."
Hezekiah did trust in God. He would try to cause them to trust in God also. These things are true about his statement. The message Hezekiah would bring these people is, not to falter in their faith, but trust God and He will deliver them. Hezekiah believes God will save them.
Isaiah 36:16 "Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make [an agreement] with me [by] a present, and come out to me: and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern;"
"Make an agreement": Literally "make a blessing with me". The official invited the people to make a covenant with Assyria by surrendering.
In a sense he is saying, desert your army and side in with me and Sennacherib. He even promises them they can stay on their own place and eat their own food. To show they have sided with him, they must bring him a present.
Isaiah 36:17 "Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards."
After Sennacherib took over, he would move them to Assyria. He would promise them they would be able to live just as they had before.
Verses 18-20: In Rabshakeh's eyes, the Lord was one of the many gods worshiped by nations conquered by the Assyrians (10:8-11).
Isaiah 36:18 "[Beware] lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?"
The difference is Hezekiah's God is God, these other gods are not. The successes of Sennacherib were well known. He thought he would be able to turn them against God and Hezekiah by telling them it was useless to fight a winner like Assyria.
Rabshakeh did not hide Assyria's well known practice of deporting conquered peoples to distant places.
Isaiah 36:19-20 "Where [are] the gods of Hamath and Arphad? Where [are] the gods of Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?" "Who [are they] among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?"
If they would look at the battle against Hamath, they would realize the cruelty of these Assyrians. They burned Hamath to death, after they captured him. Arphad is mentioned, because they sided in with Hamath in the war, and came up with the same fate.
I say again, their gods were not the real God. If Samaria fell to the Assyrians, what made Hezekiah believe they would not fall, too?
Isaiah 36:21 "But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not."
They had orders from their leaders not to listen to the ministers Assyria sent. They did not get frightened and follow the Assyrian. They did not even answer him at all.
Hezekiah had apparently anticipated the ultimatum of the Assyrians and had told his representatives and the men on the wall not to respond.
Isaiah 36:22 "Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that [was] over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with [their] clothes rent, and told him the words of Rab-shakeh."
These three did not want to bring this message to Hezekiah. They rent their clothes, because the message was so bad. They reported to him in a state of grief and shock at the blasphemy they thought they had heard.
They were mourning for their king, their country, and their inability to change the mind of Rab-shakeh. They gave Hezekiah the message with much sorrow in their hearts.
Isaiah Chapter 36 Questions
Verses 1-13: Horrified by the demand of the Assyrians, Hezekiah "rent his clothes" (a sign of mourning), went into "the house of the Lord" (the temple), and sent for "Isaiah the prophet." Recognizing that "this is a day of trouble," the king went to "prayer" for the "remnant" of survivors within the besieged city. When Isaiah arrived, he spoke with great confidence, promising a miraculous deliverance by the Lord, who will send a "blast" (ruach, "spirit"), upon the invaders.
Thus, God promised to send a spirit of confusion upon the invaders by means of a "rumor" (report), of the advance of the Egyptians led by "Tirhakah, king of Ethiopia," who was the most famous king of Egypt's Twenty-fifth Dynasty. This may also explain why Sennacherib himself did not come to Jerusalem to demand its surrender.
Isaiah 37:1 "And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard [it], that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD."
"Rent ... Sackcloth": A reaction that symbolized Hezekiah's grief, repentance and contrition. The nation was to repent and the king was to lead the way.
"House of the Lord": God designated the temple as His "house of prayer" (56:7; Matt. 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46), so it was the proper place to go to confess sins and seek forgiveness (Psalm 73:16-17).
In the last lesson, the 3 messengers had come back from meeting with the Assyrian with bad news. The Assyrians were threatening to take Judah.
When Hezekiah hears this bad news, he immediately goes into mourning. He tears his regular clothes from himself, and puts on sackcloth, the garment of mourning. He went to the temple to pray to the LORD.
Isaiah 37:2 "And he sent Eliakim, who [was] over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz."
These priests were senior religious leaders in Israel.
Again, Hezekiah sends these men to speak to the prophet, Isaiah, for him. They are all dressed in mourning clothes as well. Hezekiah was a humble man and probably sent them, thinking himself unworthy to speak directly to the prophet, Isaiah.
Hezekiah had great respect for the prophet of God, Isaiah.
Isaiah 37:3 "And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day [is] a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and [there is] not strength to bring forth."
"Come to birth ... not strength": Hezekiah compared his dilemma with a mother in labor unable to deliver her child. Jerusalem had to be delivered, but he was helpless to make it happen.
The worst mistake Hezekiah had made, was putting his faith in Egypt for help. He was truly a servant of God however. Hezekiah felt in his heart this was a judgment of God against the land of Judah.
It appears that Hezekiah is saying that the words Rab-shakeh had spoken of the Lord were blasphemy. The statement about the birth above, is saying they are in trouble and cannot get themselves out of it.
Isaiah 37:4 "It may be the LORD thy God will hear the words of Rab-shakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up [thy] prayer for the remnant that is left."
"Reproach the living God": Hezekiah received a report of Rab-shakeh's belittling of the Lord by equating Him with other gods and points out the distinction between God who is living and gods who are lifeless and helpless (40:18-20; 46:5-7).
"Remnant that is left": Only Jerusalem remained unconquered. Hezekiah asked Isaiah's prayer for the city.
Hezekiah is pleading for Isaiah to pray to God for them. He reminds Isaiah that Rab-shakeh had spoken in error about God. Hezekiah says that the attack is against God's character, as well as against God's people.
Isaiah 37:5 "So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah."
The men Hezekiah sent, bring the message to Isaiah, as they had been commanded.
Isaiah 37:6 "And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me."
Isaiah is speaking in behalf of God here. He tells these messengers to tell Hezekiah not to be afraid. God has heard the statements the Assyrian made against God.
This is the same assurance Isaiah had given Ahaz (in 7:4).
Isaiah 37:7 "Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumor, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land."
This "blast" means a spirit. The Lord promised to incline Sennacherib's attitude in such a way that he would leave Jerusalem unharmed and return home.
The blast that God puts on him will break his will to fight and he will return to Assyria. This rumor is started to get his mind on things at home. Perhaps, he heard someone was attacking his homeland, we do not know. He did believe it, and went back to Assyria.
It appears he will not be safe there. He will be driven through by a sword later and die.
Isaiah 37:8 "So Rab-shakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish."
This man who had insulted Hezekiah in every way he could, now knows that his own country is at war. Sennacherib had conquered Lachish, Nineveh, and Babylon.
After conquering Lachish, Sennacherib moved on to this smaller town to the North of Lachish.
Now he was fighting with Libnah. All of these were on the direct course to Egypt.
Isaiah 37:9 "And he heard say concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, He is come forth to make war with thee. And when he heard [it], he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,"
Ethiopia is another name for Cush. Tirhakah did not become king of Cush, or Ethiopia and Egypt (until 11 years after the 701 B.C. siege), so Isaiah's use of the "king" anticipates his future title.
At that moment however, he represented a threat to Sennacherib from the South that caused him to renew his call for Jerusalem's surrender to the North.
This Tirhakah was king of what is modern Ethiopia, and went on to be ruler in Egypt. It seems that Hezekiah had made his agreement with Tirhakah. The attack by him to help Hezekiah was not a real threat to Sennacherib, but rather a diversion.
Rab-shakeh immediately sends a message to Hezekiah about this.
Verses 10-13: The king of Assyria sent messengers to summarize the arguments given in Rabshakeh's ultimatum (of 36:4-19).
Isaiah 37:10 "Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria."
The accusation of deception was first against Hezekiah (36:14), then against the Lord.
This insulting remark he makes is not just to Hezekiah, but to God as well. He is, in a sense, calling God a liar. It is a dangerous thing for anyone to boast against God.
Verses 11-13: The threat repeats the thrust of (36:18-20).
Isaiah 37:11 "Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them utterly; and shalt thou be delivered?"
The monuments these Assyrians left show that their intention was to rule the known world. They believed the false god Asshur was on their side, and they would win.
Isaiah 37:12-13 "Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, [as] Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which [were] in Telassar?" "Where [is] the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?"
The conquered cities mentioned here lay between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq).
The gods of the nations they had defeated were not the true God. They had no power to help them. They are now coming against the One True God, the God of Israel.
Verses 14-32: Hezekiah took the "letter" into the temple and "spread it before the Lord" as an act of his utter dependence upon God. In his prayer, he acknowledges that the "Lord of hosts" is the "God of Israel" who dwells "between the cherubim," where His glory was manifested on the Ark of the Covenant. In response to Hezekiah's prayer, God promises a divine reprieve of continued national prosperity when Judah will "take root downward, and bear fruit upward".
Isaiah 37:14 "And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD."
"House of the Lord": Godly Hezekiah returned to the house of the Lord as he should have, in contrast to Ahaz, who in a similar crisis refused even to ask for a sign from the Lord (7:11-12).
God already knew about the letter, but Hezekiah is not aware of that fact. He takes the letter to the temple and shows it to God. This in a sense, is just bringing God's attention to the matter.
It was very important for Hezekiah to come to show the letter to God. It shows that Hezekiah has faith in God to punish them for this.
Isaiah 37:15-16 "And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying," "O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest [between] the cherubims, thou [art] the God, [even] thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth."
In this, Hezekiah states his unfailing belief in God. Notice "the God". This shows that Hezekiah believes in no other God. In the tabernacle in the wilderness and in the temple in Jerusalem, God's presence was in the Holy of Holies. In fact, the presence was over the mercy seat. He even recognizes the fact that God created the earth and all that is in it.
The Egyptians, at this time, believed in something very similar to what we call evolution. Sennacherib believed each country had its own god. The Hebrews believed in One God. This statement lets God know that Hezekiah has not picked up the beliefs of the Egyptians.
Isaiah 37:17 "Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God."
"Hear ... see ... hear": In contrast to the gods of other nations (Psalm 115:4-7), the God of Israel heard and saw all.
Hezekiah realizes that his only hope is in God. In the physical sense, Hezekiah cannot win. He reminds God that this Sennacherib is not only threatening him, but God as well. He is actually ridiculing the God of Hezekiah.
We will see in the next lesson just how dangerous it is to come against the Living God.
Isaiah Chapter 37 Questions
Verses 18-19: Hezekiah exposed the Assyrian theory that the Lord was no different from gods of the other nations that could not deliver their worshipers.
Isaiah 37:18 "Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries,"
In the last lesson, we saw that Hezekiah carried the threatening letter from the Assyrians, and laid it before the Lord in the temple. He also, prayed for God's help. In the prayer, he reaffirmed his faith in God. Now he says, it is true, the Assyrians have defeated many of their neighboring countries.
Isaiah 37:19 "And have cast their gods into the fire: for they [were] no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them."
Hezekiah is reaffirming the fact that the gods of these countries had been easy to destroy, because they were not really God. Things made with your hands are idols (nothings). God is Spirit. You cannot see Him with your physical eyes.
Isaiah 37:20 "Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou [art] the LORD, [even] thou only."
"Thou only": Hezekiah displayed the highest motivation of all in requesting the salvation of Jerusalem: that the world may know that the Lord alone is God (Dan. 9:16-19).
In this request, Hezekiah tells God that all the surrounding countries would believe in the One True God, if He saves Judah. It would prove to the others that the LORD is God, and there is none other.
Isaiah 37:21 "Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria:"
"Isaiah the son of Amoz": Immediately upon the conclusion of Hezekiah's prayer, Isaiah had a response from the Lord.
We see from this that Isaiah is speaking as an ambassador of the Lord, when he speaks to Hezekiah. It is not the message of Isaiah, but the message of the Lord, spoken through Isaiah. We must also note, that the prayer is what brought the response from the Lord.
Isaiah 37:22 "This [is] the word which the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, [and] laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee."
Jerusalem, portrayed as a virgin helpless before a would be rapist, had the "last laugh" against Sennacherib.
"The virgin, the daughter of Zion" is speaking of the young Jerusalem. The church is also spoken of as the chaste virgin of Christ. This is saying they are under the protection of the Lord. There is no fear for the followers of God, when they are assured God will fight for them. They shake their head at Assyria, because God has taken up their battle for them.
Isaiah 37:23 "Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? And against whom hast thou exalted [thy] voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? [even] against the Holy One of Israel."
"Thou reproached ... blasphemed": The Lord had heard Sennacherib's reproach against Him (37:17).
Not only have these Assyrians come against Judah, but against the God of Judah as well. He is saying, you have mocked God. Their blasphemy was of God Himself.
Verses 24-25: Even the servants of Sennacherib had bragged about Assyria's being unstoppable.
Isaiah 37:24 "By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, [and] the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, [and] the forest of his Carmel."
We can see the arrogance of this king of Assyria. He had planned to utterly destroy Judah, but he had not taken into consideration the God of Judah. God knew even his evil thoughts, before he uttered his threats. The things mentioned above, were the things he had boasted to his people that he would do to Judah.
He planned to invade Judea through Lebanon. He had planned to rob the land of their beautiful cedars, and take them for his own people. "The forest of his Carmel" was speaking of the gardens in Judea with olive and fig trees.
Isaiah 37:25 "I have digged, and drunk water; and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of the besieged places."
Some of the places that he had besieged had been defeated, because he cut off their water supply. This is his plan for here, as well. He built dams on their rivers to stop the water flow.
Isaiah 37:26 "Hast thou not heard long ago, [how] I have done it; [and] of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste defensed cities [into] ruinous heaps."
"I brought it to pass": God corrected Sennacherib's vanity; he conquered nothing on his own, but was a mere instrument in the Lord's hand.
A smart king would never tell the enemy how they would attack them. He tells them how, because he is so confident that he can defeat them. This is just boasting to frighten Hezekiah of Judah.
Isaiah 37:27 "Therefore their inhabitants [were] of small power, they were dismayed and confounded: they were [as] the grass of the field, and [as] the green herb, [as] the grass on the housetops, and [as corn] blasted before it be grown up."
"They were dismayed": Assyria had utterly overwhelmed populations included in their conquests. This is more boasting of what had happened to the other godless countries that he had invaded.
The countries they had fought (up to now), had been so weak; they just destroyed them without too much effort. The grass, mentioned here, is young and tender and easy to destroy.
Isaiah 37:28 "But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me."
"Thy rage against me": Sennacherib's ignorance of being a mere tool in the Lord's hand was bad, but his belittling of God, the source of his life, was far worse.
Nothing is hidden from God. He knows the things Sennacherib has been doing. He knows where he lives. He knows when he sits down and when he gets up. God knows even the thoughts of Sennacherib. He also knows of the boasting he has done against God.
You may hide something from someone in the world, but you cannot hide anything from God.
Isaiah 37:29 "Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest."
Hook in thy nose ... bridle in thy lips": In judging Sennacherib, the Lord treated him as an obstinate animal with a ring in his nose and a bridle in his mouth. Some ancient sources indicate that captives were led before a king by a cord attached to a hook or ring through the upper lip and nose. Thus, he was to be brought back to his own country.
This is God, who leads Sennacherib wherever He wants him to go. It is as if God has put hooks in his jaws to lead him with. Just as the horseman turns the horse with the bridle in his mouth, God turns the head of Sennacherib to go where He wants him to.
Compare this with (Ezekiel 38:4), and see that God can and will do these things: "And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armor, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:"
These events in Ezekiel speak about events that will be at a different time which is in the latter days. It is supposed these enemies will come together to invade the land of Judea, and God will defeat them. God not only sees who are now the enemies of His church, but He foresees who will be so, and lets them know by His word that He is against them; though they join together, the wicked shall not go unpunished.
Isaiah 37:30 "And this [shall be] a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat [this] year such as groweth of itself; and the second year that which springeth of the same: and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof."
The two years in which they were sustained by the growth of the crops were the two in which Sennacherib ravaged them (32:10). He left immediately after the deliverance (37:37), so in the third year, the people left could plant again.
The sign given to Hezekiah is that they will eat of voluntary crops the year this is spoken, and the next year, and the third year the land will produce in a normal fashion as before. The third year, they will have to plant a normal crop and reap the fruit as it comes in.
Verses 31-32: "Remnant ... remnant": From the remnant of survivors in Jerusalem came descendants who covered the land once again.
Isaiah 37:31 "And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:"
God always saves a remnant of Judah. God is saying in the third year they shall spread over the land and not be afraid because they have the protection of God. They shall be settled in the land, grounded in the protection of God, and their fruit will produce.
We know that a large number of the men of Judah had been captured already by the Assyrians, but God will protect the remainder.
Isaiah 37:32 "For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this."
"The zeal of the Lord of hosts": The same confirmation of God's promise (in 9:7), assured the future establishment of the messianic kingdom. Deliverance from Sennacherib in Hezekiah's day was a down payment on the literal, final restoration of Israel.
The remnant was always those who had not bowed their knee to Baal. They were those who truly believed in God. They put their trust in the Lord and He did not let them down. There is a special protection from God on this remnant. The zeal of the LORD could also be thought of as the holiness of the LORD.
Mount Zion is the city of our God, Jerusalem. It is also the church. Just as God protects this remnant, He protects the church supernaturally as well. He is jealous over His people. He will not let them be destroyed.
Verses 33-38: God promised Hezekiah that the "king of Assyria ... shall not come into this city", because God will defend it "for my servant David's sake" (i.e. to protect the Davidic line). "The angel of the Lord" is Christ Himself who had often moved in power on Israel's behalf (Genesis 18: 1-13; Josh. 5:13 - 6:5; and Judges 6:11-23).
Just as He had earlier delivered Israel from the Pharaoh of Egypt (Exodus 12:29), so now He delivers Judah from the king of Assyria. He "went forth, and smote" 185,000 in the "camp of the Assyrians." A parallel account is recorded (in 2 Kings 19:35), which adds the words "and it came to pass that night (i.e. the night after Hezekiah had prayed).
Hearing of the devastation of his troops at Jerusalem and of the advance of Tirhakah's army, Sennacherib returned to "Nineveh," where he was assassinated 20 years later (in 681 B.C.), by his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer (known in Akkadian as Adad-milki and Shar-usur).
"Armenia" is south of Russia beyond the Ararat mountains. "Esar-haddon" succeeded Sennacherib and ruled Assyria (from 681 to 669 B.C.).
Isaiah 37:33 "Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it."
"Shall not come ... cast a bank against it": God promised that the Assyrians would not even pose a physical threat to Jerusalem. They came near, but never engaged in a true siege of the city.
God stops Sennacherib short of coming into Jerusalem. He cannot even fight his war in the city at all. God spoke it, and it is so.
Isaiah 37:34 "By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD."
God will stop him and send him back the same way he came.
Isaiah 37:35 "For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake."
"For mine own sake": Since Sennacherib had directly challenged the Lord's faithfulness to His word (verse 10), the faithfulness of God was at stake in this contest with the Assyrians (Ezek. 36:22).
"For my servant David's sake": God pledged to perpetuate David's line on this throne (see 2 Sam. 7:16; 9:6-7; 11:1; 55:3).
Jerusalem was the city of David, as well as being the holy city of God. God Himself, will defend Jerusalem.
Isaiah 37:36 "Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they [were] all dead corpses."
"The angel of the Lord": This was Isaiah's only use of a title that is frequent in the Old Testament, one referring to the Lord Himself.
"Smote": Secular records also mention this massive slaughter of Assyrian troops, without noting its supernatural nature, of course (Exodus 12:12, 29).
Notice the angel, not a host of angels, killed 185 thousand Assyrians. The amazing thing is the power of the angel of the LORD. You can easily see how silly it is to fear the world, or Satan.
All God has to do is send one angel to protect us from hundreds of thousands of the enemies. He did not just strike them, but killed them, because they were all dead corpses.
Isaiah 37:37 "So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh."
Nineveh: the capital of Assyria.
Sennacherib was smart enough to realize he could not fight God. He left and went to the evil city of Nineveh to live.
Isaiah 37:38 "And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead."
"His god": The place of Sennacherib's death, 681 B.C. recalled the impotence of his god, Nisroch, compared with the omnipotence of Hezekiah's God.
"Smote him": Sennacherib's pitiful death came 20 years after his confrontation with the Lord regarding the fate of Jerusalem.
"Ararat" is the mountain region north of Israel, west of Assyria.
This evil Sennacherib had some evil sons, who killed their daddy, while he was worshipping his false god. They fled to Armenia. His third son, Esar-haddon, took over as king. He was the successor to Sennacherib (681-669 B.C.).
There are several lessons we can learn from this. Evil begets evil; do not threaten God; one angel can defeat thousands of evil men.
Isaiah Chapter 37 Continued Questions
Chapter 38:1-8: The events covered in this section (38:1 - 39:8), are actually out of order chronologically. Chapters (36 and 37), serving as a conclusion to the Assyrian period of Isaiah's ministry, and (chapters 38 and 39), forming an introduction to the coming Babylonian captivity, which is pictured throughout (chapters 40-66).
Deeply broken by Isaiah's stern warning that "thou shalt die," Hezekiah "prayed" and "wept sore" and was given an extension of "fifteen years;" God promised that he would deliver Jerusalem out of the hand of the "king of Assyria (see chapters 36 and 37). In contrast to Ahaz, Hezekiah accepted the offer of a "sign" ("miracle"), requesting that the "sun dial of Ahaz" be moved "ten degrees backward" by a supernatural miracle that reversed the falling shadow on the steps (or degree markers), of the sundial.
Isaiah 38:1 "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live."
"In those days ... sick": Hezekiah's sickness occurred before the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem described (in chapters 36 and 37). Isaiah placed the description of this illness here, along with (chapter 39), to introduce (chapters 40-66).
"Set thine house in order": An instruction telling Hezekiah to make his final will known to his family. The prediction that he shall die sounded final, but Hezekiah knew God was willing to hear his appeal (Exodus 32:7-14).
The very same statement is found (in 2 Kings chapter 20). It appears that in the fourteenth year of the reign of Hezekiah, he becomes very sick, even unto death. Sick unto death means a person could die with the sickness, and probably would have, if the Lord had not extended his life.
The prophet, Isaiah, brings the news to Hezekiah that he is about to die. Prophets do not always bring good news. They bring the message God has sent. This type of message would be a shock to anyone.
Isaiah 38:2 "Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD,"
We see (in 2 Kings 20:2-3), that Hezekiah reminded the Lord in prayer of his piety and devotion to God. He did not specifically ask to be healed. Based on the interpretation of the date from (verse 1), Hezekiah wept because:
(1) He thought his death would give Sennacherib cause for boasting; or
(2) His son Manasseh was too young to become king.
Hezekiah was not looking to the world for answers to his problem. He turned his face from the world. The only place there could be help was from the LORD. Prayer changes things, as we will see in the following verses.
Isaiah 38:3 "And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done [that which is] good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore."
"Perfect heart": Hezekiah based his implied request for an extension of his life on an undivided desire to please the Lord.
Hezekiah is like so many of us would be, if we knew we were about to die. His plea includes a reminder to God that he has tried to live the way God would have him to live. Notice, that Hezekiah says his heart has been right with God.
Hezekiah is about 39 years of age when this happens to him. He feels he is too young to die. It was not thought of as weakness for a man to cry at the time of this writing. Even Jesus wept at the loss of his friend. The crying just shows the sincerity of the prayer.
Isaiah 38:4-5 "Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying," "Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years."
"Fifteen years": The Lord's immediate response (2 Kings 20:4), granted the king's request. Having to reverse a prophecy so quickly did not alarm Isaiah as it did Jonah later on (Jonah 4:2-3). Isaiah resembled Nathan in this respect (2 Sam. 7:3-6).
It seems that the Lord spoke immediately to Isaiah to go and stop the fear of Hezekiah. The Lord always hears our prayer. We do not always hear directly back from God. God spoke back to Hezekiah through Isaiah. Notice, Hezekiah would have died had not God intervened. It was a sickness unto death.
These fifteen years represented the grace of God toward Hezekiah. This lengthening of Hezekiah's life would lengthen his reign as king of Judah, as well. It would also, give him time to have a son to follow after him as king.
Isaiah 38:6 "And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city."
The deliverance described in the previous chapter.
The blessing was not just of long life, but was also, a blessing of life in freedom. God will stop the Assyrians, and not let them take the Holy city or take Hezekiah. God will protect the city of Jerusalem, because it is His, and because it was David's city.
Verses 7-8: "Back ten degrees": Here is the first biblical mention of any means of marking time. According to (2 Kings 20:8-10), Hezekiah requested this sign to confirm the Lord's promise of healing.
Isaiah 38:7 "And this [shall be] a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken;"
In the book of Kings, there is a more detailed account of this same story. Very seldom does God give a sign, but he wanted there to be no doubt where the extra 15 years of life came from. Hezekiah had been sick with boils. The application of figs on the boils caused them to go away.
God uses medicine and doctors to heal many times. Just because the doctor operates on you, and you are healed, does not mean that God was not the healer. God is good for His Word. Whatever He says He will do, He does.
Isaiah 38:8 "Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down."
There is a little more on this (in 2 Kings 20:8-11).
"And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What [shall be] the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?" "And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?" "And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees." "And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz."
You see, this would be an impossibility with man, but nothing is impossible for God.
Verses 38:9-22: "The writing of Hezekiah" is a song of deliverance. His healing is described as having been brought about by a "lump" (cake) "of figs", which was to be applied to "the boil" (shechin), the same word used for one of the plagues of Egypt.
Isaiah 38:9 "The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:"
"Writing of Hezekiah": In response to his healing, Hezekiah wrote the record of his helplessness when facing death (verses 10-14), and told of God's response to his condition (verses 15-20). This poetry is missing from the parallel account (in 2 Kings).
It seems that Hezekiah wrote all of this down for future reference. The following verses are what he recorded.
Isaiah 38:10 "I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years."
Hezekiah would have died in his early adulthood, if the Lord had not increased his days. Hezekiah is explaining that he would have been cut down in his early years, before he could have a family.
Isaiah 38:11 "I said, I shall not see the LORD, [even] the LORD, in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world."
"I shall not see": Hezekiah feared that death would terminate his fellowship with the Lord.
"Lord, even the Lord": The Hebrew repeats the name ("Yah, Yah)."
When a person dies, they are no longer involved with the happenings on the earth. At death, we all vacate the house of flesh which we lived in on this earth. We are no longer an inhabitant of earth. We will spend eternity in heaven, or hell.
Isaiah 38:12 "Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd's tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off with pining sickness: from day [even] to night wilt thou make an end of me."
"Shepherd's tent ... a weaver": Two comparisons with transient articles illustrate how death removes in a moment what may have seemed so permanent.
I believe most people who are near death, are aware of it. This is exactly what Hezekiah is saying here. The sickness was boils, as we read earlier. This type of boils was as serious as cancer would be today.
We are tabernacled in a body of flesh upon this earth. Hezekiah is just saying that the tabernacle is to be removed like a tent. Hezekiah is aware that the earthly house is a temporary dwelling place.
Isaiah 38:13 "I reckoned till morning, [that], as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day [even] to night wilt thou make an end of me."
Hezekiah is explaining the pain. It is as if a lion has broken his bones. To die this way, would be a lingering death. He is saying he was dying by degrees.
Isaiah 38:14 "Like a crane [or] a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail [with looking] upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me."
In his helplessness, Hezekiah pleaded with God to deliver him from impending death.
This is saying, the pain was so great from the illness that Hezekiah cried out with pain. He compares the cry to that of a crane, or a swallow. The dove makes it appear how helpless he is in the onslaught of this illness.
The only answer to this type of oppression is to cry out to God. That is just what Hezekiah is doing here.
Isaiah 38:15 "What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done [it]: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul."
The king had complete confidence in God.
Hezekiah is aware that God has answered his prayer, leaving no doubt at all who healed him. He speaks of living the rest of his life peaceably knowing that God is his very present help. He will be grateful for each day. This has removed him from bitterness to thankfulness. He is saying also, that his soul shall rest in God.
Isaiah 38:16 "O Lord, by these [things men] live, and in all these [things is] the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live."
The king's survival was God's accomplishment.
Hezekiah expands on his thankfulness to make all aware that their help, and in fact, even their lives are in God's hands. Another way to express this is in the following Scripture.
Acts 17:28 "For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring."
It is the breath of God that gives each of us life. Our life is in the breath God gave us.
Isaiah 38:17 "Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul [delivered it] from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back."
"My sins behind thy back": Hezekiah felt his sickness was somehow related to his sinfulness. To be rid of the latter was to be rid of the former also.
Bitterness was dangerous for Hezekiah to have and is dangerous for us, as well. In this particular instance, it probably is speaking of the pain he had with his illness. God healed his body and his spirit. Now, Hezekiah has perfect peace. He knows God has heard his prayer and answered it.
We also see a repentant man who knows God has forgiven his sins. God took care of them for Hezekiah, as Jesus took care of all of our sins on the cross. His sins are not before God anymore. They are behind Him.
Isaiah 38:18 "For the grave cannot praise thee, death can [not] celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth."
"Cannot hope": Hezekiah's understanding of the resurrection of believers was incomplete. The same was true of others throughout much of the Old Testament. But he was right in recognizing that death ended his opportunity for earthly praise and worship in the presence of men.
Those who have already left this earth cannot praise God. This seems to be speaking of the lost who die "they that go down into the pit".
Isaiah 38:19 "The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I [do] this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth."
"Father ... children": Word about God's faithfulness passed from generation to generation (Deut. 4:9; 6:7; Psalm 78:3-4). If Hezekiah at this point had no heir, he had another reason for frustration over dying in the prime of life.
He is also saying, that those who follow after him will know of the goodness of God, because he will tell his offspring.
Isaiah 38:20 "The LORD [was ready] to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD."
"Sing my songs ... in the house of the Lord": Hezekiah was so overwhelmed with gratitude to God that he felt compelled to express it appropriately throughout the 15 years he had left on earth.
This reminds me of the Scripture in Psalms which says, "Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord".
There is great joy with Hezekiah now. He will sing praises, accompanied by stringed instruments, to the LORD as long as he lives. We have just as much as Hezekiah to praise God for. He sent us a Savior. We too, should praise the LORD all the days of our lives.
Verses 21-22 furnish background details of the account (in verses 1-8).
Isaiah 38:21 "For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay [it] for a plaster upon the boil, and he shall recover."
"Lump of figs": The medicine for healing the king's sickness (2 Kings 20:7).
This seems to be such a simple remedy for such a serious illness. God could have healed him without the figs, had He wanted to. The putting on of the figs was an act of faith in the recovery. Hezekiah, in putting the figs on the boil, was saying I believe that God will heal me, when I do as He said.
Isaiah 38:22 "Hezekiah also had said, What [is] the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?"
Hezekiah's request explained why the Lord gave him a sign that he would be healed (verse 7, 2 Kings 20:8).
Hezekiah went to the temple (verse 20), as Isaiah had instructed him to do (2 Kings 20:5, 8). His faith in God would make him able to go to the house of the LORD.
Isaiah Chapter 38 Questions
Verses 39:1-8: The incident in this chapter is used by Isaiah to introduce the coming Babylonian captivity. "Merodach-baladan ... king of Babylon" is known in the Akkadian texts as Marduk-apal-iddina. He conquered Babylon (in 721 B.C.), with the help of the Elamites and ruled there 11 years before being driven out by Sargon II of Assyria (in 710 B.C.).
Isaiah 39:1 "At that time Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered."
"At that time": Just after Hezekiah's sickness and recovery.
The very same thing is recorded (in 2 Kings chapter 20, beginning with the 12th verse). When we see the phrase "at that time", it is speaking of a specific time, and not a time in general. We see that the king of Babylon has sent an ambassador to check out the rumor that Hezekiah had been healed of a life-threatening disease.
It was not unusual then, and is not unusual now, to send gifts to the sick. The gift sent this time was like a bribe to get himself into the confidence of Hezekiah. This fake interest he was showing Hezekiah was so he could find out about him and his headquarters.
Isaiah 39:2 "And Hezekiah was glad of them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not."
"Hezekiah was glad": The text does not say whether it was because of flattery or of a desire for help against the increasing Assyrian threat (2 Kings 20:13).
"House ... treasures": Doubtless to try and impress his visitors (2 Chron. 32:25), Hezekiah showed all he could contribute in an alliance against the Assyrians.
Hezekiah's good judgment was swayed by the gift brought to him. He should never have opened his house and revealed all of his secrets to the ambassador from Babylon. It appears from all the things listed above, that Hezekiah had been blessed in a material way.
Hezekiah wanted them for allies. It appears Babylon wanted Hezekiah for an ally, as well. People who believe in God should never yoke up with those of unbelief. It brings nothing but grief. The greed of the Babylonians would cause them to come against Hezekiah, so they could get all of his wealth.
Hezekiah held nothing back. He showed them his personal belongings and that of the kingdom, as well.
Isaiah 39:3 "Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, [even] from Babylon."
"Then came Isaiah the prophet": God's spokesman showed up without being invited to confront the king, as often happened.
Isaiah sees the error in this immediately. He is asking Hezekiah, why he showed all of this to perfect strangers? This might be wrong for a person to do in our day against a ruler of the country, but at the time this was written, a prophet had access to the king.
In fact, the prophet was sent of God and was not to be stopped by anyone. They, many times, brought warnings from God. They spoke as an oracle of God. Hezekiah was aware these men were from Babylon, but he was not aware of their evil intentions.
Perhaps, Hezekiah's ego got in the way of sound thinking. He thought himself important for these men to have come so far to bring him a gift.
Isaiah 39:4 "Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that [is] in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them."
It is pretty obvious Isaiah already knew what Hezekiah had shown them, but just wanted to make a point of the foolishness of that act here.
Verses 5-6: "The word of the Lord ... carried to Babylon": Isaiah predicted the Babylonian captivity that would come over a century later (586 B.C.), another prophecy historically fulfilled in all of its expected detail.
Isaiah 39:5 "Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts:"
When a prophet made a statement such as this, it was not his message, but a Word from God. Isaiah called the Lord, the LORD of hosts, very often in his writings. It is one of the things that set this apart as definitely being from the pen of Isaiah.
Isaiah 39:6 "Behold, the days come, that all that [is] in thine house, and [that] which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD."
"Nothing shall be left": Hezekiah's sin of parading his wealth before the visitors backfired, though this sin was only symptomatic of the ultimate reason for the captivity. The major cause was the corrupt leadership of Manasseh, Hezekiah's son (2 Kings 21:11-15).
This is a prophecy that Babylon will conquer them and loot the place, as well. The time and the season is always known just of God. This prophecy presented by Isaiah will surely come to pass, because it is from God. This is not Isaiah's message, but God's message spoken through Isaiah to Hezekiah.
Isaiah 39:7 "And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon."
"Sons that shall issue from thee" (see 2 Kings 24:12-16; 2 Chron. 33:11; Daniel 1:3-4, 6); for the prophecy's fulfillment.
In the case here, the sons are eunuchs made by man. Many times, young men who are captured and used as servants of their captors were made into eunuchs, so they would not be able to have children. This is the fate of Hezekiah's sons. They did not have to be the literal sons of Hezekiah, but could be his descendants, spoken of as his sons.
We do know there is a mention of the seed of the king having this very same thing happen. The first chapter of Daniel is somewhat descriptive of what happened. The reason they were wanted, was because they were educated and capable to teach.
Isaiah 39:8 "Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good [is] the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days."
"Word of the Lord ... spoken": A surprising response to the negative prophecy (of verses 5-7)! It perhaps acknowledged Isaiah as God's faithful messenger.
"Peace and truth in my days": Hezekiah perhaps reacted selfishly, or perhaps he looked for a bright spot to lighten the gloomy fate of his descendants.
It appears from this that Hezekiah knows he cannot do anything about the coming judgment. He is just happy there will be peace and rest for the rest of his life. Hezekiah accepted the Word of the Lord, because it was absolute truth.
He was happy for what God had already given him, and would not question anything beyond that.
In the next lesson, we will begin an entirely different study of this very same Isaiah that we have been studying. I said at the beginning of the lessons on Isaiah, that there were 2 distinct parts to Isaiah. The first 39 chapters symbolize the Old Testament, and the next 27 chapters symbolize the New Testament.
Isaiah Chapter 39 Questions
From 40:1 to the end of the book of Isaiah the prophecies of (chapters 1-39), addressed Judah in her situation during Isaiah's ministry (739 until 686 B.C.). The prophecies of (chapters 40-66), address Judah as though the prophesied Babylonian captivity (39:5-7), were already a present reality, though that captivity did not begin (until 605-586 B.C.). The words "There is no peace for the wicked" (48:22; 57:21), signal the divisions of this section into three parts: (chapters 40-48; 49-57; and 58-66).
Verses 1-8: Looking beyond Judah's imminent captivity, the prophet sees a day of salvation coming in the future. This section of Isaiah's prophecy (40:1 - 48:22), is often called the Book of Consolation. "Comfort ye" (nachamu), means both "repent" and "console," and implies that true repentance must precede divine consolation. This section looks at the hope and comfort of a blessed future subsequent to God's judgment in the forthcoming Babylonian captivity.
Isaiah 40:1 "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God."
"Comfort ... comfort": The prophecy addressed God's prophets, instructing them to emphasize the theme of comfort to a captive people in a foreign land many miles from their home city of Jerusalem. God has good plans for great blessing to Israel in the future because they are His covenant people, who are never to be permanently cast away (Romans 11:2).
"My people" (ami): refers to the people of God who are in a covenant relationship with Him. This designation appears 12 times (in chapters 1-39 and 15 times in chapters 40-66).
We know that the only true comfort that any of us have, is through the Spirit of God. Jesus promised to send us a Comforter, which is the Spirit of God. Notice, that God has not abandoned them. He calls them "my people".
He, also, is saying to them that He is their God. He will not let them down. Have you already noticed the hope that springs up in this chapter (like grace)?
Isaiah 40:2 "Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins."
"Iniquity is pardoned ... double for all her sins": Cruel slaughter and captivity at the hands of the Babylonians were sufficient payment for past sins; so someday after worldwide dispersion, Israel will return to her land in peace and in the glory of Messiah's kingdom.
Isaiah is looking beyond the Babylonian captivity here. He says that Jerusalem has received forgiveness, or even better, total pardon. God had allowed them the terrible warfare to bring them closer to the knowledge of the fact they needed Him. The payment of double was all the trouble they had.
Notice, that Isaiah is speaking as if this has already happened, because of the certainty of the prophecy. I always like to take note of where their trouble had really come from. It was from the LORD, to cause them to repent. Praise God, there is a Light at the end of the tunnel for these people! They are not forsaken of God, they are forgiven.
Verses 3-5: A prophetic exhortation told Israel to prepare for the revelation of the Lord's glory at the arrival of Messiah. Scripture sees John the Baptist in this role (Matt. 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4-6; John 1:23). It likewise sees the future forerunner who is to be like Elijah preparing for Christ's second coming (Malachi 3:1; 4:5-6).
Verses 3-4 "prepare ye the way": The remnant of Israel could remove obstacles from the coming Messiah's path through repentance for their sins. John the Baptist reminded his listeners of this necessity (Matt. 3:2), as did Jesus (Matt. 4:17; Mark 1:15). These verses reflect the custom of some eastern monarchs to send heralds before them to clear away obstacles, make causeways, and straighten crooked roads, valleys and level hills (45:1-2).
Isaiah 40:3 "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God."
The voice that "crieth in the wilderness" is that of John the Baptist. (See Matt. 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4 and John 1:23). By this voice calling from the desert, the people of Judah are called to make the "crooked ... straight" and the "rough places plain" in preparation for the coming of the Messiah.
Isaiah is suddenly looking a few hundred years ahead, and seeing John the Baptist. He is the voice crying in the wilderness proclaiming the coming of Christ, their Messiah. This was the very message that John had brought. There is a way that leads to God. It is like a highway. The way is narrow and straight.
Even though it would be a few hundred years until Messiah would come, it was not too early for these people of God to prepare the way. I believe it is time to cry out again. Repent and prepare for the coming of the Lord. It may not be next year when Christ comes back, but it is time to prepare.
He is coming back as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Isaiah 40:4 "Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:"
These valleys and mountains probably represent people. The lofty will be brought down, and the humble exalted. There will be no obstacle too great to accomplish when God comes. It is strange that I feel the Lord is speaking here, that the obstacles the Law made before us will be removed by the beautiful gift of grace through Jesus Christ.
There was a mountain of obligations in the Old Testament for God's people to keep. Grace clears the way. The Light of Jesus shows us the way.
Isaiah 40:5 "And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see [it] together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it]."
"Glory of the Lord ... revealed": Jerusalem's misery is to end and the Lord's glory to replace it. So comfort will come to the city (verse 2), and every person will see God's glorious salvation (52:10), in Messiah's future kingdom (Hab. 2:14; Rev. 21:23; 11:9).
When God speaks, there is no doubt. God is not a man.
Numbers 23:19 "God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"
In the person of Jesus Christ, God revealed Himself to man.
Colossians 2:9 "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."
Hebrews 1:3 "Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;"
The glory of the Lord is revealed to mankind in the appearance of Jesus Christ.
Verses 6-8, "All flesh ... flower fadeth": Isaiah elaborated on how transitory humanity is; here today, gone tomorrow. People pass away like plants under the hot breath of the withering East wind. James used this illustration to teach the folly of trusting in material wealth (James 1:10-11). Peter used it to illustrate the passing nature of everything related to humanity (1 Peter 1:24-25).
Isaiah 40:6-7 "The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh [is] grass, and all the goodliness thereof [is] as the flower of the field:" "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people [is] grass."
"The voice said, cry": God speaks unto his ministers. "He": The prophet. "All flesh": The prophet having foretold glorious things, confirms the certainty of them, by representing the vast difference between the nature, and word, and work of men and of God. All that men are or have, yea, their highest accomplishments, are but like the grass of the field, weak and vanishing, soon wilt and are brought to nothing.
But God's word is like Himself, immutable and irresistible: and therefore, as the mouth of the Lord, and not of man, hath spoken these things, so doubt not but they shall be fulfilled.
Not the same voice (as in Isaiah 40:3), nor the voice of an angel, but a voice from the Lord, it is the Lord's voice to the prophet or rather to any and every Gospel minister, giving them an order to prophesy and preach. Without which they cannot preach regularly and lawfully. It is the same as, "go, teach all nations" and preach the Gospel to every creature (Matthew 28:19).
Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."
"The word of our God shall stand for ever": The permanence of God's word guarantees against any deviation from the divine plan (55:11). He has promised Jerusalem's deliverance (verse 2), through His coming (verses 3-5), so it must happen that way (Matt. 5:18; Luke 16:17).
The following Scripture shows the eternity of the Word of God.
Luke 21:33 "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away."
All of God's creation may wither and die, but His Word is eternal. The steadfastness of God's Word is a comfort to all who believe.
Verses 9-17: "O Zion ... O Jerusalem" calls our attention to the city of David which is to proclaim "good tidings", to the other "elites of Judah." Certainly, it was in this city that the "good news" of the gospel was first proclaimed to all the world.
"Behold your God!" refers to the coming of God incarnate in Jesus Christ "Like a shepherd" gathering his sheep (see John chapter 10). The questions that follow are reminiscent of those (in Job 38-41), and each implies the answer: "None but God!"
Isaiah 40:9 "O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift [it] up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!"
"Zion ... good tidings ... Jerusalem ... good tidings": Like a messenger on a mountain to be seen and heard by all, the prophet called on the city to proclaim loudly to the rest of Judah's cities the good news of God's presence there. "Behold your God": The restoration of Israel to the Land is to include the resumption of God's presence in Jerusalem after many centuries.
"Zion" is symbolic of the church, and is many times speaking of Jerusalem, as well. The good news of the gospel does come through the church and from Jerusalem. The presentation of the Messiah, or Jesus Christ, was from Jerusalem. This is a proclamation to all who will believe. Jesus was "Emmanuel" (God with us).
Isaiah 40:10 "Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong [hand], and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward [is] with him, and his work before him."
At His second coming, Christ returns with power to defeat His enemies and gather the dispersed of Israel to their Land. (Matt. 24:31; Rev. 19:11-21).
"The Lord's arm", Right Hand etc., all are speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ. The work that was before Him is the work of the 6 hours on the cross, when He purchased our salvation for us. His reward is for anyone who will dare to believe.
Isaiah 40:11 "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them] in his bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young."
"His arm": A picture of God's omnipotence. The same arm that powerfully scatters the Jews all over the earth in judgment is to overcome Israel's oppressors (verse 10), and to tenderly feed and lead His flock.
Again, Jesus is the great Shepherd. Notice in the following Scripture, that Jesus is the great Shepherd and the believers are His sheep.
Matthew 25:32 "And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats:"
In the following Scripture, Jesus calls Himself the good Shepherd.
John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."
Notice in the following Scripture, how the good Shepherd keeps His sheep from straying.
1 Peter 2:25 "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." You can easily see from all this that Jesus is the Shepherd.
Verses 12-14: By a series of questions, to which the implied answer is "no one," the prophet emphasized the omnipotence and omniscience of God, the God whose coming is to bring comfort to Israel according to (verses 1-11).
Isaiah 40:12 "Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?"
"Who hath measured ... in a balance" God alone has power to create the physical universe and the earth in perfect balance, weighing mountains and seas perfectly, so that the earth moves perfectly in space. This matter of the amazing balance of our planet is called the science of isostasy. Equilibrium in the earth's crust such that the forces tending to elevate landmasses balance the forces tending to depress landmasses.
The Creator God is spoken of Here. We know from John that the Word of God created all things. The Word of God is the One we know as Jesus. He is so great that His perfect measurements keep the entire universe in perfect order.
He created the water, and placed it where He wanted it. All of His calculations are perfect. Though He is big enough to create the universe and all that is in it, He is small enough to live within my heart.
Verses 13-14: "Directed the Spirit of the Lord": Isaiah pointed to the incomparable wisdom of God. Paul alluded to this verse in connection with God's wisdom in dealing with Jews and Gentiles (Rom. 11:34), and with God's impartation of wisdom to the spiritual believer (1 Cor. 2:16).
Isaiah 40:13 "Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or [being] his counsellor hath taught him?"
God is the only Being in the universe that possesses independence from the Creation. The only limits to God's freedom are in His own nature and attributes. He is unlimited in His existence. Because His existence relates to His nature rather that His will, God will exist and must continue to exist forever.
So, the answer is "no man", God has done it all.
Isaiah Chapter 40 Questions
Isaiah 40:14 "With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgement, and taught him knowledge, and showed to him the way of understanding?"
It was not necessary for Him to take counsel from anyone. Jesus is Truth and Wisdom to the utmost. He is also the Judge of all the earth. Each of us will stand before Jesus to be judged. He is the One who will say, heaven or hell for each of us.
Verses 15-17: Since the surrounding nations who had oppressed Israel were utterly insignificant in comparison to the Lord's greatness and power, they could not prevent His purposes from being accomplished. His deliverance of Israel was certain.
Isaiah 40:15 "Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing."
To compare the creation to the Creator is a foolish thing. Even the entire earth is but a small creation compared to the entire universe. His Omnipotence is more than we can begin to comprehend.
Isaiah 40:16 "And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering."
"Burn ... burnt offering": God is so great and worthy of so much worship, that even the large wood and animal resources of Lebanon were insufficient for appropriate offerings to Him.
Lebanon has been a thorn in the side of Israel. This is speaking of it as an enemy of God.
Isaiah 40:17 "All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity."
We read that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Philippians 2:10-11 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;" "And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Verses 18-31: In light of the sovereignty of God, human idolatry is pictured as utterly ridiculous. Through another series of rhetorical questions, the prophet lifts his readers into the very presence of God. He argues that no "graven image" (idol) shall compare to (demuth), or "likeness" of God. The term is the same as that used (in Genesis 1:26), where man is created in the image and likeness of God as a personal and moral being.
Verses 18-20: The prophet sarcastically indicated the futility of trying to portray the immensity of God - His power, wisdom and resources - in the form of a man made idol, no matter how ornate, durable and immovable.
Isaiah 40:18 "To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?"
There truly is no comparison between God and anything or anyone you could see with physical eyes. We are told the following in John:
John 4:24 "God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
He is also spoken of as a consuming fire in Hebrews:
Hebrews 12:29 " For our God is a consuming fire."
Isaiah 40:19 "The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains."
The very first commandment warns us not to worship other gods. It specifically speaks against graven images.
Isaiah 40:20 "He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved."
This is just talking about those who cannot afford to purchase a gold or silver false god. They settle for one made of wood.
Verses 21-31: Isaiah extolled God as Creator, in whom the Jews were to put their full trust.
Isaiah 40:21 "Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundation of the earth?"
"Have you not heard ... understood": Throughout human history people had heard by special revelation from God that the Lord, not idols, created all things. They had also understood it from natural revelation as reason looks at creation (Romans 1:20).
To worship anything that you could see with physical eyes would be worshipping someone's creation and not the Creator. Those who do such things are without excuse.
Isaiah 40:22 "It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:"
The word "circle" is applicable to the spherical form of the earth, above which He sits. This implies that God upholds and maintains His creation on a continuing basis (Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3). As He looks down, men seem like insects to the One who has stretched and spread out the universal heavens.
If you have ever flown in an airplane and looked back to the earth, you know people look so small they look like little specks walking around. God created billions of these little specks and called them people.
Isaiah 40:23 "That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity."
"Princes ... judges": God disposes of human leaders according to His will. Verse 24 expands on how suddenly God removes them.
High position in society means nothing to God. It is God who elevates a person to high authority and brings another down. We all die the same; we are all judged the same way. The highest position any of us can have is to be sons of God.
Romans 8:14 "For as many are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
That Scripture tells us just exactly how we become sons of God.
Isaiah 40:24 "Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble."
We understand that life is but a vapor. We are here today and gone tomorrow.
James 4:14 "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."
God controls our destiny (the number of our days on earth).
Isaiah 40:25 "To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One."
"Liken ... be equal": Israel was foolish to compare such a sovereign, almighty Lord with the gods of their Babylonian captors (see verse 18).
The answer to this could only be one.
1 John 5:7 "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
Isaiah 40:26 "Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth."
"Created these things": Rather than worshiping the stars, Israel should have seen in them the evidence of God's creatorship (Psalm 19:1). As innumerable as the stars are, He knows every one and named each. Not one of the stars runs astray, but all are held by the forces with which He has endowed the universe to keep them in their orbit and place.
John 1:1-3 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." "The same was in the beginning with God." "All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made."
Colossians 1:17 "And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." This says it all.
Verses 27-31: The prophet applied the comforting truths (in verses 1-26), about God to Israel's situation in Babylon during the coming captivity.
Isaiah 40:27 "Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgement is passed over from my God?"
"Why sayest thou": In light of who God is, how could His people in exile have thought He had forgotten them or was ignorant of their condition?
All through these lessons, I have mentioned that there are two houses of Israel. Jacob, in the verse above, is speaking of the Hebrew descendants of Jacob (Israel). Israel, in the verse above, is speaking of the spiritual house of Israel (the believers in Christ).
Just because a person is in the lineage of Jacob, does not cause God to overlook their sin. All men have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The only way for anyone to be free of sin is through the shed blood of Jesus. He paid the penalty for our sin on the cross.
We are judged not guilty of sin, because our sin died on His body on the cross.
Isaiah 40:28 "Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding."
God was not too weak to act on their behalf, nor was fatigue an obstacle for the Creator in caring for His people (verses 29-30). Though even the young and strong become tired and fall, the Ancient of Days never does.
To the human mind, God's wisdom is not fully comprehensible in how He chooses to fulfill His promises to deliver Israel. Paul saw a future illustration of this truth in God's plan for the final restoration of Israel (Romans 11:33; see Isaiah 40:13).
He planned salvation from the foundation of the earth. He became our substitute. He is not a man that He should tire. He lives in eternity where all of time from the beginning to the end is one eternal day. He is everlasting God. He is Lord of all. He is the Creator of all. He is all knowledge and understanding. He is Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient.
Isaiah 40:29 "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength."
In our weakness, He is strong. Power dwells within Him and He can dispense it to whomever He will.
Luke 9:1 "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases."
Isaiah 40:30 " Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:"
All humans, young and old, get weary in the flesh. Our bodies have to rest 8 hours a day to be able to go on.
Isaiah 40:31 "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
"Wait upon the Lord": There is a general principle here that patient, praying believers are blessed by God with strength in their trials (2 Cor. 12:8-10). The Lord also expected His people to be patient and await His coming in glory at the end to fulfill the promises of national deliverance, when believing Israel would become stronger than they had ever been.
The frailty of man gives God the opportunity to pour His strength into us when we ask for His help. When we pray, we must believe and patiently wait for His answer. The strength of the Lord in us makes it possible for us to do all things well.
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Isaiah Chapter 40 Continued Questions
Verses 1-7: "The righteous man from the east" is certainly a reference to Cyrus the Great of Persia, though he is not named until (44:28). He is introduced as the one who is raised up from the East to fulfill the will of God. Both the Hebrew and the Septuagint have "righteousness," a noun rather than an adjective, in the King James Version. Thus, it is God who raised up righteousness toward His people in the deliverance He provided through Cyrus the Great (see 45:8).
Isaiah 41:1 "Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew [their] strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment."
The coasts of lands around the Mediterranean Sea and the islands represent the nations. The Lord challenged the nations that refused to wait on Him to be silent in awe and then move to renew their strength (40:31). Meaning to collect their best arguments to plead their cause before Him.
We see in this, that the people of the islands are to be quiet before the Lord. They have nothing worthwhile to say anyway. We all shall stand before Jesus and be judged. The renewing of the strength must be in the Lord. We will each have to account for ourselves in front of the Lord.
Isaiah 41:2 "Who raised up the righteous [man] from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made [him] rule over kings? he gave [them] as the dust to his sword, [and] as driven stubble to his bow."
"Man from the east": The Lord anointed Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, to accomplish His righteous will by conquering Babylon (in 539 B.C.), and allowing some of the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem (41:25; 44:28; 45:1). He founded the Persian Empire and ruled from 550 - 530 B.C.
This Cyrus came from the east of Babylon. He could have been from Persia or Elam. It appears God called him for the task, and empowered him with the ability to do just that. It was not his righteousness, but the righteousness God gave him.
This man is of God's choosing to rule over kings in the land. His abilities are great, because God empowered him for the task. It was of no difficulty at all for Cyrus to conquer these lands, and put them under his rule.
Isaiah 41:3 "He pursued them, [and] passed safely; [even] by the way [that] he had not gone with his feet."
Cyrus accomplished his conquests with great ease in territories he had never before visited.
It appears he had no trouble at all with the terrain that others had thought impossible to pass over. We must remember in this that the path was easy, because God has directed him. We have learned in other lessons that God makes whoever He wants to be ruler. God is in control.
Isaiah 41:4 "Who hath wrought and done [it], calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I [am] he."
"First ... last": He existed before history and will exist after it.
"I am He": It is legitimate to translate the two Hebrews words thus represented by "I am" (see also 42:8; 43:10, 13; 46:4), a messianic title appropriated by Jesus frequently as explicit testimony to His deity (Mark 13:6; 14:62; Luke 21:8; John 8:28, 58; 13:19). The title comes originally for the Lord's self revelation to Moses (in Exodus 3:14).
We know the answer to this. No idol god could have done this for Cyrus. This is from the One true God. God is the First and the Last. LORD, in this particular instance, is speaking of Jehovah. The fact the First and Last was mentioned, shows the eternity of God.
Verses 5-7: Instead of turning to the Lord when they saw His anointed one, Cyrus, approaching the nations, they turned to one another for help and made more idols (see 40:18-20), regarding Isaiah's description of idols and their makers.
Isaiah 41:5 "The isles saw [it], and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came."
The land, which had been so unlikely to be defeated, is defeated by Cyrus. It is difficult for others to comprehend why he was able to do this. It caused them to be afraid for fear he might conquer them also.
Isaiah 41:6 "They helped every one his neighbor; and [every one] said to his brother, Be of good courage."
We see Isaiah telling them here, that the idols of their own, and the idols of their friends, are not enough to save them. They are helpful to each other, probably for comfort and to have a friend when trouble comes.
Isaiah 41:7 "So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, [and] he that smootheth [with] the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It [is] ready for the soldering: and he fastened it with nails, [that] it should not be moved."
All of these were involved in making idols. They seem to encourage each other, that their trade for these would flourish, and they could make the sales they once made.
Verses 8-9: "Thou, Israel, art my servant" is the first reference to the Servant of the Lord, here pictured as the believing remnant of Israel. The designation servant (ebed), means a slave or bondsman, yet in this context it has honorable connotations that indicate the close intimacy between master and servant. The term is used frequently throughout this section of Isaiah's prophecy (42:19; 44:1-2; 45:4; 48:20), and reaches its greatest climax (in 52:13 - 53:12).
Isaiah 41:8 "But thou, Israel, [art] my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend."
"Israel art my servant": The faithful of the nation receive the honored corporate designation as the servant of the Lord. As his servant, they stood in bold contrast to the rest of the nations (verses 5-7). Israel as the servant (in 42:18-25).
"Abraham my friend": "Friend" is an even higher designation than "servant" (John 15:14-15; 2 Chron. 20:7; James 2:23), and speaks of a greater faithfulness.
We see that God has never forgotten His promises to Abraham. He has not forsaken His people (Israel). Notice, also, that the blessings that came on Israel were because of God's love for His friend, Abraham.
Problems come to Israel to make her return to the worship of the One True God. Israel of old belonged to God, because He had separated them out as His people and gave them the law. Spiritual Israel (Christians), belongs to God, because we have been bought and paid for with the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 41:9 "[Thou] whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou [art] my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away."
"The end of the earth", spoken of here, is Ur of the Chaldees. Of course, it could also be the children of Israel being brought out of Egypt (the world). The Holy Land is the home of physical Israel. They may be temporarily dwelling in another place, but their home is Israel.
God promised this land to the descendants of Abraham, forever. We saw in our study of Joseph in Egypt, how God blessed Joseph, because he never forgot God.
Verses 10-20: In view of the judgment that is coming upon Israel, God reminds her, "I am with thee ... I am thy God." The designation "thou worm Jacob" is a reminder to Israel of her frailty and need for God who is pictured as her "redeemer" and the "Holy One of Israel." The latter designation is Isaiah's favorite expression for God and appears equally throughout both halves of the book. The prophet then gives a beautiful picture of God's provision of water to abundantly supply the needs of His people. God promises them "rivers, fountains," and "springs of water".
Because of this supply of water, He will also plant various trees in the wilderness; the "cedar shittah" (acacia), "myrtle, oil tree" (ets shemen, wild olive), "fir, pine," and "box" (boxwood). These seven trees, all common to Syria and Israel, would have been especially well known only to an author who lived in that region. They symbolize the perfection of God's work on behalf of His people.
Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
"Fear thou not": Israel need not fear God's destructive judgment, as the rest of the nations do because He is their God and faithful to His promise to restore the nation.
This is a promise to physical Israel, and a promise to spiritual Israel, as well. Fear is the opposite of faith. God does not want His people to fear, but to have faith in Him. He was with the children of Israel (physical), when He dwelt in the Holy of Holies above the Mercy Seat. He is with all believers in Christ, because He dwells inside of us.
Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
Jesus is the Right Hand of God. Jesus is the doer part of the Godhead. Jesus is Creator God. He is the Word of God that created all things.
John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." "The same was in the beginning with God." "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."
Notice, it is His righteousness that we are strengthened and held up by. This is not just in the past tense, but in the future as well, since God never changes.
Verses 11-13: Through the Lord's help, the enemies of Israel were to be weakened and vanish (60:12; Zech. 12:3), while God strengthened Israel.
Isaiah 41:11 "Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish."
The Hebrews were feared, because of their relationship with God, but many were incensed against them. They were jealous of the Hebrews, because they were the chosen of God. God's wrath is against those who hate Israel. It really does not matter whether it is physical Israel, or the Christians (spiritual Israel).
God strengthens and protects His own. He will cause problems to come to anyone who comes against His family. It is a dangerous thing to come against God's chosen. God will see that the enemies of His chosen do not prosper. He will go so far as to do away with them.
Isaiah 41:12 "Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, [even] them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought."
This was proven before at places like Jericho, when God fought for His children. It was even more apparent when God caused Pharaoh to release His children after 10 plagues had come. God destroyed Pharaoh's army at the Red Sea, just after He had saved His own in the Red Sea.
It is no problem to God to destroy millions, if it is necessary. It is His world. He can do what He wants to with the world and its inhabitants.
Isaiah 41:13 "For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."
The right hand of man symbolizes the spiritual side. The strength that we have is a spiritual strength. He is our very present help in trouble. We have nothing to fear, if we are totally obedient to God.
Psalm 18:2-3: "The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower."
2 Corinthians 12:9: "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Isaiah Chapter 41 Questions
Isaiah 41:14 "Fear not, thou worm Jacob, [and] ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel."
"Worm": This refers to the contempt of Israel by the ungodly nations, and the same term is used similarly of the Messiah on the cross (Psalm 22:6).
"Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel": The Hebrew for "Redeemer" refers to a near relative who has the opportunity and responsibility to buy back what a relative has lost. The term occurs 5 more times in connection with the title "Holy One of Israel."
As the Lord purchased His people from the bondage of Egypt by the blood of the Passover Lamb, He is to do the same from their worldwide exile by the blood of the True Lamb, Jesus Christ, when they turn to Him in faith (Zech. 12:10 - 13:1).
"Holy One of Israel": seems to be Isaiah's favorite way of addressing God. I believe this is speaking of the lowliness of Jacob, when it speaks of him as a worm. The Israelites had been near ruin. God had saved just a remnant.
We know that God did not protect them, because they were a powerful nation. He protected them, because they were His, and He loved them. The only true help for them, or us, is the LORD. The "Redeemer" is speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verses 15-16: "Mountains ... hills": Figurative representations of foreign nations, whom Israel is to grind into nothingness in the time of her kingdom, when the Lord Jesus sets Himself up as King in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 41:15 "Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat [them] small, and shalt make the hills as chaff."
They were not to be on the defensive any more. The "sharp threshing instrument" with teeth, means they had power to take over their enemies.
The appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ in Israel a few hundred years from this statement would give new life to the Israelites. They would be visited by the Son of God. Again, Jerusalem would be the center of the world's attention. Their power is from God, not from their own efforts.
Isaiah 41:16 "Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, [and] shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel."
God's power in the Israelites makes them so strong that just the air from the fanning drives their enemies away. The Holy One of Israel is speaking of the Lord Jesus.
Verses 17-18: "Poor and needy": Israel in her deprived state as a captive of foreign nations is spoken of as thirsty for blessing and joy. In the Messiah's future kingdom, the land of Israel will be well watered; a real physical blessing, but symbolizing here the spiritual quenching that will be Israel's in the Millennium.
Isaiah 41:17 "[When] the poor and needy seek water, and [there is] none, [and] their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them."
God will supply their needs, even if they are in captivity. Jesus told the woman at the well, if she drank of the water He provided, she would never thirst again.
This is not only physical water that they thirst for, but the Word of God, which is many times spoken of as water. They will thirst for God for the years they are in captivity. God will never be far away from them. He is their very present help in trouble.
Isaiah 41:18 "I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water."
Where there was no water before, God will make rivers and streams come forth to quench their thirst. God will provide 4 sources of water for them: the rivers, fountains, pools, and springs. This is supernatural care of the Israelites from God.
Isaiah 41:19 "I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, [and] the pine, and the box tree together:"
Luxuriant vegetation will enrich the Land when God redeems His creation (35:1, 2, 7; Romans 8:19-21).
These are all trees to be desired. The myrtle tree grows only two places in the world. It grows in the Middle East, primarily modern Israel, and in Oregon in the United States.
There is abundant life, where there are trees. We see from this, God's people can build a home, and produce oil for their own use, and sell them. The Cedar is wonderful for building. It has an aroma that wards off bugs.
God is helping them in ways they had never imagined. Even though they are exiled, they are still God's children and under His protection.
Isaiah 41:20 "That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it."
The purpose in God providing this for His people is two-fold. It will keep the Israelites from starvation, but it will also show those living around them, that God provides for them. It might even cause some of them to believe in the God of the Israelites.
Notice, Isaiah has again used the name "Holy One of Israel".
Verses 21-29: The Lord challenges the gods of the heathen nations to "produce your cause" (set forth your case), and to "bring forth your strong reasons" (arguments). The heathen gods are challenged to predict the future and to explain the past. But they can do neither, for they are not gods at all. Thus, the fulfillment of predictive prophecy is shown as proof of divine inspiration.
The Law of Moses (Deut. 18:21-22), gives the stipulation of exact fulfillment of predictive prophecy as an evidence of the divine authority and genuineness of the prophet's message. Non-fulfillment is an indication of false prophecy. Obviously, Isaiah believed his own prophecies were predictive (an indication of future events), and would be literally fulfilled.
Isaiah 41:21 "Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong [reasons], saith the King of Jacob."
This is a challenge to the false gods. They do not produce productive trees and water for their people. This is perhaps, saying for them to state their case if they have one.
Verses 22-23: "What shall happen ... things for to come": God challenged the idols to prove their competence by predicting future events, as the Lord has done regarding "the former events," i.e. the raising of Cyrus (verse 2), the repulsion of the Assyrians from Jerusalem (chapters 36 - 37), and the healing of Hezekiah (chapter 38).
Isaiah 41:22 "Let them bring [them] forth, and show us what shall happen: let them show the former things, what they [be], that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come."
We see more of the challenge here. These false gods say they can tell the future, but God is really the only One who can tell accurately of the future. The verse is actually saying to produce the prophecies made in the past that have come true. Then they will consider the prophecies for the future.
Isaiah 41:23 "Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye [are] gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold [it] together."
"Do good ... or do evil": God invited the idols to proclaim and execute either deliverance or judgment, as He had done.
We see in this, that the idols they worshipped could not do good or evil, because they are nothings. Isaiah is saying in this, why don't you prove to us that you are a god? If we could only see something you had done either good or bad, you might have an argument.
An idol cannot produce anything, so it is obvious they are not to be worshipped.
Isaiah 41:24 "Behold, ye [are] of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination [is he that] chooseth you."
"Nothing ... nought": The idols were not what humans claimed they were, because they could not predict the future, nor could they judge or deliver. They were useless.
"Abomination" means revolting sin. In this case, a revolting sinner chooses to worship false gods. Notice also, the word chooseth. This means this is of his own free will.
Isaiah 41:25 "I have raised up [one] from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as [upon] mortar, and as the potter treadeth clay."
"From the north ... from the rising of the sun": Cyrus, king of Persia, a land East of Babylon, approached Babylon from the North where he had conquered Media before coming to Babylon.
"Call upon my name": Apparently fulfilled by Cyrus (proclamation in Ezra 1:1-4).
God has chosen Cyrus to come and destroy them. The fact that Jehovah has raised up Cyrus, is proof He is God. The princes Cyrus overcomes will be like mortar in his hands. He will be able to form them into whatever he wishes. Cyrus will call upon the name of God to help him in his battles.
Isaiah 41:26 "Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, [He is] righteous? yea, [there is] none that showeth, yea, [there is] none that declareth, yea, [there is] none that heareth your words."
No soothsayer had predicted future happenings as the Lord had.
The idol gods were not even able to prophesy the coming of Cyrus. God's plans were made from the beginning, and no one but God knows when and where things will happen. God honors His Word. What He says, He does.
Verses 27-29: Idols were helpless in giving "good news" of future events (verse 27), and counsel to people (verse 28), and thus were useless.
Isaiah 41:27 "The first [shall say] to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings."
The First is definitely God. Zion, Jerusalem, or the church belongs to God. God takes care of His own. He promises deliverance from the enemy, and He brings it about. He may use someone like Cyrus to carry it out, but it is actually God who is the Deliverer.
The good tiding is that God will deliver them from bondage.
Isaiah 41:28 "For I beheld, and [there was] no man; even among them, and [there was] no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word."
These false gods and their prophets, are like the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel. They have no power at all. God will destroy them and save His people.
Isaiah 41:29 "Behold, they [are] all vanity; their works [are] nothing: their molten images [are] wind and confusion."
Just as the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel could do nothing, these false gods can do nothing here. They are really figments of man's imaginations, which come to nothing. These molten images are man's creation. God is the Creator of man. He is not a creation of anything else. He is CREATOR GOD, Elohim.
Isaiah Chapter 41 Continued Questions
Verses 1-4: "My servant" is identified here as a person rather than a personification of the nation of Israel. With all the traits of King, Prophet and High Priest, He is none other than the Messiah, Jesus Christ Himself. He is also called "mine elect": (bachir, "the One who brings good news"), and the One in whom "I have put my spirit." The New Testament quotes this prophecy as being fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 12:18-21).
The ministry of the Servant of the Lord will be to bring forth "judgment" (or justice), "to the Gentiles" and "in the earth." His kingdom knows no barriers of nationality or race. Of all the Old Testament prophets, Isaiah saw this fact the most clearly. While Jesus' early ministry was to the house of Israel, His ultimate commission extended to the Gentiles as well.
Verses 1-9: Others deserve the title "my servant" but this personal Servant of the Lord is the Messiah, who was chosen because the Lord delights in Him and puts His Spirit upon Him.
"Judgment to the Gentiles": At His second coming, Christ will rule over a kingdom in which justice prevails throughout the world. The millennial kingdom is not for Israel alone, though the Messiah will reign on the throne of David in Jerusalem and Israel will be the glorious people. In fact, all the nations of the world will experience both the righteousness and justice of the Messiah King.
Isaiah 42:1 "Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, [in whom] my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles."
We see in this, the prophecy of the coming Messiah. When we see the word "behold", it is saying, come closer and take a better look. We know that Jesus was a true servant, even though He was the very Son of God, by the fact that He obeyed the will of the Father. He said: "nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done".
Israel had not obeyed God, but Jesus was willing to do exactly as the Father wished. Jesus had even said that, He and the Father were One. Jesus and the Father were in total agreement. The Holy Spirit of God hovered over Mary, and she conceived of the Spirit of God.
Jesus took on the flesh of man, but He was in fact, Emmanuel (meaning "God with us"). The law, until the time of Jesus, was given just to the physical house of Israel. Jesus brought the opportunity to follow God to "whosoever will". All believers in Christ have the laws of God written upon their hearts.
Isaiah 42:2 "He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street."
"He shall not cry ... in the street": The quiet and submissive demeanor of Christ at His first advent fulfilled this prophecy (Matt. 11:28-30; 1 Peter 2:23).
Jesus did not go out and seek people to minister to, they came to Him. He ministered in a quiet, gentle way. He did not force His message on anyone. He made salvation available to all who would become His followers, but it was of their own free will that they decided to follow Him.
He came to give His body on the cross, so that all who would believe could be saved. The name "Jesus" means Savior.
Isaiah 42:3 "A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth."
"Bruised reed ... smoking flax": The Servant will bring comfort and encouragement to the weak and oppressed (40:11; 50:4; 61:1).
Most of His followers did not understand why He did not fight and take the rule away from the Romans. Jesus did not come as reigning Ruler, when He came as the babe in the manger. He came as Savior. When He comes back, He will be King of kings and Lord of lords and rule on the earth for 1,000 years.
Revelation 20:4 "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."
Jesus dealt tenderly with all the people, when He ministered to them. I believe the "smoking flax" represents those who believe in the Messiah will not be overcome, but taken into the fold.
Jesus Himself said He was the Truth. He alone shall judge the world. His judgment is just.
Isaiah 42:4 "He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law."
"Judgment in the earth": Isaiah looked beyond the first coming of Christ to His second coming. Jesus fulfilled (verses 1a-3), at His first coming and will fulfill (verses 1b-4), at His second coming, when He rules the earth in perfect justice with "a rod of iron" (Psalm 2:8-9; Rev. 2:27).
There is no weakness in the Lord Jesus Christ. Even though He is tender and kind, it is not because He is weak, but because He is strong. Jesus established Christianity, the only way to heaven, and true happiness. This is not a religion of a handful of people, but of all people who would dare to believe in Him.
Jesus is the righteous Judge of all the world. He will separate the people into two classes, those who believe, and those who do not believe. He is the standard that all will be judged by. Redemption is for every race of people on the earth.
Verses 5-16: "God the Lord" is pictured as the Creator who "created the heavens, and stretched them out "and "spread forth the earth." He also gives both "breath" and "spirit" to His "people." The ministry of the Messiah is described (in verse 6), as a "covenant" to the Jews and a "light" to the Gentiles. It foreshadows the twofold purpose of Christ's ministry to both the Jews and the Gentiles.
Isaiah 42:5 "Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:"
"Thus saith God the Lord, he that created ... walk therein": Here God spoke directly to the Messiah, identified as "Thee" (verse 6). God's role as Creator of the universe is the basis of certainty for the fulfilling of His will by His Servant the Messiah.
The Word of God created the earth and all that is in it, as we have already learned in these lessons. He not only created man from the dust of the earth, but He breathed the breath of life into him, and the man became a living soul.
Those that walk in the newness of life with Christ are filled with the Spirit of God. Jesus sent the Spirit to dwell in man to comfort and teach him all things. The eternal being within each of us is spirit. We are housed in flesh and have a will, but our everlasting life is spirit. We read about this spiritual being (in 1 Corinthians).
1 Corinthians 15:44 "It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." The part of us which will not die is that spiritual body.
Acts 17:28 "For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring."
Isaiah 42:6 "I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;"
"I the LORD": Beginning with (41:13), the Lord's self-identification is frequent (41:13; 42:6, 8; 43:3, 11, 15; 45:5-7, 18; 48:17; 49:23; 51:15). His personal name is the one He explained to Moses as especially symbolic of the unique relationship He bore to Israel (Exodus 3:15; 6:3). Here that covenant name guarantees His ministry through the Messiah-Servant.
"Covenant of the people": The Servant is a covenant in that He personifies and provides the blessings of salvation to God's people Israel. He is the Mediator of a better covenant than the one with Moses, i.e., the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31; Heb. 8:6, 10-12).
"Light of the Gentiles": Simeon saw the beginning of this fulfillment at Christ's first coming (Luke 2:32). He came as the Messiah of Israel, yet the Savior of the world, who revealed Himself to a non-Jewish immoral woman by the well in Samaria (John 4:25-26), and commanded His followers to preach the gospel of salvation to everyone in the world (Matt. 28:19-20).
Certainly, the church, made up mostly of Gentiles grafted into the trunk of blessing fulfills this promise. As does the future kingdom on earth when the Servant will use Israel to shine and enlighten all the nations of the earth (49:6; 19:24).
The "covenant", spoken of here, is the covenant of grace. The law was given to the physical house of Israel, but grace was given to all who will believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:5-8 "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)" "And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:" "That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:"
Jesus is the Light of the world. When He gives us the Light, He gives us Himself.
Luke 2:32 "A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel."
Acts 13:47 "For so hath the Lord commanded us, [saying], I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth."
Isaiah 42:7 "To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, [and] them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."
"Open the blind eyes ... bring out the prisoners": Jesus fulfilled these words (9:1-2; Matt. 4:13-16), when He applied them to miracles of physical healing and freedom from spiritual bondage during His incarnation (Matt. 11:5; Luke 4:18). Under the Servant's millennial reign on earth, spiritual perception will replace Israel's spiritual blindness and her captives will receive their freedom (29:18; 32:3; 35:5; 61:1).
We must look at some New Testament Scriptures, spoken by Jesus to understand this.
Luke 4:17-21 "And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written," "The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised," "To preach the acceptable year of the Lord." "And he closed the book, and he gave [it] again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him." "And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears."
This leaves no doubt at all that this is speaking of Jesus Himself. This blindness that Jesus did away with was both spiritual and physical. He even went into hell (Sheol, the abode of the dead), and preached and brought the captives out with Him. Nothing in this universe can stand against the Word of God, who is Jesus.
Isaiah 42:8 "I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images."
God had told Moses that He was the "I Am", the One who continually exists. LORD, in the verse above, is taken from the word Jehovah. Jesus, in the furthest extension, means Jehovah Savior.
I believe the word LORD, here, is saying that all the fullness of the Godhead was caught up in the One we know as Jesus. Lord, on the other hand, I believe is specifically speaking of Jesus.
LORD is like One in 1 John:
1 John 5:7 "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
Verse 8 above, is speaking of the eternity of the Godhead, the separation of God from all false gods. A graven image is the creation of man's hands. The One True God is not a creation at all; He is the Creator of all. The name LORD, Jehovah, or in fact the name Jesus, is a name above all names.
Philippians 2:10 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;"
Jesus, not only was the Word of God, who took on the form of flesh and dwelt among us, but represented the Father and the Holy Spirit, as well.
Colossians 2:9 "For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."
Isaiah 42:9 "Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them."
"Former things ... new things": The "former things" are already fulfilled or about to be fulfilled prophecies of Isaiah (41:22). The "new things" pertain to the future accomplishments of the Lord through His Messiah-Servant when He comes.
We see that the things God has had His prophets to prophesy have come true. God does what He promises. Now, He is proclaiming something brand new. Salvation through faith and the grace of God is the new thing.
Israel will not only be delivered from their captivity in Babylon, but will soon see the redeemer of all mankind. The promise of the Messiah will be fulfilled very soon, in their midst.
Isaiah 42:10 "Sing unto the LORD a new song, [and] his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof."
Because this song is sung from the end of the earth, we know this blessing is for all mankind. When we sing to the Lord, it is a type of praise. Isaiah is encouraging them to begin to sing praises now, because they know that God keeps His promises.
Isaiah 42:11 "Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up [their voice], the villages [that] Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains."
This "song" never before sung, called for by new manifestations of God's grace, will match the newness of conditions created by the Servant's work of redemption in the kingdom, for which earth's inhabitants will also sing "His praise" (2:2; 26:1; Revelation 4:11; 5:9).
This is saying, that those in the villages, and those in the desert, should shout praises to their God for their deliverance to come. This takes an act of faith to praise, before it happens. They believe it will happen, because God said it would.
Isaiah 42:12 "Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands."
We see that the glory goes to the Lord, not to some man. The islands here, perhaps is speaking of faraway places who have no personal need for the Jews to be delivered. This makes me believe that this is far reaching. The deliverance prophesied is also the deliverance of all mankind from the bondage of sin, through belief in Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 42:13 "The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies."
"Mighty man ... man of war": As a mighty warrior, the Lord will work through His Servant to overcome all enemies (40:10; 9:7; 37:32; 59:17).
The battle to be fought is to be won by the LORD. In the sense of the physical house of Israel, He will defeat Babylon and set His people free. In the sense of the spiritual house of Israel, Jesus defeats Satan and sin on the cross. He defeated death, when He rose from the grave.
Isaiah 42:14 "I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, [and] refrained myself: [now] will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once."
"Holden my peace ... refrained myself": From the beginning of creation God remained silent, until the time was ripe to intervene in human affairs. He has not been indifferent to wickedness in the world, but will send His Servant in "the fullness of the time" (Gal. 4:4).
"Crying like a travailing woman": shows the nearness of the birth of Israel again. It seems to these people, who have been in captivity that it has been a long time. God says through Isaiah, it is coming soon.
Isaiah 42:15 "I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools."
"Make waste ... dry up all their herbs ... dry up the pools": God's judgment through His Servant will wreak devastation on the earth (Revelation chapters 6-19). The reverse of that will be His blessing through the same Messiah subsequently in the millennial kingdom (see 35:1-4; 41:18).
We see some of the methods He will use to release them, here. We know that God controls the elements. If He wants a flood, He just tells the elements to rain. All of the elements are completely controlled by God.
Isaiah 42:16 "And I will bring the blind by a way [that] they knew not; I will lead them in paths [that] they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them."
"I will bring ... lead ... make ... do": God's sovereignty will be evident to all as He guides the blind over previously uncharted courses. The spiritually blind (9:1-2), will see the way.
We sing a little chorus that says "Open my eyes Lord, I want to see Jesus". This is what the Scripture above is saying. Their spiritual blindness will be done away with. They will see the Light of God and follow it.
In darkness, you cannot see where you are going. In the Light, we see clearly. This is speaking of the Light of the world (Jesus Christ), who brings His Light to the world.
Isaiah 42:17 "They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye [are] our gods."
When the Light of Jesus shines forth, they see these graven images more clearly, and know that they are nothings.
Verses 18-24: The Lord charged Israel, His servant, with unfaithfulness. In an important comparison, positive qualities of the Servant (42:1-7), are personified into an individual, the Messiah. But terms of reproach toward God's servant (42:18-19, 22-24), are personified in the nation, Israel.
Verses 18-20 "deaf ... blind": Though they are called "My servant" and "My messenger" and were perfectly fitted with the truth, Isaiah's commission to prophesy highlighted the spiritual deafness and blindness of Israel, (6:9-10; 22:14; 29:11; 32:3). They were deaf to the voice of God and blind to spiritual reality and duty.
Isaiah 42:18 "Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see."
The other part of the little chorus is "open my ears Lord and help me to listen". Some of us have ears on the side of our head that are just ornaments. We do not hear or understand with them.
Jesus told the so-called religious people that they had eyes to see and did not see, and ears to hear and they did not hear. The only way we can truly see or hear, is in the spirit of man. God must open our sight and our hearing.
Isaiah 42:19-20 "Who [is] blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger [that] I sent? who [is] blind as [he that is] perfect, and blind as the LORD'S servant?" "Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not."
God is telling them, to serve a graven image is blindness and deafness. The physical house of Israel (servant), was blind and deaf at this time. God sent Jesus to open the eyes of the people, and to heal their deaf ears. We must not just see and hear words, but understand.
Isaiah 42:21 "The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make [it] honorable."
"For his righteousness' sake": In spite of Israel's deafness, blindness and defective righteousness (verse 24), God will staunchly uphold His principles of righteousness (59:4-17).
We will discover that Jesus did not come to do away with the law, but to fulfill it. The law was good. It was the sinful nature of mankind that caused the error.
Isaiah 42:22 "But this [is] a people robbed and spoiled; [they are] all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore."
"Robbed and spoiled ... snared ... hid": Exiled and dispersed, Israel was like a caravan in the desert, attacked unmercifully by bandits and imprisoned in caves or dungeons, so that no human deliverer could restore them (63:5).
When God took His hedge from around Israel, they were destroyed by the evil ones around them. God tells them here, that He knows of their condition, because He allowed it to happen.
Isaiah 42:23 "Who among you will give ear to this? [who] will hearken and hear for the time to come?"
This is a challenge to them to hear and understand why this happened to them. It is as a loving parent saying, "Have you learned your lesson yet?" God is saying, "Will you listen now?"
Isaiah 42:24 "Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law."
"Did not the Lord ... ?": The nation went into Babylonian exile and worldwide dispersion as punishment by God for their rebellion against Him (30:15; 57:17; 65:2).
It was God who gave them over to their enemies to teach them a lesson. It was their choice through their own free will to follow God, or not. They chose to sin. God allowed their enemies to take them to teach them how badly they needed Him.
Isaiah 42:25 "Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid [it] not to heart."
"The fury of his anger": The fall of Jerusalem to Babylon (in 586 B.C.), did not result from the strength of Babylon. Rather, Israel had to taste the wrath of God because they paid no attention to the Lord.
"Set him on fire": Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, burned Jerusalem when he conquered the city (2 Kings 25:8-9).
The sadness of this verse is that they did not realize why this happened to them. Because they chose false gods and they chose to be unfaithful to God, He poured out His fury on them. He wanted them to repent, but they did not.
Isaiah Chapter 42 Questions
Verses 1-13: In spite of Israel's deliberate rejection of the Lord as her rightful king, God reassures them, "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee." The theme of redemption appears 22 times in the Servant passages of the Book of Isaiah.
It indicates a redemption from physical and spiritual bondage as well as the eschatological redemption yet to come (43:5-7; 44:22; 49:16-17). In addition to redeeming Israel, God also announces that "all the nations" (Gentiles), will be gathered to Him for salvation.
Isaiah 43:1 "But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called [thee] by thy name; thou [art] mine."
"Formed": The only explanation for the ongoing existence of the nation of Israel is God's sovereign grace, which brought her into existence from nothing (Deut. 7:6-11), and sustains her. Since she was God's creation, she could find comfort in knowing that no one or nothing can destroy her, not even her own wickedness (43:18-25; Romans 11:1-2, 25-27).
"Jacob ... Israel": This double designation for God's chosen nation is used by Isaiah 21 times (16 of them in chapters 40-49). This speaks of the Lord's special attachment to Abraham's physical seed.
"Fear not": The Lord repeated His word, relieving Israel's fear (35:4; 41:10, 13-14; compare 7:4).
"Redeemed": God's redemption of His people from exile is not to be complete until His Servant returns to reign over the faithful remnant in the land of Israel who have believed on Jesus Christ. The limited return from Babylon only typified the final return.
"Israel" means prince of God, so you can easily see, they are called of His name. The creation always belongs to its Creator. Creator God ("Elohim"), as we have learned in other lessons, is the Word of God. The first chapter of John is definite about that.
Jacob, in the verse above, means the physical house of Israel. God has not forgotten His people and the Scripture here, shows that God is their Deliverer.
Isaiah 43:2 " When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."
"Waters ... rivers ... fire ... flame": Many perils symbolized by these words have confronted the Israelites through the centuries and will continue to do so until the nation's final redemption, but the Lord promises the nation's survival through them all.
The passage of Moses' and Joshua's generations through the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-22), and the Jordan River (Joshua 3:14-17), and the preservation of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the fiery furnace, illustrate His care for Israel.
We know that God had brought them through the water at the Red Sea, on their flight from Egypt. We also know that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were saved in the fire of the furnace, when they refused to turn against God.
God was their very present help in trouble. He is our help, as well. Tribulation comes to all of God's people to make them strong. He is there to strengthen us in our trouble.
Isaiah 43:3 "For I [am] the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior: I gave Egypt [for] thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee."
God is by nature a Savior (verse 11), both temporally and eternally. God delivered Israel from Egypt and will deliver her from Babylon and all future exiles, as well as bring her to spiritual salvation (Zech. 12:10 - 13:1; Romans 11:25-27).
"Ethiopia ... Seba": A country either in southern Arabia or across the Red Sea in northeast Africa, near Cush, or Ethiopia. Egypt, Cush and Seba became a vicarious compensation so that God could spare Israel. "Sabeans" is another name for the inhabitants of Seba (45:14).
God had spoken to Moses in the wilderness and called Himself "I AM". This tells us that God is the God of the present, whenever that present is. He is everlasting, and unchangeable. He was God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and yet, He is the LORD our God today.
He is the Self-existent, or Eternal One. The Holy One of Israel, or Savior, is speaking of the One we know as Jesus. We have mentioned before that "Jesus" means Savior. God would have completely destroyed Egypt, if they had not let His people go.
Egypt, Ethiopia, and Seba were not too high a price to pay for God's people.
Isaiah 43:4 "Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life."
We know from our study of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land, that God truly allowed their enemies to be destroyed before them. God had a plan for His people, and He left nothing undone to accomplish His plans.
Many lands, they went through on the way to the Promised Land, were inhabited by ungodly people. God allowed them to be overthrown to help His people. As long as Israel was faithful to God, He destroyed their enemies before them.
Isaiah 43:5-6 "Fear not: for I [am] with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;" "I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;"
"East ... West ... North ... South ... ends of the earth": The Lord will regather to the land of Israel the faithful remnant of His people from their worldwide dispersion in conjunction with the institution of the Messiah's kingdom on earth (11:12).
Just as they had been delivered from Egypt, they would be delivered from Babylonian captivity. They may have wandered away from God and gotten themselves in a predicament, but God loves them and will come back and help them. He will bring them back to their land of promise.
This prophecy is not only for their immediate future, but looks on down into time when they are scattered all over the world, and God brings them home to start His new nation, Israel. This started in 1948.
Isaiah 43:7 "[Even] every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him."
"Called by my name ... created him for my glory": The faithful remnant of Israel will bear the Lord's name and exist for one primary purpose: to glorify Him (44:23).
God is explaining to them in this, that they are not only His family, but His creation, as well. He created them for a purpose. He has put His name on them. Christians bear the name of Christ. This is what this is saying. Israel, whether physical, or spiritual, bears the name of their God.
We mentioned early on in this lesson that Israel means "prince of God". He formed man from the dust of the earth and breathed the breath of life into him. Our very life and breath is in Him.
Isaiah 43:8 "Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears."
"Blind ... have eyes ... deaf ... have ears": Restored Israel will have their spiritual eyesight and hearing restored. They have been blinded by sin, but their eyes and ears of understanding are opened in the knowledge of God.
Isaiah 43:9 "Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, [It is] truth."
"Their witnesses": Who among the idolatrous soothsayers could predict Cyrus would deliver Israel from Babylon, or make prophecies of any kind that already were fulfilled? The gods of the nations showed no ability to reveal accurately "the former events" as the Lord had. So the nations had no witnesses to accredit that their gods could speak prophetic truth.
This is just saying that the world has nothing to offer. There is no true knowledge in the world and its system. There is no man justified by the works of his hands.
Psalm 143:2 "And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified."
Justification is not even in keeping the law. Justification comes through faith in God.
Galatians 2:16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
The only truth is in God.
Isaiah 43:10 "Ye [are] my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I [am] he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me."
"You are my witnesses ... my servant": Israel's God repeatedly predicted the future accurately, enabling Israel to witness to His truthful accuracy (verse 13), and thus the reality that He was the only eternal, living God. This witnessing they will do again in the millennial kingdom (Joel 2:28-32).
This is expressing the eternity of God. He is "Alpha and Omega", "The Beginning and the End". There is none before Him, or after Him. Israel was the witness to the whole world, of the One True God. Christians are the witness to the world of the Lord Jesus Christ.
God is Spirit. The work that must be done on the earth for God is work that is done by the followers of God. We are the hands for God. We are to serve Him here on the earth. We carry His message to the world. Our witness must be of the Father and the Son.
We Christians, are like an ambassador for Christ. We witness to the Truth. We witness of Christ raised from the dead. This does not mean that it does away with the law that the physical house of Israel witnesses to. It is an explanation of the fulfillment of the law in Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 43:11 "I, [even] I, [am] the LORD; and beside me [there is] no savior."
The best way to explain this is with another Scripture.
1 Timothy 4:10 "For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe."
God has made salvation available to all mankind, one at a time. God will save each person who believes.
Romans 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
Man cannot save himself. Only God can save man.
Isaiah 43:12 "I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when [there was] no strange [god] among you: therefore ye [are] my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I [am] God."
"Declared and have saved and I have showed": As in the deliverance from Egypt (Exodus chapters 3 and 4), God declared in advance how He would redeem Israel from their captivity. Then there came the actual events of the saving process, followed by the Lord's proclamation of that deliverance by way of reminder. The people, on the basis of such omniscience and omnipotence, gave testimony to the true and only living God.
The one thing the LORD will not tolerate is other gods. An idol is nothing. It cannot save anyone. God had proved over and over to these Israelites that He alone was God.
One of the best examples of this was when Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal. Their god did not devour the sacrifice at all. God devoured the sacrifice with fire, devoured even the water surrounding the sacrifice, and destroyed hundreds of Baal's prophets. Elijah had told the people, they must choose that day who they would serve. There was no question, God is the only God.
The following Scripture should be the way all Christians should answer this question.
Joshua 24:15 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
"As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD".
Isaiah 43:13 "Yea, before the day [was] I [am] he; and [there is] none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?"
Before the first day of creation when time began and throughout all periods of history, God exists and manifests His will and purpose.
"None ... my hand": The Hebrew behind this clause is identical with the comparable clause (in Deut. 32:39). God's actions are irreversible and can never end in frustration.
God does not have to get anyone's permission to "let Him". He does as He wishes. Satan has just as much power as God allows him. He is no match for the LORD. Let us look at what Jesus said about this.
John 10:29 "My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand."
Isaiah Chapter 43 Questions
Verses 14-28: Isaiah here combines the titles "Redeemer" and "Holy One of Israel" as the One who shall overthrow "Babylon ... and the Chaldeans." He predicts that God will judge Babylon after using them to judge Israel. God announces that He will profane "the sanctuary" (temple).
The use of the imperfect verb construction throughout much of the section clearly indicates that the curse of the Captivity and their subsequent deliverance was yet future at the time of Isaiah's writing.
Isaiah 43:14 "Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry [is] in the ships."
"Redeemer ... the Holy One of Israel": The former title characterizes the Lord's role in the salvation of His people (in chapters 40 to 66). The latter title represents His holiness throughout the book. The Lord's Servant retains His holiness in implementing His redemption of Israel.
"Chaldeans ... the ships": When God sent a conqueror against Babylon (i.e. Cyrus; 45.1), the proud Babylonian fleet provided a means of flight for the country's fugitives. Babylon was accessible by ship through the Persian Gulf and the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
This prophecy is a promise to restore Israel. This means that their Babylonian captivity will not continue. God Himself, will free them from their captivity. God has heard their cry, and will restore them.
Isaiah 43:15 "I [am] the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King."
"Your King": The Lord was king over Israel from her inception, but the people asked for a human king instead (1 Sam. 8:4-7). The restoration will put Him back on the throne in the Person of His Servant the Messiah (Luke 1:31-33; 6:1; 41:21).
Now, we see by what authority God destroys one nation and builds up another. The Creator can do with His creation as He wishes. Look at all the descriptions of God in the names. He is "I Am". He is "the LORD", who eternally exists. He is the "Holy One" of Israel, when He says your Holy One. He created all things. He is King of kings.
Verses 16-17: "Sea ... mighty waters ... chariot and horse": To bring assurance of the greater future deliverance He will bring through His Servant, the Lord reminded Isaiah's readers of His deliverance of the ancestors from Egypt (Exodus 14:16, 21, 26-28; Joshua 3:13).
Isaiah 43:16 "Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;"
This is speaking of the highway God made through the Red Sea for His people Israel. The breath of His nostrils kept the Sea in a heap on either side, until they could cross over on dry ground. The highway was so dry; they did not even get their feet wet.
This is the God that can restore a nation when He chooses to.
Isaiah 43:17 "Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow."
We also know, from a previous lesson, that Pharaoh's army, horses, and chariots were drowned in that very same Red Sea. They are extinct, because God drowned them. This is mentioned to show them that the same God, that delivered Israel at the Red Sea, will deliver them from Babylon.
Verses 18-19: "Things of old ... a new thing": Deliverance of the nation in the past will pale into insignificance in comparison with the future deliverance the Lord will give His people (42:9; 48:6; Jer. 16:14-15).
Isaiah 43:18 "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old."
The only reason to look back is to encourage us to have faith for now. The miracle will not be the very same. The deliverance from Babylon will be just as great, or greater, than the Exodus from Egypt.
Verses 19-20: "Rivers ... waters ...rivers": In the Messiah's future kingdom, the barren places of Israel will be well-watered (41:18), and will supply refreshment for God's chosen people (43:1).
Isaiah 43:19 "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, [and] rivers in the desert."
This new thing is the way to be saved through grace. This is speaking of two things, as most prophecy is. Jesus Christ is the Way for all who will dare to believe. Not only does this speak of them being delivered from Babylon, but it is speaking of a spiritual deliverance for all mankind from the spirit of Babylon.
Just as Moses was the deliverer from physical Egypt, Jesus is the Deliverer for all from the world and sin.
Isaiah 43:20 "The beast of the field shall honor me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, [and] rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen."
When God blesses His chosen by furnishing water in the desert place, it benefits even the beasts and the fowl that dwell in these desolate places. It furnishes water for them to drink. When God blesses His people with water to drink, it provides water for everything in the vicinity.
Isaiah 43:21 "This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise."
"Show forth my praise": In the messianic age, Israel will finally give the Lord the credit that is due Him.
We see the reason God made these people. The following Scriptures say it best.
Colossians 1:16 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:"
Revelation 4:11 "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
God is proud of His earthly family. They bring pleasure to Him, when they praise and worship Him.
Verses 22-24: Even though the Lord has chosen Israel, Israel throughout their history has not chosen Him. Rather, they have wearied Him with their iniquities and empty ritualism (1:11-15).
Isaiah 43:22 "But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel."
The most dangerous thing a person can do is stop praying to God. To be out of fellowship with God brings nothing but heartache. They were in Babylon, because they had forgotten God. They must not repeat that.
To tire of worshipping God, is a sure sign of failure. God hears and answers the prayers of His people. The following are two examples of the results God promised, when we pray.
Psalm 50:15 "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."
Jeremiah 29:12 "Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you."
Isaiah 43:23 "Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honored me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense."
This is almost an explanation of why they went into captivity. They had neglected God and the offerings due Him. This neglect caused them to stray from God's teachings, as well as His blessings. All through the Bible, God blesses those who keep His commandments.
To neglect God would be committing a sin. The requirement had not been burdensome on them. In fact, everything they gave God was multiplied and given back to them. Many neglect going to church today. They think they do not have time for God. The sad thing is they are missing God's blessings when they do this.
Isaiah 43:24 "Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities."
It is an understatement to say, that today God is wearied of the iniquities of the people. It seems our society is about the most evil it has ever been. This breaks the heart of a loving God. Israel strayed from God over and over. God always forgave them and restored them. He never gave up on them repenting and turning back to Him.
Sin is anything that displeases God. Just about one of the most hurtful things they could do to Him, is to ignore His wishes.
Isaiah 43:25 "I, [even] I, [am] he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."
"I, even I ... will not remember thy sins": This verse is probably the high point of grace in the Old Testament. In spite of Israel's utter unworthiness, the Lord in His grace has devised a way that He can forgive their sins and grant righteousness, without compromising His holiness. This He would accomplish through the work of His Servant (53:6). In spite of her failures, Israel will always be God's chosen people.
Notice in this, He does not cover the sins up. He does away with them. The only reason God blots out the sin, is because He loves Israel. They do not deserve to be forgiven. They are forgiven, because of His great love for them.
This is the very thing the Lord Jesus does for the Christian. He blots our sins out with His precious blood.
Isaiah 43:26 "Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified."
"Declare thou": God gives the nation opportunity to come into the court and plead her case. The strongest plea is not to claim personal worthiness, but to confess their sin and repent, thus pleading for mercy and forgiveness based on God's gracious promise (in verse 25), and based on what Jesus Christ would do on the cross (55:6-7; Romans 3:21-26).
To be "justified" is to be as if you had never sinned. God loves for us to remind Him of His promises to us. In the case here, it would be better not to look back, because they have displeased God. The grace of God is free. This is introducing the gift of grace.
To declare is to speak of something you know to be true. (In chapter 10 of Romans), we find that believing in your heart, and confessing with your mouth the Lord Jesus, will get you saved. That is the way to receive the grace offered.
Isaiah 43:27 "Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me."
"First father ... teachers": Sins of even the respected patriarchal ancestors of the Jewish race, like Abraham, kept them from claiming personal merit. Even honored intermediaries between God and Israel such as the priests needed cleansing for sin (6:5-7).
This first father could be speaking of Abraham, who was the father of the Israelites. All Israelites are proud to speak of Abraham as their ancestor. Even Abraham sinned. His faith is what saved him.
The teachers are probably, the priests and High Priest. They were mere men, so they sinned also. No man was saved by the works of the law. God sent a Savior for all mankind, so that simple faith would bring salvation.
Isaiah 43:28 "Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches."
"Jacob to the curse ... Israel to reproaches": Even though God will forgive the nation in the messianic age, she still must suffer in the intervening interval.
"Princes of the sanctuary" is speaking of those in authority in the sanctuary, the priests and High Priest. Isaiah is prophesying of a time when the priesthood would not be honorable. This very priesthood would have fallen so far from the truth; they will deny the Lord of Glory.
The priests of that day were captured by the Babylonians and not respected. The priesthood will deteriorate until the time when Jesus comes. The law will be so twisted by the time Jesus comes; He calls it their law, not God's.
Isaiah Chapter 43 Continued Questions
Chapter 44:1-28: Contains one of the most amazing prophecies in all of Scripture. (In verse 28), Cyrus, the king of Persia, is named as the coming deliverer of the Jews more than 140 years in advance. The structure of the poem (in verses 24-28), is arranged deliberately to end with a definite climax, which introduces Cyrus by name. A similar prediction can be found (in 1 Kings 13:2), where Josiah is named three hundred years ahead of his time.
As the passage opens, "Israel" is again identified as "my servant," who has been chosen from the womb to fulfill God's purposes. (In verse 6), the prophet emphasizes the oneness of God by stating that "besides me there is no God". Yet, at the same time, the prophet distinguishes between "the Lord the King of Israel" and "his redeemer the Lord of hosts." The personal name, Yahweh, is used of "both" the "King" and His Redeemer, the one referring to God the Father and the other to God the Son.
Verses 1-2: "My servant ... whom I have chosen ... made thee ... formed thee": God has chosen His servant Israel to be His own eternally (43:1, 21, 25), and they need not fear abandonment.
Isaiah 44:1 "Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:"
In the last chapter, we had seen an Israel who had displeased God. The word "yet" lets us know that even though they had sinned, there is hope. "Yet" changes the pace of this chapter. It is as if Isaiah is saying, don't stop listening now. Now comes the best part.
When Israel is called Jacob, it is speaking of the family more than as a nation. It is a personal name. Notice also, that Jacob had never stopped being God's servant. They had been disobedient, but it had not taken away their relationship to God.
There are two Israels. Spiritual Israel are the children who have faith in Jesus Christ. Physical Israel is made up of the physical descendants of Jacob.
Isaiah 44:2 "Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, [which] will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen."
"Jesurun": An honored name for Israel whose root meaning is "upright" or "straight," in contrast to the root of "Jacob", which means "over-reacher" or deceiver (Deut. 32:15).
Both Israels are a chosen people. The physical house of Israel had been chosen of God to receive His law. The spiritual house of Israel was chosen to receive the grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Verse 2 is a reminder that all belong to the Creator. He made us, and we belong to Him.
The word "Jesurun" is another name for God's people. It speaks of their character. "Jesurun" means upright. It is a symbolic name for Israel. They may not be upright in the sight of the world, but they are upright in God's sight.
God's people take on the character of God, when they are saved. The name implies those who have taken on the righteousness of Christ.
Isaiah 44:3 "For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:"
"Water ... floods": The extensive blessing of physical conditions will favor the nation in the coming kingdom age (43:19-20); they were also symbolic of spiritual refreshment from the Holy Spirit and God Himself (32:15; Joel 2:28-29).
The "water", and the "floods", in the verse above, are two entirely different things. Water, many times, is speaking of the Word of God. Look, with me, in the following verses at just that.
Matthew 5:6 "Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."
John 4:13-14 "Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:" "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
The water can symbolize the Word or the Spirit, and really, they are one and the same. Notice (in verse 3 above), that only those who are thirsty receive this water. This is like salvation. It comes to just those who will accept it. This whole Scripture has to be speaking of the appearing of Jesus Christ to the seed of Abraham. The believers are His offspring.
Galatians 3:29 "And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
Isaiah 44:4 "And they shall spring up [as] among the grass, as willows by the water courses."
This is just speaking of the abundance of their growth near the water. The willows usually grow near water. It is a natural thing for growth to appear where there is abundant water (Word).
Isaiah 44:5 "One shall say, I [am] the LORD'S; and another shall call [himself] by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe [with] his hand unto the LORD, and surname [himself] by the name of Israel."
"The LORD'S ... name of Jacob ... name of Israel": In the future golden age of Israel, belonging to the Lord and belonging to God's chosen people will be synonymous, and it will be a badge of honor gladly worn without fear.
Jesus opened the wall of partition for all to come to God. Christianity is open to all who will believe. The natural Jew is not excluded, but neither is the Gentile. We all are the LORD's, if we believe. Since Jesus Christ came to the earth, worship of God was opened to the heathen man.
Isaiah 44:6 "Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I [am] the first, and I [am] the last; and beside me [there is] no God."
"King ... redeemer ... Lord of hosts ... first ... last": The Lord identified Himself as Israel's King (43:15), Redeemer (43:14), and Eternal One (41:4; 48:12). Jesus, in a direct affirmation of His deity, called Himself the First and the Last (Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:13).
"Beside me there is no God": God's exclusive claim to deity; prepared the way for another challenge to false gods (in verses 7-20; 43:10).
We see the Redeemer. This is speaking of Jesus Christ who is the King. He is the Eternal One, He is LORD of hosts. LORD, in this, is speaking of the same One as in 1 John:
1 John 5:7 "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
In Jesus, all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily.
Colossians 2:9 "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."
Jesus represented Himself, the Father, and the Holy Ghost on the earth. They all planned the redemption of man through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. They were in total agreement. Jesus followed completely the will of all of them.
LORD, many times, indicates ownership. We are His property. We have been bought by the precious blood of Jesus. I AM is speaking of the eternity of God in the present tense. Whether you lived 4,000 years ago are whether you are living right now, God is your "I AM GOD".
Isaiah 44:7 "And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them show unto them."
"Let them show unto them": If idols can foretell "the things that are coming," let them predict accurately, as the Lord has. Since the Jews have had predictions of the future ever since God chose them as His people, they are qualified to be His witnesses (verse 8).
There is no other god that is capable of doing this. The gods they had worshipped in Babylon were sometimes people who had been elevated to godhood. They were not the real God, and could not create people, or a world for those people to live in. They were like the idols, nothings. There is no comparison between the LORD and false gods.
Isaiah 44:8 "Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared [it]? ye [are] even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, [there is] no God; I know not [any]."
The first of the 10 Commandments tell us this.
Exodus 20:3 "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
Isaiah is trying to express over and over that there is but One God. God can manifest Himself in the burning bush, or in a smoke, or fire, but it is One Spirit. God is a Spirit.
John 4:24 "God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth."
Verses 9-20: This expose of idolatry is the most taunting in all of the bible. The prophet Isaiah, serving as the spokesman of Yahweh, revealed the utter foolishness of polytheistic pagan idolatry. The "graven image" (carved idol) is called "vanity" (nothing). "Delectable things" refers to the adornment of idols with gold, silver, and precious stones.
The prophet announces that the idol themselves are "their own witnesses." They "see not, nor know." Therefore, these inanimate objects are "profitable for nothing." Isaiah then berates the "workmen" (artisans), for designing and constructing their idols in the "figure of a man".
He exposes the basic fallacy of idolatry, a god made in the image of man. Thus, the prophet's criticism of one who would worship an idol carved from the same tree that he would use for firewood is that "he feedeth on ashes."
Verses 9-11: Ashamed ... ashamed ... ashamed": The workmen who manufactured idols were mere men and could make nothing as good or greater than man. They and others who put their trust in idols had simple reason to fear and be ashamed of such folly (verse 11).
Isaiah 44:9 "They that make a graven image [are] all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they [are] their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed."
A graven image is a creation of man. The best rule we can go by is to worship the Creator of all the world and everything in it. We must not worship anything, or anyone, that has been created. Even the creator of a graven image, is a creation himself. This makes it twice as bad.
These idols may be pretty to look at with fleshly eyes, but they have no value. They are nothings. This is a lesson in futility. If you can see it with physical eyes, do not worship it. The problem with people who worship material things is that a spiritual blindness has overcome them.
A very good example of a false god that was made by man is the golden calf. The worship of idols is spiritual adultery. God will not tolerate this type of behavior.
Exodus 34:14 "For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name [is] Jealous, [is] a jealous God:"
Isaiah 44:10 "Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image [that] is profitable for nothing?"
This is about the worst thing a person can do to God. This is total unfaithfulness. They have no value at all.
Isaiah 44:11 "Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they [are] of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; [yet] they shall fear, [and] they shall be ashamed together."
It would not really matter how many people were gathered together to worship this false god. At the appearance of the True God, they would all tremble and be afraid.
When Aaron graved the golden calf for the children of Israel to worship on the way to the Promised Land, he was so ashamed, he denied it. He pretended the people made him grave it. Fear of the LORD changes our thoughts. No one wants to admit they made an idol, when they find the truth.
Verses 12-19: Human workers expended all their energy to product a beautiful idol, but the best they could make was the likeness of a man (Deut. 4:15-18; Romans 1:23), and that could not renew their strength. Yet they who wait on the Lord will renew their strength (40: 28-31).
The same humanly nurtured trees used as fuel for fires to furnish warmth and to cook also provides wood for people to make idols, which they worship and to which they entrust their prayers and themselves.
Nothing could be more foolish than worshiping a piece of wood as deity, while burning the same wood in a fire to keep warm. Idol-makers cannot comprehend the idiocy of creating gods from materials used for the most trivial domestic purposes.
Isaiah 44:12 "The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint."
We see from this, that this was no easy task to make the idol. Sometimes these people make the image to get money to feed their families. It is still sin, regardless of why they made it.
Isaiah 44:13 "The carpenter stretcheth out [his] rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house."
This just tells of the careful way in which it is made to make it beautiful to the eye, and acceptable to keep in the home.
Isaiah 44:14 "He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish [it]."
Even the tree that he cuts down to make the image from, comes from God. God provided the trees and even caused them to grow when it rains. They are a gift to man from God, and should not be used to make idols.
Isaiah 44:15 "Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth [it], and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshipeth [it]; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto."
The purpose of a tree is for making a house to live in, and to burn to keep warm. God did not provide the tree, so that you can use it to make a false god.
Isaiah 44:16 "He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth [himself], and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:"
It is a good and useful purpose of the tree to be used for fire to cook our food, and to warm our houses. The goodness that God has provided for man's comfort here on the earth should be used for just that. It should not be made into a god that would cause God to be angry. It belongs to God. We should never use it for anything not pleasing to Him.
Isaiah 44:17 "And the residue thereof he maketh a god, [even] his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshipeth [it], and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou [art] my god."
This is the height of foolishness to make a god of something you can see, or hold in your hand. They did not even stop to think where the tree came from. This is as foolish as man can get. God will not permit this folly.
Isaiah 44:18 "They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; [and] their hearts, that they cannot understand."
God must open our spiritual eyes, that we might see, and our ears of understanding, before we can know. He is angry with these idolaters and allows them to continue in spiritual blindness and deafness.
I have said many times in these lessons; I believe that is what is wrong with most who proclaim to believe in Jesus today. They are looking with physical eyes at the Bible, and do not understand God really. My Bible says God is Spirit. Since God authored the Bible, the only way to understand is in the Spirit.
Isaiah 44:19 "And none considereth in his heart, neither [is there] knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten [it]: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?"
This just shows the height of misunderstanding. Notice, the heart is where the understanding is, and not in the eyes.
Isaiah 44:20 "He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, [Is there] not a lie in my right hand?"
"Deceived heart ... lie": Like eating ashes, which provide no nourishment, idolatry is a deception, from which the sinner gets nothing but judgment (Prov. 15:14; Hosea 12:1).
An idol is like ashes. It has no permanence. Man's heart is desperately wicked, before he receives the Lord Jesus. The soul of man has to do with the will of man. The right hand symbolizes the spirit of man. This is saying the heart is deceived and wicked, and even the spirit of man is ruined by it. A man is what his heart is.
Verses 21-28: The prophet turns his attention again to "Israel" to remind them that God has "blotted out" their transgressions and "redeemed" them, and urges them to "return unto me" (i.e. repent). "I am the Lord" stands at the beginning of the final section of this poem and is the subject of all that follows.
Nine times in this section the English word "that" is used to identify the activity of the Lord. The passage follows in perfect poetic rhythm, leading up to the identification of Cyrus by name. Thus, it is announced that "Jerusalem ... shalt be inhabited" and that the "cities of Judah ... shall be built". God will raise up a deliverer of His own to accomplish this astounding deed: "Cyrus".
Since this is Cyrus II (554-529 B.C.), his name Cyrus was probably an early dynastic throne name. In Persian history, he is known as Cyrus the Great. (In 539 B.C.), he conquered Babylon and decreed the return of the Jews to rebuild Jerusalem and the "foundation" of the "temple" (Ezra 1:2). The discovery of the Cyrus Cylinder (dating from 536 B.C.), further verifies the biblical account.
Isaiah 44:21 "Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou [art] my servant: I have formed thee; thou [art] my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me."
God has saved a remnant of His people through all of their sin. They sin; God forgives them, and blesses them, until they fall back into sin again. God will not give up on Israel. They are His, and He will deliver them.
Isaiah 44:22 "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee."
"Blotted out ... thy sins": Further reassurances of God's sovereign grace at work on behalf of Israel were given (43:25). God had blotted out their sins written in His book against them. As a person can't see what is ahead because it is blocked by a "thick cloud," so God obliterated the sins of those He redeemed.
"Return unto me": God has already provided for redemption, even before the cross, but based on it alone. For those who turn from sin and return to Him, there is redemption, because the purchase price for the sinner was paid by the sacrifice of Christ. The Lord calls on His people to repent so they may receive the promised redemption.
This is an interesting statement, especially since the sins of the people on the Day of Atonement were covered over, not blotted out. Jesus blotted out the sins with His precious blood. The blood of an animal cannot do away with sin.
Notice in the verse above, "thy sins" have been removed as a cloud rolls away and is no more. Notice, it is of our own free will that we come to Him. Redemption is for all men. Not all men receive redemption, because God will not overrule our will. Redemption is available to us, but we must want it to receive it.
Isaiah 44:23 "Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done [it]: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel."
"Heavens ... every tree ... redeemed Jacob": The national redemption of Israel at Christ's second coming entails also the redemption of all nature (Romans 8:19-20), so the prophet calls on the whole creation to rejoice.
It is not the works of man that has won the victory. It is the LORD of glory. Not only are the people blessed with the salvation provided to us by the LORD, but even the elements of the earth. All of heaven rejoices when one sinner is saved.
We know that the heavens themselves will not be darkened, but will be alive with life when the salvation of mankind comes. The animals and the birds are happy that there is a state of peace prevailing.
Isaiah 44:24 "Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I [am] the LORD that maketh all [things]; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;"
The Word of God is Creator God. The Redeemer of all mankind is Jesus (Word). God formed man from the dust of the earth. To fully get the impact of all this creation, read again the first chapter of Genesis. God did it all. Not anything was made except by the Word of God.
God spoke the universe into existence for the use of man. Then He made man to inhabit it. He needed no help. He did it all. We do not need to figure out how He did it, just accept the fact that He did, by faith.
Isaiah 44:25 "That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise [men] backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;"
"Liars ... diviners": False prophets must suffer the consequences of their deceptive counsel.
The knowledge of man is but foolishness to God.
Isaiah 44:26 "That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:"
"His servant ... his messengers": In contrast with His breaking the word of false prophets (verse 25), the Lord confirmed the word of His true prophets such as of Isaiah (Zech. 1:6). Most specially, God confirmed the Word of the Messiah, who is the consummate embodiment of all the prophets and messengers of God (Mal. 3:1; Matt. 21:34, 36-37).
"Raise up the decayed places": The fall of Jerusalem came (in 586 B.C.), when the Babylonians invaded the Land. God promised to restore the Land to prosperity, the foretaste of restoration coming after 70 years with the help of the Persians (41:2). But the greater restoration was to come in the Messiah's kingdom.
All of God's promises come to pass. He is not a man that He should lie. God is absolute Truth. His messages, many times, come from the prophets and preachers acting as His ambassadors. They may be simple men, but when they speak on behalf of God, it is absolute truth.
God promises in this verse to restore Jerusalem, and He will do it. He will restore the people, as well.
Isaiah 44:27 "That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:"
"Be dry": The Lord demonstrated His power by drying up the Red Sea and the Jordan River when delivering His people from Egypt (43:2).
God is in command of this earth, as well as the heavens, and beneath the earth. Whatever He commands to happen happens, even if a river must go dry.
Isaiah 44:28 "That saith of Cyrus, [He is] my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid."
"Cyrus ... my shepherd": The prophecy, given a century and a half before Cyrus lived and because the king of Persia predicted God's use of the Persian king to gather the faithful remnant of Israel back to the Land. In this role, Cyrus prefigured the Lord's Servant, who will shepherd the sheep of Israel in their final regathering (Micah 5:4).
The title "shepherd" applied to kings as leaders of God's people (2 Sam. 5:2; Jer. 3:15). Paul compares David to the standard of Cyrus' obedience (in Acts 13:22).
"Jerusalem ... the temple": (In 538 B.C.), Cyrus decreed the rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 1:1-2; 6:3), thus fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy. The returning Jews completed the work (in 516 B.C.; Ezra 6:15).
Cyrus will rule, because God put him in as ruler. It is not difficult for God to call Cyrus by name well before he lives. God has foreknowledge. He even knew what you and I would be named before the foundation of the earth.
Why God chose Cyrus is none of our business. Of course, this is the rebuilding after their captivity in Babylon. I believe this also points to the time when Jesus will establish Jerusalem as God's city again.
Isaiah Chapter 44 Questions
Verses 1-4: Isaiah continues to emphasize the origin of his message, stating, "Thus saith the Lord." Yahweh Himself has set an open door of conquest before Cyrus. The Persian king is called by the designation "anointed" (meshiach, messiah). This is the only place in Scripture where a Gentile is so designated. The term originated with the Israelite custom of anointing kings and leaders.
Cyrus is given this title only in the sense that he will deliver the Jews from Babylonian bondage. "I have even called thee by thy name" indicates that Cyrus has been deliberately named in advance to reassure the Jews the "God of Israel" indeed is still in control of human events.
Verses 1-2: "Open ... gates ... shut": Probably this was a reference to the many gates in the city wall of Babylon which Cyrus entered with relative ease. The inner gates leading from the river to the city were left open, as were the palace doors. Herodotus, the Greek historian, reported that the openness of the city was so great that the Persians were taking prisoners as they moved to the palace in the center.
Isaiah 45:1 "Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;"
"His anointed": This word is the one translated from the Hebrew by the transliteration, "Messiah". It is the word used for the messianic Redeemer King (in Psalm 2:2 and Dan. 9:25-26), but here refers to Cyrus, as the king set apart by God's providence for divine purposes. Though not a worshiper of the Lord, the Persian monarch played an unusual role as Israel's shepherd (44:28), and God's anointed judge on nations.
God has chosen Cyrus to do a job for Him. To speak of a heathen as His anointed is strange. We usually think of men, such as Moses, as being anointed of God. All of mankind are the creation of God, whether they are Israelites, or not. Mankind chooses whom he will serve, but all are God's creation.
This verse explains why God has anointed him. It is so that he might subdue the nations. When God opens the gates, and sends you through those gates, you cannot fail. The right hand has to do with the spiritual side. The whole world will know, that the victories Cyrus has, are of God. There will be no doubt that God is God.
Isaiah 45:2 "I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:"
God has called him to this path. It is God who will clear the way for him, also. Historians tell us that the gates of Babylon were of pure brass. Perhaps, that is what is meant here.
The bars of iron were hinges they opened with. The doors were, probably, wooden covered in brass to make them appear to the world to be very strong. God could move any gate He chose, however strong.
Isaiah 45:3 "And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call [thee] by thy name, [am] the God of Israel."
"Thou mayest know": God intended Cyrus to be aware that the God of the Jews was giving him victorious conquests. According to Josephus, the Jewish historian, who indicated that Daniel influenced Cyrus with the prophecy of Isaiah, the king did know that the God of Israel was with him.
The "treasures of darkness", to me, mean the treasures of the people who are living in darkness. The treasures of the unsaved might be another way of putting it. They probably had places of hiding for their wealth, as many people have safes today.
Even though Cyrus is not an Israelite, he is going in the name of the God of Israel. God wants Cyrus to know beyond a doubt who He is. Notice the fact, that God called him by his name. The LORD, He is God.
Isaiah 45:4 "For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me."
"Jacob ... has not known me": For His servant Israel's sake, the Lord raised up Cyrus, calling him by name, even though Cyrus did not have a personal relationship to Him. At some point, Cyrus certainly became aware of the true God and His sovereign control over human affairs, perhaps through the influence of Daniel (Ezra 1:1-4).
It is a strange thing for God to call someone who is not an Israelite to win the battles for Him. Again I say, God created us all, and He can choose whomever He wants to for any task. The statement "thou hast not known me" tells us that He was not a Hebrew.
The main lesson in this verse is that God loves all His creation. He loved this man so much, that He individually surnamed him.
Verses 5-12: The phrase "I ... create evil" refers to physical evil or calamity rather that moral evil. God is in no way pictured in Scripture as the author of sin. "Drop down, ye heaven ... pour down righteousness" is a prayer for God to intervene in human history. Thus, righteousness is pictured as coming down from above and springing up from beneath simultaneously.
Isaiah 45:5 "I [am] the LORD, and [there is] none else, [there is] no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:"
Cyrus did not know God, and how could he know there were no other? The LORD leaves no doubt who is calling Cyrus to this job. One of the benefits Cyrus will get from this is to know the One True God.
I believe this is repeated several times to show the importance of who is sending Cyrus, and preparing him for this job. Who are we to question God about who He calls for any job?
Isaiah 45:6 "That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that [there is] none beside me. I [am] the LORD, and [there is] none else."
"From the rising and from the west": This expression, meaning the whole earth, points to the fact that through the eventual, final regathering of Israel (of which Cyrus' exploits were a foretaste), the whole earth will know the Lord alone is God. (43:10; 44:6).
From this verse, it appears that God wants all the heathen, as well as the Israelites, to know who has done this thing through Cyrus. God will manifest Himself in this and settle the issue that He is, in fact, God and there is no other.
Isaiah 45:7 "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these [things]."
Notice in this, that the light already exists and is being manifest in whatever way God chooses. Darkness is the absence of light, so anytime the light is removed, you have darkness. Jesus is the Light of the world.
The absence of peace is evil. Everything positive in this life is good. The negatives of life are on the dark side, or evil. Negatives, of this nature, are the absence of a positive. God is Creator of all things. Possibly, these people thought there were two gods, who each controlled good, or evil.
Many people believe something similar to that today. They give too much power to Satan. Satan's power is limited to what God allows him to have. Satan is under the power and authority of God. God controls everything, because He is the LORD.
Isaiah 45:8 "Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it."
"Righteousness ... salvation ...righteousness": Eventually the Lord will cause righteous goodness to prevail throughout the world, just as He has promised Israel that it would (verse 13; Hosea 10:12).
Righteousness and salvation is not a product of mankind. They are a gift from God. This righteousness pouring down from heaven is like a spiritual awakening that comes to the people. Our land is in great need of a spiritual awakening now.
When Israel went into idolatry and got into trouble, they would cry to God for forgiveness. God heard their prayers, and forgave them, and poured out His blessings upon them. They must receive God's righteousness by accepting His salvation. Righteousness and salvation are products of each other.
Just as righteousness is a gift to mankind from God, so is salvation. Man cannot save himself; God must give it to us.
Verses 9-10: "Woe ... woe": Figures of the potter and the clay and of parent and child show how absurd it is to contend with God over His plans for the future. This anticipated the objections by the Jews against:
(1) Their captivity and restoration by a pagan king; and
(2) Ultimately God's sovereign plan to redeem Gentiles as well as Jews worldwide (Romans 9:20-24).
Isaiah 45:9 "Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! [Let] the potsherd [strive] with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?"
The Israelites thought they were the only ones to be used of God. They did not understand God using a heathen man for this job. Who are they to question the God who made them?
We might ask ourselves the same question. Who are we (the created), to question God who created us? It is a very dangerous thing for the created to question the Creator.
"Potsherd" means pottery made from the earth. Every man was formed from the dust of the earth, whether Hebrew, or heathen. The God who formed you has control of you. He can make you into whatever He wants you to be. It is not our place to question.
Isaiah 45:10 "Woe unto him that saith unto [his] father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?"
A person should not disrespect their father and mother, because they are the two of them. The father and the mother are one flesh in the child they produce.
Isaiah 45:11 "Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me."
"Ask me of things to come": The Lord commands Israel to seek information about what He will do for the nation in the future, for He will reveal it.
The word "Holy" is the key word in this Scripture. It goes so far, it is hard to explain. It is not enough to say without fault. It also means beyond temptation. It means perfect, upright, righteous, and sacred both ceremonially and morally. Even this is not enough, but our vocabulary and knowledge are too small to explain the fullness of the word "Holy".
To call Him, the Holy One, sets Him aside from all mankind. Look with me, at who the sons of God are.
Romans 8:15 "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
Galatians 4:6 "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."
Those of us who call Jesus Christ our Savior are the sons of God. Jesus is the Only Begotten Son, but we are the adopted sons. Since God is the Maker, He can do with Israel as He wishes. Jesus did all the work for all of mankind on the cross. We are the works of His hands.
Verses 12-13: I who made ... He shall build My city": As the omnipotent Creator, God can save the nation through Cyrus as He has promised.
Isaiah 45:12 "I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, [even] my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded."
Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
This is the opening statement to the creation. If you do not believe this statement to be true, then you are wasting your time reading the Bible. God is the same in every book of the Bible. The last book verifies this.
Revelation 4:11 "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
God is the Maker or Creator of it all. God prepared the world for the habitation of mankind. His last and greatest creation was mankind in His image. God spoke the whole thing into existence.
John 1:1-3 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." "The same was in the beginning with God." "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."
Isaiah Chapter 45 Questions
Verses 13-19: Cyrus is again addressed as the one who has been "raised ... up in righteousness", and who "shall build my city", and shall "let go my captives". This does not imply that Cyrus himself was a true believer, but that God providentially raised him up as an act of His righteousness to Israel. History in fact records that Cyrus did fulfill this prophecy by subsidizing the reconstruction of Jerusalem and its temple.
Isaiah 45:13 "I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts."
God has a purpose in all of this. God, Himself, raises up Cyrus to carry out the purposes of God. Cyrus was not righteous, but God clothed Cyrus in His righteousness. The Hebrews will be set free, not for monetary gain, but because God directed Cyrus to do this.
Many people who work for God are doing it to please God, not for money.
Isaiah 45:14 "Thus saith the LORD, The labor of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, [saying], Surely God [is] in thee; and [there is] none else, [there is] no God."
"Egypt ... Ethiopia ... Sabeans": Three countries to the south (43:3), illustrate the worldwide submission to Israel that will prevail during the messianic kingdom age. "Surely, God is in thee". All nations will acknowledge the presence of the one true God among His people Israel (49:23; 60:14).
Paul the apostle found a fuller sense in these words when he advised the Corinthians on exercising prophecy rather than tongues in their meeting. This brought an acknowledgement from visitors of God's presence among them (1 Cor. 14:25).
Egypt symbolizes the world, in this case, the unconverted world. The Ethiopians, Sabeans, and Egyptians were not only "men tall of stature" physically, but were thought of as men of power. They were merchants. At one time, Egypt was thought of as a very powerful nation. They would not have been easily conquered.
The power of God in Cyrus brought around their surrender. We know they are conquered, because they are in chains. All of these mighty men are aware that Cyrus had supernatural help from God. They recognize God's hand in this and worship Him as the One True God.
Isaiah 45:15 "Verily thou [art] a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Savior."
"Hidest thyself": The contemporary situation hid God's purposes of mercy toward Israel. i.e. that they would repent and He would eventually regather them and make Jerusalem the center of world attention (8:17; 54:8; 57:17; Psalm 44:24).
This is speaking of the mysteries of God. God is hidden, until we reach out and search for Him.
Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:"
God was hidden to the heathen people, until Jesus made salvation open to all who would believe. God had revealed Himself to the Israelites alone. God gave His law to the Hebrews, but grace was given to all through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Verses 16-17: "Israel shall be saved": Makers of idols are to find disillusionment because of the failure of their gods to deliver, but Israel is to find eternal salvation in the Lord (44:9-11; Romans 11:25-27).
Isaiah 45:16 "They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together [that are] makers of idols."
People worshipped idols, because they were not acquainted with the One True God. To worship an idol is about the most foolish thing a person can do. The idol could not be of any help at all to them.
A desire to worship God was built into men. They just had not found the real God to worship. The only thing that would keep a person from being saved would be to choose to worship an idol over God.
Isaiah 45:17 "[But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end."
The salvation that the LORD provides, is not a temporary situation, it is for all eternity. Notice "in the LORD". If we are in Him and He in us, we are His. Abraham's faith in God was counted unto him for righteousness. All who place their faith in the LORD will be saved like their faithful father Abraham.
It is your faith that saves you (read Romans 10:9-10).
Isaiah 45:18 "For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I [am] the LORD; and [there is] none else."
We spoke before, how God created the earth and the heavens for the habitation of mankind. When God created the earth, heavens, and everything, and everyone in it, He said it was good. Everything, including man, was created good. Ultimately man's free will and sin nature has caused sin.
God actually created man to live forever, but man sinned and brought death. God, who created all things, is good. God, realizing the failure of man to live victorious on this earth, gave us a better plan of salvation which is grace. God is God. Let Him be God alone.
Isaiah 45:19 "I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right."
"Not spoken in secret": Unlike mysterious utterances of the false gods (8:19; 29:4), God's revelations through His true prophets are open and accessible.
God spoke from the mountaintop to the people at Mount Sinai. They could not bear to hear, and God then spoke to them through Moses. God's presence was in the tabernacle in the wilderness. He was not a God that hid from them. He showed Himself over and over to His people.
The law was not bad, if they had kept it. No man lives above sin, so God sent a Savior (Jesus Christ). God is Righteousness. When we believe, we take on the righteousness of Christ, which puts us in right standing with God. The seed of Jacob is the same as the seed of Abraham.
Galatians 3:16 "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ."
Galatians 3:29 "And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
Verses 20-25: God calls to His people to "assemble" themselves from among the "nations" (Gentiles), and return to Him because He is both "a just God" and a "Savior" to those who will come to Him. "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth", is a glorious invitation to all to come to the Lord. On hearing a sermon based on this text, Charles Spurgeon, the famous nineteenth century English Baptist pastor, was converted to Christ.
This invitation is similar to the one given by Jesus when He said: "come unto me all ye that labor ... and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). This invitation is followed by the absolute statement that "every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess" (Phil. 2:10-11). The chapter ends with the sweeping affirmation, "in the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified," which is quoted by the apostle Paul (in Romans 11:26).
Isaiah 45:20 "Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye [that are] escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god [that] cannot save."
This explains the futility of worshipping a god that cannot save. They are escaped of the idolatrous country, now they must escape the worship of idols, and come to the God that saves.
Isaiah 45:21 "Tell ye, and bring [them] near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? [who] hath told it from that time? [have] not I the LORD? and [there is] no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; [there is] none beside me."
"Who hath declared this from ancient time?": The Lord's case to prove He is the only true God is unanswerable; only He foretold the captivity of Judah and the deliverance from that captivity, as well as other future events that happened just as He had predicted.
"There is no God else ... there is none": The Lord restated the truth expressed by Moses (in Deut. 4:35; 43:10; 44:6; 45:6). The scribe who asked Jesus about the greatest commandment cited this same principle in agreeing with Jesus' answer to his question (Mark 12:32).
This is a challenge to the false gods. God does not care how many false gods they have. There is no strength or wisdom in all of them combined. God has told from the beginning of His saving power. All He has said, He has done. God had proved over and over that the idols were nothings, that He alone is God.
Men can put their faith in God and be saved. God is a just God. His justice is Holy. The things you can look for in God are mercy, truth, peace, joy, happiness, and righteousness. He is also, the Savior of the world.
Isaiah 45:22 "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else."
"Be ye saved, all the ends of the earth:" When the Messiah sits on His throne in Jerusalem, all people will enjoy His temporal salvation in the physical blessings of the millennial earth and will have opportunity for spiritual salvation (49:6).
Another way to say this is found in the following Scriptures.
Zechariah 1:3 "Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts."
Acts 26:18 "To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."
God made man from the dust of the earth. God breathed the breath of life into man. That breath is our life. The will of man is in the fact that he became a living soul. The thing that separates man from animals is the power to choose. This is the soul of man.
Animals have breath, but they do not have a soul. Man alone has the power to choose to follow God, or not. Notice in verse 22 above, it is an act of the will. We must recognize God for who He is, and allow Him to save us.
Isaiah 45:23 "I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth [in] righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear."
"Every knee shall bow": In the kingdom age, all nations will worship the one true God of Israel. A further meaning, justified by the New Testament, applies this verse to believers' accountability to God when He evaluates their works (Romans 14:11). In assigning the words another meaning, Paul relates the words to the coming universal acknowledgment that "Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father".
This same statement is made about Jesus (in Philippians 2:10-11). "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;" "And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
God said it, it is so.
Isaiah 45:24 "Surely, shall [one] say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: [even] to him shall [men] come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed."
There is coming a time when those who denied Him will be ashamed, for all shall know Him.
Hebrews 8:11 "And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest."
Isaiah 45:25 "In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory."
"All the seed of Israel": Physical descent from Abraham alone cannot bring justification. Only the faithful remnant of Israel will be saved (verse 17; Rom. 11:25-27). "Justified" means to be declared righteous, to be treated as if one is not sinful, but holy through the application of Christ's righteousness to the one who believes (61:10; 2 Cor. 5:21).
LORD is Jehovah here. Jesus means Jehovah Savior. This then, is speaking of the salvation that all mankind can have in Jesus Christ. When I see "all the seed of Israel", I believe it is speaking of the physical and spiritual house of Israel.
We will be "justified" (just as if we had never sinned), because He paid the price for our sins with His precious shed blood. The glory is His and the Father's.
Isaiah Chapter 45 Continued Questions
Verses 1-13: "Bel" and "Nebo" were two of the most prominent Babylonian deities. The name Bel is derived from Baal and refers to Marduk, the patron deity of Babylon. Nebo (or Nabu), was viewed as the son of Bel (Marduk). His name is found in the name of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The idea in this passage is that the Babylonian deities will one day fall before the Lord (Nebuchadnezzar's confession in Daniel 4).
The rhetorical question "To whom will ye liken me?" implies the obvious answer, no one! "I am God, and there is none like me." Yahweh is the unique and incomprehensible God. His uniqueness is found in His "declaring the end from the beginning." His singular distinctiveness is His ability to predict the future with complete accuracy. Since He alone knows the future, the "salvation" of the Lord "shall not tarry" (Hab. 2:3; Heb. 10:37). In the timetable of God, all things are proceeding on schedule.
Isaiah 46:1 "Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages [were] heavy loaden; [they are] a burden to the weary [beast]."
"Bel ... Nebo": The two most prominent gods in Babylon. "Bel" is another spelling for "Baal," the Phoenician chief god of Babylon. That "Nebo" was extensively worshiped is shown by the proper names compounded from his: Nebuchadnezzar, Nabopolassar, and Nebuzaradan.
Bel and Nebo were both false gods worshipped by the Babylonians. They believed in many false gods, of which these are just two. Belshazzar's name was an extension of Bel. Nebo was the false god of learning.
These idols were so heavy they had to be carried by beasts of burden. They were probably made of some heavy metal such as gold.
Isaiah 46:2 "They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity."
"Gone into captivity": When Cyrus came; even the gods were taken into exile. These idols couldn't save themselves from being laid down on the backs of beasts and hauled away, let alone save the people who worshiped them.
It appears that these figures of the false gods were taken as spoil when the Babylonians were overthrown. As we said above, these idols were often made of gold and would make them desirable to the captors for the amount of gold in them.
This would, also, make a terribly heavy load for these beasts of burden to carry very far.
Verses 3-4: "All the remnant of the house of Israel": The God of Israel is not helpless like idols. In His strength, He has sustained and will sustain helpless Israel through every circumstance. (In verse 4), the Lord uses the first person pronoun 6 times to emphasize His personal involvement in delivering Israel.
Isaiah 46:3 "Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne [by me] from the belly, which are carried from the womb:"
Hearken means to listen carefully. They must see that these idols are of no help in times of trouble. Israel became a nation, because God called them to be His people. He was their Father. There had been a remnant that had not bowed their knees to false gods.
God wants them to learn a lesson in all this. When they are faithful to Him, He blesses them. When they follow false gods, He will not protect them.
Isaiah 46:4 "And [even] to [your] old age I [am] he; and [even] to hoar hairs will I carry [you]: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver [you]."
God will be with them all of their lives. He will never abandon His own. God reminds them again that He is their Maker and He will protect them all of their lives, from infancy to death.
"Hoar hairs" is speaking of grey hair of old age. He is a very present help for His children.
Verses 5-8: The human origin and utter impotence of idols renders them unfit for comparison with the God of Israel (40:18-20).
(In verse 8), the prophet calls on the readers to recall the impotence of the idols they worship in transgression of God's law.
Isaiah 46:5 "To whom will ye liken me, and make [me] equal, and compare me, that we may be like?"
God alone is God. There is no other. To compare God to an idol, or false god, would be blasphemy. It appears that some of God's people had wandered into idolatry in Babylon. They did not stay true to faith in the One True God.
To be unfaithful to God with these false gods is to commit spiritual adultery.
Isaiah 46:6 "They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, [and] hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship."
We have said this many times before, but it is worth repeating. These idols of silver and gold were the creation of man. They are not the Creator. In fact, they have no power to do anything. They are not alive and never have been.
The Creator of the universe, and everything, and everyone in it, is the one to be praised. God is the Creator. The Word of God created everything and everyone, and He alone should be worshipped.
Isaiah 46:7 "They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, [one] shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble."
God lifts the burdens of His people. These idols are a burden to the people who worship them. The greatest example of this that I can think of is when the prophets of Baal were challenged by Elijah. Read with me the story of what happened.
1 Kings 18:17-39 "And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, [Art] thou he that troubleth Israel?" "And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim." "Now therefore send, [and] gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table." "So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel." "And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD [be] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word." "Then said Elijah unto the people, I, [even] I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets [are] four hundred and fifty men." "Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay [it] on wood, and put no fire [under]: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay [it] on wood, and put no fire [under]:" "And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken." "And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress [it] first; for ye [are] many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire [under]." "And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed [it], and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But [there was] no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made." "And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he [is] a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, [or] peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked." "And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them." "And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the [time] of the offering of the [evening] sacrifice, that [there was] neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded." "And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD [that was] broken down." "And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:" "And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed." "And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid [him] on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour [it] on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood." "And he said, Do [it] the second time. And they did [it] the second time. And he said, Do [it] the third time. And they did [it] the third time." "And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water." "And it came to pass at [the time of] the offering of the [evening] sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou [art] God in Israel, and [that] I [am] thy servant, and [that] I have done all these things at thy word." "Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou [art] the LORD God, and [that] thou hast turned their heart back again." "Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that [was] in the trench." "And when all the people saw [it], they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he [is] the God; the LORD, he [is] the God."
Isaiah 46:8 "Remember this, and show yourselves men: bring [it] again to mind, O ye transgressors."
God is stating that they must be men enough to decide between Him and these false gods. Many of the troubles of these Israelites was because they fell away from God.
Isaiah 46:9 "Remember the former things of old: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else; [I am] God, and [there is] none like me,"
"Remember the former things of old": The readers are to recall:
(1) All the past history of fulfilled prophecies; as well as
(2) Miraculous deliverances such as that from Egypt; and
(3) Providential blessings Israel has experienced.
All of these are ample evidence that He alone is God.
This had been shown over and over by God to these faithless people. God proved Himself, as we just studied above, showing Baal to be nothing. He discredited the false gods of Egypt, when He brought the 10 plagues against them.
They must now look back at their own history and see that there is but One God. He is the I AM. There are no other gods.
Isaiah 46:10 "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:"
With God there is no time limitation. He lives in eternity, which has no time separation. The beginning of creation until the end of everything is one eternal day. It is not difficult for God to know what the future holds, because He is the future as well as the present.
He is "I AM". Whatever God says is fact. It will happen, if He declared it, because He is absolute Truth.
Isaiah 46:11 "Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken [it], I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed [it], I will also do it."
"Man ... from a far country": Cyrus was this man whom God summoned to conquer Babylon and return a remnant of Israel to end the 70 year captivity a century and a half after Isaiah wrote this prophecy (44:28; 45:1).
Cyrus was called a "bird" for his swiftness, and "ravenous" for his fierceness, and victories over his enemies. The "east" here means Persia. The word 'ravenous bird' is rendered 'fowl' (in Job 28:7); "bird" or "birds" (in Jeremiah 12:9); "fowls" (in Genesis 15:11; Isaiah 18:6); and "ravenous birds" (in Ezekiel 39:4).
Isaiah 46:12 "Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that [are] far from righteousness:"
Those who believe in their own strength, have difficulty listening to the Words of God. Their strength will pale by comparison to the power of God. The stouthearted need a Savior, the same as all the rest.
Sometimes they are too proud to admit their need. God saves the humble. Even the stouthearted become humble at the presence of Almighty God.
Isaiah 46:13 "I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory."
"Righteousness ... salvation in Zion": At God's appointed time, the salvation of Israel will become a reality and result in the Messiah's righteous kingdom (61:3; 62:11; Joel 3:17; Zech. 12:10-13:1; Romans 11:25-27).
"Zion" symbolizes Jerusalem and the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation comes through belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation became available in Jerusalem, when Jesus was crucified on the cross. Again, physical Israel belongs to the Hebrews. Spiritual Israel belongs to the believers in Christ Jesus.
Romans 9:6 "Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they [are] not all Israel, which are of Israel:"
Isaiah Chapter 46 Questions
Verses 1-15: Isaiah now pictures "Babylon" as a deposed queen who can do no more than "sit in the dust." In spite of its splendor, ancient Babylon was built upon the dust of the desert of Shinar. The "Chaldeans" were the elite ruling class of the New-Babylonian Empire. In this passage Babylon is pictured as a slave girl reduced to sitting in the dust. She is no longer "the lady" (mistress) "of kingdoms." This same imagery is found in Revelation, where Babylon is called the "great whore" (Rev. 17:1; 19:2; 18:3).
Verses 1-3: "O virgin daughter of Babylon": The prophet depicted Babylon as a virgin in the sense of never before having been captured. Babylon sat like a royal virgin in the dust, experiencing complete humiliation. The "throne" was gone, taken by Persian power, and the empire never recovered from being robbed of its power, its people and its name.
The former royal virgin is depicted as a slave woman forced to exchange royal garments for working clothes, who must lift her garment to wade through the water as she serves like a slave traversing the river in her duties. Such duties in the East belonged to women of low rank, a fitting imagery for Babylon's fall into degradation.
Isaiah 47:1 "Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: [there is] no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate."
This chapter is speaking of the downfall of Babylon. Babylon had been thought of as one of the greatest cities and now it will be in ruin. Those who had been so mighty have now been brought down by the God of Israel.
The virgin daughter is speaking of Babylon, who had been ruler. The thrones are all destroyed now, and there are no longer thrones to sit on. Babylon had been a city of great luxury. Now it is fallen. The luxurious life is gone.
They will have to work hard now for everything they get. Literal Babylon has never been rebuilt to the greatness it knew.There are many Babylons speaking from the spiritual meaning. Babylon has come to mean "evil city".
Isaiah 47:2 "Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers."
Female slaves usually did the work of grinding the meal. This shows the severity of their fall from greatness. Now their women will work as slaves. They would pass over rivers to their land of captivity. They would possibly, need to remove their shoes and wade over.
Isaiah 47:3 "Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet [thee as] a man."
Even the men of Babylon will be shamed to the extent of slave women. The truth of the matter is, these idol worshippers will be totally humiliated by God. God's fury will be upon them.
Isaiah 47:4 "[As for] our redeemer, the LORD of hosts [is] his name, the Holy One of Israel."
Israel is redeemed from the bondage of Babylon. They, as Christians today, have a Redeemer. He is Jesus Christ the Lord. He is Jehovah to the Jewish people.
Isaiah 47:5 "Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms."
"The lady of kingdoms": The title continues the analogy of (verse 1), and speaks of the exalted position from which Babylon was to fall. She was mistress of the world, but would later become a slave woman (verse 7), degraded by pride and false security (verse 8).
Babylon will never be restored to its former greatness. These people have fallen so far, they will want to hide in the darkness to keep their shame from being more apparent to the world. They sat like a lady in their greatness, but this will be no more.
Isaiah 47:6 "I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst show them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke."
"Didst show them no mercy": Though God was punishing Israel in captivity, Babylon's cruel oppression of the captive Israelites was cause for the kingdom's overthrow (Jeremiah 50:17-18; 51:33-40; Zech. 1:15).
We will find in the following Scripture that God blesses those who bless His people, but He brings great curses on those who oppress His people.
Genesis 12:3 "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."
Babylon did not capture Israel. God put them in the hands of the Babylonians to punish them. The Babylonians had been extra cruel to God's people, and God does not soon forget.
Verses 7-9: (In Revelation 18:7-8, 10, 16, 19), John alludes to these verses in describing the downfall of Babylon just before Christ's return. Compare "a queen forever"; "not sit as a widow" (in 18:7), and "in one day" (in 18:8).
Isaiah 47:7 "And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: [so] that thou didst not lay these [things] to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it."
Babylonians had thought themselves to be so great; there was nothing that could bring them down. It appears they had their chance to have a change of heart about God, because it says, "thou didst not lay these things to thy heart".
They did not change and judgment came upon them. They could have looked back at God's dealings with other nations regarding Israel. They did not look back at history.
Isaiah 47:8 "Therefore hear now this, [thou that art] given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I [am], and none else beside me; I shall not sit [as] a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:"
Worldly pleasures lead to ruin. When Cyrus occupied the city, they did not believe it was serious, and they went right on dancing and reveling. They felt they were above the judgment of God. They felt that they were so great; they would not lose any of their children.
Isaiah 47:9 "But these two [things] shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, [and] for the great abundance of thine enchantments."
"In a moment in one day": Babylon did not decay slowly, but went from being the wealthy lady, the unconquered virgin, the proud, invincible mother of many to a degraded, slave woman in the dust who lost her throne, her children, and her life. It happened in one night, suddenly and unexpectedly, when Cyrus and the Persian army entered the city (Daniel 5:28, 30).
"Loss of children and widowhood": Babylon did lose its inhabitants, many of whom were killed and taken captive under Cyrus. This prophecy was fulfilled again when Babylon revolted against Darius; and in order to hold out in the siege, each man chose one woman of his family and strangled the rest to save provisions. Darius impaled 3,000 of those who revolted.
The suddenness of the destruction was so, that it seemed all of the destruction came in one day. Their husbands were killed, and they lost their children, as well. We see 2 of the reasons for their destruction was sorceries and enchantments.
"Sorceries", here means magic and witchcraft. Enchantments means charmings and have to do with the occult. The saddest thing I see in these Scriptures is a condition that is in our society today.
Isaiah 47:10 "For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I [am], and none else beside me."
Sinners foolishly think they are safe, and there is none to judge them (Psalms 10:11; 94:7).
"I am, and none else beside me" shows a person filled with conceit, or self-worth. They are so proud of themselves; they do not see the need for God.
They were depending on fortune telling, and horoscopes, and things like that to guide them. All of this worldly wisdom had led them into perversion.
Isaiah 47:11 "Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, [which] thou shalt not know."
"Evil ... mischief ... desolation": The Persians under Cyrus suddenly initiated (verse 9) the visitation that ultimately obliterated Babylon. Its culmination is to come in conjunction with the destruction of a revived Babylon, the world headquarters of evil at the second coming of Christ (51:8; Rev. 18:2-24).
God will send this evil upon them, because of their sin. When God sends His wrath, there is no one to go to for help. There is no one above Him. It will be so sudden; they will have no idea where it came from.
Isaiah 47:12 "Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast labored from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail."
"Enchantments ... sorceries": The magical practices of Babylon, designed to aid against enemies (verse 9), will characterize the Babylon of the future also (Rev. 18:23).
This is a challenge from God to them to get help from these things they had put their trust in. If you think they can help you, it is time to call upon them now. Of course, they cannot help them, because idols are nothings.
Sorceries and enchantments are from Satan himself. Satan has no power at all against God.
Isaiah 47:13 "Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from [these things] that shall come upon thee."
"Let now the astrologers ... save thee": Babylon relied heavily on those who looked for combinations of stars, who watched conjunctions of heavenly bodies, who made much of months of birth, and who relied on the movements of stars to predict the future (Dan. 2:2, 10). The prophet sarcastically points out the futility of such trust. This ancient deception is still popular today in the widespread use of horoscopes.
We can easily see from this verse, many of the things we are doing in our society today that are displeasing to God. How sad it would be, to think being born a certain month of the year determined your life. That would mean that you have no control over your behavior.
We can see that these things are very worldly and, also, displeasing to God. Many of the false gods they had been worshipping had been connected to stargazing. "Monthly prognosticators" means horoscope readers. Astrological forecasting is prominent today, but is a terrible sin in the sight of God.
Isaiah 47:14 "Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: [there shall] not [be] a coal to warm at, [nor] fire to sit before it."
"They shall not deliver themselves": The astrologers were helpless to save themselves, much less the Babylonians who depended on them, or anyone else. The divine fire that came was not to be a fire to warm them, but to consume them.
All of these things mentioned are of the world, and they will be destroyed, and the people who look to these worthless things for help will be disappointed. They cannot help anyone, and they bring the wrath of God down on those who depend upon them.
Isaiah 47:15 "Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast labored, [even] thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee."
"None shall save thee": When judgment comes, the astrologers with whom the people trafficked and spent their money, will run to their homes, unable to save themselves or anyone else.
The foreigners who sided in with all of this evil of Babylon will suffer the same punishment as Babylon. These false gods cannot save; they just destroy those who look to them for help. It is God who saves.
Isaiah Chapter 47 Questions
Verses 1-11: This message is addressed to the "house of Jacob," which includes both "Israel" and Judah." Both are criticized for calling on God's name but refusing to live by His laws. "I have chosen" (tried), "thee in the furnace of affliction" refers to God's merciful judgment, which has burned away their dross.
Verses 1-2: "Swear by; the name of the Lord ... not in truth": The people were normally Israelites, but their hearts were far from Him. This hypocrisy was common all through Israel's history even to the time of the Lord Jesus. (Matt. 23:3, 13-39).
Isaiah 48:1 "Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, [but] not in truth, nor in righteousness."
This is so like the people in our day, who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. Jacob shows the family relationship to God. Israel is a spiritual name which covers all believers in Christ the same as the house of Jacob.
God is saying, they pretend to belong to Him, but in sincerity they are not of God. They do not live for God the righteous life. They use His name to get all of the assistance from Him, but do not truly love Him.
Isaiah 48:2 "For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts [is] his name."
Many people today claim to be Christians, but have no Christian attributes in their lives. A Christian is a believer in, and a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. God is reprimanding these people for the very same thing. They claim to be of the holy city, and of God.
They are the hosts in the statement "LORD of hosts". They have been separated out by the God of Israel as being His. They belong to God and He has entrusted His law to them.
Verses 3-5: The Lord declared events that have happened as He predicted them (41:2-4; 46:10), so the people would not ascribe these events to other gods.
Isaiah 48:3 "I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them; I did [them] suddenly, and they came to pass."
God has spoken openly to them. He has not hidden His wishes from them. Everything He promised, He has done. They have witnessed miracle after miracle. They should know, by now, that He is truly God.
Isaiah 48:4 "Because I knew that thou [art] obstinate, and thy neck [is] an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;"
To say "thy neck is an iron sinew" is to say they are stiffnecked. They think too highly of themselves. They are set in their ways and are unteachable. The "brow of brass" indicates they have their thinking covered over so thoroughly, they will not listen, or learn, anything new. Let us look at a couple of Scriptures about this very thing.
Acts 7:51 "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers [did], so [do] ye."
2 Chronicles 30:8 "Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers [were, but] yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you."
A person, or a people who are stiffnecked, and have a brow of brass, cannot be taught of the Holy Spirit, or anyone else. They are closed off to learning.
Isaiah 48:5 "I have even from the beginning declared [it] to thee; before it came to pass I showed [it] thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them."
These people are without excuse, because God told them from the beginning. He goes so far as to say they did not err because of the idols, but because of a hardened heart within themselves.
The idols didn't make them do it. Their wickedness made them do it. A certain comedian in our time has a saying that the devil made him do it. No, the devil did not. His sinful nature made him do it.
Isaiah 48:6 "Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare [it]? I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them."
"New things": From this point onward, the prophecies of the Messiah's first and second coming and the restoration of Israel have a new distinctiveness.
Babylon becomes the Babylon of Revelation (verse 20), and God uses Isaiah to communicate truths about the messianic kingdom on earth and the new heavens and new earth that follow it (11:1-5; 65:17).
Verse 7: Indicates that God had never before revealed these features about the future.
God has tried to reveal Himself to them from the beginning. The secret things of God were not secret to them, but they would not open their hearts and receive the message He was trying to give them.
The wonderful secrets of God were not important enough to them for them to receive.
Isaiah 48:7 "They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them."
This creation is speaking of the secrets of God. They have always been secret to the world. God has revealed them to His own. The natural man cannot know and understand the secrets of God. Even if they were given to him, he would not understand.
The secrets of God must be discerned in the spirit of man. The Holy Spirit of God is our teacher and our guide. Everything has a time table with God. God reveals just as much as we can handle and understand at the moment.
Isaiah 48:8 "Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time [that] thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb."
Even though this was all available to them, they did not open their ears of understanding and know what God was saying to them. They had ears to hear, but they did not hear. God's foreknowledge allowed Him to know from the beginning how treacherous and sinful they were.
Sin is a natural trait of the flesh of mankind. The only way to break the chain of sin in our life is to receive the Lord as our Savior. We must give the control of our will over to our spirit.
Isaiah 48:9 "For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off."
"For my name's sake": The nation Israel had no merit to prompt God's favor toward them (verse 8). They deserved wrath and death, but His mercy toward them originates in His desire to be glorified and His desire to display the integrity of His own name.
Israel had lived in sin. They had been unfaithful by worshipping idols. They had ears to hear God, and would not listen. They had eyes to see, and yet would not come out of the darkness of sin to see the Light of God. They deserved to die.
They were disobedient to God in every way. They were God's children, however. They were called by His name. As bad as they were, they were still His. God loved them, but hated their ways. The only thing left to do was to forgive them and start again.
God forgave them for Himself, as well as for them. For His name's sake, He forgave them. God is like a loving parent, who will take His children back and forgive all their sins.
Verses 10-11: "Refined ... chosen": Since Isaiah's time, Israel's testing's have included the Babylonian captivity and present worldwide dispersion from her land; unlike silver purged in the furnace, the purging of Israel is not complete, and they are not refined. But God keeps up the afflictions until they are, so His name is not defamed through the destruction of Israel.
The nation will by purged (Zech. 13:1). God's plan is such that He alone, not man or man made idols, will receive credit for Israel's salvation (42:8; Romans 11:25-27, 33-36). The adversaries of God are never to be given legitimate reasons for scoffing at God and His work.
Isaiah 48:10 "Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."
Their captivity and affliction had come to make them seek God. Silver is symbolic of redemption, so possibly that is why that is mentioned here. God brings redemption, not man.
They had been in the furnace of affliction to refine them and make them search for God.
Isaiah 48:11 "For mine own sake, [even] for mine own sake, will I do [it]: for how should [my name] be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another."
These were God's chosen people. He would not choose another nation. He would just refine the nation He had chosen. They were known as God's people. To do away with them and start with a new nation would appear that God had made a mistake.
God would put the heat on His nation and make them into what He wants them to be. God will not make a new thing. He will make the thing He already has new again.
Verses 12-22: Both "Jacob" and "Israel" are referred to as "my called" (chosen), despite their failures. He is their "Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Go ye forth of Babylon" is a promise to the Israelites of their future deliverance. Many have seen (in verse 16), a reference to the Trinity.
Isaiah 48:12 "Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I [am] he; I [am] the first, I also [am] the last."
Have you ever heard a father saying, sit up and listen to what I am saying? That is what God is saying here to Jacob and Israel. Those who are called of God must first understand who He is. He tells them here; I am the First and the Last. He is explaining the greatness in the words, First and Last.
Isaiah 48:13 "Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: [when] I call unto them, they stand up together."
It annoys me a little when I hear people say, that Satan controls the earth and the near heavens. He does not. God controls the earth, the heavens, and everything beneath the heavens. God allows Satan a little power, but God is Supreme Ruler. The following is just one minor example of Jesus being in control of all the elements.
Matthew 8:27 "But the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!"
The Red Sea standing apart at the command of God is another very good example. God speaks to His people in the thunder sometimes. Earthquakes and other bad storms come to cause God's people to draw near unto Him. God even tells the sun and the moon when they are to shine.
The Right Hand is speaking of the doer part of the Godhead. The Word of God, Jesus as we know Him, is Creator God. He is the Right Hand.
Verses 14-15: "Him ... he ... his arm ... him ... him ... his way": Beginning with (verse 6), the prophet began to write of the new things. Babylon is the final one (of Rev. 18), and the instrument of God's judgment is the Messiah.
The pronouns refer to Jesus Christ whom the Lord will anoint to defeat the final Babylon at His second coming and bring Israel to her land and kingdom. That it is not Cyrus is also clear from the statement, "The LORD hath loved Him" which is too strong to apply to the pagan king, but not to God's Beloved, the Lord Jesus.
Isaiah 48:14 "All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them hath declared these [things]? The LORD hath loved him: he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm [shall be on] the Chaldeans."
Again, God is challenging them to inquire of the false deities. They will find in comparison that those false gods have nothing to offer. Their help lies in the One True God. It is the Lord God that will destroy Babylon and save His people.
Arm, in the verse above, speaks of judgment.
Isaiah 48:15 "I, [even] I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous."
Cyrus was called of God for this specific job. God will bless Cyrus, as long as he stays in the will of God.
Isaiah 48:16 "Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there [am] I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me."
"Sent me": Here it was not the prophet who spoke, but the Messiah, the Servant of the Lord whom the Lord God and the Holy Spirit will send for the final regathering of Israel and establishment of His kingdom as described (in 61:1-7).
Isaiah is a prophet of God who is bringing the message God has given him for these people. God had sent messengers from the very beginning to warn His people. God has not kept secrets from them. He has desired to fellowship with His people.
The Lord God and His Spirit has sent Isaiah with this message to these people. He has also sent Cyrus to help them.
Verses 17-19: Chastisements of Israel by the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel are for discipline (42:18; 43:13; Heb. 12:10). Some day they will end, when Israel heeds the Lord's commandments and God's punishments will turn to prosperity.
A future generation will do so and enjoy the refreshment of a continuous stream of God's peace and righteousness that rolls over them like the relentless sea (65:18).
Isaiah 48:17 "Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I [am] the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way [that] thou shouldest go."
Only God can redeem these people from the terrible situation they have gotten themselves in. God is the only help for any of us, when all around us fails. God made a path for each of us to follow. He lights that path with the Light of the world (Jesus Christ).
We do not need to grope around in life. We must just keep our eye on the goal before us and follow Him. We cannot fail with God as our help. The Holy Spirit of God is the teacher and our guide. Depend heavily on those teachings. The answer for the people then and the answers for us now, are found in God's Word.
2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
God left us a road map to take us safely through life, it is the Bible.
Isaiah 48:18 "O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:"
God's blessings are for His children who obey. To be in the perfect will of God brings peace. The peace of God is like a river that flows from within us and never goes dry. All believers are robed in the righteousness of Christ. It is His righteousness, not ours.
To be righteous before God brings a peace that no one can explain. You can only experience this peace. It is a knowing that all is well with your soul. To be full of the Lord Jesus Christ is to be full of peace. He is our King of Peace.
Isaiah 48:19 "Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me."
"As the sand ... like the gravel": Because of Israel's disobedience, God's promise to Abraham to multiply his descendants (Gen. 22:17), has not yet been finally fulfilled. Even though the nation was temporarily set aside during the Babylonian captivity and during the dispersion before 1948 A.D., and will suffer deadly assaults in the coming time of Jacob's trouble (Jer. 30:7), God will be true to His promise.
God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as the sand of the sea is in number. That is what is spoken of here. They were reduced to a remnant, but God will make them grow into a mighty nation, if they will follow Him.
Isaiah 48:20 "Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it [even] to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob."
"Go ye forth of Babylon": The worldwide proclamation of deliverance, along with the statement that "the Lord has redeemed ... Jacob" shows that it is not the return of a meager 50,000 Jews from historic Babylon while most stayed in that pagan land, but the final redemption of the nation as Zechariah spoke of it (in Zech. 12:10-13:1), and Paul (in Romans 11:1, 2, 25-27).
A redeemed Israel is to make a complete separation from the final Babylon and its wicked system, and proclaim to the world the Lord's grace toward the nation. John repeats this command (in Rev. 18:4).
Now that they have been redeemed, they must leave Babylon and all the sin there. To choose to stay in Babylon would be like a Christian choosing to be worldly. It doesn't work. Choose to go with God into freedom. If you are saved, say so. Praise God for all He has done on your behalf.
Isaiah 48:21 "And they thirsted not [when] he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out."
"They thirsted not": Isaiah pointed to the way that God miraculously provided for Moses' generation, after He delivered them from Egypt (Exodus 17:6; Isa. 41:17-18), as an illustration of how He will provide for redeemed Israel when they escape the final world empire of Babylon.
God supernaturally furnished them water to drink in the desert. Just as Jesus told the woman at the well, she would never thirst again, if she drank of the water He gave her. This is the water of life.
Isaiah 48:22 "[There is] no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked."
"No peace ... unto the wicked": Not every Israelite will enjoy the Lord's salvation but only the faithful remnant who have turned from their wicked ways. The wicked will be purged out before the kingdom of peace is established (Zech. 13:7-9).
Fear, doubt, trouble, and turmoil follow those who are wicked. Peace, true peace, comes from God.
Isaiah Chapter 48 Questions
Verses 1-2: The "servant" is a person who shall come forth from the Servant-Nation Israel. He is the Messiah who was "formed ... from the womb to be his servant" and to "bring Jacob again to him". He is further commissioned to be a "light to the Gentiles" (quoted in Acts 13:47 as being fulfilled by Jesus Christ). The reference to the "covenant of the people" is to the New Covenant (Testament), by which Christ will gather believers "from far."
Isaiah 49:1 "Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name."
"From the womb ... the bowels of my mother": The whole world, including the Gentiles ("island," "peoples from afar") are called to recognize two significant points:
(1) The Messiah/Servant will be a human being, born as others are of a woman, yet virgin born (7:14; Luke 1:30-33); and
(2) He will be an individual as distinct from a personified group such as the nation of Israel, which has also been called the Lord's servant, see (41:8-9; 42:19; 43:10; 44:1-2, 21, 26; 45:4; 48:20; 50:10).
The mention of the isles, and the people from afar, in this, indicate to me that this message is for the whole world. The reason this message is to the whole world, is because salvation through Jesus Christ is offered to the whole world.
This is definitely speaking of Jesus Christ, who was intended to be the Savior of the world even from the time He was in His mother's womb. Usually the father is mentioned in something like this, not the mother. In this case, Jesus was seed of the woman, so the mother would be mentioned.
The angel told Mary that the baby was to be named Jesus which means Savior.
Isaiah 49:2 "And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;"
"My mouth like a sharp sword": The Lord has given power to His servant to speak effectively and thereby to conquer His enemies (11:4; Psalm 2:9; Rev. 1:16; 2:12, 16; 19:15). His Word is always effective.
"Hid me": The Messiah, before His appearing, was hidden with God ready to be drawn out at the precise moment (Gal. 4:4-5).
The Word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword. Jesus is the Word of God.
John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
Verse 2 above, leaves no doubt that this is speaking of the Word of God proceeding out of the mouth of Jesus Christ. The mention of being hid was the fact that Jesus was hid from the earth and its people, until the fullness of time came and He was revealed to mankind.
The Word of the Lord Jesus is so keen and pure that it pierces the heart of man. Look, with me, at exactly what the sword is.
Ephesians 6:17 "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:"
Isaiah 49:3 "And said unto me, Thou [art] my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified."
"Thou art my servant, O Israel": That the Lord's use of the name "Israel" refers here to the Messiah (42:1; 49:5-7; 52:13; 53:11), is explained through the intimate relationship that exists between the nation and her King.
The cross of Jesus glorified the Father.
John 17:1 "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:"
We will see, also, how we can glorify God.
1 Corinthians 6:20 "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
Jesus Christ is the head of all Israel, both physical, and spiritual Israel.
Isaiah 49:4 "Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: [yet] surely my judgment [is] with the LORD, and my work with my God."
"In vain ... strength for nought, and in vain": At His first coming, the Servant met with rejection by His nation. It may have appeared to some that His mission was a failure because of the suffering and rejection He endured (John 1:9-11).
The last two Servant-songs also emphasize the Servant's suffering (50:4-11; 52:13 - 53:12). But, though rejected by men, the Servant expresses His strong assurance that He is doing God's work and will be rewarded with complete success.
Of course, the labor of Jesus was not in vain. This shows us the humanity of the flesh of Jesus. Jesus is the Judge of all the world. He sees the few who truly repent and come to Him.
Isaiah 49:5 "And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb [to be] his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength."
"Again to him ... not gathered": The Servant's mission will include the priority of bringing Israel to the Lord. He will complete this at His second advent (Zech. 12:10 - 13:1).
The sadness of all this was the rejection of Jesus by the house of Jacob. Jesus came to the Jew first and then to the Gentile. God sent His Son to the physical house of Israel, but few received Him as their Savior. The early church was made up primarily of Jews.
The masses of the Hebrew people did not come to Christ, however. The priests, scribes, and Pharisees were the very ones who rejected Jesus. Jesus did not choose His apostles from among the teachers, or those in authority in the temple. He chose common laborers. He taught them His ways.
Paul was an exception to this calling. Paul was a Pharisee of the Pharisees. Even though he had been taught of Gamaliel, he had to be retaught by the Holy Spirit, the grace of God. It took Paul three years to learn.
The glory in the eyes of the Father was for those who did believe.
Isaiah 49:6 "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth."
"Raise up the tribes of Jacob ... my salvation unto the end of the earth": The Servant's goal is the salvation and restoration of Israel for the fulfillment of the covenant promise. But not limited to Israel, He is to function as a light bringing salvation to the Gentiles. Israel's mission had always been to bring the nations to God (19:24; 42:6).
This she will finally do very effectively in the tribulation after the conversion of the 144,000 witnesses (Rev. 7:1-10; 14:1-5) and when she is restored to her Land at the Servant's return to earth. Paul applied this verse to his ministry to the Gentiles on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:47).
Jesus is the Light of the world. Since Jesus was the Creator of the earth, He would, also, be the Savior of His creation.
1 Timothy 4:10 "For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe."
Jesus provided salvation for all, some do not receive that salvation unto themselves.
Matthew 4:16 "The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up."
John 1:4-5 "In him was life; and the life was the light of men." "And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."
John 8:12 "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
There are many more Scriptures that speak of Jesus as the Light of the world. This would be a fun word search for you to do.
Isaiah 49:7 "Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, [and] his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, [and] the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee."
"Despiseth ... abhorreth": This speaks to the humiliating treatment of the Servant at His first advent, a theme emphasized by Isaiah. The "nation" is used collectively for all who reject Him, particularly Gentiles, who are the rulers, kings, and princes referred to as someday giving exalted treatment to the Servant at His second advent. Former oppressors will bow down to Him as in 52:15, because of the salvation of Israel.
The unsaved world despiseth Jesus, because they realize they are doomed. We know just how far the hatred went, when they cried out for Jesus to be crucified. Some would like to blame the Romans for the crucifixion; some would like to blame the Jews.
Truly every human who ever lived caused the crucifixion of Jesus. Our sin nailed Jesus to the cross. From the smallest to the greatest can obtain salvation in just one way, and that is to repent of our sin and come to Jesus. We all were sinners, and Jesus gave His body on the cross to save us.
The Scriptures say that Jesus was despised of men, but in Him we live or die. Our eternal life is through faith in Jesus. There is no other way. Jesus was obedient to the Father even to the death of the cross. He submitted to the will of the Father that all might be saved.
Just belief in His name brings salvation. Jesus was equal with God, yet submitted to the humiliation of the cross. All, who open their hearts and eyes to the truth of Jesus, can be saved. You may be a king, or a pauper, Jesus has the gift of salvation for you. We believe and receive, it is that simple.
Isaiah 49:8 "Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;"
Acceptable time ... day of salvation": Messiah is represented as asking for the grace of God to be given to sinners. God gives His favorable answer in a time of grace (61:1), when salvation's day comes to the world (Gal. 4:4-5; Heb. 4:7). At His appointed time in the future, the Lord will, by His Servant, accomplish the final deliverance of Israel. Paul applied these words to his ministry of proclaiming the gospel of God's grace to all people (2 Cor. 6:2).
"A covenant of the people": When the Lord saves and regathers Israel, they will return to the Land, to which Joshua brought their ancestors after their exit from Egypt, now restored and glorious (44:26; Joshua 13:1-8).
From the foundation of the earth, God had chosen a time for the salvation of man to be furnished through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. God made a covenant with faithful Abraham that all the people of the earth would be blessed. The covenant is kept in Jesus.
Galatians 3:29 "And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
Jesus was all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. He was One with the Father and the Spirit. This was a plan they had made from the foundation of the earth. The desolate heritages would be those who, up until now, were not thought of as being God's people.
The salvation offered through Jesus was not because you were a certain nationality, but because you had faith in Jesus.
Verses 9-10: "Prisoners ... darkness ... feed ... pastures": At the Messiah's Second Advent, Israel's condition will change from captivity and oppression to contentment and prosperity such as that enjoyed by a well-fed, protected, and watered flock of sheep. These ideal conditions will be enjoyed by the faithful remnant returning for their kingdom in Israel. John reveals that this condition is a foretaste of heaven (Rev. 7:16-17).
Isaiah 49:9 "That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that [are] in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures [shall be] in all high places."
These prisoners were prisoners of sin. They were living in darkness, until the Light of Jesus shone upon them and brought hope. Jesus defeated Satan and sin on the cross at Calvary. Jesus took the sin of the world upon His body on the cross and sin (for those who believe in Jesus), died on the cross.
Jesus is the great Shepherd, and we believers are His sheep. He is our Protector, as well as our Provider.
Isaiah 49:10 "They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them."
Notice that beginning (with verse 9 above), how similar this is to the 23rd Psalm. He (Jesus) leads all believers to green pastures. The water of course (is in verse 10 above).
Take a look at the special care Jesus takes of His own, as a Shepherd would His sheep. This shows the divine care He gives all believers. Notice, that it is the same One who had mercy on us that feeds us and protects us from the elements.
Isaiah Chapter 49 Questions
Isaiah 49:11 "And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted."
In the last lesson, we learned of many of the beautiful promises the Lord made to His people. This is a continuation of that here. This is just saying that nothing will prevent God's people from coming to Him. All of the obstacles will be removed.
Isaiah 49:12 "Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim."
"Come from afar": Israel's regathering will be from a worldwide exile (43:5-6), even faraway places like Sinim, probably an ancient name for what is China.
The word "Sinim" is not known of in other Scriptures. This is speaking of a time when all nations will flow to the Lord (probably in Jerusalem).
Verses 13-26: God promises Israel that His new covenant with the Gentiles does not negate His covenant with Israel. "I have graven" (shagag, to "carve, cut, engrave"), "thee upon the palms of my hands" reveals the eternal security of the salvation of God's people. They are inseparably united to Him. Ultimately God will bring both, the Gentiles and His people, together into one people of God.
Isaiah 49:13 "Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted."
Heaven and earth break forth into singing in this joyous victory. This joy comes because of the victory that the cross will bring to all of God's people. We are saved because of a merciful God. His mercy endures forever.
We believers in Christ have the Comforter (Holy Spirit), living within us. He brings us to all Truth. He is our Teacher and our Guide.
Rev. 12:12 "Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."
Isaiah 49:14 "But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me."
"Zion": The literal Israel's complaint, as if God had forsaken her in the Babylonian captivity. Also in their dispersion previous to their future restoration; thereby God's mercy shall be called forth (Isa. 63:15-19; Psalms 77:9, 10; 102:17).
An objection against all of these glorious predictions and promises hitherto mentioned. How can these things be true, when the condition of God's church is now so sad and desperate? As it was when the Jews were captives in Babylon, in which the prophet here supposeth them to be.
Verses 15-23: Here is the summary of the history of lament by the nation during its long period of suffering, followed with words of assurance responding to the despondency.
Isaiah 49:15 "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee."
The Hebrews are God's chosen family. He will never forget them, because they are His. Even if your natural parents fail you, God will never fail you. God is the perfect parent.
Isaiah 49:16 "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of [my] hands; thy walls [are] continually before me."
The Lord is referring here to the Jews' custom, perhaps drawn from (Exodus 13:9), of puncturing their hands with a symbol of their city and temple, as a sign of devotion.
His setting them as a mark on His hand, or a seal upon His arm, denotes His being ever mindful of them.
We do know that there is still evidence of the cruelty of the cross in the hands of Jesus. The only thing earthly in heaven are the scars in the hands of Jesus. This is a constant reminder of the family He purchased on the cross.
The city that God had chosen to be the holy city was Jerusalem surrounded by walls. Even though Jerusalem is surrounded by walls, there are open gates. These walls are not to keep people out. The walls symbolize eternal protection, from God for His people.
Verses 17-18: "Children ... clothe thee ... jewels": Zion's inhabitants will return as the city's destroyers depart and will adorn the city, Israel will be the means of the conversion of the nations in the end (Romans 11:11, 12, 15).
Isaiah 49:17 "Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee."
We know that there is a hasty return of the children of Israel to their land today. This perhaps, is speaking of their return from Babylon then, and their return from the world today, to the holy city.
Isaiah 49:18 "Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, [and] come to thee. [As] I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them [on thee], as a bride [doeth]."
This could be speaking of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ who is the bride of Christ. The New Jerusalem is also spoken of as a bride, coming down from God. (Chapter 21 of Revelation, has a great deal to say about this).
Verses 19-21: After the faithful remnant is regathered in salvation, and Gentiles come to faith in the kingdom through Jewish witnesses, millennial Jerusalem will not be large enough to contain all her inhabitants.
Isaiah 49:19 "For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away."
Israel is a very small nation of many people, and could possibly be speaking of this. But I believe it is speaking of the vast number of people who come to Christ. There would be far too many for the small country of Israel. Therefore, they would be scattered to all the world.
Isaiah 49:20 "The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place [is] too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell."
This is speaking of the vast number of Gentiles who come to Christ when the natural Jews have, in the most part, rejected Jesus. Every nation of the world will have believers in Christ. We will see in the next Scripture why the natural Israelite rejected Jesus.
Romans 11:11 "I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but [rather] through their fall salvation [is come] unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy."
Jesus is the Savior of all mankind, for those who will accept Him.
Isaiah 49:21 "Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where [had] they [been]?"
The natural Hebrews felt that God was reserved for them. They did not understand God offering salvation to the Gentiles, as well. The Jews did not want the Gentiles in their fellowship at first. Look with me, at the following Scriptures and see why Peter decided to call Gentiles into Christianity.
Acts 10:44-48 "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word." "And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost." "For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter," "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" "And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days."
The answer to the question "where had they been?" is simple. They had been in spiritual darkness. Now they have seen the Light.
Isaiah 49:22 "Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in [their] arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon [their] shoulders."
"Gentiles ... bring thy sons ... thy daughters": The promise will find literal fulfillment as the nations of the world assist the faithful remnant of Israel to their land (14:2; 43:6; 60:4; 66:20). At the outset of the kingdom, when this regathering takes place, all the Gentiles will be believers in Jesus Christ who, by faith, escaped the wrath of the Lamb on the Day of the Lord and entered the kingdom.
Nations and leaders, that in history oppressed Israel, will humble themselves before the redeemed people of God's covenant, and Israel will know that waiting on the Lord will not disappoint (8:17; 40:31).
We see now that Christianity is open to the Gentiles, as well as the Jews. When a parent gets saved, the first thing they want to do is to get their children saved too. Small children were carried on the shoulders of their mothers.
In a spiritual sense, the parent never stops having their children on their shoulders. Parents care for their own until they die.
Isaiah 49:23 "And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with [their] face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me."
Kings and queens come to God the same way as everyone else. They must repent. They must be humble before God. They must receive Jesus as full payment for their sins. They must not lord it over their other sisters and brothers in Christ.
All are the servants of Christ, who have received Him as Savior. He is Lord over kings and queens the same as everyone else.
Isaiah 49:24 "Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?"
"Prey be taken ... captive ... delivered": As (in verse 14), Isaiah speaks of Zion again expressing her despondency over her captivity and wondering about deliverance. The Lord replies again with encouraging words (in verses 25 and 26).
Babylon did not want to give up the Israelite captives. The world does not want to give up the captive sinners today either. They are released by the Deliverer (Jesus Christ). It matters not that someone like Cyrus was instigator in the deliverance. God is the true Deliverer.
Verses 25-26: "Feed ... with their own flesh ... drunken with their own blood": Strong language against Israel's enemies reassures her of eventual deliverance from her exile. The angel of the waters draws on this terminology in describing the third bowl judgment in Rev. 16:6. The destruction of Israel's enemies, led by Satan in the tribulation (Rev. 12:15-16), also fulfills this pledge.
Isaiah 49:25 "But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children."
God deals harshly with those who deal harshly with His children. Just as Pharaoh did not want to let the people go, Babylon did not want to let them go, either. God has a way of changing their minds. We saw the 10 plagues He brought on Egypt, which made Pharaoh glad to give the children up.
It is the same with others who are holding God's children captive. God can make it so rough on the captor; they will be thrilled to let them go.
Isaiah 49:26 "And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD [am] thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob."
"All flesh shall know": God's deliverance of Israel will be so dramatic that the world will recognize that the Lord, the Savior, Redeemer and Mighty One of Israel is the true God (11:9; 45:6; Ezekiel 39:7; Hab. 2:14).
There would be famine caused by God. Unbelievers would be so hungry; they would eat their own flesh. Their devastation will be so great, that they will appear to do these things. At the end of God's wrath upon them, they will be like Pharaoh, eager to send the captives out.
There will be no question at all, who has the power. They will know without doubt that God has delivered the captives from them. The captives will know also, that God delivered them. In fact, everyone will know God delivered them. Notice the names Savior, Redeemer, and mighty One. All are speaking of God.
Isaiah Chapter 49 Continued Questions
Verses 1-11: This chapter begins with an emphasis on the Lord's unbreakable commitment of marriage to His people Judah. The question "Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement?" is rhetorical, and the implied answer is that there is none. This should be viewed in contrast with (Jeremiah 3:8), where the Lord states that He divorced Israel and threatens Judah with the same. In spite of their sins, He never severed Himself from the Davidic line.
The chapter also includes a prophecy of Christ's suffering. "I gave my back to the smiters" is referred to (in Matthew 27:26), in relation to the scourging that Christ received. "My cheeks to them that plucked off the hair", refers to the plucking out of His beard. The reference to "spitting" (is verified in Matthew 26:67). The Servant is again seen as an individual suffering for the sins of the people.
Isaiah 50:1 "Thus saith the LORD, Where [is] the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors [is it] to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away."
"Bill of your mother's divorcement ... my creditors": Though the sufferings of Judah were the necessary result of sin, no certificate of divorce or sale to creditors occurred because Zion's separation from the Lord was only temporary. In fact, God gave the non-Davidic northern kingdom a certificate of divorce. However, the unconditional promises of the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7), precluded such a divorce for Judah, although there would be a time of separation.
Just as in Hosea, we see that God regards the falling away of His people as being divorced from them. Their idolatry was like spiritual adultery on their part. God had not sold them into captivity, nor run them off for their unfaithfulness. Their departure was of their own making.
God had delivered them from Babylon, but they must accept the free gift He gave them. They, of their own free will, could follow God or follow the false gods of the world. God made them free agents. They had chosen to leave God. Hosea's harlot wife was symbolic of Israel, who was unfaithful to God.
Isaiah 50:2 "Wherefore, when I came, [was there] no man? when I called, [was there] none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because [there is] no water, and dieth for thirst."
"Was there no man?": God asked why no one was willing to believe and obey Him, even after all had seen His redemptive power in Egypt, when He dried up the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21), opened the river Jordan by turning it into dry land (Joshua 4:23), and killed the fish in Egypt (Exodus 7:18-21). The Lord's power to redeem was indisputable (59:1). He proved it by His deliverance from Egypt (43:16-17; 44:27; 46:9; 48:3, 21).
We can easily see why God was angered with them. He had gone to the trouble to send them a Deliverer, and they had refused to be delivered. They were in a sense denying that God had the power to deliver them. He explains that He is the same One that dried up the Red Sea for them to cross over.
He controls the rain and the sun. He brings a drought, or a flood, just by saying the word. The elements obey Him. Nature is controlled by God. He set the world in orbit, and started the rivers to flowing, and all of the other things, but He still has perfect control over all of nature. He can stop the rain for years, if He desires. He can start it up just as quickly as He stopped it.
He controls the earthquakes and the storms of all kind. God is Supreme. He rules everything. God did not establish nature, and then let it do as it wishes. He controls nature. We know this to be true. Jesus spoke to the raging sea, and it became calm at His voice.
Isaiah 50:3 "I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering."
One of the most vivid examples of darkness coming upon the earth at the command of God, was one of the plagues spoken upon Egypt.
Exodus 10:21-22 "And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness [which] may be felt." "And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:"
Mark 13:24 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,".
Revelation 6:12 "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;"
The Scriptures just given, leave no doubt that God makes the sun to shine, or darkness prevail. "Sackcloth" is a symbol of mourning. It would be time to mourn with this darkness.
Verses 4-11: This is the third of 4 Servant-songs and it is the Messiah's soliloquy about being perfected through obedience (verses 4-5), and sufferings (verse 6). The Apostle John writes much about Jesus' obedience to God in fulfilling His will.
Isaiah 50:4 "The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to [him that is] weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned."
Jesus says, in the following Scripture, that the words He speaks are the words of the Father in Him.
John 14:10 "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."
The Scripture above is intended to contrast the Israelites, who were unlearned, to Jesus, who is all Wisdom and Understanding.
Isaiah 50:5 "The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back."
Jesus submitted to the Father to the extent that He said, "Nevertheless not my will, but thine.
Matthew 26:39 "And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt]."
Jesus was obedient even unto the cross.
Isaiah 50:6 "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting."
"My back ... cheeks ... face": The Servant remained obedient though provoked to rebel by excessively vile treatment. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy by remaining submissive to the Father's will.
These things happened to Jesus at His trial and crucifixion.
Matthew 26:67 "Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote [him] with the palms of their hands,"
Jesus endured all the pain and humiliation for us. He was not forced to suffer all of this. At any time, He could have stopped the whole thing. He went through all of this willingly knowing it would bring life to His creation.
Isaiah 50:7 "For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed."
"Set my face like a flint": So sure was He of the Lord God's help that He resolutely determined to remain unswayed by whatever hardship might await Him (Ezekiel 3:8-9). Jesus demonstrated this determination in setting His face to go to Jerusalem to be crucified (Luke 9:51).
"The Lord GOD will help me" is a very knowing statement. There is no doubt at all in this statement. If we could just get that stamped into our thoughts, we would be bettered by it.
Jesus was not to be turned away from doing what He had set out to do. The victory for all of Christendom was won on the cross. This was not a defeat, it was victory.
Verses 8-9: No matter how He was mistreated, mocked and repudiated, the Servant had full confidence of the Lord God's support, so He welcomed an adversary to come.
Isaiah 50:8 "[He is] near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who [is] mine adversary? let him come near to me."
Jesus rose from the grave and left no doubt at all of who He was. Who can stand against Him? The answer is "no one". At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Not even death could overcome the Lord Jesus. He was victorious in even that. Because He lives, we shall live also.
Isaiah 50:9 "Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who [is] he [that] shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up."
Jesus Christ is the Judge of all mankind. What a horrible fate, to stand before Him, knowing that you condemned Him! There is a time to die for every man, and then comes the judgment.
Verses 10-11: Here was a call to the unconverted to believe and be saved, along with a warning that those who tried to escape moral, spiritual darkness by lighting their own fire (man-made religion, works of righteousness), were to end up in eternal torment.
Isaiah 50:10 "Who [is] among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh [in] darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God."
Leave the darkness and come to the marvelous Light (Jesus Christ our Lord). The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Darkness is the absence of Light. To be saved, we must put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus.
Read Romans 10:9-10. We must not wander away after we receive the Lord. Notice the word "stay". Look with me, at what Jesus said about this in the next Scripture.
John 8:12 "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
Isaiah 50:11 "Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass [yourselves] about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks [that] ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow."
This appears, to me, to be speaking of someone depending on their own knowledge, and not depending on God. Look whose light this is. It is their own and not the Light who is Jesus Christ.
No man can save himself. Jesus is our only hope. The sorrow will come, because you cannot save yourself.
Isaiah Chapter 50 Questions
Verses 1-16: "Heavens shall vanish away ... and the earth:": Isaiah looks down the corridor of human history to a time when the heavens (atmosphere), and the earth will be no more. He likens the earth to an "old ... garment," meaning the earth will one day wear out (a fact borne out by the second law of thermodynamics). And only the "ransomed" and "redeemed" shall return "with singing unto Zion" and experience "everlasting joy".
Verses 1-2: The prophet assured the nation of deliverance by pointing to God's past covenant with Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3), who was the rock in the quarry from which they were hewn as a people. Originally, Abraham was only one person, but God multiplied his descendants as He had promised (Gen. 13:16, 15:5; 17:5; 22:17).
Isaiah 51:1 "Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock [whence] ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit [whence] ye are digged."
In the sense of the house of Israel, whose lineage descended from Abraham, we could say they came from the hole of the pit. Abraham had lived in a land which was full of idol worshippers. Ur of the Chaldees was a land rich in material wealth, but greatly lacking in the spiritual blessings. It was a pit of sin. God called Abraham out of this land.
The physical house of Israel came from a man (Abraham), who was 100 years old, before his son Isaac was born. Of course, Abraham was also the ancestor of all who believe.
We are from the Rock (The Lord Jesus Christ). This message then, is to all who believe and have accepted the righteousness of Christ, as well as those descendants of Abraham who were under the law of righteousness.
"Hearken unto me", means stop what you are doing and listen carefully to me. Those that seek the LORD, find Him. If you are seeking God more fully, this message is for you.
Isaiah 51:2 "Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah [that] bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him."
This son spoken of here, is not Ishmael, but Isaac. The blessings came through Isaac. Abraham and Sarah's son was Isaac. God did not call Abraham's father and other relatives. He called Abraham. Of this one man God would build a mighty family of believers.
Abraham received the greatest spiritual blessing anyone could have. He believed God, and it was counted unto him as righteousness. He was also, blessed materially. God blessed Abraham with gold and silver and cattle.
Abraham grew into the mighty family of Jacob and his 12 sons. His descendants, as many as the sand of the sea, are all who believe in Christ.
Isaiah 51:3 "For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody."
"Waste places ... Eden ... desert ... garden of the Lord": The same God whose power fulfilled His promises to Abraham is to transform Israel's desolation into a primeval paradise, both nationally and spiritually, causing joy and songs of thanksgiving to ring from it.
This is speaking primarily of the Promised Land. It had become pretty desolate during the Babylonian captivity. God is saying here, He will restore the fertile land, and it will be productive again. The desert is in bloom now in the Promised Land.
Fruit and vegetables are abundant. There is so much of the fruit; they are selling to other countries. This is enough to cause a person to rejoice. It is not a natural thing for a desert to produce like this. Zion, in this particular instance, perhaps, means Jerusalem.
Isaiah 51:4 Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.
"Law ... judgment ... light of the people": The Servant's rule over Israel's earthly kingdom is to cause righteousness to prevail for the benefit of all nations.
God's nation is Israel. We know that Jesus ministered in Jerusalem in the temple. This goes even further than that however. This is speaking of a time when Jerusalem will be the center of worship. Jesus is the Light of the world. Where He is, there is no darkness.
God will send His message forth from Jerusalem (Zion), and from His church (Zion). His law will be written on the hearts of all the believers. The law, of course, is the law of grace. This is speaking of the new covenant God has made with man through belief in Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 51:5 "My righteousness [is] near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust."
"Near ... gone forth": The Servant's power to restore His people and bring justice, righteousness, and salvation to the world was at work, but God's perspective differs from man's reckoning of time. Though near, by God's reckoning in timeless eternity, the fruition of His deliverance was still many centuries from Isaiah's day. The nations who survive judgment will trust in Him and enter His kingdom.
Righteousness here, is speaking of the salvation through faith in the righteous One (Jesus). The right arm, or hand, is speaking of the power and authority of Jesus Christ. The "arm and hand" denote work.
The "isles" are speaking of all the faraway lands that will benefit from receiving Christ Jesus as their Savior. The Gentiles accepted Jesus more freely than did the Jews.
Isaiah 51:6 "Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished."
"Heavens shall vanish ... earth shall wax old": This begins to take place in the time of tribulation (Rev. 6:12-14; 8:12-13; 16:8-10, 21), setting the stage along with the earthly judgments on land, sea, and fresh water, for a renewed earth during the Millennium. The actual "uncreation" or destruction of the present universe, of which Peter wrote (2 Peter 3:10-13), occurs at the end of Christ's millennial reign on the earth, when a new heaven and a new earth will replace the present creation.
In this Isaiah is looking to the near future of physical Israel's freedom from Babylon. It is speaking of a few hundred years later, when Jesus would come as Savior. It is also, looking through the ages to the culmination of time when the heavens vanish.
We are all cautioned to look up to the heavens and upon the earth. We are told heaven and earth shall someday pass away. Salvation will never stop. It is like the Word, it lives on forever.
Verses 7-8: Israel's enemies will perish, but the Servant's salvation will be permanent.
Isaiah 51:7 "Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart [is] my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings."
We see from this, that God through Isaiah, is saying, "If you love me, do not deny me before men". We are to fear the Lord. We are not to fear men, or what evil they can do to us. Look what Jesus said in the next verses.
Luke 12:8-9 "Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:" "But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God."
It is really great to know Jesus and have His laws written in the fleshly part of our hearts, but we must also confess Him with our mouth before all who will listen.
Isaiah 51:8 "For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation."
The body we are housed in will grow old and die. It will return to the dust from which it came. Righteousness and salvation are in the spirit of man.
1 Corinthians 15:44 "It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body."
The natural body returns to the earth. The spiritual body lives forever in heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is not for just a handful of people, but to all generations of people.
1 Timothy 4:10 "For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe."
Verses 9-10: This prayer for deliverance in the future was based on times past when the Lord overcame Rahab, which was a term widely used to refer to things that wreak havoc often, as in this case, Egypt (see Psalm 87:4).
Isaiah 51:9 "Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. [Art] thou not it that hath cut Rahab, [and] wounded the dragon?"
The "Rahab" here, is not the woman's name who was the harlot. This is a symbolic name for Egypt. It speaks of worldliness. The dragon is speaking of Satan.
This is a warning to wake up and stay strong in the Lord. The message seems to be speaking of past times, when God has overcome Satan. It could be implying the destruction of the Egyptian army at the Red Sea.
Isaiah 51:10 "[Art] thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?"
The following Scriptures are a very good description of just what happened at the Red Sea.
Exodus 15:8-10 "And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, [and] the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea." "The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them." "Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters."
God provided dry land for His family to cross over. The minute they were safely on the other side of the sea, God released the water, and it drowned the Egyptians. This is a reminder from God that He protects His own.
Verses 11-16: Again, Isaiah summarized a constant theme, that in all things, He had delivered Israel in the past and is to do so permanently in the future before the nations can be destroyed, verse 14, so they have no need to fear oppressors. The blessing of restored Israel will be evidenced in the joy of verse 11.
Isaiah 51:11 "Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy [shall be] upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; [and] sorrow and mourning shall flee away."
This verse is sung in many churches today as a song of praise to God. The house of Jacob will return from Babylon to Jerusalem. They will be filled with joy and praise, because God has redeemed them.
The church of the Lord Jesus Christ will sing praises unto the Lord our Redeemer. We have been redeemed with the precious blood of Jesus. Gladness, joy, and singing follow, because we have been redeemed. Sorrow and mourning should not be in the vocabulary of those who have been redeemed.
Isaiah 51:12 "I, [even] I, [am] he that comforteth you: who [art] thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man [that] shall die, and of the son of man [which] shall be made [as] grass;"
They should not fear the Babylonians, as we should fear no man today. Men are here today and gone tomorrow. They fade away and are gone. God is everlasting, fear Him.
Matthew 10:28 "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Isaiah 51:13 "And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where [is] the fury of the oppressor?"
I have said before that Satan is the oppressor of mankind. He has no power over that of Christ. He is subject to God. He must get permission from God, before he can even oppress the Christian. Christians cannot be possessed of Satan or the devil, because we are possessed of God. Christ lives in us, and His Light does away with all darkness.
Satan can attack you from the outside. Christians can be oppressed of Satan, or a devil. He attacks us, but cannot override the Light of Jesus to fill you with darkness. He can do whatever he wants with the unsaved, but not with a Christian.
If you are possessed of a devil, repent and be saved. Sometimes we confuse the desires of our flesh with possession.
Isaiah 51:14 "The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail."
When you are a captive as these Israelites were, you think you will die of starvation. Certainly the luxurious lifestyle they had before is gone. They would take the opportunity as quickly as possible to get out of this bondage.
Isaiah 51:15 "But I [am] the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts [is] his name."
Some of the Israelites had forgotten who their God was. He reminds them here, He is the Mighty God who parted the Red Sea. He even gives them His name "LORD of hosts".
Isaiah 51:16 "And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou [art] my people."
"Put my words in thy mouth": Israel had been the unfaithful depository of divine revelation (Rom. 9:1-5), but the time is coming when God will put words into the mouths of His future faithful remnant (59:21), when He sets up the Kingdom of Messiah in Zion on a renewed earth (51:6; 65:17; 66:22).
God had miraculously protected these Hebrews from the beginning of Abraham. He gave them His law at Mount Sinai. Zion is used here instead of Jerusalem, so that this extends to the church, as well.
Perhaps, this is speaking of divine protection for all of God's people here on the earth, until the new heaven and new earth comes.
Revelation 21:1 "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea."
Verses 17-23: God call "Jerusalem" to "awake" from her spiritual drunkenness. God has made her drunk. Thus, they are "drunken, but not with wine" because they are intoxicated by their own sins.
Verses 17-18: "Jerusalem ... drunk ... cup of his fury": Jerusalem experienced the Lord's anger through her extended subservience to foreign powers with no human to deliver her (verse 18), but the punishment will end (verse 22; 40:1-2; 29:9). On the other hand, Babylon will drink from the cup of His anger forever (Rev. 14:8-11; 16:19).
Isaiah 51:17 "Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, [and] wrung [them] out."
We know the cup of God's fury was felt by them when Jerusalem was taken, and they were sent captive to Babylon. God allowed this to happen to humble them and make them seek the face of the Lord.
Isaiah 51:18 " [There is] none to guide her among all the sons [whom] she hath brought forth; neither [is there any] that taketh her by the hand of all the sons [that] she hath brought up."
There was no one left of the house of Jacob who would lead the people against their oppressors. They had no one step forward as a leader. God had to help them Himself.
Isaiah 51:19 "These two [things] are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?"
"Two things": The city of Jerusalem (verse 17) had suffered twofold loss - of property ("desolation and destruction"), and human life ("famine and sword").
In this Scripture, we see the hardships that came upon them in captivity. There was no help in sight for them. They were desperate. God will comfort them Himself.
Isaiah 51:20 "Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God."
"Thy sons have fainted": The city's inhabitants lay helpless in the streets, having expended all their strength in fighting unsuccessfully against the Lord's fury (40:30).
Even their young men felt helpless to do anything to free them from this captivity. They were like a bull caught in a net, helpless. They are under judgment from God, and no one can stand under that. This rebuke was to cause them to repent of their idols and return to true worship of God.
Verses 21-22: "Drunken ... but not with wine": Jerusalem was drunk through drinking the cup of God's wrath (63:6). But, in contrast to Babylon, which drank the fury of God's wrath to the last drop (verse 17; Rev. 18:6). Israel will have the cup removed before all the wrath is consumed. It will be handed to Israel's oppressors for them to drink the full fury.
Isaiah 51:21 "Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:"
There was no wine in captivity. They were drunk from weakness. They were afflicted and weak from the oppression they suffered.
Isaiah 51:22 "Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God [that] pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, [even] the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:"
Their Lord, the LORD has delivered them from such great oppression. He has given them their homeland back. God, Himself has taken the oppression away. God has acted in their behalf and restored them.
Isaiah 51:23 "But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over."
Babylon had been very powerful in the sight of the world. They were thought of as being safe from any harm. God changed all that, and they were captured and destroyed themselves.
The followers of the Lord are back in their homeland free. The Babylonians are now suffering all the shame and humiliation that they had brought on the Israelites.
Isaiah Chapter 51 Questions
Verses 1-12: The theme of God's deliverance for His people now reaches its greatest expression in the Servant of the Lord who will suffer for the sins of His people. The prophet foresees the Millennium, when Jerusalem will once again be "the holy city," and the "uncircumcised and the unclean" (unrighteous), will no longer enter her gates.
The reference to the "beautiful ... feet of him that bringeth good tidings" is repeated in the New Testament (Rom. 10:15; Eph 6:15). To bring good tidings (mebaser), means to "preach" or "carry; good news." It certainly anticipates the gospel (good news), of the New Testament and results in "peace" and "salvation."
Verses 1-2: "Thy strength ... beautiful garments": A call is given for Zion to awake from drunkenness and clothe herself in garments of honor and dignity provided by the Lord. Foreign invaders will no longer control the city at the time of her final restoration.
Isaiah 52:1 "Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean."
God has restored Jerusalem to the Israelites. They have returned from captivity, and God is expressing here, the need for them to take their rightful place as God's people. They should be strengthened by the knowledge that God is their Protector. Their strength originates in their faith in God.
The beautiful garments are possibly, speaking of garments that will show the world who their God is. It could be the garment of holiness. We know that the beautiful garment of the High Priest was worn when he was representing God to the people. The world should be able to look at them and see they are on God's side.
The "uncircumcised" are speaking of worldly people. True believers in Christ are circumcised in their hearts.
Romans 2:29 "But he [is] a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God."
Jerusalem is the holy city of God. Only believers are to come there.
Isaiah 52:2 "Shake thyself from the dust; arise, [and] sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion."
Their captivity had been a dry and a thirsty land. They were to shake off the past and live for the future. The bands of thy neck had been the bands of bondage. They are no longer in bondage. They must accept their freedom and rise above the past.
Isaiah 52:3 "For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money."
"Sold yourselves for nought ... redeemed without money": The Jews became the servants of their foreign conquerors, who paid nothing for Israel, so the Lord will redeem Israel gratuitously from sin (45:13; 55:1).
The enemy, Babylon, had not bought the people. They were taken in battle. They will not be purchased back either. They will regain their freedom when Babylon falls. There was no money exchanging hands either way.
We Christians, have been bought with a price, and it was the shed blood of Jesus. God has spoken it, and it is so.
Isaiah 52:4 "For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause."
The first time they went into Egypt, was a voluntary act upon their part to find food for their families. Of course, God sent them there to cause them to seek Him. They were cruelly treated while in Egypt. They worked as slaves, until God sent Moses to get them.
They were again carried into Egypt under the evil Assyrian kings, and God delivered them. They were captured by the Babylonians also. All of these things happened, because God was teaching them a lesson.
Isaiah 52:5 "Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day [is] blasphemed."
"They who rule over them": A reference to the Babylonians and their cruelty to captive Israelites.
"My name continually ... is blasphemed": Foreign rulers despised the God of Israel as long as His people were in bondage. God delivered His people, not for their goodness, but for the sake of His holy name, to prove He was truthful, faithful, and powerful (Ezekiel 20:9, 14).
Paul sited the blasphemy to Israel's God that resulted from the hypocrisy of first century Jews not applying to themselves the standards of God that they knew and taught others (Romans 2:24).
For God's people to be in captivity, would be like saying God was not strong enough to deliver them. Of course, this was not the reason at all. God sent them there to repent and return to Him.
The captivity, in all cases, was cruel and caused them to cry out to God to help them. The minute they cried out to God, He heard them and soon after came to their rescue.
Isaiah 52:6 "Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore [they shall know] in that day that I [am] he that doth speak: behold, [it is] I."
"In that day that I am he": After the Day of the Lord, when Israel experiences deliverance from their worldwide dispersion, she will recognize the fulfillment of prophecies through Isaiah and others and enjoy full assurance that the Lord had spoken and fulfilled His promises of deliverance. They will connect these events with the great "I AM" (43:11; Exodus 3:13-15).
The purpose in all of this was so that God's people would realize who He Is. They were spiritual adulterers before the captivity. God teaches them to respect and know His name above all other names.
Isaiah 52:7 "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!"
"How beautiful ... good tidings": Messengers will traverse the mountains around Jerusalem to spread the good news of the return of redeemed Israel to the Land. Paul broadened this millennial reference to the preaching of the gospel in the kingdom to include spreading the gospel of God's grace from the time of Jesus Christ on (Romans 10:15; Eph. 6:15).
"Good ... salvation ... thy God reigneth": The good news pertains to the ideal conditions of Israel's golden age, during which Christ will reign personally over His kingdom (24:23; Psalm 93:1).
We see in this that their deliverance was not because they deserved it, but because God loved them. Jesus redeemed all believers while they were yet sinners. Jesus brought the good news of the Gospel into the world. Certainly, the feet that carry that message to the world are beautiful.
Jesus is peace, He is salvation, He is King of kings. Zion (the church), does have a King that reigns, and His name is Jesus. Our God truly reigns. "Reigneth" means continually reigns.
Romans 10:15 "And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"
The message is Jesus Christ and Him crucified, the hope of all who believe.
Isaiah 52:8 "Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion."
"Shall see eye to eye" (see Numbers 14:14). This Hebrew expression portrayed two people so close to each other that they can look into one another's eyes. The point is that the messengers of the truth ("watchmen"), will see the Lord return to Zion (a better translation), as vividly as they see each other looking eye to eye.
This is a strange statement. I believe it is speaking of those who watch over Zion. Remember, Zion can be Jerusalem, or the church. A "watchman" is someone who keeps constant alert about a specific thing.
We know in Jerusalem today, there are old Jewish leaders who are watching for the coming Messiah. It would be a joyous thing for the watchman to see God's people come back into Jerusalem.
We also know, that the angels in heaven are constantly watching the happenings of God's people here on the earth. They rejoice when even one sinner comes to Christ. Angels are ministering spirits.
Hebrews 1:13-14 "But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?" "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"
Verses 9-10: "Comforted ... redeemed": The ruined city will respond to the call to sing for joy because the Lord has provided comfort (40:1-2; 49:13; 51:12), and redemption (41:14; 43:1, 12, 14; 44:6, 23-24; 47:4).
Isaiah 52:9 "Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem."
God redeemed Jerusalem, when they were not worthy to be forgiven. The best thing to do is to praise Him for the gift He gave them. The sacrifice we make to Him now is praise.
Hebrews 13:15 "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name."
Isaiah 52:10 "The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God."
"All of the nations" see the power of God (naked arm). This Arm actually symbolizes Jesus Christ, who is the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Salvation through Jesus Christ is offered to the whole world.
Isaiah 52:11 "Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean [thing]; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD."
"Depart ... depart": The prophet commands the Israelites to leave the lands of their exiles to return to Jerusalem (48:20; Jer. 50:8; Zech. 2:6-7; Rev. 18:4). Under Cyrus there was only a limited return (50,000), but the final fulfillment in view here is in the future.
"Touch no unclean thing ... be ye clean": Returning exiles were not to defile themselves by taking property home from their exile (Joshua 6:18; 7:1). The New Testament gave these prophetic words an application in principle by using them as an exhortation forbidding Christians to involve themselves with spiritual ties to forces of heathendom (2 Cor. 6:17).
This going out is speaking of Babylon, but is also speaking of separating oneself from an evil world. When a person is saved, he must separate himself from the world. God wants His people to be holy, as He is holy.
Those that "bear the vessels" are the ministers for God.
Isaiah 52:12 "For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel [will be] your rearward."
"Not go out with haste": Delivered captives will not have to hurry in their return to Jerusalem, as their ancestors did when delivered from Egypt. They can move deliberately and safely, with the Messiah in front and God in back (58:8).
"Rearward" means to gather for any purpose. It also means take away, or remove. The presence of God went before the children of Israel, when they wandered in the wilderness.
Jesus made the way open for us, as well. He leaves a path for us to walk in. He is our leader.
Verses 52:13 to 53:12: This is the last and most memorable of the four Messiah/Servant-songs (42:1-9; 49:1-13; 50:4-11). This section contains unarguable, incontrovertible proof that God is the author of Scripture and Jesus is the fulfillment of messianic prophecy.
The details are so minute that no human could have predicted them by accident and no imposter fulfilled them by cunning. Clearly, this refers to Messiah Jesus, as the New Testament attests. It is often alluded to without being quoted.
Verses 13-15: These verses actually stand as the introduction to the prophecy of the Suffering Servant (in chapter 53). The subject of both passages is the "servant" of the Lord individualized as the Messiah who suffers for our sins. He is the culmination of all of Isaiah's messianic prophecies.
He is the Branch (11:1), who springs up out of the stump of the Davidic line. He is the new David (9:7), who will bring in a new Exodus and a new redemption for the people of Israel. Further, He is the One who deserves to rule the world because He is the One who suffers redemptively for all humanity.
The terms "exalted and extolled, and be very high" are used only (in 33:10 and here), but nowhere else in the prophets. It refers to the ultimate and final exaltation of His spiritual glory. Thus He will not remain in the humiliation which is described here but will rise above it (Phil. 2:9-11). There is a deliberate contrast between the "many" who are "astonished", and the "kings" who will "shut their mouth at him".
The idea that both the common man and those in charge, will stand speechless in awe of Him. His "visage" refers to His appearance (or face), which will become so "marred" (disfigured), by beatings and scourging that He will be barely recognizable.
The verb for "shall he sprinkle", is a technical term found in the Mosaic Law for the sprinkling of blood in order to cleanse or purify from sin.
This reference has nothing to do with water baptism. Here the Servant of the Lord is viewed as our High Priest who offers His own blood for our sins. Before this Suffering Servant, the nations of the world are rendered speechless as they observe this unbelievable demonstration of God's love.
Here is a summary and preview of the humiliation and exaltation of the Servant, described in more detail (in 53:1-12). The details cover the work of Christ in His substitutionary death, His burial, His resurrection, His saving of sinners, His intercession, and His kingdom.
Isaiah 52:13 "Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high."
Isaiah prophetically uses the title "Servant" to designate Christ, especially concerning His suffering for sin. That suffering is identified as both vicarious (53:4-9), and victorious (53:10-12). The title "Servant of the Lord" emphasizes Christ's faithful obedience to the Father during His earthly ministry (John 5:19).
The Servant passages in Isaiah were some of the key texts used in preaching the gospel in the early days of Christianity (Acts 8:32-35).
"Extolled" means to lift. The Servant here is Jesus. Jesus is lifted up. He is exalted above all else. At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Isaiah 52:14 "As many were astonished at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:"
"His visage was so marred": The Servant must undergo inhuman cruelty to the point that He no longer looks like a human being. His appearance is so awful that people look at Him in astonishment.
Jesus was not outstandingly beautiful in the flesh. He had His flesh torn severely before the crucifixion. When He took the sin of the world upon His body, the sin was ugly.
People were astonished that this very Jesus was actually the Son of God, who would save the world.
Isaiah 52:15 "So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for [that] which had not been told them shall they see; and [that] which they had not heard shall they consider."
"Sprinkle many nations": In His disfigured state, the Servant will perform a priestly work of cleansing not just Israel, but many outside the nation (Exodus 29:21; Lev. 4:6; 8:11; 14:7; Num. 8:7; 19:18-19; Heb. 9:13).
This sprinkling, I believe to be purification through His blood. His blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness. We put on His robe of righteousness washed in His blood and made white as snow.
"Shut their mouths": At His exaltation, human leaders in the highest places will be speechless and in awe before the once despised Servant (Psalm 2). When He takes His throne, they will see the unfolding of power and glory such as they have never heard. Paul applied the principle in this verse to this apostolic mission of preaching the gospel of Christ where Christ was yet unknown (Romans 15:21).
They had not heard of God's great love for mankind before. His love was so great, that He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
The hard thing for them, and us, to understand is the great love of God for all mankind.
Isaiah Chapter 52 Questions
Verses 1-12: In these verses, we see the personal Messiah, the Son of God, who alone can atone for sin. His message is rejected (verse 1); His person is refused (verse 2); and His mission is misunderstood (verse 3). Nevertheless, His vicarious suffering provides atonement for our sins (verses 4-6); and though He endured suffering (verse 7); death (verse 8); and burial (verse 9), He will ultimately be exalted (verses 10-12).
To miss the fact that Jesus Christ is the central figure in this passage is to stumble in unbelief over the cornerstone and foundation of all the gospel. The rhetorical question "Who hath believed our report?" is more of an exclamation than an interrogation. Speaking for all the prophets, Isaiah calls attention to the world's lack of faith in general.
"The arm of the Lord" is the emblem of divine power (51:9; 52:10). The Servant is described as a "tender plant" (yoneq, "suckling" or "shoot"), and "a root out of a dry ground," which has already been described as springing from the stump of Jesse (hence the Davidic line).
"No form nor comeliness" denotes His humble origin rather than His personal appearance. "Beauty" may be read "elegance." This description does not mean that He will be homely or ugly, but that He will not appear on the scene in the regalia of a king. He will come as one who is common. Nothing could better describe the humble appearance of Jesus as a common rabbi.
Isaiah 53:1 "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?"
"Who hath believed our report": The question implied that, in spite of these and other prophecies, only a few would recognize the Servant when He appeared. This anticipation found literal fulfillment at Christ's first advent. Israel did not welcome Him at His first advent (John 1:9-11; 12:38). Paul applied the same prophecy to the world at large (Romans 10:16).
"The arm of the Lord": At His first coming, the nation did not recognize the mighty, incarnate power of God in the person of Jesus, their Deliverer.
Isaiah is saying that not anyone, or at least just a handful, have believed the prophecy that God had given him for this people. When he asks the question, he is saying, show me one who believes what I have prophesied through words of God flowing through me.
The "Arm of the LORD" is speaking of Jesus Christ. Isaiah is telling them of the coming of their long awaited Messiah.
Isaiah 53:2 "For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him."
"Before him": Though unrecognized by the world (verse 1), Messiah Jesus was observed carefully by God, who ordered every minute circumstance of His life.
"Dry ground ... there is no beauty that we should desire him": The Servant will arise in lowly conditions and wear none of the usual emblems of royalty, making His true identity visible only to the discerning eye of faith.
Speaking of Jesus coming from a "tender plant", shows that His appearance on this earth would be in the form of a baby. He would grow to manhood, as other children do. Isaiah speaks of this as if it has already happened, because it was planned from the foundation of the world.
This tree springs from a root in the ground. Jesus is the "Tree of Life". He is also, the Branch. This tree springs from a seemingly dead root. Jesus was not of the Levitical tribe, which the earthly priests came from. He was from the tribe of Judah.
Romans 15:12 "And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust."
This is that root. As we said in the last lesson, He was not unusually handsome physically. In the physical, He looked like most of the men of His times. People did not flow to Jesus because of His flesh, but because of the Spirit within that flesh.
Some historians say He was a tall slender man, a little hump-shouldered with light sandy red hair and blue eyes. No one knows for sure. We should not look at Him with our physical eyes anyhow; we should see the Spirit Man within the body.
Verses 3-5: To provide a detailed description of His suffering, the prophet uses a series of verbs with an assumed subject (the Servant). "Despised" (bazah, "to disdain or scorn"), and "rejected" (chadal, "abandoned"), "of men." He is further described as a "man of sorrows" (Mak obot, "severe pains"), and "acquainted with grief" (choli, "injuries").
Because of His severe personal suffering "we hid as it were, our faces from him". The description of Christ's suffering in the New Testament Gospels clearly indicated the severity of His physical suffering. The agony in the garden, His battered face, the severe scourging, and the torture of the crucifixion itself.
His substitutionary atonement is clearly taught. "He hath borne our griefs" (literally, "spiritual sickness"). The New Testament says that He Himself "bare our sins in his own body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24). Thus, He was "stricken, smitten," and "afflicted." "We" (mankind in general), thought He was judged "of God." But "he was wounded" (or "pierced through"), "for our transgressions" (sins).
The verb "bruised" translates daka, meaning "to be utterly crushed." "Our iniquities" (awon), means moral "evils". "Chastisement" (musar, "correction" or "discipline"), "of our peace" refers to that which procured our peace with God. "With His stripes" (or "wounds"), "we are healed" (rapa, to "mend" or "cure"), refers to our spiritual condition being made whole. In Isaiah, the term is always used for spiritual healing and forgiveness (see 19:22 and 57:18).
Isaiah 53:3 "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not."
"Despised ... rejected ... despised": The prophet foresees the hatred and rejection by mankind toward the Messiah/Servant, who suffered not only external abuse, but also internal grief over the lack of acceptance from those He came to save (Matt. 23:37; Luke 13:34).
"Hid as it were our faces ... we esteemed him not": By using the first person, the prophet spoke for his unbelieving nation's aversion to a crucified Messiah and their lack of respect for the incarnate Son of God.
The Jewish leaders rejected Him. Even His sisters and brothers did not believe He was Messiah, until after He rose from the grave. Simon Peter denied Him 3 times in the face of the crucifixion. Very few of His followers were with Him at Calvary.
The disciples fled, except for John, whom He entrusted His mother to, and Peter watching from afar. The women stayed and were with Him at His worst hour. Even people today, who want to live worldly lives, do not believe in Him.
Isaiah 53:4 "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted."
"Borne ... carried": Even though the verbs are past tense, they predict happenings future to Isaiah's time, i.e. "prophetic perfects" in Hebrew here and elsewhere in the Servant-song. Isaiah was saying that the Messiah would bear the consequences of the sins of men, namely the griefs and sorrows of life, though incredibly the Jews who watched Him die thought He was being punished by God for His own sins.
Matthew found an analogical fulfillment of these words in Jesus' healing ministry because sickness results from sin for which the Servant paid with His life (verses 7-8; 1 Peter 2:24). In eternity, all sickness will be removed, so ultimately it is included in the benefits of the atonement.
There is a song that says, "I should have been crucified". This is the true story of it all. It was our sin that nailed Him to the cross. We know the Jews and the Romans were immediately responsible, but truly, we all nailed Him to the cross. He was the Substitute for our sin.
Not even the apostles, who had walked and lived with Him every day, understood the significance of the cross. They thought Jesus had been defeated, and they fled. One of the thieves hanging with Him said, "If you are the Son of God". He did not believe, either.
The thief on the right recognized Jesus for who He was, and asked forgiveness. Jesus told him, "Today you will be with me in Paradise". The world thought Jesus was defeated at the cross, when in fact, it was His greatest victory.
He did say, "My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me?" This statement was when Jesus had the sin of the world on His body. The face of God was turned away from the sin, not from His precious Son. The High Priest, and others in authority, accused Him of blaspheming God.
John 5:18 "Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God."
Little did they know that Jesus was actually paying the price in full for the sin of the whole world.
Isaiah 53:5 "But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
"Wounded for our transgressions ... bruised for our iniquities": This verse is filled with the language of substitution. The Servant suffered not for His own sin, since He was sinless (Heb. 4:15; 7:26), but as the substitute for sinners. The emphasis here is on Christ being the substitute recipient of God's wrath on sinners. (2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 1:3-4; Hebrews 10:9-10).
"Chastisement of our peace": He suffered the chastisement of God in order to procure our peace with God.
"With his stripes we are healed": The stripe (the Hebrew noun is singular), that caused His death has brought salvation to those for whose sins He died (Peter confirms this in 1 Peter 2:24).
Sin must be paid for by the shedding of blood.
Hebrews 9:22 "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."
Jesus shed His blood to pay for our sin. He took our sin upon His body on the cross, and in exchange gave us a robe of righteousness to wear. The wounds, of course, are the nails driven into His body. They whipped Him, until the flesh was much damaged. It was this whipping He took that paid for our healing.
The stripes on His body paid for our healing. We had no peace, until the King of Peace (Jesus Christ), gave it to us as a gift. Man had been away from God. Jesus tore down the veil of the temple, which kept the people away from God.
The "temple veil", symbolized the flesh of Jesus. Jesus opened the way to the Father for each of us.
Mark 15:38 "And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom."
He brought us access to the Father through the use of His name.
Verses 6-7: "All we" ("literally all of us"), are compared to "sheep ... gone astray" to illustrate the desperate condition of mankind, lost, without a Shepherd (Matt. 9:36). "All" and "every" are used in parallel, emphasizing the totality of sinful humanity. "Laid on him" is a causative verb meaning "to strike violently."
Thus Christ propitiates the violent wrath of God for us. The fact that He opened not His mouth is illustrated by a "lamb" being brought to "the slaughter" (see John 1:29 and Revelation 5:6, 12).
Isaiah 53:6 "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
"All ... we have ... us all": Every person has sinned (Romans 3:9, 23), but the Servant has sufficiently shouldered the consequences of sin and the righteous wrath deserved by sinners (1 Tim 2:5-6; 4:10; 1 John 2:2). The manner in which God laid our iniquity on Him was that God treated Him as if He had committed every sin ever committed by every person who would ever believe, though He was perfectly innocent of any sin.
God did so to Him, so that wrath being spent and justice satisfied, God could then give to the account of sinners who believe, the righteousness of Christ, treating them as if they had done only the righteous acts of Christ. In both cases, this is substitution.
Jesus is the great Shepherd, and we Christians are His sheep. This is speaking of all mankind, because Jesus is the Savior of all the people of the earth, not just the Hebrews.
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
Just as the first Adam brought sin unto the lives of every individual, Jesus brought righteousness.
Romans 5:15 "But not as the offence, so also [is] the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, [which is] by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many."
Titus 2:14 "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."
Verses 7-8: This is the portion of Scripture read by the Ethiopian eunuch and subsequently explained to him by Philip as referring to Jesus (Acts 8:32-33).
Isaiah 53:7 "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."
"Openeth not his mouth": The Servant will utter no protest and will be utterly submissive to those who oppress Him. Jesus fulfilled this.
"Lamb to the slaughter": The Servant was to assume the role of a sacrificial lamb (Exodus 12:3, 6). Jesus fulfilled this figurative role literally (John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:18; Rev. 5:6).
This is fulfilled, when Jesus did not answer back His accusers. He, of His own free will, was crucified. No one forced Him to do this. He was fulfilling the law.
Verses 8-9: "He was taken from prison and from judgment" (justice), refers to the illegitimate trials to which Jesus was subjected. "Who shall declare" reads better "who has considered." "His generation" refers to His potential life. The verb "was cut off" refers here to a violent death.
The reference to the Servant making "his grave with the wicked" was certainly fulfilled in Christ's crucifixion between two thieves (see Matt. 27:38). The additional phrase "and with the rich in his death" refers to Jesus' burial in the tomb of the wealthy Joseph of Arimathea (Matt. 27:57).
Isaiah 53:8 "He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken."
"Cut off ... for the transgression of my people": The Servant lost His life to be the substitute object of wrath in the place of the Jews, who by that substitution will receive salvation and the righteousness of God imputed to them. Similar terminology applies to the Messiah (in Dan. 9:26).
He was tried during the night. He was judged of the leaders of the temple and of Herod and Pilate. Pilate and Herod wanted nothing to do with Him, and tried to get Him released. The leaders of the temple insisted on Him being crucified.
Matthew 27:25 "Then answered all the people, and said, His blood [be] on us, and on our children."
His life on this earth was very short, but He lives on in the hearts of His followers, the Christians. If we belong to Christ, He dwells within us. He is omnipresent, so while He is in our hearts, He is also, seated at the Right Hand of the Father.
Isaiah 53:9 "And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither [was any] deceit in his mouth."
"With the wicked ... with the rich": Because of His disgraceful death, the Jews intended the Servant to have a disgraceful burial along with the thieves (John 19:31), but instead He was buried in "a rich man's tomb" in an honorable burial through the donated tomb of Joseph of Arimathea (Matt. 27:57-60; Mark 15:42-46; Luke 23:50-53; John 19:38-40).
"No violence ... deceit": The servant's innocence meant that His execution was totally undeserved. Peter notes the fulfillment of this (in 1 Pet. 2:22).
There are two things referred to here. He was crucified between two thieves. The reference to being with the rich in His death has to do with Joseph of Arimathea, who came and got Jesus' body, and buried it in His own grave. It belonged to a rich man but had never been used.
John 19:38 "And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave [him] leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
"Because" in the verse above could have been better translated "although". He had no sin. He gave His body on the cross for the sin of others.
Verses 10-12: "it pleased the Lord to bruise" (daka, "to crush") "him", refers to the same condition (in verse 5). "Put him to grief" reads "pierce" Him in the Dead Sea Scroll copy of the text. "His seed" refers to those who will come to believe in Him. "An offering for sin" (asham, "guilt offering") involves the trespass offering described (in Numbers 5:5-10).
The phrase "he shall prolong his days" indicates that the Servant's ministry will not end with His violent death, and which will be accomplished by the atoning death and resurrection of the Servant. The chapter ends with the glorification and exaltation of the Servant of the Lord. His "intercession" refers to His high priestly ministry, by which He makes intercession on the basis of His own substitutionary death.
Isaiah 53:10 "Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand."
"It pleased the Lord": Though the Servant did not deserve to die, it was the Lord's will for Him to do so (Matt. 26:39; Luke 22:42; John 12:27; Acts 2:23).
"An offering for sin": Fulfilled by the Servant as the lamb of God (verse 7; John 1:29). Christ is the Christian's Passover (1 Cor. 5:7). This conclusively eliminates the error that Christ's atonement provides present day healing for those who pray in faith. His death was an atonement for sin, not sickness.
The crucifixion of Jesus had been planned as the salvation of mankind from the beginning. Even the Jews believed that One should die for all. Look with me, at the Scripture which covers this.
"His seed ... prolong his days": To see His offspring, the Servant must rise from the dead. He will do this and live to reign forever (2 Sam. 7:13, 16; Psalms 21:4; 89:4; 132:12).
John 11:50 "Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not."
Jesus was the perfect Lamb sacrifice that took away the sin of the whole world.
John 1:29 "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
Hebrews 9:26 "For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."
Look with me, at one more Scripture that shows animal blood could not do away with sin. It had to be the blood of the Son of God.
Hebrews 10:4 "For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins."
You see, it is the precious blood of Jesus Christ (the perfect Lamb) which saves us.
Romans 5:9 "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."
The thing that kept Jesus on the cross was our faces. When He was on the cross, you and I were on His mind.
Isaiah 53:11 "He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities."
"He shall ... be satisfied": The one sacrifice of the Servant will provide complete satisfaction in settling the sin issue (1 John 2:2; 1:11).
"By his knowledge": The Servant knew exactly what needed to be done to solve the sin problem.
"Justify many": Through the divine "knowledge" of how to justify sinners, the plan was accomplished that by His one sacrifice He declared many righteous before God (Romans 5:19; 2 Cor. 5:21).
The birth of the Christians was a painful thing for Jesus. He suffered on the cross. We Christians, are just as if we had never sinned (justified), in the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 1:10 "But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:"
Through the knowledge of the good news of the gospel, the Christian has hope of eternal life.
Isaiah 53:12 "Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
"Portion with the great ... divide the spoil": The Servant's reward for His work will be to enjoy the "booty" of His spiritual victories during His millennial reign.
"Numbered with the transgressors": The Servant assumes a role among sinful human beings, fulfilled by Jesus when He was crucified between two criminals (Luke 22:37).
"Made intercession for the transgressors": This speaks of the office of the intercessory High-Priest, which began on the cross (Luke 23:34), and continues in heaven (Heb. 7:25; 9:24).
It is a wonderful thing to realize just what Jesus did, when He put us in right standing with God. He is heir to all in the heavens and in the earth. The great thing is, He has made us the adopted sons of the Father. He bought us with His blood. He made us joint-heirs with Him. He is our Benefactor.
Romans 8:14-17 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." " The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:" "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together."
Jesus, not only purchased us for the Father with His blood, but is constantly pleading our case before the throne. The devil is our accuser, Jesus is our intercessor.
1 John 2:1 "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:"
Isaiah Chapter 53 Questions
Verses 1-4: This chapter portrays the results of the atoning work of the Servant and its universal extent to all nations. The Gentiles are depicted as a "barren" and "desolate" woman who breaks forth into songs of praise. The imagery depicts the Israelites as the "married wife" and the Gentiles as estranged from God.
Isaiah 54:1 "Sing, O barren, thou [that] didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou [that] didst not travail with child: for more [are] the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD."
"Barren ... didst not bear ... didst not travail with child": In her exile and dispersion, Israel has been destitute, disgraced as a woman who had borne no children (49:21). The prophet calls for singing, however, because of the Lord's promise of future fruitfulness for the nation (49:19-20).
The New Testament supplies an additional application of the principle in this verse, citing it as evidence that the Jerusalem above, mother of the children of promise through Sarah, will enjoy great fruitfulness (Gal. 4:21-29).
The "married wife of God" is speaking of physical Israel. They are spoken of over and over as the "wife of God". In the book of Hosea, they are spoken of as the "unfaithful wife". The "desolate" are the unsaved from all nations.
When the gospel is presented to the Gentile world, there are many more who come to Christ, than from the physical house of Israel. There were a few Jews who came to Christ in the beginning, but they were in the minority. The apostles were primarily Jews, but they were not Jews with authority in the temple in Jerusalem.
As a whole, the leaders of the Jews did not accept Christ. There are more Christian Jews today, than ever in history before. The apostles (Jews), were the founders of the early church, but that soon was changed and the majority was Gentiles.
Isaiah 54:2 "Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;"
"Enlarge ... stretch forth ... lengthen": The prophet commanded barren Israel to prepare for the day when her numerous inhabitants will require larger space to dwell in (26:15; 49:19-20).
Christianity was not just for a handful of people in the holy land, but was available to all mankind everywhere. The church would grow rapidly. Just after the filling of the 120 with the Holy Ghost at Pentecost, Peter preached and 3000 received the Lord.
Acts 2:41 "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls."
This is just one example of the large multitude of people who came to Christ after hearing the gospel preached. The "lengthening the cords" and "strengthening the stakes" is another way of saying how the church would expand.
Isaiah 54:3 "For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited."
"Break forth ... be inhabited": The Messiah's future kingdom is to be worldwide, far greater in extent than the former kingdoms of David and Solomon.
There was a remnant of Jews who was at the earliest the founders of the church. Their seed (few numbers), would grow before their very eyes. The Jews, who had thought themselves better than the Gentiles, suddenly wanted them to join them in the work.
God showed Peter that he was not to call any man unclean, or unworthy of salvation. Salvation is for whosoever will. The missionary trips of Paul enabled him to set up churches in these spiritually desolate cities spoken of here.
Isaiah 54:4 "Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more."
"Shame of thy youth ... reproach of thy widowhood": Israel's sins brought on the Egyptian captivity, the Babylonian exile, and her current dispersion, but the glories of the future kingdom will be so great that they will overshadow past failures.
Israel had committed spiritual adultery and God had, in a sense, given them a bill of divorcement. He, like Hosea, kept forgiving them and taking them back as His wife. Their times away from God were during their captivity, but He would always come and rescue them, and take them back.
This is just saying that they are back in right standing with God, and they are not to remember the bad times. Now that they are free, they will forget the times of bondage.
Verses 5-17: God is now pictured as both the "Maker" and "husband" of the Gentiles. He is the "Redeemer" of all men and yet the same One who is the "Holy One of Israel." Thus He is called the "God of the whole earth." The reference to the cessation of the "waters of Noah" (the Noachian flood), is used as an illustration of the cessation of God's universal judgment on the Gentiles.
Isaiah 54:5 "For thy Maker [is] thine husband; the LORD of hosts [is] his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called."
"Husband ... Redeemer": The basis for forgetting past failures is Israel's relationship to the Lord as her husband (62:4-5), and Redeemer (41:14).
We know that Jesus Christ is the "Groom of the bride of Christ". The church is His bride. God of the whole earth means God of the Gentiles, the same as of the Jews. All of the names Maker, Redeemer, LORD of hosts, and Holy One of Israel are speaking of the One we know as Jesus.
Verses 6-8: "Forsaken ... grieved ... refused": Israel in exile and dispersion has been like a wife whose husband has rejected her. But this is only for a brief time compared to the everlasting kindness she will enjoy when the Messiah returns to gather the woeful wife (26:20).
Isaiah 54:6 "For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God."
They had been cast off of God, because of their unfaithfulness. Their relationship with God is likened to the wife of a man's youth. They had been saddened, because they felt that God had given up on them, but now they are restored.
He has forgiven them, and they are again His wife.
Isaiah 54:7 "For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee."
God does not count time the way we do. He thinks of the few years of their captivity as a very short time. He shows mercy to them, because He loves them.
Isaiah 54:8 "In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer."
God allowed them to be captured and stay in captivity to teach them to seek Him. God does not stay angry with His people.
He is so forgiving and kind, that He sets a plan in motion where they will be forgiven while they are yet in sin. They are not sinless, just forgiven. The Redeemer is Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 54:9 "For this [is as] the waters of Noah unto me: for [as] I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee."
"Waters of Noah": Just as God swore He would never again judge the whole earth with a flood (Gen. 8:21; 9:11), so He has taken an oath never to be angry with His people again. He will fulfill this promise after their final restoration.
God set the rainbow in the sky to remind them of the covenant God had made with man to never flood the entire world again. God's Word is good. He does what He says. If He says He forgives, He does.
Isaiah 54:10 "For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee."
"Mountains ... hills ... my kindness ... my peace": In the Millennium (48:6-7; 51:6, 16), topography will change (see Ezekiel 38:20; Mica 1:4; Zech. 14:4, 10), but not God's pledge of well being for Israel as a result of the New Covenant (55:3; 59:21; 61:8).
We know that God does exactly what He says. He regards His Word above His name even.
Matthew 24:35 "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
This is just saying that God's Word is absolute. He is a merciful God.
Hebrews 8:12 "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."
Verses 11-14: "Fair colors ... sapphires ... agates ... carbuncles ... pleasant stone": The elaborate ornamentation will outfit Jerusalem to be the center of the future, eternal messianic reign following the Millennium (Rev. 21:18-21). As magnificent as this is, it is not as important as the spiritual richness of the kingdom, when truth and peace (verse 13), prevail along with righteousness (verse 14).
The Lord Himself will teach everyone during the messianic kingdom, so everyone will know His righteousness (11:9; Jer. 31:34). Jesus gave this verse an additional focus, applying it to those with spiritual insight to come to Him during His first advent (John 6:45).
Isaiah 54:11-12 "O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, [and] not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires." "And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones."
This is speaking of that holy city New Jerusalem, which comes down from God out of heaven. The following Scriptures mention some of the stones used in the New Jerusalem.
Revelation 21:19-21 "And the foundations of the wall of the city [were] garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation [was] jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;" "The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst." "And the twelve gates [were] twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city [was] pure gold, as it were transparent glass."
Isaiah 54:13 And all thy children [shall be] taught of the LORD; and great [shall be] the peace of thy children."
Hebrews 8:10-12 "For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:" "And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest." "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."
Isaiah 54:14 "In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee."
Where there is righteousness, there is perfect peace also. In the New Jerusalem there will be no danger and nothing to fear. Even death itself has been defeated. There is no temptation to sin. Bear with me, and I will give you some Scriptures on New Jerusalem.
Revelation 21:1-4 "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God." "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."
Verses 15-17: "Whosoever shall gather against thee shall fall": In the millennial kingdom this will occur, as prophesied by John (in Rev. 20:7-9). The Lord will burn up all Israel's enemies.
The heritage of the Lord's servants in the Messiah's kingdom will include His protection from would be conquerors. It should be noted that after the Servant-song of Isaiah 53, Israel is always referred to as God's "servants" (plural), rather than His servant (54:17; 56:6; 63:17; 65:8-9, 13-15; 66:14).
Isaiah 54:15 "Behold, they shall surely gather together, [but] not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake."
God is the very present help of all His people. Those who are opposed to God's people are actually against God. They will not win, because God will take up the battle.
Isaiah 54:16 "Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy."
God is the Creator of all, even Lucifer. Everything God created is under His command. Nothing can do you harm, because it has to obey God, whatever it is. Satan (Lucifer), has to get God's permission to do anything. If God will not allow it, he cannot do it.
Everything is at peace in New Jerusalem, because of the presence of God. There will be no darkness at all, because the Light of the world is there.
1 John 1:5 "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."
Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue [that] shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This [is] the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness [is] of me, saith the LORD."
God is the protector of all of Israel. He protects His family. Though they come against us, they will not prosper. This promise is for all who believe in Jesus our Savior. We have been given power and authority to use the name of Jesus against the enemy. At that name, every knee must bow.
Philippians 2:10 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;"
Isaiah Chapter 54 Questions
Verses 1-7: God's free gift of salvation is offered to all who will receive it. Those who are spiritually hungry and thirsty may come to eat and drink "without money" (or freely). He promises an "everlasting covenant" to the Gentiles like the one He established with Israel. His invitation to all men is clearly stated by the appeal, "Seek ye the Lord" and "call ye upon him."
Isaiah 55:1 "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."
"Every one": The Servant's redemptive work and glorious kingdom are for the benefit of all who are willing to come (53:6). The prophet invites his readers to participate in the benefits obtained by the suffering of the Servant (in chapters 53 and 54).
"No money ... without money ... without price": Benefits in the Servant's kingdom will be free because of His redemptive work (53:6, 8, 11; Eph. 2:8-9).
"Wine and milk": Symbols for abundance, satisfaction, and prosperity (Song of Solomon 5:1; Joel 3:18).
In the last lesson, we were speaking of the New Jerusalem. The lesson has suddenly switched back to the present. It is not only the present for the people of Isaiah's time, but for ours as well. Jesus told the woman at the well she would never thirst again, if she drank the water He gave her. This is the same water He offered her. He is the Water (John 7:37-39).
"Water" many times symbolizes the Word of God. Jesus is the Word, so that would be reasonable. This supernatural wine and milk is from the Lord Himself. He sustained the children of Israel 40 years in the wilderness. He will make provision for you, as well.
Isaiah 55:2 "Wherefore do ye spend money for [that which is] not bread? and your labor for [that which] satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye [that which is] good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness."
"Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread?": Lavishing away time, opportunities, and strength, in reading and hearing false doctrine, which is not bread, but chaff, is not wholesome, does not nourish, but is harmful and destructive. Infected as a canker, instead of feeding and refreshing; as the vain philosophy of the Gentiles, the traditions of the Jews, and the errors and heresies of false teachers.
"And your labor for that which satisfieth not": Laboring to seek happiness in worldly things, which is not to be had; or to obtain righteousness by the works of the law, which is not to be attained to in that way; all such labor is in vain, no satisfaction is enjoyed, nor peace and comfort had, nor any solid food; these are husks which swine eat.
"Hearken diligently unto me": Not the prophet, but the Lord himself. The Targum renders it, "my Word"; the essential Word, Christ Jesus, hearken to his doctrine, which is bread, and of a satisfying nature.
"And eat ye that which is good": not the law, as the Jewish commentators; but the good word of God, the Gospel, which being found and eaten by faith, or mixed with faith by them that hear it, and so digested, is the joy and rejoicing of the heart.
"And let your soul delight itself in fatness": In the goodness and fatness of the Lord's house, attending on the word and ordinances with spiritual pleasure and delight. And which is the way to become fat and flourishing in spiritual things; (see Psalm 36:8).
Isaiah 55:3 "Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, [even] the sure mercies of David."
"Everlasting covenant": This is the New Covenant that God will give to Israel.
"Sure mercies of David": The Davidic Covenant promised David that his seed would be ruler over Israel in an everlasting kingdom (2 Sam. 7:8, 16; Psalm 89:27-29). Paul connected the resurrection of Christ with this promise (Acts 13:34), since it was an essential event in fulfilling this promise.
If Jesus had not fully satisfied God by His atoning death, He would not have risen; if He had not risen from the dead, He could not eventually sit on David's earthly throne. But He did rise and will fulfill the kingly role (verse 4). The whole world will come to Him as the great King.
"The new covenant" spoken of here, is the covenant of grace that God provides for man. Man was unable to keep the law. God seeing the weakness of man provides a solution to man's problem. God sends His only begotten Son to fulfill the law of sacrifice.
The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross fulfilled the law for all time for everyone.
Romans 6:10 "For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God."
Salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ is so simple, many miss it altogether.
Matthew 10:32 "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven."
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
We are saved because of our faith, like faithful Abraham.
Isaiah 55:4 "Behold, I have given him [for] a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people."
This, of course, is speaking of Jesus (their Messiah). Jesus came to bear witness of the Truth. He is, in fact, the Truth. Look with me at the following Scripture.
John 18:37 "Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."
He is the Leader of all believers. To be a Christian is to be a believer in and a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 55:5 "Behold, thou shalt call a nation [that] thou knowest not, and nations [that] knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee."
We mentioned previously that the other nations besides Israel received the message of Jesus more readily than the Jews did. The law had been given just to the Jews, but the covenant of grace is for all mankind. Many things in Jesus' ministry brought glory to the Father. Look with me at just a few.
Matthew 15:31 "Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel."
Luke 7:16 "And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people."
John 12:23 "And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified."
John 13:31 "Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him."
Jesus always gave glory to God in everything He did. The Sermon on the Mount continues to glorify God even unto this day.
Verses 6-7: Here is one of the clearest Old Testament invitations to salvation now and kingdom blessings later. It gives an excellent example of how people were saved during the Old Testament period.
Salvation, grace and mercy were available to the soul that was willing to:
(1) Seek the Lord (Deut. 4:29; Chron. 15:4); and
(2) Call on Him while He is still available (65:1; Psalm 32:6; Prov. 8:17; Matt. 25:1-13; John 7:34; 8:21; 2 Cor. 6:2; Heb. 2:3; 3:13, 15).
Such true seeking in faith is accompanied by repentance, which is described as forsaking ungodly ways and thoughts and turning from sinful living to the Lord. A sinner must come, believing in God, recognizing his sin and desiring forgiveness and deliverance from that sin.
At the same time he must recognize his own inability to be righteous or to satisfy God and cast himself on God's mercy. It is then that he receives a complete pardon. His sin has been covered by the substitution of the Messiah in his place (chapter 53). This Old Testament pattern of salvation is illustrated in Luke 18:9-14.
Isaiah 55:6 "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:"
Today is the day of salvation. This is one thing in a person's life that they should never put off. This could be spoken to the physical house of Israel, who soon will (on the whole), reject their Messiah. It is also, addressed to every person who has put off being saved.
Isaiah 55:7 "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
"Forsake": An integral part of seeking the Lord (verse 6) is turning from sin (1:16).
John the Baptist had the message that was needed by all of these people. His message was repent and prepare for the coming of the Lord. Jesus' message was similar, as we see in the next verses.
Matthew 4:17 "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Mark 1:15 "And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
We see in the following verse, that the disciples continued with the message of repentance.
Acts 2:38 "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Verses 8-13: God's sovereignty and omniscience are extolled by the statement that His "thoughts" (i.e., purposes and intentions), and "ways" (derakim, "directions"), are "higher" than ours.
While God may certainly be known by men, He is still incomprehensible in the totality of His person and purposes. Therefore, he reveals Himself to men by "His word," which shall "not return" to Him "void" (in vain). The Word of God, therefore, accomplishes His purpose in announcing salvation to all mankind.
Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD."
"My thoughts ... my ways": Some may doubt such willingness (as described in verse 7), but God's grace is far beyond human comprehension, especially as manifested toward Israel.
We know that man uses only a small part of his brain here in this life. Even if we could use all of our brain, we would still not be able to think like God. The Creator is greater than His creation.
God thinks a thought, speaks the Word and whatever it is, it happens. It is as simple as that. God is not a man that He should sin. Man has a carnal mind, until he takes on the mind of Christ. God's mind is spiritual.
Isaiah 55:9 "For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
God's ways are beyond the comprehension of man. God is all knowing. Man knows only a fraction of the here and now. God lives in eternity. He knows all, because everything is part of His plan.
Verses 10-11: "Rain ... snow ... my word": Moisture from heaven invariably accomplishes its intended purpose in helping meet human physical needs. The Word of God will likewise produce its intended results in fulfilling God's spiritual purposes, especially the establishment of the Davidic kingdom on earth (verses 1-5).
Isaiah 55:10 "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:"
The rain ministers to the people upon the earth. God controls the rain and the snow, as He does everything else. Without the rain, we would not have crops to grow, or flowers that bloom. The rain is a gift from God to mankind.
The sun draws it back up into the heavens in a vapor, then it rains again. Without the rain, we would not have bread for our table. Nothing grows without sunshine and rain.
Isaiah 55:11 "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it."
My statement is that the two powers in this world are the Spoken and the Written Word. The world was created by the Word of God.
John 1:1-3 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." "The same was in the beginning with God." "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."
We know the Word of God was Creator. We also know that to speak the Word of God is a high calling.
1 Corinthians 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."
1 Corinthians 1:21 "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."
We see from this, the power of the Spoken Word. The written Word is the Bible. No one can study the Bible and remain the same. It will change your life.
Isaiah 55:12 "For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap [their] hands."
"Go out with joy ... led forth with peace": Exiled Israel will return from her dispersion rejoicing in her deliverance and unbothered by her enemies.
This is speaking of the joy that comes from victory. This applies to the Jews being released from Babylon, and the Christian when they are released from sin.
Mountains, hills, and trees are all part of nature which God put here for the enjoyment of man. This means even nature rejoices at the victory.
Isaiah 55:13 "Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign [that] shall not be cut off."
"Instead of the thorn ... myrtle": In the Davidic kingdom positive changes in nature, including the reverse of the curse (Gen. 3:17), will be an ongoing testimony to the Lord's redemption of His people (44:23; Romans 8:19-23).
The wrath of God is removed. The ground is no longer cursed. Jesus removed the curse. Thorns sometimes symbolically mean sin. Jesus defeated sin, when He nailed it to the cross. The blessings of God are on His people.
Even all of nature is at peace with mankind. The following Scripture says it better than I can.
Proverbs 16:7 "When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him."
Isaiah Chapter 55 Questions
Verses 1-6: In contrast to His message of salvation to all who will repent, this chapter introduces God's message of condemnation to those who refuse to repent. Thus, the "blessed" man is the one who turns away from "doing any evil." The "sons of the stranger" refer to Gentiles who are willing to "love" and "serve" the Lord and thereby partake of His "covenant".
Isaiah 56:1 "Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation [is] near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed."
"Near to come ... revealed": Incentives to comply (with 55:6-7), include the nearness of God's kingdom of salvation and righteousness (51:5).
This lesson begins by reminding the house of Israel to keep God's law. This is speaking of the near future when Jesus Christ (their Messiah), will come to the earth as Savior. He is everyone's salvation.
This is calling them to righteousness. They will soon be delivered from Babylon, and then a very short time later, the true Deliverer comes. He is the One who will deliver all mankind from sin and death.
Isaiah 56:2 "Blessed [is] the man [that] doeth this, and the son of man [that] layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil."
"Keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it": Sabbath observance, established after the deliverance from Egypt (Exod. 20:8-11), became a sign of fulfilling the covenant God made with Moses (Exod. 31:13-17).
In captivity, it is difficult to keep all of the sacrifices and ordinances. In fact, it would be impossible. They could, however, remember the Sabbath. They might be forced to work on that day while they were in captivity, but they could keep it uppermost in their minds and hearts.
Since they are in captivity, they must set the best example of how God's people conduct themselves. They must not give up their morals, even under these difficult circumstances.
Isaiah 56:3 "Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I [am] a dry tree."
"Stranger ... eunuch": Such individuals, excluded from Israel by the law (Exodus 12:43; Deut. 23:1, 3, 7-8), will find in the coming of the messianic kingdom the removal of such exclusions.
This is just explaining to them, they must not complain about their condition. God had told them early on that this was caused by Him to get them to repent. They are captives, they are (some of them) eunuchs, but they must realize it was because they had disobeyed God.
Whatever hardships came on them, they were of their own making. The eunuchs and the foreigners, who had accepted Judaism, thought they would be cast off, when Israel went back to the homeland. They thought of themselves as useless to God.
Verses 4-5: "Take hold of my covenant ... everlasting name": Eunuchs with hearts inclined to comply with the Mosaic Covenant may anticipate an endless posterity.
It is never works that save (Romans 3:20; Eph. 2:8-9); rather, obeying God's law, doing what pleases Him or desiring to keep the promises of obedience are the evidences that one has been saved. And will thus enjoy all salvation blessings.
Isaiah 56:4 "For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose [the things] that please me, and take hold of my covenant;"
Even though they had served in the palace during their captivity, they would be acceptable to God, if they had kept the Sabbath in their hearts. They are like everyone else. They will be saved, because they have had faith and accepted the covenant of God.
Isaiah 56:5 "Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off."
We see in this that the house is speaking of the church. The walls have to do with the holy city (New Jerusalem). They will have a special place of remembrance.
Verses 6-7: "Taketh hold of my covenant ... accepted upon mine altar": The sacrifices of a foreigner who loves God, whose heart is inclined to serve Him and obey the Mosaic Law, will find his sacrifices welcome, in the coming kingdom as well.
Isaiah 56:6 "Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;"
The "stranger" is speaking of all the nations who were not physical Israel. We studied earlier how there were more of them who accepted Jesus as their Savior, than there was of the natural Jew. The secret is, they accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord.
The "covenant", spoken of here, is the new covenant of grace.
Verses 7-12: The temple is called a "house of prayer for all people." This phrase was quoted by Jesus (Matt. 21:13), in His dispute with the money-changers. The chapter ends with an indictment of the "watchmen" (or prophets), who are "blind ... ignorant ... dumb dogs".
Isaiah 56:7 "Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices [shall be] accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all people."
"My house ... for all people": In the kingdom of the Messiah, the Jerusalem temple will be the focal point for worship of the Lord by people of all ethnic backgrounds. Jesus cited a violation of this anticipation by His contemporaries in His second cleansing of the temple: Jewish leaders had made the temple a commercial venture (Matt. 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46).
The covenant of the law had been just for the Hebrews. The covenant of grace unto salvation is for all people of the world. The temple was dedicated by Solomon, when he knelt before the altar, with both hands raised to God, palms upward.
We know that the temple in Jerusalem, like the tabernacle in the wilderness, was a place for the people to sacrifice to their God. When Jesus fulfilled all the law with the sacrifice of His body on the cross, there was no need to sacrifice again.
Now, the sacrifice of the believer is praise. And, the house of God would be a house of prayer and praise, instead of sacrifice.
Isaiah 56:8 "The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather [others] to him, beside those that are gathered unto him."
"Others ... those that are gathered": Besides gathering Israel's exiles into His kingdom, the Lord will bring in non-Jews also (49:6).
The Lord God, in the verse above, is Adonai Jehovah. This is just saying that God will not only bring the physical house of Israel out of captivity to Him, but will also, call the heathen to Him.
Verses 9-12 contain a commentary on Israel's false prophets and irresponsible leaders who led them astray.
Verses 9-11 "Beasts ... watchmen ... shepherds": These titles identify the wicked; other prophets refer to Israel's enemies as beasts (Jer. 12:9; Ezek. 34:5, 8).
Prophets, who should have been watchmen and warned Israel to repent, ignored their responsibility (Ezek. 3:17). Priests also failed to lead Israel in paths of righteousness (Ezek. 34:1-6; Zech. 11:15-17).
Isaiah 56:9 "All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, [yea], all ye beasts in the forest."
This is speaking of all of those who are opposed to God and His people. They would like to destroy God's people.
Isaiah 56:10 "His watchmen [are] blind: they are all ignorant, they [are] all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber."
God's watchmen are the leaders of the temple, the teachers, even the prophets. Isaiah says here, they are overcome with spiritual blindness. Jesus said they had eyes to see, and could not see. Their ignorance has to do with not understanding the Scriptures.
They should know (above everyone else), the Scriptures. They are not aware that it is time to warn the people. The Bible said, if the blind lead the blind, they will both fall in the ditch. It is such a shame that the learned scholars of the Bible did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. They were so self-satisfied that they were as if they were sleeping.
Isaiah 56:11 "Yea, [they are] greedy dogs [which] can never have enough, and they [are] shepherds [that] cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter."
One of the problems with the priest and High Priest (at the time of Jesus), was the fact that this sacred position had deteriorated to where they were buying the priesthood. Jesus spoke harshly of them, and rightly so.
When he ran the money changers out of the temple, it was because the priesthood had gotten greedy and started selling sacrificial animals that were damaged. I personally believe that some of them actually knew Jesus was the Messiah, but they were afraid of losing their control over the people.
They had changed the law of God so Jesus called it "their" law. They were not there to help others, but for self-gain. They were actually angry when Jesus healed the sick. They felt it made them look bad.
Isaiah 56:12 Come ye, [say they], I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow shall be as this day, [and] much more abundant.
"Wine ... strong drink": This is indicative of the self indulgent irresponsibility of the leaders. Drunkenness completely obliterated any concern that leaders had for their people.
It appears that many of the people who were supposed to be the leaders were actually heavy drinkers. What a terrible state for the leaders to be in. Leaders, then or now, must set a high standard for God's people to follow.
Isaiah Chapter 56 Questions
Verses 1-12: The message begun in the previous chapter is continued throughout this chapter. The "righteous perisheth" refers to the suffering of the godly. "Slaying the children" refers to the practice of child sacrifice. "Clifts of the rocks" is a description unique to Isaiah, appearing only here (and in 2:21). Such a description is very appropriate for Israel, but would have been unknown to a supposed Second Isaiah living later in Babylon.
Verses 1-2: In contrast to the evil leaders, who were engaged in debauchery and self-indulgence, were the righteous that were removed from impending divine judgments. The righteous do suffer by oppression and distress at what is going on around them, but they die in faith and enjoy their eternal reward.
Isaiah 57:1 "The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth [it] to heart: and merciful men [are] taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil [to come]."
One of the most vivid examples of God removing someone from the earth is Enoch. Look, with me, at the following Scripture that shows that.
Genesis 5:24 "And Enoch walked with God: and he [was] not; for God took him."
Another example of this is when Elijah was carried to heaven in a whirlwind accompanied by a chariot of fire.
2 Kings 2:11 "And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, [there appeared] a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven."
Sometimes God removes someone from the earth, because they have greatly pleased Him, and He does not want any more problems for them. Other times He removes people like Jezebel, because they do not hesitate to kill people who are living for God.
We should not grieve for those who are killed, because they take a stand for Jesus. This life is not the end. There is a glorious life awaiting those who live for God.
Isaiah 57:2 "He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, [each one] walking [in] his uprightness."
We know there will come a time when the believers in Christ will go to be with the Lord in heaven. Those left here on the earth will face the wrath of God.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:" "Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
This is a time of peace which only the Lord can give, and it is for all the believers in Christ.
Isaiah 57:3 "But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore."
"Sorceress ... adulterer ... whore": Sorcery and adultery were figurative designations for idolatry. God summoned the wicked to give an account.
Notice the word "but" here. This indicates that the peace spoken of (in verse 2), is not for this group of people. The sad thing is that some of the Israelites had fallen into idolatry. Usually this type of reprimand is to get the people to change.
The whoredom, spoken of here, can be physical whoredom (adultery), or spiritual adultery. Sorcery has to do with spiritual adultery.
Isaiah 57:4 "Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, [and] draw out the tongue? [are] ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,"
"Draw out the tongue": The ungodly blatantly ridiculed God's messengers (28:9-10).
The idolatrous then, and the worldly people today, make fun of those who truly love God. False gods are liars. Those who worship false gods would be classified as children of transgression, and seed of falsehood.
They may criticize the believers now, but there is coming a day when they will wish they were a believer. All stand before God in judgment. Those, who worship false gods, will wind up in hell.
Verses 5-6: These verses feature elements of idolatry such as child sacrifice, which were a part of worshiping the Ammonite god Molech (Jer. 32:35; Ezek. 20:26, 31). In response to Israel's offerings to idols, what was the Lord's appropriate response, to be satisfied or to take vengeance? Jeremiah had the answer (Jer. 5:9, 29; 9:9).
Isaiah 57:5 "Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?"
Some who worshipped false gods then, practiced human sacrifice of children. We are no better, the Satanists of today have human sacrifice of children, as well. The reference to the "green trees" here, is possibly speaking of some of their cults that met in groves.
This cult was well known for sacrificing children. Moloch was the false god they sacrificed children to.
Isaiah 57:6 "Among the smooth [stones] of the stream [is] thy portion; they, they [are] thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?"
Just as the Nile River in Egypt was worshipped by the Egyptians, some of the people here had begun to falsely worship even the stones in the river. They had poured their offerings in the water, over these stones.
I have said it over and over, anything you can see with your eyes, is not to be worshipped. It is part of creation. We are not to worship creation, but the God who is Creator of it all.
Verses 7-8: The location of idol altars where Israel committed spiritual adultery in offering sacrifices (Jer. 3:6; Ezek. 16:16) to Baal and Astarte.
Isaiah 57:7 "Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice."
This is speaking of the worship in high places, which God had forbidden.
Isaiah 57:8 "Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered [thyself to another] than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee [a covenant] with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest [it]."
Many of the Israelites had begun to worship false gods in addition to worshipping Jehovah. It was as if they were covering every side. They did not truly know who to worship, so they worshipped false gods to ensure they did not miss worshipping the right god.
There is but One God, and He alone should be worshipped. Israel should know this better than anyone else. God had proved over and over that these false gods were not god.
Isaiah 57:9 "And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase [thyself even] unto hell."
"Wentest to the king": An example of this was Ahaz, who called on the king of Assyria for help and spared no expense in copying the idolatry of Assyria (2 Kings 16:7-18).
We see in this, that these Israelites had no confidence in God. They went to earthly kings to help them. From past experience they should have known that all they had to do was repent of their evil ways, and call out to God, and He would help them.
The sad thing about all of this is that they actually debased God in the sight of these evil countries. When they went to others for help, it was as if they were saying God was not strong enough to help them.
Isaiah 57:10 "Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; [yet] saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved."
"Found the life of thine hand": Rather than recognizing the hopelessness of idolatry, and in spite of the weariness of idol worship, the Israelites found renewed strength to pursue their idolatrous course.
The sad thing about Israel is that they found no hope in these earthly rulers. They were so proud that they did not, even then, come to God and ask for His help. Some of us, even today, hesitate to go to God with our problems. We try to work them out by ourselves, and that really does not work.
We have no power within ourselves, except what the Lord fills us with. Pride goeth before a fall.
Isaiah 57:11 "And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid [it] to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?"
"Thou has lied": These wicked people feared false gods more than the true God to whom they played the hypocrite, trading on God's patience.
We can see from the 2 Scriptures that follow, we are to fear the Lord and Him only.
Psalm 111:10 "The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do [his commandments]: his praise endureth for ever."
Proverbs 9:10 "The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding."
To fear the world and its people is a sin. To be fearful is ranked with the unbelieving.
Revelation 21:8 "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
Fear of God is the only fear allowed; any other fear is the opposite of faith. These Israelites had feared the people around them more than they feared God. They had actually taken up idolatry, because of their fear of the world.
Isaiah 57:12 "I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee."
"I will declare thy righteousness": God will break His silence by elaborating on Israel's sham righteousness, a sarcastic way of saying they have no real righteousness. The folly of such devotion to non-existent gods will show up when judgment comes and they are all blown away, while the worshipers of the true God enjoy the blessings of the kingdom (see Psalm 37:11; Matt. 5:5).
Verses 13-21: The terminology "cast ye up, prepare the way," is a technical term for constructing a highway by heaping up a mound of earth. God is pictured here as inhabiting both "eternity" and the hearts of those who have a "contrite and humble spirit." The chapter ends with the observation that "there is no peace ... to the wicked," who are described as a "troubled" (restless) "sea".
Isaiah 57:13 "When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take [them]: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain;"
To fear the world is to deny the Lord. All the false gods in the world cannot help at all. An idol is a nothing. They are helpless. If you depend on a nothing, you will get no help. We see another message in the verse above beginning with the word "but". It is the opposite.
Psalm 4:5 "Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD."
When all else fails, God will not let you down. He is our very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1 "(To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth)". God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
Those who have faith in the Lord are like faithful Abraham. Their faith is counted unto them for righteousness. All who have faith in the Lord, will inherit eternal life, and also will dwell in the Lord's holy mountain.
Verses 14-20: In contrast with the threats of judgment for idolatry (verses 3-13; 14-20), give promises of blessing.
Isaiah 57:14 "And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling block out of the way of my people."
"Take up the stumbling block": The command is to remove all barriers to prepare the way for God's people to return to Him (62:10).
Jesus Christ is the Way. When we follow Him, we will have an open door to heaven and eternity. These Hebrews found the way open to Jerusalem, because God opened the way.
Verses 15-18: "Revive the spirit ...revive the heart": The Lord sends true revival, which comes to the humble and contrite (61:1-3). After all the years of Israel's sin and backsliding, and of Israel's punishment, God's grace will prevail (43:25), and spiritual healing and restoration will come.
Isaiah 57:15 "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name [is] Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."
The first thing a person must do to be saved is to realize they need a Savior. God has no time schedule. He dwells in eternity. Where He is, there is one eternal day. Not only does He dwell in a high and lifted up place, but He is the High and Lifted up One.
He is Creator God. He is Almighty God. He is omnipresent, He is omniscient. He is omnipotent. There is none above Him. He is All in All. Those of us, who recognize Him as our Savior and Lord and are of a humble heart, will dwell with Him.
Revelation 7:13-15 "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they?" "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." "Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them."
Isaiah 57:16 "For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls [which] I have made."
God will not always be angry with His people. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. All deserve to die. God sent His Son, while we were yet in sin. God made a plan whereby man could be saved. The wages of sin is death. The payment for sin is blood.
Jesus gave His blood on the cross to abolish our sin, that we might receive His righteousness and be saved. We must believe in His name, and that He paid the price for us. There is safety in accepting His name. God sent Jesus so that all of His creation would not die. Jesus is our Way and our Life.
Isaiah 57:17 "For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart."
"He went on frowardly": This is speaking of a backslider in heart (see Prov. 14:14). He belongs in the category of the fool, the wicked and the disobedient and he is contrasted with the godly wise. It is a word that the prophets used for apostate unbelievers.
One of the 10 commandments says, "Thou shalt not covet". God would not overlook their covetousness. Not only did Judah covet, but it was the desire of their hearts to continue this evil. This angered God and is one of the main reasons they were captives.
Isaiah 57:18 "I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners."
Mourners are those who are grief stricken. God is a forgiving God. When they repent and change their ways, He forgives them. God is the Great Shepherd, who nudges the wandering sheep back into the fold. If they will follow Him, He will give them forgiveness and rest.
Isaiah 57:19 "I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to [him that is] far off, and to [him that is] near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him."
"Fruit of the lips": (According to Hebrews 13:15), this phrase refers to praising and thanking God (Hosea 14:2). In this context, it is the voice crying "peace, peace" calling to people far and near to come to the Lord and receive spiritual healing.
Those that are "far off" are the Gentiles, and those who are "near" are the Jews. Peace comes from God, and not from man. Jesus is King of Peace.
Verses 20-21: "Like the troubled sea": (in contrast to those in verse 19), the wicked enjoy anything but peace (48:22; Jude 13).
Isaiah 57:20 "But the wicked [are] like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt."
The wicked are those who reject the peace that only God can bring. They are so evil, they will not settle down long enough to receive this peace of God. They are restless and fearful. They are constantly fearing the things that are coming upon the earth.
Isaiah 57:21 "[There is] no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."
In this world, there is no peace. The only peace is the peace that the believers have within them.
Isaiah Chapter 57 Questions
Verses 58:1 - 66:24: This section describes the future glory for God's people Israel.
The closing chapters of Isaiah (chapters 58-66), introduce the reader to the Messiah's program of peace for the world. Here we are lifted beyond His first coming to the time of His second coming as Lord, Judge, and King of the universe.
Verses 1-14: "Cry aloud ... show my people their transgression" indicates that Isaiah was to shout against the sins of Israel and Judah.
God further warns them that though they delight to "seek me daily," they will be judged for making a mere show of their religion. The true "fast" is contrasted with the false external show of piety. Thus God's fast will "loose the bands of wickedness" and "undo the heavy burdens" for those who truly repent.
Verses 1-5: We see a description of religious formalism that manifests itself in improper fasting.
Isaiah 58:1 "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins."
This sounds like God giving a message to Isaiah to sound the warning trumpet. The warning from God, many times, comes from God's workers. The preachers of our day need to sound the trumpet. This trumpet of warning is because of the transgressions of the people.
The whole world today is in even worse condition than the house of Jacob in their day. Sin is running rampant. God will not sit idly by and let this happen. The preachers who are not sounding a warning to their people will be responsible for the sins of the people God has for them to minister to.
A shepherd, or shepherdess, guards the sheep. When danger is near, they sound an alarm. They are responsible for the sheep.
Isaiah 58:2 "Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God."
"Delight in approaching to God": Israel was merely "going through the motions." Their appearance of righteousness was mere pretense (1:11).
It seems they had a form of godliness. They were going through the formality of serving God, but their hearts were not in it. They were honoring God with keeping the ordinances, but they really did not honor Him in their hearts.
Jesus called this type of person "whited walls". They look good on the outside, but underneath they are nothing. Some churches today are so formal in their worship, that there is no Spirit. Ritualistic service is not what God wants. He wants our hearts.
Verses 3-7: The people complained when God did not recognize their religious actions, but God responded that their fasting had been only halfhearted. Hypocritical fasting resulted in contention, quarreling, and pretense, excluding the possibility of genuine prayer to God.
Fasting consisted of more than just an outward ritual and a mock repentance, it involved penitence over sin and consequent humility, disconnecting from sin and oppression of others, feeding the hungry and acting humanly toward those in need.
Isaiah 58:3 "Wherefore have we fasted, [say they], and thou seest not? [wherefore] have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labors."
The type of fasting they were doing here was a waste of their time. This fasting was just a show for the world. It was as if they were saying, I have fasted now, what are you going to do for me in return, God? It was as if it was a tradeoff. Speaking of the Jews here, they felt that God had not kept His bargain with them if He did not immediately reward them for fasting.
Fasting should be a time of total dedication to God. It should be a time of worshipping God, not hampered by things of the world. God does not owe us anything. To expect Him to respond is not trusting His judgment. This type fast would be unacceptable to God, then or now.
Isaiah 58:4 "Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as [ye do this] day, to make your voice to be heard on high."
Fasting should be a private thing between you and God alone. Look, with me, at what Jesus had to say about this very thing.
Matthew 6:16-18 "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward." "But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;" "That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly."
Isaiah 58:5 "Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? [is it] to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes [under him]? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?"
The answer to this is no. This is not what God wishes. God does not just want a man to go through the formality of bowing his head to Him. He does not even want you to tear your clothes, and throw sand on your head. God wants you to have a humble heart. He wants your heart to be stayed upon Him.
The acceptable fast to God is total dedication to Him from your heart. God is not interested in an outward show. He wants you to truly love Him in your heart.
Isaiah 58:6 "[Is] not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?"
Fasting is the discipline of abstaining from food for biblical reasons. It is called "afflicting one's soul" (verse 3), and is often practiced to demonstrate the sincerity of our prayers.
There are several biblical reasons for fasting. Christians should fast when facing a national crisis (2 Chron. 20:3; Ezra 8:21; Esther 4:16), for individual needs (Matt. 17:21), during periods of distress (2 Sam. 3:35; Psalm 35:13), when facing spiritual decisions (Matt. 4:2; Acts 13:2), and in anticipation of Christ's return (Luke 5:35).
Many people have found that heavy burdens are relieved through fasting (chapter 58), wisdom is obtained through fasting (Dan. 10), revival comes from fasting (verse 6), God's protection from danger is secured by fasting (1 Kings 21:27-29), recovery of a sick loved one may come after fasting (Psalm 35:13), and the inauguration of a great ministry may follow fasting (Matt. 4:2).
When a Christian fasts, he should begin with a short fast, one day from sundown to sundown, and attempt to spend time alone with God during the fast. (Isa. 58:6; James 5:14).
God is saying in this, if your heart is right with Me, set the captives free. Stop laying burdens on others too heavy to bear. Break every yoke you have placed on others. Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. Love your neighbor as yourself. Above all, Love God with your whole heart. This is the acceptable fast to God.
Isaiah 58:7 "[Is it] not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?"
Jesus said it this way, "Inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these thy brethren, you have done it unto me". Feed the hungry, clothe the naked. Help those who cannot help themselves. Help those of your own family who are the family of God.
Isaiah 58:8 "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward."
"Thy righteousness ... be thy reward": When Israel learned the proper way to fast, she would enjoy the blessings of salvation and the Messiah's kingdom (52:12).
I love the following Scripture that says the same thing.
Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
When you are full of the Lord Jesus Christ, you are full of His Light, for He is the Light of the world. This is that new life in Christ that we speak of.
Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
It is not necessary to tell people you belong to God, when you have Christ living in you. They will know it by the life you live.
Isaiah 58:9 "Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I [am]. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;"
"Here I am": (see 65:1). In contrast with the complaint of (verse 3), a time will come when the Lord will be completely responsive to the prayers of the people (65:24). This will be done when they are converted and giving evidence of the transformation in the kind of works that reflect a truly repentant heart (verses 9-10).
"If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke": of human inventions, doctrines, rites and ceremonies, as in Isaiah 58:6.
"The putting forth of the finger": pointing at those that could not comply with them, by way of scorn and derision, as puritans, schismatics, etc. and persecuting them for it.
At the time of Christ's return, Israel will demonstrate true repentance and the fullness of blessing will be poured out (verses 10b-11).
James 5:16-17 "Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
Now, we see how to get our prayers answered. We must be in right standing with God. When we pray, He answers. Whatever you do for others, will be done unto you.
Mark 11:25 "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."
Isaiah 58:10 "And [if] thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness [be] as the noon day:"
When you have love and compassion for others and help them in their need, the Light of God within you becomes brighter and brighter. This Light does away with all darkness. To be possessed of the Light of Jesus Christ does away with all darkness.
Isaiah 58:11 "And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not."
Jesus says it the best in the following Scripture.
Luke 6:38 "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."
God will not withhold any good thing from you, when you have a generous heart towards others. He repays you in every way. You will prosper, and be in good health. You will not go hungry, or thirsty, because you have given to others.
Psalm 37:25 "I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."
Isaiah 58:12 "And [they that shall be] of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in."
"Build the old waste places": In view here is the final restoration of the millennial Jerusalem, of which Nehemiah's rebuilding of the walls (Nehemiah 2:17), was only a foretaste.
Israel was in a terrible state at the time Isaiah wrote this. God will bring them back into the land and it will flourish, if they keep His commandments. This is, also, speaking of the time when the veil in the temple will be torn from the top to the bottom opening the way to God for all who will believe.
Isaiah 58:13 "If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, [from] doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking [thine own] words:"
"Turn away thy foot ... the Sabbath": The Sabbath was holy ground on which no one should walk. Keeping the Sabbath was symbolic of obedience to all the Law of Moses (56:2). For the setting aside of Sabbath law in the New Testament (see Romans 14:5-6; Col. 2:16-17).
Now, we see that the blessings of God will be upon Israel, if they obey God. If they follow in His ways, He will bless them. The promises made to Abraham which come down to them will be a blessing to them, if they will honor and respect God in all they do, all they say, and all they are in their hearts. One day in seven belonged to God.
They must stop and remember Him on His day. Sabbath helps man, as well as God. But it also shows trust in God that He will keep His promises.
Isaiah 58:14 "Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it]."
"Delight thyself in the Lord": Repentant people walking in fellowship with the Lord experience satisfaction of their soul (Psalm 37:4). Their satisfaction will not come from material goods.
God had promised Abraham the land. He had also promised to bless all the nations of the world through him, if he remained faithful to God. His descendants had wandered away and gone after false gods, but God is renewing His pledge here.
He has forgiven them of the past errors, but they must be obedient to His Word and His ways. Whenever God promises anything, He will do it. He is not a man that He should lie.
God is Truth. All He asks is that they love Him and delight in Him. Again He says, if they keep His commandments, He will bless them. The other side of this is, if they do not obey Him, curses will follow.
Isaiah Chapter 58 Questions
Verses 1-21: Chapter 59 continues the judgments enumerated (in chapter 58), regarding Israel's hypocrisy. God's hand is not yet beyond the reach of salvation. But their "sins" separated them from His presence, and they are described in detail throughout the chapter.
Isaiah 59:1 "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:"
"Lord's hand ... His ear": The Lord's strength is more than adequate to bring deliverance to captive Israel (50:2). His ear is attuned to the call of His repentant people (58:9; 65:24).
God is always available and fully capable of helping His people. God never moves away from His people, they move away from Him. He hears and answers prayers, but as we learned in the last lesson, the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
This is saying if we, or these of the house of Jacob, are not living right, God might answer "no" to our request.
Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid [his] face from you, that he will not hear."
"Iniquities ... sins": Abraham's physical lineage had not yet experienced the Lord's deliverance because of the barrier created by their wrongdoing. This is a universal truth applying to all men: sin separates people from God (Rom. 3:23).
We understand fully that God will not force Himself on them. They have separated themselves from God by the evil in their lives. God loves them, even when they are living in sin, but He will not reward them for sinning.
Isaiah 59:3 "For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness."
Now, we begin to see exactly what their sins are. Their "hands being defiled with blood", is speaking of their viciousness. They even sacrificed their children to Molech. Some people are likening the abortions today to the sacrificing of children to Molech. Children are a gift from God.
Their "fingers with iniquity" means their work is sinful. They tell lies. Since God is Truth, you can see the problem in this. "Perverseness" in this, has to do with immorality.
Isaiah 59:4 "None calleth for justice, nor [any] pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity."
It seems this is speaking of false testimony that is given in trials. They are puffed up with pride and will do, or say, anything to save face. They will tell a lie, if it will sway the decision in their favor. It seems their hearts and minds are stayed on evil.
"Conceive" means they manufacture it within themselves. They are evil all the way through. Their evil thoughts become evil deeds, as they act upon them.
Isaiah 59:5 "They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper."
"Cockatrice' eggs ... spider's web": It is sad when people do evil, but even sadder when they delight in poisoning or ensnaring others with their evil habits (Rom. 1:32). Israel had reached this latter state.
This again, is speaking of the evil imaginations they hatch in their evil minds. They tell one lie upon another to catch a person in their evil web. Those who associate with them become just as evil as they are.
They are so evil; they are like the serpent that deceived Eve. This serpent is symbolic of Satan himself.
Isaiah 59:6 "Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works [are] works of iniquity, and the act of violence [is] in their hands."
"Webs ... works": Just as spiders' webs are too flimsy to serve as clothing, so were Israel's evil works. Spiritually, they did not suffice.
They are not weaving material for garments to help someone. They are weaving to trap someone who is unaware, like a spider would. Their works help no one at all. They are works that are useless.
We have seen in our society in recent years, that acts of iniquity and violence destroy, they do not build.
Verses 7-8: "Their feet ... they know not ... peace": From Isaiah's pen, the words focused on the national depravity of Israel that stood in the way of God's deliverance. Paul showed that what was true of sinful Israel is indicative of the depravity of all mankind (Rom. 3:15-17).
Isaiah 59:7 "Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts [are] thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction [are] in their paths."
They will do anything to benefit themselves, even killing. They are not seeking a way to make an honest living; they are trying to take shortcuts. They had rather do evil than good.
Their minds are so twisted, they would not do good, even if it were easier. They rush into sin at every chance. They are not part of the solution to the problems. They are the problem.
Isaiah 59:8 "The way of peace they know not; and [there is] no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace."
They do not know God, so they cannot know peace. True peace comes from God. There are two paths you can take in this life. The godly take the straight and narrow path which leads to God. The ungodly wander around on the broad road.
Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:" "Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
There is no peace for those on this broad road, because this life is all they have. They will not inherit heaven.
Isaiah 59:9 "Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, [but] we walk in darkness."
This is a confession of their unsaved condition.
John 11:10 "But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him."
Jesus says: walk in the Light.
John 8:12 "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
The secret to all of this, is repenting and coming to God, so that the Light will guide you.
Verses 10-11: "Grope ... stumble": Here is a picture of men seeking unsuccessfully to escape their depraved condition through their own strength. They wind up growling and lamenting their inability to gain salvation (Deut. 28:29).
Isaiah 59:10 "We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if [we had] no eyes: we stumble at noon day as in the night; [we are] in desolate places as dead [men]."
They have eyes to see, but they do not see. Their sin has blinded them. Their spirit is dead.
Isaiah 59:11 "We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but [there is] none; for salvation, [but] it is far off from us."
They are in desperate need of a Savior. God could not wait until they, or we, deserved to be saved, because they could not pull themselves out of the darkness. God sent His Son to bring the Light to the world, so that whosoever would could be saved.
When the Light of Jesus shines in your life, it does away with all darkness. They just need Jesus, their Messiah to come and awaken them.
Verses 12-14: "transgressions ... iniquities": The prophet supplies the answer to the nation's frustrations: their sins and transgressions remain as an obstacle to God's deliverance. Though their external rituals may be proper, their impure motives remain as a hindrance between God and His people. (Matt. 12:34; Mark 7:21-22). The presence of iniquity eliminates righteousness.
Isaiah 59:12 "For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions [are] with us; and [as for] our iniquities, we know them;"
Even if they did sacrifice for their sin, it was covered and hidden for a year by the blood of an animal. The blood of an animal could not clear their consciences. Their sins were still there.
It took the precious blood of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the Living God to abolish sin. He defeated sin on the cross at Calvary. The only solution for them, or us, is to accept Jesus as our Substitute because He paid the price for our sin, then be washed in the blood of the Lamb, and be set free from sin.
Isaiah 59:13 "In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood."
The heart of the carnal man is desperately wicked. The mouth speaks whatever is in the heart. Before a man is saved, his language is X-rated.
Luke 6:45 "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."
Isaiah 59:14 "And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter."
This is just saying, with evil men there is no justice. They lie and cheat to get whatever they want. There is no such thing as a fair trial, when you have evil witnesses.
Verses 15-16: "The Lord saw ... no intercessor": The Lord was aware of Israel's tragic condition and of the absence of anyone to intervene on His behalf.
The Lord took it on Himself to change Israel's condition through the intervention of His Suffering Servant (53:12).
Isaiah 59:15 "Yea, truth faileth; and he [that] departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw [it], and it displeased him that [there was] no judgment."
"Maketh himself a prey": In an environment where evil prevailed, anyone who departed from it became a victim of his environment because he did not fit in.
Those, who are living evil lives, try to destroy anyone who tries to break away and do right. One of the reasons for this is because the evil ones are afraid their evil ways will be found out.
God helps those who try to break away from evil. God will fight on your behalf, if you make a stand for God.
Isaiah 59:16 "And he saw that [there was] no man, and wondered that [there was] no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him."
No man came forward to try to straighten this out. We do not know why, but perhaps from fear, no man stepped forward to work for God in this matter. God had sent judges, and prophets, but the evil ones had killed them.
There was no man who would do this, so there had to be the Arm of God to be the Savior. Jesus Christ is the Arm of God. He is the Savior. Jesus was not a man but was housed in the flesh of man for His stay upon the earth.
He not only had righteousness; He was Righteousness.
Verses 17-18: "Garments of vengeance ... recompense to His enemies": In the process of delivering the faithful remnant of Israel, the Lord executes decisive judgment against all rebellious nations ("islands"), as well as the wicked Israelites (63:1-6).
Isaiah 59:17 "For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance [for] clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak."
"Righteousness like a breastplate ... helmet of salvation": Figuratively speaking, the Lord armed Himself for the deliverance of His people and for taking vengeance on enemies who would seek His destruction. Paul drew on the terminology in describing a believer's spiritual preparation for warding off the attacks of Satan (Eph. 6:14, 17, 1 Thess. 5:8).
Jesus did not need armor like the kings wore in battle. His armor for His breast was righteousness. He is the Head of the church. He brought salvation to all who would believe. He is the Head; the believers in Christ make up the body.
The only weapon He used was the two-edged sword, which is the Word of God. His sword came from His mouth.
The Bible says that vengeance belongs to God, He will repay. He worked tirelessly, so that all who would believe would be saved. He worked 6 hours on the cross to complete His work on the earth. When the six hours were over, He said, it is finished.
Isaiah 59:18 "According to [their] deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompense."
Jesus is the righteous Judge of all the world. God's fury is reserved for those who totally reject Him. "Recompense", in this verse, means make amends. We do not save ourselves. It is by the grace of God, we are saved. He saves us, even though we do not deserve to be saved.
Isaiah 59:19 "So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him."
"Shall they fear": All surviving peoples throughout the world are to have added reason to worship the Lord, seeing how He defeated all enemies by the power of His Spirit in bringing salvation to His people Israel. All over the earth, submission to Him is to be the only path to survival in the coming kingdom.
Fear, in the verse above, could be thought of as reverence to God. The Gentile world will depend on the name of Jesus to save them. This just means when the great armies of the world come against the believers, Jesus will raise a standard against Satan and the world.
The Spirit of the Lord is greater than anything the world, or Satan, can bring. Jesus won the victory over Satan, and over sin, on the cross of Calvary. All we Christians have to do is believe in Jesus and His resurrection, and tell everyone we see.
Verses 20-21: "The Redeemer shall come ... for ever": The Messiah, the Suffering Servant, will redeem Zion and all faithful Israelites.
This unalterable promise to the nation was the basis for Paul's reassurance of the future salvation of Israel (Rom. 11:26-27).
Isaiah 59:20 "And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD."
Salvation through Jesus Christ is available to both Jew and Gentile. Zion is the church of the Lord Jesus Christ here.
Romans 3:30 "Seeing [it is] one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith."
Isaiah 59:21 "As for me, this [is] my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that [is] upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever."
"My covenant ... for ever": Because God's New Covenant with Israel is "everlasting" (55:3; Jer. 31:31-34), God's Spirit and His words are to remain objects of their attention continually.
This is that everlasting covenant that God made with man.
Galatians 3:16 "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ."
You see in Christ we inherit the promises both Jew and Gentile.
Galatians 3:29 "And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
We are to take no thought what we are to say. God will fill us with the correct thing to say, as we need it. He is with us, and in us.
Colossians 1:27 "To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:"
Isaiah Chapter 59 Questions
Verses 1-12: Isaiah foresees a time when Israel will arise out of her "darkness" and "shine" with God's glory. Then the "Gentiles shall come" to her light. Thus the "sons of strangers" described in this chapter, will come to Jerusalem to worship the Lord.
Verses 1-2: "Glory of the Lord ... darkness ... gross darkness": Addressing Zion (59:20; 60:14), Isaiah told the city and thus the nation of Israel that her light has come, putting her in contrast with the rest of the darkened world. This expressed the glory of Jerusalem during the millennial kingdom.
Isaiah 60:1 "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee."
Where there seemed to be no hope, suddenly hope arrives in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, (Messiah to the Jews). He is the Light of the world. This is a call to action. Don't sit and fret, rise up. The word "shine" is explained more fully in the following verse.
Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Christians have the Light of Jesus within them.
Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
His Light shines from us. We cannot produce light. The light that shines from us is the Light of Jesus dwelling within us. We are a container for the Light of the LORD. This is the same Light that is in each of the seven churches of Revelation. This light is not just to do away with darkness, but to light our spirit, as well.
Isaiah 60:2 "For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee."
Darkness symbolizes evil. This darkness was both spiritual and physical. The darkness here, is similar to the darkness that was over Egypt. It was so dark; you could actually feel the darkness. The darkness was not in the homes of God's people, even though the land was covered in darkness.
God's people will have the Light of the Lord Jesus shining upon them in the midst of the great darkness. Sometimes the only light there is, is the Light of Jesus that the Christian shines forth.
Luke 2:9 "And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid."
This is speaking of the appearance of Jesus into the world.
Isaiah 60:3 "And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising."
"Gentiles shall come": Jerusalem's light will attract other nations seeking relief from their darkness (2:3). Only believing Jews and Gentiles will enter the earthly kingdom after the Day of the Lord, but as the 1,000 years goes along, children will be born and nations will become populated by those who reject Jesus Christ. The glory of the King in Jerusalem, and His mighty power, will draw those Gentiles to His light.
The Gentiles were in the greatest darkness at the time of the appearing of Jesus Christ. They had never had any portion with God up until this time. The Law of Moses had enlightened the Jews somewhat. They had not understood the law and had not received full benefit of the light the law had brought.
The great Light, the source of all Light, is Jesus. We discussed in a previous lesson, that the Gentiles accepted Jesus more readily than the Jews did. On a large scale, the Jews rejected Jesus. All mankind was affected by the Light. Later the wise men (Magi), came and recognized Jesus after Joseph had moved his family to Egypt (due to the warning of an angel), to escape King Herod.
John 1:9 "[That] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."
Isaiah 60:4 "Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at [thy] side."
"Gather ... sons ... daughters": Another promise of the regathering of Israel's faithful remnant (49:18, 22).
All, who accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord, are adopted into the family of God. We become sons of God.
1 John 3:1-2 "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."
Jesus had a great following of men and women, when He ministered on the earth. Today, He has an even greater following.
Isaiah 60:5 "Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee."
"Enlarged ... forces": Enlarged means rejoice; forces mean wealth. Two more benefits of Israel's future kingdom will be rejoicing and an abundance of material possessions (as symbolized in verses 6-7; 23:18; 24:14; 61:6).
"Thine heart shall fear": means it will beat rapidly with excitement.
"The sea": indicates large numbers of people. We see that large numbers of people will be converted to Christianity.
The early church was founded by the converted Jews, but as the church grew, it was mostly comprised of Gentiles.
Isaiah 60:6 "The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of the LORD."
"Midian ... Ephah ... Sheba": The descendants of Midian, Abraham's son through Keturah (Gen. 25:1-2), inhabited the desert areas east of the Jordan River. Ephah was one of the sons of Midian (Gen. 25:4), whose descendants settled on the East coast of the Elanitic Gulf. Sheba was a district in Arabia noted for its wealth (1 Kings 10:1-2).
There are two ways to look at this Scripture. In the literal sense, there were caravans of camels which brought great wealth into Jerusalem. This could also be speaking of the wise men, bringing gifts to baby Jesus.
We do not know exactly how much of the gold, frankincense, and myrrh they brought. They came a great distance, so they could have had camels to carry themselves and their gifts.
Matthew 2:1 "Now when Jesus was born in Beth-lehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,"
They came to praise and worship this King of the Jews.
Isaiah 60:7 "All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory."
"Kedar ... Nebaioth": The descendants of Kedar, a son of Ishmael (Gen. 25:13), lived in the desert between Syria and Mesopotamia. The Nabateans, inhabitants of the Arabian city Petra, were probably the descendants of Nebaioth, the oldest son of Ishmael (Genesis 25:13).
"Acceptance on mine altar": Animal sacrifices brought by other nations during the millennial kingdom will glorify the house of God even more (verse 13).
The "house" spoken of here, is the temple in Jerusalem. It was restored, and people from everywhere brought cattle, rams, etc., as gifts to the temple.
Isaiah 60:8 "Who [are] these [that] fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?"
"Fly as a cloud ... doves": Figurative language to describe the rapid influx of Gentiles into Jerusalem.
"Doves" are message carriers. When they have delivered their message, they go back to their nests. It appears there were windows they could go into to get to their nests. Israel had wandered away, but they always came back home like these doves did.
Isaiah 60:9 "Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee."
"Isles ... ships of Tarshish ... thy sons ... silver ... gold": Because of the Lord's favor toward Zion, the city will attract worldwide attention (23:1; 41:1). Trading vessels will return Israel's faithful remnant as they bring rich treasures to Jerusalem.
There have always been people who desired to go to the Promised Land. People today take guided tours of the holy city Jerusalem. The fact that they came by ship, indicates a long way from Jerusalem. Jews made a pilgrimage three times a year to Jerusalem to keep the feast days.
This is more than that. This is speaking of people from around the world flowing to Jerusalem.
Revelation 15:4 "Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for [thou] only [art] holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest."
Isaiah 60:10 "And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favor have I had mercy on thee."
"Build up thy walls": The rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, helped by Persian kings, was merely a foretaste of the final rebuilding of the city assisted by Gentiles when Christ returns to earth.
"In my wrath ... in my favor": God's past dealings with Israel have been largely in wrath, but His future merciful work will demonstrate His favor.
Foreign rulers did send help to rebuild Jerusalem after it had been taken by Babylon. Cyrus actually was one of them who helped. God's anger had been kindled against them, but they had repented, and God forgave them. God is full of mercy and grace.
Titus 3:5 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"
Isaiah 60:11 "Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that [men] may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and [that] their kings [may be] brought."
"Gates ... open continually": Unrestricted access to Jerusalem will prevail in the future kingdom (26:2; 62:10; Rev. 21:25-26).
The door to heaven is never closed. Jesus opened the way for us to the Father, when He shed His blood on the cross. Salvation is open to whosoever will.
The door had never been open for "the Gentiles", until Jesus opened the way. It matters not whether you are a king, or a slave, all come to Jesus through faith in Him.
Isaiah 60:12 "For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, [those] nations shall be utterly wasted."
"Nation ... perish": Survival in the future kingdom will be impossible for those nations who do not come to terms with Israel (11:13-14; 14:2; 49:23). The Lord will rule the nations with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:7-12).
There are blessings abundant for those who choose (of their own free will), to follow Jesus. On the other hand, those who reject Him will have the wrath of God poured out upon them.
Verses 13-22: The verses describe in detail the worship of the nations at Jerusalem where they will "bow themselves down" in the "city of the Lord." In that day her "officers" (governors), will be "peace" and her "exactors" (magistrates or overseers), will be "righteousness." Her walls will be "Salvation," her gates will be "Praise", and the whole city will be filled with the "brightness" of the glory of the Lord. See a similar description (in Revelation 21:23; 22:5).
Isaiah 60:13 "The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious."
"Glory of Lebanon": Timber was Lebanon's claim to fame. As in Solomon's temple (1 Kings 5:10, 18), but even more so, the timber taken from Lebanon's forests will enrich the Lord's temple in Jerusalem.
The cedars of Lebanon were known for their unusual beauty. God's children will come from all nations and bring their offerings to God. The main beauty of the city, spoken of here, is it is the dwelling place of God. This is possibly speaking of the beauty of the temple, but it could also, speak of the believers in Christ.
How beautiful are the feet of him that brings good news? God's real tabernacle is with His people.
Revelation 21:3 "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God."
Isaiah 60:14 "The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel."
"The city of the Lord": Nations which formerly were oppressors of Israel will acknowledge Zion's supremacy as the city that belongs to the Lord.
This is speaking of the time when Jesus and His followers will reign. We know there will come a time, when every knee will bow to the name of Jesus.
Philippians 2:10-11 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;" "And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Revelation 1:7 "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen."
"The city of the Lord": would be Jerusalem, or the believers in Christ. In this instance, it is calling Jesus that, as well.
"The Zion": is probably speaking of the church. It would read the church of the "Holy One of Israel". The "Holy One" is Jesus.
Isaiah 60:15 "Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through [thee], I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations."
"Forsaken and hated ... eternal excellency": Jerusalem will switch roles from having been despised to being exalted forever.
This is speaking of Zion in the Scripture above, a city and a wife. Hosea calls her the adulterous wife, unfaithful to God. You can see why this would make God angry. God will restore her to the way it was at first, through His Son Jesus.
Zion the city is also associated with God's people, Israel. Zion is used interchangeably with Jerusalem in many Scriptures like in Isaiah 52:1-2. So, any time you see the word "Zion" used, it is referring either to Jerusalem (a city), the City of God or the City of David, or to (a wife), the believers, the church or the people of God.
Isaiah 60:16 "Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD [am] thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob."
"Milk ... breast": As a mother feeds her infant, so the Gentiles and kings will provide wealth and power to Zion. The city will recognize the Lord as her Savior and Redeemer, "the Mighty One of Jacob," as will "all flesh" (49:26).
The Gentiles are very prominent in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. It matters not if a person is a king, or a pauper, salvation is the same for all. Jesus Christ (Messiah), is Redeemer and LORD.
Isaiah 60:17 "For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness."
"Gold ... silver ... peace ... righteousness": Jerusalem in the future kingdom will be a place of beauty and peace where righteousness will prevail.
"Brass" symbolizes judgment and "gold" symbolizes God. This then is saying, instead of judgment, we will receive God. Iron is cold and hard, but "silver" means redemption. The world is cold and hard, but Jesus brought us redemption.
Jesus is peace and righteousness. He establishes peace in His church. All believers in Christ receive the righteousness of Christ as a free gift when we are saved.
Isaiah 60:18 "Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise."
"Salvation ... praise": The walls and gates of the city that will take on those names refer to the divine protection the Lord provides from any form of violence or destruction.
We know there will be a time when men will beat their swords into plowshares. There will be perfect peace, because the King of peace will reign. Jesus is our wall of protection. His blood protects us from the enemy. He is Salvation and Praise.
The worst enemies of man were sin and death. Jesus defeated both of them. He defeated sin on the cross, and brought salvation to all mankind, and He defeated death by rising from the grave. All of the praise goes to Jesus.
Isaiah 60:19 "The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory."
"No more ... thy light by day ... everlasting light": Isaiah, looking beyond the millennial kingdom, sees a view of the New Jerusalem following the Millennium (Rev. 21:23; 22:5). His prophetic perspective did not allow him to distinguish the eternal phase of the future kingdom from the temporal one. Just as the Old Testament prophets could not distinguish between the first and second advent of Christ (1 Pet. 1:10-11).
We know that in New Jerusalem there will be no need for the sun or the moon to give light.
Revelation 21:23 "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb [is] the light thereof."
This everlasting Light gives more than just physical light. His Light illuminates our thoughts and our minds. Jesus is the Light of the church. He is the Light of the world. He is the source of all Light, giving everything the power to exist. To Him be glory, and honor, and praise.
Isaiah 60:20 "Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended."
"Mourning shall be ended": In the eternal kingdom of the new creation, subjects will shed no more tears (Rev. 21:4).
This is the time when God wipes all the tears from our eyes. There will be no need to mourn. It is time to receive the victory that Jesus purchased for us on the cross.
Revelation 21:4-5 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." "And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever."
Isaiah 60:21 "Thy people also [shall be] all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified."
"Inherit the land for ever": Israel will inherit the land promised to Abraham (Gen. 12:1, 7; 13:15; 15:18). During the millennial kingdom, that will be the land of Israel as we know it today. In the eternal kingdom, it will be the New Jerusalem, capital of the new creation.
"I may be glorified": The ultimate mission of Israel is to glorify the Lord (49:3; 61:3).
The covenant God made with Abraham was an everlasting covenant. God's people are washed in the blood of the Lamb. They are righteous, because they have taken on the righteousness of Christ.
Isaiah 60:22 "A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time."
"Small one ... strong nation": Israel's great increase in numbers and power resulting from the Lord's working will bring them into never before experienced world prominence.
There were a very small number of people who followed Jesus in the beginning, but now, they have grown into the millions. They are spoken of as the multitude that is beyond number.
The LORD is the central focus of Christianity. He brings this about, when He wishes. He will do a quick work, when the time comes.
Isaiah Chapter 60 Questions
Verses 1-3: In this chapter Isaiah introduces the King who will rule in the glorious kingdom he has just described. After Jesus read from this passage (Luke 4:17-21), in the synagogue, He said "This day is this scripture fulfilled in yours ears".
The "me" on whom the "Spirit of the Lord God" rests is Christ, the One who God has "anointed ... to preach good tidings" (good news), and to "proclaim liberty." When Jesus quoted this passage, He stopped at this point, indicating that the "day of vengeance" (final judgment), had not yet come.
Verses 1-2a: "The spirit ... acceptable year of the Lord": The servant of the Lord (42:1), will be the ultimate Preacher and the Redeemer of Israel who rescues them. Jesus speaks of the initial fulfillment of this promise, referring it to His ministry of providing salvation's comfort to the spiritually oppressed (Luke 4:18-19).
He says specifically, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:21). The Jews that were saved during Christ's ministry, and those being saved during this church age, still do not fulfill the promise of the salvation of the nation to come in the end time (Zech. 12:10-13:1; Rom. 11:25-27).
Isaiah 61:1 "The spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound;"
"Spirit ... Lord God ... me": The 3 persons of the Holy Trinity function together in this verse (6:8; Matt. 3:16-17).
"Liberty to the captives": The "captives" are Israelites remaining in the dispersion following the Babylonian captivity.
We know the Lord spoke these very words from the book of Isaiah, when He proclaimed that He was the fulfillment of this Scripture.
Luke 4:17-21 "And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written," "The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised," "To preach the acceptable year of the Lord." "And he closed the book, and he gave [it] again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him." "And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears."
The Holy Spirit was on Jesus and in Him, as well. At His baptism, the dove lit on His shoulder. The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit. He also, was conceived of the Holy Spirit of God as well.
All of the things in the Scripture were fulfilled in Jesus. He did set the captives free; He did preach the good news of the gospel. He did all of the things thus mentioned. Jesus was sanctified long before He was even conceived in the womb of Mary.
He, from the beginning, was God the Word.
Isaiah 61:2 "To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;"
"Acceptable year": The same as "a day of salvation" (49:8), and "My year of redemption" (63:4). This is where Jesus stopped reading in the synagogue (Luke 4:19), indicating that the subsequent writing in the rest of the chapter (verses 2b to 11), awaited the second coming of Christ.
"Day of vengeance": As part of His deliverance of Israel, the Lord will pour out His wrath on all who oppose Him (59:17-18; Revelation chapters 6-19).
Jesus waited until He was 30 years old to begin His public ministry, because that was the time appointed. The "acceptable year of the Lord" was a long period of time when salvation would be offered to all mankind.
There would come a day, when it would be too late. Jesus fulfilled the law of sacrifices, and opened a new way to the Father for us. The "age of grace" is another explanation of this time.
We all regret and mourn the sins we committed in the past. God forgives, when we seek forgiveness in Jesus' name.
Isaiah 61:3 "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified."
"Appoint ... glorified": The purpose of the Lord's consolation of the mourners after centuries of suffering (60:20), will be to glorify Himself (60:21).
"Ashes": was a sign of mourning for sins we had committed. Notice, the word "appoint". We had nothing to do with the appointment. God appointed and we accepted the appointment. This, of course, is speaking of salvation.
The "oil of joy": this speaks of the anointing of the Spirit of God working in our lives. Sin had caused the heaviness. Now that sin has been atoned for, there is nothing left to do but praise and rejoice.
"Trees of righteousness" would be speaking of those that are in right standing with God. Jesus is the Tree that we must be grafted into. He is the Vine; we are the branches. We are grafted into Him. We are to glorify God. Our strength comes from the Tree (Jesus).
Verses 4-11: For all her suffering, Israel is promised a "double" blessing from God. Thus God reaffirms His "everlasting covenant" with them. The chapter concludes with a song of praise to the Lord. The "garments of salvation" and the "robe of righteousness" are synonymous and refer to salvation itself. They are paralleled with the garments of a bridegroom and a bride.
Isaiah 61:4 "And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations."
"Repair": The rebuilding of Israel's cities is part of God's future plan for the nation (49:8; 58:12; 60:10).
This message is two-fold. The destruction of Jerusalem shall be no more. They shall restore it to its former greatness. The cities of Israel shall be restored. This also means the people of God, the Jews and the Gentiles, shall be put back into right relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 61:5 "And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien [shall be] your plowmen and your vinedressers."
The Jews will no more be the captives. They will be the land owners. This looks even further than the natural house of Israel, to the time when the Christians shall reign with Christ.
2 Timothy 2:12 "If we suffer, we shall also reign with [him]: if we deny [him], he also will deny us:"
Revelation 20:6 "Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
Isaiah 61:6 "But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: [men] shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves."
"Priests of the Lord": In fulfillment of (Exodus 19:6), Israel will be a kingdom of priests when Christ establishes His kingdom. In the meantime, Peter applied the same terminology to the church (1 Pet. 2:9).
"The priests" in the tabernacle in the wilderness symbolized the Christians. The physical house of Israel was known as a kingdom of priests. Priests do minister in the temple of God. Christians minister to the rest of the world, as well.
"Gentiles" in the verse above, is speaking of the non-believers.
Isaiah 61:7 "For your shame [ye shall have] double; and [for] confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them."
"Double": Israel will receive double portions of blessing to replace the double punishment of her exile (40:2).
Shame has been a daily experience with the Jewish people. God will not only take the shame away, but they will get a double portion of blessings for the problems they faced. We know that when faithful Job was restored his losses, it was double what he had before.
This is God's way of saying, I saw your plight, and I appreciate your stand. This also, could be speaking of the small group of Jews, who were given the law, growing into a mighty army of believers in Christ. They were far more than doubled in this. Their joy is without end. They are eternally joyful in heaven.
Isaiah 61:8 "For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them."
"Everlasting covenant": This refers to the New Covenant.
God is just in judgment. Not many of us want justice though. We want forgiveness and grace. The everlasting covenant has been in place since Abraham. Look with me, at who receives this. The spiritual covenant is with those of the following verse.
Galatians 3:29 "And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
The physical covenant was with the nation of Israel.
Isaiah 61:9 "And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they [are] the seed [which] the LORD hath blessed."
Notice, seed is singular in the verse above. This is speaking of Jesus, the seed. The seed, spoken of, was not through Abraham's son of flesh, but through the son of the spirit (Isaac).
Gentiles again, is speaking of the unsaved world. Look again at the Scripture above from Galatians on the seed. Those who belong to Christ are the seed of Abraham. Jesus is the singular seed, we spring from. He is Christ. We are Christians. We belong to Him. We have even taken on His name.
Isaiah 61:10 "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh [himself] with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth [herself] with her jewels."
"Clothed me ... covered me": Here is the Old Testament picture of imputed righteousness, the essential heart of the New Covenant. When a penitent sinner recognizes he can't achieve his own righteousness by works, and repents and calls on the mercy of God, the Lord covers him with His own divine righteousness by grace through his faith.
Look with me, at who is in the white linen garment of righteousness.
Revelation 7:9 "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;"
Revelation 7:13-14 "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?" "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
Salvation is in Jesus. The Christians, both male and female, are the bride of Christ. The bride of a King would wear a crown of jewels. Jesus is the King.
Isaiah 61:11 "For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations."
There is a process of growth in a plant. The bud comes, and then it blooms. This is the way with Christianity. It blossoms out after a long time of being very small.
Righteousness is a gift from God to all who believe. Praise is our sacrifice to God. Being assured of salvation in Jesus is enough to cause praise to burst forth from our lips. One plants the seed, another waters, but God gets the increase.
Isaiah Chapter 61 Questions
Verses 1-12: This chapter outlines the conditions that are preparatory to the deliverance of Zion and the establishment of Christ's kingdom. "Righteousness" and "salvation" will burst forth as a light upon the "Gentiles". Moreover, the Gentiles will not merely observe this light, but will receive it. Israel will change so radically that she will "be called by a new name."
Isaiah 62:1 "For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp [that] burneth."
"Not hold my peace ... I will not rest": The Lord expresses His determination to make Jerusalem a lighthouse for the world (58:8; 60:1-3).
"Zion" is literally the mount in Jerusalem. We know also, that Zion is sometimes used to speak of Jerusalem itself. Zion is also symbolic of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. This verse above is as if God Himself is speaking. God wants a family. He will not rest, until that is accomplished.
The plan from the foundation of the earth was for Jesus (Jehovah Savior), to offer His body to pay the penalty for sin, for all mankind. Jesus did this, not for His sake, but for our sake, that we might be saved. The Righteousness and the Light are both Jesus Christ. There was no righteousness on the earth.
The Bible says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. If God were to have a family, there had to be a better covenant. Man was incapable of keeping the first. Jesus is the Candlestick. He is the Lamp. There is salvation in no other.
Isaiah 62:2 "And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name."
"New name": Jerusalem's new name will reflect Israel's new favored status (verses 4, 12; 65:15).
Many times, when God called someone to serve Him, He changed their name. Jacob (trickster), was changed to Israel. Abram's name was changed to Abraham. The meaning of the name had to be correct for the call on his life.
We all took on the name of Christ, when we were saved. Our name was changed to Christian. The name just means that we are a believer in, and a follower of Christ. Each individual has a new name that no one knows but God. I believe when we receive that private name from God, it will describe us as we really are.
Revelation 2:17 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it]."
There is another Scripture that says He will write His name on us.
Revelation 3:12 "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name."
Isaiah 62:3 "Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God."
Jesus will be proud of these that belong to Him. He will present His church to the world as a precious stone, or crown.
Isaiah 62:4 "Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married."
"Delighteth in thee ... married": These terms reflect a full restored relationship with the Lord.
The word "Hephzibah" means my delight is in her. "Beulah" means owner, master or lord. These 2 words make me believe this is speaking of the bride of Christ. The land that had been so desolate would now be as a Garden of Eden.
God's people will no longer be scorned. They are His. The bride of Christ (Christians), is sometimes spoken of in the same manner as New Jerusalem. Jesus has claimed His bride at this point.
Isaiah 62:5 "For [as] a young man marrieth a virgin, [so] shall thy sons marry thee: and [as] the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, [so] shall thy God rejoice over thee."
"Sons marry thee": "Marry" in the sense of occupying and possessing the city.
We are told that Jesus is coming back for a chaste virgin bride. This just means they have been spiritually faithful to Him.
2 Corinthians 11:2 "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ."
Verses 6-7: "Never hold their peace ... give him no rest": The prophets of Israel issued constant warnings about lurking enemies and prayed for Jerusalem to be "a praise" (60:18; 61:11). There will be more prophets in the kingdom who continually proclaim the honor of the Lord.
Isaiah 62:6 "I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, [which] shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,"
The "watchmen", in verse 6 above, are speaking of prophets, and ministers of the Word of God. The minister in a church must watch for the character of the people, he or she, is ministering to. It is the responsibility of the pastor of the church to make sure the doctrine is correct and to make sure the congregation is aware of God's wishes.
Today, all ministers should be sounding an alarm for the moral decay in our country. This Old Testament Scripture describes what preachers ought to be doing today.
Joel 2:17 "Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where [is] their God?"
Isaiah 62:7 "And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth."
Many of the congregation thinks the minister is stepping on his individual toes, when they preach over and over to repent. The Jews then and the Christians now, are actually representing Christ in everything they do. God gets the praise, when we live like Christ before the Lord.
Isaiah 62:8 "The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn [to be] meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast labored:"
"The Lord hath sworn": The end of foreign domination over Jerusalem is as certain as the oath of God.
God will restore the Jews to Jerusalem. God promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit the Promised Land. What He promises, He does. God will come to their assistance and restore them in their land.
God will keep us in His perfect care, as well. Jesus is the Right hand of God. The blessings God has provided for His own will not be stolen by the enemy.
Isaiah 62:9 "But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness."
" Courts of my holiness": This refers to the millennial temple (Ezek. chapters 40-46).
We see from this Scripture, that we are not to sit idly by and let others do the work. We reap what we sow. God will prosper the crops of those who are His own. He will not let others take it away from them.
Praising God for the good crop is just as important, as planting the right seed in the right ground. God is the One who makes it grow. There will be no fear of the enemy, when we have done God's will. God will protect His own.
Isaiah 62:10 "Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people."
"Prepare ye the way": This and the accompanying commands prepare the people for the exaltation of Zion and the manifestation of her salvation (11:12; 40:3; 57:14).
This message is primarily to the house of Israel in captivity. When God frees them, they are to immediately head for the Promised Land. They are to leave a clear path behind them for others to follow.
They are to remove all the obstacles they can that would prevent others from coming. They are to set a standard that others might see clearly and follow. Look at this carefully with me. This could also, be speaking to the Christians who are headed for their promised land (heaven).
They should clear the way for those coming behind. They should not put up obstacles that might cause others to stumble. Most of all, their standard of living should be so above reproach that it would lead others to Christ.
Isaiah 62:11 "Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward [is] with him, and his work before him."
"Say ye to the daughter ... behold": Matthew may also have alluded to these words when he was quoting from Zech. 9:9 as it related to Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:5).
"The daughter of Zion": is most assuredly speaking of the Christians. Isaiah stresses one more time that the Messiah is coming to save the people from their sins. He is salvation for all mankind. His reward to all who will believe is everlasting life. He worked 6 hours on the cross to pay for our sin.
Isaiah 62:12 "And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken."
"A city not forsaken": (see verse 4 and Zion's complaint in 49:14). "But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me."
Again, Israel was redeemed from captivity in Babylon, but I believe this is speaking of something greater than that. This is a promise to that individual who has been a slave to sin. Jesus paid the price for sin on the cross with His precious blood.
When we are saved, we become a righteous people. We take on the righteousness of Christ. Actually, we become a new creature in Christ. Christ lives in us, and that is the hope of glory.
We are promised that He will never leave us, nor forsake us. We are sons of God. We are family.
Isaiah Chapter 62 Questions
Verses 1-6: In having listed God's conditions for peace (chapters 58-59), and by having described the nature of that peace (chapters 60-62), the prophet now describes the consummation of that peace (chapters 63-66).
"Edom" represents all who hate Israel. "Bozrah" was Edom's capital city. "Dyed garments," the color of "red," are reminiscent of Revelation:
Revelation 19:13 "And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God."
The red-stained condition of the garments has been caused by His trampling "blood" in the "winepress" of God's judgment. The "vengeance" of God is further described as a judgment so severe that the very lifeblood of the nations will be poured out in the earth.
The entire passage is strikingly similar to Revelation 19, where Christ comes to "judge and make war ... clothed with a vesture dipped in blood ... treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." The flowing of the blood is similar to the description in Revelation 14:20.
Isaiah 63:1 "Who [is] this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this [that is] glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save."
This is speaking of the destruction of Edom (Idumea). Bozrah is a place in Edom. This is, possibly, speaking of Edom literally, and it could also be speaking spiritually of those who do not regard God. Edom would not let the children of Israel pass through their land, and God's wrath was against them. They symbolize the rebellious against God.
"Edom ... Bozrah": Edom represents a God hating world (34:5). The Messiah, coming as the avenger, approaching Jerusalem to reign after having avenged His people on His and their enemies, is presented in imagery taken from the destruction of Edom. He alone is "mighty to save."
The "who" are the Idumeans, Chaldeans, Ishmaelites and enemies who persecuted the church.
Their leader (Esau), sold his birthright for a bowl of soup. Edom thus symbolizes those who reject the Lord for the worldly things. It appears these garments were blood red. The One "glorious in His apparel" would be the Lord. It is the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Savior. He is full of righteousness.
Isaiah 63:2 "Wherefore [art thou] red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?"
Revelation 14:19 "And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast [it] into the great winepress of the wrath of God."
This winepress is speaking of the judgment of God against this evil people.
Revelation 14:20 "And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand [and] six hundred furlongs."
The red in the apparel could be from this blood.
Isaiah 63:3 "I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people [there was] none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment."
"Anger ... fury ... blood": The Savior explains the red coloring of His clothing (verse 2), as resulting from His judgmental activity against Israel's enemies (61:2). The splattered grape juice staining His clothing is, in reality, "blood" from those destroyed in judgment. John alludes to (verses 1-3), in describing the second coming of Christ, the Warrior-King. (Rev. 19:13, 15).
This is speaking of the Lord, who brings judgment on these evil people. The Christians are in heaven around the throne of God when this happens.
Isaiah 63:4 "For the day of vengeance [is] in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come."
"Day of vengeance ... year of my redeemed": The Messiah's future reckoning with the wicked will coincide with His redemption of Israel (61:2).
This is the same time that is mentioned when the sickle is put in the earth, and the wheat (the faithful ones) are separated out to be with God in heaven, and the evil ones are gathered as tares and burned.
Matthew 13:30 "Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn."
The barn, spoken of here, is heaven. When God redeems the Christians from the earth, it will be time for God's wrath to be poured out on the wicked.
Isaiah 63:5 "And I looked, and [there was] none to help; and I wondered that [there was] none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me."
"There was none to help ... mine own arm": The future salvation of Israel will be a singlehanded accomplishment of the Lord (verse 3; 59:15-16).
God's arm is Jesus Christ. Salvation is by none other but Jesus.
Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Isaiah 63:6 "And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth."
"Make them drunk" (see 51:17, 21-23). Revelation compares God's wrath to wine several times (Rev. 14;10, 19; 16:19; 19:15).
This destruction was a judgment from God. It was absolute destruction. God's fury has come up in His face, because of sin. The evil ones are of the earth, not of heaven.
Verses 7-19: The rest of this chapter and the following one contain a prayer of thanksgiving, confession, and intercession. "I will mention" can be translated "I will celebrate." "Goodness" refers to God's beneficent goodness, and "mercies" refers to His sympathizing tenderness.
"The angels of his presence" refers to the presence of the Lord Himself. (See Exodus 33:14). The reference to the "Holy Spirit" indicates His activity and ministry on behalf of Old Testament believers.
From 63:7 to 64:12: As one of Israel's watchmen, Isaiah, on behalf of the faithful remnant, prays this penitential confession and prayer for Israel's restoration (62:6-7).
In verses 7-14, the prayer reviews God's compassionate acts toward His people in spite of their unfaithfulness to Him.
Then in verses 7-8: "Loving-kindnesses ... loving-kindnesses": All the plurals in this verse imply that language is inadequate to recite all the goodness and undeserved mercies God has showered on the nation time after time because of His everlasting covenant with them.
By His elective choice, they became His people and He their Savior (43:1, 3); this guarantees that they will not always be false, but someday true and faithful to God because of His sovereign election of them. (Eph. 1:3-4).
Isaiah 63:7 "I will mention the loving-kindnesses of the LORD, [and] the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving-kindnesses."
God is longsuffering, as we see in the following verse.
2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
Isaiah praises God for all of His goodness and kindness. God offered salvation to everyone, not all accepted His salvation.
1 Timothy 4:10 "For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe."
The house of Israel is all who believe, Jew and Gentile. The word "bestowed" shows us we did not earn salvation, it is a free gift from God. We do however, have to accept the free gift.
Isaiah 63:8 "For he said, Surely they [are] my people, children [that] will not lie: so he was their Savior."
The Savior is Jesus. We are His people. He created us. He breathed the breath of life into us to give us life. Our new birth in the spirit is through Jesus.
John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
Isaiah 63:9 "In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old."
"Angel of his presence": The Angel, who delivered the Israelites from Egypt, was none other than the Lord Himself (Exodus 14:19; 23:20-23; 33:12, 14, 15; Numbers 20:16). He is sometimes identified as the Angel of the Lord. He was close enough to His people that He felt their afflictions as if they were His own.
To me, this is speaking of Jesus taking the punishment we deserved. He became our Substitute. He did it all for us.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Isaiah 53:5 "But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
Angel of His presence is speaking of Jesus, I believe.
Isaiah 63:10 "But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, [and] he fought against them."
"Rebelled ... vexed his holy Spirit": In spite of the Lord's loving choice and sympathy, Israel continually turned their backs on Him and spurned His loving-kindnesses toward them (Num. 20:10; Psalms 78:40; 106:33; Acts 7:51; Eph.4:30). Here is an illustration of the reality that the Holy Spirit is a person, since only a person can be grieved.
Israel rebelled against God over and over. Every time they repented, He forgave them. "Vexing His Holy Spirit" means they grieved God. God appeared to be their enemy, when He punished them for their unfaithfulness. He still loved them, but was trying to make them repent, and turn back to Him.
Verses 11-13: "He remembered ... should not stumble": The Lord, in spite of their perversity, did not forget His covenant nor fully forsake them (Lev. 26:40-45; Psalm 106:45-46). In contrasting their present state of destitution with that of blessings experienced by Moses' generation, the people of Israel lamented the loss of God's mighty works on their behalf and pleaded with the Lord that He would not forsake them.
"Brought them up out of the sea ... put his Holy Spirit within him ... dividing the water": Letting the people pass through the sea on dry ground was a typical mighty work of God (Exodus 14:29-30), and the Holy Spirit ministered among them (Num. 11-17, 25, 29). Another reference is made to the miracle of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-22).
Isaiah 63:11 "Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, [and] his people, [saying], Where [is] he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where [is] he that put his holy Spirit within him?"
God remembered them as He did at the Red Sea when He took them over to safety on the other side. The Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus after His crucifixion.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the risen Christ. He was from the beginning of the world the same as God the Word, and God the Father. The Shepherd, or the Flame by night and the Smoke by day that led them across the desert, was the LORD.
Isaiah 63:12 "That led [them] by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?"
It was actually breath from the nostrils of God that held the Red Sea back for the children of Israel to cross safely.
Exodus 15:8 "And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as a heap, [and] the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea."
The crossing of the Red Sea was symbolic of water baptism. They went into the sea as worldly men. They came out of the sea to new life in Him. The crossing of the Red Sea still lives on today showing the power of God to the unsaved world.
The miracles done on the journey to the Promised Land were to bring honor and praise to the name of God.
Exodus 9:16 "And in very deed for this [cause] have I raised thee up, for to show [in] thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth."
Isaiah 63:13 "That led them through the deep, as a horse in the wilderness, [that] they should not stumble?"
God went before them. His presence led them. A horse must be guided, or he will get lost. God is our Guide. When you walk in the Light of God, you can see the path clearly. You will not stumble.
Isaiah 63:14 "As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name."
"Make thyself a glorious name": The Lord's purpose for Israel was and is to make them great so as to magnify His name in the world (verse 12).
A beast finds a restful place in the valley to lie down and rest. The Spirit of God decided when the children of Israel should move on. When God's presence of a pillar of cloud or a pillar of fire stood still, they rested. When the presence moved, they moved (Exodus 13:22).
God, in all of this, made Himself a name with even the heathen nations around them.
Verses 15-19: After having extolled God's goodness (verses 7-9), and rehearsed God's past faithfulness to Israel for the sake of His glory (verses 11-13), the prophet offered a prayer of repentance by the nation in its desolate condition.
Isaiah 63:15 "Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where [is] thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?"
"Thy mercies ... toward me": On behalf of the people, Isaiah asked if God had changed how He felt about Israel and prayed for new mercies such as He had exhibited toward the nation in the past.
This is the beginning of a prayer from God's people to help them. The habitation of God is heaven. When Isaiah wrote this, the people were in captivity in Babylon.
The temple in Jerusalem was out of service. They would automatically assume that God was seated in heaven. They felt forgotten of God. They are pleading for God to once again be merciful to them.
Isaiah 63:16 "Doubtless thou [art] our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, [art] our father, our redeemer; thy name [is] from everlasting."
"Abraham ... Israel": The nation's physical ancestors, Abraham and Jacob (Israel), played a crucial role in Jewish thinking. It had been the besetting temptation and sin of the Jews to rest on the mere privilege of descent from Abraham and Jacob (Matt. 3:9; John 4:12; 8:39), but at last they renounce that to trust God alone as Father.
They were physical descendants of Abraham, but that did not get them any help. God had redeemed them over and over. Moses had actually been a type of the great Redeemer Jesus Christ, when he redeemed them from Egypt.
The only time they looked to God, was when they were in trouble.
Isaiah 63:17 "O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, [and] hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance."
"Made us to err ... hardened our heart": The sense is that God allowed them to stray and be burdened in their hearts. They were not denying their own guilt, but confessing that because of it, God gave them up to the consequences of the iniquitous choices. (6:9-10; Psalm 81:11-12; Hosea 4:17; Rom. 1:24-28).
They are trying to blame their sins on God, here. They say He made them err. They readily admit that they have erred, but they want to know why God let them do it. I can answer. They rebelled against God with their own free will.
When they turned their back on God, He stopped seeking them, until they repented. "The tribes of thine inheritance" they thought were all of the Jews. God's inheritance was actually in those who were faithful to Him.
Isaiah 63:18 "The people of thy holiness have possessed [it] but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary."
"Possessed ... trodden down ... sanctuary": The Babylonians among others, had possessed the land given to Israel and desecrated God's sanctuary (Psalm 74:3-7).
Now they are saying that the enemy trod down the sanctuary. Really, the problem with the sanctuary was caused by them. They had not kept it holy, as God wished. In a sense, they brought the sanctuary down with their sin.
Isaiah 63:19 "We are [thine]: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name."
"Never ... not called": Israel's complaint was that her desolate condition was comparable to that of nations who had no unique relationship with the Lord.
This is saying, the people who had captured them were not God's people. God allowed the heathen to take them to teach them a lesson. God controls everyone, even these Babylonians. They did not realize it, but it was God's plan that the Babylonians take them, to cause them to repent.
We and the Jewish people are God's chosen, as long as we obey Him and are faithful to Him.
Isaiah Chapter 63 Questions
Verses 1-12: In this chapter Isaiah pleads with God to "come down" and intervene in the affairs of nations. God's presence is described as "melting fire" that causes the nations to "tremble." Yet the prophet realizes "we are all ... unclean" (tame, a technical term for legal impurity).
"All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags": describes the total depravity of mankind. In this condition of sinful depravity, "there is none that calleth upon thy name." Therefore, Isaiah pleads with God not to judge "thy people" but to extend them mercy.
Verses 1-5: A plea for the Lord to demonstrate His power as He did in earlier days.
Verses 1-2: "Rend the heavens ... tremble at thy presence": Israel's response to her own complaint (63:19), was a plea that God would burst forth to execute vengeance suddenly on His people's foes (Psalms 18:7-9; 144:5; Hab. 3:5-6), manifesting Himself in judgment again as He did at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:18; Judges 5:5; Psalm 68:8; Heb. 12:18-20).
As God's name is to receive glory through His redemption of Israel (63:14), it also is to have widespread recognition because of His judgment against Israel's enemies (Psalm 99:1).
Isaiah 64:1 "Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,"
This is a continuation of the prayer from the last chapter. This is a request for more. They are now asking for the presence of God to manifest itself upon the earth. God did come down to man in the appearance of Jesus Christ, (God manifest in the flesh).
To "rend the heavens" would be to make an opening so that God could come down and they could go up. They get the answer to this prayer in Jesus. When the veil in the temple is rent from the top to the bottom, it opens the way to the Father.
Matthew 27:51 "And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;"
Isaiah 64:2 "As [when] the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, [that] the nations may tremble at thy presence!"
It is an automatic thing for water to boil, when it is heated greatly. It would be an automatic thing for their enemies to be afraid at the presence of God. God's presence, in the past, had been a fearful thing.
God's people had feared greatly, when God spoke to them from Mount Sinai. They had feared so greatly, that they asked Moses to speak to God for them in the future.
Isaiah 64:3 "When thou didst terrible things [which] we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence."
"Terrible things": Another reference to God's acts at Sinai (Deut. 10:21).
This is a way of expressing things, like God separating the Red Sea with the breath of His nostrils during the exodus from Egypt. They also were aware of the earth shaking at the presence of God at another time. It would be nothing for the presence of God to melt a mountain.
Isaiah 64:4 "For since the beginning of the world [men] have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, [what] he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him."
"Ear ... eye": God's judgmental manifestations are unique. No one has witnessed the likes of His awesome works on behalf of His own. Paul adapts words from this verse to speak of direct revelation of God imparted to His apostles and prophets and pertaining to mysteries hidden from mankind before the birth of the church (1 Cor. 2:9).
This has a companion Scripture in the following.
1 Corinthians 2:9 "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."
All of the idols, and the false gods, do nothing to help their people, but God takes care of His own, for He is a living God. He is a very present help to His own.
Isaiah 64:5 "Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, [those that] remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved."
"And we shall be saved": Direct exposure to the awesome character of God's judgment brings a realization of sinners' need of salvation (Acts 16:26-30).
We see in this, that they admit they have sinned, and they repent, and ask for forgiveness. They, also, know why God has been angry with them. God is always ready to help those who are trying to live the righteous life, and look to Him for aid.
They must continue in their righteousness and not turn again to idols, as they had done so many times in the past.
Isaiah 64:6 "But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
"Unclean ... filthy rags": As (in 53:6), the prophet included himself among those confessing their utter unworthiness to be in God's presence. Isaiah employed the imagery of menstrual cloths used during a woman's period to picture uncleanness (Lev.15:19-24). This is true of the best behavior of unbelievers (Phil. 3:5-8).
These Israelites are very much like the heathen around them. If they were depending on their own righteousness to save them, they would fall very short. Their righteousness was but filthy rags.
Jesus gives all who will believe in Him, His righteousness. The Christians have taken on the righteousness of Christ, which puts us in right standing with God.
Verses 7-9: "None that calleth": The prophet finds no exception among a people whose iniquities had separated them from God. Such seeking and calling on the Lord as Isaiah describes (in 55:6-7), cannot occur apart from the powerful conviction and awakening of the sinful heart by the Holy Spirit.
Thus, the prayer recognizes God as a potter in control of the clay and pleads for Him to do a saving work (verse 8). Such a work is what God promised to end His fury (54:7-8), and His memory of sin (verse 9; 43:25).
Isaiah 64:7 "And [there is] none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities."
The very first step in receiving Jesus as our Savior, is to admit our sin. This is what these Israelites have done here. In a sense, they are saying, we deserved the punishment, because of our iniquities.
They are even afraid of Him not hearing them now, because He has turned His face from them. This is a lack of understanding on their part. God hears and answers prayers, especially when they, or we, are trying to repent and receive Him as Savior.
Isaiah 64:8 "But now, O LORD, thou [art] our father; we [are] the clay, and thou our potter; and we all [are] the work of thy hand."
Now, they are recognizing God as their Creator. They are saying we are like putty in your hands. You can make us into whatever you want us to be. This is a cry, actually, for God to reshape them into a vessel of honor.
Isaiah 64:9 "Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we [are] all thy people."
This is a plea to God to let them start all over again. God had rightly been angry with them over the sin in their lives. I see in this, they are asking for a new spiritual birth in Him. That is just what happens when we come to Christ. We are born again not of flesh, but of His Spirit.
Isaiah 64:10 "Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation."
This was the sad condition of these lands then. I am sad to say it is pretty well the condition of our land today, from the spiritual standpoint. Some of us are crying to the Father in the name of Jesus today for a restoration to take place in the church.
Our land is sinful. If we are to survive, our nation must repent and return to the God of our fathers.
Isaiah 64:11 "Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste."
"Burned up with fire ... are laid waste": Through prophetic revelation Isaiah uttered these words many years before the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple (in 586 B.C.). Yet, he lamented over the fallen state as though it had already occurred. God's people were in desperate straits and their prayers urgent and persistent: "How can You stand by when Your people and Your land are so barren?"
The temple in Jerusalem had been a beautiful place. It had been a place, where they could come and meet with the presence of God. Now, this is all in disarray. This pretty much is the state of our churches today. We somehow need to get God back in the church.
The church must be a beautiful place to come and commune with God. In many churches today, God is on the outside looking in. True holiness in our worship will bring Him back into our midst. Our churches need to cease being a place of entertainment, and become a house of prayer and praise again.
Isaiah 64:12 "Wilt thou refrain thyself for these [things], O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?"
In all the desolation of them, as a person and in their temple, will God not come and help them? This is the strongest of pleas for the help of God in their trouble. They are asking, will God continue to afflict them, or will He forgive them, and start them again?
Isaiah Chapter 64 Questions
Verses 1-16: In response to the prayer of the previous chapter, God speaks to the Gentiles who have come to trust in Him. "I am found of them that sought me not" refers to the unconditional election of the Gentiles as the bulk of the New Testament church of God. (See Romans 10:20).
While the Jews themselves are called a "rebellious people, God still promises to bring a "seed out of Jacob ... mine elect." The language here is reminiscent of Romans 11:1-5, where Paul insists that God has not forsaken His people Israel. The references to the plain of "Sharon" and the "valley of Achor" blossoming abundantly look forward to the prosperity Israel will enjoy during the millennial kingdom.
Verses 1-7: In response to the prayer of (63:7-64:12), the Lord repeated the warning of His judgment.
Isaiah 65:1 "I am sought of [them that] asked not [for me]; I am found of [them that] sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation [that] was not called by my name."
"Asked not ... sought me not ... not called": Though Israel sought the Lord, they did so only superficially. They did not genuinely seek Him. The New Testament assigns an additional sense to the words in Romans 10:20, applying them to Gentiles who find Him through the work of His sovereign grace.
This verse is speaking of God coming to the Gentiles. Praise God! All can be saved. We see the great mercy of God reaching beyond the physical house of Israel to all of mankind. God will now reveal Himself to the Gentiles.
We know that Jesus was accepted much more readily by the Gentiles, than He was by the natural house of Israel. We see, in this verse, God reaching out to all mankind. The word "behold" is calling the nations to recognize God, and come to Him.
Isaiah 65:2 "I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way [that was] not good, after their own thoughts;"
The rebellious people of course are the natural house of Israel. God had been patient with them. He had reached out to them over and over again. He had sent judges, prophets, and even gave them His law, yet they rejected Him.
God had never left them, but they had left Him. They had committed spiritual adultery by seeking false gods. They were determined to walk in ways that were right in their own sight, and not in the path God had given them.
Verses 3-4: Here Isaiah gave more references to Israel's sins, such as defiance by practicing idolatry, communing with the spirits of the dead (a forbidden practice according to Deut. 18:10-11), eating in ways forbidden by the Mosaic Law (Lev. 11:7-8), consuming food connected with idol sacrifices, and the arrogance of self-righteousness (Matt. 9:11; Luke 5:30; 18:11).
Isaiah 65:3 "A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;"
This is a description of some of their false worship. "That sacrificeth in gardens" was the same as the grove worship, which promoted feel good religion. It was a sensual false religion connected with goddesses. They pleased their flesh in these religions.
I have said over and over, we must crucify the flesh and live in the Spirit to please God. To burn incense to false gods was blasphemy.
Isaiah 65:4 "Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable [things is in] their vessels;"
The eating of swine's flesh had been forbidden to the Jews. It was one of the dietary laws in Leviticus. It seems the eating of the swine flesh had something to do with this abominable worship.
They remained near graves of the dead, somehow planning to communicate with the dead. This is an abomination even today, but is a commonly practiced ritual in Satan worship.
Isaiah 65:5 "Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These [are] a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day."
"Smoke in my nose": This alluded to the smoke of their self righteous sacrifices, an endless irritation to God who responds in judgment.
This was an abomination that had risen up to heaven. It was not a sweet smelling savor to God. It was an abomination. Most people, who practiced this heathenistic worship, thought they would become above those around them.
Some people today who take drugs do it for the feeling of power they get. This is a false hope. There is nothing in drugs, but death and hell.
Isaiah 65:6 "Behold, [it is] written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom,"
"I will not keep silence": The Lord's response to the prayer asking Him not to restrain Himself in granting deliverance (64:12), was that He will act in judgment, not deliverance, to punish sin (verse 7).
God keeps records in heaven. There is a book that contains all the sins of each person on this earth. When the books are opened, each person has to give an account to God.
Praise God, when you receive Jesus as your Savior, the sins in the book are all blotted out. You become a new creature in Christ. God blots out our sin, and writes our name in the Lamb's book of life.
Isaiah 65:7 "Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom."
There is a day of judgment coming.
Revelation 20:13 "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works."
Those who have not repented of their sins and come to Jesus will be doomed.
Revelation 20:14-15 "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
Verses 8-10: In the midst of the final fury of judgment when the time of Jacob's trouble comes (Jer. 30:7), and God purges out the rebels in Israel (Ezek. 20:38), there will also be the restoration of the faithful remnant to the Land.
Though judgment comes to the nation as a whole, God will spare and save (Zech. 12:10-13:1; Romans 11:25-27), the faithful remnant, "My servants" (1:9), in the future kingdom. This will include a physical return of God's elect, believing Jews, to the land of Israel (57:13).
Isaiah 65:8 "Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and [one] saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing [is] in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all."
God has always had a remnant of the natural Jew which has not bowed his knee to Baal (false gods).
1 Kings 19:18 "Yet I have left [me] seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him."
Romans 11:4 "But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to [the image of] Baal."
Isaiah 65:9 "And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there."
Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He is the One spoken of here. The "mountains" are speaking of the area of Palestine, which is actually a group of mountains. God had chosen Israel to be His elect.
We will find in these lessons, there is a physical Israel, and there is a spiritual Israel. Spiritual Israel is comprised of those who belong to Christ. The following Scripture says it very well.
Romans 9:6 "Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they [are] not all Israel, which are of Israel:"
To be Abraham's seed (in the spirit), you must belong to Christ.
Galatians 3:29 "And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
Isaiah 65:10 "And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me."
"Sharon ... valley of Achor": Sharon was the western fertile territory on the Mediterranean coast, south of Mt. Carmel (35:2). The eastern Valley of Achor was near Jericho and the Jordan River (Joshua 7:24, 26). Together they represented the whole land.
Sharon will no longer be a wilderness. Jesus makes this area bloom again. He is called the Rose of Sharon.
Song of Solomon 2:1 "I [am] the rose of Sharon, [and] the lily of the valleys."
Verses 11-12: Another pronouncement of judgment was given on the rebellious Israelites, who resorted to the worship of pagan gods, like Fortune (Hebrew - Gad), and Destiny (Hebrew - Meni), and had no one to blame but themselves for the sword of damnation that fell on them.
Isaiah 65:11 "But ye [are] they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number."
This has reverted to the unfaithful house of Israel. They sought false gods.
Isaiah 65:12 "Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose [that] wherein I delighted not."
God is tired of their unfaithfulness and has turned His wrath toward them. They rejected God as their Savior, therefore He will destroy them.
Verses 13-14: Continuing to address the rebel idolaters, the Lord Himself gave contrasts between the faithful and unfaithful of Israel.
Isaiah 65:13 "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:"
God is separating those who obey Him, and those who do not. Blessings to those who obey, and curses to those who do not.
Isaiah 65:14 "Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit."
Those who chose the world, and the false gods, would go hungry and not have anything to rejoice about. They will cry and be vexed in their spirit, but it will be too late. Those who choose to serve God, will not hunger, or thirst, and they will rejoice in the bountiful blessings the Lord bestows upon them.
Isaiah 65:15 "And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:"
"Your name for a curse ... another name": Israel's new name was to reflect her favored status among the nations (62:2-4). Delinquent Israelites, on the other hand, were to endure the reproach of men, so that the very name "Jew" would be disclaimed.
It is not Satan that destroys those who have turned away from God, it is GOD. GOD, in the verse above, is Jehovah. Calling His servants by another name, is speaking of the new name they are given. They will be called Christians.
Isaiah 65:16 "That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes."
"God of truth": Literally this is "God of Amen," referring to the very God, the True God, who will honor His promises to Israel, thus vindicating Himself in the eyes of all people. Someday the rebels will be purged out and the redeemed remnant will be left. In that time, all blessing and swearing will be by the one and only True God, because all idols will be vanquished and forgotten in the glory of the kingdom of the Messiah.
If God says it, it is so. God is absolute Truth. God keeps all of His promises. God is the only Truth. God is going to bring forgiveness to the earth through His Son Jesus Christ.
Verses 17-25: At this point Isaiah saw further into the future than any Old Testament prophet, looking beyond the millennial kingdom to the "new heavens and a new earth" (Rev. 21). Thus, the reader is suddenly thrust into the celestial future of New Jerusalem. "Weeping" and "crying" shall be no more.
The blessings of faithful Israel in the coming kingdom are described.
Rev. 21:4: "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes ... for the former things are passed away":
Isaiah 65:17 "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind."
"New heavens and a new earth": Israel's future kingdom will include a temporal kingdom of a thousand years and an eternal kingdom in God's new creation (51:6, 16; 54:10; 66:22; Rev. 21:1-8). The prophet uses the eternal kingdom here as a reference point for both.
Isaiah's prophecy does not make clear the relationship between the kingdom's two aspects as does later prophecy (Rev. 20:1 - 21:8). This is similar to the compression of Christ's first and second advents, so that in places they are indistinguishable (61:1-2).
This sinful world will pass away. God will create a new heaven and a new earth.
Revelation 21:1 "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea."
2 Peter 3:13 "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."
Isaiah 65:18 "But be ye glad and rejoice for ever [in that] which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy."
This will be a time of great rejoicing for God's people, as we read in the next verse.
Revelation 3:12 "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name."
Isaiah 65:19 "And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying."
The following Scripture is the best to explain this.
Revelation 21:4 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."
Isaiah 65:20 "There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die a hundred years old; but the sinner [being] an hundred years old shall be accursed."
"Shall be no more ... an infant ... nor an old man": Long life will prevail in the millennial kingdom. In the temporal phase of the kingdom, death will happen, but not nearly so early as in the time of Isaiah.
"Accursed": In the millennial phase of Israel's kingdom, a sinful person may die at age 100, but will be considered a mere youth at the time of his premature death. Having died an untimely death at such a youthful time, it will be assumed that God has taken his life for sin. The curse will be reversed in the Millennium, but it will not be removed until the eternal state (Rev. 22:3).
This speaks of all people living to be at least 100 years old. Some live to happiness, some to a curse.
Verses 21-22: "Build ... inhabit ...plant ... eat": Social justice will prevail in Israel's kingdom. No enemies will deprive people of what is rightfully theirs (Deut. 28:30).
Isaiah 65:21 "And they shall build houses, and inhabit [them]; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them."
It appears that even in the New heaven and the new earth, there will be gardens and homes.
Isaiah 65:22 "They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree [are] the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands."
This is just saying, they shall live forever and ever. Their days will be a long time. In fact, some trees live to be thousands of years old. This does not intend to limit the time to even that, it is just saying, they will live in their house, and they will not die, and leave it to another.
Isaiah 65:23 "They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they [are] the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them."
"For trouble": Literally this means "for sudden death." Subjects in the kingdom will enjoy freedom from ordinary misfortunes related to the premature death of infants. There will be the lowest infant mortality rate ever. Along with longer life, verse 20, this means the earth will be greatly populated at an exponential rate of people at the end of the kingdom who come against Christ.
Jesus explained in the next verse how it would be for those who are His followers.
Matthew 6:20 "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:"
If we belong to Christ, we are heirs with Him.
Romans 8:17 "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and jointheirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together."
Isaiah 65:24 "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."
"Before they call ... while they are yet speaking": Relationship with the Lord will be so close that He will anticipate and provide for every need (58:9).
This just speaks of the wonderful care God takes of His family. He hears even while our prayers are still in our hearts, even before we utter them.
Isaiah 65:25 "The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust [shall be] the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD."
"Wolf ... lamb .... lion ... bullock (ox) ... serpent": Dangers from the animal world will be nonexistent during the reign of the Servant of the Lord (11:6-9).
Jesus defeated sin, death, and Satan, there is no danger here.
Isaiah Chapter 65 Questions
Verses 1-16: Isaiah's final prophecy begins with the assertion, "Thus saith the Lord." The passage points to the magnitude and immensity of God, who is greater than the heavens. Thus "heaven" is His "throne" and "earth" His "footstool." He is not limited to any "house" (temple) made by man.
The apostle John tells us that in eternity there is no need for a temple, "there the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple" (Rev. 21:22). God's desire is to dwell in men and women who possess a "poor (meaning humble) and contrite spirit."
Thus, Isaiah foresees the New Testament doctrine of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the temple of man's body (1 Cor. 6:19).
Verses 1-2: Isaiah began the final summary of his prophecy with a reminder that God is not looking for a temple of stone, since as Creator of all things, the whole universe is His dwelling place. Stephen cited this passage before the Sanhedrin to point out their error in limiting God to a temple made with hands (Acts 7:49-50).
On the contrary, God is looking for a heart to dwell in, a heart that is tender and broken, not one concerned with the externalities of religion (Matt. 5:3-9). God is looking to dwell in the heart of a person who takes His Word seriously (66:5; John 14:23).
Isaiah 66:1 "Thus saith the LORD, The heaven [is] my throne, and the earth [is] my footstool: where [is] the house that ye build unto me? and where [is] the place of my rest?"
Solomon said it best, when he said (in 1 Kings):
1 Kings 8:27 "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?"
God is Omnipresent, which means He is everywhere all the time. All of creation belongs to Him. This includes the heaven and the earth.
Isaiah 66:2 "For all those [things] hath mine hand made, and all those [things] have been, saith the LORD: but to this [man] will I look, [even] to [him that is] poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word."
To fear the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The Gospel is good news to the poor.
James 4:10 "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."
Matthew 18:4 "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."
Isaiah 66:3 "He that killeth an ox [is as if] he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, [as if] he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, [as if he offered] swine's blood; he that burneth incense, [as if] he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations."
"As if he slew a man": God loathes even the sacrifices of the wicked (Prov. 15:8; 28:9). They often killed children to offer in sacrifice (Ezek. 23:39). Some of the Jews were offering bulls as sacrifices with the same empty heartedness as the pagans offering "a man" on the altar.
"Cut off a dog's neck": This refers to offering dogs in sacrifice, which, are unclean (Jeremiah 15:3; 56:10-11), and are associated with swine (Matt. 7:6; 2 Pet. 2:22). To sacrifice a lamb with an attitude no different than if it were a dog, betrayed the empty heartedness of the offeror.
All of these images are meant to illustrate the shallow hypocrisy of one who makes an offering to God, but with no more heartbrokenness than a pagan who kills a child, offers a dog, sacrifices pig's blood, blesses an idol, and loves such abominations. God will judge such (verse 4).
To sacrifice, after the great sacrifice of Jesus on the cross would be as if we were saying His sacrifice was not enough. It then would be a sin to sacrifice after Jesus (the perfect Lamb) was sacrificed for the sins of the whole world.
It would be a rejection of Jesus. A sacrifice of this kind would be a futile operation. God would not accept another sacrifice.
Isaiah 66:4 "I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose [that] in which I delighted not."
This is speaking of those who rejected Jesus. They believed a lie, instead of Jesus. They had eyes to see, but did not see. They had ears to hear, but did not hear. They were a sinful and perverse generation.
Isaiah 66:5 "Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed."
"Your brethren that hated you": The apostate Israelites intensified their rivalry with the faithful remnant (65:11-15), and blasphemously said, "Let the Lord be glorified," words uttered in the sarcastic spirit (of 5:19). In the end, "they will be put to shame" because God's judgment will fall.
The Word of God is the only Truth. The Word was God. Those that tremble at the Word are the believers. They reverently fear God. To be cast out, because you are a believer in Christ, should bring you great joy, because great is your reward in heaven.
Some of the first disciples were martyred for the name of the Lord.
Isaiah 66:6 "A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies."
This voice is of the LORD. Jesus spoke in the city. He spoke in the temple also. He speaks on judgment day, as well. He is the righteous judge. On judgement day His enemies will regret their decision to deny Him.
The righteous judge will give to each person his rightful rewards. Some will inherit heaven, others will inherit hell.
Verses 7-9" Here is another comparison with the human birth process (see 13:8), this time to teach two lessons:
(1) No birth can come until labor pains have occurred (verses 7-8); and
(2) When labor occurs, birth will surely follow (verse 9; Jeremiah 30:6-7; Matthew 24:8; and 1 Thess. 5:3).
The point is that Israel's suffering will end with a delivery! The Lord will not impose travail on the remnant without bringing them to the kingdom (verse 10).
Isaiah 66:7-8 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child." "Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? [or] shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children."
This is speaking of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Israel is the "she". The "Man Child" is Jesus and He brought Christianity to life.
Many believe this is speaking of the nation of Israel. It could be that, but it could also be the birth of spiritual Israel. At the beginning, thousands were saved in just one day. Peter is a good example of that, when in just one day, thousands came to the LORD.
"Zion" many times is speaking of the church.
Isaiah 66:9 "Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut [the womb]? saith thy God."
The law had brought them thus far, but it condemned to death. This brings life everlasting to all who would dare to believe. Jesus will set up His throne in Jerusalem for His 1,000 year reign on the earth.
Isaiah 66:10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:
Jerusalem is the city of God. Those who love God must love Jerusalem, as well. In the 1,000 year reign, many people will come to Jerusalem to worship.
Isaiah 66:11 "That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory."
"Suck, and be satisfied": The prophet compares Jerusalem to a nursing mother.
This filling is like the milk and honey the Lord provides. It will bring spiritual fullness to the believers. The Christians will not seek other gods. They will be satisfied with the LORD. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, will now be their King.
Isaiah 66:12 "For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon [her] sides, and be dandled upon [her] knees."
"Peace ... like a river": The picture is of abundant peace that compares to a wadi filled with a rushing torrent of water.
Jesus is the King of Peace. Wherever He is has perfect peace. This peace is not temporary, it goes on and on. The peace of the Lord Jesus flows out to the Gentiles like a river. This is the birth of Christianity.
Isaiah 66:13 "As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem."
Jerusalem now mourns, and you mourn with her; but she shall recover from her affliction and from her sorrows. And shall be comforted; and you that mourn for her shall partake of her joys, as you now share with her in her afflictions. God, in the day that he wipes the tears from her eyes, shall also wipe them from yours. And you shall have as great an occasion of joy from the happiness, as now you have of sorrow from the afflicted state of Jerusalem.
This is speaking of that time when the devil is chained up for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:2 "And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years," The Lord Jesus bought us, and gave us to the Father.
Isaiah 66:14 "And when ye see [this], your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and [his] indignation toward his enemies."
"Toward his servants ... toward his enemies": Prosperity will belong to the faithful remnant, but wrath to those who oppose the Lord.
It will certainly be time to rejoice, when the old serpent, the devil, is chained up for a thousand years. God's helping hand is extended to all of His own at this time. This is a time of perfect peace.
The family of God will rule with Jesus at this time. The enemies will be under subjection.
Isaiah 66:15 "For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire."
"Whirlwind ... Flames of fire": That the wrath of God will come to the rebels is expressed in language describing the end-time judgment (29:6).
The fire of God will purge all sin away. This could be speaking of the wrath of God, which is poured out upon the earth, just before the Christians come back to the earth to reign with Jesus.
The "chariots" speak of war. Whatever occurs on the earth during the wrath of God is terrible. He will be burning the evil away with His fire to prepare the earth for the Christians.
Isaiah 66:16 "For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many."
"Slain ... shall be many": The many who fight against the Lord when He comes to establish His kingdom, will die (34:6-7; Rev. 19:21).
This could be when Jesus comes to judge, and make war on God's enemies.
"His sword": is the Word of God. Those who will not change will die.
Verses 17-24: The book ends with a fearful glimpse of final judgment. The prophet foresees a time when "those that escape" the Tribulation period will be sent "unto the nations" (Gentiles), to "declare" God's "glory" among them. During the millennial kingdom, they will come to "Jerusalem" to worship Him. "All flesh" refers to the redeemed of the Lord from all nations who will "come to worship" Him.
The book ends with the awesome statement that the redeemed with "go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me." Their suffering is described as being in the place where "their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched" (Mark 9:44; Rev. 20:14-15).
The scene described here is that of the redeemed of heaven in their final glorified state and of those who are lost forever in the lake of fire. Thus, Isaiah closes his prophecy with a stern reminder that there is a real heaven to be gained and a real hell to be avoided.
Isaiah 66:17 "They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one [tree] in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD."
"Sanctify ... purify themselves": Sanctification and purification for right purposes are right, but when done for purposes of idol worship, will draw judgment from the one true God.
Man cannot sanctify himself. Those that try to do that are worshipping a false god. Sometimes the false god is self.
Isaiah 66:18 "For I [know] their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory."
"Their works and their thoughts": The Lord was aware of the motives behind the actions of apostate Israelites (verse 17).
"Gather all nations and tongues": (see 2:2-4). Jerusalem will be the center of world attention because of the presence of the Messiah there.
God is saying here, that not only does He know their evil works, but even their evil thoughts that go before their sins. All nations and tongues will know who He is. The Bible says, every eye will see Him.
Isaiah 66:19 "And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, [to] Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, [to] Tubal, and Javan, [to] the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles."
"Those that escape": The faithful remnant of Israel are in view, who had escaped both the persecutions of their enemies and the judgment of God against those enemies (verse 16).
"Tarshish, Pul and Lud ... Tubal and Javan": Tarshish was possibly in Spain, Pul or Put and Lud in North Africa, Tubal in North East Asia Minor, and Javan in Greece. These were representative Gentile populations that will hear of God's glory through the faithful remnant.
The name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be known in every nation of the world. When all the enemies are destroyed, the worship of the Lord Jesus Christ will be universal. There will be missionaries to carry the message of the resurrected Christ to the whole world.
Isaiah 66:20 "And they shall bring all your brethren [for] an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD."
"Bring all your brethren": As their offering to the Lord, the Gentiles who hear of God's glory will expedite the return of Israel's faithful remnant (43:6; 49:22).
This could be the time of the return of the Jews dispersed around the world. This could also, be the time when all the world will flow to Jerusalem to worship.
Isaiah 66:21 "And I will also take of them for priests [and] for Levites, saith the LORD."
"For priests and for Levites": Some of the returning remnant will function in these specialized roles in the services of the millennial temple and memorial sacrifices (Ezekiel 44-46).
God has an order, just as there is order in government here on the earth. This just means that God will choose new spiritual leaders.
Isaiah 66:22 "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain."
"Your seed ... remain": The nation of Israel will have a never-ending existence through the Millennium, and on into the new heavens and the new earth throughout eternity.
Those, who are truly followers of God, will be like the new heavens and the new earth. They will live on for all of eternity.
Isaiah 66:23 "And it shall come to pass, [that] from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD."
"All flesh ... worship before me": All humanity will participate in worshiping the Lord at stipulated times during the temporal phase of the messianic kingdom.
This just means that they will worship God continuously. There will be one eternal day. There will be no new moons. LORD here, is Jehovah, the self-existent One.
Isaiah 66:24 "And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh."
"Worm shall not die ... neither shall their fire be quenched": The corpses of those enduring everlasting torment will serve as a vivid reminder to all of the grievous nature and terrible consequences of rebellion against God.
In referring to this verse, Jesus referred to the Valley of Hinnom. i.e., Gehenna, where a continually burning trash heap pictured the never-ending pain of the lost (Mark 9:47).
This is a warning from Isaiah that the punishment for the evil ones will continue on. It appears that the Christians will know the terrible things that happen to the evil ones, but it will not worry them, because they know Jesus' judgment is righteous.
Isaiah Chapter 66 Questions
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