Showing posts with label Isaiah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Isaiah. Show all posts
9/11
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.
I’m off on a rabbit trail – Here is the outline of The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn; on how history repeats itself: He talks about 9 Harbinger (forerunners):
1. The Breach – the enemy let in causes the removal of G-d’s hedge).
Removed in 732 B.C. Politics to the economy to foreign affairs and idols, a nation outside the will of G-d, any notion of national security or invincibility is an illusion. Wake up call! Foreign policy forming strategic alliances.
The attack was a warning of a harbinger of judgment. America was instruments to give refuge to the world’s poor and needy, and hope to its appraised. Stand against tyranny, against the dark movements of the modern world.
September 11 a judgment from ruling G-d out, abolished prayer and Scripture in its public schools, removed the Ten Commandments from public view. Same when calamity came to ancient Israel; both the righteous and the unrighteous were touched by it. Both perished alike (How can the church think they got a free pass out?). The judgment was upon the nation, both in the private realm of individuals and the public realm of the nation.
2. The terrorist – Nimrod, 9th century B.E. the Assyrians were militaristic and made terror into a science, they had arrogant hearts sinking the land. The Assyrians were a Semitic people speaking Arabic. 9/11 terrorist used words and speech pattern that mirrored the Assyrians in 732 B.E. 9/11 attack was to draw America into military conflict, a global battle against terrorism, encompassing a war in Afghanistan and another in Iraq. Assyria is the same land as Iraq. When a nation turned from G-d, it looses its protective covering for it goes into spiritual slumber, silencing the alarm Isa. 9:10 happen in both times.
3. The bricks – a visible sign of the calamity and of the fact that the nation’s existence now rested on shaky ground. Collapse of buildings, the collapse of a kingdom and then of a civilization = Ground Zero.
The world trade center was a symbol of America’s economic power – proud, majestic, and towering. No nations is in vulnerable or exempt its power crashing down. In the first few days and weeks after 9/11, it seemed as if there might be a true national turning, a changing of course, an awakening – even a spiritual revival, that never came for there was no repentance, they did not recognize the deeper meaning.
4. The tower- There leaders vow, ‘We will rebuilt! Bigger, taller and stronger,’ this is the first sign of defiance. A new icon – the Freedom Tower.
5. The Gazit stone (hewn stone), carved out of mountain rock. After the attack, the nations vows to rebuild, not with clay bricks but stone. The gazit stone is, in reality, a symbol of a nation’s rejection of G-d’s calling. The stone is a sign of future calamity linking to the proclaiming of the vow. Misplaced confidence in itt own power to emerge stronger than before. The laying down of the gazit stone was one more link in a chain of judgment.
6. The Sycamore tree (fig mulberry tree). Cutting it down is a sign of warning – uprooting of a kingdom. In the ignoring of the warning becomes a prophecy of judgment. The English Sycamore was a translation of the harbinger.
7. The Erez tree (Cedar) is stronger than the sycamore and was a act of defiance. The cedar was exotic, straight, majestic and towering (over 100 feet). The cedar would stand strong against any future attack. The cedar is like a cone-bearing evergreen that is stronger then the first tree of hope. The second tree became a symbol of national resurgence, confidence and hope – embodies the nation’s defiance. 2003 trees was placed at ground zero.
8. The Utterance – Samaria was the nation’s capital city, the seat of government. For a vow to matter, it has to be spoken by the leaders: it had to be the nation’s official respond.
The two targets of 9/11 were New York City and Washington. A vow only matters if it represents the will or voice of the nation; it’s the nation’s response to G-d. And only the leaders can speak for the nation as a whole and set forth its future course. The nation’s leaders pronouncing judgment on their nation! The utterance would join the Assyrian invasion to 9/11. By the summer of 2004 every object mentionable in the ancient prophecy had manifested at ground zero.
The utterance would joint the Assyrian invasion to 9/11 and America’s post 9/11 defiance. The most prominent of American leaders had now proclaimed the ancient vow – one of the most obscure verses in the Bible and of the most warning.
9. The Prophecy of Isaiah – prophecy of judgment on the nation’s defiance and arrogance, and a warning a sign foretelling its future.
The Senator majority was prophesying by virtue of the office as a instrument to represent the nations future course. America choose the same course as that of ancient Israel, enact the same strategy and walk the same footsteps.
Now judgment can be set aside ----IF MY PEOPLE-----
Eternal Importance
[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.
[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.
Significantly, Isaiah began the book with a condemnation of the shallow worship of G-d's people at the time of the New Moons and Sabbaths (Isaiah 1:12-15). Now, after the greatness of the G-d's work, all that is different.
And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me: Some from every tribe and tongue will have a destiny of ultimate triumph; some also will have the destiny - freely chosen - of ultimate tragedy. Using the images of eternal damnation (their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched), Isaiah describes the fate of those who reject G-d - even if they had the veneer of empty religion.
Go forth, and look, as the Israelites looked at the carcasses of the Egyptians destroyed at the Red Sea (Ex 14:30; compare 26:14-19; Ps 58:10; 49:14; Mal 4:1-3).
Carcasses (verse 16), are those slain by the L-rd in the last great battle near Jerusalem (Zec 12:2-9; 14:2-4); type of the final destruction of all sinners.
Worm the does not die (Mk. 9:44, 46, 48), is the image of hell, from bodies left unburied in the valley of Hinnom (whence comes Gehenna, or "hell"), south of Jerusalem, where a perpetual fire was kept to consume the refuse thrown there (30:33). It shall not be inconsistent with true love for the godly to look with satisfaction on G-d's vengeance on the wicked (Rev 14:10).
What their misery is. It is here represented by the frightful spectacle of a field of battle, covered with the carcases of the slain, that lie rotting above ground, full of worms crawling about them and feeding on them; and, if you go to burn them, they are so scattered, and it is such a noisome piece of work to get them together, that it would be endless, and the fire would never be quenched; so that they are an abhorring to all flesh, nobody cares to come near them. Now this is sometimes accomplished in temporal judgments.
After this life, and at the Day of Judgment, they shall go into eternal torments; where they will feel a work of conscience that shall never die and a fiery wrath of G-d upon their souls and bodies that shall never go out.
Our Savior applies it to the everlasting misery and torment of impenitent sinners in the future state, where their worm dies not, and their fire is not quenched (Mark 9:44); for the soul, whose conscience is its constant tormentor, is immortal, and
G-d, whose wrath is its constant terror, is eternal. What notice shall be taken of it? Those that worship G-d shall go forth and look upon them, to affect their own hearts with the love of their Redeemer, when they see what misery they are redeemed from. As it will aggravate the miseries of the damned to see others in the kingdom of heaven and themselves thrust out (Luke 13:28), so it will illustrate the joys and glories of the blessed to see what becomes of those that died in their transgression, and it will elevate their praises to think that they were themselves as brands plucked out of that burning. To the honor of that free grace which thus distinguished them let the redeemed of the L-rd with all humility, and not without a holy trembling, sing their triumphant songs
The book of Isaiah closes with a sobering contrast, revealing the ultimate, eternal importance of this present life. Each life can choose its destiny: worship or the worm. Which is it for you?
[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.
Significantly, Isaiah began the book with a condemnation of the shallow worship of G-d's people at the time of the New Moons and Sabbaths (Isaiah 1:12-15). Now, after the greatness of the G-d's work, all that is different.
And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me: Some from every tribe and tongue will have a destiny of ultimate triumph; some also will have the destiny - freely chosen - of ultimate tragedy. Using the images of eternal damnation (their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched), Isaiah describes the fate of those who reject G-d - even if they had the veneer of empty religion.
Go forth, and look, as the Israelites looked at the carcasses of the Egyptians destroyed at the Red Sea (Ex 14:30; compare 26:14-19; Ps 58:10; 49:14; Mal 4:1-3).
Carcasses (verse 16), are those slain by the L-rd in the last great battle near Jerusalem (Zec 12:2-9; 14:2-4); type of the final destruction of all sinners.
Worm the does not die (Mk. 9:44, 46, 48), is the image of hell, from bodies left unburied in the valley of Hinnom (whence comes Gehenna, or "hell"), south of Jerusalem, where a perpetual fire was kept to consume the refuse thrown there (30:33). It shall not be inconsistent with true love for the godly to look with satisfaction on G-d's vengeance on the wicked (Rev 14:10).
What their misery is. It is here represented by the frightful spectacle of a field of battle, covered with the carcases of the slain, that lie rotting above ground, full of worms crawling about them and feeding on them; and, if you go to burn them, they are so scattered, and it is such a noisome piece of work to get them together, that it would be endless, and the fire would never be quenched; so that they are an abhorring to all flesh, nobody cares to come near them. Now this is sometimes accomplished in temporal judgments.
After this life, and at the Day of Judgment, they shall go into eternal torments; where they will feel a work of conscience that shall never die and a fiery wrath of G-d upon their souls and bodies that shall never go out.
Our Savior applies it to the everlasting misery and torment of impenitent sinners in the future state, where their worm dies not, and their fire is not quenched (Mark 9:44); for the soul, whose conscience is its constant tormentor, is immortal, and
G-d, whose wrath is its constant terror, is eternal. What notice shall be taken of it? Those that worship G-d shall go forth and look upon them, to affect their own hearts with the love of their Redeemer, when they see what misery they are redeemed from. As it will aggravate the miseries of the damned to see others in the kingdom of heaven and themselves thrust out (Luke 13:28), so it will illustrate the joys and glories of the blessed to see what becomes of those that died in their transgression, and it will elevate their praises to think that they were themselves as brands plucked out of that burning. To the honor of that free grace which thus distinguished them let the redeemed of the L-rd with all humility, and not without a holy trembling, sing their triumphant songs
The book of Isaiah closes with a sobering contrast, revealing the ultimate, eternal importance of this present life. Each life can choose its destiny: worship or the worm. Which is it for you?
Excommunicated for Righteous Sake?
This closing chapter is the summary of Isaiah's prophecies as to the last days; hence the similarity of its sentiments with what went before.
The spiritual temple of the heart is G-d's favorite dwelling (John 14:23). In the final state in heaven there shall be "no temple," but "the L-rd G-d" Himself (Rev. 21:22).
[Isa. 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.
Have you been cast out for His name's sake? Excommunicate, as if too polluted to worship with them? Thinking they did G-d good service, John 16:2. Isaiah shows how those with a shallow, empty religion mock those of genuine faith.
First, empty religion hates genuine faith (hated you).
Second, empty religion rejects true faith (cast you out).
Third, empty religion acts in the name of the G-d (for My name's sake).
Fourth, empty religion mocks with spiritual sounding words ("Let the G-d be glorified, that we may see your joy").
Your brethren, who should have loved you and encouraged you for their work's sake hated you, and cast you out of their services, excommunicated you as if you had been the greatest blemishes, when you were really the greatest blessings, of their church and cause of teaching the new-born.
Those that hated Messiah hated His disciples, because they supported His kingdom and interest (John 15:18), and they cast them out for His name's sake. They did not recognize your calling, that you were called by His name, and called upon His name, and laid out yourself to advance His name. Note it is no new thing for church censures to be misapplied, and for her artillery, which was intended for her defense, to be turned against her best friends, by the treachery of her governors.
But they shall be ashamed: Most importantly, empty religion will never ultimately triumph. At the end of days, if not before, they shall be ashamed, when they hear the voice of the G-d, who fully repays His enemies!
How you were encouraged under these persecutions: "Let your faith and patience hold out yet a little while; your enemies hate you and oppress you, your brethren hate you and cast you out, but your Father in heaven loves you, and will appear for you when no one else will or dare. His providence shall order things so as shall be for comfort to you; He shall appear for your joy and for the confusion of those that abuse you and trample on you; they shall be ashamed of their enmity to you."
Lift up your head with joy, knowing that your redemption drew nigh, Luke 21:26, 28. Though G-d seems to hide Himself, He will in due time show Himself.
You may not fit in with their services but you do fit in the Fathers, and vindication is on its way.
The spiritual temple of the heart is G-d's favorite dwelling (John 14:23). In the final state in heaven there shall be "no temple," but "the L-rd G-d" Himself (Rev. 21:22).
[Isa. 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.
Have you been cast out for His name's sake? Excommunicate, as if too polluted to worship with them? Thinking they did G-d good service, John 16:2. Isaiah shows how those with a shallow, empty religion mock those of genuine faith.
First, empty religion hates genuine faith (hated you).
Second, empty religion rejects true faith (cast you out).
Third, empty religion acts in the name of the G-d (for My name's sake).
Fourth, empty religion mocks with spiritual sounding words ("Let the G-d be glorified, that we may see your joy").
Your brethren, who should have loved you and encouraged you for their work's sake hated you, and cast you out of their services, excommunicated you as if you had been the greatest blemishes, when you were really the greatest blessings, of their church and cause of teaching the new-born.
Those that hated Messiah hated His disciples, because they supported His kingdom and interest (John 15:18), and they cast them out for His name's sake. They did not recognize your calling, that you were called by His name, and called upon His name, and laid out yourself to advance His name. Note it is no new thing for church censures to be misapplied, and for her artillery, which was intended for her defense, to be turned against her best friends, by the treachery of her governors.
But they shall be ashamed: Most importantly, empty religion will never ultimately triumph. At the end of days, if not before, they shall be ashamed, when they hear the voice of the G-d, who fully repays His enemies!
How you were encouraged under these persecutions: "Let your faith and patience hold out yet a little while; your enemies hate you and oppress you, your brethren hate you and cast you out, but your Father in heaven loves you, and will appear for you when no one else will or dare. His providence shall order things so as shall be for comfort to you; He shall appear for your joy and for the confusion of those that abuse you and trample on you; they shall be ashamed of their enmity to you."
Lift up your head with joy, knowing that your redemption drew nigh, Luke 21:26, 28. Though G-d seems to hide Himself, He will in due time show Himself.
You may not fit in with their services but you do fit in the Fathers, and vindication is on its way.
Millennial Kingdom
[Isa. 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.
[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:
Hungry, (Amos 4:6; 8:11). This may refer to the siege of Jerusalem under Titus, when 1,100,000 are said to have perished by famine; thus 65:15 will refer to G-d's people without distinction of Jew and Gentile receiving "another name". A further fulfillment may still remain, just before the creation of the "new heavens and earth," as the context, 65:17, implies.
[17] For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
Messiah and His followers shall inherit the renovated earth which once they trod while defiled by the enemy (34:4; 51:16; 66:22; Eze 21:27; Ps 2:8; 37:11; 2 Peter 3:13; Heb 12:26-28 Rev 21:1). The former sorrows of the earth, under the fall, shall be so far from recurring, that their very remembrance shall be obliterated by the many mercies G-d will bestow on the new earth (Rev. 21:4-27).
[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.
[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.
(25:7, 8; 35:10; Rev. 7:17; 21:4), primarily, foretold of Jerusalem; secondarily, of all the redeemed.
[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 an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
Refers to the New Heavens and New Earth. The other passage is 66:22-24. Both Peter
(2 Pet. 3:13) and John (Rev. 21:10 must have had the first Isaiah passage in mind, for they borrowed its wording.
The problem comes when we examine 20-25 in light of what John had to say in the Apocalypse about the New Heaven and the New Earth. Here death is possible, (death may be limited), but in Rev 21:4 death is no longer a feature of that new estate.
John depicts the new order of things as conditions in which absolute perfection has been reached and where sin, death and sorrow are no more. Y’Shua mentioned that there would be no begetting of children at that time in Lk. 20:36.
20-25 is the Jerusalem of the millennial kingdom of the Messiah. The writers of Scripture often arranged their materials in the topical, rather than a chronological order. Therefore, in the eternal state in which the New Heavens and the New Earth have arrived, there will be no sin, sorrow and death. But when the Messiah reigns on earth, just prior to this eternal state, some of the burdens will remain, even if only in limited forms. So unexpected will death be that if people die after only living one hundred years, they will be regarded as having died as infants. Isaiah breaks the chronological order expected in the chapter and interjects a related note about Jerusalem during the millennium.
Almost universally the early church believed Rev. 20:1-6 to represent a period of time, roughly corresponding to a thousand years, which would begin and conclude with two resurrections (the first of the righteous dead in the Messiah and the second resurrection of all the dead) and would be the time when, at the end of this period, satan would be loosed for one last fling at opposing G-d before being finally and forever vanquished. It is in this same time period, then, that we would assign the strange collection of facts stated by Isaiah.
Since the millennium is part of the eternal state in introduces, ‘this age’ could be expected to overlap with ‘the age to come.’ Thirty times the NT uses the dual expressions, this age and the age to come. This age is the current historical process. Overlapping the powers of the age to come (Heb. 6:5) had already begun and overlapped this present age’s historical process. Thus in the ‘now’ believers were already experiencing some of the evidences and powers to be experienced in the ‘not yet’ in bursting of the Messiah into history at His Second Coming.
[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.
What a time that will be, when My Savior I shall see!! Makes our lives troubles worth it all! A time of no more sorrow, no more pain, come quickly L-rd, come quickly!
[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:
Hungry, (Amos 4:6; 8:11). This may refer to the siege of Jerusalem under Titus, when 1,100,000 are said to have perished by famine; thus 65:15 will refer to G-d's people without distinction of Jew and Gentile receiving "another name". A further fulfillment may still remain, just before the creation of the "new heavens and earth," as the context, 65:17, implies.
[17] For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
Messiah and His followers shall inherit the renovated earth which once they trod while defiled by the enemy (34:4; 51:16; 66:22; Eze 21:27; Ps 2:8; 37:11; 2 Peter 3:13; Heb 12:26-28 Rev 21:1). The former sorrows of the earth, under the fall, shall be so far from recurring, that their very remembrance shall be obliterated by the many mercies G-d will bestow on the new earth (Rev. 21:4-27).
[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.
[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.
(25:7, 8; 35:10; Rev. 7:17; 21:4), primarily, foretold of Jerusalem; secondarily, of all the redeemed.
[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 an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
Refers to the New Heavens and New Earth. The other passage is 66:22-24. Both Peter
(2 Pet. 3:13) and John (Rev. 21:10 must have had the first Isaiah passage in mind, for they borrowed its wording.
The problem comes when we examine 20-25 in light of what John had to say in the Apocalypse about the New Heaven and the New Earth. Here death is possible, (death may be limited), but in Rev 21:4 death is no longer a feature of that new estate.
John depicts the new order of things as conditions in which absolute perfection has been reached and where sin, death and sorrow are no more. Y’Shua mentioned that there would be no begetting of children at that time in Lk. 20:36.
20-25 is the Jerusalem of the millennial kingdom of the Messiah. The writers of Scripture often arranged their materials in the topical, rather than a chronological order. Therefore, in the eternal state in which the New Heavens and the New Earth have arrived, there will be no sin, sorrow and death. But when the Messiah reigns on earth, just prior to this eternal state, some of the burdens will remain, even if only in limited forms. So unexpected will death be that if people die after only living one hundred years, they will be regarded as having died as infants. Isaiah breaks the chronological order expected in the chapter and interjects a related note about Jerusalem during the millennium.
Almost universally the early church believed Rev. 20:1-6 to represent a period of time, roughly corresponding to a thousand years, which would begin and conclude with two resurrections (the first of the righteous dead in the Messiah and the second resurrection of all the dead) and would be the time when, at the end of this period, satan would be loosed for one last fling at opposing G-d before being finally and forever vanquished. It is in this same time period, then, that we would assign the strange collection of facts stated by Isaiah.
Since the millennium is part of the eternal state in introduces, ‘this age’ could be expected to overlap with ‘the age to come.’ Thirty times the NT uses the dual expressions, this age and the age to come. This age is the current historical process. Overlapping the powers of the age to come (Heb. 6:5) had already begun and overlapped this present age’s historical process. Thus in the ‘now’ believers were already experiencing some of the evidences and powers to be experienced in the ‘not yet’ in bursting of the Messiah into history at His Second Coming.
[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.
What a time that will be, when My Savior I shall see!! Makes our lives troubles worth it all! A time of no more sorrow, no more pain, come quickly L-rd, come quickly!
Man Not Heard, Nor Perceived
[Isa. 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.
Men have not heard nor seen what G-d has prepared for those that wait for Him. Observe the character of G-d's people; they are such as wait for Him in the way of duty, wait for the salvation He has promised and designed for them.
It is all that goodness which G-d has laid up for those that fear Him, and wrought for those that trust in Him, Psalms 31:19. Of this it is here said that since the beginning of the world, in the most prying and inquisitive ages of it, men have not, either by hearing or seeing, the two learning senses, come to the full knowledge of it.
It cannot be fully comprehended by the human understanding, no, not when it is revealed; it is spiritual, and refined from those ideas which our minds are most apt to receive in this world of sense; it is very great, and will far outdo the utmost of our expectations. Even the present peace of believers, much more their future bliss, is such as surpasses all conception and expression, Philippians 4:7. None can comprehend it but G-d Himself, whose understanding is infinite.
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.
We are all as an unclean thing, or as an unclean person, as one overspread with a leprosy, who was to be shut out of the camp, or like one laboring under some loathsome disease, from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot nothing but wounds and bruises, 1:6. We have all by sin become not only obnoxious to G-d's justice, but odious to His holiness; for sin is that abominable thing which the L-rd hates, and cannot endure to look upon. Even all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Our performances, though they be ever so plausible, if we depend upon them as our righteousness and think to merit by them at G-d's hand, are as filthy rags--rags, and will not cover us--filthy rags, and will but defile us.
When we would do good evil is present with us; and the iniquity of our holy things would be our ruin if we were under the Law.
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.
Foolish and careless as we are, poor and despised and trampled upon as we are by our enemies, yet still thou art our Father; to thee therefore we return in our repentance, as the prodigal arose and came to his father; to thee we address ourselves by prayer; from whom should we expect relief and succor but from our Father?
“We are all as an unclean thing, but we are all the work of His hands, therefore do away our uncleanness that we may be fit for His use, the use we were made for. We are the work of His hands, therefore forsake us not," Psalms 138:8.
It is a sore affliction to good people to see G-d's sanctuary laid waste and nothing done towards the raising of it out of its ruins. But G-d has said that He will not contend for ever, and therefore His people may depend upon it that their afflictions shall be neither to extremity nor to eternity, but light and for a moment.
This was not only intended for the use of the captive Jews, but may serve for direction to the church in other times of distress, what to ask of G-d and how to plead with Him. Are G-d's people at any time in affliction, in great affliction? Let them pray, let them thus pray for the Divine Presence!
They plead what G-d had been used to do, and had declared His gracious purpose to do, for His people in general. The provision He has made for the safety and happiness of His people, even of all those that seek Him, and serve Him, and trust in Him, is very rich and very ready, so that they need not fear being either disappointed of it, for it is sure, or disappointed in it, for it is sufficient.
Men have not heard nor seen what G-d has prepared for those that wait for Him. Observe the character of G-d's people; they are such as wait for Him in the way of duty, wait for the salvation He has promised and designed for them.
It is all that goodness which G-d has laid up for those that fear Him, and wrought for those that trust in Him, Psalms 31:19. Of this it is here said that since the beginning of the world, in the most prying and inquisitive ages of it, men have not, either by hearing or seeing, the two learning senses, come to the full knowledge of it.
It cannot be fully comprehended by the human understanding, no, not when it is revealed; it is spiritual, and refined from those ideas which our minds are most apt to receive in this world of sense; it is very great, and will far outdo the utmost of our expectations. Even the present peace of believers, much more their future bliss, is such as surpasses all conception and expression, Philippians 4:7. None can comprehend it but G-d Himself, whose understanding is infinite.
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.
We are all as an unclean thing, or as an unclean person, as one overspread with a leprosy, who was to be shut out of the camp, or like one laboring under some loathsome disease, from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot nothing but wounds and bruises, 1:6. We have all by sin become not only obnoxious to G-d's justice, but odious to His holiness; for sin is that abominable thing which the L-rd hates, and cannot endure to look upon. Even all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Our performances, though they be ever so plausible, if we depend upon them as our righteousness and think to merit by them at G-d's hand, are as filthy rags--rags, and will not cover us--filthy rags, and will but defile us.
When we would do good evil is present with us; and the iniquity of our holy things would be our ruin if we were under the Law.
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.
Foolish and careless as we are, poor and despised and trampled upon as we are by our enemies, yet still thou art our Father; to thee therefore we return in our repentance, as the prodigal arose and came to his father; to thee we address ourselves by prayer; from whom should we expect relief and succor but from our Father?
“We are all as an unclean thing, but we are all the work of His hands, therefore do away our uncleanness that we may be fit for His use, the use we were made for. We are the work of His hands, therefore forsake us not," Psalms 138:8.
It is a sore affliction to good people to see G-d's sanctuary laid waste and nothing done towards the raising of it out of its ruins. But G-d has said that He will not contend for ever, and therefore His people may depend upon it that their afflictions shall be neither to extremity nor to eternity, but light and for a moment.
This was not only intended for the use of the captive Jews, but may serve for direction to the church in other times of distress, what to ask of G-d and how to plead with Him. Are G-d's people at any time in affliction, in great affliction? Let them pray, let them thus pray for the Divine Presence!
They plead what G-d had been used to do, and had declared His gracious purpose to do, for His people in general. The provision He has made for the safety and happiness of His people, even of all those that seek Him, and serve Him, and trust in Him, is very rich and very ready, so that they need not fear being either disappointed of it, for it is sure, or disappointed in it, for it is sufficient.
Holy Spirit Throughout O.T.
[Isa. 63:10] But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
[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?
There are two explicit references to the Holy Spirit in this O.T. text. Many people believe that the Holy Spirit came on certain OT leaders temporarily, but He did not dwell long-term in people until the NT period. But here an OT text clearly teaches that the general class of people ‘rebelled’ and ‘grieved the Holy Spirit. The text does not refer only to the leaders; all the people were involved in an act that reminds us of the NT warning in Eph. 4:30; ‘do not grieve the Holy Spirit of G-d.’
This text appears to contain a reference to all three persons of the Trinity. Verse 9 refers to the Father who shared Israel’s distress in Egypt, the wilderness and Canaan. But it was ‘the angel of His presence’ (or His face) that delivered them. This is the One in whom the Father had put His name (Ex. 23:20-21). That is equal to saying that He had the same nature, spirit and authority as the Father. That surely was no ordinary angel; it had to be the second person of the Trinity, the Messiah.
Yahweh and the angel of His presence (that is to say, Y’Shua the Messiah), and the Holy Spirit are distinguished as three persons, but not so that the latter two are altogether different from the first. They, in fact, derive their existence from the first and is one G-d, forming a single unity.
People today believe that the Holy Spirit came for the very first time to indwell believers after the Messiah had ascended into heaven. Could this be because of the replacement theory or for the lack of knowledge?
Y’Shua had expected Nicodemus to know of the Holy Spirit’s special work in bringing people to belief in the Messiah (John. 3:5-10). In fact, Y’Shua was ‘amazed’ that Nicodemus could be a teacher of the Jews and not know this important fact. Even before His death, Y’Shua sent out the Twelve with the assurance that the Holy Spirit would help them speak (Matt. 10:20), just as He likewise promised the Holy Spirit would be with all believers when they were hauled before the judges because of their faith (Lk. 12:12).
John 14:17 translation should read: ‘you know Him, for He lives with you and is in you.’ The Greek does not denote a fluctuating relationship, for this is the preposition that describes the Father and Son already abiding in them (John. 14:23). The manuscript evidence is strong for the present tense is in you, rather than the future tense, will be in you.
Many questions why Pentecost (Shavuot or Feast of Weeks) was necessary if the Holy Spirit was already present to some degree in every O.T. believer. Pentecost was necessary because of the Holy Spirit must have a coming in state, in a solemn and visible manner just as Y’Shua had. In this way all could see and know that the promise-plan of G-d was being fulfilled. This was the event that Joel in 2:28-32 had anticipated. Thus, just as the Holy Spirit had already regenerated and indwelled the OT believers, so now it was necessary that He validate all that had been experienced prophetically in the OT. As Calvary validated the promise of forgiveness of sins realized by all who had believed so Pentecost did the same for all who had experienced the Holy Spirit’s wonderful work in the OT.
G-d is represented, in human language, mentally speaking of Himself and His former acts of love to Israel, as His ground for pitying them notwithstanding their rebellion or perversity. He forgot not His covenant of old; therefore He did not wholly forsake them (Lev 26:40-42, 44, 45; Ps 106:45, 46); the Jews make this their plea with G-d, that He should not now forsake them.
G-d put His Holy Spirit within, Hebrew, "in the inward parts of him," that is, in the midst of His people! (Num. 11:17, 25; Neh. 9:20; Hag. 2:5).
The Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest.
O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.
[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.
[18] The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.
[19] We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.
[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?
There are two explicit references to the Holy Spirit in this O.T. text. Many people believe that the Holy Spirit came on certain OT leaders temporarily, but He did not dwell long-term in people until the NT period. But here an OT text clearly teaches that the general class of people ‘rebelled’ and ‘grieved the Holy Spirit. The text does not refer only to the leaders; all the people were involved in an act that reminds us of the NT warning in Eph. 4:30; ‘do not grieve the Holy Spirit of G-d.’
This text appears to contain a reference to all three persons of the Trinity. Verse 9 refers to the Father who shared Israel’s distress in Egypt, the wilderness and Canaan. But it was ‘the angel of His presence’ (or His face) that delivered them. This is the One in whom the Father had put His name (Ex. 23:20-21). That is equal to saying that He had the same nature, spirit and authority as the Father. That surely was no ordinary angel; it had to be the second person of the Trinity, the Messiah.
Yahweh and the angel of His presence (that is to say, Y’Shua the Messiah), and the Holy Spirit are distinguished as three persons, but not so that the latter two are altogether different from the first. They, in fact, derive their existence from the first and is one G-d, forming a single unity.
People today believe that the Holy Spirit came for the very first time to indwell believers after the Messiah had ascended into heaven. Could this be because of the replacement theory or for the lack of knowledge?
Y’Shua had expected Nicodemus to know of the Holy Spirit’s special work in bringing people to belief in the Messiah (John. 3:5-10). In fact, Y’Shua was ‘amazed’ that Nicodemus could be a teacher of the Jews and not know this important fact. Even before His death, Y’Shua sent out the Twelve with the assurance that the Holy Spirit would help them speak (Matt. 10:20), just as He likewise promised the Holy Spirit would be with all believers when they were hauled before the judges because of their faith (Lk. 12:12).
John 14:17 translation should read: ‘you know Him, for He lives with you and is in you.’ The Greek does not denote a fluctuating relationship, for this is the preposition that describes the Father and Son already abiding in them (John. 14:23). The manuscript evidence is strong for the present tense is in you, rather than the future tense, will be in you.
Many questions why Pentecost (Shavuot or Feast of Weeks) was necessary if the Holy Spirit was already present to some degree in every O.T. believer. Pentecost was necessary because of the Holy Spirit must have a coming in state, in a solemn and visible manner just as Y’Shua had. In this way all could see and know that the promise-plan of G-d was being fulfilled. This was the event that Joel in 2:28-32 had anticipated. Thus, just as the Holy Spirit had already regenerated and indwelled the OT believers, so now it was necessary that He validate all that had been experienced prophetically in the OT. As Calvary validated the promise of forgiveness of sins realized by all who had believed so Pentecost did the same for all who had experienced the Holy Spirit’s wonderful work in the OT.
G-d is represented, in human language, mentally speaking of Himself and His former acts of love to Israel, as His ground for pitying them notwithstanding their rebellion or perversity. He forgot not His covenant of old; therefore He did not wholly forsake them (Lev 26:40-42, 44, 45; Ps 106:45, 46); the Jews make this their plea with G-d, that He should not now forsake them.
G-d put His Holy Spirit within, Hebrew, "in the inward parts of him," that is, in the midst of His people! (Num. 11:17, 25; Neh. 9:20; Hag. 2:5).
The Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest.
O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.
[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.
[18] The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.
[19] We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.
Jerusalem Rules!
An ode of congratulation to Zion on her restoration at the L-rd's second advent to her true position as the mother Messianic church from which the Gospel is to be diffused to the whole Gentile world; the first spread of the Gospel among the Gentiles, beginning at Jerusalem [Lk.. 24:47], is an serious of this. The language is too glorious to apply to anything that as yet has happened in Isaiah’s time, imperative for the future indicative.
The fact that G-d speaks of the Gentiles here in opposition to the subjects of the prophecy shows He speaks to Israel as Israel. Replacement theology just doesn't work here, or anywhere.
[Isa.60:1] Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
The glory of the L-rd is not merely the Shekinah, or cloud of glory, such as rested above the ark in the old dispensation, but the glory of the Messiah in person (Jer. 3:16, 17). Israel’s spiritual light will be impart to the Gentiles, for at this time they will all become true believers in the Messiah and step into their calling of teaching ‘all’ nations. Isa 2:2-3 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of G-d’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. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of G-d, to the house of the G-d 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 G-d from Jerusalem.
Zec. 8:23 Thus saith G-d of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that G-d is with you.
The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to Israel: Not only will they receive the treasure for their people, but also the literal treasure of the Gentiles shall come to Israel as willing captives to the truth; or, if not willingly, be bought by judgments to submit to Israel (verses 12, 14). The nations will willingly give them their wealth, much as the Egyptians willingly gave the Israelites riches when they left Egypt (Exodus 12:35-36). So much will be given that they will need to keep the gates of the city open continually!
The gates are ever open to receive new offerings and converts (26:2; Acts 14:27; Rev. 3:8). In time of peace the gates of a city are open: so, under the Prince of peace, there shall be no need of barring gates against invaders. Gentiles brought forth as willing captives to the truth,
[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.
All rulers in restored Jerusalem shall not only be peaceable and righteous, but shall be, as it were, "peace" and "righteousness" itself in their administration.
Poetically, with figurative allusion to the furniture of the Temple; all things in that happy age to come shall be changed for the better. Were the sun and moon, the brightest objects by day and night, shall be eclipsed by the surpassing glory of G-d manifesting Himself to you (30:26; Zec 2:5; Rev. 21:23; 22:5). No more mourning:
Rev. 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.
Not our timing; we might wish to hasten it, but it will come in due time, and sooner than you think!
The promise seems too good to be true, and we are conditioned to think that if it seems too good to be true, it is. But G-d is too good not to be true!
The fact that G-d speaks of the Gentiles here in opposition to the subjects of the prophecy shows He speaks to Israel as Israel. Replacement theology just doesn't work here, or anywhere.
[Isa.60:1] Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
The glory of the L-rd is not merely the Shekinah, or cloud of glory, such as rested above the ark in the old dispensation, but the glory of the Messiah in person (Jer. 3:16, 17). Israel’s spiritual light will be impart to the Gentiles, for at this time they will all become true believers in the Messiah and step into their calling of teaching ‘all’ nations. Isa 2:2-3 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of G-d’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. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of G-d, to the house of the G-d 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 G-d from Jerusalem.
Zec. 8:23 Thus saith G-d of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that G-d is with you.
The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to Israel: Not only will they receive the treasure for their people, but also the literal treasure of the Gentiles shall come to Israel as willing captives to the truth; or, if not willingly, be bought by judgments to submit to Israel (verses 12, 14). The nations will willingly give them their wealth, much as the Egyptians willingly gave the Israelites riches when they left Egypt (Exodus 12:35-36). So much will be given that they will need to keep the gates of the city open continually!
The gates are ever open to receive new offerings and converts (26:2; Acts 14:27; Rev. 3:8). In time of peace the gates of a city are open: so, under the Prince of peace, there shall be no need of barring gates against invaders. Gentiles brought forth as willing captives to the truth,
[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.
All rulers in restored Jerusalem shall not only be peaceable and righteous, but shall be, as it were, "peace" and "righteousness" itself in their administration.
Poetically, with figurative allusion to the furniture of the Temple; all things in that happy age to come shall be changed for the better. Were the sun and moon, the brightest objects by day and night, shall be eclipsed by the surpassing glory of G-d manifesting Himself to you (30:26; Zec 2:5; Rev. 21:23; 22:5). No more mourning:
Rev. 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.
Not our timing; we might wish to hasten it, but it will come in due time, and sooner than you think!
The promise seems too good to be true, and we are conditioned to think that if it seems too good to be true, it is. But G-d is too good not to be true!
Sin Causes Judgment
[Isa. 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.
G-d’s people wondered why G-d did not seem to rescue them from their trials. They wondered if perhaps G-d had diminished in strength - if His hand had become shortened.
This touch on one of the greatest problems in practical theology: how can there be a G-d of love and all power when there is human suffering? If we loved someone and had the power to end their suffering, wouldn't we do it?
Your iniquities have separated you from your G-d: The problem isn't with G-d's power, His knowledge, or His interest. The problem is with our iniquities. Sin has separated you from your G-d. Sin does not necessarily separate us from the presence of G-d, because
G-d is present everywhere (Psalm 139:7) and even Satan can have an audience with G-d (Job 1:6). Sin does not separate us from the love of G-d, because G-d loves sinners (Romans 5:8). But sin still does separate.
Sin separates us from fellowship with G-d, because at least at the point of our sin, we no longer think alike with G-d.
Sin separates us from the blessing of G-d, because at least at the point of our sin, we are not trusting G-d and relying on Him.
Sin separates us from the some of the benefits of G-d's love, even as the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) was still loved by the father, but didn't enjoy the benefits of his love when he was in sin.
Sin separates us, in some way, from the protection of G-d, because He will allow trials to come our way to correct us.
How easy it is for us to blame our problems on everything except our iniquities! We will even blame G-d before seeing that the problem is with us! We will deny who G-d is before seeing that the problem is with us!
Your hands are defiled with blood: They practiced and approved of violence and murder.
Your lips have spoken lies: They lied with ease and regularity.
No one calls for justice: They did not share G-d's heart for what was fair and good; everyone simply thought in terms of their own good. Both justice and truth were distant concepts, and instead of justice there were empty words, instead of truth there were lies.
They have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace: Their choice and the consequences are plain. Their crooked paths will never lead them into the way of peace, meaning peace in the full sense of shalom. Justice and righteousness are put away from our legal courts.
We look for light, but there is darkness! Now, having given themselves over to darkness, when they want the light, it isn't there. When you always have the light to go to, the darkness feels "fun." It seems mysterious and adventurous. But when the light is taken away, we despair in the darkness.
The state of G-d's people was no mystery to the Father. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: Not only was the state of G-d's people bad; but no one among them took the lead in getting it right. Where was the man that would lead the people in righteousness? He could not be found. Where was the intercessor who would plead G-d's case to the people, and the people's repentance to their G-d?
No intercessor could be found. None arose; so the Father did it Himself.
They have had their reality check, and see things as they are. Now we need to check ours!
Their plans resembled the egg of the serpent. The nature of the egg cannot be easily known by an inspection. It may have a strong resemblance to those which would produce some inoffensive and even useful animals. It is only when it is hatched that its true nature is fully developed. So it is with the plans of the wicked. When forming, their true nature may not be certainly known, and it may not be easy to determine their real character. Their plans, when developed, are like the poisonous and destructive production of the serpent's egg. The true nature is then seen; and it is ruinous, pernicious, and evil.
Most people don't pick up the connection between Isaiah 59:17-18 and Paul's comments on our spiritual armor in Ephesians 5:10-17. In that passage, Paul calls that armor the whole armor of G-d, and it is G-d's armor in the sense that it belongs to Him - after all, He uses it here in verses 17-18 - and He allows us to use it to fight for Him. If we don't put on the armor of G-d and fight for Him, then eventually G-d will put it on Himself and fight for His glory. But G-d's preference is to work in and through us, with us using His armor. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Father will lift up a standard against him. The enemies of G-d will never triumph over Him. Even if they come in like a flood, and seem unstoppable, G-d will lift up a battle-standard against him, and he will be stopped. G-d gives His people the glorious privilege of being more than conquerors (Romans 8:37), but will win it with or without us.
The Redeemer will come to Zion: After speaking in the third-person through the prophet, now the Father speaks in the first-person through the prophet. When He speaks, He declares: the Redeemer - the goel - will come to Zion. The goel - sometimes translated kinsman-redeemer, here simply as Redeemer, the goel was responsible to safeguard the persons, the property, and the posterity of the family. The Messiah, He is our near kinsman because He has added perfect humanity to His deity. He is the one who buys us out of slavery. He is the one who avenges wrongs done to us. He protects our inheritance, and blesses and guards our posterity. This promise of G-d in verse 20 could be reworded, "I will send My Son, the Redeemer for all humanity, Y’Shua of Nazareth!"
Who does the Redeemer come to? To those who turn away from transgression. The goel only worked for those who asked for His services, and knew they needed Him.
“My Spirit who is upon you, and My words . . . shall not depart from your mouth . . . from this time and forevermore”: The covenant G-d makes with His people promises an abiding Spirit and an enduring word. G-d accomplishes His purpose in people and through all creation through both the Spirit and the word.
There is too much to gain to spend a lifetime in wrong chooses!
Don’t allow sin to bring on righteous judgment to come into your life!
Put on the full armor of G-d to be able to war off your battles.
G-d’s people wondered why G-d did not seem to rescue them from their trials. They wondered if perhaps G-d had diminished in strength - if His hand had become shortened.
This touch on one of the greatest problems in practical theology: how can there be a G-d of love and all power when there is human suffering? If we loved someone and had the power to end their suffering, wouldn't we do it?
Your iniquities have separated you from your G-d: The problem isn't with G-d's power, His knowledge, or His interest. The problem is with our iniquities. Sin has separated you from your G-d. Sin does not necessarily separate us from the presence of G-d, because
G-d is present everywhere (Psalm 139:7) and even Satan can have an audience with G-d (Job 1:6). Sin does not separate us from the love of G-d, because G-d loves sinners (Romans 5:8). But sin still does separate.
Sin separates us from fellowship with G-d, because at least at the point of our sin, we no longer think alike with G-d.
Sin separates us from the blessing of G-d, because at least at the point of our sin, we are not trusting G-d and relying on Him.
Sin separates us from the some of the benefits of G-d's love, even as the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) was still loved by the father, but didn't enjoy the benefits of his love when he was in sin.
Sin separates us, in some way, from the protection of G-d, because He will allow trials to come our way to correct us.
How easy it is for us to blame our problems on everything except our iniquities! We will even blame G-d before seeing that the problem is with us! We will deny who G-d is before seeing that the problem is with us!
Your hands are defiled with blood: They practiced and approved of violence and murder.
Your lips have spoken lies: They lied with ease and regularity.
No one calls for justice: They did not share G-d's heart for what was fair and good; everyone simply thought in terms of their own good. Both justice and truth were distant concepts, and instead of justice there were empty words, instead of truth there were lies.
They have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace: Their choice and the consequences are plain. Their crooked paths will never lead them into the way of peace, meaning peace in the full sense of shalom. Justice and righteousness are put away from our legal courts.
We look for light, but there is darkness! Now, having given themselves over to darkness, when they want the light, it isn't there. When you always have the light to go to, the darkness feels "fun." It seems mysterious and adventurous. But when the light is taken away, we despair in the darkness.
The state of G-d's people was no mystery to the Father. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: Not only was the state of G-d's people bad; but no one among them took the lead in getting it right. Where was the man that would lead the people in righteousness? He could not be found. Where was the intercessor who would plead G-d's case to the people, and the people's repentance to their G-d?
No intercessor could be found. None arose; so the Father did it Himself.
They have had their reality check, and see things as they are. Now we need to check ours!
Their plans resembled the egg of the serpent. The nature of the egg cannot be easily known by an inspection. It may have a strong resemblance to those which would produce some inoffensive and even useful animals. It is only when it is hatched that its true nature is fully developed. So it is with the plans of the wicked. When forming, their true nature may not be certainly known, and it may not be easy to determine their real character. Their plans, when developed, are like the poisonous and destructive production of the serpent's egg. The true nature is then seen; and it is ruinous, pernicious, and evil.
Most people don't pick up the connection between Isaiah 59:17-18 and Paul's comments on our spiritual armor in Ephesians 5:10-17. In that passage, Paul calls that armor the whole armor of G-d, and it is G-d's armor in the sense that it belongs to Him - after all, He uses it here in verses 17-18 - and He allows us to use it to fight for Him. If we don't put on the armor of G-d and fight for Him, then eventually G-d will put it on Himself and fight for His glory. But G-d's preference is to work in and through us, with us using His armor. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Father will lift up a standard against him. The enemies of G-d will never triumph over Him. Even if they come in like a flood, and seem unstoppable, G-d will lift up a battle-standard against him, and he will be stopped. G-d gives His people the glorious privilege of being more than conquerors (Romans 8:37), but will win it with or without us.
The Redeemer will come to Zion: After speaking in the third-person through the prophet, now the Father speaks in the first-person through the prophet. When He speaks, He declares: the Redeemer - the goel - will come to Zion. The goel - sometimes translated kinsman-redeemer, here simply as Redeemer, the goel was responsible to safeguard the persons, the property, and the posterity of the family. The Messiah, He is our near kinsman because He has added perfect humanity to His deity. He is the one who buys us out of slavery. He is the one who avenges wrongs done to us. He protects our inheritance, and blesses and guards our posterity. This promise of G-d in verse 20 could be reworded, "I will send My Son, the Redeemer for all humanity, Y’Shua of Nazareth!"
Who does the Redeemer come to? To those who turn away from transgression. The goel only worked for those who asked for His services, and knew they needed Him.
“My Spirit who is upon you, and My words . . . shall not depart from your mouth . . . from this time and forevermore”: The covenant G-d makes with His people promises an abiding Spirit and an enduring word. G-d accomplishes His purpose in people and through all creation through both the Spirit and the word.
There is too much to gain to spend a lifetime in wrong chooses!
Don’t allow sin to bring on righteous judgment to come into your life!
Put on the full armor of G-d to be able to war off your battles.
Darkness be as the Noonday
[Isa. 58:1] Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
This elegant chapter contains a severe reproof of the Jews on account of their vices, particularly their hypocrisy in practicing and relying on outward ceremonies, such as fasting and bodily humiliation, without true repentance, 1-5. It then lays down a clear and comprehensive summary of the duties they owed to their fellow creatures, 6, 7. Large promises of happiness and prosperity are likewise annexed to the performance of these duties in a variety of the most beautiful and striking images, 8-12. Great temporal and spiritual blessedness of those who keep holy the Sabbath day, 13, 14.
Never was a louder cry against the hypocrisy, nor a more cutting reproof of the wickedness, of a people professing a national established religion, having all the forms of godliness without a particle of its power during that time. The Gentiles are from the house of Jacob, so this applies to us also.
There are many men who take some pleasure in knowing G-d's will and word, and yet do not conform their lives to it. Dispelling the delusion that G-d would be satisfied with outward observances, while the spirit of the Law was violated and the heart unchanged.
If you wish acceptance with G-d, you must not fast as you now do, to make your voice heard high in strife, not to gain the ear of G-d (1 Kgs. 21:9, 12, 13). The pain felt by abstinence is not the end to be sought, as if it were praiseworthy; it is of value only in so far as it leads us to amend our ways.
Fast days are generally called holidays, and holidays are days of idleness and pleasure. In numberless cases the fast is turned into a feast. Some disregard the most sacred fast, and will oblige their servant to work all day long; others use fast days for the purpose of settling their accounts, posting up their books, and drawing out their bills to be ready to collect their debts. These are sneaking hypocrites; the others are daringly irreligious. The reference is to all the work and bother that the hypocritical Believers are going about in order to observe their own fast days, while neglecting G-d's one sacred fast day on the Day of Atonement.
Many of the things written about the situation here are in error because they are founded upon the mistake that G-d is not concerned with anything except social justice. It is very significant here that the very first sin G-d mentions is their neglecting "His's ordinance." Of course, G-d is also concerned with social justice; but all social justice, in the final analysis, derives from honor paid to the Word of G-d and the holy worship He has commanded.
Let the oppressed go free! How can any nation pretend to fast or worship G-d at all, or dare to profess that they believe in the existence of such a Being, while they carry on the slave trade, and traffic in the souls, blood, and bodies, of men! O you most flagitious of knaves, and worst of hypocrites, cast off at once the mask of religion; and deepen not your endless perdition by professing the faith of our L-rd Y’Shua HaMashiach, while you continue in this traffic! When a man fasts, suppose he do it through a religious motive, he should give the food of that day, from which he abstains, to the poor and hungry, who, in the course of providence, are called to sustain many involuntary fasts, besides suffering general privations. History repeats itself!
If all fasts and religious observances be carried on in the spirit and manner of G-d's blessing will attend every ordinance. But in public fasts, prescribed not in the Book of
G-d, but by the rulers of nations in general (very unfit persons) care should be taken that the cause is good, and that G-d's blessing may be safely implored in it. Ask yourself is this such a fast as G-d hath chosen? The Day of Atonement being the only fast day G-d commanded.
The necessity for providing rest for man and beast, as well as the weekly observance of worship and devotion were a much better condition than that provided by the mad pursuit of pleasure, sports, and so-called recreation on the part of the current godless generation. The people of this generation have legislated the Sabbath Day into a day of work instead of a day of worship, apparently ignorant of how it required three centuries of Christian fidelity to G-d's Law of worship on Sundays to win, under Constantine, the right of assembly on that day, at any other hour, than before daylight! We are very sure that future generations will pay dearly for this lack of responsibility on the part of our own.
A full account of the blessings and benefits which attend the performance of one’s duty to G-d’s will. If a person, a family, a people, be thus disposed to every thing that is good, let them know for their comfort that they shall find G-d their bountiful rewarder and what they lay out in works of charity shall be abundantly made up to them.
Good works shall be recompensed with a good name; this is included in that light which rises out of obscurity. Though a man's extraction is mean, his family obscure, and he has no external advantages to gain him honor, yet, if he do good in his place, that will procure him respect and veneration, and his darkness shall by this means become as the noon-day, that is, he shall become very eminent and shine brightly in his generation. He that would be the greatest of all, and best-loved, let him by humility and industry makes himself a servant of all.
His providence will make their way plain to them, both what is their duty and what will be most for their comfort. G-d will give them abundance of satisfaction in their own minds. As the world is a wilderness in respect of wanderings, so that they need to be guided continually, so also is it in respect of wants, which makes it necessary that they should have continual supplies.Even in the drought of affliction; these will makeyou’re your bones, and fill them with marrow, will give you that pleasure which will be a support to you as the bones to the body, that joy of the L-rd which will be your strength and He shall give your bones rest" rest from the pain and sickness which they have labored under and been chastened with; so it agrees with that promise made to the merciful. The sum is that, if you who keep such fasts as G-d has chosen, He will settle you again in your former peace and prosperity, and there shall be none to make you afraid.
This elegant chapter contains a severe reproof of the Jews on account of their vices, particularly their hypocrisy in practicing and relying on outward ceremonies, such as fasting and bodily humiliation, without true repentance, 1-5. It then lays down a clear and comprehensive summary of the duties they owed to their fellow creatures, 6, 7. Large promises of happiness and prosperity are likewise annexed to the performance of these duties in a variety of the most beautiful and striking images, 8-12. Great temporal and spiritual blessedness of those who keep holy the Sabbath day, 13, 14.
Never was a louder cry against the hypocrisy, nor a more cutting reproof of the wickedness, of a people professing a national established religion, having all the forms of godliness without a particle of its power during that time. The Gentiles are from the house of Jacob, so this applies to us also.
There are many men who take some pleasure in knowing G-d's will and word, and yet do not conform their lives to it. Dispelling the delusion that G-d would be satisfied with outward observances, while the spirit of the Law was violated and the heart unchanged.
If you wish acceptance with G-d, you must not fast as you now do, to make your voice heard high in strife, not to gain the ear of G-d (1 Kgs. 21:9, 12, 13). The pain felt by abstinence is not the end to be sought, as if it were praiseworthy; it is of value only in so far as it leads us to amend our ways.
Fast days are generally called holidays, and holidays are days of idleness and pleasure. In numberless cases the fast is turned into a feast. Some disregard the most sacred fast, and will oblige their servant to work all day long; others use fast days for the purpose of settling their accounts, posting up their books, and drawing out their bills to be ready to collect their debts. These are sneaking hypocrites; the others are daringly irreligious. The reference is to all the work and bother that the hypocritical Believers are going about in order to observe their own fast days, while neglecting G-d's one sacred fast day on the Day of Atonement.
Many of the things written about the situation here are in error because they are founded upon the mistake that G-d is not concerned with anything except social justice. It is very significant here that the very first sin G-d mentions is their neglecting "His's ordinance." Of course, G-d is also concerned with social justice; but all social justice, in the final analysis, derives from honor paid to the Word of G-d and the holy worship He has commanded.
Let the oppressed go free! How can any nation pretend to fast or worship G-d at all, or dare to profess that they believe in the existence of such a Being, while they carry on the slave trade, and traffic in the souls, blood, and bodies, of men! O you most flagitious of knaves, and worst of hypocrites, cast off at once the mask of religion; and deepen not your endless perdition by professing the faith of our L-rd Y’Shua HaMashiach, while you continue in this traffic! When a man fasts, suppose he do it through a religious motive, he should give the food of that day, from which he abstains, to the poor and hungry, who, in the course of providence, are called to sustain many involuntary fasts, besides suffering general privations. History repeats itself!
If all fasts and religious observances be carried on in the spirit and manner of G-d's blessing will attend every ordinance. But in public fasts, prescribed not in the Book of
G-d, but by the rulers of nations in general (very unfit persons) care should be taken that the cause is good, and that G-d's blessing may be safely implored in it. Ask yourself is this such a fast as G-d hath chosen? The Day of Atonement being the only fast day G-d commanded.
The necessity for providing rest for man and beast, as well as the weekly observance of worship and devotion were a much better condition than that provided by the mad pursuit of pleasure, sports, and so-called recreation on the part of the current godless generation. The people of this generation have legislated the Sabbath Day into a day of work instead of a day of worship, apparently ignorant of how it required three centuries of Christian fidelity to G-d's Law of worship on Sundays to win, under Constantine, the right of assembly on that day, at any other hour, than before daylight! We are very sure that future generations will pay dearly for this lack of responsibility on the part of our own.
A full account of the blessings and benefits which attend the performance of one’s duty to G-d’s will. If a person, a family, a people, be thus disposed to every thing that is good, let them know for their comfort that they shall find G-d their bountiful rewarder and what they lay out in works of charity shall be abundantly made up to them.
Good works shall be recompensed with a good name; this is included in that light which rises out of obscurity. Though a man's extraction is mean, his family obscure, and he has no external advantages to gain him honor, yet, if he do good in his place, that will procure him respect and veneration, and his darkness shall by this means become as the noon-day, that is, he shall become very eminent and shine brightly in his generation. He that would be the greatest of all, and best-loved, let him by humility and industry makes himself a servant of all.
His providence will make their way plain to them, both what is their duty and what will be most for their comfort. G-d will give them abundance of satisfaction in their own minds. As the world is a wilderness in respect of wanderings, so that they need to be guided continually, so also is it in respect of wants, which makes it necessary that they should have continual supplies.Even in the drought of affliction; these will makeyou’re your bones, and fill them with marrow, will give you that pleasure which will be a support to you as the bones to the body, that joy of the L-rd which will be your strength and He shall give your bones rest" rest from the pain and sickness which they have labored under and been chastened with; so it agrees with that promise made to the merciful. The sum is that, if you who keep such fasts as G-d has chosen, He will settle you again in your former peace and prosperity, and there shall be none to make you afraid.
Hypocritical Righteousness
[Isa. 57:12] I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee.
“I will expose publicly your (hypocritical) righteousness. I will show openly how vain your works, in having recourse to foreign alliances, shall prove.”
Never was a louder cry against the hypocrisy, nor a more cutting reproof of the wickedness, of a people professing a national established religion, having all the forms of godliness without a particle of its power. Politically speaking, was ever any thing more ill-advised?
A whole nation called to fast to implore G-d's blessing on wars carried on for the purposes of wrath and ambition. How can any nation pretend to fast or worship G-d at all, or dare to profess that they believe in the existence of such a Being, while they carry on the slave trade, and traffic in the souls, blood, and bodies, of men! O you most flagitious of knaves, and worst of hypocrites, cast off at once the mask of religion; and deepen not your endless perdition by professing the faith of our
L-rd Y’Shua HaMashiach, while ye continue in this traffic!
G-d sets forth the malice and disdain of the hypocrites, who grudge against Him, if their works are not accepted. He convinces the hypocrites by the second table and by their duty toward their neighbor, that they have neither faith nor religion. So long as you use contention and oppression, you’re fasting and prayers will not be heard.
When L-rd Y’Shua HaMashiach promised to send the Comforter He added, When He shall come He shall convince (John 16:7,8); for conviction must prepare for comfort, and must also separate between the precious and the vile, and mark out those to whom comfort does not belong.
When the prophet went about to show them their transgressions they pleaded that they could see no transgressions which they were guilty of; for they were diligent and constant in attending on G-d's worship--and what more would he have of them?
He owns the matter of fact to be true. As far as hypocrites do that which is good, they shall not be denied the praise of it; let them make their best of it. It is owned that they have a form of godliness.
1. They go to church, and observe their hours of prayer: They seek G-d daily; they are very constant in their devotions and never omit them nor suffer any thing to put them by.
2. They love to hear good preaching; They delight to know My ways, and the stony ground, that received the seed of the word with joy; it is to them as a lovely song, Ezekiel 33:32.
3. They seem to take great pleasure in the exercises of religion and to be in their element when they are at their devotions: They delight in approaching to G-d, not for His sake to whom they approach, but for the sake of some pleasing circumstance, the company, or the festival.
4. They are inquisitive concerning their duty and seem desirous only to know it, making no question but that then they should do it: They ask of Ne the ordinances of justice, the rules of piety in the worship of G-d, the rules of equity in their dealings with men, both which are ordinances of justice.
5. They appear to the eye of the world as if they made conscience of doing their duty: They are as a nation that did righteousness and forsook not the ordinances of their G-d; others took them for such, and they themselves pretended to be such. Nothing lay open to view that was a contradiction to their profession, but they seemed to be such as they should be. Men may go a great way towards heaven and yet come short; nay, may go to hell with a good reputation.
The displeasure which these hypocrites conceived against G-d for not accepting the services which they themselves had a mighty opinion of, having gone about to put a cheat upon G-d by their external services, here they go about to pick a quarrel with G-d for not being pleased with their services, as if He had not done fairly or justly by them. How they boast of themselves, and magnify their own performances! They pretended to search for those sins which provoked God to threaten them with his judgments, the shows of religion, though they show ever so fair in the eye of the world, will not be accepted of G-d without the substance of it.
The heritage of believers that have developed a relationship with G-d, is what they shall not only be portioned with hereafter, but fed with now, fed with the hopes of it, and not flattered, fed with the earnests and foretastes of it; and those that are so fed have reason to say that they are well fed. In order that we may depend upon it, it is added, "The mouth of the L-rd has spoken it; you may take G-d's word for it, for He cannot lie nor deceive; what His mouth has spoken His hand will give, His hand will do, and not one iota or tittle of His good promise shall fall to the ground. Blessed, therefore, thrice blessed, is He that does this, and lays hold on it, that keeps the Sabbath from polluting it.
[Isa. 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 L-RD, honorable; and shall honor him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words:
To keep the Sabbath in an idle manner is the Sabbath of oxen and asses; to keep the Sabbath in joviality (pleasure, sports, etc) is the Sabbath of the golden calf; and to keep it in immorality, drunkenness, and licentiousness is the Sabbath of Satan, the devil's holiday.
“I will expose publicly your (hypocritical) righteousness. I will show openly how vain your works, in having recourse to foreign alliances, shall prove.”
Never was a louder cry against the hypocrisy, nor a more cutting reproof of the wickedness, of a people professing a national established religion, having all the forms of godliness without a particle of its power. Politically speaking, was ever any thing more ill-advised?
A whole nation called to fast to implore G-d's blessing on wars carried on for the purposes of wrath and ambition. How can any nation pretend to fast or worship G-d at all, or dare to profess that they believe in the existence of such a Being, while they carry on the slave trade, and traffic in the souls, blood, and bodies, of men! O you most flagitious of knaves, and worst of hypocrites, cast off at once the mask of religion; and deepen not your endless perdition by professing the faith of our
L-rd Y’Shua HaMashiach, while ye continue in this traffic!
G-d sets forth the malice and disdain of the hypocrites, who grudge against Him, if their works are not accepted. He convinces the hypocrites by the second table and by their duty toward their neighbor, that they have neither faith nor religion. So long as you use contention and oppression, you’re fasting and prayers will not be heard.
When L-rd Y’Shua HaMashiach promised to send the Comforter He added, When He shall come He shall convince (John 16:7,8); for conviction must prepare for comfort, and must also separate between the precious and the vile, and mark out those to whom comfort does not belong.
When the prophet went about to show them their transgressions they pleaded that they could see no transgressions which they were guilty of; for they were diligent and constant in attending on G-d's worship--and what more would he have of them?
He owns the matter of fact to be true. As far as hypocrites do that which is good, they shall not be denied the praise of it; let them make their best of it. It is owned that they have a form of godliness.
1. They go to church, and observe their hours of prayer: They seek G-d daily; they are very constant in their devotions and never omit them nor suffer any thing to put them by.
2. They love to hear good preaching; They delight to know My ways, and the stony ground, that received the seed of the word with joy; it is to them as a lovely song, Ezekiel 33:32.
3. They seem to take great pleasure in the exercises of religion and to be in their element when they are at their devotions: They delight in approaching to G-d, not for His sake to whom they approach, but for the sake of some pleasing circumstance, the company, or the festival.
4. They are inquisitive concerning their duty and seem desirous only to know it, making no question but that then they should do it: They ask of Ne the ordinances of justice, the rules of piety in the worship of G-d, the rules of equity in their dealings with men, both which are ordinances of justice.
5. They appear to the eye of the world as if they made conscience of doing their duty: They are as a nation that did righteousness and forsook not the ordinances of their G-d; others took them for such, and they themselves pretended to be such. Nothing lay open to view that was a contradiction to their profession, but they seemed to be such as they should be. Men may go a great way towards heaven and yet come short; nay, may go to hell with a good reputation.
The displeasure which these hypocrites conceived against G-d for not accepting the services which they themselves had a mighty opinion of, having gone about to put a cheat upon G-d by their external services, here they go about to pick a quarrel with G-d for not being pleased with their services, as if He had not done fairly or justly by them. How they boast of themselves, and magnify their own performances! They pretended to search for those sins which provoked God to threaten them with his judgments, the shows of religion, though they show ever so fair in the eye of the world, will not be accepted of G-d without the substance of it.
The heritage of believers that have developed a relationship with G-d, is what they shall not only be portioned with hereafter, but fed with now, fed with the hopes of it, and not flattered, fed with the earnests and foretastes of it; and those that are so fed have reason to say that they are well fed. In order that we may depend upon it, it is added, "The mouth of the L-rd has spoken it; you may take G-d's word for it, for He cannot lie nor deceive; what His mouth has spoken His hand will give, His hand will do, and not one iota or tittle of His good promise shall fall to the ground. Blessed, therefore, thrice blessed, is He that does this, and lays hold on it, that keeps the Sabbath from polluting it.
[Isa. 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 L-RD, honorable; and shall honor him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words:
To keep the Sabbath in an idle manner is the Sabbath of oxen and asses; to keep the Sabbath in joviality (pleasure, sports, etc) is the Sabbath of the golden calf; and to keep it in immorality, drunkenness, and licentiousness is the Sabbath of Satan, the devil's holiday.
Foreign Invasions
[Isa. 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.
In the midst of the excesses of the unfaithful watchmen, most of the few that are godly perish: partly by displeasure at the prevailing ungodliness; partly by violent death in persecution, the evils about to come in punishment of the national sins, foreign invasions. The removal of righteous persons as an awful symptom of the approach of Divine judgments, we have today become a nation of invasions, invasions I may say we have allowed.
The prophetess Huldah likewise promised Josiah that, You shalt be gathered to your grave in peace, neither shall your eye see all the evil which I will bring upon this place (2 Kgs. 22:20). Though the righteous were ignored and persecuted by the wicked leaders, G-d would not forsake them. When they perished, when merciful men were taken away, G-d used it to bless the righteous, to take them away from evil and to allow them to enter into peace. By their death, the righteous would escape the temptations of their godless environment, and they would not have to witness the awful punishment that would fall upon the godless nation. They were actually saved from the horrors of siege and captivity; and they entered into the peace of `Abraham's bosom' (Lk. 16:22), there to await Messiah's resurrection.
Do we not deserve Divine judgments since we left the ‘one nation’ under G-d? G-d uses the elements sometimes to carry out His judgments. There are evil times coming, great calamities, and sore judgments upon men; and therefore righteous ones are gathered out of the world, and are gathered home, and safely housed in heaven, that they may escape the evil coming upon a wicked generation.
G-d challenges evil-doers; simply asking "Who do you think you are? Who are you mocking? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of falsehood?" This speaks to a common sin of human nature - to see the sins or the problems of others, while being blind to our own sins or problems.
In opposition to such vain confidence, the prophet enjoins trust in G-d, with whom the penitent and humble are sure to find acceptance, and from whom they should obtain temporal and spiritual deliverances. “And of whom have you been afraid, or feared, that you have lied and not remembered Me”: Here, G-d confronts the fact that people do not fear Him, and that they do fear someone or something else. Nor taken it to your heart: Their superficial relationship was connected to a low view of G-d, and their lack of respect for Him. Why did people lack respect for Him? In part, because He showed mercy and did not punish their sin immediately. They made a crucial error, common to fallen humanity: they mistook G-d's mercy and forbearance for weakness or lack of resolve. G-d says: “he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, and shall inherit My holy mountain”. Trust in G-d makes a person secure, while trust in one's self or in idols ends in ruin.
Awful condition of the wicked and finally impenitent, prepare the way, “take the stumbling block out of the way of My people”: Whatever gets in the way of our getting right with G-d must be taken out of the way.
"I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would fail before Me, and the souls which I have made. For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry and struck him; I hid and was angry, and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners." "I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near," says the Father, "And I will heal him." But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. "There is no peace," says my G-d, "for the wicked."
2 Chron. 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.”
In the midst of the excesses of the unfaithful watchmen, most of the few that are godly perish: partly by displeasure at the prevailing ungodliness; partly by violent death in persecution, the evils about to come in punishment of the national sins, foreign invasions. The removal of righteous persons as an awful symptom of the approach of Divine judgments, we have today become a nation of invasions, invasions I may say we have allowed.
The prophetess Huldah likewise promised Josiah that, You shalt be gathered to your grave in peace, neither shall your eye see all the evil which I will bring upon this place (2 Kgs. 22:20). Though the righteous were ignored and persecuted by the wicked leaders, G-d would not forsake them. When they perished, when merciful men were taken away, G-d used it to bless the righteous, to take them away from evil and to allow them to enter into peace. By their death, the righteous would escape the temptations of their godless environment, and they would not have to witness the awful punishment that would fall upon the godless nation. They were actually saved from the horrors of siege and captivity; and they entered into the peace of `Abraham's bosom' (Lk. 16:22), there to await Messiah's resurrection.
Do we not deserve Divine judgments since we left the ‘one nation’ under G-d? G-d uses the elements sometimes to carry out His judgments. There are evil times coming, great calamities, and sore judgments upon men; and therefore righteous ones are gathered out of the world, and are gathered home, and safely housed in heaven, that they may escape the evil coming upon a wicked generation.
G-d challenges evil-doers; simply asking "Who do you think you are? Who are you mocking? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of falsehood?" This speaks to a common sin of human nature - to see the sins or the problems of others, while being blind to our own sins or problems.
In opposition to such vain confidence, the prophet enjoins trust in G-d, with whom the penitent and humble are sure to find acceptance, and from whom they should obtain temporal and spiritual deliverances. “And of whom have you been afraid, or feared, that you have lied and not remembered Me”: Here, G-d confronts the fact that people do not fear Him, and that they do fear someone or something else. Nor taken it to your heart: Their superficial relationship was connected to a low view of G-d, and their lack of respect for Him. Why did people lack respect for Him? In part, because He showed mercy and did not punish their sin immediately. They made a crucial error, common to fallen humanity: they mistook G-d's mercy and forbearance for weakness or lack of resolve. G-d says: “he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, and shall inherit My holy mountain”. Trust in G-d makes a person secure, while trust in one's self or in idols ends in ruin.
Awful condition of the wicked and finally impenitent, prepare the way, “take the stumbling block out of the way of My people”: Whatever gets in the way of our getting right with G-d must be taken out of the way.
"I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would fail before Me, and the souls which I have made. For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry and struck him; I hid and was angry, and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners." "I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near," says the Father, "And I will heal him." But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. "There is no peace," says my G-d, "for the wicked."
2 Chron. 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.”
Privileges of Adoption
[Isa. 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;
Join to the L-rd you Gentiles, (Jer 50:6). "My people have become lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and have forgotten their resting place. “Conditions of admission to the privileges of adoption!
Often when people feel like foreigners or outcasts, the feelings become a self-fulfilling prophecy. It is only be refusing to embrace such feelings, and choosing instead to trust in G-d's promise, that such feelings can be broken. If G-d says you belong, then you belong.
For many, this isn't good enough. They demand the recognition and honor of men. It isn't enough for G-d to give them a place and a name in His house. They must have a place and a name among men. Life is easier and more pleasant when we have a place and a name among men; but we must be able to find contentment having our place and name only with G-d.
G-d wanted His Temple - His house - to not only be a place where the Jewish people would worship Him, but to be a house of prayer for all nations. G-d wanted to expand the vision of Israel beyond her own borders, so they would know that G-d loved the perishing world and wanted them to love them also.
Three things are here promised them whom are adopted:
1. Assistance: "I will bring them to my holy mountain, not only bid them welcome when they come, but incline them to come, will show them the way, and lead them in it."
2. Acceptance: “The prayers and praises of devout Gentiles shall be as pleasing to Me as those of the pious Jews, and no difference shall be made between you; for, though you are Gentiles by birth, yet through grace you shall be looked upon as the believing seed of faithful Abraham and the praying seed of wrestling Jacob.”
3. Comfort: “They shall not only be accepted, but they themselves shall have the pleasure of it: I will make them joyful in My house of prayer. Though you came mourning to the house of prayer, you shall go away rejoicing, for you shall there find such ease, by casting your cares and burdens upon Me. You shall go away and your countenance shall be no more sad. Many a sorrowful spirit has been made joyful in the house of prayer.”
From words of comfort the prophet here, by a very sudden change of his style, passes to words of reproof and conviction.
His watchmen are blind: The leaders of G-d's people are blind; judgment is on the way, but they don't see it and warn His people. They don't fulfill their purpose as watchmen. They are ignorant, like dumb dogs, simply sleeping.
They are shepherds who cannot understand: These are unfaithful shepherds, who only look everyone for his own gain, or the gain of their personal churches.
The shepherds, who should have been the watchmen of the flock, to discover the approaches of the beasts of prey, to keep them off, and protect the sheep, were treacherous and careless, minded not their business, nor made any conscience of the trust reposed in them, and so the sheep became an easy prey to the wild beasts.
Many times believers eat their young! How many have fallen away or ran off!
They were wretchedly ignorant of their work, and very unfit to teach, being so ill-taught themselves: His watchmen are blind, and therefore utterly unfit to be watchmen. If the seers see not, who shall see for us? If the light that is in us be darkness, how great is that darkness!
What little knowledge they had they made no use of it; no one was the better for it. As they were blind watchmen, that could not discern the danger, so they were dumb dogs that would not give warning of it. And why are the dogs set to guard the sheep if they cannot bark to waken the shepherd? They fill their selves with intoxicating drink: Worse than being passively ignorant and blind, they are actively wicked. As judgment approaches, they simply drink and get drunk in their own success. Tomorrow will be as today, and much more abundant: Their blind faith in progress has replaced a reasoned faith in G-d. They are ripe for judgment, and unprepared for judgment. Since the picture of Isaiah 56:9 relates to the pictures in the Book of Revelation regarding the return of Y’Shua, we can see this as a picture of the leaders of the unprepared world - perhaps even the unprepared church - at the return of the Messiah. “But boast not thyself of to-morrow when perhaps this night thy soul shall be required of thee.”
If you have been adopted into the family of G-d, you receive all G-d’s promises. You are included in to celebrate His entire appointed Feast. You are subject to follow all the Noahide Laws. When you are adopted you are to follow everything He has written and spoken. What better family could you find to be adopted into?
Enjoy the privileges of adoption!
Join to the L-rd you Gentiles, (Jer 50:6). "My people have become lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and have forgotten their resting place. “Conditions of admission to the privileges of adoption!
Often when people feel like foreigners or outcasts, the feelings become a self-fulfilling prophecy. It is only be refusing to embrace such feelings, and choosing instead to trust in G-d's promise, that such feelings can be broken. If G-d says you belong, then you belong.
For many, this isn't good enough. They demand the recognition and honor of men. It isn't enough for G-d to give them a place and a name in His house. They must have a place and a name among men. Life is easier and more pleasant when we have a place and a name among men; but we must be able to find contentment having our place and name only with G-d.
G-d wanted His Temple - His house - to not only be a place where the Jewish people would worship Him, but to be a house of prayer for all nations. G-d wanted to expand the vision of Israel beyond her own borders, so they would know that G-d loved the perishing world and wanted them to love them also.
Three things are here promised them whom are adopted:
1. Assistance: "I will bring them to my holy mountain, not only bid them welcome when they come, but incline them to come, will show them the way, and lead them in it."
2. Acceptance: “The prayers and praises of devout Gentiles shall be as pleasing to Me as those of the pious Jews, and no difference shall be made between you; for, though you are Gentiles by birth, yet through grace you shall be looked upon as the believing seed of faithful Abraham and the praying seed of wrestling Jacob.”
3. Comfort: “They shall not only be accepted, but they themselves shall have the pleasure of it: I will make them joyful in My house of prayer. Though you came mourning to the house of prayer, you shall go away rejoicing, for you shall there find such ease, by casting your cares and burdens upon Me. You shall go away and your countenance shall be no more sad. Many a sorrowful spirit has been made joyful in the house of prayer.”
From words of comfort the prophet here, by a very sudden change of his style, passes to words of reproof and conviction.
His watchmen are blind: The leaders of G-d's people are blind; judgment is on the way, but they don't see it and warn His people. They don't fulfill their purpose as watchmen. They are ignorant, like dumb dogs, simply sleeping.
They are shepherds who cannot understand: These are unfaithful shepherds, who only look everyone for his own gain, or the gain of their personal churches.
The shepherds, who should have been the watchmen of the flock, to discover the approaches of the beasts of prey, to keep them off, and protect the sheep, were treacherous and careless, minded not their business, nor made any conscience of the trust reposed in them, and so the sheep became an easy prey to the wild beasts.
Many times believers eat their young! How many have fallen away or ran off!
They were wretchedly ignorant of their work, and very unfit to teach, being so ill-taught themselves: His watchmen are blind, and therefore utterly unfit to be watchmen. If the seers see not, who shall see for us? If the light that is in us be darkness, how great is that darkness!
What little knowledge they had they made no use of it; no one was the better for it. As they were blind watchmen, that could not discern the danger, so they were dumb dogs that would not give warning of it. And why are the dogs set to guard the sheep if they cannot bark to waken the shepherd? They fill their selves with intoxicating drink: Worse than being passively ignorant and blind, they are actively wicked. As judgment approaches, they simply drink and get drunk in their own success. Tomorrow will be as today, and much more abundant: Their blind faith in progress has replaced a reasoned faith in G-d. They are ripe for judgment, and unprepared for judgment. Since the picture of Isaiah 56:9 relates to the pictures in the Book of Revelation regarding the return of Y’Shua, we can see this as a picture of the leaders of the unprepared world - perhaps even the unprepared church - at the return of the Messiah. “But boast not thyself of to-morrow when perhaps this night thy soul shall be required of thee.”
If you have been adopted into the family of G-d, you receive all G-d’s promises. You are included in to celebrate His entire appointed Feast. You are subject to follow all the Noahide Laws. When you are adopted you are to follow everything He has written and spoken. What better family could you find to be adopted into?
Enjoy the privileges of adoption!
Call of the Gentiles
[Isa. 5:5] 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.
This chapter first displays the fullness, freeness, excellence, and everlasting nature and foretells again the enlargement of Messiah's kingdom, 1-5; it was the call of the Gentle world to faith the result of G-d’s grace to the Jew first. The universal invitation to the Gentiles. This view leads the prophet to exhort all to seize the precious opportunity of sharing in such blessings, which were not, however, to be expected without repentance and reformation, 6, 7. And as the things now and formerly predicted were so great as to appear incredible, the prophet points to the omnipotence of G-d, who would infallibly accomplish His word, and bring about those glorious deliverances which He had promised; the happy effects of which are again set forth by images beautiful and poetical in the highest degree, 8-13.
Ho! This is a short, significant appeal, urging you to be wise enough to attend to your own interests.
Water is a metaphor for the Law and Wisdom: as the world cannot subsist without water, so it is impossible that it can subsist without wisdom. The Law is also compared to wine and milk: to wine because wine rejoices the heart, as it is written: 'The statutes of the L-rd are right, rejoicing the heart,' Psalms 19:8. It is compared also to milk, because milk is the subsistence of the child; so are the words of the Law the nourishment of his soul who walks in the Divine teaching, and grows up under it.
No money? Yet, in verse 2, it is said, "ye spend money." A seeming paradox. Ye are really spiritual bankrupts: but thinking yourselves to have money, namely, a devotion of your own making, ye lavish it on that "which is not bread," that is, on idols, whether literal or spiritual. Why do we spend money for what can't satisfy? This is a remarkably relevant question, in light of all the things we can pour our time and money and effort into things which will never satisfy they way G-d can satisfy.
Buy . . . without money is another paradox. We are bought, but not with a price paid by ourselves (1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19). In a different sense we are to "buy" salvation, namely, by parting with everything which comes between us and Messiah who has bought it for us and by making it our own (Matt 13:44, 46; Lk. 12:33; Rev. 3:18).
Not bread? (Hab 2:13). It is the “bread of deceit” (Pr 20:17). Contrast this with the "bread of life" (John 6:32, 35; also LK. 14:16-20). Hearken . . . and eat; When two imperatives are joined, the second expresses the consequence of obeying the command in the first (Gen. 42:18). By hearkening ye shall eat "buy and eat." By buying, and so making it your own. Why should ye be so zealously attached to a doctrine from which your souls derive neither comfort nor nourishment?
First, we must listen diligently. The satisfaction G-d promises doesn't come to those who don't listen, and listen diligently. It takes time, attention, and effort to listen diligently, and some aren't willing do this.
Second, we must eat what is good. This requires some discernment. We must choose what is good, and then eat that. Many just simply eat whatever spiritual meal is set before them, without taking care to see that it is good.
Third, we must let your soul delight itself in abundance. Even when we listen, even when we eat what is good, we still must let our soul delight itself in abundance. You can sit down at a great spiritual meal, but by your stubborn or bad attitude, simply not let your soul delight itself in abundance.
I will make an everlasting covenant (Jer 32:40; 2 Sam 23:5) even the sure mercies of David, the mercies of grace (63:7; John 1:16) which I covenanted to give to David, and especially to Messiah, his antitype. Quoted in Acts 13:34. David did not lead through popularity polls or just giving the people what they wanted. He witnessed something from G-d, and he gave testimony of it to the people. Notice that David was a leader and a commander for the people. Not a leader and a commander of the people, but for the people.
The Messiah bore witness even unto death and claims, and plan of redeeming love (John 18:37; Rev. 1:5). Revelation is a "testimony"; because it is propounded to be received on the authority of the Giver, and not merely because it can be proved by arguments. The Commander is the "lawgiver".
Nations are gradation; from Israel, one nation, the Gospel spread to many nations, and will do so more fully on Israel's conversion.
Casting yourselves wholly on His mercy, unrighteous man! Hebrew, "man of iniquity"; true of all men. The "wicked" sins more openly in "his way"; the "unrighteous" refers to the more subtle workings of sin in the "thoughts." All are guilty in the latter respect, thought many fancy themselves safe, because not openly "wicked in ways" (Ps 94:11). The parallelism is that of gradation. The progress of the penitent is to be from negative reformation, "forsaking his way," and a farther step, "his thoughts," to positive repentance, "returning to the L-rd" (the only true repentance, Zec 12:10), and making G-d his G-d, along with the other children of G-d (the crowning point; appropriation of G-d to ourselves: "to our G-d"). "Return" implies that man originally walked with G-d, but has apostatized. Isaiah saith, "Our G-d," the G-d of the believing Israelites; those themselves redeemed desire others to come to their G-d (Ps 34:8; Rev. 22:17).
Abundantly pardon, means literally, "multiply to pardon," still more than "have mercy"; G-d's graciousness is felt more and more the longer one knows Him (Ps 130:7).
G-d's "thoughts" and "ways" in pardoning are not regulated by the proportion of the former, as men would be towards his fellow man who offended him. The hearts of men, once barren of spirituality, shall be made, by the outpouring of the Spirit under Messiah, to bear fruits of righteousness (5:6; Deut. 32:2; 2 Sam. 23:4; Ps 72:6).
The Word falling on the hard heart; it sometimes works a change at last; and even if so, it leaves men without excuse. The full accomplishment of this verse, and 55:12, 13, is, however, to be at the Jews' final restoration and conversion of the world (11:9-12; 60:1-5, 21).
These are general poetical images, expressing a great and happy change for the better. The thorn is an emblem of the wicked (2 Sam. 23:6; Mic 7:4).
Fir tree is the godly (60:13; Ps 92:12). Compare as to the change wrought, Rom. 6:19.
Brier is an emblem of uncultivation (5:6).
Myrtle in Hebrew, Hedes, from which comes Hedassah, the original name of Esther. Type of the Messianic Church; for it is a lowly, though beautiful, fragrant, and evergreen shrub (Ps 92:13, 14).
For a name for an everlasting sign is a perpetual memorial to the glory of Jehovah (Jer 13:11; 33:9). Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.
How far is the distance between G-d's thoughts and ours?
How far is the distance between His ways and ours?
This chapter first displays the fullness, freeness, excellence, and everlasting nature and foretells again the enlargement of Messiah's kingdom, 1-5; it was the call of the Gentle world to faith the result of G-d’s grace to the Jew first. The universal invitation to the Gentiles. This view leads the prophet to exhort all to seize the precious opportunity of sharing in such blessings, which were not, however, to be expected without repentance and reformation, 6, 7. And as the things now and formerly predicted were so great as to appear incredible, the prophet points to the omnipotence of G-d, who would infallibly accomplish His word, and bring about those glorious deliverances which He had promised; the happy effects of which are again set forth by images beautiful and poetical in the highest degree, 8-13.
Ho! This is a short, significant appeal, urging you to be wise enough to attend to your own interests.
Water is a metaphor for the Law and Wisdom: as the world cannot subsist without water, so it is impossible that it can subsist without wisdom. The Law is also compared to wine and milk: to wine because wine rejoices the heart, as it is written: 'The statutes of the L-rd are right, rejoicing the heart,' Psalms 19:8. It is compared also to milk, because milk is the subsistence of the child; so are the words of the Law the nourishment of his soul who walks in the Divine teaching, and grows up under it.
No money? Yet, in verse 2, it is said, "ye spend money." A seeming paradox. Ye are really spiritual bankrupts: but thinking yourselves to have money, namely, a devotion of your own making, ye lavish it on that "which is not bread," that is, on idols, whether literal or spiritual. Why do we spend money for what can't satisfy? This is a remarkably relevant question, in light of all the things we can pour our time and money and effort into things which will never satisfy they way G-d can satisfy.
Buy . . . without money is another paradox. We are bought, but not with a price paid by ourselves (1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19). In a different sense we are to "buy" salvation, namely, by parting with everything which comes between us and Messiah who has bought it for us and by making it our own (Matt 13:44, 46; Lk. 12:33; Rev. 3:18).
Not bread? (Hab 2:13). It is the “bread of deceit” (Pr 20:17). Contrast this with the "bread of life" (John 6:32, 35; also LK. 14:16-20). Hearken . . . and eat; When two imperatives are joined, the second expresses the consequence of obeying the command in the first (Gen. 42:18). By hearkening ye shall eat "buy and eat." By buying, and so making it your own. Why should ye be so zealously attached to a doctrine from which your souls derive neither comfort nor nourishment?
First, we must listen diligently. The satisfaction G-d promises doesn't come to those who don't listen, and listen diligently. It takes time, attention, and effort to listen diligently, and some aren't willing do this.
Second, we must eat what is good. This requires some discernment. We must choose what is good, and then eat that. Many just simply eat whatever spiritual meal is set before them, without taking care to see that it is good.
Third, we must let your soul delight itself in abundance. Even when we listen, even when we eat what is good, we still must let our soul delight itself in abundance. You can sit down at a great spiritual meal, but by your stubborn or bad attitude, simply not let your soul delight itself in abundance.
I will make an everlasting covenant (Jer 32:40; 2 Sam 23:5) even the sure mercies of David, the mercies of grace (63:7; John 1:16) which I covenanted to give to David, and especially to Messiah, his antitype. Quoted in Acts 13:34. David did not lead through popularity polls or just giving the people what they wanted. He witnessed something from G-d, and he gave testimony of it to the people. Notice that David was a leader and a commander for the people. Not a leader and a commander of the people, but for the people.
The Messiah bore witness even unto death and claims, and plan of redeeming love (John 18:37; Rev. 1:5). Revelation is a "testimony"; because it is propounded to be received on the authority of the Giver, and not merely because it can be proved by arguments. The Commander is the "lawgiver".
Nations are gradation; from Israel, one nation, the Gospel spread to many nations, and will do so more fully on Israel's conversion.
Casting yourselves wholly on His mercy, unrighteous man! Hebrew, "man of iniquity"; true of all men. The "wicked" sins more openly in "his way"; the "unrighteous" refers to the more subtle workings of sin in the "thoughts." All are guilty in the latter respect, thought many fancy themselves safe, because not openly "wicked in ways" (Ps 94:11). The parallelism is that of gradation. The progress of the penitent is to be from negative reformation, "forsaking his way," and a farther step, "his thoughts," to positive repentance, "returning to the L-rd" (the only true repentance, Zec 12:10), and making G-d his G-d, along with the other children of G-d (the crowning point; appropriation of G-d to ourselves: "to our G-d"). "Return" implies that man originally walked with G-d, but has apostatized. Isaiah saith, "Our G-d," the G-d of the believing Israelites; those themselves redeemed desire others to come to their G-d (Ps 34:8; Rev. 22:17).
Abundantly pardon, means literally, "multiply to pardon," still more than "have mercy"; G-d's graciousness is felt more and more the longer one knows Him (Ps 130:7).
G-d's "thoughts" and "ways" in pardoning are not regulated by the proportion of the former, as men would be towards his fellow man who offended him. The hearts of men, once barren of spirituality, shall be made, by the outpouring of the Spirit under Messiah, to bear fruits of righteousness (5:6; Deut. 32:2; 2 Sam. 23:4; Ps 72:6).
The Word falling on the hard heart; it sometimes works a change at last; and even if so, it leaves men without excuse. The full accomplishment of this verse, and 55:12, 13, is, however, to be at the Jews' final restoration and conversion of the world (11:9-12; 60:1-5, 21).
These are general poetical images, expressing a great and happy change for the better. The thorn is an emblem of the wicked (2 Sam. 23:6; Mic 7:4).
Fir tree is the godly (60:13; Ps 92:12). Compare as to the change wrought, Rom. 6:19.
Brier is an emblem of uncultivation (5:6).
Myrtle in Hebrew, Hedes, from which comes Hedassah, the original name of Esther. Type of the Messianic Church; for it is a lowly, though beautiful, fragrant, and evergreen shrub (Ps 92:13, 14).
For a name for an everlasting sign is a perpetual memorial to the glory of Jehovah (Jer 13:11; 33:9). Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.
How far is the distance between G-d's thoughts and ours?
How far is the distance between His ways and ours?
G-d's Bride
[Isa. 58:5] 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.
Israel converted is compared to a wife (54:5; 62:5) put away for unfaithfulness, but now forgiven and taken home again. The converted Gentiles are represented as a new offspring of the long-forsaken but now restored wife. The pre-eminence of the Hebrew Church as the mother Church of Messianic is the leading idea; the conversion of the Gentiles is mentioned only as part of her felicity.
The whole chapter is G-d’s restored love for His bride. In ancient Israel, the barren woman carried an enormous load of shame and disgrace. Here, G-d likens captive Israel to a barren woman who can now sing - because now more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman. The children mention are the Gentiles that were adopted by special grace into the original Messianic church (54:3; 49:20, 21). Israel and her children, are distinguished from ‘the Gentiles’, the adopted chidren. They were the married wife’s spiritual children, when Israel was still a married wife (under the Law, before the Babylonian exile), before G-d put her away. (Gal. 4:27), but the full accomplishment of it is yet future.
The Babylonian exile and captivity meant more than oppression for Israel; it meant shame, disgrace, and humiliation. G-d promises a glorious release from not only the exile and captivity, but also from the shame, disgrace, and humiliation. The Hebrew verbs of shame, disgrace, and humiliation are sharing the fundamental idea of disappointed hopes, the embarrassment of expecting - even publicly announcing - one thing and then reaping another.
Not until He manifests Himself as G-d of Israel shall He appear as G-d of the whole earth (Ps 102:13, 15, 16; Zec 14:5, 9).
[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.“
Their enemies would "condemn" them, but I justify and vindicate them, and so they condemn their enemies.”
Though Israel might have been regarded as forsaken as a widow, G-d promises to stand in the place of her husband. Through the centuries, many a hurting woman has taken this promise for herself. Forsaken by a husband, or forsaken of a husband, they have found beautiful comfort in the promise that G-d would be a husband to them, when all others forsook them. The principle is true; G-d will supply and meet our emotional needs, and rescue us from our disgrace and shame, when others forsaken us. Not only does G-d supply a husband, but a great one - Himself!
The L-RD G-d can be a greater husband than any man can be. This is something for every single woman to remember; and something no married woman should forget. An earthly husband can never fulfill every need that the great Heavenly Husband can.
Israel converted is compared to a wife (54:5; 62:5) put away for unfaithfulness, but now forgiven and taken home again. The converted Gentiles are represented as a new offspring of the long-forsaken but now restored wife. The pre-eminence of the Hebrew Church as the mother Church of Messianic is the leading idea; the conversion of the Gentiles is mentioned only as part of her felicity.
The whole chapter is G-d’s restored love for His bride. In ancient Israel, the barren woman carried an enormous load of shame and disgrace. Here, G-d likens captive Israel to a barren woman who can now sing - because now more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman. The children mention are the Gentiles that were adopted by special grace into the original Messianic church (54:3; 49:20, 21). Israel and her children, are distinguished from ‘the Gentiles’, the adopted chidren. They were the married wife’s spiritual children, when Israel was still a married wife (under the Law, before the Babylonian exile), before G-d put her away. (Gal. 4:27), but the full accomplishment of it is yet future.
The Babylonian exile and captivity meant more than oppression for Israel; it meant shame, disgrace, and humiliation. G-d promises a glorious release from not only the exile and captivity, but also from the shame, disgrace, and humiliation. The Hebrew verbs of shame, disgrace, and humiliation are sharing the fundamental idea of disappointed hopes, the embarrassment of expecting - even publicly announcing - one thing and then reaping another.
Not until He manifests Himself as G-d of Israel shall He appear as G-d of the whole earth (Ps 102:13, 15, 16; Zec 14:5, 9).
[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.“
Their enemies would "condemn" them, but I justify and vindicate them, and so they condemn their enemies.”
Though Israel might have been regarded as forsaken as a widow, G-d promises to stand in the place of her husband. Through the centuries, many a hurting woman has taken this promise for herself. Forsaken by a husband, or forsaken of a husband, they have found beautiful comfort in the promise that G-d would be a husband to them, when all others forsook them. The principle is true; G-d will supply and meet our emotional needs, and rescue us from our disgrace and shame, when others forsaken us. Not only does G-d supply a husband, but a great one - Himself!
The L-RD G-d can be a greater husband than any man can be. This is something for every single woman to remember; and something no married woman should forget. An earthly husband can never fulfill every need that the great Heavenly Husband can.
Follow Righteousness
[Isa. 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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
“Seek it therefore from Me, who ‘bring it near,’ and that a righteousness ‘not about to be abolished’; look to Abraham’s faith, your father, as a sample of how righteousness before Me is to be obtained; I, the same G-d who blessed him, will bless you at last; therefore trust in Me, and fear not man's opposition. Have a want of oneness with heavens righteousness; develop a love and liking of it, and a vehement desire for it. Your what determines to an eager pursuit of it and its perfection, suitableness, and use: now such persons are called to hearken to Me; to My Word and to My ordinances, particularly to what is after said: ‘ye that seek the L-rd’, for life and salvation; for righteousness and strength; for more grace from Him; a greater knowledge of Him, and of doctrine from Him and more communion with Him; that seek His honor and glory in the world, and to be for ever with Him. Who seek affectionately and sincerely, carefully, diligently, constantly, and for everything they want. Once a believer gets eaten up with discouragement and unbelief it takes a great deal to shake him out of it. Those two emotions are the masterstrokes of Satan. So long as the child of Mine maintains an attitude of praise and trust, then he is invincible. Once the devil gets you discouraged, you are really going to take a knocking! The consideration of this should fill you with low thoughts of yourself and high thoughts of divine grace elevate Me! Righteousness is one of the synonyms for salvation and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are bless. It requires daily repenting that you may come before Me with clean hands. There is no salvation without righteousness; and, wherever there is the righteousness of Me, there shall be My salvation. That this righteousness and salvation shall very shortly appear: My righteousness is near. It is near in time; behold, all things are now ready. This righteousness and salvation shall not be confined to the Jewish nation, but is extended to the Gentiles; My arms shall judge the people. Those that will not yield to the judgments of My mouth shall be crushed by the judgments of My hand. It is for ever; for the consequences of it shall be to eternity, and by this law of liberty men's everlasting state will be determined. This eternity of the gospel and the blessed things it brings in is illustrated by the fading and perishing of this world and all things in it. You shall obtain that joy and gladness in seeking righteousness, which you could never obtain in a vale of tears. In the world of changes it is a short step from joy to sorrow, but in My world sorrow and mourning shall flee away, never to return or come in view again. I am the Father that comforts those that are cast down; I delight in being so. Those whom I comfort are comforted indeed; My undertaking to comfort them is comfort enough to them. Follow after "righteousness"; seek it therefore, from Me, and you will not have far to go for it.”
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
“Seek it therefore from Me, who ‘bring it near,’ and that a righteousness ‘not about to be abolished’; look to Abraham’s faith, your father, as a sample of how righteousness before Me is to be obtained; I, the same G-d who blessed him, will bless you at last; therefore trust in Me, and fear not man's opposition. Have a want of oneness with heavens righteousness; develop a love and liking of it, and a vehement desire for it. Your what determines to an eager pursuit of it and its perfection, suitableness, and use: now such persons are called to hearken to Me; to My Word and to My ordinances, particularly to what is after said: ‘ye that seek the L-rd’, for life and salvation; for righteousness and strength; for more grace from Him; a greater knowledge of Him, and of doctrine from Him and more communion with Him; that seek His honor and glory in the world, and to be for ever with Him. Who seek affectionately and sincerely, carefully, diligently, constantly, and for everything they want. Once a believer gets eaten up with discouragement and unbelief it takes a great deal to shake him out of it. Those two emotions are the masterstrokes of Satan. So long as the child of Mine maintains an attitude of praise and trust, then he is invincible. Once the devil gets you discouraged, you are really going to take a knocking! The consideration of this should fill you with low thoughts of yourself and high thoughts of divine grace elevate Me! Righteousness is one of the synonyms for salvation and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are bless. It requires daily repenting that you may come before Me with clean hands. There is no salvation without righteousness; and, wherever there is the righteousness of Me, there shall be My salvation. That this righteousness and salvation shall very shortly appear: My righteousness is near. It is near in time; behold, all things are now ready. This righteousness and salvation shall not be confined to the Jewish nation, but is extended to the Gentiles; My arms shall judge the people. Those that will not yield to the judgments of My mouth shall be crushed by the judgments of My hand. It is for ever; for the consequences of it shall be to eternity, and by this law of liberty men's everlasting state will be determined. This eternity of the gospel and the blessed things it brings in is illustrated by the fading and perishing of this world and all things in it. You shall obtain that joy and gladness in seeking righteousness, which you could never obtain in a vale of tears. In the world of changes it is a short step from joy to sorrow, but in My world sorrow and mourning shall flee away, never to return or come in view again. I am the Father that comforts those that are cast down; I delight in being so. Those whom I comfort are comforted indeed; My undertaking to comfort them is comfort enough to them. Follow after "righteousness"; seek it therefore, from Me, and you will not have far to go for it.”
G-d's Divorcement & Remarriage
[Isa. 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.
[2] Wherfore, 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. [
3] I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
[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.
[5] The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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:
[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. [Joel 2; 15-16] Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
[Isa. 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. In this chapter G-d vindicates His dealings with His people, whose alienation was owing to themselves, by allusion to the temporal deliverances connected with the drying up of the Red Sea and the Euphrates, asserts His power to save. And namely, by the obedience and sufferings of the Messiah, who was at length to prove victorious, exhorting to faith and trust in His Father in the most disconsolate circumstances; with a denunciation of vengeance on those who should trust to their own devices.
“Where is the bill, let them produce it if they can, for a bill of divorce was given into the hand of her that was divorced. Who divorce who? I gave you no such bill.” They were sent into Babylon for their idolatry, a sin which broke the marriage covenant. In the east they pay their debts by giving up their slaves, for these are their chief property of a disposable kind; and in many places they give their children to their creditors. “But this,” saith G-d, “cannot be My case, I am not governed by any such motives, neither am I urged by any such necessity. Your captivity therefore and your afflictions are to be imputed to yourselves, and to your own folly and wickedness. For when I come as the Messiah, notwithstanding your sins, I can still redeem you from your bondage and dispersion. I declare that the office has been assigned to Me of encouraging the weary exiles of Israel by words in season suited to your case; and that, whatever suffering it is to cost Me, I will not shrink from it for that I knows My cause will triumph at last. I learn not in mere human learning, but in divinely taught modes of instruction and eloquence. I will succor by words, namely, in your season of need, the weary dispersed ones of Israel and also, of the spiritual weary. I will be wakening My pupils early for instruction morning by morning, preparing you for receiving My divine instructions. I have learned obedience, experimentally, by the things which I suffered; thus gaining that practical learning which adapted Me for speaking a word in season to suffering mankind. None must undertake to be teachers who have not first been learners. Nor is it enough to hear, but you must hear as the learned, hear and understand, hear and remember, hear as those that would learn by what you hear. Those that would hear as the learned must be awake, and wakeful; for you are naturally drowsy and sleepy, and unapt to hear at all, or you hear by the halves, hear and do not heed. Your ears need to be wakened; you need to have something said to rouse you, to awaken you out of your spiritual slumbers that you may hear as for your lives. You need to be awakened morning by morning, as duly as the day returns, to be awakened to do the work of the day in its day. Your case calls for continual fresh supplies of divine grace, to free you from the dullness you contract daily. The morning, when your spirits are most lively, is a proper time for communion with Me; then you are in the best frame both to speak to Me and to hear from Me. If you do any thing to purpose in My service, it is Me who, as your Master, calls you up; and you should doze perpetually if I did not waken you morning by morning. I was not rebellious, neither turned away back but most willing to do the Father's will in proclaiming and procuring salvation for man, at the cost of My own sufferings. I set Myself resolutely, not to be daunted from My work of love by shame or suffering.” G-d’s greatest desire was for a more intimate relationship—one which could only be pictured between a husband and wife. To demonstrate this, Yahweh chose to use the marriage relationship as a “type or shadow” to the degree of intimacy He wanted with His people. The bride of the Messiah in Scriptures is pictured as a female, though the distinction of His bride being made up of males and females is irrelevant. There is no gender in our heavenly position in Messiah. Scriptures tell us we are all sons of G-d through faith. Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Y’Shua HaMashiach.” Many Believers today believe the ‘body’ and ‘Bride of the Messiah’ are synonymous terms. However, that is simply not true. The Greek word means ‘congregation of believers’ as referred to as His body in Ephesians 1:22-23. The definition of ‘church’ is ‘called out ones’ and refers to the remnant that came out from the body and is set apart for Him alone. Not everyone who has received the gift of salvation will respond to this ‘closer walk.’ Believers who continue to live a worldly, or carnal, lifestyle will not be ready to meet the Bridegroom. A godly man's way may be dark, but his end shall be peace and light. A wicked man's way may be bright, but his end shall be utter darkness. In contrast to the godly, and the wicked, in times of darkness, instead of trusting in Me, they trust in themselves (kindle a light for themselves to walk by). The human devices for salvation are like the spark that goes out in an instant in darkness. The Bride Of the Messiah is a remnant!
[2] Wherfore, 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. [
3] I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
[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.
[5] The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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:
[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. [Joel 2; 15-16] Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
[Isa. 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. In this chapter G-d vindicates His dealings with His people, whose alienation was owing to themselves, by allusion to the temporal deliverances connected with the drying up of the Red Sea and the Euphrates, asserts His power to save. And namely, by the obedience and sufferings of the Messiah, who was at length to prove victorious, exhorting to faith and trust in His Father in the most disconsolate circumstances; with a denunciation of vengeance on those who should trust to their own devices.
“Where is the bill, let them produce it if they can, for a bill of divorce was given into the hand of her that was divorced. Who divorce who? I gave you no such bill.” They were sent into Babylon for their idolatry, a sin which broke the marriage covenant. In the east they pay their debts by giving up their slaves, for these are their chief property of a disposable kind; and in many places they give their children to their creditors. “But this,” saith G-d, “cannot be My case, I am not governed by any such motives, neither am I urged by any such necessity. Your captivity therefore and your afflictions are to be imputed to yourselves, and to your own folly and wickedness. For when I come as the Messiah, notwithstanding your sins, I can still redeem you from your bondage and dispersion. I declare that the office has been assigned to Me of encouraging the weary exiles of Israel by words in season suited to your case; and that, whatever suffering it is to cost Me, I will not shrink from it for that I knows My cause will triumph at last. I learn not in mere human learning, but in divinely taught modes of instruction and eloquence. I will succor by words, namely, in your season of need, the weary dispersed ones of Israel and also, of the spiritual weary. I will be wakening My pupils early for instruction morning by morning, preparing you for receiving My divine instructions. I have learned obedience, experimentally, by the things which I suffered; thus gaining that practical learning which adapted Me for speaking a word in season to suffering mankind. None must undertake to be teachers who have not first been learners. Nor is it enough to hear, but you must hear as the learned, hear and understand, hear and remember, hear as those that would learn by what you hear. Those that would hear as the learned must be awake, and wakeful; for you are naturally drowsy and sleepy, and unapt to hear at all, or you hear by the halves, hear and do not heed. Your ears need to be wakened; you need to have something said to rouse you, to awaken you out of your spiritual slumbers that you may hear as for your lives. You need to be awakened morning by morning, as duly as the day returns, to be awakened to do the work of the day in its day. Your case calls for continual fresh supplies of divine grace, to free you from the dullness you contract daily. The morning, when your spirits are most lively, is a proper time for communion with Me; then you are in the best frame both to speak to Me and to hear from Me. If you do any thing to purpose in My service, it is Me who, as your Master, calls you up; and you should doze perpetually if I did not waken you morning by morning. I was not rebellious, neither turned away back but most willing to do the Father's will in proclaiming and procuring salvation for man, at the cost of My own sufferings. I set Myself resolutely, not to be daunted from My work of love by shame or suffering.” G-d’s greatest desire was for a more intimate relationship—one which could only be pictured between a husband and wife. To demonstrate this, Yahweh chose to use the marriage relationship as a “type or shadow” to the degree of intimacy He wanted with His people. The bride of the Messiah in Scriptures is pictured as a female, though the distinction of His bride being made up of males and females is irrelevant. There is no gender in our heavenly position in Messiah. Scriptures tell us we are all sons of G-d through faith. Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Y’Shua HaMashiach.” Many Believers today believe the ‘body’ and ‘Bride of the Messiah’ are synonymous terms. However, that is simply not true. The Greek word means ‘congregation of believers’ as referred to as His body in Ephesians 1:22-23. The definition of ‘church’ is ‘called out ones’ and refers to the remnant that came out from the body and is set apart for Him alone. Not everyone who has received the gift of salvation will respond to this ‘closer walk.’ Believers who continue to live a worldly, or carnal, lifestyle will not be ready to meet the Bridegroom. A godly man's way may be dark, but his end shall be peace and light. A wicked man's way may be bright, but his end shall be utter darkness. In contrast to the godly, and the wicked, in times of darkness, instead of trusting in Me, they trust in themselves (kindle a light for themselves to walk by). The human devices for salvation are like the spark that goes out in an instant in darkness. The Bride Of the Messiah is a remnant!
Eye of Sodom
[Isa. 3:9] The shew of their countenance doth witness against them The word translated "shew" is only used in this place. Which may be known by their countenances; the countenance oftentimes shows what is in the heart, the cruel disposition of the mind, the pride and vanity of it, the uncleanness and lasciviousness that is in it. It may be judged of them; their guilt flies in their face, and fills them with shame and confusion; not only their words and actions, but their disrespectful looks, show what they are. The steadfastness of their countenance-they appear to be bent on iniquity, their eyes tell the wickedness of their hearts. The eye is the index of the mind. Envy, hatred, malice, wickedness, and murder, when in the heart, look most intelligently out at the eye. They tell the innocent to be on their guard; they announce the presence of the destroyer. Impure tendency are particularly legible in the eyes for hey glory in their iniquity. This is the highest pitch of ungodliness.And they have committed it openly, without fear or shame; glory in it, and boast of it! Woe unto their soul - they have brought upon themselves, soul and body, the just recommence of reward; they have been the cause of their own ruin, and have wronged their own souls. Every man's sin is against his own soul. Evil awaits sinners-and he that offends his G-d injures himself. The condition of sinners is woeful and very deplorable. Their minds are vain, and lewd, and malicious; their eyes declare plainly that they cannot cease from sin. One may look them in the face and guess at the desperate wickedness that there is in their hearts. They declare their sin as Sodom, so unthinking, so domineering, are their lusts, and so impatient of the least check, and so perfectly are all the remaining sparks of virtue extinguished in them. The Sodomites declared their sin, not only by the exceeding greatness of it (Genesis 13:13), so that it cried to heaven (Genesis 18:20), but by their shameless owning of that which was most shameful (Genesis 19:5); and thus Judah and Jerusalem did: they were so far from hiding it that they gloried in it, in the bold attempts they made upon virtue, and the victory they gained over their own convictions. They had a whore's forehead (Jeremiah 3:3) and could not blush, Jeremiah 6:15. Note: Those that have grown impudent in sin are ripe for ruin. Those that are past shame are past grace, and then past hope, without repentance.That their guides, who should direct them in the right way, put them out of the way, mislead them; they cause them to err. Either they preached to them that which was false and corrupt, or, if they preached that which was true and good, they contradicted it by their practices, and the people would soon follow a bad example than a good exhortation. Thus they destroyed the ways of their paths, pulling down with one hand what they built up with the other.Their priests applauded them, as if nothing were amiss among them, cried Peace, peace, to them, as if they were in no danger; and thus they caused them to go on in their errors.Look deep into ones’ eyes and you will know how to pray for their soul.
Look at ME!
[Isa. 45:22] Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.This simple but powerful statement shows the plan of salvation. It shows the simplicity of salvation: all we must do is look. "One can read may books on theology which expound all kinds of things in an attempt to show how man can reach G-d, but these theories are far from the truth. The Holy Spirit needs exactly four letters, two of them the same, to tell us what to do: l-o-o-k. That is all. It is the simplest, basic thing any person can do, yet the most difficult to do in daily living.
It shows the focus of salvation: we must look to G-d, and never to ourselves or to anything else of man. "Look unto ME, is His Word, which means looking away from the church because that will save nobody; away from the preacher because he can disappoint and disillusion you; away from all outward form and ceremony. You must look off from all this to the throne and there, in your heart, see the risen, reigning L-rd Y’Shua HaMashiach."
It shows the love behind salvation: G-d pleads with man, "Look to Me.”
It shows the assurance of salvation: and be saved.
It shows the extent of G-d's saving love: all you ends of the earth!
Look to Me: In Numbers 21, the people of Israel were stricken by deadly snake bites, and Moses lifted up the image of a bronze serpent, raised on a pole, and the people who looked to it lived. The people were saved not by doing anything, but by simply looking to the bronze serpent. They had to trust that something as seemingly foolish as looking at such a thing would be sufficient to save them, and surely, some perished because they thought it too foolish to do such a thing!
So it says here in Isaiah: Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! We might be willing to do a hundred things to earn our salvation, but G-d commands us to only trust in Him - to look to Him!
For I am G-d, and there is no other: This is why we must look to the L-RD, and to the
L-RD alone only He is G-d. Institutions are not G-d. The Church is not G-d. Pastors are not G-d. Brothers and sisters in Messiah are not G-d. We don't look to them; we look to the L-RD, for He alone is G-d.
[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.
When G-d confirms an oath, who does He swear by? He swears by Himself. There is no one greater, so He swears by His own holy name and character. Heb. 6:13.
The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath. He shall say, "Surely in the L-RD
I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come, and all shall be ashamed who are incensed against Him. In the L-RD all the descendants of Israel shall be justified, and shall glory.”
That to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath: The L-RD here declares there will come a day when every knee shall bow to Him, and every tongue will swear by His greatness. Paul obviously quoted this passage in Philippians 2:10-11.
[25] In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
One day the Israelites will be our priest and teachers of all things that concern G-d, just as He original meant it to be!
G-d is in control!
[Isa. 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;
Thus says the L-RD to Cyrus: Isaiah carries on this remarkable prophecy from the previous chapter. In it, G-d announces - by name - the deliverer for His people from a coming captivity, and He does it 200 years before the man Cyrus is born. These things Cyrus knew from reading the book of prophecy which Isaiah had left behind two hundred and ten years earlier.
His anointed means that Cyrus had a particular anointing from G-d for His work. G-d poured out His Spirit on a pagan king, because G-d wanted to use that man to bless and deliver His people.
Like many of us, Cyrus could look back on his life and career and see how the L-RD held his hand the entire time.
To open before him the double doors, so that the gates will not be shut: G-d opened the gates of the city of Babylon for Cyrus, and put it in writing 200 years before it happened!
[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:
[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.
[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.
G-d raises up one, and He puts down another. Behind all the drama of human events today there is a G-d who is planning for His people - through affliction and persecution, chastening and tribulation - to be perfected and prepared to inherit the Kingdom of G-d.
[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:
I will gird you, though you have not known Me: Cyrus didn't even know the L-RD, yet G-d could anoint him, guide him, bless him, and use him. How much more should G-d be able to do through those who have at least a mustard seed's worth of faith in Him!
[6] That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me.
I am the L-RD, and there is none else.
There is none besides Me - This was wonderfully fulfilled in Ezra 1:1-3. That passage shows how when Cyrus made his proclamation allowing the people of G-d to return to the Promised Land, that he acknowledged to the whole world the greatness and uniqueness of the L-RD G-d of Israel.
[7] I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil:
I the LORD do all these things.
I make peace and create calamity; I, the L-RD, do all these things: Simply put, Isaiah knows, Cyrus would know and declare to the whole world, and we should know today, that G-d is in control. Since this prophecy was given long before G-d's people went into the captivity Isaiah now announces deliverance from, they could be comforted through the captivity by knowing G-d is in control.
Isaiah's point is that there are not two gods or forces in heaven, one good and one bad, as in a dualistic "yin and yang" sense. Cyrus was a Persian, and Persian had a dualistic concept of G-d and the world. Their good god they called Ahura-mazda and the evil god Angra-mainya. The former had created the light, the second the darkness.
But G-d has no opposite. Satan is not and has never been G-d's opposite. There is one G-d. He is not the author of evil; evil is never "original," but always a perversion of an existing good. Yet G-d is the allower of evil, and He uses it to accomplish His eternal purpose of bringing together all things in Y’Shua (Ephesians 3:8-11 and 1:9-10).
Creat evil - Even though much of the physical evil often comes through the hand of wicked men and women, ultimately G-d permits it. Thus, according to the Hebrew way of speaking, which ignores secondary causation in a way Western though would never do whatever G-d permits must be directly attributed to Him, often without noting that secondary and sinful parties were the immediate causes of physical disaster.
The evil spoken of in this text refers to natural evil and not moral evil. Natural evil is seen in the volcano eruption, plague, earthquake, and destructive fire. It is G-d who must allow these calamities to come.
Evil is not a substance; it is a by-product of our freedom, and especially our sin. The effects of that sin did not fall solely on the world of humans; its devastating effects hit the whole natural world as well. Any disaster must fall within the sovereign will of G-d, even though G-d is not the sponsor or author of that evil.
When G-d does great, miraculous things, it is easy to believe that He is in control. When times are hard and the trials heavy, we need to believe it all the more.
Thus says the L-RD to Cyrus: Isaiah carries on this remarkable prophecy from the previous chapter. In it, G-d announces - by name - the deliverer for His people from a coming captivity, and He does it 200 years before the man Cyrus is born. These things Cyrus knew from reading the book of prophecy which Isaiah had left behind two hundred and ten years earlier.
His anointed means that Cyrus had a particular anointing from G-d for His work. G-d poured out His Spirit on a pagan king, because G-d wanted to use that man to bless and deliver His people.
Like many of us, Cyrus could look back on his life and career and see how the L-RD held his hand the entire time.
To open before him the double doors, so that the gates will not be shut: G-d opened the gates of the city of Babylon for Cyrus, and put it in writing 200 years before it happened!
[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:
[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.
[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.
G-d raises up one, and He puts down another. Behind all the drama of human events today there is a G-d who is planning for His people - through affliction and persecution, chastening and tribulation - to be perfected and prepared to inherit the Kingdom of G-d.
[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:
I will gird you, though you have not known Me: Cyrus didn't even know the L-RD, yet G-d could anoint him, guide him, bless him, and use him. How much more should G-d be able to do through those who have at least a mustard seed's worth of faith in Him!
[6] That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me.
I am the L-RD, and there is none else.
There is none besides Me - This was wonderfully fulfilled in Ezra 1:1-3. That passage shows how when Cyrus made his proclamation allowing the people of G-d to return to the Promised Land, that he acknowledged to the whole world the greatness and uniqueness of the L-RD G-d of Israel.
[7] I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil:
I the LORD do all these things.
I make peace and create calamity; I, the L-RD, do all these things: Simply put, Isaiah knows, Cyrus would know and declare to the whole world, and we should know today, that G-d is in control. Since this prophecy was given long before G-d's people went into the captivity Isaiah now announces deliverance from, they could be comforted through the captivity by knowing G-d is in control.
Isaiah's point is that there are not two gods or forces in heaven, one good and one bad, as in a dualistic "yin and yang" sense. Cyrus was a Persian, and Persian had a dualistic concept of G-d and the world. Their good god they called Ahura-mazda and the evil god Angra-mainya. The former had created the light, the second the darkness.
But G-d has no opposite. Satan is not and has never been G-d's opposite. There is one G-d. He is not the author of evil; evil is never "original," but always a perversion of an existing good. Yet G-d is the allower of evil, and He uses it to accomplish His eternal purpose of bringing together all things in Y’Shua (Ephesians 3:8-11 and 1:9-10).
Creat evil - Even though much of the physical evil often comes through the hand of wicked men and women, ultimately G-d permits it. Thus, according to the Hebrew way of speaking, which ignores secondary causation in a way Western though would never do whatever G-d permits must be directly attributed to Him, often without noting that secondary and sinful parties were the immediate causes of physical disaster.
The evil spoken of in this text refers to natural evil and not moral evil. Natural evil is seen in the volcano eruption, plague, earthquake, and destructive fire. It is G-d who must allow these calamities to come.
Evil is not a substance; it is a by-product of our freedom, and especially our sin. The effects of that sin did not fall solely on the world of humans; its devastating effects hit the whole natural world as well. Any disaster must fall within the sovereign will of G-d, even though G-d is not the sponsor or author of that evil.
When G-d does great, miraculous things, it is easy to believe that He is in control. When times are hard and the trials heavy, we need to believe it all the more.
The folly of idol makers
The sacred writers are generally large and eloquent upon the subject of idolatry; they treat it with great severity, and set forth the absurdity of it in the strongest light. But the passage of Isaiah 44 far exceeds anything that ever was written upon the subject, in force of argument, energy of expression, and elegance of composition.
Those who make an image, all of them are useless, and their precious things shall not profit; they are their own witnesses; they neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed. Who would form a idol or mold an image that profits him nothing? Surely all his companions would be ashamed; and the workmen, they are mere men. Let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, they shall be ashamed together. The blacksmith with the tongs works one in the coals, fashions it with hammers, and works it with the strength of his arms. Even so, he is hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water and is faint. The craftsman stretches out his rule, he marks one out with chalk; he fashions it with a plane, he marks it out with the compass, and makes it like the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house. He cuts down cedars for himself, and takes the cypress and the oak; he secures it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a pine, and the rain nourishes it. Then it shall be for a man to burn, for he will take some of it and warm himself; yes, he kindles it and bakes bread; indeed he makes a god and worships it; he makes it a carved image, and falls down to it. He burns half of it in the fire; with this half he eats meat; he roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He even warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire." And the rest of it he makes into a god, his carved image. He falls down before it and worships it, prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god!" They do not know nor understand; for He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand. And no one considers in his heart, nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, "I have burned half of it in the fire, yes, I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten it; and shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?" He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside; and he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?
And such passages as these are added in such cases to give an account of the abnormal madness of sinners herein; because, as they willfully shut their own eyes, and harden their own hearts, so G-d judicially blinds and hardens them, and gives them up to believe lies, and then it is no wonder if they fall into such dotages.
If the foolishness of the alternative wasn't enough, G-d gives His people many more reasons to trust and love Him: I have formed you . . . you are My servant . . . you will not be forgotten by Me . . . I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions . . . I have redeemed you. Any one of these would be reason enough, but combined, they are overwhelming.
Sing, O heavens, for the L-RD has done it! This is the only logical reaction to seeing who G-d is. And if G-d's people won't do it, then creation itself will (Shout, you lower parts of the earth; break into singing, you mountains).
Those who make an image, all of them are useless, and their precious things shall not profit; they are their own witnesses; they neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed. Who would form a idol or mold an image that profits him nothing? Surely all his companions would be ashamed; and the workmen, they are mere men. Let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, they shall be ashamed together. The blacksmith with the tongs works one in the coals, fashions it with hammers, and works it with the strength of his arms. Even so, he is hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water and is faint. The craftsman stretches out his rule, he marks one out with chalk; he fashions it with a plane, he marks it out with the compass, and makes it like the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house. He cuts down cedars for himself, and takes the cypress and the oak; he secures it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a pine, and the rain nourishes it. Then it shall be for a man to burn, for he will take some of it and warm himself; yes, he kindles it and bakes bread; indeed he makes a god and worships it; he makes it a carved image, and falls down to it. He burns half of it in the fire; with this half he eats meat; he roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He even warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire." And the rest of it he makes into a god, his carved image. He falls down before it and worships it, prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god!" They do not know nor understand; for He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand. And no one considers in his heart, nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, "I have burned half of it in the fire, yes, I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten it; and shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?" He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside; and he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?
And such passages as these are added in such cases to give an account of the abnormal madness of sinners herein; because, as they willfully shut their own eyes, and harden their own hearts, so G-d judicially blinds and hardens them, and gives them up to believe lies, and then it is no wonder if they fall into such dotages.
If the foolishness of the alternative wasn't enough, G-d gives His people many more reasons to trust and love Him: I have formed you . . . you are My servant . . . you will not be forgotten by Me . . . I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions . . . I have redeemed you. Any one of these would be reason enough, but combined, they are overwhelming.
Sing, O heavens, for the L-RD has done it! This is the only logical reaction to seeing who G-d is. And if G-d's people won't do it, then creation itself will (Shout, you lower parts of the earth; break into singing, you mountains).
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