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TH1158: On-Line
Teaching Notes
ISAIAH
Please turn in your Bibles to Isaiah chapter 51, as we continue our study through the Word of God. Last week we began a section of Scripture that began with the birth of the Messiah and will ultimately lead us to His death on the cross of Calvary, as chapter 53 concludes. And here in chapter 51 God is calling for His people to look to Him, specifically Israel and we can also say this speaks of the church for we are all children of Abraham by faith. We see Paul expound on this thought in Galatians when he says "Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham...And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Also Matthew 8:11, Romans 4:11-25). So lets begin reading in Isaiah chapter 51, beginning in verse 1.
ISAIAH 51
VERSE 1
1. God is calling out to all those who are seeking after righteousness, which I think I can safely assume all of us are seeking after. And He wants us to recognize that He has created us, we are a chip off the old block you might say. And not only were we created out of the rock, but God has pulled us up out of the miry pit of sin that we were drowning in. He wants us to remember our roots, where we came from, for as we look back we can rejoice over what God has done. Too often people remember "the good old days" but the truth of the matter, outside of Christ, they weren't good at all. We just have a bad memory. Be honest when you look back and thank God for His saving grace that pulled you out of death and destruction into His glorious light, His kingdom!
VERSE 2
1. When the Jew's look to father Abraham, they hold him in high esteem. But when God called Abram out of the Ur of the Chaldeans he was an idol worshiping gentile, who by faith, obeyed God, crossed over the Euphrates River to go to a land he didn't know, Canaan. It was then he was called a Hebrew, which means "one who has crossed over", for he left the world behind to follow God's leading. He had separated himself from the world and unto God. (Genesis 11:28-31, Joshua 24:2).
2. God is speaking to us, encouraging us to look at the roots of our faith, Jesus Christ, and take those steps of faith like Abraham did, as difficult as they may be, for He will guide us.
VERSE 3
1. Keep in mind that God is speaking of their Babylonian captivity, and how the land was destroyed as they were carried away to Babylon. But, one day they would return and the land would be restored and filled with joy.
2. Now that is a partial fulfillment, and we are seeing today, as the Jews have returned to the land, that it is blossoming once again with life. It has become the third largest exporter of fruit in the world! And yet, that still is only a partial fulfillment, for this is looking to the kingdom age when the whole earth will be restored to its beauty before sin had entered the world.
VERSES 4-6
1. God is calling out to the people of the world, extending His arm of salvation to all before His judgment comes upon those who have rejected His gift of life. He wants us to hold on to that which is eternal versus that which is temporary, this world and the things that are found in it. Since sin entered the world there has been a steady degree of wearing down, not only of the earth, but of the universe itself. The sun, for example, is giving off 1,200,000 tons of mass every second. That means every hour the sun is shrinking about 5 feet or its diameter is decreasing one-tenth per century. Thus, don't put your faith in things that are temporary, but place it upon that which is eternal - THE LORD!
It is as Peter said "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless." II Peter 3:10-14.
VERSE 7
1. During their captivity, God is telling them to focus upon Him and not what man can do to them. And God is also speaking to each of us, for no longer has God placed His law on tablets of stone, but upon our hearts. In Jeremiah 31:31-33 we read "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
You see, we are a new creation in Christ, and we do not obey Him out of the Law, but out of love. We desire to do good, to please Him. And as God plants His desires in our hearts He directs us down the path we should go.
2. The other issue is seeing the boldness of the wicked today and the cowering away from standing up for righteousness by Christians. Two points to make here. First of all, what can man really do to us? We are not to fear man, for the most they can do is destroy these tents, these bodies. The other issue is this, if God is for us then who can be against us? Don't be afraid to stand up for righteousness, for the wicked have no problem promoting their evil ways!
VERSE 8
1. For those who reject the gift of life found in Christ, they will enter into God's judgment. And for those who think Hell is a party place, think again. Jesus said in Mark 9:46 that Hell is the place , "where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.'" Why won't the worm die? Because it will have your eternal body to eat and consume! Why isn't the fire quenched? Because it will have your eternal body to consume! Not a pretty picture, but it is the truth and to water it down would only make people comfortable with going to Hell, and they shouldn't be!
Now some may feel that God is unfair in sending people to this place of torment. But understand this, God doesn't send them there, they chose to go there themselves. It is as God said in Ezekiel 18, "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself...'Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?' says the Lord GOD, 'and not that he should turn from his ways and live?'...Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 'For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,' says the Lord GOD. 'Therefore turn and live!'" Ezekiel 18:20, 23, 31-32. The heart of God is that His people would turn to Him and not die, but many have and will refuse that gift of life He has given to us.
VERSE 9
1. God's people are calling for God to awaken and do something about their captivity in Babylon. They remembered how God delivered them from Rahab, symbolic for Egypt, and how he wounded the serpent, again speaking of Egypt or Pharaoh. They wanted God to intervene and bring them out of the captivity as He did back when they were in Egypt.
VERSE 10
1. Here they are reminding God how He dried the waters of the "great deep", the Red Sea, so the children of Israel could cross through on dry ground. Now some liberal scholars point out that the Jews did not cross through the Red Sea, but the Sea of Reeds, which is only a couple of inches deep. And when a strong wind would come, it could blow the water back so they walked on dry ground. Two points on that. The Scriptures speak of the "great deep" and not the "great shallow"! And secondly, for those that reject the miracle of God drying up the waters of the Red Sea, they have a bigger problem and maybe an even greater miracle to dismiss. You see, if they crossed over at the Sea of Reeds, that means the entire Egyptian army drowned in a couple of inches of water! But here, the Jewish people are asking God to act like He did when He destroyed the Egyptians, and to free them from the bondage they are in, to deliver them from this captivity!
VERSE 11
1. Now Isaiah is speaking to them and He tells them that they will be redeemed, they will return home to Zion. And in Psalm 126 we see what that day was all about as they made their ascent up to the mountain of the Lord, up to Jerusalem. We read "When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, 'The LORD has done great things for them.' The LORD has done great things for us, And we are glad. Bring back our captivity, O LORD, As the streams in the South. Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him." Sin caused them to go into captivity but God would be the one who would set them free, redeem them!
VERSES 12-14
1. God is asking them why they are fearing man. Jesus said in Luke 12:4-5, "And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!" All that man can do is destroy this body of flesh, but not the soul. If you know Christ, to be absent from the body, this tent, is to be present with the Lord! Today we are more fearful of what man can do to us than we are of what a holy and righteous God can do. Hebrews 10:31 says "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Why? "For our God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:29.
2. We need to have a proper perspective of the situations we are in. Never take God out of the picture for when you do, things do look hopeless. God has created the heavens and the earth, He can handle our problems. And when we do take our eyes off of God and place them on the situation, we tend to get ourselves in all kinds of trouble as we scheme to get out of the mess we are in. Remember what Proverbs 29:25 says, "The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe." God will preserve His people!
VERSES 15-16
1. God is still in control, don't fear. God has given us words to say in the various situations we find ourselves in and His hand is protecting us. God is awake, He is not sleeping, in fact, we are going to see that God's people were the ones who were asleep.
VERSE 17
1. God is calling for them to awaken out of their spiritual sleep. Their sin, their idolatry is the thing that brought them into captivity and they have drunk from the cup of judgment, God did not force them.
VERSE 18
1. Towards the end, prior to the Southern Kingdom of Judah's captivity, there was no godly leadership, and thus the people followed the direction the leaders were leading them, into judgment. I think we are seeing that in our own nation today, where our leaders will not stand up for what is right, and the people will continue to follow their lead. A couple of verses for you to think about, and as you listen, you will see how they correspond to what is happening with the leadership in our country. Proverbs 11:14 says "Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety." Proverbs 28:12 says "When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory; But when the wicked arise, men hide themselves." And Proverbs 29:2 says "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan."
VERSES 19-20
1. Judgment was coming at the hands of the Babylonians, and this is what it was going to look like. Upon the land and the city there will be desolation and destruction. Upon the inhabitants of the land, the people, there will be famine and the sword. And that is what took place. They destroyed the land, caused famine in the city as they cut the city off from the outside world, and once they came into the city they killed many people, all because they turned from God.
VERSE 21
1. Again, they are not drunk with wine, but with sin which when full, God's judgment was poured out upon them.
VERSES 22-23
1. God is looking to restore the nation, but for those who oppressed God's people, judgment will now come upon them. God will take care of the situation, we don't need to pour out our wrath on anyone. In fact, we are to do just the opposite. We are to love those who hate us, those who oppress us. That is our responsibility. Paul, in Romans chapter 12, makes that point very clear in regards to our responsibility, and God's. Starting in verse 17 we read "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. Therefore 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:17-21. A very different picture than what we see the Christian militia groups and those who are killing abortion doctors, and-so-on, are trying to promote.
ISAIAH 52
VERSES 1-2
1. When they were carried away into captivity they went out with neck shackles and chains. Now God is calling for them to awaken and remove those chains that bound them. He is calling for them to return home to Zion.
2. This, of course, is also looking towards the New Jerusalem. In the New Jerusalem we will see only those clothed in the righteousness of Christ. There will be no uncleanness found. And thus, the call is to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, to be clothed in His righteousness, and make no provision for the flesh!
VERSE 3
1. We can easily point to Israel and their foolish mistakes, but man is not different today. Man sells his soul for nothing. What is your soul worth? If the Devil met you after study this evening and told you he would give you whatever you wanted, and all he wanted in return was your soul, how much would you sell it for? People today have sold their soul for wine, women and song, and the reality is, all that he has to offer is only temporary, it will perish and so will you in the end. God has everlasting life that is a free gift to all who receive it. But the choice is ours!
2. For Judah, they sold their souls because of idolatry, and yet, God says He will redeem them, but not by money. In fact, He has done the same with all of us who have been born into sin, He has redeemed us by His life! It is as Peter said "knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." I Peter 1:18-19. Don't trample under foot what cost God His life, your salvation!
VERSES 4-6
1. God has delivered His people from their bondage in Egypt. Then from the bondage that the Assyrians had placed upon them. And God can deliver them from the bondage in Babylon, for nothing is too hard for Him. But the reason they went into captivity was their idolatry, they put their faith in nothing instead of the true and living God. And now the Babylonians, like the other pagan nations would do, were gloating over their victory, saying their god's were stronger than the God of Judah and they gave the Babylonians a reason to blasphemy God because of their sin. But out of it all they will turn back to God.
VERSE 7
1. Then it was the good news of their deliverance from Babylon. But in the New Testament Paul picks up on this verse and quotes it in Romans 10:15. Lets pick up on what Paul is saying by backing up to verse 9 of Romans chapter 10. We read "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For 'whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.' How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!'" Romans 10:9-15. Paul is saying that the good news is the gospel message and how beautiful it is to go out and tell others of that good news. Because without it, there is only despair and hopelessness. They can't be saved unless they hear the truths of God found in the Word of God. And a people that once were in bondage can be set free in Christ. That is not just good news, it is great news!
VERSE 8
1. The joy of being set free from their captivity and returning home to Zion!
VERSES 9-10
1. The work of creation was just a snap of His fingers you might say. But when it came to our salvation he, in a sense, rolled up his sleeves and went to work. You see, God became flesh, went to the cross to die for our sins, and rose the third day. It was not just a snap of His fingers, it cost Him His life!
2. Now the word has come, they are free to go home, and God says to them...
VERSE 11
1. God calls for them to go, leave Babylon and not to take anything from Babylon, leave their pagan practices behind. When God calls us He also tells us not to take any of those idols with us, to leave the fleshly desires behind and walk in the Spirit. Paul makes that very clear in Romans 12:1-2, when he says "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
(Also I John 2:15-17).
VERSE 12
1. When they left Egypt they did so in haste, for Pharaoh was going to change his mind. But now, as they left Babylon, Cyrus was going to let them return home, they didn't have to run or be in a hurry. And in their journey back, God would go before them and prepare the way, and He would watch their backside so no one could sneak up and attack them.
2. Sadly enough, when the call came to depart, out of the 2-3 million that went into captivity, only just under 50,000 returned home. The others became comfortable in Babylon, the world. But the ones that came home were the committed ones, and they needed to be, for there would be much work ahead for them.
3. As I have said before, the text is inspired by God but the chapter and verse divisions are not. They were placed at a more recent time for our convince. And thus, it seems that the next 3 verses fit in with chapter 53 more so than with chapter 52, as you will see.
VERSE 13
1. This of course is speaking of Jesus that He will be exalted and extolled or lifted up very high. Now that phrase "lifted up very high" is an interesting one for when the Scriptures were translated from Hebrew to Greek, the Septuagint version in around 270 BC, the translators used the same Greek words that were to come from the mouth of Jesus in John 12:32, "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." Now some have come to the wrong conclusion that if you lift Jesus up people will be drawn to Him. That is not what Jesus is saying, for in verse 33 we are told "This He said, signifying by what death He would die." It is through His crucifixion that many will be drawn to Him!
VERSE 14
1. Here is a very difficult verse for all those who love the Lord. Our Lord's face was so marred, so beaten, so disfigured by the abuse He took, that He did not even resemble a man. We are told that He had His beard plucked out, Isaiah 50:6. They blindfolded Him and punched Him in the face, Luke 22:64. Not knowing when and where the punches were coming He took the full force of each one. He had a crown of thorns upon His head, with these thorns being some 3 to 5 inches long, John 19:2. If you remember the first "Rocky" movie, and the end of the show, as the boxing match was over, Rocky's face was so swollen and disfigured by the beating he took, and yet, our Lord's disfigurement was much worse, it was real, and it was so bad He didn't even look like a man anymore!
VERSE 15
1. Now that is not the worst of it, for in His glorified body I believe Jesus still bears the marks He endured for each of us, showing us how much He loves us. Why do I say that? Because the Scriptures seem to indicate that. Every time Jesus appeared after His resurrection, His disciples did not recognize Him. Why? Because He was so disfigured by the beatings He endured for us. And as this verse says, as the nations, the kings look upon Him, they will be "startled" not "sprinkled" by what they see. In John chapter 20, when Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, she thought He was the gardener until Jesus called her by name, and then she recognized Him. In Luke chapter 24, the two men traveling on the road to Emmaus, they did not recognize that the Lord was walking with them until they sat down and Jesus broke bread with them, and then they saw the nail prints in His hand and recognized it was the Lord.
And in John chapter 21, as the disciples were getting bored, frustrated as they waited for the Lord, and they decided to go fishing instead of waiting. And they caught nothing that night. And as morning approached, Jesus was walking on the shore and cried out to them, "Hey boys, did you catch anything?" And they told Jesus that they had not. And Jesus tells them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat, they of coarse were fishing on the wrong side, and now their nets were filled to overflowing with fish. And Peter, having a similar experience with the Lord earlier on, took off his clothes, jumped into the water and swam as fast as he could to be by his Lord. And as they all had finally reached shore, Jesus had a breakfast waiting for them. And then John says something that is very strange in verse 12. We read "Jesus said to them, 'Come and eat breakfast.' Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, 'Who are You?'; knowing that it was the Lord."
I believe they couldn't recognize Him because of the marks of love He bore in His body for us, they still remain. Remember He told Thomas to touch Him, put his hands in the hole on His side and the hole in His hands. And in Revelation chapter 5, as John is weeping bitterly because no one is able to redeem the title deed of the earth back from Satan, to take that scroll back, in steps the lion from the tribe of Judah, Jesus. And John says in verse 6 "And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain,..."
It is a hard one to swallow knowing that Jesus will bear these marks in His body, while we, in our glorified bodies will have no handicap or disfigurement. It tells me that for eternity to come, we will constantly be reminded of His great love for us, His body will show that!