Isaiah 52
OGCEXAMINATION Chapter S FORTY-NINE THROUGH FIFTY-THREE
DEFINITION
(Define the following words or phrases as they were discussed in the comments.)
Israel
cup of staggering
acceptable time
sprinkle man nations
Sinim
griefs and sorrows
graven on palms
wounded
face like flint
pleased, pleasure
monster
bruised
MEMORIZATION
Surely he hath _____ our griefs, and carried our _____; yet we did esteem him _____, smitten of God, an _____ But he was _____ for our transgressions, he was _____ for our iniquities; the chastisement of our _____ was upon him; and with his stripes we are _____. All we like sheep have gone _____; we have turned every one to his own _____; and Jehovah hath laid on him the _____ of us all. (Isaiah 53:4-6)
EXPLANATION
Explain the prediction that the Messiah would experience frustration.
Explain how the Messiah was to become a covenant.
Explain why the Servant (Messiah) was to be as one who was taught.
Explain how O.T. people could have God’s law on their heart.
Explain how the cup of staggering was taken out of Jerusalem’s hand.
Explain how Christ bore our griefs and sorrows in His death.
Explain why Isaiah 53 does not teach divine healing for today.
Explain why the Messiah would be satisfied with the travail of His soul.
Explain why the majority of the Jews did not accept Jesus as the Servant.
APPLICATION
(In its context every scripture has one meaningthe author’s intended meaning. How may the following be applied in the believer’s life?)
Is there an application for overcoming frustration in our own human experience from the Messiah’s overcoming?
How may we apply the proofs we have that God bared His holy arm in Jesus Christ?
Does the humiliating entrance and exit of the Messiah in history apply to modern man’s relation to God?
Does the personal refusal of Christ to defend Himself at His illegal trial and death mean Christians must never defend themselves? Why?
How can modern men accept and apply the death of a Jewish man (Jesus) nearly 2000 years ago for the atonement of their personal sins?
Are there any definitive manifestations of God’s love in this section that may contradict the allegation that the God of the O.T. is only a God of wrath?
Are there any teachings in this section which may be applied to the idea that there is salvation for the world only in Jesus Christ?
SPECIAL STUDY THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD AS MANIFESTED BY THE PROPHETS
by John Butterman INTRODUCTION
I.
God is Righteous in Judging His People
God is the judge over all the earth
a.
From the beginning in the Hebrew community the judges were acting on behalf of God (Deuteronomy 1:17)
b.
It was unthinkable that he would act unfairly (Genesis 18:25)
God is the fountain of justice
a.
Everything he does may be relied upon as just (Deuteronomy 32:4; Zephaniah 3:5)
b.
God’s equity as judge will be seen most clearly in the day of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God (Romans 2:5)
c.
Man’s righteousness is defined in terms of God’s judgment
God is impartial in his dealings
a.
The prophet Amos called for a similar righteousness in men (Amos 5:15; Amos 5:24)
b.
Inflicting retribution is an element of the righteousness of God (Isaiah 61:2)
c.
If in a world of unrighteousness, righteousness is to be established, God himself must become the indicator and protector of the oppressed.
d.
God’s righteousness is manifested in his defense of those who have no helper (Psalms 10:14; Psalms 72:12)
II.
God is Righteous in Protecting His People
In his rescue of them from Egypt
a.
The victories which accomplished this are described as the righteous acts of God (Judges 5:11; 1 Samuel 12:7)
b.
The pharaoh himself acknowledged that the ten plagues were evidence of God’s righteousness (Exodus 9:27)
In his redemption of his people from exile
a.
God showed his righteousness by this deliverance
b.
This righteousness is closely associated with salvation (Isaiah 45:8; Isaiah 46:13; Isaiah 51:5-6)
In his redemption of his people from sin
a.
The messianic king is just and having salvation (Zechariah 9:9)
b.
The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes; in it is revealed the righteousness of God
MAIN THOUGHTS
I.
The Prophets Revealed the Righteousness of God
Man has no righteousness of his own
a.
It hurts to be told that man’s righteousness is but a filthy rag in God’s sight
b.
How futile to try to establish our own righteousness by our own works (Isaiah 64:4)
c.
The human heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9) and therefore cannot produce righteousness acceptable to God
d.
The garment of our own self-righteousness is our pride (Isaiah 64:9)
e.
Man must turn from his own self-righteousness to Christ who was made unto us righteousness (Isaiah 45:8; Isaiah 45:24; Isaiah 46:12-13; Isaiah 54:17)
God provided for man what he could not do for himself
a.
A way to return to Zion
(1)
He will come and save you (Isaiah 35:4)
(2)
There shall be streams in the desert (Isaiah 35:6)
(3)
The highway shall be called the Holy Way (Isaiah 35:8)
(4)
The ransomed of the Lord shall return (Isaiah 35:10)
b.
A river shall flow from the sanctuary
(1)
Everything will live where the river goes (Ezekiel 47:9)
(2)
This river will enable trees to grow with fruit for food and leaves for healing (Ezekiel 47:12)
c.
A fountain shall be opened
(1)
To cleanse the inhabitants from sin (Ezekiel 13:1)
(2)
To cleanse them from all uncleanness
d.
A well of salvation will be opened
(1)
To draw the water of life from
(2)
To proclaim that his name is exalted
The prophets revealed the righteous One
a.
His revealed birth
(1)
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14)
(2)
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given (Isaiah 9:6)
b.
His revealed ministry
(1)
Beyond Jordan, in Galilee. the light shined (Isaiah 9:1-2)
(2)
The Lord shall suddenly come to his temple (Malachi 3:1)
(3)
Sent to the lost sheep of Israel (Ezekiel 37:11; Jeremiah 50:6)
(4)
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me (Isaiah 61:1)
(5)
The eyes of the blind shall be opened (Isaiah 42:7)
c.
His revealed death
(1)
They weighed my price thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12)
(2)
He opened not his mouth (Isaiah 53:7)
(3)
They shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod (Micah 5:1)
(4)
He was wounded for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5)
(5)
He was numbered with the transgressors (Isaiah 53:9)
(6)
He made intercession for the transgressors (Isaiah 53:12)
(7)
They shall look upon me whom they have pierced (Zechariah 12:10)
(8)
It shall come to pass on that day, that I will make the sun go down at noon, and I will darken the earth on a clear day (Amos 8:9)
(9)
He would make his grave with the rich (Isaiah 53:9)
(10)
He gave his back to smiters (Isaiah 50:6)
(11)
He poured out his soul unto death (Isaiah 53:12)
d.
His revealed resurrection
(1)
Thy dead men shall live together. they shall arise (Ezekiel 37:7-10)
(2)
Those that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake (Daniel 12:2)
(3)
In the third day he shall raise us up, and we shall live in his sight (Hosea 6:2)
(4)
I will ransom them from the power of the grave (Hosea 13:14)
II.
The Christ Brought the Righteousness of God
Unrighteous man is totally incapable of making himself righteous enough to be accepted by God
Jesus brought righteousness to man
a.
By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many (Isaiah 53:11)
b.
The righteousness is of me, saith the Lord (Isaiah 54:17)
c.
Unto the Son, God said. a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom (Hebrews 1:8)
d.
To declare his righteousness. that he might be just (right) and the justifier (the one who puts right) of him which believeth in Jesus (Romans 3:25-26)
e.
He (Jesus) is righteous (1 John 2:29)
Jesus was qualified to become our righteousness
a.
Because he was just and right in all his ways and witness, ever obedient to his righteous Father
b.
Because he was never crooked in his dealings with others
c.
Because his life was never out of the least fraction from the plumbline of truth and morality
Jesus brought the justice of God
a.
Of the increase of his government and peace. upon the throne of David. to establish it. with justice (Isaiah 9:7)
b.
Behold thy king comes. he is just (Zechariah 9:9)
c.
I judge and my judgment is just (John 5:30)
d.
Peter claims him to be just:
(1)
You denied the Holy One and the Just (Acts 3:14)
(2)
Christ. the just for the unjust (1 Peter 3:18)
III.
The Believers are Constituted the Righteousness of God
The sinner through believing is constituted the righteousness of God
a.
The devil cannot call in question the fact that God is just and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus (Zechariah 3:2)
b.
So we can rest secure and serene in the confidence that
(1)
Christ is our peacewho can disturb it?
(2)
Christ is our hopewho can destroy it?
(3)
Christ is our righteousnesswho can tarnish it?
Man’s righteousness came by someone not something
a.
Even him who possessed Lordship (Mark 12:36-37)
b.
Righteousness is not earned, it is imputed to man
c.
Daniel speaks of the wise turning many to righteousness (Daniel 12:3), which means they are brought to God who alone can justify them
d.
Such righteousness is said to be reckoned or imputed, and put to the account of a guilty sinner accepting God’s terms of salvation, Isaiah 55:1 ff.
e.
It is reckoned unto man on the ground of Christ’s finished work
Divine righteousness can only become ours by faith in Christ
a.
By his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities (Isaiah 53:11)
b.
In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: The Lord is our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:7)
c.
The righteousness of God by faith (Romans 3:26; Romans 4:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
CONCLUSION
I.
God’s Righteousness is Shown in His Saving of His People
The prophets revealed it
In Christ he is now doing it
His people are no longer a restricted race but include all who believe (Romans 2:28-29)
As many as call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Joe 2:32; Acts 2:38-39)
II.
God’s Righteousness Declares Righteous Those Who Believe in Jesus
God justifies those who have faith in Jesus (Romans 3:22)
It is the righteousness of God that is imparted to man, not man’s own self-righteousness that he is to seek after (Philippians 3:9)
III.
God’s Righteousness of His People is Based on Redemption Brought by Christ
Men are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption (Romans 3:24)
It is a righteousness through forgiveness, based on the blood of Christ (1 John 1:7; 1 John 1:9)
God put Christ forward as an expiation by his blood to be received by faith (Romans 3:25)
This was to show God’s passing over sins aforetime (Romans 3:24)
It was to prove in the present time that He himself is righteous and that he justifies him who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:26)
IV.
God’s Righteousness Provides Manifold Blessings
The righteous are blessed with prosperity: Say you to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doing (Isaiah 3:10)
The righteous are surrounded by divine favor: For thou, Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor will thou compass him as with a shield (Psalms 5:12)
The righteous experience deliverance from affliction: Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all (Psalms 34:19)
The righteous enjoy peace, quietness, and assurance: And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever (Isaiah 32:17)
V.
God’s Righteousness Provides Hope in His Glory.
The time is coming when the heavens will delcare his righteousness.
When the Sun of Righteousness appears with healing in his wings (Malachi 4:2) accompanied by all the heavenly saints, what a glorious consummation that will be of his work on our behalf.
The ultimate blessing of righteousness by faith is eternity with Him who is our righteousness. This is the glad hope of the righteous (Malachi 3:17-18).
Hope of righteousness is the sight of the righteous One himself, who promised to return for his own (John 14:3).
**SPECIAL STUDY
PEOPLE OF THE PROPHETIC PROMISES**
by Fred Long
I.
Pre-Assyrian Prophets
A.
Obadiah 1.
Obadiah 1:15-21 The Kingdom shall be Jehovah’S
a.
Who: House of Jacob means God’s covenant people (Acts 15:13-18; Acts 13:29-37).
b.
When: Christian age, when Gentiles were added to kingdom (Acts 15:13-18).
c.
Where: Mt. Zion is the Church (Hebrews 12:18-29).
B.
Joel 1.
Joe 2:28-32 Promise of Holy Spirit
a.
Who: Twelve Apostles (Acts 2:14-21)
b.
When: Day of PentecostChristian age (Luke 1:68-75)
c.
Where: In Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22)
Joe 2:30 to Joe 3:3 Great and Terrible Day of the Lord
a.
Who: Children of promise (Romans 9:6)
b.
When: Second coming of Christ (Matthew 24:29)
c.
Where: Valley of Jehoshaphatsymbolic of Last Judgment
Joe 3:17-21 Jerusalem shall be holy
a.
Who: Jerusalemsymbol of Church, Christians
b.
When: Messianic age (Hebrews 6:17-20)
c.
Where: Zion, Jerusalem is the Church (covenant people)
C.
Jonah 1.
Jonah 1:17 Jonahsymbol of Christ’s death (Luke 11:30)
a.
Who: Christ (Matthew 12:40-41, Matthew 16:4)
b.
When: Messianic age
c.
Where: Jerusalem (literal), Nineveh is type of Gentiles
D.
Amos 1.
Amos 9:11-15 Raise up the Booth of David
a.
Who: Gentiles (Acts 15:14-18)
b.
When: Messianic age
c.
Where: Church
E.
Hosea 1.
Hosea 1:10-11 Great shall be Day of Jezreel
a.
Who: Gentiles (Romans 9:24-26; 1 Peter 2:9-10)
b.
When: Messianic age (John 10)
Hosea 2:21-23 Pity on Not Pitied
a.
Who: Gentiles (Romans 9:25-26)
b.
When: Messianic age
Hosea 3:4-5 Israel shall return and seek Lord
a.
Who: IsraelChurch (Hebrews 12:22)
b.
When: In latter days (Messianic)
II.
Assyrian Prophets
A.
Isaiah 1.
Isaiah 2:1-4 Mt. of the house of the Lord established as highest
a.
Who: Covenant people (Luke 24:47)
b.
When: Messianic age (Hebrews 12:22-23; Colossians 1:23)
c.
Where: Jerusalem (Church) (Romans 10:18)
Isaiah 6:9-10 Jews reject the Gospel
a.
Who: Jews (Matthew 13:14-15; Mark 4:12)
b.
When: Jesus-’ ministry (parables) (Luke 8:10; John 12:40) (Romans 11:8)
Isaiah 9:1-2 Gentiles of Zebulun and Naphtali see Great Light
a.
Who: Gentiles (Matthew 4:13-17)
b.
When: Jesus traveled to Zebulun and Naphtali (Luke 1:32)
Isaiah 10:21-23 Only remnant of Jacob will return
a.
Who: Gentiles (Romans 9:27-28)
b.
When: Christian age
c.
Where: Church
Isaiah 11:1-6 Shoot from the Stump of Jesse
a.
Who: Christ (Acts 13:23)
b.
When: Messianic age (Romans 15:12; Romans 12:12)
Isaiah 29:13; Isaiah 29:18-19 Deaf shall hear, Blind shall see
a.
Who: Hypocrisy of Jews (Matthew 11:5; Matthew 15:8-9)
b.
When: Jesus-’ ministry (Mark 7:22)
Isaiah 35:8-10 Highway called the Holy Way
a.
Who: Covenant people (Matthew 13:14)
b.
When: Christian age
c.
Where: Zionsymbol of Church
Isaiah 42:1-4 My Servant Brings Justice to the Nations
a.
Who: Gentiles (Matthew 11:4-5; Matthew 12:18-20; Matthew 3:16-17)
b.
When: Jesus-’ ministry (Matthew 17:5)
49:6 Light to the Nations
a.
Who: Gentiles (Luke 2:32)
b.
When: Christian age (Acts 13:47; Acts 26:23)
c.
Where: Ends of the earth
Isaiah 54:1; Isaiah 54:13 Children of the desolate
a.
Who: Gentiles (Galatians 4:27)
b.
When: Christian age (John 6:45)
Isaiah 55:3 Everlasting Covenant
a.
Who: Covenant People (Christians) (Romans 10:5; Acts 13:34)
b.
When: Christian age (Luke 22:37)
Isaiah 56:8 I will gather others
a.
Who: Gentiles (John 10:16)
b.
When: Jesus-’ ministry
Isaiah 61:1-2 Day of Vengeance
a.
Who: Jesus (Luke 4:18; Matthew 5:4)
b.
When: Jesus-’ ministry (read in synagogue) (Mark 4:17-21; Luke 21:21-28)
c.
Where: Nazareth
Isaiah 65:1-2 Jews rebellious
a.
Who: Jews (Romans 10:20-21)
b.
When: Messianic age
B.
Micah 1. Isaiah 4:1-6 Mountain of the House of the Lord (Isaiah 2:2-4)
a.
Who: Covenant people (Luke 24:47)
b.
When: Messianic age (Hebrews 12:22; Colossians 1:23)
c.
Where: Jerusalem (Church) (Romans 10:18; Luke 1:33; Revelation 11:15)
C.
Nahum
III.
Chaldean Prophets
A.
Zephaniah 1.
Zephaniah 2:7 Seacoast shall become possession of remnant of the house of Judah (Luke 1:68)
a.
Who: Covenant people (remnant of Judah)
b.
When: Birth of Christ
c.
Where: Bethlehem
B.
Habakkuk 1.
Habakkuk 1:5 Unbelief of Jews
a.
Who: Jews (Acts 13:41)
b.
When: Christian Age
Habakkuk 2:4 Righteous shall live by Faith
a.
Who: Gentiles (Hebrews 10:38-39)
b.
When: Christian age (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11)
C.
Jeremiah (and Lamentations)
Jeremiah 3:14-18 Jerusalem called Throne of the Lord
a.
Who: All nations
b.
When: Christian age (Acts 20:28)
c.
Where: Jerusalem and Zionsymbol of Church
Jeremiah 6:10 Jews reject the Gospel
a.
Who: Jews (Acts 7:51)
b.
When: Christian age
c.
Where: Jerusalem
Jeremiah 9:25 Punishment of uncircumcised in heart
a.
Who: Jews (outwardly) (Romans 2:8-9; Romans 2:28)
b.
When: Christian age
Jeremiah 17:25 Jerusalem inhabited forever
a.
Who: Covenant people (Christians) (Luke 1:32)
b.
When: Christian age (Hebrews 12:22)
c.
Where: The heavenly Jerusalem (Church)
Jeremiah 31:1 All Israel will be saved
a.
Who: Gentiles (Romans 11:26-28)
b.
When: Christian age
Jeremiah 31:31-34 Promise of a New Covenant
a.
Who: Covenant people (Gentiles) (John 6:45)
b.
When: Christian age (Hebrews 8:8-12; Romans 11:27; 1 Thessalonians 4:9)
Jeremiah 33:16-18 Judah will be saved
a.
Who: Covenant people (Hebrews 13:15; Philippians 3:9)
b.
When: Christian age (Luke 1:32-33)
IV.
Exilic Prophets
A.
Ezekiel 1.
Ezekiel 39:29 Promise of Holy Spirit
a.
When: Pentecost (Acts 2:17)
Ezekiel 47:21-23 Aliens shall be allotted an inheritance
a.
Who: Gentiles (Romans 10:12)
b.
When: Christian age (Ephesians 2:12-14; Ephesians 3:6)
c.
Where: In the Church (Colossians 3:11)
B.
Daniel 1.
Daniel 2:44-45 God’s Kingdom set upnever be destroyed
a.
Who: Christians (1 Corinthians 15:24)
b.
When: During Roman Empire (Iron Kingdom)
c.
Where: Heavenly Kingdom
Daniel 9:24-27 Promise of Coming Kingdom
a.
Who: Covenant people (Christians) (Matthew 9:12; Luke 19:43)
b.
When: After seventy weeks of yearsChristian age
c.
Where: Jerusalem (heavenly)Church (Matthew 24:15; Luke 21:20)
V.
Post-Exilic Prophets
A.
Haggai 1.
Haggai 2:6-7 I will shake the heavens and the earth
a.
Who: New Covenant people (Hebrews 12:26)
b.
When: Christian age
c.
Where: Heavenly KingdomChurch
B.
Zechariah 1.
Zechariah 13:1 Fountain opened for the House of David
a.
Who: Covenant people (Hebrews 9:14)
b.
When: Christian age
c.
Where: Jerusalem (heavenly)Church
C.
Malachi 1.
Malachi 4:5-6 Return of Elijah the Prophet
a.
Who: John the Baptist (Matthew 11:14)
b.
When: Before Jesus-’ ministry (Mark 9:11)
c.
Where: Israel (literal) (Luke 1:17)
VI.
New Testament scriptures that show the Gentiles taking part in prophetic promises:
**SPECIAL STUDY
THE WORD OF GOD, THE ILLUMINATING AGENCY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CONVERSION**
by Paul T. Butler INTRODUCTION
I.
QUALIFICATIONS
A.
We believe the Scriptures plainly teach that the spoken and written Word of God (the Bible) is the only illuminating agency of the Holy Spirit in the conversion of sinners.
B.
This is contrary to the creeds of most major Protestant religious bodies today. They say, in essence:
Man, the sinner, has a mind biased and prejudiced by sin and he cannot, therefore, understand the spiritual truths of the Bible until.
The Holy Spirit acts, directly, irresistibly and apart from the written or spoken Word of God, regenerating man’s mind in order that man can understand the written truths in the Bible. only then will man be able to believe in Christ and become a Christian.
This is individually and subjectively experienced and one cannot be assured of his salvation until he is able to relate such an experience.
Those who have never had such an experience, so far as we are able to tell now, are not elected to salvation.
C.
By our statement in A. above we do not intend to exclude the providential actions of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit may act in providence to bring a Christian and non-Christian together for the purpose of allowing the non-Christian to hear the message of Christ (e.g., Philip and the Ethopian eunuch; Peter and Cornelius, etc.)
But in the final analysis, it is the written or spoken Word of God into the sinner’s mind and upon his heart that converts and leads him to become a Christian.
II.
WHAT WE ARE NOT DISCUSSING IN THIS STUDY
A.
We do not wish to discuss here, to any length, at least, the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the miraculous way the apostles were immersed in the Holy Spirit.
B.
We do not wish to discuss here the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit by which certain people spoke in tongues, prophesied, healed, etc.
C.
We do not wish to discuss whether or not people have had particular religious experiences.
That people have had subjective religious experiences is difficult to disproveat least to the one who claims such an experience.
But whether or not we are to follow what we think those subjective experiences teach, in order to the assurance of salvation, is quite another thing and is contrary to Biblical teaching.
III.
ASSUMPTIONS WE MAKE
A.
That the Bible is the infallible, inerrant, inspired Word of God and the ultimate and final authority in matters of faith and practice.
B.
That we learn all we need to learn on this particular subject from the New Testament.
DISCUSSION
I.
JESUS TAUGHT THAT THE WORD OF GOD
(WRITTEN AND SPOKEN) ILLUMINATES THE MIND OF MAN UNTO CONVERSION
A.
Matthew 11:25-30. only the Son can reveal the Father. we must take the Son’s yoke upon us and learn of Him.
B.
Matthew 7:24-27. the wise man is the one who hears the words of Christ and does them.
C.
Matthew 13:1-23; Luke 8:4-15. the seed of the kingdom is the word of God sown on the hearts of men. This word must be held fast in honest and good hearts to bear fruit.
D.
Matthew 4:4. Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
E.
Matthew 28:18-20. the great commission is to teach, baptize and teach all that Jesus commanded the 12 disciples.
F.
Luke 10:21-28. Jesus told a lawyer to do what he read in the Law in order to inherit eternal life.
G.
Luke 10:38-42. Mary chose the good portion for she sat at Jesus-’ feet and listened to His teaching.
H.
Luke 11:27-28. Jesus said, Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it.
I.
Luke 16:19-31. the rich man in Hades was told it would do no good for him to go back from the dead and warn his brothers. They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.
J.
Luke 24:13-35. Jesus took special time and effort beginning with Moses and all the prophets. interpreting, for some despondent disciples all the scriptures said concerning Himself.
K.
John 1:1-18. Jesus, the Incarnate Word of God, exegeted God to man; exegesato is the Greek word in John 1:18, from which we get exegesis, but it is translated declared.
L.
John 5:24. whoever hears the word of Christ and believes God, who sent Him, has eternal life.
M.
John 5:25. whoever hears the voice of the Son of God, will live.
N.
John 6:63. except men eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood they have no life in them. THIS IS TO BE DONE BY HEARING AND DOING THE WORDS JESUS SPOKE, FOR His words are spirit and life.
O.
John 6:44-45. No one comes unto Christ. unless they learn from the Father.
P.
John 6:69. Peter declared that Jesus has the words of eternal life.
Q.
John 8:31-32. only those who continue in His word are His disciples and in doing so they will be made free for it is the truth that makes free. and only by continuing in His word do we know the truth!
R.
John 10. the sheep follow the good Shepherd only because they know the difference between His voice (word) and the voice of the hireling.
S.
John 11. the spoken word of Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
T.
John 12:44-50. the words Jesus spoke will judge men at the last day, and the commandment which the Father gave Him to speak is eternal life.
U.
John 13:12-17. Jesus gave the disciples an example of humble and loving service to one another and then said If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
V.
John 14:23. Jesus made the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit specifically conditioned upon keeping His commandments. It must, therefore, be possible for a sinner to come to believe in, and begin to obey Christ before the Holy Spirit abides in him. in other words the sinner is converted by knowing, believing and obeying the Word, which is the agency of the Holy Spirit in the sinner’s conversion.
W.
John 15:3. the disciples were cleansed by the word which Christ had already spoken unto them.
X.
John 15:1-11. our abiding in Him and His abiding in us is conditioned upon our abiding in His word. it is not irresistible.
Y.
John 16:1-15. the Holy Spirit was sent to guide the apostles into all truth, etc., and thus, through their preaching to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment.
Z.
John 17:1-26. eternal life is to know the only true God and Jesus Christ. this the disciples had because they accepted the words which Jesus was commissioned to give them from the Father. through His words spoken they had joy. They were sanctified in His word which is truth. Jesus even prayed for all who should subsequently believe in Him through the preached word of the apostles (John 17:20). AA. John 18:37. Jesus said. I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice. BB. John 20:30-31. the gospels were written that men might believe and have eternal life.
II.
THE ACTS TEACH THAT THE WORD OF GOD (WRITTEN AND SPOKEN) ILLUMINATES THE MIND OF MAN UNTO CONVERSION
A.
Acts 2:37-38. when the multitude heard the preaching of Jesus they were convinced and obeyed. there is no notice that the Holy Spirit illumined their hearts apart from the preaching of the inspired word.
B.
Acts 4:4. many who heard the preaching of Peter in Acts 3, believed and became Christians.
C.
Acts 5:32. the Holy Spirit is given only to those who obey Christ. how can one obey Christ unless he has heard the commandment of Christ and understood the commandment?
D.
Acts 8:34-40. Philip preached unto the eunuch Jesus and then the man obeyed.
E.
Acts 10:22. Cornelius was directed by an angel of the Lord to send for Peter so that Peter might preach to him the gospel in order that Cornelius might hear and believe. cf. Acts 10:33; Acts 11:14.
F.
Acts 17:29-31. Paul said men should understand that God is going to judge the world and that He wants them to repent simply from knowing the fact that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead.
G.
Acts 20:18-35. Paul charged the elders of Ephesus to feed the flock of God on the word of God as he himself had done. and Paul commended them to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
H.
Acts 26:24-29. Paul presented the facts concerning Jesus and appealed to the writings of the prophets in hope that Agrippa might become a Christian.
I.
Acts 28:23-28. Paul expounded the facts concerning Jesus all day to a group of Jews, trying to convince them about the kingdom of God, etc. some were convinced, some were not.
III.
THE EPISTLES TEACH THAT THE WORD OF GOD (WRITTEN AND SPOKEN) ILLUMINES THE MIND OF MAN UNTO CONVERSION
A.
Romans 1:16-17. the gospel is the power of God unto salvation.
B.
Romans 6:17-18. men are set free from sin by obedience from the heart to the standard of teaching of the apostles.
C.
Romans 8:6. to set the mind on the Spirit. is life. the Spirit is revealed in the Word.
D.
Romans 8:13-14. it is by the Spirit that we put to death the deeds of the body and it is by the Spirit we are led. the Spirit only does that by revealing His will to us in the Scriptures.
E.
Romans 10:8-17. the word of faith which is in their hearts is the word which the apostles preached. all who call upon the Lord will be saved, BUT THEY CANNOT CALL UPON HIM IF THEY HAVE NOT HEARD HIS WORD, BECAUSE FAITH COMES BY HEARING THE WORD OF GOD!!!
F.
Romans 12:1-2. we are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind in order that we may prove what is the acceptable will of God.
G.
Romans 15:18. Paul would win obedience to Christ from the Gentiles by preaching to them the word of Christ.
H.
Romans 16:25-27. Paul said that the preaching of Jesus Christ was. to bring about the obedience of faith.
I.
1 Corinthians 2:1-14. Paul said that the Spirit of Christ had been given to the apostles. and this Spirit was imparted to the Corinthians in words.
J.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2. the preached gospel was what the Corinthians received, that in which they stood fast, that by which they were saved.
K.
2 Corinthians 1:20. all the promises of God find their Yea in Jesus Christ objectively revealed. not subjectively.
L.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5. the preaching of the word of God has divine power and is able to destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God and bring every thought into captivity unto Christ!!!
M.
Galatians 2:20; Galatians 3:2; Galatians 3:26-27. The Spirit of Christ lives in men and is put on by men through the hearing of faith. and faith comes by hearing!
N.
Ephesians 3:17. Christ dwells in us through faith, and faith comes by hearing.
O.
Ephesians 1:9-14. those who have heard the word of truth, the gospel, have made known to them the mystery of His will and have been sealed with the Holy Spirit.
P.
Ephesians 3:8-19. Paul was made a minister to the Gentiles to preach to them the unsearchable riches of Christ and make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God. that through the Church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known.
Q.
Ephesians 4:11-16. the various offices of ministry (including evangelists) were given to the church to edify the church and bring the church to a mature knowledge of Christ.
R.
Ephesians 5:17-18. Paul connects being filled with the Spirit directly to first understanding what the will of the Lord is.
S.
Philippians 4:8-9. Paul said that true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious things were revealed to Christians by the preaching and Christian living of the apostles.
T.
Colossians 1:27-28. Paul proclaimed and taught Christ to every man in all wisdom so that Christ might dwell in men and they might have the hope of glory.
U.
Colossians 3:16. Christians are to let the word of Christ dwell in them richly.
V.
1 Thessalonians 2:13. Paul said the Christians there received their preaching as the word of God and that this word was at work in them.
W.
2 Thessalonians 1:8. Paul said God would bring vengeance upon all who do not obey the gospel … an objective standard!
X.
2 Thessalonians 2:14. Paul said that men were called by God through the preaching of the gospel.
Y.
1 Timothy 4:11-16. Paul told Timothy that by holding to that which he had been taught he would save both himself and his hearers.
Z.
2 Timothy 2:9. Paul speaks of the word of God as not being able to be fettered.
AA.
2 Timothy 3:16. The scripture is able to completely equip the man of God for every good work.
BB.
Titus 1:1-3. Paul said the faith of the elect was furthered by the preaching of the word.
CC.
Titus 2:11-15. Paul said the grace of God. trains us. and we should thus declare it.
DD.
Hebrews 4:12-13. the word of God is living and active. pierces even to the division of the soul and spirit. and discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart.
EE.
James 1:18. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth … Here the word of truth is specifically said to be the agent of the Holy Spirit in the new birth.
FF.
1 Peter 1:22-25. You have been born anew … through the living and abiding word of God. that word is the good news which was preached to you. This they did by obedience to the truth: IT CANNOT BE ANY PLAINER THAN THIS THAT THE SPIRIT WORKS THROUGH THE WORD IN REGENERATION.
GG.
2 Peter 1:3-4. it is through a knowledge of Jesus Christ and through His precious and exceeding great promises that we become partakers of the divine nature.
HH.
1 John 2:3-6. we are sure we are in Him only when we know and keep His commandments.
II.
1 John 3:24. we abide in Him and He abides in us when we keep His commandments.
JJ. 1 John 4:1-6. whoever knows the Spirit of God listens to apostolic teachings and this is the only way man may know the difference between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
KK.
2 John 1:9-10. anyone who does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. he who abides in this doctrine has both the Father and the Son.
IV.
LOGIC TEACHES THAT WE MUST DEPEND UPON THE SPIRIT TO BRING US TO CONVERSION THROUGH OUR RESPONSE TO HIS OBJECTIVE REVELATION OF HIMSELF IN HIS WORD!
A.
Alexander Campbell, in The Christian System moral facts are those which either exhibit, develop, or form moral character. all the works and words of God are moral facts and truths.
The work of redemption is a system of works or deeds on the part of God and Christ which constitutes the most splendid series of moral facts which man or angel ever saw.
When these moral facts are brought into immediate contact with the mind of man, they delineate the image of God upon the human soul.
Testimony is but the channel through which these facts draw the image of God on the heart and character of man.
The love of God in the death of Jesus never drew a tear of gratitude or joy from any eye, or excited a grateful emotion in any heart among the nations of our race to whom the testimony never came. No TESTIMONY, NO FAITH!
The quality or value of faith is found in the quality or value of the testimony. If the testimony be valid, OBJECTIVE, and authoritative, our faith is strong and operative. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater.
The power of faith is also found in the power or moral meaning of the testimony, or of the facts which the testimony represents. If by faith I am filled with joy, or sorrow, that joy or sorrow is in the facts contained in the testimony. or in the relation of those facts to me. And, if faith purifies the heart. this power is in the facts believed.
It is neither the faculty of perception, nor the manner of perception, but the things perceived, that excited us to action. It is not the exercise of reflection, but the thing reflected upon, It is not reason itself, nor the exercise of reason, but the thing reasoned upon which affords pleasure or painwhich excites to actionwhich cheers, allures, consoles us.
Even in our volition this is true. It is not choosing, nor refusing; hating, loving, fearing, desiring, nor hoping; IT IS NOT THE NATURE OF ANY POWER, FACULTY, OR CAPACITY OF OUR BEING, NOR THE SIMPLE EXERCISE OF THEM, BUT THE object or things UPON WHICH THEY ARE EXERCISED, WHICH INDUCE US TO ACTION, OR INFLUENCE OUR BEHAVIOR!
AND SO MY FRIEND WE ARE PURIFIED BY OUR OBEDIENCE TO THE OBJECTIVE TRUTH. THE REVEALED, WRITTEN AND SPOKEN TESTIMONY ABOUT THE PERSON AND PROMISES OF JESUS CHRIST BECOME THE OBJECTIVE AGENT WHICH MOVES US. WITHOUT AN OBJECT (JESUS) AND AN OBJECTIVE REVELATION OF HIM WE WOULD BE LEFT ONLY TO LISTEN AND FOLLOW THE DECEITFUL WHISPERINGS OF OUR WICKED HEARTSSEE POINT #V ON PAGE 254.
B.
In the religious world today we have many groups, teaching about as many contradictory dogmas, most claiming to be led now or having been led in the past by special direct revelations of the Holy Spirit apart from the received Bible. IF THE HOLY SPIRIT OPERATES ON THE MINDS OF MEN APART FROM AN OBJECTIVE STANDARD (THE WORD), HOW DO WE KNOW WHICH IS CORRECT?
We appeal to such scriptures as Galatians 1:8-9; 1 John 4:1-6 and assert that there is only one leading of the Holy Spirit today and that is in the infallible, inerrant, objective standard called the Bible, and that only!
Don DeWelt says in his book, The Power of the Holy Spirit, Vol. I, pg. 31, commenting on Romans 8:16. the Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God.. The Bible does not say that the Holy Spirit bears witness to our spirit, thus making it a subjective experience within the Christian. The text does say the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit, thus making it an objective experience without or apart from the Christian. The witness of the Holy Spirit is the New Testament. This is His testimony as to how to become a Christian or child of God, and also how to remain faithful as God’s child. We know within ourselves if we have done what the Spirit has said to do in order to become a child of God. We then become a child of God, our spirits have agreed with the testimony of the Holy Spirit. when we have done what we are commanded to do in the New Testament. (cf. John 20:30-31; 1 John 5:13).
V.
THE SCRIPTURES TEACH US THAT WE WILL BE DECEIVED BY LISTENING TO THE SUBJECTIVE WHISPERINGS OF OUR HEART.
A.
Proverbs 16:2. all the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. (cf. also Isaiah 21:2)
B.
Jeremiah 17:9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt; who can understand it? I the Lord search the mind and try the heart.
C.
Hebrews 3:13. warns that Christians must continually exhort one another (from the written word) lest their hearts be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
D.
Satan is able to transform himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14); quote scripture (Matthew 4:5-6); perform lying wonders (Revelation 13:11-18); and he is able to enter the mind of man by the power of thought. he is a spirit of disobedience, etc.
E.
Some examples of people who thought they were doing God’s service when following the subjective feelings of their hearts:
The disciples, led by Judas, thought that Mary wasted the ointment by pouring it upon Jesus and it could have been sold and given to the poor (Matthew 26:9; Mark 14:5; John 12:5). THEY HAD TO HAVE AN OBJECTIVE REVEALED TO THEM IN THE WORDS OF JESUS TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THEIR CROOKED SUBJECTIVE THINKING.
Peter thought that defending the life of Jesus against His enemies was the proper thing to do, but it was Satan whispering to Peter (Matthew 16:21-23; Mark 8:32-33).
Paul said, I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. even to the persecution and killing of Christians (Acts 22:4; Acts 26:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:13; Philippians 3:6; 1 Timothy 1:13). he lived in all good conscience in so doing. IT TOOK AN OBJECTIVE REVELATION TO PAUL TO STRAIGHTEN OUT HIS THINKING.
Isaiah 52:1-6
EVANGELIZE, CHAPTER 52
a.
REDEMPTION
TEXT: Isaiah 52:1-6
1
Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
2
Shake thyself from the dust; arise, sit on thy throne, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bonds of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
3
For thus saith Jehovah, Ye were sold for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.
4
For thus saith the Lord Jehovah, My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there: and the Assyrian hath oppressed them without cause.
5
Now therefore, what do I here, saith Jehovah, seeing that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them do howl, saith Jehovah, and my name continually all the day is blasphemed.
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.
QUERIES
a.
Who are the uncircumcised and unclean?
b.
Why does Jehovah say, What do I here. ?
c.
Doesn-’t Israel know God’s name? (verse six)
PARAPHRASE
Attention! Alert yourself! You will be strong and beautiful, My True Zion! You will be My holy dwelling place and those who have not made covenant with Me will not, from the day of your establishment, be given entrance. But you must do your part, O True Zion, and shake yourself free from the filth and enslavement of Babylonian paganism. When I deliver you from your captivity, you must return to your royal messianic destiny. I am your Sovereign. When I send you into exile it will be because I exercise My absolute sovereignty and not because someone pays Me to do it. When I redeem you from your exile it will be because I exercise My absolute sovereignty and not because I pay someone to release you. When you went down to Egypt, you went of your own choice and Egypt enslaved you without the right to do so; the Assyrians had no right to take some of you into exile. And now, what do I have in the Babylonian exilethe same thing! Babylon’s intent is without moral justification and motivated by wicked rebellion against My sovereignty. The rulers of Babylon are already screaming out their hateful threats and blasphemies. But I am going to save you, O Zion, from Babylon. And when I do reveal My sovereignty in this unequivocal manifestation, true Zion will acknowledge Me as her Savior in a way she has never done before; she will recognize that it is I, Jehovah, who is calling her back to her messianic destiny.
COMMENTS
Isaiah 52:1-2 DISSOCIATION FROM PAGANISM: AS before, the prophet is speaking of the future Babylonian exile in the present tense. He is directing the exhortation to his small band of disciples (the remnant which shall form the nucleus of Zion). This remnant must prepare itself for imminent exile into pagan Babylon. It must strengthen itself by believing what Isaiah is predicting about its Messiah and its messianic role. Zion must commit itself to an adornment of holiness so that when it is taken captive it will be able to keep itself separated from the filth and enslavement of heathenism with which it will be so alluringly surrounded. Zion must not allow the fleeting pleasures of Babylonian ungodliness lure her from her throne (her royal messianic queenship).
The aim of this passage is spiritual Jerusalem. That is evident from the prediction that the uncircumcised and the unclean would no more come into her. It cannot be literally or physically intended. Jerusalem has suffered literal invasion and occupation by one uncircumcised culture after another. First the Babylonians, then the Persians, Greeks, Romans, Turks, Mohammedans, Crusaders, Arabs, and even today there are Gentile citizens of Jerusalem. What this passage refers to ultimately is the Israel of God over which the Messiah rules, the church of Christ. Those not in covenant relationship to God through obedience to Christ’s gospel (the uncircumcised) and those not purified from sin by the atoning blood of the Suffering Servant (the unclean) will not come into the ultimate Zion, no matter what their genetic ancestry may beJew or Gentile. It is interesting to note that Joel predicts, in his messianic conclusion, that strangers shall never again pass through Jerusalem (Joe 3:17); and on the other hand Ezekiel, in his portrayal of the glorious messianic era to come, predicts that aliens will be given an inheritance and be as native born sons (Ezekiel 47:21-23). It is apparent, therefore, that when the messianic kingdom was to come, people were to become citizens of that kingdom, not as a result of being born a Jew and circumcised in the flesh, but by being reconciled to the Messiah of God through faith. All who are not thus reconciled are strangers and uncircumcised and unclean and cannot enter spiritual Jerusalem. That is precisely what the New Testament teaches (cf. Romans 2:28-29; Romans 4:9-25; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 3:1 to Galatians 5:25; Galatians 6:12-16; Ephesians 2:11-22; Philippians 3:2-11; Hebrews 12:18-29).
God promises to physically deliver Zion from her captors. But Zion herself must make the choices and do the deeds of holiness that separates her from Babylonian wickedness. Verses one and two are saturated with imperatives (commands): Awake; put on; Shake; arise; sit; loose are all commands for Zion to act. This is what distinguishes spiritual Zion from genetic Israelholiness by choice.
Isaiah 52:3-6 DELIVERANCE FROM PERSECUTION: Jehovah will act to deliver Zion from captivity in a display of divine sovereignty. He will give her up to captivity according to His sovereign plan and rescue her through the same sovereignty. No one will pay Jehovah to exile herno one will force Him toand no one will pay Him to rescue her. She will remain in captivity for exactly the time Jehovah assigns (70 years) and she will be delivered.
In verses four and five Jehovah pronounces the guilt of Zion’s oppressorspast, present and future. God’s sovereign decision to chasten Zion does not relieve her oppressors of guilt. The people of God went down to Egypt of their own choice with Jacob during the famine. And the Egyptians, by their own choice, enslaved and persecuted God’s people. Israel’s persecutors during Isaiah’s lifetime, the Assyrians, were acting by free moral choicenot because they were forced to. Now therefore, what do I here. may be paraphrased, Now, what do I have here. in the imminent exile into Babylon? It is the same situation! God will use the exile to chasten the sinful nation of Judah, but at the same time the Babylonians will be held responsible and found guilty. Their captivity of Judah was clearly an unjustified act of aggression. The sovereign God of all mankind declares any nation or people guilty who perpetrate the same acts of unprovoked aggression against other peoples (cf. our comments, Minor Prophets, on Obadiah and Amos ch. 1-3). Babylon, like all the other oppressors of Israel, attacked without due cause. Although the sovereign Jehovah may use the wicked assaults of the heathen empires as tools of chastening (cf. Isaiah 10:5 ff; Jeremiah 27:1-22, etc.), that does not mean the heathen empires are guiltless for making their own moral choices to Touch the apple of His eye (cf, Zechariah 2:8) without justifiable provocation. These Babylonians howl out harsh orders to their captives (cf. Daniel 1-6) and blaspheme the name of Jehovah continually. What they are doing with God’s people is certainly not in agreement with the will of God.
When Jehovah decides, in His own sovereign time-schedule, to deliver Zion from Babylonian captivity (cf. Jeremiah 27:22; Jeremiah 25:11), then Zion will know His name. His name is Jehovah (YHWH, He who causes to be.) (cf. Special Study, Vol. II, O.T. Names for God, pg. 126f.). Jehovah is the name for Covenant-God, and here the faithfulness and sovereignty of God to keep His covenant promises is emphasized.
QUIZ
What are the beautiful garments Zion is to put on?
Are we to understand the banishment of the uncircumcised literally?
Why say the daughter of Zion is to be redeemed without money?
Why point out that Assyria oppressed Zion without cause?
What is the name of God that Israel shall know?
Isaiah 52:7-12
b.
REVELATION
TEXT: Isaiah 52:7-12
7
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
8
The voice of thy watchmen! they lift up the voice, together do they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when Jehovah returneth to Zion.
9
Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem; for Jehovah hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
10
Jehovah hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
11
Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; cleanse yourselves, ye that bear the vessels of Jehovah.
12
For ye shall not go out in haste, neither shall ye go by flight: for Jehovah will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rearward.
QUERIES
a.
Who is the messenger bringing good tidings?
b.
What is meant by seeing eye to eye?
c.
Why emphasize that the people would not go out in haste?
PARAPHRASE
How lovely will be the Messenger coming across the mountains of this land bringing good news, the good news of peace, goodness and salvation, announcing to faithful Zion, Jehovah has established His sovereign rule among men; the kingdom of God has come! Listen to the voices of your prophets who have been watching and announcing its coming! They are shouting and singing for joy! They see the eventual rule of Jehovah over Zion as surely as if it were right before their eyes! Babylon may ruin you, O Jerusalem, but Jehovah is going to restore you and make you strong, so burst forth into joyous singing. Jehovah is going to unleash His holy power so that the whole world will witness it; His salvation will be revealed to the whole world. So, Zion, when you are delivered from Babylonian captivity in anticipation of the coming kingdom of God, separate yourself completely from all the unholy paganism which has surrounded you there. Do not let your heart be defiled by desiring to cling to the worldliness of Babylon. You are a kingdom of priests to Jehovah and you must be holy unto Him. You will have plenty of time to arrive at the right attitude toward separating yourself from the ungodliness around you. Your exodus this time will not be in haste or in fear, as it was in the days of your forefathers and the Egyptian captivity. The Lord, Your God, will surround you, guiding you and protecting you on every side.
COMMENTS
Isaiah 52:7-10 PEACE: Apparently we have in this prediction of Isaiah an instance of shortened perspective. That is, the prophet is predicting the deliverance of Judah from Babylonian captivity and the deliverance of all mankind from sin through the Messiah without mentioning all the history of the scheme of redemption that transpires between the two historical events (cf. our comments on Joe 2:27-28). There is no doubt that the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah’s prediction was to find itself in the Messiah and His gospel (cf. Romans 10:15). Isaiah’s context indicates he is predicting what is going to eventuate with the coming of The Servant. Of course, messengers of the good news that Judah is to be released from her captivity and restored her physical commonwealth in Palestine by the decree of Cyrus will be lovely to behold. The lesson from this miraculous deliverance will be that God rules in the affairs of all men to fulfill His sovereign will. There will be peace for a while for Judah. But surely there is more good news involved in this prophecy than a physical deliverance and a physical peace.
The physical deliverance of Judah was the first step in a long series of historical events which were to lead to the coming of the Messiah and the true deliverance, the spiritual salvation, and peace between God and man, (cf. comments on Daniel 9:24-27 for the time-table of historical events between). Ultimately then, him that bringeth good tidings is the Messiah. Christ, The Servant, is also The Messenger (cf. Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:16-30; Malachi 3:1-4). The messenger who prepares the way before in Malachi 3:1 is unquestionably, John the Baptist. But the Lord whom you seek. the messenger of the covenant. of Malachi 3:1 is the Messiah. Notice what the messenger of Isaiah’s prophecy announces: peacegoodsalvationthe rule of Godcomfort for His peopleredemption of Jerusalem. Furthermore, this is to be seen by all the ends of the earth. Surely there is more to God’s salvation and comfort (see Isaiah 40:1 ff) than a mere temporary deliverance of the Jews from Babylonian captivity. Surely there is more to God’s reign than a Jewish nation only superficially submitted to Him in the restored commonwealth under Ezra and Zerubbabel. The post-exilic prophets make it very plain (Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi) that the returned exiles soon fell back into their old rebellions against the law of Moses and the rule of God. The salvation, peace and rule of God announced by Isaiah’s beautiful bearer of good tidings is made accessible to all men through Him who came and preached peace to those far off and those near (cf. Ephesians 2:11-22). Notice in Romans 10:14-21 how Paul emphasizes the prophecies of Isaiah about the Lord’s salvation were not fulfilled in a rebellious, physical Israel!
The watchmen are probably the prophets and those faithful believers down through the centuries who kept on believing in the coming of the Christ (cf. 1 Peter 1:10-12; Hebrews 11:13-16; Hebrews 11:32-40, etc.). These watchers put their predictions and hopes into poetic form, song, symbol and type. They did it with great style and emotional expressiveness. For they saw the eventual rule of Jehovah as surely as if it were right before their eyes (cf. John 8:56-58; John 12:41), which is what they shall see eye to eye means. Even the return of Jehovah to Zion is messianic. The crowning glory of Ezekiel’s new temple and new city (Ezekiel 40-48) is … the name of the city henceforth shall be. The Lord is there. The church is the temple of God’s habitation (Ephesians 2:21-22).
On account of the absolute certainty that Jehovah is going to eventually send His Messenger with the good tidings of salvation, and on account of the certainty that Jehovah is going to take the first step toward that end delivering the Jews from captivity, the Jerusalem (or Zion) that in Isaiah’s day is being wasted and ruined by pagan oppressors should lift up its spirit and sing of its salvation. This would, of course, take faith because it was not as yet seen. But that is man’s whole relationship to Godfaith! That was the problem when the Messiah came to comfort His people and redeem Jerusalem. Most of the people could not believe it because they could not see, touch, taste His deliverance. It is still a problem with so many millions today who want only to be saved physically from trouble and depravation, but not from their sinful rebellion against the revealed will of God!
The salvation of God was proven! God’s ability to save man and His faithfulness to keep His word was demonstrated visibly, historically and supernaturally. God bared His holy arm of supernatural power time and again in saving the Jewish people from their enemies. He showed in no uncertain terms to believer and unbeliever alike (read the book of Daniel) that He would deliver those who trusted and obeyed Him. The arm of the Lord will consummately be bared in the Messiah’s death and resurrection (cf. Isaiah 53:1 ff). God’s greatest power is the gospel which is, fundamentally, the atoning death and justifying resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jehovah showed His power in many and various ways in former ages, but the greatest demonstration of it was in the resurrection of Christ. It was here that God bared His holy arm to all the ends of the earth so that all men might see His salvation. God has fixed a day in which he will judge the world, by an appointed man, and He has given assurance to all men by raising this man from the dead, and so His message to all men everywhere is, repent (cf. Acts 17:30-31). But, you see, the problem is that the arm or power of the Lord was revealed in a Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53:1) and this, so unacceptable to Jewish presuppositions about the power of Jehovah, is still unacceptable to human presuppositions (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18-31).
Isaiah 52:11-12 PURIFICATION: Now we come to the practical application of the prophecy of the coming Messenger and His message. How are these people of Isaiah’s day or the people of the Babylonian captivity to relate to a prophecy of something that is so far off in the future? They are to keep themselves from the ungodliness that surrounds them. The temptations to become Babylonianized, to devote their energies to pagan pursuits, will be strong. The temptation to stay in the relative security of the land to which they were exiled and forget they have a messianic destiny to serve will not be easily overcome. Thousands of Jews did stay in Babylon! The task of returning to a ravaged land, occupied by hostile people, to struggle through long hard years of rebuilding, was almost overwhelming! Even the temptation to take with them back to Palestine some of the heathen customs and practices that seemed so security-enforcing would seem innocent enough. Yet the command of the Lord is, depart. touch no unclean thing. cleanse yourselves. The rule of God cannot be established if the people are unwilling to depart from ungodliness. Those that bear the vessels of Jehovah is probably a figurative way of indicating the uniqueness of the Jewish people as a messianic people.
They will have ample opportunity to consider and apply the command of the Lord for separating themselves from their heathen environment. They will not have to make a hasty exodus as their ancestors did in Egypt and so they will not have to take any of the Babylonian baubbles to support them as those under Moses did. These Babylonian exiles will have plenty of time and they will know, by prophecy, exactly how many years they will be spending there. Cyrus will supply them with money to rebuild their commonwealth. And finally, they will not have to tramp the wilderness, constantly fleeing from one enemy after another as their ancestors did. Jehovah promises to surround them with guidance and protectionboth front and rear. And so they were protected from those who wanted to thwart their rebuilding (cf. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther), as they prepared to be the people through whom the great Messenger would come with a revelation of salvation to all the ends of the earth.
QUIZ
Why do we call this prophecy of the messenger one of shortened perspective?
Where is the N.T. quotation of this passage and what is the connection?
Who are the watchmen and why do they sing?
When did Jehovah bare his holy arm?
Why the command to depart?
Who are those who bear the vessels of Jehovah?
Isaiah 52:13-15
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REGENCY **
TEXT: Isaiah 52:13-15
13
Behold, my servant shall deal wisely, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high.
14
Like as many were astonished at thee, (his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men,)
15
so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths at him; for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they understand.
QUERIES
a.
How shall the servant deal wisely?
b.
In what way was his visage marred?
c.
How shall he sprinkle many nations?
PARAPHRASE
Behold! My Servant shall succeed. He shall be exalted to the highest degree. At first, many will be shocked at the humiliating physical torture and disfigurement he enduresso much more than is possible for others in human form. But his exaltation will be that much more astounding. His success will cause the hearts of many to leap within them. Kings and great men will be awed by His glory. They will see and understand things they could never know before His coming.
COMMENTS
Isaiah 52:13 AFFIRMATION: Chapter and verse numeration (which came many centuries after the original documents were written) obscures the contextual flow of our present passage; Isaiah 52:13 through Isaiah 53:12 should be read as a unit. Making Isaiah 52:15 the end of a chapter and Isaiah 53:1 the beginning of another is an unfortunate adumbration which the student of Isaiah’s message must be careful to trace out. These verses are all one dissertation on the success of the Suffering Servant.
The Hebrew word yasekkiyl is the infinitive of sakal and may be translated to prosper; to have success, instead of deal wisely. This translation would fit the context. The affirmation of Jehovah is that His Servant shall succeed in fulfilling all the predictions made (through Isaiah) of ultimate deliverance, redemption and glorification of Zion. The Servant-Messenger-Messiah of Jehovah will be exalted to the highest degree. Zion has suffered and will suffer much from the days of Isaiah until God comes and establishes His reign among men. Good tidings are beginning to come through the prophets of God. How beautiful will be the feet of the divine Messenger of God who will not only bring the message of salvation and peace but also accomplish it in Himself (cf. Isaiah 52:7). The mighty Jehovah is going to bare His holy arm (power) before all the world (cf. Isaiah 52:10). Contrary to God’s apparent default on His covenant promises to the patriarchs by allowing the Babylonian captivity, the Lord is going to send His Servant and He will succeed in re-establishing Zion in divine power and splendor. This Servant will achieve what He sets out to do. Why is it necessary to affirm the success of the Servant? Because even the Servant’s appearance in history will initially be in such a low, humble, unspectacular, humiliating way, most of the world will not believe. He is a manifestation of the power of Jehovah! (cf. Isaiah 53:1 ff). But the success of the Lord’s Servant will be extraordinary. Three Hebrew verbs (roomexalted; nissalifted up; gavahvery high) are piled one upon another to emphasize that The Servant will not be defeated in the extreme suffering He will have to undergo (including death).
Isaiah 52:14-15 AMAZEMENT: Isaiah 52:15 is in antithesis to Isaiah 52:14 and emphasizes the contrast between what the Servant first appeared to be and what He later was acknowledged to be. The thee of Isa 52:14 is therefore the Servant-Messiah (not Israel). Men will be shocked at His humble demeanor. He claimed to be the king of the Jewsthe Messiah, but He did not in any way fulfill human presuppositions as to messianic royalty. He was slandered, mocked, accused of blasphemy, arrested, unjustly tried and sentenced as a criminal. He was scourged with a Roman whip and physically mutilated more than most human beings ever suffer, placed on a bloody Roman cross and there tortured both physically and psychologically by mocking rabbis, soldiers, and the multitudes. Some were shocked at His extreme disfigurement (cf. Luke 23:47-49). But the fact of His absolute innocence contrasted with His willing acceptance of the atonement for the sin of the world is what makes his visage. so marred more than any man. Philippians 2:5-11 expresses it perfectly. The Son of God emptied Himself and took the form of a servant. But God highly exalted Him. As low as His humiliation was, His exaltation was infinitely higher! The Hebrew word yazzeh is kin to the Arabic naza which means the springing or leaping of people caused by excess of emotion. Yazzeh is from the Hebrew root nazah which is usually translated sprinkle, but apparently is better translated here, startle, amaze, cause to jump, scatter. Leupold translates it startle; Today’s English Version translates marvel; New International Version footnotes, marvel; RSV is startle; most other translations make it sprinkle. Young comments … he will sprinkle many nations. As one who is disfigured, the servant does something for others, in that he performs a purifying rite. men regarded the servant as himself unclean and in need of purification, whereas he himself as a priest will sprinkle water and blood and so purify many nations. We prefer the translation startle because it seems more appropriate to the intended contrast of the context.
Man will be shocked at His humiliation. But the goiym (nations or Gentiles) will be startled at the totally unexpected development events surrounding His humiliation and exaltation will ultimately take! The consequences will be world-wide. A church will be born; His disciples will be found even in the household of Caesar! The like of what shall result from the humiliation and exaltation of Jehovah’s Servant was never imagined by the great (kings, philosophers, theologians). Never was anyone brought so low; never was anyone raised so high as God’s Servant. Emperors, philosophers, rabbis will be awed by His glory. Through Him will come a revelation from God (justification, redemption, sanctification) of things they could never know before His coming, but now they believe, appropriate and experience.
This text (Isaiah 52:13 to Isaiah 53:12) is written in the predictive present. It is prophecy, but it is so certain to come to pass it can be written as if it had already happened or was then happening. It is almost as if we were listening to two disciples of Jesus standing on a street-corner in Jerusalem reviewing the things that happened on Good Friday in the light of Easter Sunday and the Day of Pentecost. Isaiah’s account is so vivid and was fulfilled so minutely it is little wonder that many of the fathers of the church days of old claim that the account reads as though Isaiah had sat at the foot of the cross.
QUIZ
Why emphasize the success of the Servant of Jehovah?
Why were men astonished at the marred visage of the Servant?
What verses of the N.T. shed light on the humiliation of the Servant?
What is the contrast between Isaiah 52:14-15?
What is predictive present?