Isaiah 55
OGCEXAMINATION Chapter S FIFTY-FOUR THROUGH FIFTY-NINE
DEFINITION
(Define the following words or phrases as they were discussed in the comments.)
enlarge your tent
Moloch
waters of Noah
terebinth
leader and commander
covetousness
foreigners
afflicted our soul
watchmen
adder and viper
rest
peace
sorceress
intercessor
MEMORIZATION
Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the ______, and he that hath no ______; come ye, buy, and ______; yea, come, buy wine and ______ without money and without price. Wherefore do ye _____ money for that which is not _____? and your labor for that which ______ not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is _____, and let your _____ delight itself in fatness. Incline your _____, and come unto me; _____, and your soul shall live: and I will make an everlasting _____ with you, even the sure _____ of David. (Isaiah 55:1-3)
EXPLANATION
Explain how Jehovah used marriage to describe His relation to His people.
Explain how unique, in a Hebrew dispensation, it is to speak of all being taught by the Lord. Explain how Jesus quoted this passage in John’s Gospel.
Explain how God could teach salvation by grace in the O.T.
Explain the relationship of God’s everlasting covenant with His promised mercy to David.
Explain how foreigners minister to Jehovah.
Explain why there is no peace to the wicked.
Explain Isaiah’s emphasis on keeping the Sabbath.
Explain how man’s sin separates him from God.
APPLICATION
(In its context every scripture has one meaningthe author’s intended meaning. How may the following be applied in the believer’s life?)
Do people today still need to understand that God offers salvation by grace, not by earned merit?
Is it still necessary today to teach what Isaiah does about God’s word being above man’s thoughts or ways?
Is it necessary today to stress keeping covenant with God as Isaiah did?
May we apply the Hebrew meaning of peace to the Christian experience?
Is there any application of the believer’s marriage to God to human marriage?
What application for the N.T. age may be made concerning the lethargy of the religious leaders of Isaiah’s day?
May we apply the attitude expressed by the sinners of Isaiah’s day of weariness with sin, to any attitudes of sinners today?
Is the admonition of Isaiah against the hypocrisy in fasting and worshiping relevant for the church today? How may his admonition be applied?
**THE WISDOM OF GOD
OBC Chapel Sermon**
by Paul T. Butler
… For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:22-24
He (Christ) is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30
INTRODUCTION
I.
WHAT IS WISDOM?
A.
Some ancient philosophers believed man was incapable of wisdom that it was only attainable by God (Socrates). In fact, Socrates said the wise man will not seek wisdom.
Yet, most men have continued to seek wisdom; and all of their own.
Many of the ancients were driven to despair, cynicism and hopelessness because they could never find wisdom.
THEY LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS, BUT THEY COULD NEVER FIND WISDOM.
B.
Solomon (in Eccl.) probably tried every human source available and concluded that the hope of finding wisdom was vain!
C.
Because wisdom is, as one modern philosopher has said, Whatever else wisdom may be, it is in some sense an understanding of life. Abraham Kaplan, in The Pursuit of Wisdom, The Scope of Philosophy, pub. Glencoe Press, pg. 16. Wisdom is a matter of seeing thingsbut as they are, not subjectively.
II.
MAN’S TROUBLE WITH WISDOM
A.
He has been deceived by the devil that wisdom may be found in knowing evil as well as good.
B.
God, man’s creator, plainly told man that wisdom was in truth, goodness, humility, righteousness, holiness, purity.
C.
But the devil, Genesis 3, convinced man that if he would partake of the forbidden, he would be as wise as God knowing both good and evil!
D.
The biggest lie of all is, of course, that man is wise if he dispenses with God. Wisdom is found in freedom from any and all divine meddling in man’s attempt to enjoy life.
E.
Modern philosophy (from Nietzsche on) declared the death of God and began to construct Utopia on earth through science, politics, education and economics, and psychology.
F.
But the wisdom of man brought on economic depression, war, illiteracy, exploitation, pollution, and on and on.
H. G. Wells, a believer in the sufficiency of science, had earlier prepared blue prints for Utopia, entitled his last book, Mind at the End of its Tether and said, Homo sapiens, as he has been pleased to call himself, is played out.
Others are saying, Man is a useless passion. Meaning is found in meaninglessness. There is no meaning to life.
DISCUSSION
I.
POWER OF THE WISDOM OF GOD
A.
It destroys false wisdom which enslaves and destroys people and society.
We have seen through Francis Schaeffer’s films the power of the Word and Wisdom of God moving through societies and cultures, redeeming society and individuals.
The wisdom of God redeems, regenerates and transforms men and reunites them with their Creator for the blessed end for which He created them (Hebrews 2).
It converted Pharisees, publicans, harlots, cruel soldiers, pagan philosophers and politicians.
It changed homosexuals, thieves, murderers, drunkards, fornicators and liars in the decadent city of Corinth into people after the image of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
In the late 1700’S the mutineers on the British ship, Bounty, landed on Pitcairn Island in the South Seas. With some of the native women they established a settlement which rivaled Sodom and Gomorrah for its iniquity. Sometime later while rummaging through a sailor’s chest, the sole survivor of the mutineers, Alexander Smith, came across a Bible. He made it the textbook and standard of conduct for the community. When an American whaler landed there in 1808, the crew found an ideal commonwealth governed by Smith. No illiterates, thieves, liars, drunkards, profaners, adulterers, or murderers cast their stigma on the community, but righteousness and its fruits of happiness blossomed everywhere. A single copy of Scripture transformed that tropical cesspool into a moral paradise.
What has human wisdom, separated from God done for the world? It has created a Nietzsche and a Hitler, a Marx and a Stalin. Human wisdom, separated from God, decays, degenerates and destroys! It destroys humanness, socialness and nature! Take all the military force, economic wealth, erudite philosophy, theology aristocracy, cultural refinement and put it all together in one human system and you still do not have power worthy to be compared with the transforming power of the wisdom of God, incarnated in Jesus and inscripturated in the Bible! TAKE IT IN YOUR HAND, LEARN IT WITH YOUR MIND, RECEIVE IT INTO YOUR HEART AND PROCLAIM IT WITH YOUR LIPS AND LIFE!
B.
It builds and sustains Life as God intended Life for man.
It restores man to fellowship with His Creator; puts man in harmony with his fellow man; puts man in harmony with creation.
Man learns where he came from; what his reason for existence is; and what his destiny is.
The wisdom of God explains history; gives purpose and solves the fragmentation of life without God.
All the experiences of human life (suffering, pain, evil, joy, goodness, truth, falsehood, ugliness) are inexplicable, frustrating and maddening without the Word of God. All human experience is epitomized and sanctified and explained in the life of the perfect human, Jesus.
Christ has given us an example that we should follow in His steps (1 Peter 2). He came and partook of our nature to bring many sons to glory (Hebrews 2).
A real note found by a real policeman:
To anyone in the world who cares. Who am I? Why am I living? Where am I going? Life has become stupid and purposeless. Nothing makes sense anymore. The questions I had when I came to college are still unanswered and now I am convinced that there are no answers. There can only be pain and guilt and despair here, My fear of death and the unknown is far less terrifying than the prospect of the unbearable frustrations, futility, and hopelessness of continued existence. Glancing at the lifeless, sheet-draped form on the bed, the officer shrugs his shoulders heavily and turns away. For him it is routinejust another suicide. For the ambulance crew it is routinejust another DOA. And, tragically, it is becoming all too routine all over America, especially on college campuses.
In contrast:
Charlie Powell was student body president of the University of California at Berkeley during the Free Speech Movement and at the height of that crisis made a decision for Christ. Looking back, he said, for the first time in my life I began to see that, if Jesus Christ were really the person He claimed to be, then He had the answers to my problems as student body president as well as in my own personal life.
C.
It produces unity among believers in the kingdom of God.
It is interesting that Paul says it is the wisdom of God alone which brings unity and on the other hand the practice of unity gives evangelistic power to the gospel (Isaiah 1:17).
If ever the world is to be convinced of Christ’s saving power, the unity of believers will have a great deal to do with it!
And yet churchmen and theologians keep insisting on trying everything under the sun to promote unity except the Word of God!
The church at Corinth was trying many things to make the congregation a happy, unified, successful, respected congregationBUT WHAT THEY WERE DOING WAS CAUSING MORE DIVISION THAN UNITY.
a.
Forming parties and groups following famous men
b.
Showing off how much more sanctified they were than others by comparing miraculous gifts
BUILDINGS, BUDGETS AND BANQUETS. PROGRAMS, PROMOTIONAL GIMMICKS AND ENTERTAINMENT ARE NOT UNITY, NOT PROOF OF UNITY, NOR CAN THEY SUSTAIN UNITY. Those things are sometimes good and useful as means, but are also sometimes harmful. I-’ve seen more division and fighting over buildings, budgets and programs than I care to recollect. I-’ve seen church people come to church fellowship dinners and separate themselves from other members and never speak because of unconverted hate and unforgiveness! ONLY THE POWER OF THE CONVERTING WISDOM OF GOD WILL BRING UNITY.
II.
PROPOGATION OF THE WISDOM OF GOD (Its transmission to men)
A.
The wisdom of God cannot be reduced to and bound by human wisdom!
Not in human art, not in human music, not in human sermons!
None of these dare claim the inspiration or verbal inerrancy of the Holy Spirit!
The primary reason for this is that the wisdom of Godthe redemptive program of Godis outside human experience. That a sinless, Incarnate God, should willingly die for a sinful world, is humanly inexplicable.
Not only that, it is moral outrage to human pride. THIS IS THE MAIN CAUSE FOR UNBELIEF. FOR RESISTANCE TO THE WORD AND WISDOM OF GOD.
I-’ve quoted so many times in my class, the little excerpt from Bishop Oxenam in Baker’s Dictionary of Theology article on Atonement, The doctrine of the atonement to me is immoral.. That someone else should atone for my sins is immoral.. they are my sins, I will atone for them.
Of course, through human forms of expression we may point people toward, and motivate them toward the wisdom of God found in His Word, but it is still the plain, uncluttered, Word of God that does the begetting of the Spirit. not our eloquence, or expertise.
HUMAN SERMONS, HUMAN MUSIC, HUMAN ART, HUMAN METHODS, COME AND GO, BUT THE WORD OF GOD ABIDES FOREVER!
B.
The wisdom of God is undiscoverableit has to be revealed.
God is a Person, an objective person, just like I am a person and you are persons, but God is infinite, omnipotent and omniscient, while I am finite.
Now finite man cannot even know the mind of another finite person unless that mind is revealed to him either by directly talking and acting in one another’s presence or by communicating through writing to one another.
If I should want to know what a man’s mind is on some subject, I have to let him tell me. I can-’t ask anyone else; I can-’t guess; I can-’t find it within myself subjectively. Almost every time we say, I just have this feeling that this is what God wants me to do, it is usually what we want to do.. It is presumptuous to say, I just have this feeling that this is what so-and-so would want me to do. How MUCH MORE PRESUMPTUOUS FOR US TO SAY, I HAVEN-‘T REALLY SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES ABOUT THIS, I JUST FEEL LIKE IT HAS GOD’S APPROVAL! NOW THE QUESTION IS, WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD. THE NATURAL MAN DOES NOT RECEIVE THE MIND OF CHRIST. THAT IS, THE NON-APOSTLE, DOES NOT RECEIVE THE MIND OF CHRIST, IN A REVELATORY MANNER.
All Calvinistic commentaries, I know, say 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 to the unconverted man not able to understand spiritual things. that is contextually erroneous as well as unsuited to the teaching of the Bible as a whole.
How can the invitation be to whosoever will if one must wait for the miracle of Holy Spirit quickening of the mind before we can understand the gospel message? What is the point of preaching if we must preach and then hope the Holy Spirit will quicken the mind apart from the Word so the man may understand? THE POINT IS THAT ONLY THE APOSTLES RECEIVED THE REVELATION OF GOD, THE MIND OF GOD, TO TRANSMIT TO ALL MANKIND FOR ALL AGES! David Lipscomb paraphrases: Who of you uninspired hath known the mind of God, so as to be joined together with Him? But we inspired men so understand him that we are united in him in teaching his will, we are laborers together with God. The whole trend and meaning of the chapter is that none could know or teach the will of God by human wisdom. They were dependent upon the revelation made by God’s Spirit through the apostles for a knowledge of His will, and only through receiving this could any become co-workers with Him in saving men.
THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO TEST THAT WHICH CLAIMS TO BE THE MIND OF CHRIST.. DOES IT AGREE WITH APOSTOLIC REVELATION.. 1 John 4:1-6
It is one thing to say, I am persuaded by historico-grammatical study that this is what the biblical author has revealed to be the mind of God.. and quite another thing to say, I-’ve put it before the Lord and He revealed to me that I should do this or that.
C.
The wisdom of God is revealed only through the apostles, but in human terms. in human words
The will, the mind, the Person of God came in flesh. Jesus was the Incarnate God, and the Incarnate Holy Spirit, ALL THE FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD DWELT IN HIM BODILY!
He was the Word of God, John 1:1-18, in human form.
The words He spoke were the words of God, the mind of God, the wisdom of God.
The words He gave the apostles after He ascended back into heaven, through the work of the Holy Spirit, are just as powerful in redeeming and saving and regenerating as they were when He was here in the flesh
John 6:63; 2 Peter 1:3-5. through this word (promises) we are made partakers of the divine nature; 2 Timothy 3:16-17, they may make the man of God complete! 1 John 3:24, they complete our fellowship with Christ.
THE WORD OF THE SPIRIT THROUGH THE APOSTLES IS THE SAME WORD AS THE INCARNATE WORD.. IT HAS THE SAME AUTHORITY. IT HAS THE SAME POWER! WE NEED NO FURTHER REVELATIONS FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT! WE DON-‘T EVEN NEED ANY MORE MIRACLES TO CONFIRM THAT IT IS THE WORD AND WILL AND MIND OF GOD! Some will say, There is no power in the words on this printed page of the Bible, the power is in the Person.. Be careful of such statements. Of course, we do not worship a book, but you can no more separate the words on the Bible’s pages from the Person than you can separate the words of any man from his person! THE WORD OF CHRIST IS THE MIND OF CHRIST, THE WORD IS THE POWERFUL, ENERGIZED AGENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CONVERSION AND SANCTIFICATION! By the word, Paul begat the Corinthians. The word is the incorruptible seed. The word is implanted. Sanctify them in the truth, thy word is truth. If we abide in His commandments we abide in Him and He in us. Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. The word that I have spoken to you is Spirit and life. The miracle of regeneration occurs through the Word. WE HAVE LOST RESPECT FOR THE AUTHORITY AND POWER OF THE WORD.. Jesus said, All authority. etc., Go and make disciples. teach them to observe whatsoever I have commanded you. THERE IS AN INSIDIOUS GRASPING FOR HUMAN AUTONOMY IN CHRISTENDOM TODAY THAT IS JUST AS UNBELIEVING AS THAT RATIONALISTIC HUMANISM OF A CENTURY AGO. IT IS SUBJECTIVISM. HOW I FEEL. MY EXPERIENCE. RATHER THAN WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY! YOU see that evaluates the Bible by my feeling or my experience rather than evaluating my feeling-experience by what the Bible actually says.
Full Gospel Business Men’s International lead article claims the whole movement built first on the experiences, testimonies, of alleged, extra-biblical workings of the Holy Spirit. and what the Bible says follows that second in importance.
A missionary’s paper points out how some of the Pentecostals in Chile teach their people that much study of the Bible is a sin. They are opposing the work of Christ and the Bible correspondence work because they declare that the Holy Spirit will teach them without having to read or study the Word of God! This leads some to believe that God does all our thinking and deciding for us. We don-’t even have to decide. But that would keep us immature, moral runts.
III.
PURPOSE OF THE WISDOM OF GOD, 1 Corinthians 3-4
A.
To build the temple of God by begetting Christians through the gospel and by edifying them through the apostolic doctrine.
The purpose of the wisdom of God is NOT:
a.
To erect a brain-washed, psyched, structured, non-thinking American corporation!
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS A COMMUNITY OF OBEDIENT BELIEVERS STRUCTURED ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE, BUT UNSTRUCTURED WHERE THE SCRIPTURES DO NOT SPEAK AND FREE TO THINK AND GROW MORALLY AND SPIRITUALLY INTO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST!
b.
To form a society through which man may build a physical, material Utopia on this present earth! THE GOSPEL IS PRIMARILY TO REGENERATE MINDS AND SAVE SOULS IN SPITE OF PHYSICAL CIRCUMSTANCES.. Of course, Christian love wants to relieve physical suffering and wherever it can it should. But first priority is preaching the Word.
c.
Just to Christianize society to save a human culture. THE WISDOM OF GOD IS TO CALL OUT AND SAVE FROM ALL DYING CULTURES, A PEOPLE OF HIS OWN WHO ARE ZEALOUS FOR GOOD DEEDS.
d.
To make men famous. WHEN MEN USE THE PULPIT TO GAIN PERSONAL FAME AND FOLLOWING, THEY EMPTY THE CROSS OF ITS POWER (1 Corinthians 1:17). HUMAN BEINGS HAVE A TENDENCY TO THINK OF THE CHURCH AND HER LEADERS AS THEY DO HUMAN LEADERS! PAUL FOUGHT THAT IN CORINTH AND EPHESUS, AND ROME, AND COLOSSAE AND THESSALONICA AND EVERYWHERE HE WENT.
B.
To make men truly wise through humility
1 Corinthians 3:18-22. Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you think that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
Humility is the queen of virtues.
PRIDE IS THE CAUSE OF UNBELIEF. Unbelief is not because God hasn-’t given enough evidence. We don-’t need more evidence, we need MORE HUMILITY.
IF YOU LEAVE THESE CLASSROOMS KNOWING THE BIBLE AND KNOWING HOW TO PREACH IT. BUT PROUD AND ARROGANT. YOU DO NOT HAVE THE WISDOM OF GOD!
C.
To teach man how to live (1 Corinthians 3:6) according to the scripture
NOT TO GO BEYOND WHAT IS WRITTEN
Dean Seth Wilson has a little printed essay entitled, What the Bible Does Not Say About a Christian’s Life and Conduct.
HE ASKS, IS THERE ANY PART OF LIFE ON WHICH THE BIBLE HAS NO TEACHING? HE ANSWERS, NO! There are precepts and principles in the Bible to cover every aspect of human life.. all things that pertain to life and godliness.
CONCLUSION
I.
THE VILLAGE THAT LIVES BY THE BIBLE
November, 1960, Reader’s Digest:
Soldiers in 1945 found this village which had been formed from two men converted by a missionary who left them a Bible and a hymn book. Picking their way through the Bible, the two converts had found not only a Person on whom to pattern a life, but sound precepts on which to base their society.. Nurtured on this Book a whole generation had drawn from it their ideas. the result was plain to see. Shimabuku for years had had no jail, no brothel, no drunkenness, no divorce; there was a high level of health and happiness.. The soldiers attended a worship service and observed the lives of the people for a few days. A sergeant whispered to his lieutenant, So this is what comes out of only a Bible and couple of old guys who wanted to live like Jesus!. then, with a glance at a shell hole, he murmured, Maybe we-’re using the wrong kind of weapons to make the world over!
II.
THE WISDOM OF GOD IS POWERFUL: THE WORD OF GOD IS POWERFUL BECAUSE IT IS THE REVELATION OF THE WISDOM OF GOD
A.
If you think words and ideas are not powerful, think of what Adolph Hitler did with lies, words. Marx and Lenin have captured more than two-thirds of the total population of the world with false ideas expressed through words.
B.
The gospel is infinitely more powerful than all those put together.
A. Campbell said, The work of redemption is a system of work, or deeds, on the part of Heaven, which constitute the most splendid series of moral facts which man or angel ever saw.. When these facts are understood, or brought into immediate contact with the mind of man, as a moral seal or moral prototype, they delineate or stamp the image of God upon the human soul. Mr. Campbell goes on to point out that it is through the preaching of the gospel and through man’s obedience to the scriptures (the revelation of the works and deeds of God) that the image of God is stamped upon the soul of man and through no other means. The love of God in the death of Christ 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. (The Christian System, pg. 90-102. Fact, Testimony, Faith, Feeling.)
III.
BUT THE INFINITE POWER OF THE WISDOM OF GOD IN THE GOSPEL WILL PRODUCE NOTHING IF IT IS NOT PROCLAIMED.. Leaven will not make bread if it is not put into contact with the lump.
THAT IS WHAT OZARK BIBLE COLLEGE WAS FOUNDED TO DO.. FILL MEN AND WOMEN WITH ALL THE FULNESS OF CHRIST IN WHOM ARE HIDDEN ALL THE TREASURES OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE AND SEND THEM FORTH TO DECLARE THE WISDOM OF GOD TO A FOOLISH AND DYING WORLD! THAT IS WHAT FACULTY AND STAFF HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO.. THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE SUPPORT THE COLLEGE FOR.. THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE RECRUITED YOU FOR.. IF YOU HAVE COME FOR ANY OTHER REASON THAN THAT, YOU ARE SHORT OF THE MARK. I SAY TO YOU IN THE WORDS OF EDWARD JOHN CARNELL: IF IT IS TRUE THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED ON THE CROSS TO SAVE SINNERS, HAVE WE ANY RIGHT TO SAY THAT WE LOVE SINNERS IF WE FAIL TO CONFRONT THEM WITH THIS TRUTH? AND WHERE CAN WE FIND A DIVINELY VALIDATED ACCOUNT OF THIS TRUTH APART FROM SCRIPTURE? IN SUM, WE CAN EXPRESS NO HIGHER LOVE TO LOST HUMANITY THAN TO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN THE PRECISE FORM IN WHICH GOD HAS BEEN PLEASED TO REVEAL IT!
**SPECIAL STUDY
WHAT IS TO BE DONE CONCERNING FALSE TEACHERS AND TEACHING**
Compiled by Paul T. Butler
Beware of them (be on the lookout for). (Matthew 7:15)
Know them (by their fruits, their works and doctrines). (Matthew 7:16)
Beware of their leaven-like doctrines. (Matthew 16:5-12) (cf. Galatians 5:9)
Follow God’s word even when the teachers may be hypocritical or partisan. (Matthew 23:1-3) (cf. Philippians 1:15-18)
Let them alone. (Matthew 15:13-14)
Even if their doctrines are a result of centuries of national heritage, we must follow divinely revealed truth. (John 4:24)
Must not hear the voice of hirelings if we want to remain in the One true fold. (John 10)
We must follow only those who keep the word of the apostles. (John 15:20; John 17:20)
We must follow only those who strive for unity. (John 17:21-23)
We must cautiously resist any teaching lest we be found fighting against God. (Acts 5:38-39)
We have apostolic precedent for debate with false teachers to defend truth. (Acts 6:8-10; Acts 9:28-29; Acts 10:1-18; Acts 11; Acts 13:6-12)
We are not to resist evil opposers to the point of reckless and foolhardy throwing away of our life. (Acts 14:1-7)
Their doctrine must be investigated in the light of revelation by the leaders of the church and the true doctrine preached polemically (Acts 15:1 to Acts 16:5) in churches.
When they oppose and blaspheme the truth we should refuse to continue with them. (Acts 18:6) (cf. Matthew 7:6)
Separate the disciples from those who speak evil of the Way. (Acts 19:9)
Those sincere believers who have not learned and are not teaching the complete revelation need to be taught privately. (Acts 18:24-28; Acts 19:1-7)
Elders are to take heed; feed; watch; admonish with tears night and day; command the flock to God’s word as preventive polemics. (Acts 20:28-32)
Opinions are not necessarily false teaching until someone makes them laws. (Romans 14:1 to Romans 15:7)
Mark themturn away from them in their divisive doctrines. (Romans 16:17)
Those who claim to be prophets or teachers must acknowledge the apostles-’ letters as divine revelation. (1 Corinthians 14:37-38)
We are not to be yoked together with those who teach falsely or live falsely. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
Beware of their abilities to fashion themselves into angels of light and ministers of righteousness. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
They are to be anathematized. (Galatians 1:6-9) (They anathematize themselves.)
Rebuke publicly (to the face) in some instances. (Galatians 2:13-14)
Stand fast in freedom of the gospel (do not be bound by false laws added to it). (Galatians 5:1)
If a brother trespass in false teaching we are to seek his restoration in a spirit of gentleness. (Galatians 6:1-5)
We are to grow up in faith to prevent being carried away by false teaching. (Ephesians 4:11-16)
We are to speak boldly the truth in loveeach member of the body fulfilling his part in this speaking of the truth. (Ephesians 4:15-16)
Not to be partakers (associate) with them (Ephesians 5:6-11) and to prove all things by bringing God’s revelation to shine upon themwe are to expose false teachings.
We are to redeem the time by learning and understanding what the will of the Lord is in order to prepare for combating falsehood. (Ephesians 5:15-18)
We are to recognize that we wrestle against supernatural power (Ephesians 6:10-18)and we must arm ourselves with truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, with prayerwe must be wise as to Satan’s devices. (2 Corinthians 2:11)
We are to pray for knowledge to prove what is excellent. (Philippians 1:9-10)
Mark them and beware of false teachers. (Philippians 3:2; Philippians 3:17-19)
Take heed and beware of philosophies of men. (Colossians 2:8)
Let no man judge us in matters of expediency. (Colossians 2:16)
Train ourselves to answer false teachers. (Colossians 4:6)
Declare the gospel in face of great opposition and beware of those who preach to please men. (1 Thessalonians 2:1-6)
We are not to be ignorant. (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
We are to prove all thingshold fast to the good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
We are to strengthen one another with pure doctrine. (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
Withdraw from every brother that does not abide in apostolic doctrines. (2 Thessalonians 3:6)
Have no company with disobedient (2 Thessalonians 3:14)but admonish like a brother.
Charge false teachers to refrain from their teaching. (1 Timothy 1:3-4)
Paul delivered two unto Satan who, through their blasphemy and apostacy, had shipwrecked the faith. (1 Timothy 1:19-20)
Preachers are to expose the hypocrisy and demonical nature of false doctrines. (1 Timothy 4:1-6)
Refuse profane doctrines. (1 Timothy 4:7)
Evangelists are to train themselves in the Word to withstand these false doctrines. (1 Timothy 4:11-16)
We are to shun those who do not agree with sound doctrine and who have a morbid craving for controversy. (1 Timothy 6:3-11)
We are to fight the good fight and withstand false doctrine. (1 Timothy 6:12)
We are to turn away from false teachings and guard the truth. (1 Timothy 6:20-21)
Charge brethren in the sight of the Lord not to strive about words. (2 Timothy 2:14)
Shun profane babblings. (2 Timothy 2:16-17)
Refuse foolish and ignorant questionings. (2 Timothy 2:23)
Correct in spirit of meekness those that oppose themselves. (2 Timothy 2:25)
Turn away from false teachers. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
We are to imitate the apostles in their dealings with false teachersto teach, correct, reprove, instruct. (2 Timothy 3:10-17)
We are to preach constantly, reproving, rebuking, exhorting. (2 Timothy 4:1-5)
We are to exhort in sound doctrine, convict (show them for what they really are) the gainsayers. (Titus 1:9)
The mouths of false teachers must be stopped. (Titus 1:11)
The false teachers are to be reproved sharply. (Titus 1:13)
Shun foolish questionings, (Titus 1:9)
A factious man is to be refused after a first and second admonition. (Titus 3:10)
We are to exercise our senses to discern good and evil. (Hebrews 5:11-14)
We are to obey elders as those who watch for our souls. (Hebrews 13:17)
We are to pray for divine wisdom to guard against demonical wisdom. (James 1:5)
We are to grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus lest we be carried away. (2 Peter 3:17-18)
We are to remember that God’s word foretells false teachers arising. (2 Peter 3:1-7)
We are to take heed to what the apostles have warned about false teachers. (1 John 2:18-25)
Believe not every spirit but prove (test) each teacher. (1 John 4:1-6)
Test teachers as to how they listen and heed the apostolic doctrine. (1 John 4:5)
We are not to fellowship with false teachers (2 John 1:5-11)we are not to receive them into our home nor give them greeting (those who deny the deity of Jesus Christ).
We are to contend (agonize) earnestly for the faith which is once for all time delivered unto the saints. (Jude 1:3)
Remember that false teachers have been prophesied. (Jude 1:17)
We are to build ourselves up in faith, pray in the Spirit, keep ourselves in love (Jude 1:20-21) as a method of combating false teaching.
On some who are teaching falsely not of perverse nature but out of doubt, we are to convince in an attitude of mercy. (Jude 1:22-23)
Try those who claim apostolic authority to teach. (Revelation 2:2)
Isaiah 55:1-5
B. WORD OF THE LORD IS BOND AND BOUNDS OF COVENANT, CHAPTER 55
- EVIDENCE
TEXT: Isaiah 55:1-5
1
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2
Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
3
Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live: and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
4
Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander to the peoples.
5
Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not; and a nation that knew not thee shall run unto thee, because of Jehovah thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.
QUERIES
a.
Why offer water, wine and milk for no money?
b.
What are the sure mercies of David?
c.
Who is going to call the unknown nation?
PARAPHRASE
Attention, Come to the water of life everyone who is thirsting for righteousness; it will be given to you freely. You may obtain refreshment, joy and nourishment and you will need no money because it will come to you by the grace of God. Why do my people spend all their lives trying to buy satisfaction for their souls from that which can never satisfy? Listen to Me and obey My word and you will be filled with goodness and your soul will be satisfied. Pay attention to what I am saying to you, Zion, be obedient, and you shall have eternal life for I am preparing to make an eternal covenant with you which shall prove My faithfulness and fulfill all the promises I made to your forefather, David. Look! I have promised My Servant for a herald of good news to the whole world; He will be the King and the Prophet I promised. And you, Zion, will call to share the kingdom of God with you a people which you formerly considered outside the kingdom of God. Yes, people from Gentile nations will hasten to make themselves members of Zion motivated by the glorious redemption of Jehovah through the Holy One of Israel. That will result in the glory of God being manifested in Zion!
COMMENTS
Isaiah 55:1-2 FAVOR: Redemption has been predicted and explained as occurring in the Suffering Servant (ch. 53). The invitation has been extended for participation in that redemption through covenant relationship (ch. 54). Now the bond and bounds of that covenant relationship is declared to be in the word of Jehovah which is faithful and powerful. All who realize their need of the substance of life are invited to come and receive freely. In Palestine where water-wells were few and far between and where water had to be purchased for money, this would be an exceptionally arresting figure of speech! Water, wine and milk are used throughout the O.T. as figures of spiritual blessings. The same elements are used in the N.T. by Christ and His apostles to portray the blessings of God’s grace. The point of these verses is that God’s provision of redemption through the Servant shall be by grace. Peter makes it plain that the O.T. prophets predicted salvation by grace (1 Peter 1:10-12). Paul’s treatise to the Romans declares that justification before God is by faith. Paul, of course, knows that our salvation is by grace (Ephesians 2:1-10), but it is faith that gives us access into that grace (Romans 5:2). And Paul said the O.T. prophets (and the O.T. law) bore witness to salvation by grace through faith (Romans 3:21-26). Water is figurative for salvation (cf. Isaiah 12:3; Isaiah 35:7; Isaiah 41:17-18; Isaiah 49:10; Psalms 42:1; Psalms 36:9; Jeremiah 2:13; Jeremiah 17:13; Ezekiel 47:1-12; Zechariah 13:1; Zechariah 14:8; John 4:7-26; John 7:37-38, etc.). Wine is figurative for exhilaration and enjoyment (cf. Isaiah 26:6-9, etc.). Milk is figurative for nourishment (cf. Isaiah 7:22; Isaiah 60:16; Joe 3:18; 1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:12; 1 Peter 2:2, etc.). It was not astonishing to the Jews that Jehovah would be gracious to them. What was astonishing to many was that He would grant them mercy without their having earned it. Most of them rationalized that they earned whatever graciousness God would shower upon them. Actually the Law was intended to teach Israel that she could never, by human merit, earn her justification before the Holy One of Israel. Israel should have known from the Law that her salvation rested in the unmerited favor of Jehovah. But Israel for the most part, was too wrapped up in her self-righteousness. She was spending herself, exhausting herself in trying to earn righteousness through keeping laws and traditions. That is a vain quest! Attempting to attain justification before God by human goodness is frustratingly impossible and only compounds the human dilemma of guilt. The only solution that will satisfy the human soul is faith in the vicarious, substitutionary atoning death of Jesus Christ. That solution cannot be reasoned out; it cannot be explained by anything within the human experience, because it is supra-human; it is supernatural. It can only be believed. Believed, of course, on the basis of the historical verification and validation of its efficacy by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The resurrection is the only fact that makes the cross of Christ (His atoning death) believable! This is predicted in ch. 53 (see our comments there). The exhortation of the prophet here is for Zion (true believers) to focus its attention on the promises of God that they may have salvation by grace. All attempts to be saved any other way will fail!
Isaiah 55:3-5 FIDELITY: Next, the prophet calls upon Zion to give its attention to the promise of Jehovah that He is going to verify His fidelity in a future covenant relationship which will be everlasting. The future covenant will not become obsolete like the old covenant which has a stated termination (cf. Jeremiah 3:15-18; Jeremiah 31:31-34, etc.), or fulfillment. The future covenant will be eternal; it will bring into being the sure mercies of David (the promise of an eternal king to sit upon David’s throne for ever) (cf. 2 Samuel 7). This is fulfilled, according to the inspired apostle Paul, in the atoning work of Jesus Christ. What God promised to the fathers. He fulfilled by raising Jesus Christ from the dead and proclaiming through Jesus the forgiveness of sins (cf. Acts 13:32-40). The atonement is the promise (Isaiah 53), and God’s faithfulness to keep His promise of atonement through Jesus was verified once and for all by raising Jesus from the dead! The empirically demonstrated everlasting life of Jesus validates God’s non-empirical promise to remove our guilt, if we believe and accept God’s covenant terms. The forgiveness of our sins is not based on our feelings, but upon empirical verification of the faithfulness and sovereignty of God, the Son. When we acknowledge and trust in that verified faithfulness, then we may have a legitimate experiential feeling of guiltlessness.
Inasmuch as the apostle Paul quoted (or paraphrased) Isaiah 55:3 in Acts 13:34, and plainly indicates it was fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we must look upon this whole chapter of Isaiah as messianic. Therefore, the him of Isa 55:4 is the Messiah (the Servant) who has been given as a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander to the peoples. The Hebrew word translated leader is nagiyd which means prince and is the same word used in Daniel 9:25-26 (see our comments there). The word metsaveh is Hebrew for commander and comes from mitsvah or commandment. Thus the one to be given for a witness to the nations will be a ruler and a commandment-giver (cf. Isaiah 54:13). This probably refers to the twofold messianic office of King-Prophet. In Isaiah 53, the Servant makes intercession and thus becomes the Messiah-Priest. Zion must be apprised of the fact that Jehovah’s future eternal covenant will be validated by The One who is Prophet-Priest-and-King. Furthermore, Jehovah’s covenant will be secured by this One for all peoples!
Since the Servant comes through Zion, she will be given the privilege of calling nations she formerly knew not in covenant relationship. Nations that knew not Zion in covenant relationship shall, when the Prophet-King-Priest comes, run to her because Jehovah is who He is and will have verified that His covenant is universal through the work of the Messiah (cf. Isaiah 2:3-4; Isaiah 19:16-25; Isaiah 45:14; Isaiah 45:22-25; Isaiah 49:12; Isaiah 60:3-6; Isaiah 66:18; Zechariah 8:20-23; Luke 24:47). It was in the same Jewish synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia where Paul quoted Isaiah 55:3 that he also told the recalcitrant Jews that the covenant of the Lord was for the Gentiles to whom he would thenceforth go and preach (Acts 13:42-52).
QUIZ
What is the main point of verses one and two?
How do men have access to the grace of God?
How much does the O.T. say about the grace of God?
What is the only thing that makes the atoning aspect of the death of Christ believable?
How do we know this context points to the Messiah?
How did Jehovah establish the faithfulness of His promises?
In what sense will Zion call a nation it does not know?
Isaiah 55:6-13
- EXTENT
TEXT: Isaiah 55:6-13
6
Seek ye Jehovah while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near:
7
let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah.
9
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10
For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, and giveth seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11
so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing; and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13
Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-trees; and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree: and it shall be to Jehovah for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
QUERIES
a.
Why does Isaiah exhort his audience to seek Jehovah?
b.
Why mention the word of God here?
c.
How do mountains and hills sing?
PARAPHRASE
Believe what the Lord says about His Servant and His covenant, O Zion, and seek Him in faith while the opportunity to do so is still yours. Those who are rebelliously and wickedly pursuing lives of worldliness, assuming that the Lord’s covenant promises are not going to come to pass had better forsake their unbelief and turn back to Jehovah. Trust in the faithfulness of Jehovah is the only source of mercy for the sinner; and that mercy will be abundant. You may not understand all I am saying about My Servant and His covenant of grace, but that is because my thoughts are not completely reducible to human experiences and concepts, says the Lord. My sovereign program and plan of redemption through My Servant and His Covenant is beyond human wisdom. But just as rain and snow falling from heaven have life in themselves and are the source of life for physical vegetation on the earth, so My Word has spiritual life in it. When I promise forgiveness only through My Servant and His covenant it shall be so. My word will produce eternal life through an eternal covenant. Do not think that the imminent captivity of Zion by Babylon is going to stop My promises from coming to pass. Your redemption from captivity by My sovereign purpose will eventuate in an everlasting covenant of joy and peace for Zion. Indeed, even nature itself shall ultimately be redeemed through My sovereign word. When this covenant is fulfilled it will be a sign that will last forever, a reminder of what I, Jehovah, have done.
COMMENTS
Isaiah 55:6-7 REPENTANCE: The favor (grace) and the faithfulness (verified in the work of the Servant) of Jehovah’s promised everlasting covenant is appropriated through repentance in accordance with the revealed word of God. Great numbers of the people in Isaiah’s day were choosing to believe that Jehovah was not, indeed, could not, ever make good on bringing to pass His glorious promises to the fathers. The rich and powerful really did not want God to interfere with their worldliness. They wanted Jehovah to get out of their lives (cf. Isaiah 30-31). The prediction of the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 52:13 to Isaiah 53:12) was unacceptable then as later. So Isaiah’s exhortation to Zion is, Believe what the Lord says about His Servant and His covenant and turn to Him while you still have the opportunity to do so! Many of them would die in the captivity that was coming. If they did not turn in faith and repentance to the promises of Jehovah of atonement through the Servant, they would die in their sins. Isaiah believed and saw the glory of the Christ (John 12:38). If he could, why couldn-’t other Jews of his day? Because they chose to pursue a worldly scheme of salvation. They chose to believe in idolatry or alliances with foreign military powers. Isaiah calls upon his people to change their minds and forsake their wicked ways, and to put their confidence in God’s promises that He will work out their salvation through His Servant. Before they can claim His promise of pardon, they must make up their minds they want it. They must choose. If they choose to trust God’s way of salvation, they may find it in His salvation.
Isaiah 55:8-11 REVELATION: The sovereign plan of God for the redemption of the world is beyond the experience of man. That God Himself could become incarnate and live a perfect life (without sin in a fleshly body) and then willingly allow Himself to be made sin on sinful man’s behalf so that man might be given an imputed righteousness which man does not deserve, is incomprehensible to man because man has no experiential base from which to comprehend such an event. The cross is a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to the Greeks (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18 to 1 Corinthians 2:15; see also Special Study, The Wisdom of God, pgs. 309-322). God’s plan to redeem man through The Servant and His New Covenant is a challenge to the pride of man who believes he can secure his own salvation by his own wisdom. Therefore, man refuses to accept God’s plan because God’s plan is beyond man’s wisdom, But that is just the pointGod’s plan is a revelation. Habakkuk had this problem. He could not understand why God would punish the Jews by the Chaldeans. But God told Habakkuk, in effect, I do not ask, Habakkuk, that you understand it, but that you believe it and accept it! The apostle Paul quoted from Habakkuk in Romans 1:16-17. The gospel of God cannot be understood by man, it must be simply believed and accepted.
There is, however, a tangible point of contact between the incomprehensible, unsearchable mind of God and the mind of finite man. That is the revealed word of God. If man will believe the word of God and conform his actions to the covenant terms of God’s revealed word, he shall have redemption. The word of God is authenticated and validated by supernatural proofs seen by eyewitnesses and transmitted in human language under the direction of the Holy Spirit of God. So faith in the revelation of God is not a subjective leap without an objective basis. And God promises that His word is dynamicit is living (Hebrews 4:12-13). His revealed word is the source of our spiritual life, (cf. John 6:63; 1 Peter 1:22-25; James 1:18; James 1:21, etc.). God’s word produces life like the rain and snow produces vegetation. That is one of the evidences upon which we may base our faith in God even though we may not understand His ways. We see His word produce goodness and life. Man believes many things he does not fully understand (electricity, gravity, personality, atomic structure and behavior). Man believes and acts upon those principles because of objective evidence he has seen to establish their reality. So, man can believe and act upon the revealed precepts and principles of God in the Bible, even though he may not understand them.
The point of these words of Isaiah is to encourage the Jews of his day that covenant relationship to God in the work of the Servant may not be completely comprehensible, but this relationship has as its bond the historical deeds of God for evidence and has as its bounds, the propositional (verbal) revelation of God in human language. Covenant relationship to God is through the Servant according to the precepts of God’s written word. Anything less than that is too little; anything more is too much. God has spoken through Isaiah and the other prophets that He is going to fulfill His covenant in the Servant. God’s word will accomplish that for which it is sent! Isaiah 55:12-13 REJOICING: The graphic picture of the whole creation rejoicing at Zion’s redemption in these verses may be hyperbolic description of release from the Babylonian captivity. Contextually, however, it is a figurative description of the rejoicing the whole creation is going to enter into when the whole creation is redeemed through the work of the Servant (cf. Romans 8:18-25). When that redemption which the Servant accomplished is finally consummated at the creation of a new heavens, and new earth there will be cosmic jubilation. Paradise will be restored and the curse which brought thorns and thistles upon the original earth (Genesis 3:17-19) will be removed. It is through the work of the Servant that man’s dominion over creation has been potentially regained now (cf. Hebrews 2:5-9). Isaiah, by the Spirit of God. saw all this. No wonder he burst forth into such beautiful hyperbole! All of this shall cause the name of Jehovah to be exalted forever and ever.
QUIZ
How is the favor of God appropriated?
Were people of Isaiah’s day capable of believing and turning to the promise of atonement through the Servant?
Why are God’s ways beyond man’s comprehension?
May we believe something we do not understand?
Is belief a leap in the dark? Why not?
What is the ultimate goal of the rejoicing mentioned in Isaiah 55:12-13?