Isaiah 59

EXAMINATION 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 59:1-8

F. WRATH OF THE LORD UPON COVENANT DESPISERS, CHAPTER 59

1. THEIR CRIMES

TEXT: Isaiah 59:1-8

1

Behold, Jehovah’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

2

but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear.

3

For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue muttereth wickedness.

4

None sueth in righteousness, and none pleadeth in truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

5

They hatch adders-’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth; and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.

6

Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.

7

Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their paths.

8

The way of peace they know not; and there is no justice in their goings: they have made them crooked paths; whosoever goeth therein doth not know peace.

QUERIES

a.

Why bring up the subject of the people’s salvation here?

b.

With what webs did the people hope to cover themselves?

c.

Why do they not know the way of peace?

PARAPHRASE

Look! The reason My great redemptive plan has to be delayed by a period of chastening for you is not because My power or My willingness is. insufficient. You are the reason, O Israel. You are in rebellion against all I want to do for you and through you. Your rebellion and sin has built a wall of unwillingness and rejection. As long as you are determined to continue in your wickedness, you will not see Me as I am. Yes, it is because you have your hands in every conceivable practice of wickedness there is (murder, thievery, covenant-breaking, slander) that you cannot receive My purpose for you. No one practices justice in legal suits or tries cases honestly. People are building this society on moral impotence and falsehood. They spend most of their time plotting wickedness and their plots produce violence. Poisonous seed is produced by these snakes like the eggs of a viper. They build traps for one another like a spider weaving webs. They produce poisonous offspring and everyone who partakes of their wickedness is poisoned also. They think that their subtle webs will provide a covering or escape, but the evil of their hearts is clearly seen in what their lives produce. They do not merely stumble into sin, they eagerly race one another to kill and maim the innocent. They dream and think and plan wickedness all day and all night. They haven-’t the slightest desire for real peace in this society. They prefer to live crooked and devious lives and when anyone prefers that he is an enemy of justice and peace.

COMMENTS

Isaiah 59:1-4 BARRICADED: In chapter 58 Jehovah tells the people the virtues which would prepare them to be covenant-keepers and to carry out His messianic plans. But these people are so thoroughly entrenched in sin and rebellion against God’s program of righteousness and holiness they must be repeatedly warned of the wrath that comes to those who despise His covenant. These first verses of chapter 59 are a graphic description of Judah’s adamant hostility against God’s way and her passionate wantonness for wickedness. Isaiah is describing here the conditions during the reign of the most wicked king Judah ever hadManasseh. Manasseh came to the throne in 687 B.C. as a boy of 12 and was seduced by a powerful group of priests, noblemen and false prophets to reintroduce the idolatry of his ancestors (Ahaz, et al). Judah’s prophets (Isaiah and Micah) predicted the wrath of Jehovah which had earlier fallen (722 B.C.) upon Israel. Manasseh outstripped all his ancestors in wickedness, (cf. 2 Kings 21:1-17; 2 Kings 23:11-14; 2 Chronicles 33:1-20). He instituted a reign of terror and persecution against Jehovah’s true prophets unequaled in the history of all Israel (cf. O.T. History, Smith and Fields, College Press, pg. 647-650). Isaiah was probably executed during that persecution.

Judah and Jerusalem had been saved from her enemies when Hezekiah paid heed to Isaiah’s message from the Lord (cf. Chapter s 36-39). But now she has, through the leadership of the vilest king she has ever had, committed herself to a path of rebellion which will lead inexorably to captivity. Undoubtedly, there were plain indications to the nation that it was in danger of foreign invasion and captivity. Manasseh was taken captive and imprisoned by Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, in 673 B.C. It appeared that the whole nation would soon suffer the same fate. Whether the people were asking for Isaiah’s advice or not, he was giving it. He states unequivocally that they had barricaded themselves from God and He could not help them. The Lord has the power to save them from their enemies if they will turn to Him and trust Him. But as long as they choose paganism, depend upon themselves and heathen allies, He cannot and will not help them. God made man and gave man the sovereignty of his own will. He gave man the awesome freedom to make his own sovereign choices with the attendant responsibility of the consequences of those choices. When man chooses to rebel against the revealed will of God, man willingly separates himself from God’s redeeming, saving power. Of course, man is never able to separate himself from God’s judgmental power. Men perish because they refuse to love the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). Men scoff and follow their own passions because they deliberately ignore God’s truths (cf. 2 Peter 3:1-7). Men will not come to the light because they love darkness (John 3:19-21). Men do not come to God because they do not want to be shepherded by Him (John 10:1-39). Men do not come to God because He tells them the truth and they had rather listen to the devil (John 8:39-47). When men build such walls of their own between themselves and God. His only alternative (in the light of man’s freedom to exercise his own sovereign will) is to give man up to a base mind and improper conduct (cf. Romans 1:18-32). When God is forced to give rebelling man up, man must save himself and man cannot do that! Man cannot save himself from nature, from death, from men more powerful than he, and last, but most important, man cannot save himself from his own conscience!

The prophets of God (Isaiah and his contemporaries, Amos, Hosea and Micah) have promised a glorious salvation for God’s people and an even more glorious messianic future. Recent circumstances (the wickedness, increased tribute to Assyria, Manasseh’s capture, etc.) have brought on fear, chaos and bitterness. Judah is complaining with sarcasm that the God of Isaiah is not fulfilling His promise. They are apparently preaching that Jehovah has no power to save them (advocating at the same time that power for rescue will come from their idols and alliances with the heathen). The nation is in a mess. The easiest explanation is to blame God for it (cf. comments Isaiah 50:1-3).

God is not to blame. Their hands are filled with blood. Their lips have spouted lies. They have destroyed themselves. God has never lied to them. He has never defaulted on one of His promises. He has not cheated them, robbed them, murdered them. He can save them, but not in their condition. Should God save them, allowing them to continue in wickedness, He would be a partner in their wickedness and thus dishonest, unjust, unholy, unrighteous reducing Himself to moral impotency and consigning Himself and these people to an endless hell! God cannot be God and condone a kingdom in rebellion. If He is to rule in perfect righteousness and holiness He must rule a kingdom of citizens who have willingly surrendered to His sovereign will.

Isaiah’s description of the depravity of society in Judah is similar to Hosea’s description of Israel’s wicked anarchy in an earlier day (before 722 B.C.) (cf. Hosea 4:1 to Hosea 5:15). There was no truth, no justice, no goodness in the land. There was murder, lying, slander, robbery, vain revelry and adultery. Manasseh was eventually returned to Judah. His imprisonment in the city of Babylon apparently caused him to repent, and he instituted a religious reform in the land. God’s judgment of Judah was postponed for about a hundred years (until 606-586 B.C.). Manasseh’s reform was only superficial. Underneath a veneer of orthodoxy was a deep-seated wickedness sown by Manasseh when he was a younger man. Eventually, Judah returned to this wickedness and God’s word says it was because of Manasseh’s earlier seduction of the nation (cf. 2 Kings 24:3; Jeremiah 15:4). The student should read the first 23 Chapter s of Jeremiah’s prophecy as a record of the consequences of Manasseh’s leading Judah into idolatry and sin.

Isaiah 59:5-8 BARBAROUS: The adder is tziphe-‘oni in Hebrew and describes the most poisonous of all serpents, or fiery serpent. The Hebrew word for viper is -ephe-’eh and is from the root word which means whisperer or hisser. Isaiah is emphasizing to his disciples the lethal danger of flirting with the majority of people in his day. Most men in the prophet’s generation were like deadly poisonous snakes. He also likened them unto cunning spiders. Poisonous snakes lay eggs which incubate poisonous embryonic snakes. Anyone who eats of the fruit (eggs) of that poisonous society will die of the same poison. Even those who try to crush what that society produces shall be slain by the snake that comes from the egg. Most spiders use their webs as snares and hiding places (cover). This evil generation will be trapped by their own webs and instead of being able to hide in their webs will be exposed by them. The violent consequences of their deeds are plain to everyone. The decadence of that generation is manifested in the fact that no one really cared. It is difficult to believe that people would run with haste to shed innocent blood. But even among God’s people there were syndicates or mobs of organized criminals, incredibly enough, among the priests (cf. Hosea 6:9). There is no restraint in the doing of evil. Jeremiah said they trooped to the houses of harlots (Jeremiah 5:7-8); they lurked like trappers lying in wait to ensnare men and women (Jer. -5:25-28). They gave their minds to dreaming, thinking, planning, plotting and preparing for wickedness all day and all night (cf. Hosea 7:4-7). They were like the wicked people of Noah’s day whose every imagination of the thoughts of their heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5).

They did not know the way of peace. The Hebrew word shalom is translated peace but means primarily, soundness, wholeness, well-being, prosperity, health, goodness. In all of the following scriptures the word shalom is in the original text: (Psalms 122:7; Psalms 35:27; Psalms 73:3; Job 9:4; Job 22:21; 1 Kings 9:25; Deuteronomy 27:6; Joshua 8:31; Genesis 29:6; Genesis 37:14; Genesis 43:27; 2 Samuel 18:28; 2 Kings 4:23; 2 Kings 4:26; 2 Kings 5:21-22; 2 Kings 9:11). In 2 Samuel 11:7, David asked Uriah concerning the shalom of Joab and the shalom of the people and the shalom (peace?) of the war. In each instance here we have a graphic illustration of the usage of the word shalom being primarily, well-being, prosperity, wholeness, integrated-goodness. In Deuteronomy 27:6 and Joshua 8:31 the word shalom is translated uncut stones. Only whole, sound, perfect (in the sense of uncut) stones were to be used for altars. The people of Isaiah’s day did not know the way to soundness, wholeness, prosperity, (shalom). They thought they did! Apparently they believed security, well-being, prosperity would result from copying their pagan neighbors and worshipping in the fertility cults of idolatry. They felt secure in allying themselves politically, militarily and economically with pagan empires. Moral crookedness, social injustice and exploitation, compromise with pagan unbelief always leads to spiritual, moral, physical and social disintegration. Sin fractures; it does not produce wholeness. Man was not made for sin; he was made for righteousness. Falsehood disorients, divides, alienates, deranges; truth solidifies, integrates, consolidates and frees. Faith in God and Christ makes whole (Matthew 9:12; Mark 2:17; Luke 5:31; Mark 5:34; Luke 8:48; Luke 17:19; John 5:6; John 5:14). Peace (shalom) is a prominent feature of the messianic kingdom according to the prophets (cf. Isaiah 2:4; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 11:6; Ezekiel 34:25; Micah 4:2-4; Zechariah 9:10, etc.). Ephesians 2:11-22 is a vivid illustration that the eirene (peace) of the New Testament church is of the same essence as the shalom of the Old Testament; that is, wholeness, integration, unification, well-being, soundness.

Materialism, sensuality, carnality and idolatry leads to foolishness, faithlessness, heartlessness and ruthlessness. It leads to barbarity! (cf. Romans 1:30).

QUIZ

Who was primarily responsible for the wickedness described by Isaiah here?

How does man separate himself from God’s saving power?

Why cannot God save men in rebellion?

Why liken the majority of his generation to snakes?

What is peace?

What is the way of peace?

What does all this indicate about the meaning of peace in the N.T.?

Isaiah 59:9-15

2. THE CONSEQUENCES

TEXT: Isaiah 59:9-15 a

9

Therefore is justice far from us, neither doth righteousness overtake us: we look for light, but, behold, darkness; for brightness, but we walk in obscurity.

10

We grope for the wall like the blind; yea, we grope as they that have no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the twilight; among them that are lusty we are as dead men.

11

We roar all like bears, and moan sore like doves: we look for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.

12

For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and as for our iniquities, we know them:

13

transgressing and denying Jehovah, and turning away from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

14

And justice is turned away backward, and righteousness standeth afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and uprightness cannot enter.

15

Yea, truth is lacking; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey.

QUERIES

a.

Who is the we doing the pleading for light?

b.

Is the confession of wickedness sincere?

PARAPHRASE

Yes, it is on account of our crimes that our nation is in such a state of chaos. There is no justice or righteousness in our society. It is no wonder that this generation which has expected light finds nothing but darkness and ignorance. It is no wonder we grope and grasp at things like blind men; no wonder we stumble around wounding ourselves like blind men in broad daylight; no wonder we are like a nation of dead corpses. Our whole nation is filled with confusion and turmoil and some people run around like bears roaring at the agitation they are suffering. Others go moaning like troubled doves. This disordered and disturbed society looks everywhere for justice and salvation but they never find it. There is no way this society can deny the multiplicity of its sins. Our sinfulness manifests itself to us in the consequences we are suffering. We know we are a sinful, disobedient people, rebelling against the Law of Jehovah. We have deliberately turned away from Him, we have advocated oppression of our fellow man and revolt against our leaders and we are a nation of liars. Injustice is the order of the day; justice has been completely perverted. Righteousness is unheard of in this country; truth is dead in the wicked streets of the cities and honesty and fairness could not come into this society if it wanted to because it is banned. Indeed, there is no truth here, it is all falsehood, and the man who tries to quit his wickedness becomes an outcast and a hunted man!

COMMENTS

Isaiah 59:9-11 CONFUSION: The first part of chapter 59 is Jehovah’s indictment. In Isaiah 59:1-8 the Lord, speaking through Isaiah, tells Judah that He knows their sin. This section (Isaiah 59:9-15) is an evaluation of Judah’s predicament from man’s (Isaiah) perspective. It is, as it were, Isaiah concurring with the Lord’s indictment. It cannot be a penitent confession of sin by the nation of Judah. The attitude of the populace grew more and more rebellious and not penitent as evidenced clearly by Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Isaiah says, in effect, Lord, You are correct! This nation is filled with confusion because of its sin. The stupefying effect of the rejection of God’s truth is seen in their clamoring, roaring, moaning for light and salvation while at the same time clamoring for more and more wickedness. They were like disoriented blind men groping, feeling, grasping for some object by which they might find their way. The way is there but they cannot see it because they have deliberately chosen not to see it. One is reminded of King Zedekiah who when faced with the consequences of his disobedience to God, sent for Jeremiah the prophet and asked, Is there any word from the Lord? (Jeremiah 37:17). Jeremiah had been preaching the word from the Lord for at least 23 years (Jeremiah 25:3)why had Zedekiah been unable to find the way for 23 years? Why all of a sudden roar and moan for salvation, Zedekiah? Because he had come to the end of his rope. He could no longer solve his problems by himself.

The nation of Judah was fast approaching the end of its rope. Isaiah recognized it. Many of the people, however, had not yet admitted it. Not until they had been violently dragged off into pagan captivity and had gotten their fill of idolatry did they confess their own helplessness and turn to God for salvation. The interesting thing in our text here is the incongruity of moaning for salvation while running to evil and making haste to shed innocent blood (Isaiah 59:7). But what they are doing is nothing new. Israel did the same thing during the wilderness wandering, during the period of the Judges, during the period of the Seleucids and during the Roman occupation and the days of Jesus. Nation after nation has acted in the same stupid waymoaning for light while increasingly practicing darkness and roaring for salvation while continuing to. enslave itself with falsehood and wickedness. This senseless paradox fits certain segments of our own society and our own country. Some Americans run around roaring for liberty while burning and looting and shedding innocent blood. Others moan for truth in politics and religion while cheating on their income tax, stealing their neighbor’s wife, violating every law they can without getting caught. People want their sins but they do not want the consequences. Judah was no different from every other generation.

Isaiah 59:12-15 CONFESSION: AS we stated earlier, this is not so much a confession of repentance as it is an admission, on Isaiah’s part, that the Lord is correct about His charge against Judah. Even if this does represent a confession of sin by the nation, it is one thing to confess one’s sins and another thing to repent of them. Sin and its consequences may even be regretted and still not repented of. Judas regretted betraying Christ but did not repenthe hanged himself.

As a matter of fact, it would be difficult for a nation as saturated with wickedness as Judah was not to be aware of its sin! The consequences of sin are usually apparent even to the sinner himself. When the consequences of sin are felt more by the society as a whole than by the individual sinner it is easier to admit the sin and the consequences, than it is when those consequences cause individual catastrophe. Individual sinners profiteering from their sin without any privations or calamity may hypocritically bemoan the sins of others in their society and go right on sinning themselves.

Apparently these verses are the righteous moanings of Isaiah the prophet concurring with God that Judah is a wicked nation. The depravity of the entire society was plainly evident. Anyone could see the nation had deliberately turned away from Jehovah and had become idolatrous. Anyone could see there was no truth anywhere in that nation; not in government, not in business, not in religion! Truth had fallen dead in the streets. Honesty and uprightness was not permitted. Any man who tried to give up his wickedness made himself a victim, a prey! He became a hunted man! Could any society become that wicked! Jeremiah was told to run through the streets of Jerusalem. to see if he could find a man, one who does justice.. (Jeremiah 5:1). Jeremiah, only some 80 or 90 years removed from Isaiah, found the people of Judah totally committed to wickedness. Not only so, they loved it that way (Jeremiah 5:30-31); they could not be shamed (Jeremiah 6:15); no one repented of wickedness (Jeremiah 8:5-6); and Jeremiah was told not to pray for that people (Jeremiah 7:16-17; Jeremiah 11:14; Jeremiah 14:11; Jeremiah 15:1). Yes, a society can become that wicked! And it happens to any nation when its preachers do not proclaim the word of the Lord and when its rulers transgress God’s commandments (cf. Jeremiah 2:7-13).

QUIZ

Why are these verses probably not to be considered as a penitent confession of the nation of its sins?

How is it possible for a people to bemoan the consequences of their sins and yet keep on sinning?

Did Israel ever do this before? When?

Why is it nearly impossible for a society not to be aware of its sins?

How far into wickedness did the nation go as recorded by Jeremiah?

Isaiah 59:15-21

3. THE CURE

TEXT: Isaiah 59:15b-21

15

And Jehovah saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.

16

And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his own arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it upheld him.

17

And he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a mantle.

18

According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, wrath to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompense.

19

So shall they fear the name of Jehovah from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come as a rushing stream, which the breath of Jehovah driveth.

20

And a Redeemer will come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith Jehovah.

21

And as for me, this is my covenant with them, saith Jehovah; my Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith Jehovah, from henceforth and for ever.

QUERIES

a.

Why did Jehovah wonder that there was no intercessor?

b.

When is Jehovah going to come as a rushing stream?

c.

Who is the Redeemer to come to Zion?

PARAPHRASE

The Lord saw all this depravity and it excited His wrath that there was nothing being done to bring justice and righteousness to the nation. The Lord also saw that there was no one strong enough or good enough to intercede with salvation and it appalled the Lord. So the Lord is going to take it upon Himself to intercede with His own power and His own righteousness and bring salvation to His covenant people. The Lord will dress Himself in the armor appropriate for the battle (righteousness, salvation, vengeance and zeal) and He will conquer His enemies and punish them, no matter who they are, according to what they deserve. All over the world those who were His enemies will fear Him because He will overwhelm the world with His Spirit like a flood overwhelms the land when it is sent from heaven. Jehovah will come as a Redeemer to the Zion that has turned from transgression, He says. I, even I, am their covenant, says Jehovah. And when I become their Redeemer, their Covenant, My Spirit will abide with them through their receiving My word and obeying My word and proclaiming My word forever.

COMMENTS

Isaiah 59:15-18 MEDIATION: These last verses form a fitting climax and summation to the two sections entitled, Salvation Through God’s Servant (ch. 40-53) and Communion Through God’s Covenant (ch. 54-59). In this text (Isaiah 59:15b-21) the prediction that God Himself will become the atoning Intercessor and that God in The Spirit will Himself become the Covenant is summarized.

What the Lord God saw in the wickedness of Isaiah’s generation agitated His heart. The Hebrew phrase is ra-‘be-‘ayin which is translated in the KJV … it was evil in His eyes. but means more precisely, it excited His displeasure. The point is that what Jehovah saw not only excited His displeasure but it also moved Him to compassion as is evidenced by the subsequent plans to intercede Himself for salvation to those who will accept His covenant. Jehovah’s agitation of spirit here is similar to that of Jesus at the graveyard in Bethany when He groaned and wept over the death of Lazarus (caused by sin) and the trying of the faith of Mary and Martha (cf. John 11).

The Hebrew word maphegi-‘a is translated intercessor. It means literally, to strike upon or against, or to assail anyone with petitions. In Rth 1:16 it is translated urge or beg. It is the word used in Jeremiah 7:16; Jeremiah 27:18; Job 21:15; Genesis 23:8; Isaiah 53:12 (of the Servant) and in Jeremiah 36:25. When the Lord saw the wickedness and lostness of Judah, He also saw that there was no man interested or capable of petitioning Him on their behalf. They were all sinners, even Isaiah (undone Isaiah 6:5). Who will intercede, who will stand between their wickedness and lostness and the just vengeance of Jehovah? He will! God interposes Himself in the Incarnate Servant (cf, our comments on Isaiah 45:23; Isaiah 53:12; Isaiah 54:9). God’s own arm brought salvation (comments on arm see Isaiah 40:10; Isaiah 51:5; Isaiah 52:10; Isaiah 53:1). God upheld His own absolute faithfulness by imputing or supplying His righteousness to unrighteous man through the incarnated intercession of Himself! He accomplished both a vindication of His justness and the justification of those who believe through the vicarious, substitutionary atonement of Christ (cf. Romans 3:21-26).

See our comments on Isaiah 53:1-12; Isaiah 55:1-5; (and Daniel 9:24-27 in Daniel, by Butler, College Press) for extended discussion of God’s imputed righteousness.

It was the zeal of the Lord who sent Him into this world as the incarnate Son clothed in righteousness, salvation and judgment (justice). See comments Isaiah 9:6-7. It was zeal for God’s house that consumed Christ (John 2:17).

These words of Isaiah may have been intended initially to predict the salvation of Judah from the Babylonian captivity by the intercession and mighty arm of Jehovah. As we have already seen, however, the release from captivity had a much more glorious goal (the messianic redemption) as its ultimate fulfillment. And these words of Isaiah are no less messianic-oriented! Indeed, Jehovah delivered Judah from exile and recompensed her Gentile captors (the islands). But He also judged all earthly kingdoms when He established His own eternal kingdom through the work of the Messiah as we have already pointed out. By the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ God demonstrated with all the finality and absoluteness He could that the kingdoms of this world were judged. The great apostle Paul makes that the authentication of the world’s judgment in Acts 17:30-31; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28; Colossians 2:14-15, etc. These words of Isaiah, then, point ultimately to the Messiah and His kingdom.

Isaiah 59:19-21 MEMBERSHIP: The mediation (intercession) provided by God also provides membership or communion with God through covenant relationship. And that is precisely what this whole section of Isaiah (ch. 54-59) is all about. The isles of the Gentiles, from the west and east will fear Jehovah’s name and His glory. Jehovah’s name and glory will flood the world (as a rushing stream). The Hebrew word ruakh is translated breath (Isaiah 59:19), but is more generally translated spirit. Ruakh is the same word that is translated Spirit in Isaiah 59:21. It would make more sense to us to translate the word spirit in Isaiah 59:19. Thus the name and the glory of Jehovah that floods the world will be by the power of His Holy Spirit as He converts Gentiles and Jews through the preaching of the gospel of Christ.

The Hebrew word goel is translated redeemer. The original meaning of the word was to demand back, or to extricate. In Leviticus 25-27 the word signifies the liberation of property from a mortgage against it or a vow against it by payment or exchange. In cases of poverty, where no payment was possible, the nearest of kin was made responsible for performing the work of redemption. Thus a kinsman came to be called by the name goel, (cf. Numbers 5:8; 1 Kings 16:11; Rth 2:20; Rth 3:2; Rth 3:9; Rth 3:12, etc.). Jesus is our goel (kinsman) (see Hebrews 2:10-18). That this message is messianic is well established by its quotation in Romans 11:26-27. All Israel in Romans 11:26 is the New Israel (Galatians 6:14-16) the church of Christ. The salvation of all Israel is accomplished when the Redeemer redeems both Gentiles and Jew in one body (cf. Ephesians 2:11 ff) and that is the intent of Isa 59:15b-21 and Romans 11:26-27! Goel is a favorite theme of Isaiah (Isaiah 35:9; Isaiah 41:14; Isaiah 43:1; Isaiah 43:14; Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 44:22-24; Isaiah 47:4; Isaiah 48:17; Isaiah 49:7; Isaiah 49:26; Isaiah 51:10; Isaiah 52:3; Isaiah 62:12; Isaiah 63:4). The Redeemer comes to redeem those who wish to be redeemed and express that wish in a voluntary turn from transgression.

Two Hebrew pronouns are side by side at the beginning of Isa 59:21; -eni zo-’th would read literally, I, this very One, am covenant for them. God interposed Himself with an oath. He, Himself became covenant. All the promises of God find their Amen in Him (2 Corinthians 1:20-21). His life (atoning death and justifying resurrection) became the New covenant (Matthew 26:26-29). To partake of Christ’s life is to partake of His Spirit (John 6:52-63). To partake of Christ’s word is to partake of His life and His Spirit (John 14:21-23; Acts 2:38; Acts 5:32; 2 Peter 1:3-5; see comments in The Gospel of John, by Butler, College Press, Chapter s 14-17). The Spirit of Christ dwells in man through faith (Ephesians 3:17); faith comes by hearing and obeying the Word of Christ (Romans 10:17). The exclusiveness of the instrumentality of the Word in the dwelling and working of the Spirit is emphasized even here (Isaiah 59:21). The Spirit of God was in the prophets (1 Peter 1:10-12) but He functioned through their preaching. The Spirit of God was in the apostles, but He functioned through their preaching. The Spirit of God is in Christians, but He functions through their printing or preaching the Word which the apostles preached and printed and left for the salvation of the world. The apostolic message is the only message of the Spirit; He has no further word for the world! He will not function in the life of any one in the world except through the instrumentality of the apostolic Word. Covenant relationship to God has always been made available exclusively through the instrumentality of a revealed Word. God has always limited the delivery of His Word to a few selected individuals in order to preclude the possibility of deception (1 John 4:1-6). God has always authenticated His messengers by signs and wonders (Hebrews 2:1-4). Once the messengers have been authenticated and the message has been delivered in human language and committed to the printed page, anyone claiming to have a revelation of the Spirit beyond that message is a false messenger! All that is needed for the rest of the world to come into covenant relationship is that the completed, perfected message of the Spirit be passed on by printing or preaching from one generation to another.

The covenant accomplished by the Redeemer and inscripturated by the Spirit will last forever. It will never need updating, changing or superseding. It will need simply to be passed on from generation to generation. It is for the whole world so long as the world shall last!

QUIZ

How do these last verses fit in with what has been written in Isaiah 40-59?

What all is involved in the excitation of God’s displeasure?

What is an intercessor? Why did God have to intercede?

Give as many reasons as you can why this points ultimately to the Messiah.

Who is the Redeemer in Isaiah 59:20, according to Romans 11:26?

What does the Spirit of God have to do with covenant? and how?