Isaiah5-3

1. Of what does the Lord use Abraham as an example?

2. How does He apply that into the present and future?

3. What group of people is this word for?

C. Comment:

Throughout these prophecies of Isaiah come words to the faithful remnant, the minority who are believers, who do seek the Lord and put their trust in Him. We saw them mentioned above in verse 10, and now they are addressed here.

To this group the Lord speaks. Think back to your origins is what He says (v.1). Think of what I did for Abraham and Sarah (v.2). He was childless, she was past the age of bearing children. Yet I promised to make a nation out of him, and so I did. The implication is clearly that if God could do this for Abraham, He could still bring a mighty change about in the fortunes of Jerusalem.

Look, He says, I will comfort Jerusalem and rebuild the ruins (v.3a,b). In the surrounding land, where it is barren and empty (v.3c) after the invader has come and gone, I will bring life and transformation (v.3d). The end result of all this will be pure joy (v.3e). You will sing again with gladness and thanksgiving for all the changes that will come (v.3f).

Remember two things: first this is a word for the faithful remnant, not the unbelievers. Second, because in the face of ruin such a thing seems impossible, such a word needs to come again and again. The Lord knows our need to hear this sort of word repeatedly. Look at your own situation, God CAN bring change!

D. Application:

1. The Lord looks for a faithful remnant. Make sure you're part of it.

2. Trust in the Lord, the blessing will come!

Chapter: Isaiah 51

Passage: Isaiah 51:4-6

A. Find Out:

1. To whom does the Lord speak? v.4a

2. What does He say will happen? v.4b

3. What is coming soon? v.5a,b

4. How will this be expressed and what will it bring? v.5c,d

5. What may happen? v.6a-d

6. Yet what will last for ever? v.6e,f

B. Think:

1. What will draw people from all over the world?

2. How do you think salvation and justice are the same?

3. How is this salvation not just a “temporary fix”?

C. Comment:

The Lord has just been speaking about how He will bring comfort and blessing to Jerusalem, and now He enlarges on that. As He said previously to His servant (49:6) His plans are much bigger than just Israel, they encompass the entire world!

The Lord uses a whole spectrum of words to describe what He is going to do – law, justice, light, righteousness, salvation, hope. Let's examine them one by one.

First the Lord sends His law (v.4b) and the world realises there are standards to be attained.
Then He speaks of justice (v.4b)which means failure is to be called to account. He then shows us that Jesus has died to take the punishment for the failure. Justice has been seen to be done.
As the Spirit convicts us, we see the light, (v.4b) and realise our need and the answer and we come to Him in repentance.
As we respond like this we are declared righteous by God (v.5a) and salvation flows in our lives (v.5b) which are made anew as we are cleansed and empowered.
Suddenly there is hope (v.5d) of a new future, both here on earth and in eternity.

These are the things the Lord speaks of here, the possibility of salvation coming to His world through the life and work of His Son, Jesus Christ. This is bigger than salvation for one small people group. This is the Lord's plan to be received by the whole world!

D. Application:

1. Justice demands that Sin be punished. Jesus has received that.

2. Justification means we are declared righteous by God.

Chapter: Isaiah 51

Passage: Isaiah 51:7,8

A. Find Out:

1. Who does the Lord address? v.7a,b

2. What does He tell them not to fear? v.7c,d

3. What two things will happen to them? v.8a,b

4. But what does He say about His salvation/righteousness? v.8c,d

B. Think:

1. Why do you think the Lord appeals to believers?

2. How may the enemy put them down?

3. So what is the Lord's answer?

C. Comment:

The Lord again appeals to those who seek Him. He keeps doing that in different ways. In verse 1 He spoke to those who pursue righteousness and seek the Lord. In verse 4 He appealed to ‘my people' and now it is (v.7) to “you who know what is right” and you “who have my law in your hearts”. Now that last description cannot apply to the whole of Israel, but to the faithful remnant. The Lord is bringing encouragement to believers and He speaks against the majority or the powerful who might have influence upon this smaller group (as it tends to be). He is speaking against one of the most common ways that the enemy seeks to quash God's people – by derision.

The unbelieving world mocks believers and calls them stupid for holding such “outdated” or “foolish” beliefs. The enemy tries to make believers feel small and foolish, because if he can do this they do not take action again him and his will prevails. This is exactly what is happening in so much of the West today. It is called marginalising God's people, pushing them aside and making them feel irrelevant!

The Lord's answer to this? Don't worry about them, they are going to be destroyed! Their time is limited but yours isn't! God's salvation is eternal which means it will keep coming down through history – while the current unbelieving set are wiped away and forgotten – and the effect of salvation will mean that you have eternal life and will never be destroyed. Hold onto the truth!

D. Application:

1. Mockers will pass away. Ignore them!

2. Salvation is eternal. Hold onto it and rejoice!

Chapter: Isaiah 51

Passage: Isaiah 51:9-11

A. Find Out:

1. What is the prophet's response to all that has been said? v.9a,b

2. What does he say the Lord has done in the past? v .9,10

3. What had the Lord enabled to happen? v.10d

4. So what does he say will happen now? v.11a,b

5. In what state? v.11c,d

6. And what will go? v.11e

B. Think:

1. How would you summarise the prophet's response?

2. What is the purpose of his remembering past history?

3. How can that help us?

C. Comment:

The Lord has just been speaking about what He is going to do. Now the prophet Isaiah himself speaks up. It is a heart or spirit response to all he has heard. It could basically be summarised as, “Go for it, Lord!”

He starts out by a call to the Lord to arm Himself with strength to do the things He's said. Do it like you did such things in days gone by, is what he adds. Then he starts recounting the past great things that the Lord had done for Israel. In the language and descriptions that follow he can only be describing the Exodus, thus Rahab must be a sort of code word for the might and pride of Egypt. Pharaoh and his court with their idol worshipping were like a huge monster and the Lord pierced them through! The Lord then dried up the sea and led Israel to freedom. That Exodus, the prophet realises, is just like what the Lord has been talking about for the future. The Lord will release His people out of the bigger ‘Egypt', the world, and bring them back to their land. This is a declaration of faith-prayer that rises up in Isaiah. Yes, he is saying, it WILL Happen!

It is good for us to affirm and declare the already declared will of God, to bring ourselves in line with it. The more we do that, the more it hastens its outworking.

D. Application:

1. Be aware of the declared will of God. Affirm it in your life.

2. Agree with what God says and praise and worship Him.

Chapter: Isaiah 51

Passage: Isaiah 51 :12-14

A. Find Out:

1. How does the Lord now start? v.12a

2. But what does He ask them? v.12b,c

3. What second question does He ask them? v.13a-c

4. What has that left them with? v.13d-f

5. What will soon happen to whom? v.14a

6. What won't happen to them? v.14b,c

B. Think:

1. How is verse 12 a direction continuation from the previous verses?

2. How are Israel being negative?

3. What grounds does the Lord give for them being positive?

C. Comment:

In verse 11 either the prophet or the Lord declared the certainty of Israel returning to Jerusalem. At the beginning of verse 12 the Lord confirms that it is He who is speaking and bringing comfort to them. But then He questions why they are so fearful. Obviously they are afraid of their neighbours, or even the nations a little further off (e.g. Babylon) and the Lord asks them why they are afraid of mere men. Men after all, die off like the grass, He adds.

Then comes the real reason for their fear: they have forgotten the Lord. God is THE Creator of all things, the One who is all-powerful, the One who has been promising to protect them and bring back future generations to this land. If they trusted in the Lord they would not fear, but instead they are left feeling vulnerable and open to the attack of the enemy and so live in fear.

There is a major basic principle here: You will either trust in the Lord and be at peace, or you will forget Him and live in fear. If you do not have a living relationship with the Lord, whereby you know His presence and His power that is there to provide for you and protect you, you will be prey to every fear. It is a worrying world but only if you are in it alone! With the Lord there is strength and security and peace of mind. These are key issues of faith even today.

D. Application:

1. Am I aware of the Lord's presence with me? Be at peace.

2. Am I unaware of Him? Seek Him!

Chapter: Isaiah 51

Passage: Isaiah 51:15-17

A. Find Out:

1. How does the Lord describe Himself? v.15

2. What 2 things does He say He has done? v.16a,b

3. What has He done with the earth? v.16c,d

4. What has He done with Israel ? v.16e

5. Who doers He then address? v.17a

6. What does He say they have done? v.17b-d

B. Think:

1. How are verses 15 and 16 a direct continuation?

2. How is that a word of assurance?

3. What does the Lord do in verse 17?

C. Comment:

From verse 12, the Lord speaks to Israel, challenging those who lived in fear because they had forgotten (turned away from) the Lord. In verse 14 He had declared that this people who were fearful will be set free from the dungeons of their fear. The picture is of a people who have become prisoners to fear, but the Lord has declared freedom for them. This state will not go on for ever.

In verse 17 He speaks specifically to Jerusalem as the capital city, a city which has born the brunt of the Lord's displeasure against the sin of the nation. They have received the full outpouring of the wrath of God. No wonder they have been in a state of ongoing fear!

But the challenge of verses 12 to 14 were not to fear but to trust in the Lord, and in verses 15 and 16 He again reminds them of who He is and why they can trust in Him. He is the I AM, the one who has come to them and revealed Himself. He is the all-mighty One who affects and changes even nature on their behalf. He has come to them and spoken and He has come to them and protected them. He is the One who has both created all things and entered into a personal covenant with Israel. There is within this a reminder of both His power and His personal commitment to them. He has the power to change history for them, and the personal concern to do it for them as a people.

D. Application:

1. Nothing is impossible for the Lord. Trust Him.

2. The Lord is FOR His people. Worship Him.

Chapter: Isaiah 51

Passage: Isaiah 51:18-20

A. Find Out:

1. What had none of ‘ Jerusalem 's sons' done? v.18

2. What was she in need of? v.19

3. What had come upon her? v.19

4. What had happened to her ‘sons'? v.20a,b

5. Why was that? v.20c,d

B. Think:

1. Read on verses 21-23. What is the context of v.18-20?

2. This is a picture of past to present. What has happened?

3. What is the end product and why?

C. Comment:

At first sight these are not exactly edifying verses but we must see them in context. The Lord is speaking about the present state of Jerusalem and will go on to say that this time is coming to an end. It is important therefore to catch a sense of the state of Jerusalem as it was.

Verse 17 summarises what has happened – God's wrath has been poured out on Jerusalem, or to use the picture that is often used and is used here, Jerusalem has drink from the cup that God has provided, the cup of His judgement. That cup will be taken away (v.22).

Disaster has come upon Jerusalem so that property is demolished (ruin and destruction) and people died (famine and sword). God's anger came with very tangible results. This devastated city is in dire need of comfort, but there is no one (apart from the Lord) to bring it. Why? Because of what has happened to them.

Who are the ‘sons' referred to several times? Well in prophetic imagery Jerusalem is being personified as one who has grown up and who should have produced those who could look after the city, protect and develop it, but that hadn't happened. This city held the meeting place with God (the Temple) and so new believers, strong in God, should have (with God's help) guarded Jerusalem, but instead the devastations that have come have left them helpless and useless in this respect. There is no one in the city now capable of doing this. It will have to be God!

D. Application:

1. In God, we should be looking after our towns and villages. Do we?

2. Is the absence of such protection a sign of God's judgement?

Chapter: Isaiah 51

Passage: Isaiah 51:21-23

A. Find Out:

1. How does the Lord now address Jerusalem ? v.21

2. How does He describe Himself? v.22a,b

3. What has He taken from them? v.22c,d

4. What does He say about the future? v.22e

5. To whom instead will He give it? v.23a

6. What had they done to Jerusalem ? v.23b-d

B. Think:

1. What was “the cup” that the Lord spoke of?

2. What effect had it had?

3. But what was the Lord now saying?

C. Comment:

In verse 17 the Lord had introduced the concept of a cup that Jerusalem had had to drink from, the cup of God's wrath. Having to drink of God's anger is the picture here. Jesus used this same picture (Mt 20:22 ,23, 26:39,42). The picture is of drinking so that you take down the contents into you and fully experience them. You are required to drink it, there is no escaping.

So it had been for Jerusalem. The judgement of God had come upon them (and would come on them at the Exile) as enemy invaders had come against them, as we saw in verse 19, with destruction and death. The result was that the inhabitants that were left staggered about like they were drunk. We might say they were ‘punch drunk' because of all the things that happened to them. They didn't know what they were doing or what was happening to them any longer.

Now comes the word of deliverance from the Lord – I've taken this cup from you and you'll never have it again. The anger of the Lord has gone from them, the judgement has been lifted, and they are to be free from oppression. Instead that anger and judgement will be transferred now to those oppressors who came and subjugated them and made them lie down and be walked on. No, the judgement has ended and the enemy who caused it will be dealt with, so it will not be repeated!

D. Application:

1. When God deals with a nation, He does a proper job of it!

2. Yet the Lord plans for restoration not total destruction.

Chapter: Isaiah 52

Passage: Isaiah 52:1-3

A. Find Out:

1. What 2 things is Zion told to do? v.1a,b

2. Who will not enter her again? v.1d

3. What further 3 things is she told to do? v.2

4. How was she sold? v.3a

5. How will she be redeemed? v.3b

B. Think:

1. What is Jerusalem to do? i.e. her part.

2. What will be the Lord's part?

3. What picture of future Jerusalem is given?

C. Comment:

In these verses we have the third call to wake up (see also 51:9,17). It is a call to consciousness to see what is happening around them. As with the first call, this one is to ‘put on strength', or to stand up and flex your muscles and ease your joints in preparation for action. The action is then described.

First it is to put on garments of splendour, i.e. to start looking like a royal city again – get cleaned up, rebuild official buildings, hold royal festivities, look royal and holy! Why? Because the Lord has decreed that the enemy shall not come in again, it is to be a city of believers only.

So, says the Lord, shake the dust of the past disasters off you, it's a new day. Rise up, start thinking of yourself again as a royal city. Start seeing yourself again as a ruler, the capital city of my people. Shake off the ‘chains' of defeat and captivity, you are free now, so start believing it. In all of this there is divine declaration of what HAS happened and it simply now required Jerusalem to belief it and act accordingly.

Don't think you have to earn your freedom, continues the Lord. You didn't ‘earn' captivity, it simply came because of your sin. Now I have decreed freedom because it is part of my plans and purposes, so you cannot add to it. I've simply decreed it.

D. Application:

1. Similarly with the Cross, we did not earn or deserve it and we cannot

add to it. We can only receive it and live accordingly.

2. God's mercy and grace leave us no room for pride, just rejoicing.

Chapter: Isaiah 52

Passage: Isaiah 52:4-6

A. Find Out:

1. What two events does the Lord speak about? v.4

2. What is the Lord questioning? v.5a-c

3. What does he say is happening? v.5d

4. What does he say will happen, when? v.6

B. Think:

1. What big events does the lord speak of and why?

2. What is the current state of Israel ?

3. Why is the Lord saying all this?

C. Comment:

The Lord has just spoken in the previous three verses about the changes that are just about to come to Jerusalem, from slumber to sovereignty, and has indicated that it will be by His hand. In these verses He makes a stark contrast between what has been and what will be, and declares what the outcome will be.

The contrast in these verses is shown by the state of the nation in the recent past. Centuries back the glory of Jacob was taken to Egypt where they grew to the size of a nation but were nevertheless still slaves. In recent days the Assyrians had come and subjugated them again. The Lord calls them to take note of this state of affairs.

Look what is going on, is what He is saying. You were taken away by the enemy. They didn't entice you, you weren't bribed, it was for nothing. In fact (implied) it's more a case of you giving your hearts to them. Your rulers mock the days gone by in the past when I ruled you. In fact every day my name is blasphemed by this people. They do not honour me. It's no wonder you are in the state you are!

So, He continues, when the transformation comes about that I have spoken about, you will look back and realise and understand and know in your hearts, that this was entirely because of me! You will remember that I foretold it and you will realise that my hand is still on you and you are still in my purposes. That is the point of my saying these things now – so that in days to come, you will know!

D. Application:

1. God wants us to see and understand His overall purposes.

2. The Lord works in history in the long term. Understand that.

Chapter: Isaiah 52

Passage: Isaiah 52:7-9

A. Find Out:

1. Who first does the Lord speak about? v.7a,b

2. What do they bring and say? v.7c,d

3. Who next does He speak about? v.8a

4. What will they see, when? v.8c,d

5. What does the Lord tell Jerusalem to do? v.9a,b

6. Why? v.9c,d

B. Think:

1. Who are the 3 groups addressed in these verses?

2. What is the overall message that affects each of them?

3. How does this follow on the previous verses?

C. Comment:

The Lord has just said in verse 6 that His people will know when the changes come that it will have been His work. Now He refers to that coming day more fully. First He speaks of those who will come as runners bringing the good news – the Lord reigns! In the face of enemy oppression this cry will come as a turning point – God is ruling and (implied) is bringing a change to this impossible situation!

Then He refers to the watchmen who used to stand on the walls of the city watching the distant horizon to watch out for any coming messengers or coming armies. They will be the first to see the changes coming and they will be unable to withhold their cries of joy and what they see coming.

Finally the Lord refers to the “ruins of Jerusalem”, the ordinary people of the city living among the ruins. Finally, they too will burst into song at the wonder of what will be happening, God coming to His people, comforting His people with His presence, redeeming or claiming back His people from their enemies. This will be a time of great rejoicing as these wonderful changes take place.

In all of this the Lord is sowing hope for the future through the prophet. The present may be bleak but the future will be glorious, and the Lord wants His people to hold onto this.

D. Application:

1. Hope is the assurance of what IS coming. Christians live in hope.

2. The best is yet to come. Rejoice in that.

Chapter: Isaiah 52

Passage: Isaiah 52:10-12

A. Find Out:

1. What will the Lord do? v.10a,b

2. Who will see what? v.10c,d

3. What does the Lord say to the exiles? v.11a,b

4. What more does He say to whom to do? v.11c,d

5. How will they NOT leave? v.12a

6. Why? v.12b,c

B. Think:

1. What does the Lord say about the world and His exiles?

2. What does He say about the way the exiles will leave?

3. How does this conform to all that has gone before?

C. Comment:

In this chapter the Lord has been saying how, although at the present Israel, and particularly Jerusalem, are not in a good state with a number having being taken by the invader, the time is coming when He will bring them back. In verses 9 He has just declared that He HAS redeemed Jerusalem, it is as good as done because He has declared it.

Now He enlarges on that. When He says He will bare His arm, we might say He'll roll up His sleeves and get on with the job. He'll do it, He says, so that the rest of the world will see it, this salvation that He is bringing for His people.

So He addresses prophetically the people in exile with a command – leave! In other words it's time to start returning. Don't stay there participating un the unclean lives of the unbelievers, don't try coming away with their things, you need to remember that you are a holy people, God's people, the people who carry the presence of the Lord with them. But when you leave, don't go in a hurry, there's no need to rush, because your return is certain and sure and there's no question of your oppressor holding onto you or you being stopped on the way back. Why? Because the Lord has decreed it and He is going ahead of you to prepare the way and He will go behind you to guard your backs. No, don't worry about this return, your security is guaranteed.

D. Application:

1. When the Lord decrees something it is as good as done.

2. We are a holy people. We need to remember that.

RECAP - "The Coming Salvation" - Isaiah Chapter 51 & 52

SUMMARY :

In this third large group of 12 studies we have seen :

- The Lord's Encouragement again and again

- comfort, joy & gladness promised (v.1-3)

- promise of lasting salvation (v.4-8)

- promise of return and freedom (v.9-16

- that will now be put on their enemies (v.21-23)

- a call to rise up free (v.1-2)

- their freely given redemption (v.3,4)

- the rule of the Lord declared (v.5-12)

COMMENT :

In the kingdom of God, judgement is always tempered with mercy and grace. There have been strong warnings against Israel's sin but now in these chapters the Lord makes sure that we are left in no doubt – He purposes good for His faithful people (we must remember that the promises of blessing are NOT for the disobedient or unfaithful, - but they ARE there for the faithful). The salvation that He is bringing will extend to the whole world. There is an acknowledgement that His judgement has come and brought utter devastation, but now that the cleansing work has been completed, it will now be turned towards their enemies. Blessing is for the faithful people under God's reign.

LESSONS?

1. The promise of blessing comes to the faithful ones of God.

2. God's salvation goes throughout the earth and throughout time.

3. Restoration of a joyful godly relationship is at the heart of this.

4. The Lord is jealous for His people and will save them.

5. The Lord will bring judgement on those who are against us.

PRAY :

Thank the Lord for the wonder of His salvation.

PART 4 : "The Suffering Servant"

We now come to one of the most staggeringly accurate prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament. We are about to walk on holy ground. Take time with this passage.