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¹⁵ Truth is lacking, and whoever turns from evil is despoiled. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. ¹⁶ He saw that there was no one, and was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm brought him victory, and his righteousness upheld him. ¹⁷ He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in fury as in a mantle. ¹⁸ According to their deeds, so will he repay; wrath to his adversaries, requital to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render requital. ¹⁹ So those in the west shall fear the name of the Lord, and those in the east, his glory; for he will come like a pent-up stream that the wind of the Lord drives on. ²⁰ And he will come to Zion as Redeemer, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression, says the Lord. ²¹ And as for me, this is my covenant with them, says the Lord: my spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouths of your children, or out of the mouths of your children’s children, says the Lord, from now on and forever” (Isaiah 59:15-21).

Isaiah heralded the coming of the Lord and the completion of the restoration of God’s people. However, in light of this blessing there was also the burden of Israel’s sin.

To begin with, there is the plight of Israel living in a fallen world (59:15b–16). Because God saw there was no justice on earth, nor was there anyone who sided with Israel, the LORD chose to personally intervene. He would come to Jerusalem (Zion) as Redeemer. The redeemed will be those who turn from their transgression.

God’s unfolding plan of redemption will be two-fold. First, He will punish sin. Second, He will usher in everlasting righteousness. There will be great tribulation (59:17–18), but it will be followed by a glorious millennium where the LORD’s people will be wonderfully blessed (59:19-21).

Dr. R. C. Sproul commented that, “The LORD will come in the person of Jesus Christ, brining salvation to all who repent and turn from their sins. The Apostle Paul quotes this promise in Romans 11:26-27. The LORD’s covenant of grace is renewed through the gift of His promised Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39).”

Soli deo Gloria!

Isaiah 58-66 heralds the coming of the Lord and the completion of the restoration of God’s people. In chapters 58-59, the prophet articulated the need for Israel to repent in light of its spiritual and religious hypocrisy. What were the consequences of their sin?

To begin with, there was the consequence of unanswered prayer (59:1-2). Isaiah 59:1-2 says, “See, the Lord’s hand is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. ²Rather, your iniquities have been barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”

Dr. John MacArthur writes, “Abraham’s physical lineage had not yet experienced the Lord’s deliverance because of the barrier created by their wrongdoing. This is a universal truth applying to all men—sin separates people from God (cf. Rom. 3:23).”

 Second, there was the consequence of spiritual and emotional despair. The unrighteousness within the nation was a direct result of their own personal unrighteousness. Isaiah 59:9 says, “Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us; we wait for light, and lo! there is darkness; and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.”

Thirdly, there was spiritual blindness. The people walked about as if they were blind. Isaiah 59:10 says, “We grope like the blind along a wall, groping like those who have no eyes; we stumble at noon as in the twilight, among the vigorous as though we were dead.” This certainly parallels John 9.

Fourthly, there was frustration on the part of the people because of injustice. In amplifying what we already read in Isaiah 59:9, vs. 11 says, “We all growl like bears; like doves we moan mournfully. We wait for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us.”

What is the only cure for sins consequences? Isaiah 59:12-15 provides the answer. “¹²For our transgressions before you are many, and our sins testify against us. Our transgressions indeed are with us, and we know our iniquities: ¹³transgressing, and denying the Lord, and turning away from following our God, talking oppression and revolt, conceiving lying words and uttering them from the heart. ¹⁴     Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands at a distance; for truth stumbles in the public square, and uprightness cannot enter. ¹⁵Truth is lacking, and whoever turns from evil is despoiled. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.”  

Confession of one’s sin and repentance from the same is the simple, but significant, cure to the consequences of sin. It is the only cure for deliverance from the penalty of sin, but also it is the only cure from the power of sin. What was true for Israel 2.700 years ago, remains true for the church today.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

 

Isaiah 58-66 heralds the coming of the Lord and the completion of the restoration of God’s people. In chapters 58-59, the prophet articulated the need for Israel to repent in light of its spiritual and religious hypocrisy.

What were Israel’s prevailing sins in the 8^th century B.C.? It should not surprise us that Israel’s sins mirror the sins of us living in the 21^st century A.D. Even God’s chosen people, the church comprised of Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 2:11-22), is not immune from these prevailing stumbling blocks.

First, there was religious hypocrisy (58:1–12). Hypocrisy is pretending to be something superficially which you are not internally. It is acting out a role, like a character in a play or movie. Religiously, it is saying the right things, doing the right things, but remaining unconverted and not possessing the righteousness of Christ by grace alone through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.

For 8^th century Israel, the sin of hypocrisy was seen in their religious fasting.  Israel boasted of its fasting. The people thought that God would be pleased (58:1-5). However, Jesus said, “¹⁶And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ¹⁷ But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:16-18).

Isaiah instructed the people to share their food and clothes with the poor along with their relatives who were in need (58:6-10). The fruitfulness of such sincerity is expressed in Isaiah 58:11-12. “¹¹ And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. ¹² And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.”

Second, there was the neglecting of observing the Sabbath (58:13-14). Isaiah 58:13–14 says, ¹³ “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; ¹⁴ then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Apparently, even in the 8^th century B.C. there were people who chose their own pleasure, delights and idle conversations rather than taking delight in corporate worship and the preaching and hearing of God’s Word. Such is the case today. People would rather feast on hot dogs and hamburgers rather than upon God’s feast of spiritual milk and meat. It’s not that such pleasures should not be enjoyed on Sunday, but to corporately honor and worship of the LORD should also be a weekly priority.

Thirdly, there was bloodshed (59:3a). People were killing each other. Jesus said, ²¹ “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ ²² But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. ²³ So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. ²⁵ Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. ²⁶ Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny” (Matthew 5:21–26).

Fourth, people were lying to each other (59:3b–4): No one cared about being truthful. Isaiah 59:3b-4 says, “…your lips have spoken lies, your tongue mutters wickedness. ⁴No one brings suit justly, no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, conceiving mischief and begetting iniquity.”

Fifth, there was a desire to run headlong into sin and wickedness. Isaiah 59:5-8 says, “They hatch adders’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web; whoever eats their eggs dies, and the crushed egg hatches out a viper. ⁶Their webs cannot serve as clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make. Their works are works of iniquity, and deeds of violence are in their hands. ⁷Their feet run to evil, and they rush to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity, desolation and destruction are in their highways. ⁸The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths. Their roads they have made crooked; no one who walks in them knows peace.”

Isaiah would prophesy the consequences of such rebelliousness. WE will see what those consequences were when next we meet. Take time in prayer today to examine your heart and see if there is any parallel between the sins of Israel 2,700 years ago, and your own. If there is, repent of them immediately.

Soli deo Gloria!   

 

God’s manifests His grace upon all types of individuals. Remember, grace is His unmerited favor displayed towards those who deserve His wrath and judgment because of their sin. While mercy is God not giving sinners what they do deserve, which is judgment, grace is God giving sinners what they do not deserve, which is salvation.

In Isaiah 56:1–8; 57:1–2, 14–21, Isaiah chronicled several types of individuals for whom God blessed during the prophet’s lifetime. These were individuals and people groups which God had displayed not only His saving grace, but also His subsequent blessings.

However, Isaiah 56:9–12 and 57:3–13 chronicled the LORD’s judgment upon those who are not recipients of His grace. Isaiah identified two specific people groups facing God’s wrath. These were Israel’s religious leaders (56:9–12) and Israel’s idolaters (57:3-13).

With respect to Israel’s religious leaders in the 8^th century B.C., they were guilty of three primary sins against the LORD and His people.

First, they suffered from self-induced spiritual blindness. Isaiah 56:10 says, “His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.” The prophets, who were God’s watchmen, failed to warn Israel to repent of their sins. The prophets ignored and abdicated their responsibilities.

Second, the religious leaders were greedy and self-centered. They only followed their own desires and were intent solely for personal gain. Isaiah 56:11 says, “The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. But they are shepherds who have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, one and all.”  Isaiah compared these false prophets and priests to ravenous dogs, only interested in satisfying their own gluttonous appetites.

Thirdly, they were materialistic drunkards. Isaiah 56:12 says, “Come,” they say, “let me get wine; let us fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow will be like this day, great beyond measure.” Their inebriation completely obscured any responsibility they had for their people.

The result was God’s people were unprotected from the symbolic wild beasts of the field; the enemies of God (Jeremiah 12:1-9; Ezekiel 34:1-8). Isaiah 56:9 says, “All you beasts of the field, come to devour— all you beasts in the forest.”

At the same time, the ungodly in general were pursuing their own sins and rebelliousness against the LORD. This included wickedness (57:3-4) such as adultery and lying, idolatrous worship (57:5-11), and false righteousness (57:12-13).

John Calvin wrote that, “Wicked men grievously deceive themselves by supposing that there is no greater happiness than to have life continued to a great age, and by thus pluming themselves on their superiority to the servants of God, who die early. Being attached to the world, they likewise harden themselves by this pretense; that by nothing else than a manifestation of God’s favor towards them while others die, they continue to be safe and sound.”

The wickedness of foolish men continues to this day. May we, who are children of God, be the salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16) which is needed in today’s fallen and rebellious world. Pray our godly pastors and church leaders that they will continue to be faithful watchmen.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

God’s manifests His grace upon all types of individuals. Remember, grace is His unmerited favor displayed towards those who deserve His wrath and judgment because of their sin. While mercy is God not giving sinners what they do deserve, which is judgment, grace is God giving sinners what they do not deserve, which is salvation.

In Isaiah 56:1–8; 57:1–2, 14–21, Isaiah chronicles several types of individuals for whom God blessed during the prophet’s lifetime. These were individuals and people groups which God had displayed not only His saving grace, but also His subsequent blessings. Who were these people?

First, they were those who did right before the LORD. The LORD blessed those who were righteous and who honored the weekly day of worship. Isaiah 56:1-2 says, “Thus says the Lord: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed. ² Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

Second, they were those who were saved Gentiles. God did not regard foreigners, or non-Jews, as second class citizens in the kingdom of God. Not only did God accept them but He also accepted their sacrifices and worship. Isaiah 56:3a, 6-8 says, “Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely separate me from his people”; ⁶ “And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant— ⁷ these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” ⁸ The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, “I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered.” (See Ephesians 2:11-22).

Third, God blessed those who had physical deformities and who might otherwise have been excluded from the covenant community by the law (Exodus 12:43; Deuteronomy 23:1-8). There will be no such exclusions in God’s eternal kingdom. Isaiah 56:3b-5 says, “…and let not the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.” ⁴ For thus says the Lord: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, ⁵ I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.”

Fourth, the LORD blessed those who died young. Infant mortality, tragic circumstances resulting in death, and so-called pre-mature deaths, exist today. However, even more so in the 8^th century B.C. The LORD, in His providence, sometimes permits this to happen in order to spare the individual from future evil. Isaiah 57:1-2 says, “The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; ² he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness.”  

Fifth, The LORD blessed the broken and contrite of heart. Isaiah 57:14-21 says, “¹⁴And it shall be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people’s way.” ¹⁵ For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. ¹⁶ For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made. ¹⁷ Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. ¹⁸ I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, ¹⁹ creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the Lord, “and I will heal him. ²⁰ But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. ²¹ There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”               

The LORD was gracious in the past. He remains gracious in the present and in the future. All His blessings originate from His sovereign, and gracious hand. No matter who you are, where you live, and what you have experienced, those in Christ are blessed.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

 

Isaiah 56-66 forms the eighth and final section in the Book of Isaiah. The prophet chronicled the character of God’s true people (56:1-8), as well as the wicked (56:9-57:13). Isaiah maintained that there was a distinctive difference between the truly righteous and the truly rebellious (57:14-21).

Isaiah also called the people of God to repentance (58-59). They were to forsake their sin and return to God’s covenant.

Isaiah 60 describes the glorious nature of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.

Isaiah 61:1-63:6 is a display of the glorious grandeur of the LORD’s favor upon sinners along with the consequential glory of Zion.

Isaiah 63:7-64:12 is the prophet’s personal prayer for the LORD’s deliverance.

Finally, Isaiah 65-66 concludes the Book of Isaiah with words describing God’s salvation and final judgment.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee wrote, “Why study Isaiah? The Book of Isaiah is a high pinnacle in our journey through the whole Word of God. The Prophet Isaiah was given a vision of God at the beginning of his ministry (740 B.C.) that profoundly influenced his whole view of life as well as the prophecies he wrote about. Just like Paul’s vision on the way to Damascus shaped his theology, so Isaiah’s vision of God shaped his view of God.”

“The United States of America in the past fifty years has been dominated to a large extent by persons who do not understand the spiritual heritage bequeathed by their own ancestors.” –Dr. Albert Hyma.

“America is coasting downhill on a godly ancestry, and God pity America when we hit the bottom of the hill.” –Dr. J. Gresham Machen.

“It is not because God is great and I am small, it is not because He lives forever, and my life is but a hand-breadth, it is not because of the difference between His omniscience and my ignorance, His strength and my weakness, that I am parted from Him: ‘Your sins have separated between you and your God.’ And no man, build he Babel’s ever so high, can reach thither. There is one means by which the separation is at an end, and by which all objective hindrances to union, and all subjective hindrances, are alike swept away. Christ has come, and in Him the heavens have bended down to touch, and touching to bless this low earth, and man and God are at one once more.”  –Alexander MacLaren.

As we begin this final section of Isiah, let us finish well this study and our application of God’s truth contained therein.

Soli deo Gloria!

Isaiah 55 contains one the most fluent and extensive invitations of salvation within the Old Testament, if not in all of Scripture. The symbols of the sinner’s need of God’s deliverance from the penalty, power and presence of sin, along with the symbols for the Word of God, found in Isaiah 55 are also frequently found in the New Testament (e.g. John 4; I Peter 2:1-3).

Who are the ones in need of God’s salvation? Isaiah 55:1 says, “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Those in need of salvation are the ones who are spiritually thirsty and beggar poor (John 4; Matthew 5:1-3).

What is God’ solution to fallen man’s thirst and poverty? Isaiah 55:2-3 says, “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. ³          Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.”  The promises of the Davidic covenant are now available for everyone.

Who is the source of this salvation? Isaiah 55:4-5 says, “⁴ Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, leader and commander for the peoples. ⁵ Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.” Salvation from sin’s penalty, power and presence is the Holy One of Israel.

What is the sinner to do in response to this offer of salvation? Isaiah 55:6-7 says, ⁶ “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; ⁷ let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” The ability to seek the LORD is from God (John 6:35-66; Ephesians 2:1-9) so that He receives all the glory and praise.

How necessary is God’s Word in the salvation of the sinner? Isaiah 55:8-11 says, “          ⁸For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. ⁹For 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 and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, ¹¹ so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the Word of God (Romans 10: 14-15).

When will salvation from God be full and complete? Isaiah 55:12-13 says, “¹²  “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. ¹³ Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the Lord, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

Jesus’ millennial reign and rule will fulfill the words of the prophet (Revelation 20:1-6). Exiled Israel will return from her dispersion rejoicing in her deliverance and unbothered by her enemies. What was true for Israel when it left Egypt, and then Babylon, will be complete in the Millennium. In the Millennial Kingdom, positive changes in nature, including the reverse of the curse (Gen. 3:17), will be an ongoing testimony to the Lord’s redemption of his people (Isa. 44:23; Rom. 8:19–23).

The call from God is for sinners to repent of their sins and trust Jesus Christ, for their righteousness and salvation. He alone saves the sinner from the penalty, power and eventual presence of sin.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

In Isaiah 54:1-17, the Prophet Isaiah described the special relationship of God to His people. It is compared to a wife and her husband. It is a theme contained in other portions of the Scriptures (Hosea; Galatians 4:27; Ephesians 5:22-33). However, the LORD gives this theme great emphasis in Isaiah 54.

“Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married,” says the Lord. ² “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. ³ For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities. ⁴ “Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more” (Isaiah 54:1-4).

Who is the barren wife? The image symbolizes Jerusalem. The City of God is pictured as a barren woman and a grieving widow because of youthful sins. However, the LORD commands Israel in general, and Jerusalem in particular to enlarge its house or habitation. This is because the LORD will bring into it a multitude of children which will be hers.

Within the historical context, Israel’s sins brought on the Egyptian captivity, the Babylonian exile, and her current dispersion. However, the glories of the future kingdom of God will be so great that it will overshadow Israel’s past failures and sin.

If Jerusalem is the barren wife, who is the faithful husband? He is none other than the Creator and Sustainer, the Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the LORD of heaven and earth. “For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called” (Isaiah 54:5).

What the will LORD do on behalf of Israel? Even though Jerusalem will be briefly punished for its sin, the LORD’s future blessings will be eternal. The LORD’s steadfast love will not leave Israel. “⁶ For the Lord has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God. ⁷ For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. ⁸ In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer. ⁹ “This is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, and will not rebuke you. ¹⁰ For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you” (Isaiah 54:6-10).

The future Jerusalem will be likened to a precious jewel. It will possess unparalleled beauty. “¹¹ “O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. ¹² I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and all your wall of precious stones.” (Isaiah 54:11-12).

Dr. John MacArthur writes that, “The elaborate ornamentation will outfit Jerusalem to be the center of the future, eternal messianic reign following the millennium (Rev. 21:18–21). As magnificent as this is, it is not as important as the spiritual richness of the kingdom, when truth and peace (Isa. 54:13) prevail along with righteousness (v. 14). The Lord himself will teach everyone during the messianic kingdom, so everyone will know his righteousness (11:9; Jer. 31:34). Jesus gave this verse an additional focus, applying it to those with spiritual insight to come to him during his first advent (John 6:45).”

The LORD will protect and allow Jerusalem’s citizens to prosper. God’s government will be just and her enemies will be far away. “¹³ All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. ¹⁴ In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. ¹⁵ If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you. ¹⁶     Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy; ^17no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord” (Isaiah 54:13-17).

Such are God’s promises for the future millennial kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

¹⁰Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. ¹¹ Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. ¹² Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:10-12)

Isaiah 53:10-12 is the fifth and final section in the prophet’s substantial Servant Song of Yahweh concerning the LORD’s substitutionary atonement on behalf of sinners. As was the case with the previous four sections, this final section contains three verses. Each of the verses will be individually examined.

“ Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12).  

Isaiah 53:12 is the climatic verse, of the climatic section of this magnificent oracle concerning the Servant of Yahweh and the substitutionary atonement for sin which He alone provides. There is a sense of a resounding crescendo in this final verse.

“ Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many.” Isaiah 53:12 serves as a conclusion indicated by the word therefore. In light of all which Isaiah has proclaimed in the oracle, there is an appropriate closing. God the Father reveals that He will divide, distribute, and apportion the blessings of eternity with the many who are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of His Servant: Jesus Christ.

“And he shall divide the spoil with the strong.” God the Father goes on to disclose, in Hebrew parallelism, that the Servant will also divide, distribute and apportion the spoils of victory with the great number of converted souls.

“Because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors.” Why are the God Father and the Servant Son able to do this? It is because of the substitutionary sacrifice by the Servant Son, which is likened to a mass of liquid being poured out of a container. The Servant Son was counted as a transgressor and was therefore included with transgressors at His death. He took upon Himself the sinner’s defiance of God’s person and authority and received God’s just wrath for such defiance.

“Yet he bore the sin of many.” Once again, we have the doctrine of substitutionary atonement explicitly stated in Scripture. The Servant Son took away from a great number of people the penalty, power and presence of sin. This was our sin, shame and rebellion. Jesus Christ removed our guilt, freed us from our sinful bondage, paid our spiritual debt and restored us to a reconciled and right relationship with God the Father.

“And makes intercession for the transgressors.” This final statement presents a significant shift in tense. While the previous statements in the oracle have referred to the Servant’s past, completed work, this final clause reveals the Servant’s present and ongoing work on behalf of the converted. The Servant presently intercedes on behalf of justified sinners who still battle with the power of sin, even though delivered from the penalty of sin (I John 2:1-2; Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:25; 9:24).

This promise of Christ’s intercession belongs to all for whom He died. All those who have found forgiveness in Him have the assurance of His intercession (John 17:20–26). Rest in the promise that Jesus intercedes for you. You never need to fear losing your salvation. Memorize Hebrews 7:25.

Amazing love, how can it be? That Thou my God shouldst die, and intercede, for me.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

  

 

¹⁰Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. ¹¹ Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. ¹² Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:10-12)

Isaiah 53:10-12 is the fifth and final section in the prophet’s substantial Servant Song of Yahweh concerning the LORD’s substitutionary atonement on behalf of sinners. As was the case with the previous four sections, this final section contains three verses. Each of the verses will be individually examined.

“Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:11).

“Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied.” Once again the subject in this verse is the Servant of Yahweh: Jesus Christ. It is the Servant who will be filled with the anguish of the soul. Anguish means trouble, labor and toil. Soul refers to the inner being of the Servant. This anguish of soul which the Servant experienced was because He bore the wrath of God the Father on behalf of sinners. It was such expiation and propitiation (Romans 2:21-26; I John 2:1-2; 4:7-11) that satisfied God the Father’s righteous justice and wrath.

“By his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous.” The servant understood exactly what needed to be done to solve the sin problem, which still exists in the world today. Protests, peaceful or otherwise won’t solve the problem of sin. Government programs won’t solve it. The social gospel won’t solve it. The only solution is the substitutionary atonement by the Servant, His resurrection from the dead, and imputed justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.

To be accounted righteous is God’s declaration that the justified sinner is legally and forensically declared righteous. They are in a right relationship and standing with God. This righteous standing is not because of any inherent righteousness the sinner may possess, but rather on the basis of Jesus Christ’s credited righteousness on the sinner’s behalf.

Galatians 2:16 says, “ Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”

By the sacrifice of the One, the many were declared righteous (Romans 5:12-21; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Is the doctrine of justification by faith alone that important?

Dr. R.C. Sproul once commented that, “(Martin) Luther was excommunicated by Rome and declared a heretic for teaching justification by faith alone. Luther replied that the church had embraced a heretical view of salvation. The issue still burns as to who the heretic is. In Luther’s response to Erasmus’ Diatribe, he acknowledged that many of the points at issue were trifles. They did not warrant rupturing the unity of the church. They could be “covered” by the love and forbearance that covers a multitude of sins. When it came to justification, however, Luther sang a different tune. He called justification the article upon which the church stands or falls, a doctrine so vital that it touches the very heart of the Gospel. A church that rejects justification by faith alone (and anathematizes it as a deadly heresy) is no longer an orthodox church. Luther wasn’t shadow boxing on that issue; nor was the Reformation a mere misunderstanding between warring factions in the church. No teapot was big enough to contain the tempest it provoked.”

Justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Have you received the righteousness of Christ in exchange for your sin?

Soli deo Gloria!