Isaiah 51 Ultimate hope in time of trouble and doubt.

1. Isaiah 51 Ultimate hope in time of trouble and doubt.

2. ISAIAH CH 51 690 BC

3. Isaiah 50 – some thoughts from the previous lesson: 10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. This blends with a great deal of Scripture to make the point that to have knowledge, wisdom and understanding (i.e., “light”, and “enlightenment”) is to know God, and vice-versa… Job 28 28And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. Psalm 110:10 The fearoftheLord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. Proverbs 1:10 The fearoftheLord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction… …29For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: Proverbs 9:10 The fearoftheLord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding… …27 The fearoftheLordprolongethdays… Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. 27The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. Isaiah 55: 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

4. Isaiah 50 11 Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow. The point here is to contrast verse 10 with verse 11. God tells us in verse 10 that all 3 levels of cognition and truth: 1) knowledge (how things really are), 2) wisdom (what to do about it) and 3) understanding (why things are that way) – are contained in God, and that knowing and revering Him is the way to obtain and recognize those truths.

5. Isaiah 50 11 Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow. Conversely, God tells us that in man’s way, rebellion, there are schemes that seem right, seem to produce enlightenment; but are really only sparks. Sparks might look like stars in the darkness, but they really are not. They are just sparks, and like everything else that is man-made, they are short-lived and feeble. Watch Dr. Schaffer on Humanism – it looks good, but ends in despair. Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. 1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

6. Isaiah 51 1. Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.saiththe Lord, In the Bible, the Holy Spirit often tells us to listen up. “Hearken”, “he that hath an ear, let him hear”, “behold”; all of these, and others, tell us that a word from the Lord is about to follow – a word that will give us some Heavenly advice. Do you want some sure-fire wisdom that will bless you? Well, here it comes. Further, the Holy Spirit uses the prophet to narrow down the audience: “If you know the Lord and want to know more, follow along, and pay attention; you who enjoy a special status; you who participate in God’s plan and program – you have something rock-solid that cannot be destroyed. Even though you’ve been through the pits of life, Christ the Rock gives you something solid to stand on; He is the Stone the builders rejected, but the Cornerstone of all that is holy.” “Your feet are on that Rock to stay; that is where you’ve chosen to build your house – good choice! Out of that Rock came thirst-quenching water; out of that rock came Christ, risen from the tomb. Rocks can’t turn into people by themselves; but God can “raise up from these stones children of Abraham.” And as Joseph came out of the pit his brothers put him into, and out of the dungeon Potiphar had consigned him to, and as Christ Himself was raised from the dead and came out of the tomb -- there is exaltation awaiting you if you’re faithful!”

8. 2 Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. It was already established that God intended to give Israel a season of punishment; but He counsels them not to be in despair over it. He brings up Abraham as a reminder of what it is like to walk by faith and not be done in by circumstances that seem discouraging. Abraham, the father of all faithful, both of his descendants and those who believe in his God, is the prime example of having a relationship with God that is built on faith, and patience. Abraham HAD to walk by faith, as the promises of God were often a long time in coming. God says there is reward in walking like that; and great joy and comfort when the promises are fulfilled. He is talking about the end of the coming captivity, the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple, the promised Messiah, and, far into the future, the restoration of the nation of Israel in our time.

9. And we get an even more elaborate commentary on this in Hebrews 11: 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. Yes – THAT Abraham! That’s who God tells us to emulate here in Isaiah 51.

10. Isaiah 51 More about the rewards of faithfulness and relationship, here -- 2 Corinthians 5: For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Here again, God is telling us, through Paul, that the full answers to life’s difficult questions come, not when we follow the yellow-brick road, or ask some grumpy Wizard, but when we say “yes” to a personal relationship with the God Who made us! And we’re not trying to get to Oz, or even to Kansas, but to a promised city that is real, one that is made by God – a city that never fades. That is why God says “Listen up, all of you who are interested.”

11. Isaiah 51 3 For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. Near-term: God has not abandoned His people nor His holy places. In Jeremiah, it was told just how long it would be. Jeremiah 29:10 For thus saith the Lord, That after seventyyears be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. And we all know and cherish those words that immediately followed, in verse 11: 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (NIV “a hope and a future”) That’s why Daniel was anxious to pray and fast and to hear from God as he saw that 70th year approaching: Read Daniel 9 in its entirety. That’s why the people at the time of the birth of Christ should have been astir about their Messiah’s coming. That’s why we in our day should also be anticipating His return!

12. Isaiah 51 3 For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. Medium-term: The Lord would have kings give orders, and funds, for Zion to be rebuilt. Ezra 1:Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. Nehemiah 2:4-8 (read) Long-term: we know that Jerusalem and the Temple (Zion) were destroyed again in 70 AD, and became a garbage heap, a waste place. We also know that the muslims put a large and important (to them) shrine directly onto the ruins of Zion – that’s insult to injury. We also know that God has restored Israel to its land, and there are important events yet future on Zion: “Eden, joy, melody”.

13. Isaiah 51 4 Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. 5 My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust. This is a prophecy of the coming of the Gospel. The law that “shall proceed” from God is the New Covenant in Jesus’ Blood. The “light of the people” is the same Gospel light that was seen by people who walked in darkness, the light which God said should not be hidden under a basket, the light that we should let so shine before men. “Near” means the same as Paul said, “The Word is nigh thee” to confess and to believe on Christ and His resurrection. The “isles” are the far-away lands where the Gospel would go, and be embraced, through the work of faithful missionaries, starting with the Apostles. “Mine arms”: the arms which we are encouraged to lean upon for our hope and future are the same arms which will judge the whole world. Pay me now, or pay me later.

14. Isaiah 51 6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. The worst thing about casting in your lot with the world is that it puts you on a path to be set on fire and torment. The best thing about casting your lot with the God that made you is that He offers salvation and deliverance, in every sense of the word from sin from a life of degradation from guilt from the disappointments of the world from delusions and lies from judgment from condemnation

15. Isaiah 51 7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. 8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation. Jesus offered us this comfort when He said, “They will persecute you also…” Don’t fear either their disdain of you, nor their words. For their words will end, and so will their hatred; but the Word of the Lord abides forever – just as His love for you abides. Whose approval is better: man’s or God’s? And while you’re at it, teach these things to your kids, from generation to generation.

16. Isaiah 51 9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon? 10 Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? 11 Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. Here Isaiah begins to pray. In his prayer, He implores God to rise up and insure the ongoing safety and livelihood of Israel. He reminds the Lord of His past miraculous interventions. The word Rahab could refer to the convincing displays of power God had made (and which made a believer of the harlot and saved her family); the word could also refer to God’s dealing blows to arrogance, pride and violence (“rahab” means that) put forth by those who fight against God. Maybe all of the above. In any event, since God took Israel’s part before, Isaiah expresses confidence that He will do it again, rescue Israel, and they will rejoice because of it.

17. Isaiah 51 12 I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; 13 And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? 14 The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail. 15 But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The Lord of hosts is his name. 16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people. As often happens in our prayers, God answers while we are still praying. In this case, it is His way of saying, “Isaiah, you’re right – I AM the God you are referring to. Don’t fear man, who can kill the body; instead fear God, who has eternity in My Hands. Tell my people these words, yes, of discipline – but also these words of comfort and consolation.” Don’t you love hearing from God?

18. Isaiah 51 17 Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out. 18 There is none to guide her among all the sons whom she hath brought forth; neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up. 19 These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee? 20 Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of theLord, the rebuke of thy God. Now here is a delicious irony: Isaiah had just prayed that God would “awaken” to the desperation, reminding Him of His past performances and of His covenant. God then says, “I’ve been awake; it’s time for you and Israel to wake up!” Israel has abandoned her shepherd, and is desolate and astray; and there’s no one out there who can deliver them, no one who even cares. The point is that God DOES care, so they should never have left Him. Here Israel is, getting punished for their rebellion, and they’re even rebelling against THAT. Hearing from God can hurt.

19. Isaiah 51 21 Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine: 22 Thus saith thy Lord the Lord, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again: 23 But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over. This can certainly be a reference to God’s deliverance of Israel and His punishment of the likes of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, or the wicked Haman, during the captivity immediately ahead. I also see in it a passage for future reference, such as during the great tribulation, when Jerusalem and Israel will again be a cup of trembling, and Israel will both need, and receive, one more final deliverance by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!