These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
- The Apocalypse…
- Isaiah spent ELEVEN chapters giving BURDENS [מַשָּׂא] to individual nations…
- Then he expanded to address the whole EARTH [הָאָרֶץ]
- EVERY person – from the servant to the master – from the borrower to the lender…
- Would be JUDGED by the LORD – the world would be EMPTIED…
- Because people are PRIDEFUL – and have DEFILED the earth!
- Judgement of God…
- There will be a REMNANT left [like a small cluster of grapes overlooked in the harvest]
- They will sing to the LORD from distant lands – from the ENDS of the earth – Revelation 5:9
- But Isaiah was still overwhelmed by what he say – WOE is me…
- Because unlike the FLOOD of Noah – NO one would escape this coming JUDGEMENT…
- Everyone must stand before the WHITE throne of Jesus Christ – Revelation 20:12
- Praise to God…
- Yet although the JUDGEMENT was heavy – it was NOT the end [for everyone]
- God would make a [wedding] FEAST in Zion – Revelation 19:9
- And there will be NO more death – NO more tears…
- For those who WAIT on the Lord – those who rejoice in JESUS [יְשׁוּעָה]!
- 1st – Two Paths… vs. 1-11
- 1st – City of God… vs. 1-4
- Strong City… vs. 1
- In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
- We have a strong city. God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks!
- Isaiah continued his APOCALYPSE [ἀποκάλυψις] of the nations…
- In that day [בַּיּוֹם] – when Jesus will JUDGE the whole world…
- There will be TWO kinds of CITIES [groups of men]
- FIRST – the land of Judah will have a STRONG city – NOT because of WALLS and RAMPARTS…
- But because Jesus [יְשׁוּעָה] is the PROTECTION of the CITY!
- We hear about the ROCKETS and DRONES that are shot into Israel…
- When the sired go off – people are quick to hide in the BOMB shelters…
- Because when you are under FIRE – you want STRONG walls to PROTECT you!
- Salvation [יְשׁוּעָה] does NOT come from the WALLS of men…
- There is only one thing that can PROTECT us from the day of JUDGEMENT…
- We have to be found in Jesus – who takes away ALL of our SIN!
- Philippians 3:9 – “Not having my own righteousness… but that which is through faith in Christ.”
- Open gates… vs. 2-4
- Open the gates that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in.
- You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You – because he trusts in You.
- Trust in the LORD forever. For in YAH – the LORD – is everlasting strength!
- OPEN [imperative] up the gates to the CITY of God…
- So that the righteous PEOPLE [גּוֹי] who hold onto this TRUTH can come in…
- The MIND that is focused on God – will always have [imperfect] PEACE [2x] – Ephesians 2:14
- Because they have put their TRUST [בָּטַח] in the LORD…
- Therefore TRUST [imperative] in the LORD always – because of who He is…
- YAH [יָהּ] – who is the LORD [יְהֹוָה] – the ROCK of ages – Matthew 7:24
- We are SAVED by FAITH [πίστις] – Ephesians 2:8
- Yet the word FAITH is rarely used in the OT – Habakkuk 2:4
- TRUST [בָּטַח] is the commonly used OT equivalent for FAITH [πίστις]!
- I actually PREFER the word TRUST to the FAITH…
- FAITH is hard for us to relate to daily life – hard to DEFINE…
- But it is easier to ask – where are we putting our TRUST…
- We MUST [imperative] always put our TRUST [בָּטַח] in Jesus [יָהּ]
- Because if we do we will have PEACE in the day of JUDGEMENT as we stand upon the ROCK!
- 2nd – City of Men… vs. 5-6
- For He brings down those who dwell on high – the lofty city.
- He lays it low. He lays it low to the ground. He brings it down to the dust.
- The foot shall tread it down. The feet of the poor and the steps of the needy!
- SECOND – we want to DWELL in the city of God because [כִּי]
- Anyone who chooses to DWELL in the PRIDEFUL [high] city of men…
- God will cause [hiphil] to be brought LOW [humbled]
- LOW [hiphil] to the GROUND – down to the DUST [emphasized]
- So that we make sure NOT to miss how LOW that really will be…
- They are told they will be WALKED on by those who are POOR and NEEDY!
- Hebrews 10:31 – “It is a fearful thing to FALL into the hands of a living God.”
- FALL [ἐμπίπτω] – Same root word used in good Samaritan fell among thieves – Luke 10:30
- The word carries the idea of coming upon something unpredictably!
- The problem is we do NOT know when we will have to stand BEFORE God…
- So people gamble with their ETERNITY – pridefully NOT putting their TRUST in Jesus [יָהּ]
- But they run the risk of coming unexpectedly to that FEARFUL day…
- Because there are only TWO kinds of people when it comes to God…
- Wise sinners who put their TRUST in the Lord – and those who did NOT…
- For those who reject Jesus – they will TRAMPLED down when the DAY of Judgement comes!
- 3rd – The Upright… vs. 7-9
- Waiting… vs. 7-8
- The way of the just is uprightness – O Most Upright You weigh the path of the just.
- Yes in the way of Your judgments. O LORD we have waited for You.
- The desire of our soul is for Your name and for the remembrance of You!
- Isaiah takes the truth that there being only TWO options…
- And takes it from the GROUP [city] – and makes it about the INDIVIDUAL…
- The way of the RIGHTEOUS [singular] is STRAIGHT [מֵישָׁר]
- The reason is GOD [the most upright] – makes [piel] their path SMOOTH [פָּלַס]
- So much more [אַף] the upright WAIT [piel] for the JUSTICE of the LORD…
- The DESIRE of their soul – is to remember the His NAME!
- Those who put their FAITH in Jesus [יָהּ] – do NOT fear the JUDGEMENT…
- Their know the path they are walking down leads to the White Throne…
- But rather than FEAR – they LONG for the day when they will get to see their LORD!
- Seeking… vs. 9
- With my soul I have desired You in the night. Yes by my spirit within me I will seek You early.
- When Your judgments are in the earth – the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness!
- That is why the SOUL of the RIGHTEOUS long [piel] for the LORD in the NIGHT…
- So much more [אַף] – they SEEK [piel] Him early in the morning…
- Because they know when the LORD comes He will bring JUSTICE to the earth…
- Then the WORLD will learn what it means to be RIGHTEOUS [צֶדֶק]!
- We look around us today and see a WICKED and FALLEN world…
- We know this is NOT what God intended – this is NOT the Garden of Eden…
- Therefore we SEEK the LORD – we get into His Word NIGHT and DAY…
- Because we know the day is coming [soon] – when God will make a new RIGHTEOUS world!
- Revelation 21:5 – “He who sat on the throne said: Behold I make all things new.”
- 4th – The Wicked… vs. 10-11
- Let grace be shown to the wicked – yet he will not learn righteousness.
- In the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly – and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.
- LORD when Your hand is lifted up they will not see. But they will see and be ashamed.
- For their envy of people. Yes the fire of Your enemies shall devour them!
- Though GRACE [חָנַן] was given to the WICKED – they did NOT learn [perfect] to be RIGHTEOUS…
- The WICKED remain UNJUST even when everyone around them is UPRIGHT…
- And they do NOT see [imperfect] the LORD rising up [גֵּאוּת] to JUDGE them…
- They do NOT pay attention [חָזָה] when the LORD lifts up His hand…
- But they will pay attention [חָזָה] when the FIRE devours them!
- God holding back His judgement is GRACE – II Peter 3:9
- He is waiting to JUDGE the world because He wants to give them TIME to repent…
- But sadly the world does NOT see that – they do NOT see His hand raised…
- They IGNORE the believers that are all around them – choosing instead to live SINFUL lives…
- But by the time they see the FIRE [hell] – it will be TOO late!
- 1st – City of God… vs. 1-4
- 2nd – Promises of God… vs. 12-21
- 1st – Peace… vs. 12-15
- The work… vs. 12
- LORD You will establish peace for us – for You have also done all our works in us!
- Having laid out the TWO choices – RIGHTEOUS or WICKED…
- Isaiah turns to those who have CHOSEN the RIGHT way to give them PROMISES from God…
- FIRST – The LORD will [future] lay [imperfect] upon them PEACE [שָׁלוֹם]
- [כִּי] Just as the LORD has [past] DONE [perfect] the work in the PAST!
- Isaiah reflects back on where PEACE came from…
- God had given Israel victory time after time throughout their history…
- When they stood on the shore of the Red Sea with the armies of Pharoah closing in…
- God did NOT tell them to get to WORK – He told them to STAND still!
- Exodus 14:30 – “Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD.”
- Remember… vs. 13-14
- O LORD our God – masters besides You have had dominion over us.
- But by You only we make mention of Your name.
- They are dead – they will not live. They are deceased they will not rise.
- Therefore You have punished and destroyed them and made all their memory to perish!
- The people had served [בְּעָלוּנוּ] MANY other MASTERS [אֲדֹנִים]
- But they ONLY remembered [hiphil] the NAME of the LORD…
- Because those other masters [Egypt – Assyria] were DEAD [2x] – and would NOT rise again…
- YES – the LORD had caused [hiphil] Israel to FORGET their memory!
- The key to having PEACE today – is remembering what God has done…
- If He gave us VICTORY time and time again – and He does NOT change – Hebrews 13:8
- Then we can have confidence He will also give us victory in the END!
- Glory… vs. vs. 15
- You have increased the nation O LORD. You have increased the nation.
- You are glorified. You have expanded all the borders of the land!
- The LORD increased [perfect] the size [borders] of the NATION [גּוֹי] – 2x for emphasis…
- A nation of SLAVES had been given the VICTORY – giving GLORY [niphal] to the LORD!
- God did NOT choose Israel because they were the MOST powerful…
- He choose them because they were the LEAST of all peoples…
- That way when He did a MIGHTY work through them He would get the GLORY!
- Deuteronomy 7:7 – “I choose you because you were… the least of all peoples.”
- God did NOT choose us because we were the BEST…
- God SAVED us so that the others might see Jesus in our lives…
- As they see PEACE in our lives – as they see God increase our BORDERS!
- I Corinthians 1:26 – “God chose things the world considers foolish… as a result no one can ever boast in the presence of God.” [NLT]
- 2nd – Resurrection… vs. 16-19
- Trouble… vs. 16-18
- LORD in trouble they have visited You.
- They poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon them.
- As a woman with child is in pain and cries out in her pangs.
- When she draws near the time of her delivery so have we been in Your sight O LORD.
- We have been with child – we have been in pain. We have as it were – brought forth wind.
- We have not accomplished any deliverance in the earth.
- Nor have the inhabitants of the world fallen!
- When the nation of Israel was in TROUBLE [בַּצַּר]
- Their PUNISHMENT [מוּסָר] crushed them – forcing out a WHISPER [לַחַשׁ] to the LORD…
- Not so much a formal PRAYER – as a final desperate weak PLEA for help…
- Like [כְּמוֹ] a woman in LABOR – who cries out in PAIN as the baby is due…
- But unlike the WOMAN – Israel did NOT have a baby – they gave birth to WIND [nothing]
- Their SUFFERING had NOT saved [יְשׁוּעָה] them – and their enemies had NOT fallen!
- The imagery of pregnancy is used frequently in the Bible as an illustration…
- When we give in to TEMPTATION [πειράζω] – it gives birth to SIN – James 1:15
- We get ourselves into TROUBLE because we give into TEMPTATION…
- We do things that we think are going to make us HAPPY…
- But in the end they lead to SORROW – and are EMPTY [birth to wind] – Ecclesiastes 1:14
- Yet it is those TROUBLES that also bring us to the LORD…
- Broken – crushed – we WHISPER to Him and ask Him to SAVE us!
- Reborn… vs. 19
- Your dead shall live. Together with my dead body they shall arise.
- Awake and sing you who dwell in dust. For your dew is like the dew of herbs.
- And the earth shall cast out the dead!
- Unlike the DEAD of the nations that had conquered Israel [Egypt – Assyria] – Isaiah 26:14
- SECOND – even though the RIGHTEOUS die – they will [future] LIVE [imperfect]
- The RIGHTEOUS will RISE [קוּם] along with the Prophet Isaiah…
- Those who dwell in the DUST must WAKE up [imperative] and SING [imperative]
- Because [כִּי] like DEW brings LIFE to the dry ground…
- So the LIGHTS [אוֹרֹת] of the LORD bring LIFE – and the earth will cast out the DEAD!
- Everyone is going to die one day PHYSICALLY [result of the fall] – Genesis 3:19
- And those who do NOT accept the Gospel will also die SPIRITUALLY [second death]
- But for those who believe in Jesus – the SECOND death has no power over us!
- Revelation 20:5 – “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power.”
- 3rd – Refuge… vs. 20-21
- Hidden… vs. 20
- Come my people – enter your chambers and shut your doors behind you.
- Hide yourself as it were for a little moment – until the indignation is past!
- THIRD – the RIGHTEOUS get to HIDE from the wrath of God…
- COME [imperative] My people – and go [imperative] into My room…
- SHUT [imperative] the doors behind you – and HIDE [imperative] for a short time…
- Until the WRATH of God has passed by!
- When God brought the DEATH angel upon Egypt…
- He told the people NOT go out of their homes until the morning – Exodus 12:22
- God will JUDGE sinners – but He PROTECTS His children…
- He commands them to come inside so they do NOT have to see His WRATH…
- But His WRATH does NOT last – it will only be for a LITTLE while!
- Judgement… vs. 21
- Behold the LORD comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity.
- The earth will also disclose her blood and will no more cover her slain!
- The reason why the RIGHTEOUS are commanded to HIDE…
- Because [כִּי] BEHOLD – the LORD is coming out of heaven [His place]
- He is coming to PUNISH the SIN [עָוֹן] of those who dwell upon the earth…
- And the earth will EXPOSE [piel] them – it will NOT hide the dead anymore!
- Revelation 20:13 – “Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them and they were judged – each one according to his works!”
- This is BOTH incurably SAD and extremely exciting…
- It is SAD for those who have rejected Jesus – because this is the END…
- They will be ETERNALLY separated from God – NO hope of redemption…
- But it is EXCITING – because this is just the beginning for those who are SAVED…
- This is where Jesus – having received the VICTORY – makes a NEW Heaven and Earth!
- 1st – Peace… vs. 12-15
- 3rd – Fruit or fire… vs. 1-13
- 1st – Leviathan… vs. 1
- In that day the LORD with His severe sword – great and strong.
- Will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent. Leviathan that twisted serpent.
- And He will slay the reptile that is in the sea!
- In that day [בַּיּוֹם] – the LORD will punish LEVIATHAN with his great SWORD…
- LEVIATHAN [לִוְיָתָן] – 6x in OT – is described as a great fire breathing reptile – Job 41:19
- Called the SERPENT [נָחָשׁ] – the same name given in the Garden of Eden – Genesis 3:1
- And the [הַ] DRAGON [תַּנִּין] from the SEA!
- Revelation 20:2 – “He laid hold of the dragon – that serpent of old – who is the Devil and Satan.”
- When Jesus returns after the SEVEN years of Tribulation…
- He will be BOUND by Michael the Archangel for a THOUSAND years [Millennial Kingdom]
- But at the end he will released ONE final time [give the world a choice]
- At which point God will step in and bring the FINAL victory!
- Revelation 20:10 – “The devil who deceived them – was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.”
- This is when satan FINALLY gets what he DESERVES…
- He is thrown into the LAKE of fire that was created just for him – Matthew 25:41
- And why we need to be very CAREFUL who we choose to FOLLOW…
- The WISDOM is to look and see where are they GOING – where do they END up…
- Because if we are following them – we will end up in the SAME place!
- 2nd – Fruitful… vs. 2-9
- Vineyard… vs. 2-5
- In that day sing to her: A vineyard of red wine.
- I the LORD keep it. I water it every moment lest any hurt it. I keep it night and day.
- Fury is not in Me. Who would set briers and thorns against Me in battle?
- I would go through them. I would burn them together.
- Or let him take hold of My strength that he may make peace with Me.
- And he shall make peace with Me. Those who come He shall cause to take root in Jacob.
- Israel shall blossom and bud and fill the face of the world with fruit!
- In that day [בַּיּוֹם] – we must [imperative] sing [piel] about the beautiful VINEYARD…
- The VINEYARD that [אֲנִי] the LORD will PROTECT – referring to Israel – Isaiah 5:1
- A vineyard that had previously produced SOUR grapes [sinful nation]
- But the LORD will [imperfect] water it and keep it SAFE both night and day…
- Because there is NO [אֵין] more RAGE in the LORD [towards His vineyard]
- But if He finds BRIERS of THORNS in that VINEYARD – He will [cohortative] BURN them…
- UNLESS [אוֹ] they make PEACE with the LORD – let them make PEACE [שָׁלוֹם] with HIM…
- Those who come He will make sure they take [hiphil] ROOT and BLOSSOM in Israel…
- Filling the WHOLE earth with their FRUIT!
- The description of the VINEYARD [Kingdom] is the nation of Israel…
- Everyone has the choice to come and be part of the VINEYARD [Israel]
- But we do NOT replace them – we join them – Romans 11:17
- Yet there are only TWO options when it comes to the VINEYARD of God…
- We either come to the LORD – take ROOT – and bear good FRUIT…
- Or we are a WEED that does NOT belong – and we will be purged by FIRE!
- John 15:5 – “He who abides in Me – and I in him – bears much fruit.”
- Corrected… vs. 6-9
- Has He struck Israel as He struck those who struck him?
- Or has He been slain according to the slaughter of those who were slain by Him?
- In measure – by sending it away – You contended with it.
- He removes it by His rough wind in the day of the east wind.
- Therefore by this the iniquity of Jacob will be covered. This is all the fruit of taking away his sin:
- When he makes all the stones of the altar like chalkstones that are beaten to dust.
- Wooden images and incense altars shall not stand!
- God did NOT judge Israel the way He did other nations…
- Assyria – Babylon were JUDGED – and NEVER recovered…
- Israel was PUNISHED for their rebellion – but they were PRESERVED…
- That did NOT mean they got away with their SIN – it was just MEASURED [carefully]
- They were SENT away [exile] – blow away by the EAST wind [Babylon]
- YET – because of this the SINS of Jacob will be COVERED [כָּפַר]
- This is the FRUIT of their CAPTIVITY – they destroyed their IDOLS…
- Beat [pual] their altars into DUST – and their IDOLS [אֲשֵׁרָה] did not stand up again!
- Hebrews 12:10 – “For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them – but [God] for our profit that we may be partakers of His holiness!”
- If we were willing to be CORRECTED by earthly FATHERS…
- Who punished us as seemed BEST to them [their opinion]
- How much more should we be willing to SUBMIT to a perfect heavenly FATHER…
- Who CHASTENS us for our PROFIT – so we might join Him in HOLINESS!
- We should SUBMIT to the PUNISHMENT that comes from God…
- EVERYTHING He does is for our benefit – EVERYTHING He does is out of LOVE…
- His punishment produces good FRUIT [peace and righteousness]
- As we are TRAINED [passive] by the PUNISHMENT we receive from Him…
- His PUNISHMENT has a PURPOSE – it is how we GROW in the Lord!
- 3rd – Fire… vs. 10-13
- No grace… vs. 10-11
- Yet the fortified city will be desolate – the habitation forsaken and left like a wilderness.
- There the calf will feed – and there it will lie down and consume its branches.
- When its boughs are withered they will be broken off.
- The women come and set them on fire for it is a people of no understanding.
- Therefore He who made them will not have mercy on them.
- And He who formed them will show them no favor!
- Yet [כִּי] the walled CITY of men [עִיר] will be left ALONE [בָּדָד]
- ABANDONED and left like [כַּ] a WILDERNESS [מִדְבָּר]
- The calves [skittish] will come and lie down [secure] and eat there [no people left]
- They will be like a BRANCH that withered – broken off – and BURNED – John 15:6
- Because [כִּי] – the people there did NOT understand the LORD [spiritually blind]
- Therefore [כֵּן] – the one who MADE them will NOT [לֹא] have MERCY [piel]
- The LORD will NOT [לֹא] have GRACE [חָנַן] upon them!
- Worship… vs. 12-13
- And it shall come to pass in that day that the LORD will thresh.
- From the channel of the River to the Brook of Egypt and you will be gathered one by one.
- O you children of Israel. So it shall be in that day: The great trumpet will be blown.
- They will come who are about to perish in the land of Assyria.
- [The] outcasts in the land of Egypt and worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem!
- In that day [בַּיּוֹם] – when God BEATS [threshes] the WICKED…
- From the Euphrates River [Babylon] to the Nile River [Brook of Egypt]
- That He will gather the children of Israel ONE by ONE…
- In that day [בַּיּוֹם] – the great TRUMPET [שׁוֹפָר] will be blown – I Thessalonians 4:16
- And those who were LOST [אָבַד] in Assyria – and those EXILED in Egypt…
- Will come and BOW down in the HOLY [הַקֹּדֶשׁ] mountain of Jerusalem!
- Only the High priest could enter the HOLY of HOLIES [הַקֹּדֶשׁ]
- He would enter with the bells on his priestly robe – if they stopped he was dead…
- Tradition tells us he would have a rope around his foot [to drag him out]
- The reason was to show the SEPARATION between God and man – Hebrews 9:7-8
- A SEPARATION that is taken away through the cross of Christ…
- The VEIL that separated the Holiest of All was TORN in TWO – Mark 15:38
- The contrast is intentional – there are TWO options – FRUIT or FIRE…
- Either we choose to be corrected – planted – and fruitful in the VINEYARD of God…
- Coming into the HOLIEST of all – into the inner CHAMBER of God – Hebrews 4:16
- Or we will share the FATE of LEVIATHAN – we will be cast down and BURNED!
- 1st – Leviathan… vs. 1