These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
- Outline…
- Isaiah 40-48 – Comfort: for a people CAPTIVE in Babylon…
- Isaiah 49-55 – Redemption: for a people CAPTIVE to sin…
- Isaiah 56-66 – Restoration: of Israel and the world
- Comfort…
- Isaiah told Hezekiah that Babylon would come and take everything – Isaiah 39:6-7
- And as we come to the SECOND major division of the book – Isaiah jumps ahead over 100 years…
- He writes to the CAPTIVES of Judah who would be carried away to Babylon [586 B.C.]
- And says to them COMFORT – COMFORT my people – Isaiah 40:1
- Because God was with Israel – they had NO reason to be AFRAID – Isaiah 41:10
- The Lord is the God would raise up Cyrus to free them from Babylon [539 B.C.]
- What IDOL could do that – tell the future – do ANYTHING!
- The Servant…
- The Lord would also send His SERVANT [Jesus] full of the Spirit – to bring justice to the GENTILES…
- A bruised reed He would not break – smoking flax He would not quench – Matthew 12:16-21
- The God who CREATED heaven and earth – and gives BREATH to all life…
- Will sent the SERVANT to open BLIND eyes – and to set those in PRISON free!
- The Choice…
- Therefore the whole world must sing a NEW song [to the ends of the earth]
- But God would NOT be silent – He will go out like a WARRIOR to judge those who do NOT listen…
- And those who insist on trusting in IDOLS will be put to SHAME…
- Sadly that included much of Israel – His BLIND servant…
- It was God who had allowed them to be CONQUERED – their city BURNED [and Temple]
- But they did NOT listen – nor consider in their heart that God was trying to get their attention!
- 1st – The redeemer… vs. 1-7
- 1st – Do Not Fear… vs. 1
- Created…
- But now thus says the LORD who created you O Jacob – and He who formed you O Israel!
- Israel had MISSED why they had been conquered by Babylon…
- They did NOT stop and consider in their HEART why the Temple had BURNED…
- But there in CAPTIVITY – under the RULE of Babylon for SEVENTY years – Jeremaih 25:11
- It would be EASY for them to think the LORD had ABANDONED them…
- But rather than REJECT – this is what the LORD said to them…
- He was the one who CREATED [בָּרָא] Jacob – and FORMED [יָצַר] him into Israel!
- God knew who JACOB was – he was a conniving liar and thief [stole the blessing]
- But God worked with JACOB – even WRESTED him – Genesis 32:24
- And when he LOST – God gave him a new NAME – Israel [God wins]!
- Called…
- Fear not for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are Mine!
- Therefore they were NOT to let [jussive] themselves be AFRAID [אַל־תִּירָא]
- Because [כִּי] God had [perfect] REDEEMED them [גָּאַל] – Ruth 4:14
- And God called them [perfect] now by their NEW name…
- They were NO longer Jacob [liar] – they were Israel [His people]!
- Naomi [pleasant] came back from Moab broken and changed her name to Mara [bitter]
- But God gave her RUTH – and REDEEMED all that she had LOST – Ruth 4:14
- God is NOT surprised by our FAILURES – or our SINFULNESS…
- He CREATED us – He knows EXACTLY who we are…
- What is amazing is that He does NOT give up on us – He is working in our lives…
- He has REDEEMED us – taken away ALL of our MISTAKES…
- And he calls us by a NEW name – one that says we belong to Him – Revelation 3:12
- 2nd – Through Trials… vs. 2
- Waters… vs. 2
- When you pass through the waters I will be with you.
- And through the rivers they shall not overflow you!
- CERTAINLY [כִּי] – as you are going through [imperfect] the WATERS…
- Even when the RIVERS seem like they are going to OVERFLOW you…
- They will NOT – because I [the Lord] and with you!
- This might be a LITERAL reference to crossing the Red Sea – Exodus 14:22
- Or it could be figurative – referring to their CIRCUMSTANCES…
- Either way the imagery is dynamic – Israel was in DEEP water…
- But they had NOTHING to FEAR – because the LORD was right there with them!
- Fire… vs. 2
- When you walk through the fire you shall not be burned – nor shall the flame scorch you!
- CERTAINLY [כִּי] – as you are walking through [imperfect] the FIRE…
- But you are NOT burned [niphal] – the FLAMES will not CONSUME you!
- When Hananiah – Mishael – and Azariah refused to BOW to the idol of Nebuchadnezzar…
- He had the FIRE stoked up SEVEN times as HOT and threw them in…
- But they were NOT burned – and one like the SON of God stood with them – Daniel 3:25
- God NEVER promises to keep us from the TRIALS – John 16:33
- And those trials can often seem very OVERWHELMING [water up to the Neck]
- We might even think there is NO way we will make it [tossed in the fire]
- But the God who can part OCEANS – and quench FIRES…
- Is right there BESIDE us – He is PROTECTING us – and will NEVER leave us – Hebrews 13:5
- Therefore we have NOTHING to be AFRAID of!
- 3rd – Ends of the Earth… vs. 3-7
- Savior… vs. 3-4
- For I am the LORD your God – the Holy One of Israel – your Savior.
- I gave Egypt for your ransom – Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
- Since you were precious in My sight you have been honored – and I have loved you.
- Therefore I will give men for you and people for your life!
- WHY was God willing to HELP Israel even though they rebelled…
- Because [כִּי] although He is the LORD their God – the HOLY one [קָדוֹשׁ] – separate…
- He is the HOLY one who is always [participle] willing [hiphil] to SAVE [יָשַׁע]
- Israel was SPECIAL [prized] and HONORED [niphal] – because He LOVED [אָהַב] them…
- He would GIVE [offer up] other men and nations – to save Israel…
- God would allow Medo-Persia to conquer [ransom] – Egypt – Ethiopia – Seba…
- While He would instruct Cyrus to let the people of Israel go home – Ezra 1:2
- Fear not… vs. 5-6
- Fear not for I am with you.
- I will bring your descendants from the east and gather you from the west.
- I will say to the north – Give them up! And to the south – Do not keep them back!
- Bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth!
- Therefore Israel was NOT to let [jussive] themselves be AFRAID [אַל־תִּירָא]
- God was still with them – He had NOT abandoned them…
- Although they had been SCATTERED [diaspora] because of their SIN – II Kings 17:18
- God would NOT leave them DISPERSED – He would CALL them back…
- He would [imperfect] BRING [hiphil] their children [זֶרַע] from the EAST…
- He would [imperfect] GATHER [piel] them from the WEST…
- He would [imperfect] SAY to the NORTH [Russia] – give [imperative] them back…
- He would [imperfect] SAY to the SOUTH – do NOT [jussive] stop them…
- Bring back [imperative] My SONS from afar – My DAUGHTERS from the ENDS of the earth!
- This likely had a DUAL fulfillment – present and future…
- God did bring His people back from the CAPTIVITY in Babylon…
- But the number was quite limited – only about FIFTY thousand – Ezra 2:64-65
- Israel would be SCATTERED again by Rome [70 A.D. and 132 A.D.]
- And remain DISPERSED throughout the whole world for TWO thousand years…
- Then beginning in the late NINETEENTH century Jews began to go home [small at first]
- Encouraged by the Balfour declaration of 1917 [World War I]
- Then the floodgates opened after the Holocaust [May 14, 1948]
- Culminated in MILLIONS of Jews from every corner of the world coming home!
- Called… vs. 7
- Everyone who is called by My name whom I have created for My glory.
- I have formed him – yes I have made him!
- ALL [כֹּל] who were CALLED [niphal] by His NAME and for His GLORY [כָּבוֹד]
- They were [perfect] CREATED [בָּרָא] Jacob – they were [perfect] FORMED [יָצַר] Israel…
- And YES – there were [perfect] MADE [עָשָׂה] to come home!
- An overview of the HISTORY of the nation of Israel…
- They were SINFUL at the beginning [Jacob] – but God worked with them…
- He took JACOB and broke him – humbled him – to make him ISRAEL…
- And Israel in the END will come back to the Lord – Romans 11:26
- All so that God might get the GLORY for redeeming an imperfect people!
- Israel is an EXAMPLE for our lives – a model to encourage us…
- We know when we started we were a mess – we were JACOB…
- We wrestled with God and lost – we went through the water – walked through the fire…
- All so God could put His name on us – call us His people…
- And one day He will bring us home – He will call us to HEAVEN!
- I Corinthians 10:11 – “All these things happened to them as examples and they were written for our admonition – upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”
- 1st – Do Not Fear… vs. 1
- 2nd – The Witnesses… vs. 8-21
- 1st – The Nations… vs. 8-9
- Blind and Deaf… vs. 8
- Bring out the blind people who have eyes and the deaf who have ears!
- They MUST [imperative] bring out [hiphil] those with EYES and EARS…
- Though they are BLIND and DEAF [spiritually]
- Even they could see what God did to Israel [Jacob – Israel – Home]
- No other NATION in all of HISTORY has done what Israel did…
- Survive almost TWO thousand years without a place to call home [not country]
- Then come back by the MILLIONS – and see their nation REBORN!
- The Truth… vs. 9
- Let all the nations be gathered together and let the people be assembled.
- Who among them can declare this and show us former things?
- Let them bring out their witnesses that they may be justified.
- Or let them hear and say – It is truth!
- Going back to the COURTROOM scene – Isaiah 41:21
- God calls ALL [כֹּל] of the NATIONS [הַגּוֹיִם] and PEOPLES to come together [niphal]
- WHO among them has an IDOL [god] who can do what God did…
- Causing [hiphil] us to HEAR [שָׁמַע] things before they have happened [2700 years before]
- Let them bring forth their WITNESS so we can see if they are RIGHT [צדק]
- Let us HEAR what they SAY to see if it is TRUE [אֱמֶת]!
- The REBIRTH of Israel stand as one of the greatest prophetic statements in history…
- It was such an IMPOSSIBILITY – for years most teachers rejected a literal interpretation…
- They could NOT imagine that a nation SCATTERED for centuries could be REBORN!
- There is a reason why we seek to interpret the Bible LITERALLY…
- Even if we do NOT see how it is POSSIBLE [God loves the impossible]
- When God says something – we take it as the TRUTH – II Corinthians 1:20
- 2nd – One God… vs. 10-13
- No other… vs. 10-11
- You are My witnesses – says the LORD – and My servant whom I have chosen.
- That you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He.
- Before Me there was no God formed – nor shall there be after Me.
- I – even I – am the LORD and besides Me there is no savior!
- The same [spiritually] BLIND and DEAF nations were WITNESSES…
- Along with His blind SERVANT [Israel] the LORD has chosen [perfect] – Isaiah 42:19
- That they would [imperfect] SEE [יָדַע] causing them [hiphil] to BELIEVE [אָמַן]
- He is the ONLY God – there was NONE before Him and NONE will come after Him…
- I – [2x for emphasis] am the LORD – there is NO one else who [hiphil] SAVES [participle]!
- God did NOT save Israel – just for the sake of Israel…
- They were meant to be an EXAMPLE to the world to PROVE who He is…
- He is the ONLY God – the ONLY one who continues to SAVE…
- Not just Israel – but ANYONE – who is willing to come to Him!
- No equal… vs. 12-13
- I have declared and saved. I have proclaimed and there was no foreign god among you.
- Therefore you are My witnesses – Says the LORD – that I am God.
- Indeed before the day was I am He – and there is no one who can deliver out of My hand.
- I work and who will reverse it?
- God SAID [perfect] it – and God DID [perfect] it – He saved Israel…
- He made sure [hiphil] they heard [שָׁמַע] it was NOT [אִין] some strange god [זָר]
- Therefore – Israel was His WITNESS – that He alone is GOD [וַאֲנִי־אֵל]
- ALSO [גַּם] – from the beginning [מִיּוֹם] He has been God…
- And NONE [אִין] can rescue [hiphil] out of His hand – NONE can undo [שׁוּב] His WORK!
- We live in a world that LOVES to try and take the credit away from God…
- Why are sunsets so beautiful – because of SCIENCE…
- Why did we miss that car while we were driving – because of CHANCE!
- But we are the WITNESSES – what the Lord SAID – is what He did…
- He is the one who CREATED the science – and is SOVEREIGN over the chance…
- And NO one can take that work – take the credit – from Him!
- 3rd – Fate of Babylon… vs. 14-17
- Fugitives… vs. 14-15
- Thus says the LORD your Redeemer – the Holy One of Israel:
- For your sake I will send to Babylon and bring them all down as fugitives.
- The Chaldeans who rejoice in their ships.
- I am the LORD your Holy One – the Creator of Israel – your King!
- This is what the LORD – their REDEEMER [גָּאַל] – the HOLY One of Israel said [perfect]
- For their SAKE He would SEND [piel] Babylon away [hiphil] as FUGITIVES [fleeing]
- ALL [כֹּל] the Chaldeans [people of Babylon] would run away in their prized ships…
- Because He is the LORD – the HOLY one – CREATOR [בָּרָא] of Israel – their KING!
- Babylon was a major trading city on the Euphrates River…
- The same RIVER that brought them WEALTH with their boats…
- Would be the MEANS by which God brought the PROUD city down…
- Cyrus would divert the RIVER – and enter the city with little resistance!
- Like Egypt… vs. 16-17
- Thus says the LORD who makes a way in the sea and a path through the mighty waters.
- Who brings forth the chariot and horse – the army and the power.
- They shall lie down together [and] not rise. They are extinguished they are quenched like a wick!
- This should NOT have come as a SURPRISE to ANYONE – God had done this BEFORE…
- He is the same LORD who SAID [perfect] He makes a WAY through the SEA…
- Then He caused [hiphil] Pharoah and his chariots [army] to follow – Exodus 14:23
- And they were DROWNED – they lied down and did NOT get back up [swallowed by the sea]
- Their lives were SNUFFED out [perfect] just as easily as [כַּ] the wick of a candle!
- The same God who can drown an AMRY at the bottom of the sea…
- Is the same God who can overthrow a mighty CITY by diverting their river…
- Is the same God who can handle ANY problem we are going through today…
- Though our PROBLEMS might change – He does NOT – Hebrew 13:5
- 4th – New Exodus… vs. 18-21
- No limited… vs. 18
- Do not remember the former things nor consider the things of old!
- Do NOT [jussive] focus [remember] on the things that happened BEFORE…
- Do NOT [jussive] take all your time thinking [בִּין] about them!
- Not that we are to IGNORE the PAST – we can learn from them…
- But we are NOT to dwell on the PAST – either our victories or mistakes…
- Because if we DO – we are going to MISS what God is doing in the PRESENT!
- Living water… vs. 19-20
- Behold I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth.
- Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
- The beast of the field will honor Me. The jackals and the ostriches.
- Because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
- To give drink to My people – My chosen!
- LOOK [הֵן] – God is doing [participle] something NEW…
- But if we are NOT looking [יָדַע] – we will MISS it when it pops up…
- God will make [imperfect] a WAY in the wilderness [empty place]
- He will make [imperfect] RIVERS in the desert [dry place]
- Even the WILD animals – jackals and ostriches – will HONOR [piel] the LORD…
- Because [כִּי] He gave [perfect] water in the DESERT for His chosen people to DRINK!
- THREE days after God parted an ocean – Israel traveled into the wilderness…
- When came to a place where ethe water was MARAH [bitter] and complained to Moses…
- They were in the DESERT and had NOTHING to drink – Exodus 15:24
- So Moses cast a TREE into the water – and they became SWEET!
- We can remember how God did an AMAZING work in our PAST…
- But if we are NOT careful – we will COMPLAIN in the present…
- Because we CANNOT live of the victories of yesterday…
- We have to look to the LORD today – and ABIDE in Him – John 15:5
- Praise… vs. 21
- This people I have formed for Myself. They shall declare My praise!
- God had FORMED [יָצַר] the people of Israel for Himself…
- And the way to see who His people are – they SHOUT [piel] His PRAISE!
- We know we are NOT dwelling in the PAST…
- When we are NOT complaining about our current PROBLEMS
- Rather we are PRAISING because we KNOW God will take care of them!
- 1st – The Nations… vs. 8-9
- 3rd – Problem of Jacob… vs. 22-28
- 1st – Weary of God… vs. 22-24
- Not called… vs. 22
- But you have not called upon Me O Jacob – and you have been weary of Me O Israel!
- Although God had brought them out of EGYPT…
- And promised He would likewise do a NEW thing and bring them out of BABYLON…
- Yet Jacob did NOT call [perfect] on the LORD…
- Because Israel was WEARY [perfect] of Him [tired of following His RULES]
- No offerings… vs. 23-24
- You have not brought Me the sheep for your burnt offerings.
- Nor have you honored Me with your sacrifices.
- I have not caused you to serve with grain offerings – nor wearied you with incense.
- You have bought Me no sweet cane with money.
- Nor have you satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices!
- They NO longer brought their SHEEP for the BURNT offering – Leviticus 1:3-4
- They NO longer honored [piel] Him with their SACRIFICES [peace] – Leviticus 3:1
- This presumably was BEFORE the TEMPLE was destroyed…
- God did NOT insist [hiphil] they SERVE Him with their GRAIN offering – Leviticus 2:1
- He had NOT wearied them with INCENSE [prayer] – Revelation 8:4
- This presumably was AFTER the TEMPLE was burnt to the ground [586 B.C.]
- Yet they did NOT spend any MONEY to get the LORD sweet-smelling cane [fragrance]
- Nor would they FILL [hiphil] Him with the FAT of their sacrifices!
- Israel was had NOT been overly excited about following the RULES before the captivity…
- But the loss of the TEMPLE had done little to renew their passion!
- Sins… vs. 24
- But you have burdened Me with your sins. You have wearied Me with your iniquities!
- But just because they did NOT have a place to offer a SACRIFICE – did NOT stop their SIN…
- They had BURDENED [perfect] the LORD through their SINS…
- And they had WEARIED [perfect] Him because of their INIQUITY!
- This ends up being a REAL problem even for the Jews today…
- How do you take care of the PROBLEM of SIN – when there is NO Temple…
- Because without the shedding of BLOOD – there is NO forgiveness – Hebrews 9:22
- 2nd – The Choice… vs. 25-28
- Botted out… vs. 25
- I – even I – am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake.
- And I will not remember your sins!
- Israel could NO longer offer their SACRIFICES [maybe did not even want to]
- Yet I [2x for emphasis] – the Lord BLOT [participle] out your TRANSGRESSIONS [rebellion]
- Not because they DESERVE it – He did it for His SAKE…
- And their SINS He chooses to REMEMBER [imperfect] no more!
- God did NOT need the TEMPLE to be able to FORGIVE sins…
- He had a plan to do it ANOTHER way – through FAITH in Him – Romans 3:28
- He would TAKE away their SIN – and remember it NO more – Hebrews 10:17
- Remember… vs. 26
- Put Me in remembrance. Let us contend together. State your case that you may be acquitted!
- Cause yourself [hiphil] to REMEMBER [imperative] the Lord…
- Lets JUDGE [niphal] your case together [cohortative]
- Then you are DECLARE [piel] you are RIGHTEOUS [תִּצְדָּק]
- The key to getting access to this FORGIVENESS – was to REMEMBER the Lord…
- If we would be HONEST with Him – that we are NOT good [judged]
- Which would cause us to CLING to Him for His Grace…
- Then He would be willing to DECLARE us as RIGHTEOUS by FAITH!
- Or be judged… vs. 27-28
- Your first father sinned – and your mediators have transgressed against Me – Therefore:
- I will profane the princes of the sanctuary. I will give Jacob to the curse and Israel to reproaches!
- The FIRST father of Israel had sinned [Jacob]
- And their PRIESTS [mediators] had TRANSGRESSED [rebelled] against the Lord…
- Therefore God DISGRACED the priests – princes of the Sanctuary [קֹדֶשׁ]
- To CURSE Jacob – and bring REVILING [taunts] to Israel!
- God allowed the TEMPLE – the PRIESTS to be dispersed…
- Because they were NEVER going to take away the SIN of Israel…
- They needed to STOP trusting in a BUILDING – or in a RELIGION…
- God wanted them to come to the place where they TRUSTED Him!
- 1st – Weary of God… vs. 22-24