If disaster was coming, would you want to know about it ahead of time? Isaiah saw God's wrath poured out on Jerusalem, wrath provoked by self-reliance and self-sufficiency, decades before it happened. He wept; they partied. Here is the link to New Covenant School of Theology I mentioned. (Click "apply" if interested in taking classes).
These two brief visions capture the experience of nations under judgment more than specific judgments. They also form a transition to the extended oracles concerning Jerusalem and Tyre. In today's study, we review Isaiah from beginning to end and prepare for the familiar passages in later chapters.
As Babylon fought to become "Babylon the Great," it encountered a fierce opponent in Assyria. Hoping to find an ally in Judah, it reached out to Hezekiah. But God, who declares the end from the beginning, shows Isaiah what it coming for Babylon. It would not be a wise move for Judah's king.
You don't want to be around when the Lord rides on a cloud, it usually means disaster and devastation. That's certainly what it meant for Egypt. Yet as with other visions Isaiah saw of pagan nations, God had (has?) a plan for their redemption. This oracle is illuminating, sobering, and hopeful for modern nations.
The more you read Isaiah, the more you see connections to Jesus. In today's study, we see how Isaiah 17-18 predict Jesus' declaration in John 12:31-32. It may also lie behind the famous account where Jesus commanded the fierce gale to "Be still!" and it obeyed.
When Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, He rebuked them for their ignorance of the Scriptures. The Old Testament (as we call it) foretold that the Messiah would not only die and rise from the dead, but also that His kingdom would be preached to the nations. We find an example of this prediction in today's text.
Today we look at this brief vision Isaiah saw about Israel's ancient foe, the Philistines. And we interact with the question of "dual fulfillment."
Thanks to the King James and Latin translations, Isaiah 14 is often thought to be a vision of Satan being cast out of Heaven. But if we stick to the biblical and historical contexts, we come to a different conclusion. To say it differently, what would your understanding be if you put yourself in the sandals of a exiled Jew?
You don't want to be on the receiving end of God's fury, either as an individual sinner or as a nation of sinners. When His "day" comes on a people, it's as if the sun stopped shining and the earth started quaking. Babylon was the sledge hammer God used to destroy the evil wooden box of Israel. Isaiah foresaw it all, yet the Jews did not turn from their evil.
Isaiah saw a people rejoicing in the salvation God would provide "on that day" when the root of Jesse would come. He has come, so we rejoice and call the nations to gather around His flag.
There is a resurgence of post-millennialism of late, which raises questions about whether the world is heading toward a utopia. Isaiah wrote many things that would lead to that conclusion, yet we must not ignore the parts that push in the other direction. In today's study we will take a brief look at both.
Isaiah saw worldwide peace, nature's return to Eden, universal fairness and equity, and nations seeking out the "root of Jesse." We now know that the "root" is Jesus. But how literally are these visions to be interpreted and when is their fulfillment? We discuss these questions in today's study.
Imagine the wonder that would have filled the hearts of the first disciples when they realized that Jesus was "the one the prophets spoke about." They would have known passages like Isaiah 11 which describes the Messiah as the judge who would bring worldwide peace. We know that the Messiah has come, should we expect the utopia Isaiah saw?
Do you think of Jesus more as the lamb of God or the lion of Judah? Is He still more interested in serving than being served? In today's study, we bring some scriptural balance to these questions. We also discuss social justice, equity, intersectionality, and other current issues in light of Jesus the Righteous Judge. Here is the sermon series, " Understanding the Times ," that I mentioned.
I've received a lot of pushback over the years whenever I claim that everyone has to stand before God's tribunal, even believers. Yet New Testament authors make the assertion, repeatedly, that all of us will be judged by Christ. And when they do, they are simply picking up the theme from the Old Testament, such as our text for today, Isaiah 11. It's interesting to observe that as the Messiah is revealed in this chapter, His first activity it not salvation, but judgment. If you are interested in ...
What would an exiled or enslaved Jew have thought about the "shoot of Jesse" that Isaiah wrote about? What kind of hope would it instill? What kind of man would he be looking for?
Isaiah saw many events that would take place in his future, some near and others far off. The challenge for the Bible student is to understand which is which as he weaves in and out among them without clear indicators or time referents. We know that the distant predictions are fulfilled in Christ, yet when and how remain a mystery. Here is the Romans 9-11 series I referred to: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5Yobt1jZDd_mIJnVvirmAaEisjxOSzge
Debates about God's sovereignty and man's free will quickly move away from Scripture toward the rationalistic conclusions of theologians. But we are safer to let God's Word (rather than man's) inform our thinking. Isaiah's prophecy about the king of Assyria has something to teach us about God's "free will" and ours.
Have you ever seen a nation led by foolish, arrogant leaders who take advantage of the most vulnerable while greatly expanding their own wealth? Can you imagine a divided society constantly fighting against one another as if they wanted to see fellow citizens crushed and destroyed? Do you wonder what it would like for a people to think they were flying high, but in reality were just about to crash and burn? That pretty much describes the Jews of Isaiah's day. We may have a few things to learn in...
It may seem, at times, that the world is crashing all around us. But is that what Isaiah said would happen when the Prince of Peace arrived? Are we to understand that His rule is pushed off into the distant future? Is His rule only over a select few? What did Isaiah see concerning the Messiah's Kingdom?
As God revealed to Israel the dark days ahead, His just response to their abounding wickedness, He also revealed the glorious light that would come one day. That light would dawn when His Son took the throne of David. We know that Jesus is that "Son," and thus the glorious light has come. What are the implications? Why do some Christians talk as though we still live in darkness? We interact with those kinds of questions in today's study.
We who live in the west, particularly the U.S.A., are so far removed from threat of invasion or famine that we may find it difficult to identify with rejoicing "as at harvest" or "as when men divide the spoil." But we should try. Our King is still providing and still leading us to victory. It's important to celebrate these as gifts from His hand. Today, we talk about these things in light of Isaiah. 9.
When things got hard, the Jews turned to everyone but God for help and security. Christians face similar temptations today. If we follow the example of Isaiah, we will find a better outcome than Israel experienced.
Political parties and media work together to distract Christians from profitable labor in this world. Worse, they incite fear. This is nothing new; God warned Isaiah to avoid following the crowd into popular conspiracy theories and other distractions.
When God destroyed Israel and Judah, they couldn't complain that He failed to warn them. Through multiple fascinating methods, He made clear what was coming. Isaiah, the faithful prophet, even tied their coming judgment to his son's name.
God's sign to Ahaz was that a virgin would give birth to a son named Immanuel...700 years later. How do we make sense of this? How would that be a sign to someone who has been dead for hundreds of years? Was there a dual fulfillment of the prophecy?
Ahaz may have had David's throne, but he had nothing like David's courage. Why? Because he trusted in men rather than in the Lord when opposition came. Fear is a powerful tool in the hand of the enemy, whether in Isaiah's day or in our own. In today's study, we learn how to confront the government, media, and mobs when they try to instill fear in our hearts.
Most Christians are familiar with Isaiah 9 - "For unto us a Son is born/Child is given." But do you know the content of chapter 7-8 which provide its context? The promise of a good, faithful, all-powerful King is welcome news for a people led by wicked, faithless, impotent men. Today, we begin to set the historical stage for the coming King in Isaiah.
An effective teacher uses illustrations and parables to clarify and explain. Jesus, the "Good Teacher," used them to prevent the Jews from knowing the truth about Him. Why would He do that? We discuss in today's study.
"Here am I...send me!" is easy to say at the beginning of ministry, but when things are difficult, the Lord's servant may have his doubts or regrets. I can't help but wonder what went through Isaiah's mind as he heard the mission assigned to him. How would you respond if you were told up front, by God Himself, that your calling was to NOT bear fruit? We consider that in today's study.
