He is God of the present and the Future

 Read Isaiah 13.

From Genesis to the Prophets to Revelation, the Bible condemns the city of Babylon as a center of hatred against God.  It is referred to as the source of astrology and other satanically inspired alternatives designed to distract people from trusting in God's word.  Here, the Holy Spirit revealed to Isaiah the destruction of the Babylonian Empire.

Perhaps, the most significant element of Isaiah's message is that Babylon would not become a world empire for another 200 years.  But such is the nature of prophecy, that is, telling the future in advance.  No one but the sovereign LORD Himself could know and control this plan.  The events described here were fulfilled in Daniel 5 with the famous handwriting on the wall.  Babylon's end came with the sandwiched attack by the Medes and Persians. 

But there is more.  A similar description of a revived Babylon is found in Revelation 16-18.  This will be the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy.

Notice in the chapter that though empires fall and another is raised up, it is God who planned it all and takes full credit for using them to do His work.
v.3-"I myself have commanded...to execute my anger..."
v.4-"The LORD of hosts is mustering a host for battle."
v.5-"...the LORD and the weapons of his indignation,..."
v.11-"I will punish...I will put an end..."
v.12-"I will make people more rare..."
v.13-"I will make the heavens tremble..."
v.17-"I am stirring up the Medes against them..."

The LORD had called Judah to repent and experience forgiveness of their sins in chapter one.  It came with this warning, “If you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten with the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (1:19)  While the God of the universe has such plans and power of justice for Jew and Gentile alike, He knows and cares for every individual life.  “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” (1:18) Our response begins with a willingness to “come” to Him. 

 

The words of a new Song

 Read Isaiah 12.

What a difference!  "In that day" God will literally change Israel's tune.

As the messages in the previous chapters have described, there is coming a day when all the earthly covenant promises of God will be fulfilled.  The Jews will gather on their land as one; not two kingdoms.  Jesus, the Messiah, will rule the world as He sits on the throne of David in Jerusalem. 

It will be a time to celebrate and rejoice.  It will be a time of comfort from the LORD Himself.

This is a song in two stanzas.  The wording of much of this chapter is right from the book of Psalms.  After all that had been predicted against the people in Isaiah's day, what would take place against the Jews over nearly 3,000 years since, and what will happen to them in the coming times, God has never changed His plans for the future of His chosen people.  Indeed, He is the God of their ultimate deliverance.  That is a day in the future for the Jews.  But for now, we grab on to the unchanging character of our LORD and rejoice today in our personal relationship with Him!

Verse 2 is worthy of memorizing.

1. He is my strength.
No matter how hard the circumstances are that we face, His grace is available to us.  As the old saying goes, "If He brings you to it, He will bring you through it."  Paul quoted Jesus as saying, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

2. He is my song.
The world's music maybe catchy.  But when a person comes to personal faith in Christ, He gives us something far better.  "He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD." (Psalm 40:3)

3. He is my salvation.
Every day, we experience the deliverance of God.  Sometimes, we notice.  He protects us from temptations, dangers, and losses that we did not even see.  He safely brings us through another day.  Even more, He has provided eternal deliverance from sin and its penalty.  He loved us so much that Jesus died in order that we could experience His wonderful salvation.  "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life…" (John 3:36a)

 

A look at world Peace

 Read Isaiah 11.

One of the most important rules of interpreting the Scriptures is context.  It is the habit of many to only quote phrases from the Bible they like and not read the rest.  This chapter is one of those portions.

"A little child shall lead them" is a phrase, part of a sentence, in a chapter full of detail.  The prophetic descriptions foretell of a unique time on earth that has never happened.  Some have tried to explain these verses away as having taken place in Isaiah's time.  Others endeavor to discredit an earthly fulfillment of this prophecy, choosing to spiritualize the words as taking place in heaven.  But even a cursory reading reveals those two attempts are without merit. 

Here is why.

1. The King. (v.1)
Who is he?  He will rise up as a branch from the family tree of Jesse, the royal lineage of King David.  That is why Matthew 1 is so important.  It is a legal statement that Jesus has a right to that throne.

2. The King's rule. (vv.2-3)
He will rule in the full power of the Holy Spirit.  He will be the Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6) to the nations on earth.  He will do what pleases the Father (John 8:29). 

3. The effects of the King's rule. (vv.4-9)
When Jesus comes again, He will be the King of Kings, judging and ruling this world by the Word of God (Revelation 19).  As the Prince of Peace, the Messiah will usher in a time of absolute peace.  Sin brought death, disobedience, and division.  Jesus will bring unity, right behavior, and life.  So-called natural fears and threats will be gone.  "...the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD."

In Isaiah's time, reconciliation of Israel and Judah seemed unthinkable.  But "in that day" (v.10), Messiah will regather and unify His people.  Note that God’s plan is not only for the Jews, but all the families of the earth will be blessed (Genesis 12).  

 

 

God's sovereignty at work-then and Now

 Read Isaiah 10.

The fascinating feature of prophecy is to be reading history in advance.  In great contrast to the fraudulent predictors of the world, God provides happenings, exact times and names in advance, and all come true.  It is undeniable proof of His sovereign plans for each of us. 

Proverbs 21:1-"The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will."  If anyone needed proof of the veracity of that statement, Isaiah 10 is it.  The message spoke to the future of two kingdoms and an empire.  The Assyrian Empire would invade and destroy the northern kingdom of Israel.  Then, the Assyrians would unsuccessfully attempt to do the same to Judah.

1. Israel. (vv.1-4)
God listed some specifics that prompted judgment against Israel.    Despite their heritage of faith, this generation had become a godless nation (v.6).  As a result, the northern kingdom would lose everything.  God does have future plans to fulfill His covenant promises to the Jews.  There is hope for a remnant to return to the land, as mentioned in verses 20-23.

2. Assyria. (vv.5-19)
The means of implementing judgment from God is most often an opposing nation.  Here, the LORD chose Assyria to be His instrument.  They are called "the rod of my anger," "the staff in their hands is my fury," "the axe," and "the saw" wielded by God to do His work.  

It may seem confusing to some that the LORD would use a sinful nation to discipline His people.  In history, however, that happened repeatedly.  In doing so, God is not overlooking the sin of any nation or people.  Here He predicted that the King of Assyria will think it was his own plan and his own might that caused the downfall of Israel.  Notice the 6 references to "I" and "my" in verses 13-14.  This, then, set up the eventual destruction of the Assyrian Empire foretold in verses 16-19.  And, indeed, the Babylonians conquered them in God's timing.

3. Judah. (vv.24-34)
For those living in Jerusalem, they will witness Israel's judgment but they will be spared.  The King of Assyria will think that he can keep going south and overrun Judah.  But in Isaiah 37:36-38, when Sennacherib surrounded Jerusalem the angel of the LORD "struck down 185,000" Assyrian soldiers.  The defeat resulted in Sennacherib's own sons assassinating him.

These are reminders for us today that God has a plan for each of our lives; that He watches our behaviors and responds accordingly; though great stress may be upon us, He will protect His own.  He will deal with evildoers in His time.

A Light in the Darkness

 Read Isaiah 9.

The LORD continued to give Isaiah prophetic messages concerning the northern kingdom of Israel.  Their sin reached the point of judgment from God.  He would use the Assyrians to invade and do His work.  But what about the promises made to Abraham in Genesis?  What about the promises made to David that he would never lack a man to sit on his throne?  Those promises are as good today as the day God made them.  He has neither changed His promises, nor His plans.  What must change are the lives of His people.

So, in this word of doom and "deep darkness," the LORD makes a promise of hope and "great light."  A child will be born, a son, and he will make things right.  Matthew 4:12-17 quotes Isaiah 9 and states that Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy.  What will the Messiah do to bring this spiritual, moral, and judicial illumination?

1. His rule.
"...the government shall be upon his shoulder..."
"...on the throne of David..."
As a descendant of David, Jesus is of royal birth and an heir to the throne.  As a descendant of Abraham, Jesus will rule as the King of the Jews.  One of the reasons the Jews then and now reject Jesus as the Messiah is that He did not kick the Romans out and take over the government.  They failed to see the two-fold aspects of the prophecies concerning Messiah.  The mission of His first coming was to be the Suffering Servant for redemption.  The second time He will appear as the King of Kings.  Others try to spiritualize this and related passages in an effort to explain them.  But the Scriptures are clear and specific.

2. His name.
There are four names given here regarding the coming roles of the Messiah.  As ruler, people will marvel at His counsel on any subject.  Do not miss who this One really is.  Jesus is called God.  Next, Jesus is in fact one with the Father.  Jesus stated this Himself in the Gospels.  The God of the Bible is triune-Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.  When Jesus rules the world from Jerusalem for 1,000 years, He will bring a time of peace no human leader has ever been able to achieve.

3. His kingdom. 
"...there will be no end..."
"...from this time forth and forevermore..."
Considering all the prophecies of the Messiah's future rule, the Scriptures teach in Revelation 21-22 that at the end of the 1,000-year reign, there will be a new heaven and a new earth.  Then, we will enjoy our home with Him forever and ever.

 

3 action items when facing a Crisis

 Read Isaiah 8. 

The LORD provided more confirmation of the invasion of the northern kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians.  He gave Isaiah three things to substantiate this prophecy.  It would be in writing.  It would be witnessed.  Isaiah and his wife would have a son (with the longest name in the Bible).  The timing of the weaning of the child would coincide with the God's word being fulfilled.

Meanwhile, the southern kingdom of Judah had no cause for fear.  The Assyrians would put enormous pressure upon them but they would not be able to conquer Judah.  Why? 

Because God was with them. (vv.8-10)
His presence would not keep them from experiencing the stress.  He assured them that He would bring them through in victory.

Because the LORD of hosts is holy. (v.13a)
God was sovereignly overseeing these events.  All of heaven's armies (hosts) were at the ready to protect Judah. 

So, what were the people to do?
1. Instead of fearing an invading army, they were to fear God and dread disobeying Him. (v.13b)

2. Instead of turning to satanically inspired alternatives, they should pray to the LORD alone. (v.19)
The people had been influenced by the surrounding pagan cultures to use mediums, witchcraft, even praying to dead people for wisdom and help.  Paul reminds us in 1 Timothy 2:5 that there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

3. Instead of looking to the philosophies and writings of humans, they should be reading and heeding the written Word of God. (v.20)

 

 

The secret to looking fear in the Eye

 Read Isaiah 7.

Sensing that the kingdom of Judah was vulnerable, the northern kingdoms of Israel and Syria joined forces to attack Jerusalem.  Ahaz, King of Judah, buckled in fear.  But God intervened and sent Isaiah with His message.  There were instructions on several levels, all to give the king courage and hope.  At its root, what Ahaz faced is not unlike the daily confrontations and temptations with which we all have.

Emotionally (v.4)
1. Be careful.
Literally, this means to be on your guard.  It was a dangerous situation.  Take a 360 degree view and watch out for yourself.  "Be sober-minded; be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8)

2. Be quiet.
Our natural tendency is either to cower in silent fear or to let our emotions explode for all to hear.  In a crisis, do not lose your composure.  This is not a work of self-control as much as it requires Spirit-control.  Peace is a Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts...." (Colossians 3:15)

3. Do not fear.
As hard as it is at times to reconcile, fear is a choice.  We either trust in ourselves or trust in God.  Who has the most power to help?  "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." (Psalm 56:3)

4. Do not let your heart be faint.
By heart, God is referring to our innermost being.  It is who we are at the core.  We must choose to steel ourselves against crumbling inside when threatened or tempted.  Again, it is not us, but the LORD who is our strength.  Depend on Him.  He is worthy of our trust.  "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might." (Ephesians 6:10)

Spiritually (vv.7 and 9)
God bolsters His people with His promises: "It shall not stand."  In other words, the threat was only that.  The attack was not going to happen.  Most of the stuff we fear never happens anyway.  Still, Ahaz had to go to the meeting and face his worst fear in the eye.  He could have been killed on the spot.  But, God gave him the secret to his success: "If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all."  This was not going to be a test of military strength but of his personal faith.  Stand strong in faith about what the LORD said.

Prophetically (vv.8, 14)
First, in 65 years the kingdom of Israel would be overrun by Assyria and the people scattered.  The second, is a "sign" of hope.  The point of giving the boy that name was to reassure Ahaz and the southern kingdom of God’s presence during this threat.  Matthew 1:22-23 declares this prophecy's fulfillment in the birth of Jesus.  "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."   Immanuel=God is with us.  He is here.  There is no need to fear.