What does the LORD expect from Us?

 Read Isaiah 56.

This section of Isaiah continues to give Israel hope for its future.  However, the people need not wait for the Messiah in order to live for God in the present.

What does the LORD expect from His people? (vv.1-2)
1. Justice.
This has to do with legal decisions or doing what is right according to the law of the land.

2. Righteousness.
This has to do with life decisions or doing what is right according to God's expectations.

3. Not profaning His word.
A person who is right with the LORD shows it in how they live publicly.  The one example given here is keeping the Old Testament Sabbath law.  Everyone took notice that they did no labor on Saturday.  But it was only one example.

4. Keeping from evil.
A person who is right with the LORD shows it in how they live privately.  When no one else is watching, God is.

Who is included in God's plan of salvation? (vv.3-8)
Though the Jews are God's chosen people and have an everlasting covenant relationship from Him, His plan always included the rest of the world.  Everyone and anyone who would turn to Him for forgiveness and worship would experience His blessings.  Three examples are given that supersede the Old Testament Law-eunuchs, foreigners, and outcasts.  Compare Deuteronomy 23:1. But this was always in the mind of God.  In Genesis 12:3, God told Abraham, "In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

When the religious leaders of Jesus' day tried to squeeze the Gentiles out and restrict the access of others to the Temple, He quoted verse 7 of this chapter.

Where was the root problem? (vv.9-12)
God called for judgment due to corrupt national leaders.  Instead of being on guard spiritually and watching out for the people, they only sought to take care of themselves. 

Let’s live for Jesus regardless of what others do.

 

 

When life does not go our Way

 Read Isaiah 55.

How disappointing and disillusioning it is when life does not go the way we wanted!  The sense of confusion causes some to put their spiritual lives on hold.  Some blame God for their hurt and never come to a place of healing.  Others use such hurt and confusion as an excuse to reject that there is a God.

One of primary concepts about the God of the Bible is found in verses 8 and 9.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

We have our plans.  God has His.  We have our thoughts on how things should be.  God has His.  So, the question is, "Whose thoughts and plans are correct?  Whose thoughts and plans lead to a life of complete fulfillment--our ways or God's?"  Do we possess such arrogance to think for moment that we know better than the One who made us and knows every detail of our lives?

How can we experience a truly fulfilled life?
1. Come to the LORD. (vv.1-5)
Every person has a spiritual thirst, a lack of internal satisfaction.  We naturally try to fill that void with other things, or people, or activities.  In John 4, Jesus met a Samaritan woman who was thirsty, inside and out.  She tried to find satisfaction by going from one relationship to another.  He offered her eternal life so she would "never be thirsty again." 
"Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live." (v.3)

2. Seek the LORD. (v.6a)
People search for life-meaning, life-guidance, self-improvement in every place but the one source that guarantees eternal results.  Repeatedly in the Old Testament and in the New, we are urged to seek God.  Most people who have become disillusioned or rejected God have never read the Bible or sought to understand its message.
"...he rewards those who seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)
"...those who seek me diligently find me." (Proverbs 8:17)

3. Call upon the LORD. (v.6b)
The rest of this verse includes, "...while he is near."  The Holy Spirit pursues us and prompts us to come to the LORD and seek Him for filling that spiritual emptiness inside.  It is a perilous presumption to put off an immediate response to God.  His offer of forgiveness, cleansing of our past, and eternally securing our future is available now.
"Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, 'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts..." (Hebrews 3:7)

Is God through with Israel?

 Read Isaiah 54.

Having presented the Suffering Savior who paid the price for our sins in the previous chapter, here the focus turns to His second coming.  He will reign as King of Kings.

Israel suffered the shame and punishment of God's judgment.  This chapter is a call for singing and rejoicing as they look forward to their national future.  Yes, for a "brief moment" (v.7) God had to severely deal with their sin.  But that did not change His promises to Abraham.

How long will God have compassion on Israel and love them as His chosen people?
"'In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,' says the LORD, your Redeemer." (v.8)

"'For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you and my covenant of peace shall not be removed.' says the LORD, who has compassion on you.'" (v.10)

Was not this fulfilled with their return from captivity five centuries before Christ?
Notice God's promises. 
1. The Jewish population will increase to far exceed their ability to all live on that land. (v.3)
2. Everyone will know the LORD and all their children will be taught to know Him. (v.13)
3. The nation will be safe from all threats. (v.14)
4. No enemy will succeed against them. (v.15-17a)

While these promises are prophetic and will be fulfilled literally one day, in the meantime God is at work today.  The spiritual family of God has been widened with the grafting in of believers from all nations.  See Romans 11:11-24.  God's character and treatment of His servants is the same, Jew and Gentile alike.  He loves us with an everlasting love and that will not change.

 

The astounding results of Messiah's Death

 Read Isaiah 53.

This portion of Isaiah is one of the most sacred of all.  As one reads it, there is a sense of being on holy ground.  The immediate context for this chapter begins with 52:13.  The Servant, as this passage explains, is none other than the Messiah.  Keep in mind that this was written some 700 years before these events took place.

1. Why did Jesus die on the cross?
He was sinless.  He did nothing wrong.  We sinned.  We deserved the punishment.  But in the plan of God, the Son was sent to be the Savior of the world.  He took upon Himself what we deserved and became our substitute.
"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21)

2. For whom did He die?
He died for "every one" (v.6) because every person who ever lived since Adam has the curse of sin upon them.  The description in verse 6 is that of sheep wandering off, going their own way, from the shepherd to whom they belong.  That is the essence of all sin.  It was "our transgressions," "our iniquities," our sin that put Jesus on the cross.
"He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world."
(1 John 2:2)

3. What are the results?
His death on the cross "brought us peace" with God (v.5).  It provided spiritual healing of our sin and the hurt that it causes.  It satisfied the righteous demands of a Holy God (v.11).  Instead of seeing us as sinners, the LORD declares those who place their eternal trust in Him as righteous or right with Him.  He now is our advocate in heaven, interceding on our behalf.

4. Was His death the end?
So many who claim faith in Jesus still see Him hanging on the cross bleeding.  In John 19:30, Jesus declared, "It is finished."  That was business term of His day indicating the debt had been paid in full.  And, the story does not stop there.  Verse 10 states that after Messiah's death, He will live.  There will be a spiritual family who will enjoy all the blessings of faith in Christ.  The resurrection of Jesus is the proof of His continuing ministry on our behalf.  He is our living Advocate in heaven.
"Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25)

The Apostle John summed up much of this chapter's message.
"He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.  He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.  But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:10-12)

Is there any good news Today?

 Read Isaiah 52.

The Jews have a discouraging history to say the least.  But each time an enemy sought to destroy them, the LORD intervened.  Because of the number of years involved there were and are those who lost hope in God's promises.  God never forgets what He said.  He acts exactly on His schedule to fulfill His plans.

Historically, the Jews were in Egypt for 400 years.  But God delivered them from slavery.  In this chapter, the northern kingdom of Israel had been conquered and the people were scattered at the hands of Assyria.  The southern kingdom of Judah had been taken captive by Babylonia.  They remained in Babylon for 70 years. 

The nation was in need of a comforting message; some good news of hope. 
The message is, "Wake up and get ready!  You are going home." (vv.1-2)

There are two aspects to this prophecy.  Immediately, in 536 B.C., the Jews returned to their homeland. This would take place at no cost to them.  The Persians paid for it and the nation was redeemed by God's free grace.  But the details in this chapter obviously speak of much more that has yet to happen.  Note the little prophetic phrase "in that day" (v.6).  What will that day be like?

1. Everyone will know the LORD. (v.6b)
No more will they be in doubt about who God is or turn to other forms of worship.  Spiritual allegiance will be to Him alone.

2. It will be a time of good news. (vv.7-9)
After decades of prophecies warning of God's judgment, here is news of peace, happiness, salvation, comfort, and redemption.

3. The LORD will reign. (vv.7b-15)
This is the key reason for the celebration.  There is no denying that Messiah will one day literally sit on the throne of David in Jerusalem.  As Isaiah wrote in 9:6, "the government shall be upon his shoulders."  The Messiah ("my servant" v.13) will assume world power.  He will "sprinkle" or startle the nations (v.15) and all the world's leaders will be silent before Him.

What a contrast from the first coming of Jesus.  Verse 14 prophesies His physical appearance after being beaten and crucified.  This description was written over 500 years in advance!

But another 2000 years have gone by since Jesus' ascension back to heaven.  That is not a problem for God.  He has not forgotten.  He will act in His time.  Our good news to a world without hope is that Jesus is coming!  Now is the time to get ready and be prepared. 

 

Conducting a spiritual Assessment

 Read Isaiah 51.

It is good for us to stop on a regular basis and take stock of where we came from and where we are headed.  Granted, we all have things in our past for which we are grateful for God's forgiveness and cleansing.  While we may not wish to dwell on all our history, we do need to honor our heritage.

God called on Israel to conduct a complete spiritual assessment.

1. Look back. (vv.1-2)
The people of Israel exist because of God's calling and unconditional covenant with Abraham.  They were to never forget their beginnings.    

Personally, I am grateful for the spiritual heritage of faith in Christ from my grandparents on both sides of our family.  In addition, there were those who taught me and encouraged my spiritual growth at church.  One's spiritual heritage may not be found in a physical family but from others who pointed us to live for Jesus.

2. Look ahead. (vv.3-8)
Next, God called them to focus on what He has planned for their future.  He will mete out His justice and make things right.  One day, all we have known here will be gone.  But forever we will enjoy our deliverance in Christ and our relationship with the LORD.  In the meantime, the Apostle Paul reminds us not to be discouraged with present circumstances.
"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.  For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

3. Look Up. (vv.9-11)
Here the people respond to God.  They call upon the One who destroyed Egypt (Rahab) and Pharaoh (dragon), the One who dried up the Red Sea for them, the One who ransomed them and will bring them home singing with everlasting joy.  Remembering past deliverances by God encourages us to pray for His power to be displayed today.

4. Wake Up. (vv.12-23)
God's call to the people is "wake yourself" and "stand up."  Stop wallowing in your misery of what happened to you.  God promises to afflict the tormentors and offers His comfort to the afflicted.

 

What's the problem Here?

 Read Isaiah 50.

With Israel's loss of the land and God's blessings, doubtlessly the people asked, "Why?  Why did this happen to us?  We thought God would protect us?"  So, the LORD answered those questions with a few of His own.

1. What is the problem? (vv.1-3)
God wanted them to know it was not because He could not protect them by His power.  Indeed, He allowed this to happen to Israel at this time because of their sin.  He faithfully sent the prophets with His message but they would not listen nor repent.

2. What is the solution? (vv.4-9)
Here Messiah speaks for Himself.  In some detail, the sufferings of Jesus are given.  Matthew 26:67 tells of the fulfillment of this prophecy: "Then they spit in his face and struck him.  And some slapped him."  The Son of God voluntarily laid aside His rights and withheld His power to suffer and die on the cross in full and final payment for our sins. 

3. What is the need? (vv.10-11)
This is a direct challenge to those who trust in something else for life-guidance.  They can use whatever "light" they can imagine but it will only lead down a path of torment in the end.  The LORD calls out to "trust" and "rely" on Him.  Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

Choose life!