365 Days of Pursuit.org

OVERVIEW: 

God’s instruction for Jeremiah to search for the righteous (5:1–9); God’s promise to judge the wicked (5:10–6:30); Jeremiah’s first message to the people concerning their faith in the temple and external religion (7:1–8:3); Jeremiah’s message concerning rejecting the truth of God’s word (8:4–22).

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Before God actually begins to EMPOWER Jeremiah to preach against the sin of the people in chapter 7, He takes the events recorded in the first six chapters to IMPASSION him. As chapter 5 begins, God doesn’t send Jeremiah on a “search-and-destroy” mission, but a “search-so-I-won’t-destroy” mission!  God wants Jeremiah to understand the depths to which His people had apostatized, and why His judgment against them was so deserved. Just as God told Ezekiel in his day to search for one single man to “make up the hedge and stand in the gap” (Ezekiel 22:30), God tells Jeremiah to see if he, too, could find just one man somewhere in the land who simply sought truth and executed judgment. (5:1) But just as Ezekiel’s search ended with the pitiful words, “But I found none.” Jeremiah’s search produced the same empty result. The people were so incredibly perverted in their thinking, they even viewed God’s mercy as weakness! (5:11–13) Through the “fiery” preaching of Jeremiah (5:14), God promises the invasion of a mighty army to destroy them. 

As you read 5:31, allow it to not only acquaint you with the horrific spiritual climate of Jeremiah’s day, but to remind you of the horrific spiritual climate of our own day: “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priest bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so.” God said something strangely similar through what the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy concerning our day: “After their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2^nd Timothy 4:3–4)

As we move into chapter 6, it becomes clear why Judah had become so debauched that God says that “from the least of them even to the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even to the priest every one dealeth falsely.” (6:13) The key is in verse 10. Very simply, the people had come to the place that the word of God held no delight or significance in their hearts. It is a great commentary on how our world has gotten to the place it has, and how churches have gotten to the place they are. Week after week in most churches, both from the pulpit, and in the personal lives of the people, truth sits forsaken. Perhaps this is a great time to be reminded that the goal of our 365 Days of Pursuit isn’t simply to go through the word of God, but to so delight ourselves in the God of the word, that we allow His word to go through us, and find a resting place everywhere it “reproves, rebukes, and/or exhorts” us! (2^nd Timothy 4:2)

As we come into chapter 7, God now takes the things He revealed to Jeremiah in chapters 1–6, and turns him loose to carry out the six-fold ministry He delineated to him in chapter 1 and verse 10. God strategically places Jeremiah at the entrance to the temple so he can specifically confront those who thought that because of their great temple and their great involvement there (7:4), that they were doing fine spiritually. Oh, may we never confuse “blessings” and “busyness” at church with spirituality! God’s words through Jeremiah are just as potent and pertinent today as they were then: “For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour; If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.” (7:5-7) The New Testament equivalent is 2^nd Corinthians 7:1: “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” The entire chapter emphasizes the fact that our personal and holy God is neither impressed, nor the least bit interested in external religion!

In chapter 8, Jeremiah’s message to the people was similar to his message in chapter 7. The same attitude the people had about themselves spiritually because they were in possession of the temple (7:4), they had about themselves because they were in possession of the law of Moses. (8:8) Again, it is such a reminder that God is interested in so much more than that we simply attend church services and read our Bible. Obviously, those things have their place, but God is interested in holding His rightful place as Lord in our lives!

Because of the many implications and applications of Jeremiah’s words to those of us living in the last days of the Laodicean Church Period, notice that much of Judah’s problem was rooted in the fact that their spiritual leaders did not properly proclaim the truth of God’s word. (8:8–12) Their prophets turned the truth of God into lies (2^nd Timothy 4:4), telling the people that God was going to be okay with them continuing to live the way they were living. Oh, where are the “Jeremiahs” that will unashamedly, lovingly, and yet, dogmatically proclaim the truth of God’s word regardless of the consequence in these spiritually dark Laodicean days?!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As THE ONE WHO DEMANDED A CLEANSED TEMPLE — Jeremiah 7:1–11 (Mark 11:17)

OVERVIEW:

God’s call of Jeremiah (1:1–19); God’s explanation that Israel was an unfaithful spouse (2:1–3:5); God’s explanation that there was still time for Israel to repent (3:6–4:4); God’s warning of judgment for Israel’s refusal to repent (4:5–31).

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Jeremiah was used of God to prophesy during the last 40 years of the small Southern Kingdom of Judah’s history. By the time Jeremiah begins his ministry, it had been 100 years since the Assyrians had destroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel. As the Assyrian empire weakened through the years, they, of course, were overthrown by the Babylonians.  

According to 1:2, Jeremiah’s ministry actually began in the thirteenth year of Josiah’s reign (627 B.C.), who ruled for 31 years. (2^nd Chronicles 34:1) His ministry continued through the reigns of the last four kings of Judah (Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah), all of whom were wicked, as we saw in reading through 2^nd Chronicles and 2^nd Kings. As Jeremiah reveals in 1:3, his ministry concluded with “the carrying away of Jerusalem captive”, which was in 586 B.C. 

Jeremiah is sometimes referred to as “the Weeping Prophet”. (see 9:1; 13:17; 14:17; 15:17–18; Lamentations 1:2; 2:11, 18) His tears flowed out of his passion for God’s glory (13:15–17), and Israel’s “backsliding” from her God. “Backsliding” is the key word in the book (see 2:19; 3:6, 8, 11–12, 22; 5:6; 8:5; 14:7), for which cause the word “repent” is used 11 times by the prophet. Though repentance was his continual message, the sad reality is, Judah never did. There was certainly no Old Testament prophet who suffered more opposition than did Jeremiah. (2:8, 26; 4:9; 5:31; 6:14; 14:13–16; 18:18; 23:9–40; 26:8–19; 27:9–16; chapters 28–29)

As we make our way through this book, it will be important to realize that the book of Jeremiah is not necessarily arranged in chronological order but by similar subject matter. By presenting the truth of Jeremiah by similar subject, it helps us to more clearly see the tragic results of sin.

Perhaps the simplest breakdown of the book is as follows:

• The Fate of Judah. (1–33) 
• The Fate of Jerusalem. (34–45) 
• The Fate of the Gentile nations. (46–52)    

As mentioned above, Jeremiah details in verses 2 and 3, of chapter 1, that the period in which he prophesied was approximately between 627–587 B.C. His ministry spanned from Judah’s last RIGHTEOUS king (Josiah — 640–609 B.C.) to Judah’s last ACTUAL king (Zedekiah — 597–587 B.C.). Verse 3 lets us know that Jeremiah lived to see Jerusalem destroyed by the Babylonians; an event he both prophesied and lamented.

God’s call upon Jeremiah, as it is revealed in chapter 1, forever settles the question of when life actually begins. The Bible is very clear that life begins BEFORE our actual BIRTH (Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:14–15) and continues on AFTER our actual DEATH! (Hebrews 9:27) God tells Jeremiah that a whole lot had taken place concerning him before his birth! He tells Jeremiah that even before forming him in his mother’s womb: He “knew” him; He “sanctified” him; and He “ordained” him to be “a prophet unto the nations”. The same thing could be said about God’s purposes for our lives!  

In similar fashion to Moses’ response to God’s call (Exodus 3:11), Jeremiah’s initial response to God’s call on his life was to focus on his own inadequacies and inabilities. God tells Jeremiah, as He did Moses (Exodus 3:14), that His call upon his life wasn’t about who Jeremiah was but who He is! He tells Jeremiah: “I’ll send you…I’ll tell you what to say…I’ll put My very words in your mouth…and when the people don’t like it, I’ll deliver you…because I have set you over the nations and the kingdoms…” (1:7–10)

God goes on to tell Jeremiah that his actual ministry would be six-fold. It would be:

1. “To root out.”
2. “To pull down.”
3. “To destroy.”
4. “To throw down.”
5. “To build.”
6. “To plant.”

Interestingly enough, two-thirds of Jeremiah’s preaching was intended by God to be negative! Perhaps this is a good time to make sure we understand what a “prophet” was actually being called to do. Basically, we could say that a prophet in the Bible was a man that God raised up to take His side against the people who had turned away from Him. Obviously, there were other implications, but that’s it in a nutshell! Do note, the ministry of the Old Testament prophet is not much different than what God intends for a New Testament preacher! God said through Paul, in 2^nd Timothy 4:2, that a preacher of the word must “reprove” (negative), “rebuke” (negative), and “exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (positive). Once again, God’s instruction is that two-thirds of the preaching is to be negative! No wonder Jeremiah had it so tough in his day; and no wonder those who “preach the word” have it so tough in our day! In the Laodicea Church Period (1901 – Rapture), just as in Jeremiah’s day, “God’s side” is a far cry from His “people’s side”! (Revelation 3:14–22)

Notice in 1:17–19, God didn’t tell Jeremiah that his task would be easy! In fact, He warned that it would be very intimidating (“be not dismayed at their faces” — 1:17c), and that it would be a constant battle (“they shall fight against thee” — 1:19a). Amidst the difficulty, however, God commanded Jeremiah to “man up” (i.e. “gird up thy loins” — 1:17a), and promised His abiding presence and power. (“I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee” – 1:19c). Wow! How much difficulty and adversity do you think you could endure in your mission with a promise like the one Jeremiah received?! But, may I remind you of God’s promise to us in our mission?! Jesus said in Matthew 28:18–20: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye THEREFORE (Note that He’s implying that He is going to empower us with His power!)…and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” 

In 2:1–3:5, God has some incredibly strong things to say to Jeremiah about His people. He even likens them to an unfaithful, adulterous spouse in contrast to God’s constant faithfulness and goodness to them. In 2:1–3, He tells Jeremiah that Israel had forgotten her devotion to Him in her “youth” (when God had first delivered them out of Egypt — i.e. her “first love” — Revelation 2:4); that she had become ungrateful (2:4–8); that she had changed her God (2:9–13); that she had ignored God’s discipline (2:14–19); that she had denied any wrongdoing (2:20–28); that she had mistreated the poor (2:29–37); and that, spiritually speaking, she had been sleeping around (3:1–5).

In spite of her sin, however, God tells Jeremiah that He is merciful, and that He is willing to forgive her if she will simply return to Him, having put away her other lovers. (3:6–4:4) What an incredibly merciful and gracious God we serve!

In 4:5–31, God tells Jeremiah that, though Israel has time to repent, He is only providing a window of opportunity to do so. He warns that if they refuse to return to Him, He will send an army to annihilate their nation.  

SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”:  

• 3:16 – “in those days” (specifically, the Tribulation Period)  
• 3:17 – “At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord”  
• 3:18 – “in those days” (specifically, the Tribulation Period)  
• 4:9 – “at that day”

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As THE FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATERS — Jeremiah 2:13 (John 7:37; John 4:1–26)

OVERVIEW:

The Exaltation of Jerusalem in “the day of the Lord” (60:1–22); the Mission of the Messiah in His First Coming (61:1– 2a); the Mission of the Messiah in His Second Coming (61:2b–11); the Restoration of Zion (62:1–63:6); the Petition of Israel (63:7–64:12); God’s Response to Israel’s Prayer (65:1–25); the Blessing of God in the Millennial Kingdom (66:1– 24).

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

All the way through the book of Isaiah, God has been pointing us through the prophet to that incredible day when the Lord Jesus Christ will establish His rule and reign in His Millennial Kingdom. Once again, that is the theme and focal point in the chapters in today’s reading (60-66). When the remnant of Israel returned into their homeland following the Babylonian captivity, the city of Jerusalem, with its walls, gates, and temple, was in shambles (“laid waste” – 64:10–11) and anything but glorious. But Isaiah looks down through the years to a time when the Lord Jesus Christ will have stepped in and reconfigured the entire landscape and situation. Interestingly enough, the word “glory”, or one of its forms (glorify, glorified, glorious) is found 23 times in these seven chapters of Isaiah alone!

Be aware, that according to the New Testament, we are presently living in a biblical “nighttime”. The “night” began in Acts 1:9 when Jesus ascended back to the right hand of His Father, because Jesus had clearly said in John 9:5 – “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” At that point, the “Sun” went down, so to speak, and it became “nighttime” as far as God is concerned. (Romans 13:12; 1^st Thessalonians 5:5–7; Philippians 2:15). We now await the glorious day when the “Sun” (Malachi 4:1–2 — note that Malachi referred to Christ as the capital “S-u-n” not “s-O-n”!) of righteousness” will “arise”, and the light will again shine on this planet, because it will be “the DAY of the Lord!” This is exactly what Isaiah is prophesying in 60:1–2: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.” In that day, as Isaiah goes on to explain in verses 3–9, the Gentile nations will be coming in peace to Jerusalem, offering gifts to “the Holy One of Israel”, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. At that time, as Isaiah describes in verses 10–22, the walls of the nation will be rebuilt (60:10), and the “…gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night…” (60:11), implying that there will no longer be the threat of an invading nation or nations. (also see 60:18)

Verses 1 and 2, of chapter 61, were read by the Lord Jesus Christ when He was invited to speak in His “home synagogue” in Nazareth. (Luke 4:16–21) Jesus concluded the reading by saying, “…This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” letting us know that Isaiah 60:1–2 was/is a specific reference to Him, if, perchance, there could be any doubt of that in anyone’s mind. It is also quite interesting to note that when Jesus read these verses that day, He very purposely and calculatedly stopped in the middle of Isaiah 61:2, just before reading the next phrase in the verse: “…and the day of vengeance of our God.” We now know that the reason He didn’t read it, was because the fulfillment of the prophecy was dependent upon what the nation of Israel would do with their opportunity to receive her King! When Israel refused her final offer of the Kingdom at the stoning of Stephen, God inserted a parenthesis we call the Church Age, and now “the day of vengeance of our God” (i.e. the Tribulation/Second Coming) will not actually begin until God’s plan for the church has been accomplished. Because “the day of vengeance of our God” has not yet begun, it lets us know that we are still presently living in what God calls “the acceptable year of the Lord”! We must, therefore, “redeem the time”, making sure that we “walk in wisdom toward them that are without.” (Colossians 4:5) Notice in Isaiah 61:2, that following the Tribulation and Second Coming (i.e. “the day of vengeance”), the Lord will “comfort all that mourn” (i.e. the Millennium), and will flip-flop Israel’s suffering and affliction into blessing and rejoicing.

Though Israel in Isaiah’s day was God’s “forsaken” wife (62:4), and had been left “desolate” because of her whoredoms, when the Lord Jesus Christ establishes His kingdom, Israel will then be called “Hephzibah” (meaning, “my delight is in her”), and “Beulah” (meaning, “married”), as once again, she will be “married” to Jehovah, and He will “delight” in her. (Hosea 2:16–17) Keep in mind, Israel is the bride of the Father, we (the church) are the bride of Christ. (2^nd Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 21:9)

We are presently living at a time when God is pouring out His love, mercy, and grace. Be it known, however, justice on this planet will be served! That’s what Isaiah 63 emphasizes. Often, as Christians, we are guilty of only showing the side of the coin that is stamped with Christ’s love. There is, however, another side of the coin. It is stamped with His wrath. (Revelation 15–16) Just as far-reaching and powerful is His love, so, also, is His wrath. Perhaps this is the reason that those who are not saved, as well as those of us who are saved, do not “fear the Lord”, as the Scripture repeatedly admonishes us to do. (2^nd Corinthians 7:1)

Isaiah 63 pictures Christ as a bloody warrior. At His first coming, His enemies stained Him with His own blood. When Isaiah sees Him in this passage, at His Second Coming, once again, He will be stained with blood. This time, however, it will not be His own blood, but the blood of His enemies! (63:1–4) Never lose sight of the fact that He who was the “Prince of Peace” in His first coming (Isaiah 9:6), will be a “Man of War” at His second coming! (Exodus 15:3; Revelation 14:17–20; Isaiah 63:1–4) 

Chapter 65 records the Lord’s response to the prayer of His remnant, and chapter 66 describes the true worship of the Messiah in His Millennial Kingdom. As we conclude the book of Isaiah (what we have referred to as a “microcosm of the Bible”), note that chapter 66 covers the same ground as the 66^th book of the Bible, the book of Revelation (i.e. the Tribulation, the Second Coming, the Millennium, and the New Heaven and New Earth).

SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”: 

• 60:1 – “the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” 
• 60:2 – “the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.” 
• 60:7 – “I will glorify the house of my glory.” 
• 60:13 – “I will make the place of my feet glorious” 
• 60:20 – “the days of thy mourning shall be ended” 
• 61:2 – “the day of vengeance of our God”  
• 63:4 – “the day of vengeance” 
• 63:4 – “the year of my redeemed” 
• 66:15 – “the Lord will come with fire” 
• 66:18 – “I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory”

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As the ANOINTED ONE PREACHING GOOD TIDINGS — Isaiah 61:1 (Luke 4:16–22)

• As the CREATOR OF NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH — Isaiah 65:17; 66:2 (John 1:1–3; 2^nd Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1)

• As the ONE WHOSE GLORY WILL BE WITNESSED BY ALL NATIONS — Isaiah 66:18–19 (Revelation 5:12–13)

OVERVIEW:

The Humiliation of the Servant (Messiah) (53:1–12); the Blessings of the Servant (Messiah) (54:1–55:13) the Blessing of God upon the Gentiles (56:1–8); the Condemnation of God upon the Wicked (56:9–57:21); the Restoration of True Worship (58:1–14); the Transgression of Israel (59:1–8); the Confession of Israel (59:9–15a); the Lord’s Deliverance of Israel. (59:15b–21)

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Isaiah 53 is one of the most incredible chapters in the entire Bible. It was this very chapter that the Ethiopian eunuch was struggling to understand out on that desert road, in Acts 8, when the Lord prompted Philip to ask him if he understood what he was reading. When the eunuch responded, “How can I, except some man should guide me?” (Acts 8:31), the scripture says, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto Him Jesus.” (Acts 8:35) Philip actually used this passage to lead this Ethiopian dignitary to Christ, and it is commonly believed that it was through his conversion that the gospel first made its way into the continent of Africa in the 1^st century. This is the most comprehensive, and yet, concise passage in the entire Bible concerning the life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of its significance, we will devote most of our attention to this chapter of today’s reading.

In verses 1–3, Isaiah prophesies the rejection that our Lord would endure. John 1:11 says, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” By the time the Lord Jesus Christ came to the earth, the Jews were living under the oppression and domination of Rome. Needless to say, they hated it! Therefore, the Messiah they were looking for was a political revolutionary who would come in warrior-like fashion to overthrow the Roman government and establish His own kingdom and empire on the earth; a kingdom, in their thinking, in which the Jews would be preeminent. They failed to understand, however, that the physical oppression of Rome under Caesar was just a minor illustration of a spiritual oppression they were experiencing because they were being held in the “snare” of this world by the very will of Satan himself. (2^nd Timothy 2:26; Ephesians 2:2) They failed to realize that, in order for their Messiah and King to have citizens in His kingdom, the sin issue that caused spiritual death in them would have to be dealt with (Genesis 2:17; Romans 5:12), and that to qualify for citizenship in His kingdom, they would need to experience a supernatural spiritual birth by calling upon the name of the Lord. They failed to realize that their Messiah would take up a CROSS before He would take up His CROWN; that there would be HUMILIATION before His EXALTATION; and that there would be SUFFERING before there would be GLORY.  

Isaiah begins in verse 1 to foreshadow the fact that the Jews would have difficulty “believing” once the “arm of the Lord” (the Lord Jesus Christ) was “revealed” on the earth. Their difficulty, Isaiah says in verse 2, is because of how the Father chose for Him to make His entrance into this world. He came as a humble bush (“tender plant”), not as a stalwart tree. “Dry ground” is a reference to the barren spiritual condition of the nation of Israel when their Messiah would be “revealed”. He came offering life to the parched soil of their lives, but it wasn’t the life they were looking for. He didn’t come on the scene displaying the physical power and majesty that would attract them to Him. (“…he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him” — 53:2.) Because of it, the Jews “despised and rejected” God’s glorious Servant, and their promised Messiah. He who was the King of kings became “a man of sorrows”. The One to whom belongs all glory was “acquainted with grief”. The One who offered life and forgiveness to all who would simply look to Him had his very own people “hide” their “faces from him”. The One who should have been lauded and honored, was “despised” and “esteemed not”.  

Even though He came to bare the “griefs” and the “sorrows” man had inflicted upon himself through the choice of sin, it was of no consequence. The Lord Jesus Christ was treated as a common criminal as if He was worthy of the treatment He received. (53:4)

Note in 53:5, the words used to describe Christ’s crucifixion: He was “wounded”; “bruised”; “chastised”; and “striped” (referring to the stripes upon His back through being scourged with whips). Notice also in verse 5, the reason for such brutality: Isaiah tells us it was “for our transgressions” and it was “for our iniquities”. He then goes on to reveal to us the result of His crucifixion: it was so we might experience “peace” with God, and thus, “peace” with ourselves, and it was so we could be “healed”! Certainly not our physical healing, but the healing that was necessary in our soul and spirit because every one of us had “gone astray”, turning from God, “to our own way”. God reveals to us in this passage through Isaiah, that He was providing His only begotten Son to die a substitutionary death for our sin: “…the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”  Notice also, that Isaiah’s prophecy lets us know that through the entire ordeal of our Lord Jesus Christ’s unfair trial and merciless crucifixion, never would “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) ever “open his mouth”. (Isaiah 53:7–8)

Isaiah goes on to prophesy that when Christ died, it would be with “the wicked” (i.e. crucified between two thieves), and yet, His burial would be connected with “the rich”. (i.e. He “borrowed” the tomb of a rich man by the name of Joseph of Arimithea — Matthew 27:57).

Though the details of Isaiah’s prophecy are humanly tragic and horrific, verses 10–12 let us know that every single detail of this entire ordeal was purposed and planned by none other than God Himself! It is the same incomprehensible truth Peter preached about on the Day of Pentecost: that Christ was “delivered (to His tormentors) by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God”. (Acts 2:23)

Once again, you can “keep your bearings” through the chapters in today’s reading by following the outline presented in today’s overview. But at the same time, do allow yourself to “lose your bearings” today in the wonder of our glorious Saviour and His willingness to offer Himself as a sacrifice for us as it is detailed in Isaiah 53. Let us also pray that, like Philip, God will allow us to use this chapter to “preach Jesus” to some needy soul today.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As the ONE WHO WAS REJECTED BY HIS OWN — Isaiah 53:3 (John 1:11; Luke 23:18)

• As the ONE WHO REMAINED SILENT THOUGH FALSELY ACCUSED — Isaiah 53:7 (Mark 15:3–5)

• As the ONE WHO WAS BURIED WITH THE RICH — Isaiah 53:9 (Matthew 27:57–60)

• As the ONE WHO WAS CRUCIFIED WITH SINNERS — Isaiah 53:12 (Mark 15:27–28)

OVERVIEW:

Israel’s Preservation and Restoration from Babylon (46:1–47:15); Admonition to the Restored Nation (48:1–22); the Mission of the Servant (Messiah) (49:1–26); the Submission of the Servant (Messiah) (50:1–11); the Provision of the Servant (Messiah) (51:1–52:12).  


HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

In yesterday’s reading, we saw the Lord’s prophecy through Isaiah to raise up Cyrus, the Persian King, to conquer the Babylonians and set the captives of Israel free, enabling them to return to their land. Do note, however, that Cyrus only prefigures “the Lord’s anointed,” (45:1), the Lord Jesus Christ, who will one day (soon!) establish His Millennial Kingdom and restore Israel to her homeland. “In that day”, all of the Gentile nations of the world will submit themselves to the rule of Israel’s King, and “every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” (45:23 c.f. Philippians 2:10–11)

In chapters 46 and 47 in today’s reading, Isaiah details Babylon’s collapse along with all of its gods. God declares that Babylon’s gods are absolutely powerless to rescue Babylon from His impending judgment and destruction. Just as God raised up Cyrus from the east to conquer Israel’s oppressor (46:11), the Lord Jesus Christ will also rise from the east as the “SUN of righteousness” to deliver the nation of Israel on the “day of the Lord”! (Malachi 4:1–2)

In chapter 48, like many in “Laodicea” (Revelation 3:14–22), the Lord indicts those who confess His Name when it can’t be recognized by the life they live. (48:1) The chapter goes on to show that because of Israel’s stubbornness (“thy neck is an iron sinew” — 48:4a) and obstinacy (“thy brow brass” — 48:4b), the Lord would discipline them by allowing them to be brought into Babylonian captivity. Even so, notice that He also promises to bring them back. Praise the Lord for His marvelous grace and mercy, because we all need it in our “stubbornness” and “obstinacy” just as surely as does, and did, Israel!

As we enter chapter 49, the Lord reveals His Servant (the Messiah), and how He will restore Israel, both physically and spiritually in the Promised Land. Though “Zion said, The Lord hast forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me” (49:14), the Lord promises that He will not “forsake” or “forget” them!  Even though they rejected Him (John 1:11), He will still fulfill His purposes and promises to them, ultimately, bringing blessing to Israel, along with the Gentile nations of the world, in the Millennium. (49:22, 25–26) Chapter 50 contrasts the disobedience of Israel, with the obedience of Israel’s Servant (Messiah).

In chapters 51 and 52, the nation of Israel is exhorted to “look” (51:1–2), through the eyes of the faith, into the future to see the Lord, the Comforter of Zion (51:3), as He rescues Israel from the nations, bringing them into their land and into the blessing of Messiah’s rule in the Millennial Kingdom, when they will no longer be afflicted by the Gentile nations. (52:1) In light of His promise of deliverance, Israel is exhorted to “Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”  (52:9–10)

Oh, may we be filled with a passion for the “suffering Servant” (i.e. “his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men” — 52:14) to “be exalted and extolled, and be very high” (52:13), when “the kings shall shut their mouths at him.” (52:15) Once again, may we all cry out with the Apostle John, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)

SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”:  

• 46:13 – “I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.”  
• 51:3 – “the Lord will comfort Zion”  
• 51:11 – “the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion;”  
• 52:6 – “in that day”  
• 52:8 – “when the Lord shall bring again Zion”  
• 52:10 – “The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations;”  
• 52:10 – “all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As THE FIRST AND THE LAST — Isaiah 48:12 (Revelation 1:11; 2:8; 22:13)

• As THY SAVIOR AND REDEEMER — Isaiah 49:26 (Titus 2:13–14; 2^nd Peter 1:1; 1^st Corinthians 6:20; Galatians 4:4–5; 1^st Peter 1:18–19)

OVERVIEW:

Judah’s future captivity in Babylon and promise of deliverance (40:1–11); God’s omnipotence (40:12–26); God’s sustaining power (40:27–31); God’s sovereignty in history (41:1–7); God’s protection of Israel (41:8–20); God’s challenge to the idols (41:21–29); the Servant of the Lord (42:1–25); the assurance of Israel’s restoration (43:1–44:5); the witness of the restored nation (44:6–23); the fulfillment of restoration (44:24–45:25).  

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

In the “microcosm of the Bible”, that we call the book of Isaiah, having covered the first 39 chapters, representative of the Old Testament, we begin today the section representative of the New Testament. (Chapters 40–66) Interestingly enough, as we come to chapter 40, Isaiah begins, as does Matthew in the New Testament, with “The voice of him (John the Baptist — Matthew 3:1–3) that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (40:3) 

For the record, this passage in Isaiah is one the key places I take Jehovah’s FALSE Witnesses as I engage them outside the doors of my house (2^nd John 7–10 tells us not to let them in our house!), just before I lovingly, but very matter-of-factly, tell them they are of an “antichrist spirit”! (2^nd John 7) Note that when Isaiah makes this prophecy (which the Jehovah’s FALSE Witnesses will very readily agree is in reference to John the Baptist!), Isaiah says, that he (John the Baptist) will be preparing the way of “Jehovah”. Remember, every time the word “Lord” appears in the Old Testament in a King James Bible (with a tall capital “L,” and smaller capital letters for the “ord”), as in Isaiah 40:3, it is signifying that this is the Hebrew word for “Jehovah”. The word is even translated “Jehovah” in the “Bible” (and I use the term extremely loosely!) that the Jehovah’s FALSE Witnesses use! When Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled and recorded in Matthew 3:1–3, “Jehovah” just happens to be none other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself!!! The same incredible truth also took place earlier in the book of Isaiah, in chapter 6 and verse 5. In this verse, Isaiah saw “Jehovah” (the “Lord” of hosts — KJV) in all of His glory. When the Holy Spirit writes of this (2^nd Peter 1:21) in John 12:37–41, He says that Isaiah was seeing “CHRIST’S glory” and was speaking of “CHRIST!!!” Hallelujah! And all of God’s people said, “AMEN!!!” Jesus Christ IS Jehovah!!!

Now, please allow me to show you a few more, little Jehovah’s FALSE Witness “ditties”. In chapter 42:8, God clearly says that “GLORY” belongs to “JEHOVAH” (“the Lord” – KJV) ALONE(!!!): “I am the Lord: that is my name (“Jehovah!”): and my glory will I not give to another.” John 1:14 says, “And the Word (“Christ” – John 1:1) was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Very simply, in light of Isaiah 42:8, if Jesus Christ isn’t “Jehovah,” where did He get His glory? Hopefully, you’re seeing how monumental these verses are! In John 17:5, as Jesus prayed to “Jehovah”, His Father, He prayed, “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” Again, in light of Isaiah 42:8, why would Jesus ask for something “Jehovah” doesn’t give?  

In chapter 43 and verse 10, God makes reference to His “witnesses.” These are what we might call the “Jehovah’s TRUE Witnesses!” In verse 11, God says very clearly, that there is only one “Jehovah” (“the Lord” – KJV), and “Jehovah” is the ONLY SAVIOUR: “I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.” With that in mind, check out Titus 2:13: “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great GOD and our SAVIOUR Jesus Christ.” Notice that Jesus Christ is referred to as the “SAVIOUR” (Isaiah 43:11), and that He is “THE GREAT GOD!” Not “a” God, like the Jehovah’s FALSE Witnesses’ “Bible” says in John 1:1… but “THE GOD!!!” Doesn’t that just make you wanna shout a big hearty, “AMEN!”?

In chapter 44 and verse 6, it lets us know that “Jehovah” (“the Lord” – KJV) is the ONLY eternal God, and that the attribute of being “the first and the last” is only true of “Jehovah God”! In light of the clear teaching of this verse, check out Revelation 1:10–11! John says, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice (in the context, it is the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ!), as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, THE FIRST AND THE LAST.” Hallelujah to ya!!! 

Here is just one more. Chapter 44 and verse 24 says that “Jehovah” (“the Lord” – KJV) made “all things” by HIMSELF (“myself”). In light of that, check out John 1:1–3: “ALL THINGS(!!!) were made by him (that is, by the “Word”, the Lord Jesus Christ!); and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3) Then, check out Colossians 1:16: “For by him (the “Son” — Colossians 1:13, again, the Lord Jesus Christ!) were ALL THINGS created (just as in Isaiah 44:24!) that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: ALL THINGS (there it is again!) were created by him, and for him.” (Colossians 1:16) There’s no mistaking it biblically, folks! Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is “JEHOVAH!”

To help you keep your bearings as you make your way through the chapters in today’s reading, please refer to the outline provided in today’s more extensive “OVERVIEW.”

SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”: 

• 40:10 – “the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him.” 
• 42:4 – “till he have set judgment in the earth” 
• 42:13 – “The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man”

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As JEHOVAH in the verses in today’s reading listed above — Isaiah 40:3; 42:8; 43:10–11; 44:6; 44:24
• As SHEPHERD — Isaiah 40:11 (John 10:11)
• As CREATOR — Isaiah 40:28 (John 1:1–3; Colossians 1:16)
• As REDEEMER — Isaiah 41:14 (Galatians 3:13; 1^st Peter 1:18–19; Revelation 5:9)
• As HE TO WHOM EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE SWEAR (CONFESS) — Isaiah 45:23 (Philippians 2:10)

OVERVIEW:

Israel’s deliverance through Messiah’s reign; woe against Assyria; destruction of the Gentile nations; blessings in the Millennial Kingdom; the invasion of the Babylonians under Sennacherib; Hezekiah’s consultation with Isaiah; Hezekiah’s dependence and trust in the Lord; Hezekiah’s illness and recovery; Hezekiah’s foolish reception of the Babylonian messengers; Israel’s captivity into Babylon foretold.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we pick up in chapter 32 today, Isaiah points us to that glorious time in the Millennium when, “Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.” (32:1) This is the same time to which John was referring in the book of Revelation when he wrote in Revelation 5:10: “And [Thou] hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” and in Revelation 20:6: “…but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Isaiah said that that time would be when “…the spirit [would] be poured upon us from on high…” (32:15) It is a prophecy concerning the “last days” which actually kicked in, and were partially fulfilled on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 (see Acts 2:16–17 specifically), but were put on hold after the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7. They will pick up again during the Tribulation Period after the “parenthesis” of the “Church Age”.  (Also see Isaiah 44:3; Ezekiel 36:25–27; Joel 2:28–32)

In chapter 33, we pick up the sixth and final “woe” which is pronounced on Assyria. Isaiah prophesies that the Assyrians, under Sennacherib, would bring Judah into subjection, forcing them to pay annual tribute (taxes) while demanding their total surrender. The Lord promises deliverance from the Assyrians, and uses the occasion, as we have consistently seen Him do, to point to the fact that there will come a time (in the Millennial Kingdom) when the nations of the world will never be a threat to Israel again. The righteous will then live in peace with their Messiah: “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.” (33:22)

In chapters 34 and 35, just as we saw in chapters 24–27, the Lord goes from talking about the judgment of Assyria (chapter 33), to the universal judgment of the Gentile nations which will be fulfilled at Armageddon. (Revelation 19:11–21) Notice how God points to the universality of this judgment in 34:1 through the words “nations”, “people”, “earth”, and “world”. Isaiah points to the physical (35:3–6) and spiritual (35:7–10) changes that will take place on the earth when the Lord Jesus Christ returns, to this planet, at the Second Coming, and establishes His Millennial Kingdom on the earth. Verse 8 says, “And an highway shall be there”! And, you’ve gotta love it; it is called, “The way of holiness:” and only “the redeemed” (those who have been bought by the blood of the King of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ) “shall walk there”! (35:9)

Chapter 36, all the way to chapter 38 and verse 8, parallels what we saw in 2^nd Kings 18:17–20:11. When threatened by the Assyrians, King Hezekiah looks to Isaiah, God’s man (37:1–2), and to God Himself for help! (37:14–15) The proud Assyrians warned Hezekiah in a letter not to trust the Lord to deliver them. Pay real close attention to what Hezekiah did with the letter: “And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed unto the Lord…” (37:14–15) Wow! We all might need to ask ourselves, “how is the devil seeking to intimidate us today”, and carefully follow Hezekiah’s example! The New Testament equivalent is Philippians 4:6–7: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Because of Hezekiah’s dependence and trust in the Lord, the Lord promised to protect Jerusalem and deliver His believing remnant. That night, the Lord destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, and Sennacherib (the loudmouth, boastful “intimidator”) went back home with his tail between his legs! 

When Hezekiah got sick (38:1), he prayed that the Lord would spare his life. The Lord answered his prayer, granting him 15 more years. When the Babylonians heard that he had recovered from his sickness (39:1), they sent messengers and a present to him. Hezekiah foolishly received them and showed them all of the immensity and glory of the treasures in Solomon’s temple. As a result, Isaiah prophesied that they would return and carry away all of the treasures they had seen, along with all of God’s people, into Babylonian captivity.

Something to note about chapters 38 and 39 in today’s reading: they actually precede chapters 36 and 37 from a chronological standpoint. They are placed where they are, however, because they anticipate the Babylonian captivity, which is the subject matter in chapters 40–66. Also, be reminded, that with Isaiah being a microcosm of the Bible, chapter 39 ends the section representing the 39 books of the Old Testament.   

SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”:  

• 34:8 – “the day of the Lord’s vengeance”  
• 34:8 – “the year of recompense for the controversy of Zion”  
• 35:4 – “God will come with vengeance”  
• 35:4 – “God [will come] with a recompense”  
• 37:3 – “a day of trouble”  
• 38:1 – “In those days” (more specifically, the Tribulation Period)

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As the ONE WHO WIELDS “THE SWORD OF THE LORD” IN JUDGMENT — Isaiah 34:6 (Revelation 19:15)
• As the ANGEL OF THE LORD who smote the enemy – Isaiah 37:36 (Romans 12:19)

OVERVIEW:

Worship in the Millennial Kingdom; praise for the preservation of Israel; woe against the drunkards of Ephraim; woe against Jerusalem; woe against the schemers; woe against those who trust in Egypt; woe against those who trust in Egypt’s military defense.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Chapters 26 and 27 describe the worship that will be taking place in the Millennial Kingdom. Chapter 26 begins with the words, “In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah”, and then it goes on to give us the actual words of the song! The song is a song of praise to the Lord for His glorious protection. The godly will enter into the “strong city” of Jerusalem, but be aware, the strength of the city is not because of her physical walls; it is the spiritual walls of salvation imparted to its occupants by the Lord Himself! (26:1–2) Because of their trust in the Lord, and their meditation on the Lord, the Lord blesses them with “perfect peace”. (26:3) Don’t miss that verse 3 is also a biblical prescription for experiencing that kind of peace now! Oh, may our minds totally and passionately be “stayed on the Lord” causing us to totally and passionately “trust in the Lord”!

The song continues in chapter 26 with praise for the Lord’s judgment against His enemies. (26:5–11) In verses 12–15, the song declares praise for God’s permanent victory over His enemies; and verses 16-21 declare praise to the Lord for His deliverance from suffering. Isaiah is describing Israel’s suffering in the Tribulation, and is giving to them the glorious promise of resurrection! (26:19)

The song continues in chapter 27, praising God for the slaying of leviathan. Israel’s enemies are pictured here by this slithering creature that is described as a “piercing serpent”, “that crooked serpent” and as “the dragon” that the Lord shall slay. (27:1) As we discussed in our coverage of Job 41, leviathan is none other than that seven-headed, red dragon (Psalm 74:13-14; Revelation 12:3) that is specifically identified in Revelation 12:9 as “that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan”! Israel’s enemies in the Tribulation Period are the nations, but God identifies for us that the actual power that is working behind the scenes through these nations is none other than Satan himself! Revelation 12 lets us know that the “woman” who gave birth to the Christ-child was the nation of Israel. God declared that reality to Satan in Genesis 3:15, and until the birth of Christ some 4000 years later, he relentlessly persecuted the seed that would become (and did become!) the nation of Israel, because she would be the nation that would actually bring Him forth. For the past 2000 years since the birth of Christ, he has mercilessly and relentlessly persecuted the nation of Israel because she was the one that did bring forth the Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation 12 reveals that the persecution against the nation of Israel will only be heightened during the Tribulation Period, until, of course, as Isaiah 27 details, the Lord steps in to defeat Leviathan (Satan). (27:1)

Chapter 27 goes on to praise the Lord for His judgment against the Gentile nations that have been used by Satan to afflict Israel. The chapter ends with Israel worshipping “the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem.” (27:12–13) Be aware, this is no small thing! This is exactly what the Father has always longed for His Son to receive. (Psalm 66:4; Philippians 2:9–11) Praise the Lord, it is going to happen sooner, as opposed to later!

In the remaining chapters in today’s reading (28–31), Isaiah pronounces five of six “woes” upon those who scoff at God’s word. (28:1; 29:1, 15; 30:1; 31:1) We will pick up the sixth “woe” in tomorrow’s reading. (33:1) For the most part, God is indicting Israel and Judah for trusting in their wealth, as well as trusting the help from their alliances with foreign nations, rather than trusting Him.

The first woe is directed against Ephraim, the large tribe that was representative of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. It anticipates the Assyrian invasion and subsequent fall of the Northern Kingdom in 722 B.C., but also looks ahead to the day of the Lord (“in that day” 28:5) when the remnant of Israel would repent and receive a “crown of glory” and a “diadem of beauty” which are actually descriptive terms referring to our very Lord Jesus Christ when He returns to the earth to establish His Millennial reign!

In chapter 29, the second woe is given against “Ariel, the city where David dwelt!” (29:1, i.e. Jerusalem). It prophesies the invasion of the Assyrian army under Sennacherib, and describes in an historic sense, as well as in a prophetic sense, how the nations that hunger and thirst for Israel’s destruction will themselves be destroyed.

The third woe appears in 29:15–24, and is directed against those who seek to scheme against the Lord; who foolishly think He doesn’t see them. That may just be the epitome of what we might call, “delusional”!

Chapter 30 opens with the fourth woe, which is directed against Judah for their rebellion against the Lord, and specifically, the rebellion they expressed by trusting in Egypt rather than the Lord Himself. The chapter continues on to describe how their alliance with Egypt would fail, and how Judah would be chastened of the Lord. In 30:18, God begins to point, once again, to that time when the chastening would be over, and He would destroy the nations of the world that set themselves against Israel, and He would bring Israel into the blessings of the Messiah when He rules in His Kingdom.

The fifth woe, revealed in chapter 31, continues the condemnation against Judah for looking to Egypt for help militarily against the Assyrians. The chapter ends with God’s declaration that Assyria would ultimately be defeated, not by MAN but by HIM(!!!) and that they would be defeated, not by MAN’S SWORD but by GOD’S! May I remind you, that you are holding that very sword, God’s word, in your hands at this very moment!  Allow it to defeat and destroy all of the worldliness that is afflicting your life today! 

 SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”: 

• 26:1 – “in that day”  
• 27:1 – “in that day”  
• 27:2 – “in that day” 
• 27:12 – “in that day” 
• 27:13 – “in that day” 
• 28:5 – “in that day” 
• 29:18 – “in that day” 
• 30:23 – “it is a day of trouble”  
• 30:25 – “in that day”  
• 30:25 – “in the day of the great slaughter”  
• 30:26 – “in the day”  
• 31:7 – “in that day” 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As the PRECIOUS (CHIEF) CORNER STONE, A SURE FOUNDATION — Isaiah 28:16 (Ephesians 2:20–21; Matthew 1:42; Acts 4:10–12; Romans 9:33; 1^st Peter 2:6–8)

OVERVIEW:

The judgment of Egypt; the judgment of Babylon; the judgment of Edom; the judgment of Arabia; the judgment of Jerusalem; the judgment of Tyre; the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom; the blessings of the Millennial Kingdom.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Isaiah prophesies to the judgment of Egypt as we come into chapters 19 and 20 today. He writes of the Lord riding “upon a swift cloud” coming in judgment into Egypt (19:1), wreaking such havoc and upheaval that it sends Egypt into a massive civil war. (19:2) Once again, though there was certainly an historical fulfillment of this prophecy in Isaiah’s day, it is also pointing to a different day, specifically, “THAT day”!  What day? “The day of the Lord”! The day of our Lord Jesus Christ’s Second Coming! 

Recognize that the Assyrian judgment of Egypt that we are reading about today is simply a prefigure of the judgment our Lord will execute upon Egypt in the near future! Isaiah sees a time when the land of Judah is preeminent in the world (19:17), and both the Egyptians and the Assyrians will be subject to Israel’s Messiah and worship Him. (19:18–23) During the Millennium, Isaiah sees these three former enemies, Israel, Egypt, and Assyria, all living in harmony, and blessed of the Lord. (19:24–25)

In chapter 20, God uses Isaiah to be a physical object lesson to warn the people of Judah who were seeking an alliance with Egypt against Assyria. God tells Isaiah to remove his outer garment and his sandals to picture what would actually become of the Egyptians and Ethiopians: the fact that they would become humiliated and destitute (“naked” and “barefooted”). He says that the Assyrians would expose the “buttocks” of the Egyptians (20:4), and because Judah had sought an alliance with them, that they, too, would be ashamed, and realize that rather than put their trust in Egypt, they should have trusted the Lord!

As chapter 21 begins, notice that “the desert of the sea” is a reference to the Babylonian plain by the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Babylon is identified in 21:9 as the object of this prophecy, and once again, it becomes obvious that there is both an historic and prophetic fulfillment of God’s prophecy through Isaiah, as the words, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen” (21:9) are repeated in Revelation 14:8 and 18:2, to be fulfilled at the time of the Second Coming. Verse 10 lets us know that Babylon’s destruction will spell freedom for God’s people, Israel, who will have been “threshed” (i.e. beaten down, or afflicted). The remainder of chapter 21 deals with the judgment of Edom (21:11– 12) and the judgment of Arabia. (21:13–17)

Having prophesied God’s judgment upon the nations surrounding Jerusalem, in chapter 22, Isaiah prophesies God’s judgment upon Jerusalem. It is called, “the valley of vision” in 22:1 because Jerusalem was surrounded by valleys on three sides. From an historic standpoint, this is the judgment found in 2^nd Kings 25, as Babylon invaded Jerusalem under Nebuchadnezzar in 588–586 B.C. Notice, however, the tell-tale signs of a futuristic fulfillment at the Second Coming of Christ in 22:8, 12, 20, and 25 by the now familiar phrase, “in that day”!

In chapter 23 God prophesies that Tyre, the commercial trading center of the Mediterranean world, would be destroyed because of her pride. This prophecy was fulfilled, in an historical sense, by Alexander the Great in 332 B.C. when he laid waste the city.

Note the word “Behold” in 24:1. The usage of the word “Behold” in scripture always points to a future event. What Isaiah is describing in chapter 24 is the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom. In the first six verses, Isaiah describes a universal judgment of the entire earth. The terms he uses to describe this judgment in verse 1 are tremendously graphic: “Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.” In verses 13–16, Isaiah points to the fact that the godly remnant that survives the Tribulation Period will praise the Lord for His righteous judgments. The Apostle John sees the same fulfillment in Revelation 7:1–10; 15:3–4; 16:5, 7; 19:2. The remainder of the world will be judged in a horrific fashion, as described in 24:17–23.

In chapter 25, the millennium is described as a feast, or a banquet at which Gentiles from all over the entire world will bow their knee and worship Israel’s king who sits on His throne in Jerusalem, or “in this mountain”. (25:6–7, 10)

 SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”: 

• 19:16 – “in that day”  
• 19:18 – “in that day”  
• 19:19 – “in that day” 
• 19:21 – “in that day” 
• 19:23 – “in that day” 
• 19:24 – “in that day” 
• 20:6 – “in that day” 
• 22:5 – “it is a day of trouble”  
• 22:8 – “in that day”  
• 22:12 – “in that day”  
• 22:20 – “in that day”  
• 22:25 – “in that day”  
• 23:15 – “in that day”  
• 24:21 – “in that day”  
• 25:9 – “in that day”

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• In ELIAKIM, MASTER OF HEZEKIAH’S HOUSEHOLD — Isaiah 22:20–22 (What is said of Eliakim is true of Christ, Who is the Master over the household of faith, and the one Who is the Possessor of the “Key of David” — Revelation 3:7; Hebrews 3:6; Galatians 6:10)

OVERVIEW: 

The judgment of Babylon; the judgment of Assyria; the judgment of Philistia; the judgment of Moab; the judgment of Damascus; the judgment of Ethiopia.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we move into chapter 13 today, we find ourselves in the midst of a transition. Whereas chapters 1–12 dealt with judgments specifically related to Judah and Jerusalem, chapters 13–23 broaden the prophecies of judgment to include the Gentile nations.

Because Babylon was the nation that destroyed Jerusalem and took the people of Judah captive in 586 B.C., it is no coincidence that Babylon is at the top of God’s list of the Gentile nations to receive the execution of His judgment! In 13:1–5, God prophesies concerning those who would actually wield His judgment, saying, “They come from a far country…” In an historical sense, those “from a far country” were the people of Persia, whose nation was positioned approximately 350 miles east of Babylon. In a prophetic sense, those who will “come from a far country” to execute judgment will be none other than the Lord Jesus Christ and the armies of heaven (Revelation 19:11–16) and will take place on this planet, “in that day”; in “the day of the Lord”! (13:6, 9, 13)

Once God has executed His judgment “in that day”, Isaiah says to the nation of Israel in 14:3, “And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve.” Obviously, this is a reference to the peace and rest Israel will experience during the Millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. You just have to love the way God describes what it will be like when His kingdom has finally been established in 14:7: “The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.” Hallelujah! What a day that is going to be! May we all say with the Apostle John, “…Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”  (Revelation 22:20)

Just as in Ezekiel 28:11–17, where the Lord was not just speaking to the king of Tyrus, but was also speaking to the power that was working in and through him (none other than Eden’s first “king”, Lucifer himself!), Isaiah 14:8–23 does the same basic thing. The passage has application to the king of Babylon, but is obviously also referring to the satanic power working behind and through that earthly king, and provides us with vital information concerning Lucifer’s fall. Notice in 14:13–14, Lucifer’s infamous five “I wills”:

• “I will ascend into heaven.” 
• “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.”  
• “I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.”  
• “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.”  
• “I will be like the most High.”

Each of these blasphemous declarations are tremendously significant and teach us many things about the location of heaven, and the position Lucifer once held. Notice that the presence of our Lord in heaven is way far out in a “northerly” direction (check out Psalms 75:6 and 48:2; Job 26:7 and 37:22), far “above the heights of the clouds”, and “above the stars of God”. Notice also that Lucifer had a “throne”(!!!) and, comparing Isaiah 14:14 with Ezekiel 28:13, that throne just happened to be in “Eden, the garden of God”! Hmmmm. 

Of significant importance is Lucifer’s fifth “I will,” because it foreshadows for us what has been Satan’s mode of operation all through the annals of human history. He is, first and foremost, a “deceiver!” Revelation 12:9 even identifies him as the one “which deceiveth the whole world”! Listen to that! He “deceiveth the whole world”! Satan has been successful in his evil campaign, not by presenting himself as Satan so he can turn the world into a bunch of Satan worshippers, or try to get all the inhabitants of the earth to hate God or to set themselves against God. No, what he seeks to do is COUNTERFEIT God by actually POSING to BE GOD, and, through RELIGION, deceive people into thinking that they are actually following God, loving God, and obeying God! We must be very discerning especially in these last days! (1^st Timothy 4:1; 1^st John 2:18) Don’t ever lose sight of the fact that Satan has always been impassioned to “be LIKE the most High”!

This may sound a little “back-woodsy” to some, but if I had a Bible that didn’t identify “Lucifer” in Isaiah 14:12, I’d get one that did! Satan has done a masterful job of writing himself right out of almost every church history book on the market, and in the past several decades, he’s also written himself out of almost every Bible on the market! Some Bibles refer to him in Isaiah 14:12, not as “Lucifer, son of the morning,” but as the “Morning Star”. Some actually even have cross references in the margin pointing people to 2^nd Peter 1:26, and then to Revelation 22:16, where the “Morning Star” is specifically identified as our very Lord Jesus Christ Himself!!! Again, I say, we must be very discerning, and fully acquainted with how the Bible says Satan operates!

Obviously, in the context, Isaiah 14:27 is talking about what God purposed concerning Babylon and Israel. Devotionally, however, it is a tremendous verse that also applies to anything and everything God has promised that is in accordance with His purposes for us as New Testament believers: “For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?” 

In chapters 15 and 16, Isaiah prophesies the destruction of Moab. Though it definitely had an application for what would be happening in the near future in Isaiah’s day, don’t miss the fact that it also has application for what would be happening in the far distant future! Isaiah 16:5 refers to the time when Moab will seek refuge in Judah (16:3–4), and the rescue will come from the Lord Jesus Christ as He rises to his throne at His Second Coming, “judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.” (Compare Isaiah 16:5 with 9:7; 11:4; 28:6; 32:16; 33:5; 42:1,3–4; 51:5). Recognize, also, that though the prophetic application of this verse was in “the far DISTANT FUTURE” for Isaiah and those living in HIS time, its fulfillment will, no doubt, be “in the NEAR FUTURE” for those living in THIS time!

Chapters 17 and 18 prophesy the destruction of both Damascus and Ethiopia, and yet, is filled with verbal “icons”, as it were, that point to the time of Christ’s Second Coming at the end of the Tribulation Period, and the beginning of His Millennial reign. (17:4, 7, 9, 11; 18:4)

SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”: 

• 13:6 – “the day of the Lord” 
• 13:9 – “the day of the Lord” 
• 13:13 – “in the day” 
• 14:3 – “in the day” 
• 17:4 – “in that day” 
• 17:7 – “at that day” 
• 17:9 – “in that day” 
• 17:11 – “in the day” 
• 18:4 – “I will take my rest”

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As the ONE WHO WILL SIT ON THE THRONE OF DAVID — Isaiah 16:5 (Luke 1:32–33)