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ISAIAH: THE MESSIANIC, ESCHATOLOGICAL PROPHET
Miami International Seminary
Rev. Donald F. Ritsman, Th.M.
AQUAINTING THE STUDENTS WITH THE COURSE AND
WHAT WILL BE EXPECTED OF THEM
A. SYLLABUS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed as an expository study of the Book of Isaiah, focusing on the messianic and
eschatological content of the book. This course is composed of eight lessons.
A Note on Hebrew and Greek Fonts:
At certain points in the lessons Hebrew or Greek words are incorporated into the text. In order to
retrieve these words it is necessary to download Teknia Hebrew and/or Teknia Greek. The student may
contact MINTS for free downloads of these fonts by clicking Biblical Language Fonts.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Goals
1. The student will gain a greater comprehension of the biblical teaching contained in the Book of Isaiah.
2. The student will come to greater appreciation for the message that God commun icates to us in the Book of
Isaiah.
3. The student will apply the teaching gained from the Book of Isaiah to his own life for spiritual development.
Objectives
1. By means of the questions following each of the lessons, the student will identify the key teachings found in
the Book of Isaiah.
2. By means of the reading assignments, the student will gain a greater appreciation for the teaching of the
Book of Isaiah.
3. By means of the written essay, the student will articulate the teaching of Isaiah and explain its application
to his life and the life of the church.
CREDIT
This course may be taken for credit towards either a Bachelor or Masters degree. The assignments will vary
according to each program as explained below.
DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENTS
For credit toward a Bachelors Degree
1. Studying the Scripture text and the accompanying commentary:
The student will study a portion of the Book of Isaiah, guided by an expositional commentary on the text.
The student will then be required to answer questions based on his study of the expository notes.
2. Extra reading:
The student will read an additional 300 pages, which he can choose from the list of suggested resources
found below in the section entitled, "B. Reading Resources." He will write a report on each book or
article, using the form, Guidelines for Writing a Book Report, provided by the facilitator.
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3. Essay*:
The student will write an 8-10 page essay on the person and work of the Messiah as He is presented in the Book of
Isaiah.
*See “Guidelines for Writing an Essay," to be distributed by the facilitator.
For credit toward a Masters Degree
1. Studying the Scripture text and the accompanying commentary:
The student will study a portion of the Book of Isaiah, guided by an expositional comment ary on the text.
The student will then be required to answer questions based on his study of the expository notes.
2. Extra reading:
The student will read an additional 600 pages, which he can choose from the list of suggested resources
found below in the section entitled, "B. Reading Resources." He will write a report on each book or
article, using the form, Guidelines for Writing a Book Report, provided by the facilitator.
3.Essay*:
The student will write a 15-20-page essay on the eschatological kingdom of God as it is presented in the Book of
Isaiah.
*See “Guidelines for Writing an Essay," to be distributed by the facilitator.
WITHOUT CREDIT
The student will study a portion of the Book of Isaiah, guided by an expositional commentary on the text. The
student may answer the questions that follow each lesson and take the final exam (to be administered by the
facilitator) based on his study of the expository notes.
FINAL GRADE
For Bachelors or Masters credit:
If the student is taking the course for credit, we recommend the following percentages for the final grade.
However, the MINTS center or institution that is giving credit for this course may modify these requirements.
60% Quizzes ("Evaluating Your Comprehension") and Final Exam
10% Report on additional reading
30% Essay
100% Total
Without credit:
The final grade for taking this course without credit will be calculated in the following manner:
80% Quizzes ("Evaluating Your Comprehension")
20% Final exam
100% Total
B. READING RESOURCES
INTERNET RESOURCES
Book of Isaiah; Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Isaiah
Book of Isaiah; GotQuestions.org
http://www.gotquestions.org/book-of-isaiah.html
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The Old Testament Book of Isaiah; PDF (author unknown)
http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3AenUS%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&source=hp&q=the+O.T.+book+of+Isaiah&btnG=Google+Search
The Book of Isaiah; Brad Wingler
http://www.bradwingler.com/2009/10/book-of-isaiah.html
Isaiah, The “Romans” of the Old Testament; Bible Wheel
http://www.biblewheel.com/wheel/spokes/Aleph_Isaiah.asp
The Book of Isaiah; Dr. Philip Jones (PDF)
http://www.google.com/search?q=the+O.T.+book+of+Isaiah&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:enUS:official&channel=s&ei=QJ8bTIiOBcH68Abmj8mXCQ&start=20&sa=N
Introduction to Christ in the Book of Isaiah; PDF (author unknown)
http://www.google.com/search?q=the+O.T.+book+of+Isaiah&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:enUS:official&channel=s&ei=QJ8bTIiOBcH68Abmj8mXCQ&start=20&sa=N
The Prophet Isaiah; Arend Remmers
http://www.biblecentre.org/commentaries/ar_27_ot_isaiah.htm
The Book of Isaiah; Turning Jordan (this site contains numerous resources)
http://www.andywittonline.com/?page_id=422
Encountering the Book of Isaiah; Bryan E. Beyer (PDF)
http://www.google.com/search?q=the+O.T.+book+of+Isaiah&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:enUS:official&channel=s&ei=SqEbTJuLBYP_8Aa_nNmECQ&start=40&sa=N
Introduction to Isaiah; PDF, author unknown
http://www.google.com/search?q=the+O.T.+book+of+Isaiah&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:enUS:official&channel=s&ei=SqEbTJuLBYP_8Aa_nNmECQ&start=40&sa=N
Isaiah: The Salvation of the Lord; Ray C. Stedman
http://www.pbc.org/files/messages/3082/0223.html
The Unity of the Book of Isaiah; ChristianCourier.com
http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/1462-the-acu-commentary-and-the-unity-of-the-book-of-isaiah
The Purpose of the Book of Isaiah; (PDF) William J. Dumbrell
http://www.google.com/search?q=the+O.T.+book+of+Isaiah&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:enUS:official&channel=s&ei=bKMbTIDdFMH78Ab41pzPCQ&start=70&sa=N
Messianic Prophecy (this site contains a number of items relating to the Book of Isaiah)
http://www.bible-history.com/messianicprophecy/
The Glory of the Servant (Isaiah 61:1-3); Dr. S. Lewis Johnson, Jr.
http://www.sljinstitute.net/sermons/christology/pages/isaiah17.html
Messianic Prophecies Through Isaiah; Wade Cox
http://www.ccg.org/english/s/p157d.html
Background for Messianic Prophecies in Isaiah; Dr. S. Lewis Johnson, Jr.
http://www.sljinstitute.net/sermons/christology/pages/isaiah1.html
Messianic Prophecies in Isaiah; Dr. S. Lewis Johnson, Jr. (MP3 downloads)
http://www.believerschapeldallas.org/OnlineMessages/IsaiahMessianicProphecies/tabid/108/Default.aspx
BOOKS
Archer, Gleason L. Jr. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction; Moody Press, Chicago; 1964.
Butler, Trent C.; “Isaiah;” Broadman & Holman Pub. Group; 2002.
Calvin, John; “Isaiah;” Crossway Classic Commentaries; Crossway Pub.; 2000.
Delitzsch, Franz; Biblical Commentary on The Prophecies of Isaiah Vol. 1; Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand
Rapids MI; 1969 reprint.
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Fitch, W. “Isaiah,” The New Bible Commentary; Edited by Prof. F. Davidson; The Inter-Varsity Fellowship, London;
1967 (8th reprinting of the Second Edition.)
Grogan, Geoffrey W.; “Isaiah;” Expositor’s Bible Commentary; Zondervan Pub. House; 1986.
Leupold, H.C. Exposition of Isaiah; Baker Book House, Grand Rapids MI; 1985 (Fifth Printing.)
Motyer, J. Alec; “Isaiah;” Tyndale Old Testament Commentary; Inter-Varsity; 1999.
Oswalt, John N.; “The Book of Isaiah,” 2 Vol.; New International Commentary on the Old Testament; Eerdmans
Publishing Co.; 1986.
Thomas, Derek; “God Delivers: Isaiah Simply Explained;” Welwyn Commentary Series; Evangelical Press; 2005.
Webb, Barry; “The Message of Isaiah,” Bible Speaks Today; Inter-Varsity Press, 1996.
Young, Edward J. An Introduction to the Old Testament; Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Grand Rapids MI; 1969
(Fourth Printing.)
NOTE: THE STUDENT MAY ALSO CONSULT THE LIGONIER MINISTRY WEBSITE (HTTP://WWW.BESTCOMMENTARIES.COM/REVIEWER/LIGONIERMINISTRIES-KEITH-MATHISON/) FOR A LISTING OF USEFUL COMMENTARIES ON THE BOOK OF ISAIAH.
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WELCOME TO THE COURSE ON
ISAIAH: THE MESSIANIC AND ESCHATOLOGICAL PROPHET
LESSON ONE: INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH
Assignments:
1.
2.
The student will read the article entitled, "Background Information on the Book of Isaiah," and be prepared
to answer the questions that appear at the conclusion of the article.
Extra Reading: For Bachelor's credit, the student should do at least 100 pages of additional reading
(see "B. Reading Resources" listed in the Syllabus for suggested reading material.) For Master's
credit, the student should do at least 200 pages of additional reading.
Background Information on the Book of Isaiah
The Authorship of the Book
In 1789, operating from the assumptions of rationalism and anti-supernaturalism, Johann C. Doederlein, professor of
theology at Jenna, propounded the view that the book of Isaiah was in fact composed of two distinct volumes:
Chapters 1-39 were written by the eighth century B.C. prophet named Isaiah, while Chapters 40-66 were authored by
an unknown sixth century B.C. writer whom the critics would call “Deutero-Isaiah.” This basic view (there have been
modifications over the years) was popularized in 1889 by George Adam Smith whose lectures on Isaiah “have exerted a
tremendous influence throughout the English-speaking world” (E.J. Young, p. 203).
In addition to their arbitrary anti-supernatural bias (i.e.; there can be no such thing as foreseeing historical events in
the distant future by means of divine revelation), those who hold this view maintain that the prophets of Israel
normally, if not exclusively, only brought messages that addressed the contemporary issues of their day (W. Fitch, p.
558). These critics further support their view by presenting alleged differences in subject matter (they maintain
chapters 1-39 focus on Judah’s contemporary situation, while chapters 40-66 focus on the distant future from Isaiah’s
perspective), alleged differences in language and alleged differences in theology (G. Archer, pp. 320-339).
In refutation of the Isaiah/Deutero-Isaiah view, we may briefly consider the following evidence. (Note: For further
study of this subject, the student is referred to the bibliography that appears at the end of this article.)
Isaiah 40-66 is the necessary follow-up to the conclusion of chapter 39.
As Gleason Archer points out, “…chapters 38-39 lead up to the reason for the coming Babylonian Exile: the
pride of Hezekiah in displaying his wealth to the Babylonian envoys. Hence chapter 39 closes with an ominous
prediction of the Chaldean Captivity” (G. Archer, p. 325). Thus, the content of chapters 40-66, with their
focus on the overthrow of Babylon and the deliverance of Judah from their captivity, serves as a most
necessary part of Isaiah’s prophecy, assuring God’s covenant people of Jehovah’s faithfulness to them and to
His covenant.
Chapters 1-39 also contain predictions of distant future events.
The claim of the critics is that the Old Testament prophets predominantly, if not exclusively, addressed their
contemporaries and the historical situation with which they were presently confronted. Therefore, since
chapters 40-66 focus on distant future historical events, from the perspective of eighth century B.C. Isaiah,
those chapters must have been written some time in the sixth century B.C. after the events they describe.
However, chapters 1-39 also contain prophecies of distant future events (from the perspective of the eighth
century B.C.) For example, 7:14-16 foretell the Messiah’s coming; 9:1-2 foretell the Messiah’s earthly
ministry and 9:6-7 foretell His future reign. Chapter 11:1-9 again reveals the Messiah’s righteous reign and
His eschatological kingdom of universal peace. Chapters 13-14 form an oracle about the defeat of Babylon at
the hands of the Medes (13:17). The fact that this oracle presents the destruction of Babylon in
eschatological terms (13:5,10,13) indicates that the fall of historic Babylon was also a type of God’s final
overthrow of the kingdom of man at the end of history.
The idolatry depicted and denounced in chapters 40-66 is pertinent to eighth century B.C. Judah, not the
Exilic or Post-Exilic period.
Gleason Archer observes that the ritual prostitution referred to in such passages as 57:4-5, as well as the
detestable practice of infant sacrifice, were elements belonging to the pagan idolatry rampant in Judah in
the eighth century B.C. Archer goes on to state, “So far as the Post-Exilic period is concerned, it is agreed by
scholars of every persuasion that the returning Jews who resettled Judah from 536 to 540 B.C. brought back
no idol worship with them. The terrible ordeal of the Babylonian captivity had brought about a complete
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rejection of graven images on the part of the Jewish remnant. …in light of this evidence, it is impossible to
hold that Isaiah II (i.e.; chapters 40-66) was composed at any time after the Exile…” (G. Archer, pp. 330-331)
Linguistic evidence bears testimony to the unity of the entire book.
“The linguistic evidence is altogether adverse to the composition of Isaiah II (i.e.; chapters 40-66) in Babylon
during the sixth century B.C. In the writings of Ezra and Nehemiah, who came from the region of Babylon…,
we have a fair sample of the type of Hebrew spoken by the Jews who returned from the Exile to Palestine
and settled in their homeland during the fifth century B.C. These writings show a certain amount of linguistic
intrusion from Aramaic and are studded with Babylonian terms. But there is complete absence of such
influence in the language of Isaiah II. It is written in perfectly pure Hebrew, free from any post-Exilic
characteristics and closely resembling the Hebrew of Isaiah I (i.e.; chapters 1-39)” (G. Archer, p. 337)
The failure to identify the “Deutero-Isaiah.”
“A most formidable difficulty is presented to the Deutero-Isaiah theory by the fact that the author’s name
was not preserved. It is quite inconceivable that this name should have been forgotten had he been some
individual other than the Eighth Century Isaiah himself. … It is commonly conceded that the author of these
passages (chapters 40-66) must be regarded as the greatest of all Old Testament prophets. How could it have
come about that such a pre-eminent genius…should have been completely forgotten? … It should be observed
in this connection that an almost invariable rule followed by the ancient Hebrews in regard to prophetic
writings was that the name of the prophet was essential for the acceptance of any prophetic utterance…
The Hebrews regarded the identity of the prophet as of utmost importance if his message was to be received
as an authoritative declaration of a true statesman of the Lord. … if the shortest, least-gifted of the minor
prophets (Obadiah) was remembered by name in connection with his written message, it surely follows that
the sublimest prophet the nation ever produced should have left his name to posterity. We must therefore
conclude that the name of the author of Isaiah 40-66 has indeed been preserved and that it was the eighth
century prophet himself” (G. Archer, pp. 336-337)
The witness of the New Testament.
“The most conclusive New Testament citation (testifying to the unity of the entire book of Isaiah) is John
12:38-41. Verse 38 quotes Isaiah 53:1; verse 40 quotes Isaiah 6:9-10. Then the inspired apostle comments in
verse 41: ‘These things said Isaiah, when he saw his (Christ’s) glory, and spoke of him’” (G. Archer, p. 336).
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Archer, Gleason L. Jr. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction; Moody Press, Chicago; 1964.
Delitzsch, Franz; Biblical Commentary on The Prophecies of Isaiah Vol. 1; Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand
Rapids MI; 1969 reprint.
Fitch, W. “Isaiah,” The New Bible Commentary; Edited by Prof. F. Davidson; The Inter-Varsity Fellowship, London;
1967 (8th reprinting of the Second Edition.)
Leupold, H.C. Exposition of Isaiah; Baker Book House, Grand Rapids MI; 1985 (Fifth Printing.)
Young, Edward J. An Introduction to the Old Testament; Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Grand Rapids MI; 1969
(Fourth Printing.)
Questions on Background Information on the Book of Isaiah
1.
In 1789, ___, professor of theology at Jenna, propounded the view that the Book of Isaiah was in fact composed of
two distinct volumes.
a.
b.
c.
2.
Johann C. Doederlein
George Adam Smith
E.J. Young
The view that the Book of Isaiah is actually composed of two distinct volumes was popularized by ___.
a.
b.
c.
Johann C. Doederlein
George Adam Smith
E.J. Young
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3.
Those who hold that the Book of Isaiah is actually composed of two distinct volumes maintain their view on the
basis of what factors?
a.
b.
c.
4.
Who was Deutero-Isaiah?
a.
b.
c.
5.
An arbitrary anti-supernatural bias
The fact that the prophets of Israel normally addressed contemporary social issues of their day, as opposed
to predicting distant future events.
Both of the above
Isaiah’s secretary who at a later date compiled and published the prophetic material that now forms chapters
40-66.
The historical sixth century B.C. prophet who composed chapters 40-66.
The unsubstantiated author who allegedly wrote chapters 40-66.
Match the evidences for the unity of the book of Isaiah with the phrases that summarize those evidences.
a.
b.
c.
The ritual prostitution referred to in such passages as 57:4-5 was characteristic of the pagan idolatry rampant
in Judah in the eighth century B.C.; the returning Jews who resettled Judah from 536 to 540 B.C. brought
back no idol worship with them. ___
The writings of Ezra and Nehemiah, who came from the region of Babylon, are studded with Babylonian
terms. But there is complete absence of such influence in the language of Isaiah 40-66; those chapters are
written in perfectly pure Hebrew, free from any post-Exilic characteristics. ___
John 12:38 quotes Isaiah 53:1; John 12:40 quotes Isaiah 6:9-10. Then the inspired apostle comments in John
12:41: ‘These things said Isaiah, when he saw his (Christ’s) glory, and spoke of him.’” ___
1. Linguistic Evidence
2. Historical Evidence
3. Biblical Evidence
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LESSON TWO : I SAIAH 2:1-21 AND I SAIAH 7:1-25
The student should prepare for his study by asking the Holy Spirit to enlighten his mind and open his heart to
receive not only the teaching of Scripture but Christ Himself as He is presented in the Scriptures.
Assignments:
1. Bible Study: The student will explore 2 portions of Isaiah, guided by an expositional commentary on the text.
The student will then answer the questions found at the end of the expositor y notes.
2. Extra Reading: For Bachelor's credit, the student should do at least 100 pages of additional reading (see " B.
Reading Resources" listed in the Syllabus for suggested reading material.) For Master's credit, the student
should do at least 200 pages of additional reading. (In preparing his Book Report, the student should follow the
instructions given in Guidelines for Writing a Book Report, provided by the facilitator.)
Note: All Scripture texts will appear in Comic Sans MS font; all extended quotations from other authors will
appear in Courier font.
WALK IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD
ISAIAH 2:1-21
2 This is what Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2In the last days the mountain of
Jehovah’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills, and all
nations shall flow to it. 3Many peoples will come and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the
house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths—for the law will go out from
Zion, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem. 4He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes among
many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not
take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any more. 5O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light
of Jehovah.
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You have forsaken your people, the house of Jacob, because they are full of the customs of the East and
practice divination like the Philistines. They clasp hands with the children of foreigners, making covenants with
them. 7Their land is full of silver and gold, there is no end to their treasures. Their land also is full of war horses,
neither is there any numbering of their chariots. 8And their land is full of idols. They bow down to the work of
their own hands, they bow down to what their fingers have made. 9The common man bows down, and the man of high
position humbles himself—therefore do not forgive them.
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Go among the rocks, and hide yourself in the dust, from the terror of Jehovah and from the glory of his
majesty. 11The arrogant looks of man will be brought low, and the lofty pride of men will be humbled, and Jehovah
alone will be exalted on that day. 12Jehovah of hosts has a day in store for all that is proud and arrogant, for all
that is exalted—and they will be humbled. 13Jehovah of hosts has a day in store for all the cedars of Lebanon that
are tall and lofty, and for all the oaks of Bashan; 14for all the towering mountains, and all the high hills; 15for every
lofty tower, and every fortified wall; 16for all the merchant ships that sail to Tarshish, and every stately vessel.
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The arrogance of man shall be brought low, and the pride of man shall be humbled; and Jehovah alone shall be
exalted on that day—18and the idols will totally disappear. 19Men will flee to the caves in the rocks and to the holes
in the ground from the terror of Jehovah and from the glory of his majesty, when he rises to mightily shake the
earth. 20On that day men will throw away to the rodents and to the bats their idols of silver and their idols of gold
which they made to worship, 21in order to flee to the caverns in the rocks and to the overhanging crags from the
terror of Jehovah and from the glory of his majesty, when he rises to mightily shake the earth.
A note on the Scripture text that accompanies each individual message: The American Standard Version and the New
International Version, along with the original Greek and Hebrew, have been used in an effort to achieve the greatest
degree of accuracy and clarity. Where words or phrases have been added to the original text in an effort to better
express its meaning, those words or phrases have usually been indicated by means of italics.
THEME: Those who possess the great religious privilege of knowing the Lord, are prone to neglect that privilege and
depart from Him.
PURPOSE: To exhort the students to heed the counsel of Scripture which instructs us to “walk in the light of the
Lord.”
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OUTLINE: I. Walk in the Light of the Lord,
…as Do the Newly Converted (Isaiah 2:1-5)
II. Walk in the Light of the Lord,
…rather than in the Ways of the World (Isaiah 2:5-9)
III. Walk in the Light of the Lord,
…because there is Coming a Day of Accountability (Isaiah 2:9-21)
Introduction
1.
At the end of a radio commercial for a motel chain, a voice reassuringly says, “We’ll leave the light on for you.”
2.
Perhaps you can remember your mother saying the same thing, “I’ll be sure to leave the light on for you.”
3.
Maybe you were out late with friends, or you were working the late shift at the factory, or you were coming home
late from a night class.
4.
No matter what time of night it was, you could always be sure to find the porch light burning brightly.
5.
Its warm and soft beams conveyed the message: This is where you belong; this is where someone loves you and is
waiting for you; this is home.
6.
That porch light was a welcome sight, and you always looked forward to coming home to it and to the love and
fellowship it represented.
7.
Would you ever think of leaving that love and fellowship? Would you ever think of turning your back on that light
in order to wander away into the darkness?
8.
Such a thought is inconceivable. But that is exactly what the people of Israel were doing in the days of Isaiah.
Are you doing the same thing spiritually in your relationship with the Lord?
9.
This passage of Scripture alerts us to the sad fact that those who possess the great religious privilege of knowing
the Lord and having access to His presence, are prone to neglect that privilege and depart from Him.
10. Rather than neglecting that great spiritual privilege, let us be careful to “walk in the light of the Lord.”
I. Walk in the Light of the Lord,
…as Do the Newly Converted (Isaiah 2:1-5)
1.
In verse 2 the Lord gives Isaiah a revelation of what will take place in the future, in the last days (see
Appendix for a more complete consideration of verses 1-4)
a.
note: according to the New Testament, the last days (or, the latter days) began with the birth of Christ
and culminate with His Return in glory (note Hebrews 1:1-2)
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
2
but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son… (Hebrews 1:1-2)
b.
in the last days all nations shall flow to (the mountain of the Jehovah’s temple): the Gentile nations,
like a mighty river, are pictured as miraculously flowing upward to the mountain of God

2.
here is a picture of God’s miraculous work of bringing the Gentile nations to faith in Christ and into
the kingdom of God, which is especially the work of the Holy Spirit in this present New Testament
era
In verse 3 we are transported from the time of the prophet Isaiah into the future to see and hear this
miraculous work of God as it takes place among the Gentile nations
Come, let us go up to…the house of the God of Jacob—here is the desire to come to the Lord and to have
others join with them in coming

Do you find in your heart the desire to worship the Lord, to come into His presence, and to meet in
fellowship with His people?
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
Can you identify with the Psalmist when he writes, I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the
house of the Lord. (Psalm 122:1)

Do you understand the difference between entertainment (passively allowing your emotions to be
stimulated) and worship (actively engaging your spirit with God)?

How do you prepare for worship? Do you pray that the Lord will make Himself known to you? …that He
will speak to you through the ministry of His Word? …that you will be a hearer and doer of the Word
instead of entertaining a critical spirit towards the one who brings you the Word?

Do you have the desire to see others come to Christ? Can you identify with the words of the hymn writer:
We long to see Your churches full, so that all the chosen race may, with one
voice and heart and soul, sing Your redeeming grace?
He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths—here is the desire to know the Lord and the
commitment to walk with Him in fellowship and obedience

Can you relate to the prayer of the Psalmist?
With my whole heart have I sought you. Oh, let me not wander from your commandments. (Psalm
119:10)

When you disobey the Lord, does it grieve your heart, as it did the heart of David?
Against you… have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight…9Hide your face from my sins and blot
out all my iniquity. 10Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm
51:4,9-10)
3.
4.
In verse 5, as he witnesses this future scene of the Gentile nations coming to the Lord, Isaiah calls upon his
own people, Israel, Come, let us walk in the light of Jehovah!
a.
Isaiah is calling upon his own people to imitate these new converts in their zeal to know God and serve
Him!
b.
it is ironic that the people of God must be admonished to imitate the godly example of the heathen
converts; and, as we shall see, be exhorted to stop imitating the ungodly example of their pagan
neighbors (verses 6b-8)
Let us walk “in the light of the Lord,” …as do the newly converted
a.
note Acts 13:46,48a,52
b.
…Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, … we now turn to the Gentiles… 48When the Gentiles
heard this they were glad, and honored the word of God … 52And the disciples were filled with joy and
with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:46,48a, 52)
contrast the above passage with the words of our Lord addressed to the church in Ephesus:
… I have this against you: You have left your first love. 5Therefore, remember from where you have
fallen, and repent … (Revelation 2:4-5)
c.
may the words of the hymnwriter be our prayer:
More love to You, O Christ, more love to You!
Hear now the prayer I make on bended knee;
This is my earnest plea, more love, O Christ, to You,
More love to You, more love to You.
(Elizabeth Payson Prentiss)
II. Walk in the Light of the Lord,
…rather than in the Ways of the World (Isaiah 2:5-9)
1.
In verse 6a Israel is described as being filled with the customs of the east—a reference to the pagan customs
and practices imported from the East; the very place Abraham had been called to forsake in order to follow
the Lord into the Promised Land
11

2.
the succeeding verses further describe the conduct, outlook and lifestyle of Judah:
…they practice divination like the Philistines…

Israel had come to look to soothsayers for guidance instead of looking to the Lord their God and His
Word (note Isaiah 8:19)
When men ask you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, ask them, Should not a
people consult their God? (Isaiah 8:19a)

3.
present day T.V. commercials urge viewers to consult a psychic to gain knowledge of the future for
personal gain; as Christians, we are to consult the Word of God to gain knowledge of His will for His
glory and our good
…they clasp hands with the children of foreigners, making covenants with them…

they were forming binding relationships and covenants with those who were strangers to the Lord and
His covenant

by way of example, what does the Lord say concerning the Christian’s choice of a marriage partner?
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers; for what do righteousness and wickedness have in
common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15What harmony is there between Christ
and Belial (i.e.; the devil)? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? (2 Corinthians
6:14-15)
4.
5.
…their land is full of silver and gold, there is no end to their treasures…

at this particular time in its history, Israel was a nation that was experiencing a superabundance of
prosperity, and that prosperity was turning them into materialists who loved the things of this present
world and was suffocating their spiritual life

the New Testament church of Laodicea was a church that experienced a very similar situation:
You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realize that you
are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked…20Here I am! I am standing at the door and knocking…
(Revelation 3:17,20)

have you brought so much “stuff” into your life that there is no longer any room for Christ? Has He been
forced out “the back door” of your life? Must He say to you, Here I am! I am standing at the door and
knocking?
…their land also is full of war horses, neither is there any numbering of their chariots…

these people had come to place their confidence in military might; what is described here is the ancient
version of a vast build up of armaments

like so many, do you place your confidence for security in the nation’s military technology? Do you
believe that our armaments and/or geographic position make us invulnerable to enemy attack? And
with that sense of security, do you concentrate on the present pursuit of wealth and recreation, and
entertain the confidence that the present state of affairs shall continue indefinitely into the future?

We must be careful to take heed to the word the Lord spoke to Edom (a nation that prided itself on and
took confidence in its apparently impregnable position):
…the pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks, who occupy the
heights of the hill. Though you build your nest as high as the eagle’s, from there I will bring you
down, declares Jehovah. (Jeremiah 49:16)
6.
…and their land is full of idols…

rather than destroying the idols of the pagan nations who possessed the land before them, as they had
been commanded to do (Exodus 34:12-14), Israel embraced the pagan religion of their neighbors
12
Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a
snare among you. 13Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah
poles. 14Do not worship any other god, for Jehovah, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. (Exodus
34:12-14)

consider the present spiritual state of our own nation: many today are being lured into the ancient
pagan mysticism of New Age religion and it is becoming the publicly dominant religion of the day

there is also present a much more subtle “Christianized” idolatry, one that accepts a caricature of God
in place of the living God of the Scriptures; as one Christian writer expresses it:
I find myself thinking that every aspect of life should be as easy as using an
automatic teller machine. When it isn’t, I can easily become frustrated. In
addition, there is the subtle assumption that God is somehow committed to
making my life convenient, pleasant, and protected. …Lord, help me not to
construct a theology of convenience that will not allow You to lead me through
this life or call me home to heaven along a road of pain and personal loss.
(David McCasland, POWER, 5/3/92, p.8)
7.
Let us walk in the light of the Lord, …rather than in the ways of the world

To walk (in the light of the Lord) is to order the course of one’s entire life so that
it will be in conformity with that light (of God’s revelation). E.J. Young, Commentary
on Isaiah, Vol. I, p.115

let us make the Psalmist’s testimony our own:
Your word is a lamp for my feet, and a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105)
III. Walk in the Light of the Lord,
…because there is Coming a Day of Accountability (Isaiah 2:9-21)
1.
Verse 12 foretells of the coming Day of the Lord of hosts: a day of reckoning and a day of accountability
2.
It is emphasized that on that Day the Lord of hosts will especially set Himself against the pride and
arrogance of man:
Jehovah of hosts has a day in store for all that is proud and arrogant, for all that is exalted—and they
will be humbled. (verse 12)
The arrogance of man shall be brought low, and the pride of man shall be humbled; and Jehovah alone
shall be exalted on that day (verse 17)
3.
Verses 13-16 describe that Day as a great storm—like a universal tornado or hurricane—that will sweep away
everything that stands upon the earth: like a terrible storm, the Day of the Lord of hosts shall come upon…
…all the cedars of Lebanon that are tall and lofty—trees that were admired for their beauty and refreshing
scent
…all the oaks of Bashan—trees that were looked upon as being strong and impervious to any ordinary storm
of nature
…all the towering mountains—the majestic, snow-capped peaks, perhaps also representative of man’s own
personal aspirations
… all the high hills—the hills rising up from the plains, the foothills of the majestic mountains
… every lofty tower, and every fortified wall—that which man builds to warn him of the approaching
enemy and to defend him from that enemy, shall be utterly useless to defend him against his God on that
day of judgment
… all the merchant ships that sail to Tarshish—ships that carried the imported goods which enabled the
people to experience “the good life;” the storm of God’s coming judgment will capsize man’s great
economic enterprise and end all his endeavors to enjoy a materialistic, godless paradise on earth.
13
4.
This passage further describes the characteristics of that great Day:
5.
a.
there shall be the revelation of the terror of Jehovah and the glory of His majesty (verses 19,21)
b.
on that Day the idols will totally disappear (verse 18); men will throw away to the rodents and to the
bats their idols of silver and their idols of gold (verse 20)
c.
on that Day Jehovah alone shall be exalted (verse 17)
Let us walk in the light of the Lord, …because there is coming a day of accountability in which the Lord shall
reveal Himself as God over all.
So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it; 10for we all
must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each man may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:9-10)
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time (1
Peter 5:6)
Conclusion
1.
The Lord has graciously made available to us His light and life, and with all His heart He desires for us to walk
with Him in holy and loving fellowship.
2.
The Lord has graciously made available to us all the spiritual resources of His grace and His Holy Spirit to enable
us and assist us in walking in His light.
3.
Instead of neglecting—to the eternal peril of our own souls—the great spiritual privileges of knowing the Lord and
living in His light and fellowship, …
4.
…let us be sure to heed the exhortation of Scripture: Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
(At this point the facilitator may distribute the Appendix that pertains to the discussion of
Isaiah 2:1-21.)
Questions on Isaiah 2:1-21
1. In verses 2-4 (printed below) the Lord gives Isaiah a revelation of "the last days." (Note: According to the New
Testament, "the last days" began with the birth of Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2) and culminate with His return in glory.) What
does Isaiah see happening in this period known as "the last days" (i.e.; this period which is the New Testament era?)
In the last days the mountain of Jehovah's temple will be established as chief among the mountains and shall be
exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow to it. (3) Many peoples will come and say, Come, let us go up to the
mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths—for
the law will go out from Zion, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem. (4) He will judge between the nations and
will settle disputes among many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning
hooks. Nation shall not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any more. (Isaiah 2:2-4)
2. As he witnesses this future scene of the Gentile nations coming to the Lord, what does Isaiah exhort Israel to do?
Why is this ironic? See Isaiah 2:5 (printed below)
O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of Jehovah. (Isaiah 2:5)
3. List some of the sins Isaiah accuses Israel of practicing. See Isaiah 2:6 and 8 (printed below)
You have forsaken your people, the house of Jacob, because they are full of the customs of the East and practice
divination like the Philistines. They clasp hands with the children of foreigners, making covenants with them...(8)
And their land is full of idols. They bow down to the work of their own hands, they bow down to what their fingers
have made. (Isaiah 2:6,8)
14
4. What does verse 7 (printed below) tell us about Israel at this time in their history? (Note: The chapters of Isaiah do
not follow a chronological sequence; some chapters, such as chapter two, describe the state of Israel prior to the
Lord's judgment, other chapters describe their plight in the days of His righteous judgment.)
Their land is full of silver and gold, there is no end to their treasures. Their land also is full of war horses, neither
is there any numbering of their chariots. (Isaiah 2:7)
5. In verses 10-21 (printed below) Isaiah describes the coming Day of the Lord. What are some of the characteristics of
that great day? Note especially verses 11-12 and 17-18.
Go among the rocks, and hide yourself in the dust, from the terror of Jehovah and from the glory of his majesty.
(11) The arrogant looks of man will be brought low, and the lofty pride of men will be humbled, and Jehovah alone
will be exalted on that day. (12) Jehovah of hosts has a day in store for all that is proud and arrogant, for all that
is exalted—and they will be humbled. (13) Jehovah of hosts has a day in store for all the cedars of Lebanon that
are tall and lofty, and for all the oaks of Bashan; (14) for all the towering mountains, and all the high hills; (15) for
every lofty tower, and every fortified wall; (16) for all the merchant ships that sail to Tarshish, and every stately
vessel. (17) The arrogance of man shall be brought low, and the pride of man shall be humbled; and Jehovah alone
shall be exalted on that day—(18) and the idols will totally disappear. (19) Men will flee to the caves in the rocks
and to the holes in the ground from the terror of Jehovah and from the glory of his majesty, when he rises to
mightily shake the earth. (20) On that day men will throw away to the rodents and to the bats their idols of silver
and their idols of gold that they made to worship, (21) in order to flee to the caverns in the rocks and to the
overhanging crags from the terror of Jehovah and from the glory of his majesty, when he rises to mightily shake
the earth. (Isaiah 2:10-21)
6. Isaiah chapter two alerts us to the sad fact that those who possess the great religious privilege of knowing the Lord
and having access to His presence, are prone to _______ that privilege and depart from Him. Fill in the blank
7. Complete the sentences listed below that describe the scene Isaiah saw in the revelation recorded in verses 1-4.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The Gentile nations, like a mighty river, are miraculously flowing upward to ___.
What is being portrayed here is God’s miraculous work of bringing the Gentile nations to faith in Christ
and a place in ___.
These ___ have the desire to come to the Lord and a willingness to walk with Him in fellowship and
obedience.
It is ironic that the Old Testament people of God must be exhorted to imitate the godly example of
these ___ and stop imitating the ungodly example of their pagan neighbors.
1.
2.
3.
4.
the kingdom of God
Gentile converts
the mountain of God
Gentile nations
8. Match the sins of Old Testament Israel with their present day counterparts. counterparts.
a.
b.
c.
Present day Christians may be tempted to consult with psychics and astrological charts instead of
looking for guidance in God’s Word, the Bible. ___
Present day Christians may be tempted to marry unbelieving spouses. ___
Present day Christians may be tempted to trust in their nation’s military power and armaments for their
security. ___
1. Israel practiced divination.
2. Israel possessed a multitude of horses and chariots.
3. Israel made covenants with foreigners.
9. Isaiah 2:13-16 describes the Day of the Lord’s judgment as a great _______ that shall sweep away everything that
stands upon the earth and everything that is exalted as a rival to the Lord. Fill in the blank.
10. Which of the following statements accurately describe the characteristics of the Day of the Lord as it is revealed in
Isaiah 2:10-21?
a.
b.
c.
On that day all human pride and arrogance will be brought down and man will be humbled before the
Lord of hosts.
On that day the people of God will be delivered from their exile and return to the land of Israel.
On that day the glory of the Lord will be revealed and the Lord alone will be exalted.
15
WHAT TO DO IN A CRISIS
ISAIAH 7:1-25
7 When Ahaz, son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Syria and Pekah, son of Remaliah,
the king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to wage war against it—but they could not conquer it. 2But then the house
of David received the report, “Syria is in alliance with Ephraim!” King Ahaz’s heart trembled—as did the heart of
his people—like the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind. 3Then Jehovah said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and your
son Shear-Jashub, to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the upper pool, on the road to the Washerman’s
Field. 4Say to him, ‘Pay attention and keep calm. Do not be afraid. Do not become fainthearted because of these
two smoking stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and that of the son of Remaliah.
5
Do not become fainthearted because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah have planned evil against you, saying,
6
Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.
7
This is what the Lord Jehovah says, Their plan will not be established, neither will it be accomplished—8because
the head of Syria is only Damascus, and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Furthermore, within sixty-five years
Ephraim will be too shattered to any longer be a people. 9The head of Ephraim is only Samaria, and the head of
Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’”
10
Again Jehovah spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11“Ask for a sign from Jehovah your God. Ask for a sign to be given
either in the depths below or in the heights above.” 12But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask for a sign; I will not test
Jehovah.” 13Then Isaiah said, “Now listen, O house of David! Is it too trivial a thing for you to test the patience of
men, so you test the patience of my God as well? 14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look! A virgin will
become pregnant and give birth to a son, and she will name him ‘Immanuel.’ 15He will eat curds and honey when he
knows enough to reject what is evil and choose what is good; 16because, before the boy knows enough to reject
what is evil and choose what is good, the land of the two kings whom you dread will be made desolate.
17
But Jehovah will bring upon you and upon your people, and upon your father’s house, a time unlike any since
Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring upon you the king of Assyria. 18On that day Jehovah will whistle for
the flies from the most distant part of the rivers of Egypt and for the bees that are in the land of Assyria. 19They
will come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices in the rocks, and in all the thorny bushes, and at all the
watering holes. 20On that day the Lord will use a razor that he has hired from the region beyond the Euphrates
River—the king of Assyria—to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to cut off your beard also. 21On that
day a man will keep alive a young cow and two goats; 22but because of the abundance of milk they will produce, he
will eat curds. Everyone who is left in the land will eat curds and honey. 23On that day, in every place where there
once were a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels of silver, there will only be briers and thorns.24Men will only
venture there armed with bow and arrow, because the land will be covered with briers and thorns. 25As for all the
hills once cultivated with the hoe, you will no longer go there for fear of the briers and thorns—they will become
places where cattle are turned loose and places for sheep to trample.”
THEME: When confronted with a trial or crisis, we are tempted to panic, or even resort to godless measures, instead of
looking to the Lord our God.
PURPOSE: To exhort the students to heed the counsel of Scripture found in Isaiah 7 when we are confronted with a
crisis, so that we may enjoy God’s provision and blessing.
OUTLINE: I. Place Your Confidence in the Lord (Isaiah 7:1-9)
II. Take Comfort from the “Sign” the Lord has Given You (Isaiah 7:10-16)
III. Do Not Resort to Your Own Devices (Isaiah 7:17-25)
Introduction
1.
“In a moment of disappointment, fear, and anger, I forgot God,” so writes Woody Bailey.
2.
Woody faced a crisis in his life:
I stood on the steps of the Chamber of Commerce of Holdrege, Nebraska, one overcast
summer day in 1973.
Maybe the sun was shining behind the gloomy clouds, but I didn’t see it. Certainly
there was no sunshine in my soul just then. I had been turned down for a position
that was all but mine a few hours before.
16
A former colleague whom I trusted to provide me a good reference, and to clinch the
job I so desperately needed, had resorted to jealousy. He cheated me out of something
I sorely needed at the time.
I felt squeezed by a suffocating mixture of disappointment, despair, and anger. For
weeks afterward I merely existed, feeling withered and spiritless.
With no paycheck in view, desperation swelled to panic. As days went by, I learned
firsthand what “going to pieces” meant.
In a moment of disappointment, fear, and anger, …I panicked and, even as a Christian,
forgot God.
But then God nudged me, …God seemed to say, “Trust Me. That is all—simply trust.”
(POWER, 7/14/91, pp.4-5)
3.
When confronted with a trial or crisis, we do tend to panic, and are even tempted to resort to godless measures,
instead of trusting in the Lord our God.

4.
In the passage of Scripture presently before us we find king Ahaz and the people of Judah faced with just
such a situation; …and we find them panicking, and even resorting to godless measures.
But in order that we may enjoy God’s provision and blessing, let us heed the counsel of Scripture found here in
Isaiah chapter seven whenever we are confronted with a trial or find ourselves in the midst of a crisis.
I. Place Your Confidence in the Lord (Isaiah 7:1-9)
1.
In the days when Ahaz was king of Judah, the nation of Syria (under king Rezin) began to wage war against the
land of Judah; …in the course of time, the nation of Israel (under Pekah) also began to wage their own war
against Judah
a.
thus the nation of Judah found herself under attack from two separate enemies: Syria, attacking from the
northeast; and Israel, attacking from the north (2 Chronicles 28:1,5-6,8)
Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike
David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of Jehovah. … 5Therefore Jehovah his God
handed him over to the king of Syria. The Syrians defeated him and took many of his people as
prisoners and brought them to Damascus. He was also given into the hands of the king of Israel, who
inflicted heavy casualties on him. 6In one day, Pekah son of Remaliah killed a hundred and twenty
thousand soldiers in Judah—because Judah had forsaken Jehovah, the God of their fathers. … 8The
Israelites took captive from their kinsmen two hundred thousand wives, sons and daughters. They also
took a great deal of plunder, which they carried back to Samaria. (2 Chronicles 28:1,5-6,8)
b.
but despite their attacks, these two individual enemies could not prevail against Judah, they were unable
to capture Jerusalem
2.
But now (as Isaiah 7:2) reports, word comes that these two enemy nations, Syria and Israel, have joined forces
against Judah—this now produces a real crisis in the life of the nation for the people and for king Ahaz
3.
This news causes the heart of king Ahaz and the hearts of the people to tremble like the trees of the forest
are shaken by the wind

4.
Have you ever had such an experience? Everything seems to be going wrong at the same time. Everyone
seems to be against you. You are confident that you can cope with one problem at a time; but multiple
problems prove to be overwhelming: sometimes they threaten to send you into despair, sometimes they
can cause you to tremble in fear, sometimes they can throw you into a panic
Then (in the midst of this crisis), the Lord sent Isaiah to king Ahaz with this message (7:4-9):
a.
the Lord instructs Ahaz to get hold of himself: Pay attention and keep calm.(cp. Psalm 46:10a,11); Do not
be afraid. Do not become fainthearted (cp. John 14:27b)
Be still, and know that I am God; … 11Jehovah of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
(Psalm 46:10a, 11)
Do not let your heart be troubled; neither let it be fearful. (John 14:27b)
17

b.
when we find ourselves in the midst of such circumstances, the Lord calls upon us to stop and to
acknowledge the fact that He is God: He is in control; He will care for us and provide for us as our
faithful covenant God; …we must place our confidence in Him, and even ask Him for the grace to do
so
the Lord informs Ahaz that Syria and Israel are enemies without strength: they are two pieces of charred
wood (two smoking stubs of firewood); note Matthew 28:18,20b
Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, … And
surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:18,20b)

c.
Do we take seriously these words of our Lord Jesus Christ? Do we really believe that they apply to
our lives and our situations today? They do! We are to trust the Lord Jesus, and as we do so we will
experience His presence and power operating on our behalf
the Lord assures Ahaz that Syria and Israel are enemies whose purpose shall fail: Syria, Ephraim, and the
son of Remaliah have planned evil against you, saying, 6Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and
divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it. 7This is what the Lord Jehovah
says, Their plan will not be established, neither will it be accomplished

Let us note and take to heart such passages as the following:
Jehovah is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? … 2When evil men advance against me to
devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, even then will I be confident. (Psalm
27:1-2)
I know the plans I have for you, declares Jehovah, plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
d.
then the Lord commands Ahaz to place his confidence in Him (He states it in negative terms because He
knew Ahaz’ heart): If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.

5.
i.e.; if you trust in the Lord—but only if you trust in the Lord—He will uphold you in the midst of your
trial and cause you to grow spiritually stronger by means of your trial
In the hour of trial and when we face a crisis, …let us place our confidence in the Lord
I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where does my help come? 2My help comes from Jehovah, the Maker of
heaven and earth. 3He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; …(Psalm 121:13)
When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. (Psalm 56:3)
II. Take Comfort from the “Sign” the Lord has Given You (Isaiah 7:10-16)
1.
The Lord not only calls upon Ahaz and Judah to place their confidence in Him, He graciously condescends to
help them to believe
2.
The Lord is willing to put Himself at their disposal: in order to strengthen their confidence in Him, the Lord
offers to provide Ahaz with a sign
Ahaz is invited to Ask for a sign from Jehovah your God. Ask for a sign to be given either in the depths
below or in the heights above (verse 11)
3.
But Ahaz spurns the Lord’s gracious offer, using the guise of humility (verse 12) to conceal his determination
to go his own way and seek his own “salvation” (see below under heading III)

Do you ever do the same with God?

Do you outwardly pay lip service to the counsel the Lord provides (from His Word, from a Christian
friend, from your pastor), while inwardly you plan your own course of action?
18

Outwardly, by your words and manner, do you express a humble willingness to comply with the Lord’s
directive, but in your heart are you resolutely determined to do what seems to you to be the best or
easiest or safest or most pleasing course of action?

We must not pretend with God: He knows what is in our hearts and on our minds as well as what is
expressed by our lips

We must be honest with the Lord: if you are not going to trust Him, be honest enough to tell Him so;
that very honesty may serve to awaken you to the seriousness and the foolishness and the sinfulness of
what you are contemplating, namely, spurning God’s counsel in order to pursue your own course of
action (note Proverbs 14:12)
There is a way that seems right to a man; but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs 14:12)
4.
Since Ahaz refuses to ask for a sign, the Lord Almighty will Himself give the people a sign:
a.
as Isaiah stands before Ahaz, he receives a vision from God:
Look! A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and she will name him “Immanuel (which
means, “God with us”)” (verse 14)

i.e.; by virtue of a miraculous birth, God Himself will come to His people to be present with them
for their salvation

note the change from the present tense to the future: Ahaz was invited to ask for a sign in the
height or the depth that would be performed in his immediate presence; …but when he refuses to
do so, the Lord gives a sign—but it is one which shall be fulfilled in the future; …i.e.; the Lord will
deliver His people, but unbelieving Ahaz will not share in that deliverance
b. before the child is old enough and mature enough to reject what is evil and choose what is good, the land
of Judah’s two enemies will be conquered (verse 16)

5.
Isaiah has been given a look into the future and has been made to see the birth of the Messiah;
…now he takes the period of the child’s infancy, from the time of his birth up to the time when he
is old enough to distinguish between right and wrong (approximately 2-5 years), and declares that
within that measure of time Judah will be delivered from her two present enemies
In the hour of trial and when we face a crisis, …let us take comfort from the “sign” the Lord has given us
a.
look back in history to the time when God fulfilled that sign first prophesied by Isaiah: the birth of our
Lord Jesus Christ, His cross, His resurrection, His ascension, and His testimony:
I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation. But
have courage; I have conquered the world. (John 16:33)
b.
look to your own past and recall the “signs” or acts of protection, deliverance, and provision the Lord
has provided for you
c.
look to your ever present Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, and take comfort from His promise:
… he himself has said, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5b)
III. Do Not Resort to Your Own Devices (Isaiah 7:17-25)
1.
As we have seen, Ahaz spurned God’s gracious invitation to request a sign (verse 12)
2.
Ahaz employed the guise of humility to conceal his determination to go his own way and seek his own
“salvation” by resorting to godless measures

as 2 Kings 16:7-8 indicate, Ahaz had resolved to put his trust in the mighty nation of Assyria, rather
than in the Lord Almighty
Ahaz sent messengers to say to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, “I am your servant and vassal. Come
up and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria and of the king of Israel, who are attacking
19
me.” 8And Ahaz took the silver and gold found in the temple of Jehovah and in the treasuries of
the royal palace and sent it as a gift to the king of Assyria. (2 Kings 16:7-8)
3.
Assyria did, indeed, come to his “rescue:”

4.
5.
sure enough, within a period of 2-5 years the nation of Judah was delivered from her two present
enemies (Syria and Israel);…they both were defeated by the mighty armies of Assyria
But there is more to the story:
a.
the mighty Assyrian “redeemer” did not stop with the conquest of Syria and Israel, it was also
determined to control Judah
b.
as the Assyrians proceeded to subject Judah under their control, the empire of Egypt to the south of
Judah felt threatened
c.
consequently, the Egyptians made their advance to protect their own sovereignty at the expense of
Judah’s freedom and prosperity
So it happened just as the Lord foretold through the prophet Isaiah (verses 17-25):
a.
the Lord brought upon the land of Judah days of trouble unlike any she had seen since the time of the
civil war when the northern tribes of Israel broke away from the southern tribes of Judah (verse 17)

like “flies” (representing the nation of Egypt with its fly-infested delta land) and “bees”
(representing the land of Assyria with hills filled with honey bees), these two great powers would
“settle” in the land of Judah, controlling Judah for their own purposes (verses 18-19)

the nation of Judah would suffer humiliation and shame at the hands of a foreign power: Assyria,
viewed as a sharp razor, hired by the Lord, would shave the nation of Judah “bald,” the utmost
form of humiliation (verse 20)

the consequence of the foreign invaders is that the once prosperous land would become utterly
unprofitable (verse 23), the once civilized land would be reduced to a dangerous wilderness (verse
24), and the once cultivated land would become inaccessible to man (verse 25); …the reference
to briars and thorns indicates that the nation and the land are subjected to the curse of God (cp.
Genesis 3:17-18)
And to Adam he said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of
the tree, the one of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it; cursed is the
ground on account of you; by toil shall you eat the produce of it all the days of your life. 18Both
thorns and thistles shall it produce for you; …. (Genesis 3:17-18)
b.
…and all this trouble was brought upon the nation by the very “redeemer” Ahaz had confidently looked
to for deliverance when he should have been looking to the Lord (note 2 Chronicles 28:20)
Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came to him, but he gave him trouble instead of help. (2 Chronicles
28:20)

c.
6.
Can you look back upon such an occasion in your own life, when you forsook the Lord’s counsel
and had to reap the bitter consequences? …if so, may the Lord give us the grace and wisdom to
avoid repeating the same pattern again
but, as verses 21-22 indicate, in the midst of the tribulation coming upon the nation of Judah, the Lord
shall abundantly provide for those who do trust in Him:

the nation is reduced from an agricultural land to a pastoral land, and even the pastoral activity
will be minimal: one young cow and two sheep (verse 21)

but those who are left in the land (i.e., the remnant, those who belong to the Lord and trust in
Him as their Savior), shall experience the abundant provision and blessing of the Lord: even in
adversity they shall experience His care and “feast” with Him on curds and honey (verse 22)
In the hour of trial and when we face a crisis, …let us be careful not to resort to our own devices, but to
look to the Lord our God
20
This is what Jehovah says, Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his
strength and whose heart turns away from Jehovah. 6He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he
will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt
land where no one lives. 7But blessed is the man who trusts in Jehovah, whose confidence is in him.
8
He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear
when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails
to bear fruit. (Jeremiah 17:5-8)
Conclusion
1.
When confronted with a trial or crisis, we do tend to panic and are even tempted to resort to godless measures.
2.
But instead of yielding to such temptations, let us pay heed to the counsel of the Lord: If you do not stand firm
in your faith, you will not stand at all—stated in positive terms: If you will believe, you surely shall be established

the Lord shall surely uphold us in the hour of trial and cause us to grow spiritually strong and fruitful unto His
glory.
Questions on Isaiah 7:1-25
1. What crisis did Judah face in the days of King Ahaz? See Isaiah 7:1-2 (printed below)
When Ahaz, son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Syria and Pekah, son of Remaliah,
the king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to wage war against it—but they could not conquer it. (2) But then the
house of David received the report, Syria is in alliance with Ephraim! King Ahaz's heart trembled—as did the heart
of his people—like the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind. (Isaiah 7:1-2)
2. What message does the Lord give Isaiah to deliver to King Ahaz and the nation as they face this crisis? See Isaiah 7:36 (printed below)
Then Jehovah said to Isaiah, Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub, to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of
the upper pool, on the road to the Washerman's Field. (4) Say to him, Pay attention and keep calm. Do not be
afraid. Do not become fainthearted because of these two smoking stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger
of Rezin and Syria and that of the son of Remaliah. (5) Do not become fainthearted because Syria, Ephraim, and
the son of Remaliah have planned evil against you, saying, (6) Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it
among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it. (Isaiah 7:3-6)
3. What concluding word of counsel and warning does the Lord give King Ahaz? See Isaiah 7:9b (printed below)
If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all. (Isaiah 7:9b)
4. What does the Lord invite King Ahaz to do (see verses 10-11 printed below?) How does Ahaz respond (see verse 12
printed below?) What was the real reason Ahaz declined the Lord's offer? See 2 Kings 16:7-8 (printed below)
Again Jehovah spoke to Ahaz, saying, (11) Ask for a sign from Jehovah your God. Ask for a sign to be given either
in the depths below or in the heights above. (Isaiah 7:10-11)
But Ahaz replied, I will not ask for a sign; I will not test Jehovah. (Isaiah 7:12)
Ahaz sent messengers to say to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, I am your servant and vassal. Come up and save me
out of the hand of the king of Syria and of the king of Israel, who are attacking me. (8) And Ahaz took the silver
and gold found in the temple of Jehovah and in the treasuries of the royal palace and sent it as a gift to the king
of Assyria. (2 Kings 16:7-8)
21
5. What does the Lord tell Ahaz will be the result of his seeking help from Assyria rather than from the Lord his God?
See Isaiah 7:17-19 (printed below) Note: The "flies" are a reference to the armies of Egypt and the "bees" are a
reference to the armies of Assyria.
But Jehovah will bring upon you and upon your people, and upon your father's house, a time unlike any since Ephraim
broke away from Judah—he will bring upon you the king of Assyria. (18) On that day Jehovah will whistle for the
flies from the most distant part of the rivers of Egypt and for the bees that are in the land of Assyria. (19) They
will come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices in the rocks, and in all the thorny bushes, and at all the
watering holes. (Isaiah 7:17-19)
6. What was the initial reaction of King Ahaz and the nation of Judah to the crisis they faced?
a.
b.
c.
They trembled with fear like the trees of the forest shaken by the wind.
They exhibited a firm and unshakable confidence in the Lord.
They calmly analyzed the problem and followed the most reasonable course of action.
7. Complete the sentences listed below that describe the Lord’s message to Ahaz in his time of crisis.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The first thing the Lord tells Ahaz is that he must ___.
The Lord then assures Ahaz that his enemies shall ___ against him.
But the Lord warns Ahaz that if he does not trust in the Lord he will ___.
The Lord shows His willingness to encourage Ahaz by allowing him to ___.
1.
2.
3.
4.
request a sign
calm down
not stand
not prevail
8. Why does Ahaz reject the Lord’s offer to give him a miraculous sign?
a.
b.
c.
He feels that he is unworthy to impose upon the Lord.
He does not really believe that the Lord is able to perform a sign.
He has decided to seek his own solution to the crisis.
9. By resorting to his own ingenuity Ahaz was able to deliver his nation from the crisis they faced and thereby
demonstrated that he did not need the Lord’s divine provisions, although he was grateful to know they were graciously
made available to him. True or False
10. Match the lessons to be learned from this incident about how to face a crisis with the passages of Scripture that
reinforce those lessons.
a.
b.
c.
When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. (Psalm 56:3) ___
I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate
on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. (Psalm 77:11-12) ___
This is what Jehovah says, Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength
and whose heart turns away from Jehovah. (Jeremiah 17:5) ___
1. We must not resort to our own devices.
2. We must place our confidence in the Lord.
3. We must take comfort from the Lord’s past acts.
22
LESSON THREE : I SAIAH 8:16-9:7 AND I SAIAH 11:1-12:6
The student should prepare for his study by asking the Holy Spirit to enlighte n his mind and open his heart to
receive not only the teaching of Scripture but Christ Himself as He is presented in the Scriptures.
Assignments:
1. Bible Study: The student will explore 2 portions of Isaiah, guided by an expositional commentary on the text.
The student will then answer the questions found at the end of the expository notes.
2. Extra Reading: For Bachelor's credit, the student should do at least 100 pages of additional reading (see " B.
Reading Resources" listed in the Syllabus for suggested reading material.) For Master's credit, the student
should do at least 200 pages of additional reading. (In preparing his Book Report, the student should follow the
instructions given in Guidelines for Writing a Book Report, provided by the facilitator.)
Note: All Scripture texts will appear in Comic Sans MS font; all extended quotations from other authors will
appear in Courier font.
WAIT UPON THE LORD
ISAIAH 8:16-9:7
8 16Bind up the Testimony, and seal the Law among my disciples! 17I will wait for Jehovah, who is hiding his face
from the house of Jacob, I will look to him. 18Look! I and the children whom Jehovah has given me are given as signs
and wonders to Israel from Jehovah of hosts, the One who dwells on Mount Zion. 19When men ask you to consult
mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter; ask them, Should not a people consult their God? Why consult the
dead on behalf of the living? 20Instruct them to ask you to look to the Law and to the Testimony! If they do not
make this request, there will be no light of dawn for them. 21They will wander through the land distressed and
hungry—and when they are famished, they will become enraged, and looking upward, they will curse their King and
their God. 22Then they will look toward the earth, but they shall see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom,
and they will be driven into utter darkness.
9 Nevertheless, in the future there will be no gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he treated the
land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt; but in the future he will bring glory to the way towards
the sea, the region along the Jordan River—Galilee of the Gentiles. 2The people who walked in darkness have seen a
great light; the light has dawned upon those living in the land of the shadow of death. 3You will enlarge the nation
and increase their joy. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when they
divide the plunder—4because, just as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you will shatter the yoke that burdened them,
the wooden bar stretched across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 5Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every cloak rolled in blood will be consigned to the flames, they will be fuel for the fire—6because a child has
been born for us, a son has been given to us, and the government will rest upon his shoulders. He will be called,
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7There will be no end to the expansion of
his rule and of peace. He will sit upon the throne of David and reign over his kingdom, establishing it and upholding
it by means of justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will
accomplish this.
THEME: When we are called upon to endure dark days or hard trials, we find it to be extremely difficult to wait upon
the Lord and hope in Him.
PURPOSE: To urge the students to wait upon the Lord, because it is well worth it to do so.
OUTLINE: I. Wait Upon the Lord,
…Because He will Replace the Trial with Blessing (Isaiah 8:22b-9:5)
II. Wait Upon the Lord,
…Because He will Provide the Savior (Isaiah 9:6-7a)
III. Wait Upon the Lord,
…Because He will Zealously Keep His Word (Isaiah 9:7b)
23
Introduction
1.
Joy Carroll writes about her experience with waiting:
Living in a hurry-up world of fast-food restaurants, drive-through banking and sameday postal delivery, we go rushing through life. Waiting seems to be a word deleted
from our vocabularies. Yet there are times when we are forced to endure periods of
waiting. There seems to be no way of avoiding them.
As a youngster, I was often told to wait. “May I have a piece of cake now?” “In a
minute.” “Is it time for the parade?” “In a couple of days.” “When will Christmas be
here?” “In three more weeks.” Those minutes, days, and weeks of waiting were endless
times of frustration that tested my patience.
But they also set the stage for acts to follow in my adult life. For I have found that
I am still frequently required to wait. It isn’t always just minutes, two days, or
three weeks. Sometimes it seems I’m asked to wait for aeons of time.
2.
Joy goes on to recount some of those times of waiting in her adult life:

Over two decades ago I had major surgery that was life-threatening. After many
days I was released from the hospital to return home to my young family. I had my
doctor’s assurance that I was on my way to complete recovery. (But, as Joy goes on to
relate, recuperation did not come as quickly as she had hoped. There needed to be a time of waiting.)

When one of three children became a young adult, she strayed from her Christian
upbringing. Leaving our home, she went to live with a twice-divorced man of
questionable morals. My heart seemed close to breaking as I learned of her living
conditions and of the emotional turmoil she was struggling through. The days and
nights of endless waiting, of wondering where she was living and if she was safe,
were exhausting.

Sometimes our waiting intervals do not end in the way we expect. Several years
after my daughter’s return, another prodigal left home. My husband walked away
from our marriage and entered into an adulterous affair. Many questions surfaced
during those agonizing days, but the answer for which I waited failed to come. I
petitioned God to heal our marriage, but this waiting period ended in divorce.
Yet, during those frustrating and sometimes lonely days of waiting, I felt God’s
touch and in my heart I realized that I was taking some giant steps. My waiting
period had not been a failure, but instead had become a time of closer communion
with my Savior. (POWER, 3/17/91, pp.4-6)
3.
Can you identify with Joy? Right now are you experiencing a time of waiting upon the Lord? Waiting for direction
for your life? Waiting for a job? Waiting for a Christian marriage partner?
4.
During one of the times of waiting in her life, Joy recalls a rather routine incident that conveyed to her a great
deal of spiritual significance:
5.
One day as I hung clothes on the line, my spirits as damp and drooping as the
garments, I realized I was humming a song. Soon, I was singing words to the music—
words about sunshine in the morning and of being touched by God’s wonderful grace. As
I continued singing the little chorus God had given me, I realized that joy was
bubbling within the heart that I had believed too broken to contain such a precious
treasure.
In the passage of Isaiah presently before us, the Lord speaks to us about waiting, and He also speaks about
sunshine in the morning for those who wait upon Him.
6.
When we are called upon to endure “dark days” or hard times, we find it extremely difficult to wait upon the Lord
and to hope in Him.
7.
Although it is extremely difficult, nevertheless, it is worth waiting for the Lord and hoping in Him—even in the
darkest of times. This is the message conveyed to us in the present passage of Isaiah.
I. Wait Upon the Lord,
…Because He will Replace the Trial with Blessing (Isaiah 8:22b-9:5)
1.
In Isaiah 8:20-22, the Lord, through Isaiah the prophet, speaks of the dark days of trouble that were coming
upon the nation because of their rejection of His law
24
Instruct them to ask you to look to the Law and to the Testimony! If they do not make this request, there
will be no light of dawn for them. 21They will wander through the land distressed and hungry—and when
they are famished, they will become enraged, and looking upward, they will curse their King and their God.
22
Then they will look toward the earth, but they shall see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and
they will be driven into utter darkness.
2.
Even though Isaiah had personally remained faithful to the Lord, nevertheless—because he was living in the
midst of this nation—he, too, would encounter those dark days

there are occasions when “the innocent” suffer along with the guilty: what is ordained as a punishment
for the latter, may also be employed by God as a time of proving and purifying the former (note 1 Peter
1:6-7)
… now for a little while, since it is necessary, you have been brought to grief by all kinds of trials.
7
This has happened so that the genuineness of your faith—being of greater value than gold which
perishes—having been tested by fire, may be verified, resulting in praise and glory and honor at the
revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

3.
if you should encounter “dark days,” but can honestly say with the apostle Paul, “I know nothing against
myself” (1 Corinthians 4:4), consider the plight of Isaiah, and join with him in making the testimony of
Isaiah 8:17 (see below)—remembering that “your Jesus can (and will) repay from His own fullness all He
takes away”
As Isaiah sees those “dark days” approaching, he gives this testimony:
I will wait for Jehovah, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob; I will look to him (8:17)
4.
…and the Lord gives this promise to those who wait for Him and continue to hope in Him, even in the midst of
the darkest times: there will be no gloom for those who were in distress (9:1)
5.
Isaiah is standing among the people who are dwelling in thick darkness when suddenly he is transported into
the future and made to see the darkness dispelled by a great light:
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; the light has dawned upon those living in the
land of the shadow of death. (Isaiah 9:2)
a.
Isaiah explains that In the past he treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt

i.e.; at the time of the Assyrian invasion, these two northern tribes of Israel were the first to
succumb to the attacks and be subjected to deportation by the enemy armies (note 2 Kings 15:29)
In the time of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and took … Gilead and
Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and deported the people to Assyria. (2 Kings 15:29)
b.
… but in the future he will bring glory to the way towards the sea, the region along the Jordan River—
Galilee of the Gentiles. (Isaiah 9:1b)

this prophecy finds its fulfillment in the fact that Jesus the Messiah made this region to be His home
(being raised in the village of Nazareth) and the base for His early ministry, as well as the place
where He first proclaimed the good news of the gospel (note Matthew 4:12-17)
When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. 13Leaving Nazareth,
he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the sea in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—14to
fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah, 15The land of Zebulun and the land of
Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—16the people living in
darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has
dawned. 17From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
(Matthew 4:12-17)
6.
Having been granted the privilege of seeing the blessing that the Lord has in store for His people, Isaiah now
lifts up praise to the Lord for what he has seen:
25
You will enlarge the nation… (verse 3a)

the nation that was conquered and led away into captivity is miraculously revived and multiplied

the nation, not so much as a political and geographical entity, but as the people of God is what is
primarily in view; this prophecy seems to especially find fulfillment in such passages as Colossians 1:5-6
… the gospel 6that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as
it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.
(Colossians 1:5-6)
…. and increase their joy. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men
rejoice when they divide the plunder (verse 3b)

their joy is compared to that experienced by men when they gather in the harvest or when they divide
the spoil of battle

but this joy is far superior to all such earthly joys, it transcends all earthly joy, it is a joy in the Lord:
they will rejoice before you (Jehovah) (cp. Psalm 43:3-4)
O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to your holy hill, and to
your tabernacles. 4Then I will go to the altar of God, to God who is my all-surpassing joy; and with the
harp I will praise you, O God, my God. (Psalm 43:3-4)
…because, just as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you will shatter the yoke that burdened them, the
wooden bar stretched across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 5Every warrior’s boot used
in battle and every cloak rolled in blood will be consigned to the flames, they will be fuel for the
fire (verses 4-5)

the future deliverance from the oppression of the enemy is compared to the great deliverance the Lord
provided for His people in the day when He used Gideon to win a great victory over the Midianites who
held Israel in terrible subjection in the days of the judges (Judges 7)

but this future deliverance will prove to be far greater, because it will be the Messiah’s victory over the
devil and over His people’s enslavement to sin (note Colossians 2:13-15)
When you were dead in your sins …God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14having
canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he
took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a
public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. (Colossians 2:13-15)
7.
Let us wait upon the Lord our God, …because He will replace trial with blessing
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave it to your God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: your God does undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
(Katarina von Schlegel)
Satisfy us in the morning with your lovingkindness, so that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. (Psalm
90:14-15)
II. Wait Upon the Lord,
…Because He will Provide the Savior (Isaiah 9:6-7a)
26
1.
Isaiah is made to see the coming of the divine Savior who shall rule as the benevolent King over God’s people
(verses 6-7)
…a child has been born for us, a son has been given to us, and the government will rest upon his
shoulders.…, he will sit upon the throne of David
a.
whereas David ruled over an earthly kingdom which was an experience of the kingdom of heaven and
also a type (or living model) of that kingdom (note 1 Chronicles 28:5); …
David could describe himself as sitting on the throne of the kingdom of Jehovah over Israel. (1
Chronicles 28:5)
b.
…the Lord Jesus Christ rules over the kingdom of heaven itself, which kingdom shall finally be revealed
in the fullness of divine glory
…God the Father raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly
realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not
only in the present age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1:20-21)
when the seventh angel shall sound his trumpet, heralding the consummation of all things, then shall
The kingdom of the world … become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign
forever and ever. (Revelation 11:15)
2.
Isaiah 9:7 describes the character of the Savior’s reign
There will be no end to the expansion of his rule and of peace

described here is the absolute rule of the Lord Jesus Christ, a rule that brings with it an unlimited
measure of peace for His people
He will sit upon the throne of David, … establishing it and upholding it by means of justice and
righteousness from that time on and forever.

the reign of the Lord over His kingdom and over His people shall be characterized by absolute justice
and divine righteousness

we may compare this present word of prophecy with the description of the kingdom of God found in
Romans 14:17
…the kingdom of God consists of …righteousness and peace and joy by the Holy Spirit. (Romans
14:17)
3.
Indeed, it is at the Last Day that the Lord Jesus Christ shall be revealed in all of His divine glory and shall
exercise His benevolent reign over His people and on their behalf in all of its glorious fullness, …as Christians
we are instructed to earnestly await that great and eternal day (Philippians 3:20)
… our citizenship is in heaven; and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ
(Philippians 3:20)
4.
However, at this present time our Lord Jesus Christ is faithful to administer His gracious reign

in the words of the Westminster Shorter Catechism,
Christ executes the office of a king, …in ruling and defending us, and in
restraining and conquering all his and our enemies. (Answer to Question #26)

note, by way of example, the testimony of the apostle Paul:
But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength…. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.
18
The Lord will rescue me out of every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To
him be glory forever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:17-18)

note, too, the blessing that the Lord instructs to be pronounced upon His people:
27
Jehovah bless you and keep you; 25Jehovah make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26
Jehovah turn his face towards you and give you peace. 27So shall they put my name on the children
of Israel, and I will bless them. (Numbers 6:24-27)
5.
Let us wait upon the Lord our God; …because He will provide the Savior to minister to us in our need,
exercising His gracious reign over us and on our behalf
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me… And
surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18,20)
III. Wait Upon the Lord,
…Because He will Zealously Keep His Word (Isaiah 9:7b)
1.
This present passage concludes with the divine declaration, The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will accomplish
this (verse 7b)
2.
This closing declaration tells us that all of what has been promised and foretold will be fulfilled because of
two things:
a.
the Lord has a burning zeal to take care of His people and complete the good work of grace He has
begun in them (note Philippians 1:6)
…he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 1:6)
b.
the Lord, as the Almighty God—the Lord of hosts—has the power to take care of His people and fulfill
all of His promises (note Jeremiah 32:17)
Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and
outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for you. (Jeremiah 32:17)
3.
Let us wait upon the Lord our God; …knowing that He will zealously kept His word

the Lord is zealous with a holy and divine zeal for His people to be preserved and finally brought into
the fullness of His great redemption (note again 2 Timothy 4:17-18)
…the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength…. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18The
Lord will rescue me out of every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him
be glory forever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:17-18)
Conclusion
1.
When we are called upon to endure “dark days”—perhaps a debilitating illness, or the loss of a job, or problems in
the home, or persecution for the sake of Christ—we find it extremely difficult to wait upon the Lord.
2.
But this is the message of Isaiah 8:16-9:7; although it may be difficult, nevertheless, it is well worth waiting upon
the Lord and hoping in Him, even in the darkest of days.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2
through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the
hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but let us even rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that
suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance produces character; and character produces hope. 5And hope
does not disappoint us… (Romans 5:1-4a)
… you will know that I am Jehovah; those who hope in me will not be disappointed. (Isaiah 49:23b)
Questions on Isaiah 8:16-9:7
1. What lies ahead for the apostate nation of Judah? How will they react? See Isaiah 8:21-22 (printed below)
28
They will wander through the land distressed and hungry—and when they are famished, they will become enraged,
and looking upward, they will curse their King and their God. (22) Then they will look toward the earth, but they
shall see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be driven into utter darkness. (Isaiah 8:21-22)
2. What will Isaiah do during these dark days (see Isaiah 8:17 printed below) and what promise does the Lord provide
for him and those like him (see Isaiah 9:1 printed below?)
I will wait for Jehovah, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, I will look to him. (Isaiah 8:17)
Nevertheless, in the future there will be no gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he treated the land
of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt; but in the future he will bring glory to the way towards the sea,
the region along the Jordan River—Galilee of the Gentiles. (Isaiah 9:1)
3. Contrast the past and future states of the land of Zebulun and Naphtali. See Isaiah 9:1-2 (printed below) and also
Matthew 4:12-17 (printed below). Note: The land of Zebulun and Naphtali, located in the northern region of Galilee,
were the first to experience the brunt of the Assyrian invasion.
In the past he treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt; but in the future he will bring
glory to the way towards the sea, the region along the Jordan River—Galilee of the Gentiles. (2) The people who
walked in darkness have seen a great light; the light has dawned upon those living in the land of the shadow of
death. (Isaiah 9:1-2)
When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. (13) Leaving Nazareth, he went and
lived in Capernaum, which was by the sea in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—(14) to fulfill what was spoken
through the prophet Isaiah, (15) The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the
Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—(16) the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land
of the shadow of death a light has dawned. (17) From that time on Jesus began to preach, Repent, for the kingdom
of heaven is near. (Matthew 4:12-17)
4. In Isaiah 9:5-6 (printed below) the prophet is speaking about the deliverance the Lord would give to those who had
remained faithful to Him and those who returned to Him in repentance. What are some of the blessings for which Isaiah
praises the Lord?
Every warrior's boot used in battle and every cloak rolled in blood will be consigned to the flames, they will be fuel
for the fire—(6) because a child has been born for us, a son has been given to us, and the government will rest upon
his shoulders. He will be called, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:56)
5. This passage closes with the assurance that "the zeal of Jehovah of hosts will accomplish this" (i.e.; the zeal of
Jehovah will accomplish the redemption of His people and the coming of His kingdom). What does this statement tell
us about the Lord (Jehovah?)
6. The apostate nation of Judah was about to encounter very dark days. What would happen to Isaiah during this time?
a.
b.
c.
Along with the apostate nation he would also experience hard times because he, too, was engaged in
the same sinful lifestyle.
Along with the apostate nation he would also experience hard times, but he would continue to trust in
the Lord and wait upon Him.
Along with the apostate nation he would also experience hard times and he would react to this by
raising an angry protest to God.
7. Whereas those who forsake their God will be driven into utter darkness, those who wait upon the Lord will
eventually experience the great light of His redemption and blessing. Fill in the blank
8. Isaiah is permitted to look into the future and see the coming of the Savior. Match his statements about this Savior
with their meaning in the light of New Testament revelation. (Answers listed on next page)
a.
b.
c.
“A child has been born for us.” This is a reference to ___ (Matthew 1:23).
“A son has been given to us.” This is a reference to ___ (Hebrews 1:1-3).
“The government shall rest upon his shoulders.” This is a reference to ___ (Revelation 11:15).
29
1. Christ’s incarnation
2. Christ’s kingly rule
3. Christ’s eternal deity
9. Which of the sentences listed below best defines the concluding statement of this passage: “The zeal of Jehovah of
hosts will accomplish this”?
a.
b.
c.
The Lord has an intense desire to take care of His people and complete the work of grace He has begun
in them.
The Lord, as the Almighty God, has the divine power to take care of His people and fulfill all His
promises.
The Lord is both determined and able to take care of His people and accomplish all of His plans for
them.
10. According to the commentary, this passage gives us three reasons why we should wait upon the Lord. Match those
reasons with the relevant passages of Scripture listed below.
a.
b.
c.
“Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5b) ___
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18) ___
“The Lord will rescue me out of evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be
glory forever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:18) ___
1. The Lord is committed to keep His word.
2. The Lord our Savior will not forsake us.
3. The Lord will replace trial with blessing.
THREE PROMISES TO SUSTAIN YOU IN HARD TIMES
ISAIAH 11:1-12:6
11 A shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse; a branch from his roots will bear fruit. 2The Spirit of Jehovah
will rest upon him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of
knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah. 3He will delight in the fear of Jehovah. He will not judge by what he sees
with his eyes, nor will he decide by what he hears with his ears; 4rather, he will judge the needy with righteousness
and render decisions with justice for the meek of the land. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. 5Righteousness will be the belt around his waist and integrity will
be the sash around his loins. 6The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and
the young lion and the yearling will play together, and a little child will lead them. 7The cow and the bear will graze
together, their young will lie down together; and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8The infant will play near the
cobra’s den, and the young child will reach his hand into the viper’s nest. 9They will neither harm nor destroy on all
my holy mountain; for, just as the waters cover the sea, so shall the earth be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah.
10
On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a signal for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his
place of rest will be glorious. 11On that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant
that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from
Babylonia, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. 12He will give a signal for the nations and assemble the
exiles of Israel; he will gather the scattered people of Judah from the four corners of the earth. 13Ephraim’s envy
will disappear, and those who trouble Judah will be cut off; Ephraim will no longer envy Judah, and Judah will no
longer trouble Ephraim. 14They will swoop down on the slopes of Philistia to the west; together they will plunder the
people of the East. They will lay hands on Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them. 15Jehovah
will utterly dry up the gulf of the Egyptian sea; and with his scorching wind he will sweep his hand over the
Euphrates River. He will break it up into seven streams so that men can cross over in sandals. 16There will be a
highway from Assyria for the remnant of his people who are left, as there was for Israel when they came up from
the land of Egypt
12 On that day you will say, I will give thanks to you, Jehovah, for although you were angry with me, your anger has
been pacified and you have comforted me. 2Look! God is the source of my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid;
for Jehovah, Jehovah himself, is my strength and my song—indeed, he has become my Savior. 3Therefore, with joy
you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
4
On that day you will say, Give thanks to Jehovah, call upon his name! Declare his deeds among the peoples!
Proclaim that his name is exalted! 5Sing to Jehovah, for he has done awesome things; let this be made known
throughout all the world! 6Shout aloud and sing for joy, you who dwell in Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel
who is present with you.
30
THEME: Even when the Lord finds it necessary to subject His people to hard times, He still supplies us with His
promises of hope to sustain us.
PURPOSE: To encourage the hearers to look to the Lord’s promises of hope to sustain us in hard times.
OUTLINE: I. Look to the Promise that the Lord will
Establish His Kingdom (Isaiah 11:1-9)
II. Look to the Promise that the Lord will
Re-gather His People (Isaiah 11:10-16)
III. Look to the Promise that the Lord will
Give Us Reason to Praise Him (Isaiah 12:1-6)
Introduction
1.
How would you respond if you were asked the following question?
As you observe sadness and evil in this world and as you face personal problems and pressures, what keeps you
going from day to day?
2.
Here is the response of one young man:
I keep going by focusing on my loving, caring Father-Creator, who has revealed Himself as the antithesis of evil
and who wants to wipe all tears from my eyes.
3.
Here is the response of a forty year old man:
I can go on because God is fair and compassionate, the Bible is true, the Holy Spirit guides and empowers, and
Jesus is alive!
4.
Here is the response of a grandmother:
I know that the Lord is faithful. Scripture proves it. I trust Him to be faithful in helping me through problems
and pressures.
5.
Here is the response of a man nearing retirement:
I keep going because I know God is in control and I belong to His Son, my Savior. Heaven is not far away. Soon
I’ll be there to live with God and without sin. (POWER, 11/12/89, p.8)
6.
How would you respond to that question?
7.
Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord had warned His people that He would visit them with very severe measures
(10:6).
I will send him (i.e.; the king of Assyria and his army) against a godless nation. I will commission him against a
people who incite my wrath, to seize the spoil and snatch the prey, and to trample them down like mud in the
streets.
8.
Although the Lord found it necessary to employ very severe measures against His Old Testament people, He also
supplied the faithful with promises of hope to sustain them in the midst of hard times.
9.
When we encounter hard times, let us look to the Lord’s promises of hope to sustain us.
I. Look to the Promise that the Lord will Establish His Kingdom (Isaiah 11:1-9)
1.
History teaches us that the fierce armies of Assyria did, indeed, invade the land of Israel—just as the Lord had
foretold through the prophet Isaiah.
2.
The Assyrians completely overwhelmed the ten northern tribes (the nation of Israel), conquering them and
deporting them throughout the ancient Near East
3.
Having thoroughly dispatched the northern tribes, the Assyrian armies advanced against the two southern
tribes that composed the nation of Judah—one town after another fell before them until they stood at the
very gates of Jerusalem (Isaiah 10:28-32)
31
The Assyrian approaches Aiath, he has passed through Migron; he stores his supplies at Micmash. 29They
have gone through the mountain pass, and they say, “We will camp over night at Geba.” Ramah trembles.
Gibeah of Saul has fled. 30Cry out, O daughter of Gallim! Be on guard, O Laishah! O poor Anathoth!
31
Madmenah is in flight! The people of Gebim flee for safety! 32This very day he will reach Nob: he will
shake his fist at the mountains of the daughter of Zion, at the hill of Jerusalem. (Isaiah 10:28-32)
4.
It appeared that this fierce and defiant empire of Assyria would totally annihilate the people of God and
supplant them with their own pagan empire—indeed, what little was left of the nation of Judah is viewed as a
mere stump of a tree that had been chopped down to the ground (11:1)
5.
But now the Lord declares that from that stump there shall spring new life:
A shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse; a branch from his roots will bear fruit. (11:1)—great king
David’s royal line would not be extinguished, rather it would produce a king who will one day rule over all the
earth (the Messiah)
a.
note that Isaiah 10:33-34 described the destruction of the Assyrian armies as they besieged Jerusalem,
describing that destruction in terms of the Lord chopping down the forest of Lebanon—not a tree is left
standing
Look! The Lord, Jehovah of hosts, will lop off the boughs with a terrifying stroke; the tall trees shall
be cut down, and the lofty shall be brought low. 34He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an
iron axe, and Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One (Isaiah 10:33-34)

the fulfillment of this prophecy is recorded in Isaiah 37:36-37
Then the angel of Jehovah went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in
the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies!
37
So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed
there. (Isaiah 37:36-37)
b.
6.
now, in contrast to the “forest” of the Assyrian army that is cut down by the hand of the Lord, Isaiah
declares that from the chopped down stump of Jesse the Lord will cause there to spring new life (11:1)
Isaiah 11:3-5 describes the future reign of this king who is none other than Jesus the Messiah
He will delight in the fear of Jehovah. (verse 3a)

the Hebrew word jwr has the root meaning “to smell,” “to smell with pleasure,” and hence, “to delight
in”

thus the Messiah is pictured as “breathing in the invigorating atmosphere” of the fear of the Lord; and
being Himself governed by that holy fear, He shall carry out the rule assigned to Him by His heavenly
Father
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, nor will he decide by what he hears with his ears; 4rather,
he will judge the needy with righteousness and render decisions with justice for the meek of the land. He
will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5
Righteousness will be the belt around his waist and integrity will be the sash around his loins. (verses 3b-5)

He will not base His judgments (decisions) upon superficial, outward appearances; rather, He will look
upon the heart and judge with true righteousness

consequently, the poor and the meek shall receive justice and the wicked shall be condemned

what is described here is the righteous reign of the Lord Jesus Christ when He returns at the end of the
age (note 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10a)
God is just. He will pay back affliction to those who afflict you 7and give relief to you who are
afflicted, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing
fire with his powerful angels. 8He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of
our Lord Jesus. 9They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of
32
the Lord and from the majesty of his power 10on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people
and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10a)
7.
Verses 6-9a describe the universal peace that shall permeate the Lord’s great kingdom when He comes to
establish a new heavens and a new earth
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the young lion and the
yearling will play together, and a little child will lead them. 7The cow and the bear will graze together, their
young will lie down together; and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8The infant will play near the cobra’s
den, and the young child will reach his hand into the viper’s nest. (verses 6-8)

peaceful co-existence throughout nature and between man and nature; it will be Paradise
They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain; for, just as the waters cover the sea, so shall
the earth be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah. (verse 9)
 the entire world shall be transformed into the kingdom of God; …the kingdom of God, the earthly
manifestation of which in Old Testament times was concentrated on holy Mount Zion, shall expand over
the entire earth (note 2 Peter 3:13)
… according to his promise, we are watching for a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness
resides. (2 Peter 3:13)

when the Lord reveals Himself in His glory, the whole world shall bow before Him and acknowledge Him
as God (cp. Isaiah 45:23b-24a)
Every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess that I am God.
Righteousness and strength are found in Jehovah alone. (Isaiah 45:23-24a)
8.
24
They will say of me,
In hard times, let us look with confidence to the Lord’s sure promise that He indeed will establish His kingdom

when the seventh angel shall finally sound his trumpet, heralding the consummation of this present age,
then the kingdom of the world will … become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will
reign forever and ever. (Revelation 11:15)
This is my Father’s world,
O let me not forget
That though the wrong often seems so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world,
The battle is not done;
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and heaven be one.
(Maltbie D. Babcock)
II. Look to the Promise that the Lord will Re-gather His People (Isaiah 11:10-16)
1.
Those who survived the onslaught of the Assyrian army were taken captive and deported from the land of
Israel (note 2 Kings 17:5-6)
The king of Assyria invaded the entire land, marched against Samaria and laid siege to it for three years.
6
In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to
Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in the towns of the Medes. (2 Kings
17:5-6)
2.
They were removed from all the blessings of God that were once available to them in the Promised Land;
above all, the temple of God which was His earthly dwelling place
3.
But now in 11:11 we read that the Lord will reach out His hand to once again reclaim and re-gather His
people
a.
just as the Lord had called His people out of Egypt, so the day is coming when He shall once again
gather them unto Himself; …on this second occasion He shall reclaim them from throughout all the earth
(verse 11-12)
33
On that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his
people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia,
from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. 12He will give a signal for the nations and assemble
the exiles of Israel; he will gather the scattered people of Judah from the four corners of the
earth.

Romans 11:25-26 speaks of a great and final ingathering of Israel to the Lord (note, also, Hosea 3:45)
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited:
Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.
26
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn
godlessness away from Jacob. (Romans 11:25-26)
… the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones,
without ephod or teraphim. 5Afterward the Israelites will return and seek Jehovah their God
and David their king. They will come trembling to Jehovah and to his blessings in the last days.
(Hosea 3:4-5)
b.
with reconciliation to the Lord by means of Jesus the Messiah, there also comes reconciliation to one
another as brothers in the Messiah (verse 13)
Ephraim’s envy will disappear, and those who trouble Judah will be cut off; Ephraim will no longer
envy Judah, and Judah will no longer trouble Ephraim.

note: the reconciliation created by the Messiah is here couched in Old Testament terms; for a New
Testament expression of this glorious work of the Messiah one may consider Galatians 3:28-29
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor
female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s
offspring, and with regard to the promise you are heirs. (Galatians 3:28-29)
c.
…and the redeemed of the Lord will share with the Messiah in His conquest and dominion over their
enemies (verse 14)
They will swoop down on the slopes of Philistia to the west; together they will plunder the people of
the East. They will lay hands on Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them.

note: once again, the Messiah’s final victory over His enemies, a victory in which His people
participate, is here couched in language that would be understandable to God’s Old Testament
people in the days of Isaiah; for a New Testament expression of this same truth one may consider
Revelation 19:11,14-15
Then I saw heaven opened, and there before me was a white horse, and he who sat upon it was
called Faithful and True. With righteousness he judges and wages war…. 14The armies of heaven
followed him upon white horses, dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15Out of his mouth came a
sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He
treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. (Revelation 19:11,1415)
4.
Verses 15-16 repeat for emphasis and assurance this promise of a future restoration: the Lord will re-gather
His people out of Assyria—and from all the earth (verse 12), in much the same way as He had previously
called them out of Egypt

note: this passage, using imagery meaningful to Old Testament Israel, is prophetically portraying the
physical and spiritual restoration of the people of Israel unto the Lord at the end of this present age
(note, again, Romans 11:25-26)
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel
has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26And so all
Israel will be saved, as it is written: The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away
from Jacob. (Romans 11:25-26)
34
5.
In hard times let us look with confidence to the Lord’s promise that He will re-claim and re-gather His people
to Himself; …as this applies to the Christian, it is the promise that the Lord is faithful to His people in Christ
and will be no means forsake us (note 1 Corinthians 1:8-9)
God will also confirm you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (1
Corinthians 1:8-9)
III. Look to the Promise that the Lord will Give Us Reason to Praise Him (Isaiah 12:1-6)
1.
Just as on a future occasion when the captives in Babylon hung up their harps (Psalm 137:1-2); so, too, this
generation of Israel no doubt thought that joy had left them forever
By the rivers of Babylon we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion. 2There on the poplars we
hung our harps. (Psalm 137:1-2)
2.
But Isaiah 12:1-2 speaks of the day when the redeemed will give thanks to the Lord:
On that day you will say, I will give thanks to you, Jehovah; for although you were angry with me, your
anger has been pacified and you have comforted me. 2Look! God is the source of my salvation. I will trust
and not be afraid; for Jehovah, Jehovah himself, is my strength and my song—indeed, he has become my
Savior.

God looks down upon sinful mankind with a holy anger, but in His mercy He has provided the atoning
sacrifice in the person of His one and only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (1 John 4:10)—those who trust in
Christ have cause to sing the song of thanksgiving presented in Isaiah 12:1-2
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for
our sins. (1 John 4:10)
3.
Verse 3 speaks about the comfort and privilege given to the believer in Christ: Therefore, with joy you will
draw water from the wells of salvation.
a.
the imagery is that of an abundant supply of refreshing, life-giving water (very meaningful to people
living in the arid Middle East)
b.
thus are we reminded of the abundance of grace and divine blessing that is offered to us in Christ
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual
blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)
…from his fullness we have all received; indeed, grace upon grace. (John 1:16); the apostle John’s
testimony concerning our Lord Jesus Christ
c.
4.
here is a divine abundance that is presently ministered to us in measured portion, but that shall finally
be poured out upon us in unlimited and eternal bounty in the kingdom of God
In response to the experience of the Lord’s grace and blessing, the redeemed will…
a.
exhort one another to give thanks to the Lord:
On that day you will say, Give thanks to Jehovah; call upon his name! Declare his deeds among the
peoples! Proclaim that his name is exalted! (verse 4)
b.
sing to the Lord:
Sing to Jehovah, for he has done awesome things; let this be made known throughout all the world!
(verse 5)
c.
…and shout out our praise of the Lord for His presence among us:
35
Shout aloud and sing for joy, you who dwell in Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel who is
present with you. (verse 6)
5.
In hard times let us look with confidence to the Lord’s sure promise that He will give us abundant reason to
praise Him.
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why are you so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will
yet praise him, my Savior and my God. (Psalm 43:5)
Conclusion
1.
As you observe sadness and evil in this world and as you face personal problems and pressures, what keeps you
going from day to day?
2.
In this portion of Scripture, the Lord provides us with three sure promises to sustain us in hard times:

the promise that the Lord will indeed establish His kingdom

the promise that the Lord will re-gather and re-claim His people; …as it applies to the Christian, it is the
promise that the Lord is faithful to uphold us and preserve us and that He will by no means abandon us

the promise that the Lord will give us abundant reason to praise His great and glorious Name
Questions on Isaiah 11:1-12:6
1. It appeared that the fierce empire of Assyria would totally annihilate the people of God—indeed, what little was left
of the nation of Judah is viewed as a mere stump of a tree that has been chopped down to the ground. But the Lord
declares that from this stump there shall spring new life (11:1). Great king David's royal line would not be extinguished;
rather, it would produce a king (the Messiah) who will one day rule over all the earth. Describe the character and reign
of this king who is none other than Jesus the Messiah. See Isaiah 11:3-5 (printed below)
He will delight in the fear of Jehovah. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, nor will he decide by what
he hears with his ears; (4) rather, he will judge the needy with righteousness and render decisions with justice for
the meek of the land. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he will slay
the wicked. (5) Righteousness will be the belt around his waist and integrity will be the sash around his loins. (Isaiah
11:3-5)
2. What will conditions be like when Jesus the Messiah exercises His reign? See Isaiah 11:6-9 (printed below)
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the young lion and the yearling
will play together, and a little child will lead them. (7) The cow and the bear will graze together, their young will lie
down together; and the lion will eat straw like the ox. (8) The infant will play near the cobra's den, and the young
child will reach his hand into the viper's nest. (9) They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain; for,
just as the waters cover the sea, so shall the earth be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah. (Isaiah 11:6-9)
3. What promise does the Lord make with regard to His people in Isaiah 11:11-12 (printed below?)
On that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from
Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath, and from the
islands of the sea. (12) He will give a signal for the nations and assemble the exiles of Israel; he will gather the
scattered people of Judah from the four corners of the earth. (Isaiah 11:11-12)
4. With regard to His people, what further promises does the Lord make in Isaiah 11:13-14 (printed below?) Note:
Edom, Moab, and the Ammonites were the archenemies of Old Testament Israel.
Ephraim's envy will disappear, and those who trouble Judah will be cut off; Ephraim will no longer envy Judah, and
Judah will no longer trouble Ephraim. (14) They will swoop down on the slopes of Philistia to the west; together
they will plunder the people of the East. They will lay hands on Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject
to them. (Isaiah 11:13-14)
36
5. In Isaiah 12:3 (printed below) what imagery is used to describe the salvation bestowed upon His people by Jesus the
Messiah? What aspects of that salvation are emphasized?
Therefore, with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. (Isaiah 12:3)
6. When the people of God appear to be in jeopardy of being annihilated by the Assyrian armies, what does the Lord do
to sustain and encourage them?
a.
b.
c.
He reminds them of how He delivered their forefathers from their Egyptian bondage by means of the
Exodus.
He points them to the promise of deliverance contained in the name given to Isaiah’s newborn son.
He reveals to them the future Messianic kingdom in its triumph and glory.
7. Complete the sentences listed below that describe the character and reign of Jesus the Messiah when He returns in
glory.
a.
b.
c.
He will delight in ___.
He will judge the needy with ___.
He will slay the wicked with ___.
1. the breath of his lips
2. the fear of Jehovah
3. righteousness
8. Isaiah 11:6-9 is describing what life will be like when Jesus the Messiah ushers in the new heavens and the new
earth. Match the images Isaiah presents with the statements that define their significance.
a.
b.
c.
There will be peaceful co-existence throughout the realm of nature. ___
There will be peaceful co-existence between man and nature. ___
The entire world will be transformed into the kingdom of God. ___
1. The wolf will live with the lamb.
2. The earth will be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah.
3. The infant will play near the cobra’s den.
9. According to this passage of Isaiah that reveals the future kingdom of God, what will become of the enemies of
God’s people?
a.
b.
c.
They will be conquered by the Messiah and His people.
They will live in peaceful co-existence with the people of God.
They will be converted unto Jesus the Messiah and become united with His people.
10. According to the commentary, this passage supplies the Christian with three promises to sustain him in hard times.
Match those promises with the following Scripture passages that reinforce those promises.
a.
b.
c.
The kingdom of the world will … become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign
forever and ever. (Revelation 11:15) ___
God will also confirm you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (1
Corinthians 1:8-9) ___
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why are you so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will
yet praise him, my Savior and my God. (Psalm 43:5) ___
1. God will not forsake His people.
2. God will give us reason to praise Him.
3. The kingdom of God will come.
37
LESSON FOUR : I SAIAH 42:1-17 AND I SAIAH 49:1-26
The student should prepare for his study by asking the Holy Spirit to enlighten his mind and open his heart to
receive not only the teaching of Scripture but Christ Himself as He is presented in the Scriptures.
Assignments:
1. Bible Study: The student will explore 2 portions of Isaiah, guided by an expositional commentary on the text.
The student will then answer the questions found at the end of the expository notes.
2. Writing Your Essay: The student should begin work on his 8 -10 page essay for Bachelor's credit or 15-20-page
essay for Master's credit. (See under Syllabus, "Description of Assignments," #3. The student is also referred to
the "Guidelines for Writing an Essay," provided by the facilitator.)
Note: All Scripture texts will appear in Comic Sans MS font; all extended quotations from other authors will
appear in Courier font.
TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT JESUS
ISAIAH 42:1-17
42 Look at my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen one in whom my soul delights. I will put my Spirit upon him; he will
bring justice to the Gentile nations. 2He will not shout or cry or raise his voice in the streets. 3He will not break a
bruised reed, nor will he snuff out a smoldering wick. He will faithfully bring forth justice. 4He will not falter or be
discouraged until he has established justice on the earth. Even the distant islands will wait expectantly for his law.
5
This is what God Jehovah says—he who created the heavens and stretched them out, he who spread out the
earth and all that it produces, he who gives breath to the people who are in it and life to those who walk upon it—
6
I, Jehovah, have called you by my righteousness, and I will hold your hand. I will watch over you and appoint you to
be the covenant representative for the people of Israel and a light for the Gentiles. 7I have appointed you to open
the eyes of the blind, to free the captives from prison, and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
8
I am Jehovah, that is my name. I will not give my glory to any other, nor my praise to carved images. 9See, the
former things which I foretold have happened, and now I declare new things—before they spring into being I
announce them to you. 10Sing a new song to Jehovah, sing his praise from the end of the earth. Sing his praise, you
who go down to the sea, and all that is in it. Sing his praise, you islands, and all who live on them. 11Let the
wilderness and its towns raise their voices—the villages where Kedar lives. Let the people of Sela sing; let them
shout from the mountaintops. 12Let them give glory to Jehovah, and let them declare his praise in the islands.
13
Jehovah will march out like a mighty man; he will stir up his zeal like a warrior. With a shout he will raise the
battle cry; he will triumph mightily over his enemies. 14For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and
restrained myself. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant. 15I will devastate the mountains
and the hills, I will dry up all their vegetation. I will turn rivers into islands and dry up the pools of water. 16I will
lead the blind along a way they have not known, I will guide them along unfamiliar paths. I will turn the darkness
into light before them and make the rough places smooth. I will surely do these things; I will not forsake them.
17
But those who trust in carved images—those who confess to molten images, “You are our gods”—they will be
turned back and utterly put to shame.
THEME: Because we are so prone to overlook Him and because He is our only hope, the Lord Himself commands us to
look at Jesus, declaring, Look at my servant!
PURPOSE: To exhort the students to take a good look at Jesus, because the Lord Himself commands us to do so.
OUTLINE:
I. Take a Good Look at Jesus,
…and Appreciate His Character (Isaiah 42:1-4)
II. Take a Good Look at Jesus,
…and Place Your Confidence in Him (Isaiah 42:5-9)
III. Take a Good Look at Jesus,
…and Praise the Lord for Him (Isaiah 42:10-17)
38
Introduction
1.
This present passage of Scripture begins with the Lord pointing us to His Servant (Jesus Christ) and commanding
us, Look at my servant! (verse 1)
2.
Do we need to hear and heed this divine commandment today? The commandment to take a good look at Jesus?
3.
Maybe we have lost sight of Jesus; perhaps our attention has been diverted by the busyness of life or by a pressing
problem, or by a new adventure, or a promising relationship.
4.
Maybe you need to focus on Jesus for the first time: you attend church, you seek to live an upright life, but you
sense that spiritually you are missing the mark, your life lacks true peace and joy, you do not know the blessing of
sins forgiven, you do not have a living relationship with the Lord—if this describes you, you need to look to Jesus.
5.
The Lord knows that, like those Old Testament people of Israel, we, too, are so prone to lose sight of Jesus; and
therefore the commandment comes to us, too: Look at my servant!—Take a good look at Jesus! Refocus on the
Lord Jesus, or focus upon Him for the first time.
I. Take a Good Look at Jesus,
…and Appreciate His Character (Isaiah 42:1-4)
1.
The Lord’s servant will not shout or cry or raise his voice in the streets. (verse 2)
a.
that is to say, the Lord’s servant will not be a political activist or revolutionary who exerts His
charismatic power to rouse the masses to violence

consider Jesus’ words to Peter when Peter sought to resort to violence and arms as the means of
defending Jesus and bringing to power the kingdom of God:
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the
sword. 53Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than
twelve legions of angels? 54But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must
happen in this way?” (this way meaning the way of the cross) (Matthew 26:52-54)

in the book of Revelation when the apostle John’s attention is directed to the conquering Christ—
the Lion of the tribe of Judah—what he sees is a Lamb (the symbol of meek submission); the point
being made is that Christ conquered not by self-assertion, but rather by submission to the Father’s
will that was nothing other than the way of the cross of Calvary
Then one of the elders said to me, Do not weep. See, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root
of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seal. 6Then I saw a Lamb,
looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living
creatures and the elders… (Revelation 5:5-6a)
b.
take a good look at Jesus: see that true spiritual victory comes not by self-assertion and reliance upon
human strength, but by His cross and submission to His Father’s will

salvation is attained not by trying harder to become pleasing to God, but by trusting in the crucified
Savior (Ephesians 2:8-9)
It is by grace that you have been saved through faith—and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift
of God—9it is not of works, therefore no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

sanctification is achieved not by resorting to our own strength in an effort to become holy, but by
relying upon the Holy Spirit and the grace of God (Romans 8:13)
…if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live (Romans 8:13)

the kingdom of God is advanced and shall finally come in its fullness not by means of political power
or resorting to violence, but by resorting to prayer and the laying down of our lives in imitation of
Christ our Savior
For not with swords loud clashing, nor roll of stirring drums,
But by deeds of love and mercy, the heavenly kingdom comes.
(Ernest W. Shurtleff)
39
Note: this does not mean surrendering involvement in favor of inactivity; rather it means the
abandoning of reliance upon human power and wisdom and relying upon divine power and wisdom
2.
It is further said of the Lord’s servant, He will not break a bruised reed, nor will he snuff out a smoldering
wick. (verse 3)
a.
that is to say, the Lord’s Servant is characterized by gentleness, tenderness, patience and compassion
A man with leprosy came up to him, kneeling down before him and begging him, If you are willing, you
can make me clean. 41Being moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and
said to him, I am willing; be made clean. (Mark 1:40-41)
And Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the
gospel of the kingdom, and healing all types of disease and all kinds of sickness. 36But when he saw the
multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered, as
sheep not having a shepherd. (Matthew 9:35-36)
b.
take a good look at Jesus: see that you will find Him to be merciful and compassionate, and recognize
that He calls us as His disciples to become like Him
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and
learn from me, for I am meek and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls; 30for my yoke
is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)
3.
The Lord’s servant will not falter or be discouraged until he has established justice on the earth. Even the
distant islands will wait expectantly for his law. (or, his teaching). (verse 4)
a.
that is to say, the Lord’s servant will persevere in the work God gave Him to do (Luke 9:51-53) and He
shall accomplish that work
As the time approached for him to be received up, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52And he
sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53but the
people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. (literally, his face was set
for going to Jerusalem) (Luke 9:51-53)
b.
the fact that the islands shall wait for (or hope in) His law (or, his teaching) testifies to the fact that His
redeeming work is not just for Israel and also testifies to the success of His mission: even the remote
regions of the world shall hear His teaching (the gospel) and put their hope in Him (note Colossians 1:5b6a)
… the gospel, 6that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is producing fruit and growing…
(Colossians 1:5b-6a)
c.
take a good look at Jesus: see that He has completed the work of salvation (upon the cross He cried out,
It is finished! John 19:30), …know that He will complete the good work He has begun in us who have
believed in Him (Philippians 1:6), …and look to Him for the grace (the divine strength) to carry on in your
Christian life (Ephesians 6:10)
…he who began a good work in you will carry it out to completion until the day of Jesus Christ
(Philippians 1:6)
…be strong in the Lord and in his mighty strength (Ephesians 6:10)
4.
Take a good look at Jesus, …and appreciate His character: His submission to His Father’s will, …His
compassion, …His perseverance

Recognize the eternal benefits you may derive from Him: He has done all that is needed to secure your
salvation, He welcomes you with open arms, and He will preserve your soul

Recognize that it is the Lord’s will that His character be reproduced in each one of us who believe in Him
II. Take a Good Look at Jesus,
…and Place Your Confidence in Him (Isaiah 42:5-9)
40
1.
Listen to how the Lord identifies Himself in verse 5,
This is what God Jehovah says—he who created the heavens and stretched them out, he who spread out
the earth and all that it produces, he who gives breath to the people who are in it and life to those who
walk upon it
a.
literally, the Lord declares Himself to be the God (laeh;;;;;); the one and only God; in Isaiah 45:22 the
Lord will declare,
Turn to me and be saved, you people from all the ends of the earth; because I am God, and there is
none other (Isaiah 45:22)
2.
b.
furthermore, He is Jehovah; the Living One who is wholly self-sufficient and the source of all life—the
One who is the covenant God, faithful to all His promises
c.
the verse goes on to identify Him as the Almighty Creator and Sustainer of the heavens and all things
Now hear how the Lord describes His relationship to His servant as it is recorded in verses 6-8
a.
I, Jehovah, have called you—it is God Himself who has given His servant a divine commission and task to
perform (note the testimony and the prayer of the Lord Jesus)
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (John 4:34)
I glorified you on the earth by accomplishing the work you have given me to do. (John 17:4)
b.
I, Jehovah, … will hold your hand—God assures His servant that He will support him and sustain Him so
that he may carry out and accomplish His divine mission (again, note the testimony of our Lord Jesus
Christ)
The one who sent me is with me, he has not forsaken me; because I always do the things that are
pleasing to him. (John 8:29)
Listen, the hour is coming, in fact it has come, when you shall be scattered, each one to his own
home, and shall forsake me. However, I am not forsaken, because the Father is with me. (John 16:32)
c.
I, Jehovah, … will watch over you—the Lord assures His servant that He will be faithful to him, He will
not abandon him; the fulfillment of this promise is to be seen in the resurrection, the ascension, and
finally Christ’s return in glory
God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for
death to keep its hold on him. 25David said about him: … you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will
you let your Holy One see decay. … 32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the
fact. 33Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit…
(Acts 2:24-25,32-33)
d.
I, Jehovah …will … appoint you to be the covenant representative for the people of Israel and a light
for the Gentiles. 7I have appointed you to open the eyes of the blind, to free the captives from
prison, and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

the Lord’s servant, Jesus Christ, will be the true covenant Representative of Israel: fulfilling the
covenantal demand of obedience and taking upon Himself the covenantal curse for the
disobedience of God’s people, and thus enabling all those who trust in Him to inherit the
covenantal blessing (note Galatians 3:13-14)
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written,
Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree—14so that the blessing of Abraham might come to the
Gentiles by Christ Jesus, and so that we might receive the promised Spirit by faith. (Galatians
3:13-14)
41

the Lord’s servant shall also reveal the light (the truth and glory) of God to the nations, so that
they might also be reconciled to God through faith in Him and come to share in the blessings of the
covenant (note Acts 26:15-18)
I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, the Lord replied. 16Now get up and stand on your feet. I
have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me
and what I will show you. 17…I am sending you 18to open their eyes and turn them from darkness
to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a
place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (Acts 26:15-18); such is the testimony of the
apostle Paul when he was called by Christ to be His apostle

in verse 8 the Lord supplies the reason why He will cause His servant to be a light for the Gentiles;
namely, for the sake of His own honor and glory:
I am Jehovah, that is my name. I will not give my glory to any other, nor my praise to carved
images. (the proclamation of the gospel is a gracious revelation of God’s truth, calling men back to
Himself; note 1 Thessalonians 1:9b-10)
in response to the gospel, the Thessalonians turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true
God, 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who
delivers us from the wrath to come.
3.
In verse 9 the Lord points to the fulfillment of past prophecies as the assurance that these present promises
will likewise be fulfilled—the Lord is both able and faithful to fulfill all His promises
See, the former things that I foretold have happened, and now I declare new things—before they spring
into being I announce them to you. (verse 9)

4.
we can rest with complete confidence in Christ our Savior because there has been pledged to Him the
support of Almighty God Himself
Take a good look at Jesus, …and place your confidence in Him, knowing that God His Father, the Almighty
God, stands beside Him and behind Him to bless His work and guarantee the salvation of those who trust in
Him
My sheep respond to my voice; I know them and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life—they shall
never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is
greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.
(John 10:27-30)
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.
(Author Unknown)
III. Take a Good Look at Jesus,
…and Praise the Lord for Him (Isaiah 42:10-17)
1.
In verses 10-12 there goes forth the command that songs of praise be offered up to the Lord from all around
the world
Sing a new song to Jehovah, sing his praise from the end of the earth. Sing his praise, you who go down
to the sea, and all that is in it. Sing his praise, you islands, and all who live on them. 11Let the wilderness
and its towns raise their voices—the villages where Kedar lives. Let the people of Sela sing; let them
shout from the mountaintops. 12Let them give glory to Jehovah, and let them declare his praise in the
islands.
2.
Verse 13 supplies the reason why a new song of praise is to be sung to the Lord; namely, because the Lord
shall rise up and exert His triumphant power over His enemies
a.
the Lord will mightily exert Himself, He will arise as a mighty warrior to triumph over His enemies
42
b.
3.
He will stir up his zeal—His jealousy for His Name, His cause, His people, has, as it were, lay silently
smoldering under the ashes, but now the Lord stirs it up into a bright flame with His mighty saving acts

note the mysterious ways of God: at His appointed time the Lord bestirs Himself from relative
“inactivity” to sudden, intense, violent action on behalf of His cause, His kingdom, and His people

examples of such times include the Exodus, the Return from the Babylonian Exile, the first coming
of Christ, times of revival throughout church history, and the final coming of Christ in glory
Verses 14-17 elaborate on this theme: the Lord declares that for a long time He has been still, but now He
will rise up and exert His triumphant power
a.
in verse 14 He compares Himself to a woman crying out with birth pains as she is about to deliver a
child
b.
in verse 15 the previous image of a woman giving birth and producing new life is counterbalanced with
an image of destruction and desolation
c.
thus we are graphically reminded that the work of God always and inevitably contains the two
dimensions of salvation and judgment

d.
4.
the Exodus proved to be both the salvation of the Lord’s people—passing safely through the parted
waters of the Red Sea—as well as the destruction of His enemies—the pursuing Egyptians were
swallowed up by the waters of the sea; …so shall it be at His final coming, it will mean the final
redemption of those who trust in Christ and the final judgment of those who remain in their state
of sinful alienation from their God
verses 16-17 reiterate this theme: the Lord will redeem His people from the darkness of sin and
idolatry (verse 16), …but He will confound and overthrow those who cling to their idols and refuse to
give to the Lord the glory due His Name (verse 17)
Take a good look at Jesus, …and praise the Lord for Him, because it is through His servant, the Lord Jesus
Christ, that the Lord accomplishes His great works of redemption and judgment
By Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, … And he has committed to us the message of
reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through
us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf, Be reconciled to God. 21Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on
our behalf; so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:19-21)
Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to whom he desires to
give life. 22Neither does the Father judge anyone; rather, he has entrusted all judgment to the Son; 23so
that everyone may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son, does
not honor the Father who sent him. (John 5:21-23)
Conclusion
1.
At the very outset of this passage, the Lord commands us to take a good look at His servant, the Lord Jesus Christ,
declaring, Look at my servant!
2.
The Lord knows that we are very prone to lose sight of Jesus; and that is why He issues the command, Look at my
servant!
3.
Maybe you have lost sight of Jesus and need to refocus on Him.
4.
Maybe you need to focus on Jesus for the first time: look beyond religion and tradition, look beyond yourself, and
take a good look at Jesus.
5.
May the words of the chorus become our sincere prayer
Open our eyes, Lord,
We want to see Jesus.
(Robert Cull)
43
Questions on Isaiah 42:1-17
1. How is the Lord's Servant characterized in Isaiah 42:2 (printed below?) What do you think this means?
He will not shout or cry or raise his voice in the streets. (Isaiah 42:2)
2. What attribute of the Lord's Servant is being described in Isaiah 42:3 (printed below?)
He will not break a bruised reed, nor will he snuff out a smoldering wick. He will faithfully bring forth justice.
(Isaiah 42:3)
3. What is another attribute of the Lord's Servant that is revealed in Isaiah 42:4 (printed below?)
He will not falter or be discouraged until he has established justice on the earth. Even the distant islands will wait
expectantly for his law. (Isaiah 42:4)
4. How does the Lord describe His relationship to His servant? See Isaiah 42:6a (printed below)
I, Jehovah, have called you by my righteousness, and I will hold your hand. I will watch over you... (Isaiah 42:6a)
5. What has the Lord appointed His Servant to be and to do? See Isaiah 42:6b-7 (printed below)
I will ... appoint you to be the covenant representative for the people of Israel and a light for the Gentiles. (7) I
have appointed you to open the eyes of the blind, to free the captives from prison, and to release from the
dungeon those who sit in darkness. (Isaiah 42:6b-7)
6. In the light of New Testament revelation the servant of the Lord spoken of in Isaiah 42 is none other than _______.
Fill in the blank
7. Compare the Old Testament description of the Lord’s servant with the New Testament passages that describe the
life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.
a.
b.
c.
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.
53
Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve
legions of angels? 54But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
(“this way” meaning the way of the cross) (Matthew 26:52-54) ___
And Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the
gospel of the kingdom, and healing all types of disease and all kinds of sickness. 36But when he saw the
multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered, as
sheep not having a shepherd. (Matthew 9:35-36) ___
As the time approached for him to be received up, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52And he sent
messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53but the people
there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. (literally, “his face was set for
going to Jerusalem”) (Luke 9:51-53) ___
1. He is gentle and compassionate
2. He is not a political revolutionary
3. He exhibits commitment and perseverance
8. When we consider the life and ministry of the Lord’s servant Jesus Christ we find that spiritual victory comes not by
human might and self-assertion but by trust in God and submission to Him. Complete the sentences listed below that
describe how this applies to our own lives.
a.
b.
c.
Salvation is attained not by trying harder to become pleasing to God, but by trusting in ___.
Sanctification (the process of living out the life that is pleasing to God) is achieved not by resorting to
our own strength in an effort to become holy, but by relying on ___.
The kingdom of God is advanced and shall finally come in its fullness, not by means of political power or
resorting to violence, but by resorting to ___ and laying down our lives in imitation of Christ our Savior.
1. prayer
2. the crucified Savior
3. the Holy Spirit
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9. Compare the Old Testament description of the Lord’s relationship to His servant (as presented in Isaiah 42:6) with
the New Testament passages that describe the Father’s relationship with Jesus Christ His Son.
a.
b.
c.
I glorified you on the earth by accomplishing the work you have given me to do. (John 17:4) ___.
Listen, the hour is coming, in fact it has come, when you shall be scattered, each one to his own home,
and shall forsake me. However, I am not forsaken, because the Father is with me. (John 16:32) ___.
God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death
to keep its hold on him. 25David said about him: … you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let
your Holy One see decay. (Acts 2:24-25) ___.
1. The Lord has given His servant a divine commission
2. The Lord will not abandon His servant
3. The Lord promises to sustain His servant
10. When we take a good look at the Lord’s servant, Jesus Christ, what do we see?
a.
b.
c.
We see that He asserts His sinless human might to combat evil for the sake of the kingdom of God.
We see that He is gentle and compassionate.
We see that He perseveres to accomplish the work His Father gave Him to do.
YOU ARE NOT FORSAKEN
ISAIAH 49:1-26
49 Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Jehovah called me before I was born; while I was still in
my mother’s womb, he made mention of my name. 2He has made my mouth like a sharp sword—he has hidden me in
the hallow of his hand; he has made me like a polished arrow—he has concealed me in his quiver. 3He said to me, You
are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified. 4But I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for
nothing and to no purpose. But surely the justice I deserve is with Jehovah, and my reward is with my God. 5And
now this is what Jehovah says—he who formed me in the womb to be his servant, he who appointed me to bring
Jacob back to him and gather Israel unto him, for I am honorable in the eyes of Jehovah and my God has been my
strength—6indeed, he says, It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and to
bring back those of Israel whom I have preserved. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, so that you may
bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.
7
This is what Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, says to the one whom men despised, to the
one whom the nation abhorred, to the one who was a servant of rulers: Kings will see you and stand up; princes will
see you and bow down, because of Jehovah, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you. 8This is
what Jehovah says, In my appointed time I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you. I will
preserve you and make you to be the covenant representative for the people, to restore the land and to cause them
to inherit their heritage that has lain desolate, 9to say to those who are captives, Come out! and to those in
darkness, Come to the light! They will feed beside the roadways and will find pasture on every barren hill. 10They
will neither hunger nor thirst; neither the desert mirage nor the sun will blind them; for he who has mercy upon
them will guide them and will lead them to springs of water. 11I will turn all my mountains into a roadway and my
highways will be highly elevated. 12See! They will come from distant places—some from the north, some from the
west, some from the land of Sinim.
13
Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains; for Jehovah has comforted his
people and will have compassion upon his afflicted children. 14But Zion said, Jehovah has forsaken me, the Lord has
forgotten me. 15Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion for the child to whom she has
given birth? Yes, they might forget; but I will not forget you. 16Look! I have engraved you on the palms of my
hands—your walls are continually before me! 17Your sons hurry back to you; but those who destroyed you and
desolated you will depart from you.
18
Lift up your eyes and look around: all your sons assemble themselves and come to you. As surely as I live,
declares Jehovah, you will wear them all like beautiful ornaments; like a bride, you will deck yourself with them.
19
With regard to your land that was laid waste and desolated and destroyed—surely, now, O land, you will be too
narrow for your inhabitants; but those who devoured you will be far away. 20The children of whom you were
bereaved will say in your hearing, The land is too narrow for me; give me more space in which to live! 21Then you
shall say in your heart, Who bore these children for me, since I suffered the lose of my children and was barren, I
was sent away and rejected? Who raised these children for me? I was left all alone; but these children, from
where did they come? 22This is what the Lord Jehovah says, See, I will beckon to the nations and I will give my
signal to the Gentiles; then they will bring your sons in their arms and your daughters will be carried upon their
shoulders. 23Kings shall be your foster fathers and their queens shall be your nursing mothers. They will bow down
45
before you with their faces to the ground and lick the dust off your feet. Then you will know that I am Jehovah—
those who put their hope in me shall not be disappointed.
24
Can the plunder be taken from the mighty warriors, or can the lawful captives be released? 25But this is what
Jehovah says, Yes, the captive will be taken from the mighty warriors, and the plunder will be retrieved from the
tyrant; for I will wage war against those who wage war against you, and I will save your children. 26I will feed your
oppressors with their own flesh; and they will become drunk with their own blood as men become drunk with sweet
wine. Then all mankind will know that I, Jehovah, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
THEME: There are times in our lives when we feel as though the Lord has forsaken us.
PURPOSE: To insure the students that we, as Christians, are not forsaken, because the Lord is the faithful God.
OUTLINE: I. You Are Not Forsaken:
The Lord is Faithful to Remember Your Name (Isaiah 49:14-23)
II. You Are Not Forsaken:
The Lord is Faithful to Redeem Your Soul (Isaiah 49:24-26)
III. You Are Not Forsaken:
The Lord is Faithful to Reward Your Labor (Isaiah 49:1-13)
Introduction
1.
Many years ago, in the midst of one of the numerous wars in Europe, a pastor and his family were forced to flee
from their home.
2.
One night as they found lodging in a small village inn, homeless and afraid, his wife broke down and cried in
despair.
3.
After seeking to comfort her, the pastor went out into the garden to be alone. There he, too, broke down and
wept—he felt he had come to his darkest hour.
4.
But shortly thereafter he felt the burden lifted and sensed anew the Lord’s presence—the Lord came to him in a
special way and assured him that he was not forsaken. (OUR DAILY BREAD, 5/7/92)
5.
There may be times in our lives when we feel that the Lord has forsaken us.
6.
But because the Lord is faithful, we may be assured from His Word that we are not forsaken—this is the message
of Isaiah 49.
7.
In the words of the hymnwriter:
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes.
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never, forsake.
(Author Unknown)
I. You Are Not Forsaken: The Lord is Faithful to Remember Your Name (Isaiah 49:14-23)
1.
Verse 14 voices Zion’s complaint, Jehovah has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me. (Note: The holy city
of Zion, being personified, is speaking on behalf of God’s people themselves)

here is the accusation that Jehovah, the covenant God, has broken His covenantal vows of commitment
to His people (note Deuteronomy 7:6)
…you are a people holy to Jehovah your God. Jehovah your God has chosen you out of all the peoples
on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. (Deuteronomy 7:6)
2.
But in verses 15-16 the Lord tenderly assures His people that He cannot forget us nor forsake us

His compassion and care are greater than that of a mother for her infant child (verse 15)
46

3.
He cannot forget His children, redeemed by the blood of Christ, because we are engraved on the palm of
His hands (verse 16)
The Lord now addresses Zion itself, assuring her that her children (the people of Israel) shall come running
home and the invaders who ravished her land shall depart from her (verses 17-18a)

note: the return of the people of Israel to the Promised Land of Canaan (here designated by its spiritual
name, Zion) is not only an historical event performed by the Lord in His covenant faithfulness to His Old
Testament people, it is also a prophecy and a type (i.e.; a living, historical model) of the gathering of all
the Lord’s redeemed into His heavenly kingdom at the final consummation and coming of that kingdom in
all of its glory at the end of the age
a.
the Lord swears by Himself that Zion will clothe herself with all her children like a bride adorned in her
wedding gown (verse 18b)
b.
Zion at present lays desolate and uninhabited, but the day is coming when she will not be large enough to
accommodate all her children (verses 19-20)

in New Testament terms and ultimate terms, here is the promise that the kingdom of God, including
its holy population of all those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, shall come to a
great consummation and fulfillment (note our Lord’s parable of the kingdom recorded in Matthew
13:31-32)
The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32Though
it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and
becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches. (Matthew 13:31-32)
c.
the future blessing to be bestowed upon Zion will be a joy and a marvel to her eyes (verse 21); that is to
say, the redeemed will stand amazed at what the Lord shall have accomplished and we will praise Him
for the wonder of His works—in that day the redeemed will utter with awe-filled amazement the words
first recorded in Numbers 23:23b, Now shall it be said of Jacob and of Israel, See what God has done!
(note, also, Ephesians 3:20-21)
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power
that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all
generations, forever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)
4.
At the Lord’s command, His people shall return to Zion out of their bondage and Zion shall finally come to
have dominion over the nations (verses 22-23a)

in that great day we shall know that the Lord Jehovah is Jehovah—i.e.; He who is the covenant God shall
prove Himself to be absolutely faithful to His covenant and to His people, He shall prove Himself to be all
that He declares Himself to be—and …
 we shall know that they who hope in Him (i.e.; those who put their confidence and trust in Him) shall not be
disappointed, our confidence and trust in the Lord our God shall prove to be well founded
5.
Christian, the Word of God assures you that you are not forsaken: The Lord is faithful to remember your name
a.
when you find yourself in a situation in which you feel as though you are abandoned, place your
confidence in the sure Word of God as recorded in Isaiah 49:15-16,23
Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion for the child to whom she has
given birth? Yes, they might forget; but I will not forget you. 16Look! I have engraved you on the palms
of my hands—your walls are continually before me! … 23…Then you will know that I am Jehovah—those
who put their hope in me shall not be disappointed.
b.
heed the counsel of the Psalmist when he confidently affirms: Put your hope in God, for I will yet
praise him, my Savior and my God. (Psalm 42:11b)
c.
we may take comfort and confidence from such passages as Galatians 4:6 and Ephesians 1:13b-14
Now because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, and he is crying out to
God, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)
47

God’s Holy Spirit, residing in your heart, is constantly crying out to God on your behalf, identifying
you as a child of God
…having believed in him, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. 14He is a “deposit”
guaranteeing our inheritance, until the redemption of God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.
(Ephesians 1:13b-14)

the Holy Spirit is the divine “down payment,” identifying us and reserving us as God’s own
possession, and guaranteeing that the Lord will return to claim us for Himself
II. You Are Not Forsaken: The Lord is Faithful to Redeem Your Soul (Isaiah 49:24-26)
1.
The people of Israel recognized that they were being held captive by a mighty overlord (Babylon) and they
acknowledged that they were a lawful captives and so they express their concern:
Can the plunder be taken from the mighty warriors, or can the lawful captives be released? (verse 24)

2.
Israel is acknowledging the fact that the Lord consigned him to the Babylonian captivity as the just
punishment for his sins
In verses 25-26 the Lord replies to Israel’s concerns:
But this is what Jehovah says, Yes, the captive will be taken from the mighty warriors, and the plunder
will be retrieved from the tyrant; for I will wage war against those who wage war against you, and I will
save your children. 26I will feed your oppressors with their own flesh; and they will become drunk with
their own blood as men become drunk with sweet wine. Then all mankind will know that I, Jehovah, am
your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
a.
the Lord is the Mighty One of Jacob; He is fully capable of rescuing His people from their mighty
captors because He Himself is the Almighty
b.
note that the Lord does not even address the question of His people being lawful captives

there is nothing lawful or righteous about the devil and his emissaries; it is the Lord alone who is
righteous, it is His justice that was violated and it is He who has provided the means of atonement
(note Romans 3:25-26)
God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement…26He did it to demonstrate his justice… so as
to be just and the one who justifies the man who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:25-26); by means
of Christ’s sacrifice the demands of God’s justice were fully met and at the same time He is able to
forgive and restore to Himself the man who puts his trust in Christ Jesus

consider Zechariah 3:1-4; an Old Testament passage in which the devil appears as the accuser of
God’s people but the Lord proves Himself able to be our defender and justifier
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of Jehovah, and Satan
standing at his right side to accuse him. 2Jehovah said to Satan, “Jehovah rebuke you, Satan!
Jehovah, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! … 3Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as
he stood before the angel. 4The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his
filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich
garments on you.” (Zechariah 3:1-4); Joshua the high priest is the representative of all God’s
people
3.
Christian, the Word of God assures you that you are not forsaken: the Lord is faithful to redeem your soul
a.
at those times when you can identify with the Psalmist in the awareness of your guilt (note Psalm 51:34), …
I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4Against you, you only, have I sinned and
done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you
judge. (Psalm 51:3-4)
48
b.
…you must also identify yourself with him in his confident prayer for forgiveness (note Psalm 51:1-2)
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot
out my transgressions. 2Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. (Psalm 51:1-2)
Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2Blessed is the man whose
sin the Lord does not count against him….5…I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my
iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord—and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
(Psalm 32:1-2,5)
c.
place your confidence in the sure Word of God that declares, I, Jehovah, am your Savior and your
Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob
III. You Are Not Forsaken: The Lord is Faithful to Reward Your Labor (Isaiah 49:1-13)
1.
In verses 1-3 we find the servant of the Lord announcing his divine calling to the world
a.
He calls upon the distant islands and the Gentile nations to listen to Him; His divine calling is of
universal significance, it does not just relate to the nation of Israel, it has bearing upon all the nations
of the world (verse 1a)
b.
He declares that the Lord has sovereignly chosen Him and called Him to be His servant (verse 1b)
c.
He compares Himself to a sharp weapon of war, fashioned by the Lord and prepared for His use (verse
2)

in particular, it is His mouth that is like a sharp sword; His mouth shall speak the righteous Word
of God with the piercing power of conviction and with the authority to save or to condemn—note
the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in John 12:48-49
However, he who rejects me, and does not receive my teaching, does have one who condemns
him; the word that I have spoken, that word shall condemn him on the last day. 49This is the
case because I did not speak of my own accord; on the contrary, the Father who sent me, he
has commanded me what to say and how to speak. (John 12:48-49)
d.
the servant reports the Lord’s testimony to Him: You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be
glorified (verse 3)

2.
here Israel is once again reduced back to one individual, but it is not the great forefather, Jacob;
rather, it is his one great descendant, Jesus Christ—here is the One who proves Himself to be a
true and faithful servant of the Lord, and the Lord acknowledges Him as such
But now in verse 4 the Lord’s servant raises his complaint:
a.
the Lord said to me, You are my servant (acknowledging His faithfulness), …I will be glorified in you
(the promise that His work will be successful and wholly acceptable to the Lord, with the result of
bringing glory to the Lord)
b.
but I said, I have labored in vain—He has faithfully fulfilled His calling, but there appears to have been
no results, He sees no fruit: He has served the Lord faithfully, but far from being rewarded with an
abundance of faithful disciples, He has been forsaken and crucified (note Matthew 26:56b)
…all the disciples deserted him and fled. (Matthew 26:56b)
c.
nevertheless, despite the bitter things He has experienced, He places His trust in the Lord: But surely
the justice I deserve is with Jehovah, and my reward is with my God. (verse 4b)

He is confident that the Lord will bestow upon Him the reward for His faithfulness; …the
resurrection, the ascension, and the work of the Holy Spirit in restoring a vast host of souls to God
through Him would prove His hopes to be true and well-founded (note Revelation 7:9-10)
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from
every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.
They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10And they
49
cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.
(Revelation 7:9-10)
3.
In verses 5-6 the servant Himself reports the Lord’s reply to Him
a.
I am honorable in the eyes of Jehovah (verse 5); that is to say, His person and His labor are wellpleasing and acceptable to the Lord (note Matthew 3:16b-17)
…the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming
upon him; 17and there came a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, with whom I
am well pleased. (Matthew 3:16b-17)
b.
my God has been my strength (verse 5); the Lord will sustain Him in times of hardship and
discouragement and opposition, enabling Him to fulfill His ministry (note John 16:32)
Listen, the hour is coming, in fact it has come, when you shall be scattered, each one to his own
home, and shall forsake me. However, I am not forsaken, because the Father is with me. (John
16:32); the testimony of the Lord Jesus to His disciples just prior to His arrest
c.
4.
He reports the Lord’s promise to give Him a great reward for His faithful service: not only Israel, but
multitudes of Gentile peoples shall be brought to God through Him (verse 6)
The Lord Himself pledges to honor His servant who has been despised by the world (verse 7)
a.
the Lord speaks as the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One—in His righteousness He must honor and
reward His righteous servant (note Acts 2:24-25a, 27)
God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for
death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him: … 27you will not abandon me to the grave, nor
will you let your Holy One see decay. (Acts 2:24-25a, 27)
b.
the faithful servant of the Lord, the one who was despised by man and a servant of tyrants, shall
finally be recognized and honored by the kings and princes of the world (note Philippians 2:9-11)
…God exalted him to the highest position and bestowed upon him the name that is above every
name; 10so that before the name Jesus now possesses “every knee should bow”—in heaven and on
earth and under the earth—11“and every tongue confess” that Jesus Christ is Lord unto the glory of
God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)
5.
c.
as verse 7d indicates, the promises of the Lord are sure because of Jehovah, who is faithful
d.
the Lord pledges to fulfill His promises to His servant in His appointed time—and until the time of
fulfillment He shall preserve Him (verse 8)
Christian, the Word of God assures you that you are not forsaken: the Lord is faithful to reward your labor
a.
there may be times in your life when you are tempted to entertain such thoughts as those expressed in
Malachi 3:14-15…
You have said, It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and
going about like mourners before Jehovah of hosts? 15But now we call the arrogant blessed.
Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape. (Malachi 3:14-15)
b.
on such occasions let your heart be comforted and reassured by the Word of the Lord:
Then those who feared Jehovah talked with each other, and Jehovah listened and heard. A scroll
of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared Jehovah and honored his
name. 17“They will be mine,” says Jehovah of hosts, “in the day when I make up my treasured
possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. 18And you
will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God
and those who do not. (Malachi 3:16-18)
50
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the
Lord; knowing that your labor for the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)
Conclusion
1.
Just like that German pastor from so many years ago: there may be times when you break down and weep and
feel a sense of being forsaken by the Lord Himself.
2.
But just as the Lord drew near to that dear Christian brother in a special way and reassured him that he was not
forsaken, so may the Lord draw near to you.
3.
May this present passage of Scripture be used by the Holy Spirit to remind us and assure us that the Lord is
faithful…

He is faithful to remember your name

He is faithful to redeem your soul

He is faithful to reward your labor for Him
Questions on Isaiah 49:1-26
1. What testimony does the servant of the Lord make in verses 1-3 (printed below?)
Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Jehovah called me before I was born; while I was still in
my mother's womb, he made mention of my name. (2) He has made my mouth like a sharp sword—he has hidden me
in the hallow of his hand; he has made me like a polished arrow—he has concealed me in his quiver. (3) He said to
me, You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified. (Isaiah 49:1-3)
2. What complaint does the servant raise in verse 4 (printed below?)
But I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. But surely the justice I
deserve is with Jehovah, and my reward is with my God. (Isaiah 49:4)
3. How does the Lord respond to His servant's complaint? See Isaiah 49:7-8 (printed below)
This is what Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, says to the one whom men despised, to the one
whom the nation abhorred, to the one who was a servant of rulers: Kings will see you and stand up; princes will see
you and bow down, because of Jehovah, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you. (8) This is
what Jehovah says, In my appointed time I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you. I will
preserve you and make you to be the covenant representative for the people, to restore the land and to cause them
to inherit their heritage that has lain desolate (Isaiah 49:7-8)
4. What complaint do God's people (i.e.; Zion) raise? See Isaiah 49:14 (printed below)
But Zion said, Jehovah has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me. (Isaiah 49:14)
5. What assurance does the Lord give to His people? See Isaiah 49:15-16 (printed below)
Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion for the child to whom she has given birth? Yes,
they might forget; but I will not forget you. (16) Look! I have engraved you on the palms of my hands—your walls
are continually before me! (Isaiah 49:15-16)
6. Like the Old Testament people of God, there may be times in our lives when we feel that we have been forsaken by
the Lord; but Isaiah 49 assures us that such is not the case because the Lord is _______. Fill in the blank
51
7. In Isaiah 49:1-3 we hear the servant of the Lord testifying to the divine calling he has received from the Lord. Who is
this individual?
a.
b.
c.
Jacob, the father of the nation
Isaiah, the faithful prophet of the Lord
Jesus, the Messiah
8. Match the Old Testament promises with their New Testament fulfillment that show the Lord’s faithfulness to His
servant.
a.
b.
c.
Jesus told His disciples, Listen, the hour is coming, in fact it has come, when you shall be scattered,
each one to his own home, and shall forsake me. However, I am not forsaken, because the Father is
with me. (John 16:32) ___
God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death
to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him: … 27you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you
let your Holy One see decay. (Acts 2:24-25a, 27) ___
God exalted him to the highest position and bestowed upon him the name that is above every name; 10so
that before the name Jesus now possesses “every knee should bow”—in heaven and on earth and under
the earth—11“and every tongue confess” that Jesus Christ is Lord unto the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:9-11) ___
1. The Lord will sustain His servant.
2. The Lord will honor His servant.
3. The Lord will preserve His servant.
9. Which of the sentences listed below accurately describe Israel’s captivity in Babylon and the Lord’s faithfulness as
presented in Isaiah 49:24-26?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Israel recognizes that they are being held captive by a mighty nation.
In order to deliver His people from their captivity, the Lord makes a deal with the Babylonians, allowing
them to plunder many other nations in exchange for the release of God’s people.
Israel acknowledges that they are lawful captives; they have been consigned to captivity because of
their sins.
The Lord declares that He is fully capable of rescuing His people from their strong captors because He is
the Mighty One.
Even though His people are lawful captives, the Lord is able to be their Savior because He will provide
the atonement to satisfy His justice.
10. Complete the sentences listed below that present the assurances this passage of Isaiah 49 offers to the Lord’s
people in Christ.
a.
b.
c.
The Lord is faithful to remember your ___.
The Lord is faithful to redeem your ___.
The Lord is faithful to reward your ___.
1. labor
2. name
3. soul
52
LESSON FIVE : I SAIAH 50:1-11 AND I SAIAH 52:13-53:12
The student should prepare for his study by asking the Holy Spirit to enlighten his mind and open his heart to
receive not only the teaching of Scripture but Christ Himself as He is presented in the Scriptures.
Assignments:
1. Bible Study: The student will explore 2 portions of Isaiah, guided by an expositional commentary on the text.
The student will then answers the questions found at the end of the expository notes.
2. Writing Your Essay: The student should continue work on his 8-10 page essay for Bachelor's credit or 15-20page essay for Master's credit. (See under Syllabus, "Description of Assignments," #3. The student is also
referred to the "Guidelines for Writing an Essay," provided by the facilitator.)
Note: All Scripture texts will appear in Comic Sans MS font; all extended quotations from other authors will
appear in Courier font.
RELY UPON THE LORD YOUR GOD
ISAIAH 50:1-11
50 This is what Jehovah says, Where is the certificate of divorce by which I sent your mother away? Or to which
of my creditors did I sell you? You were sold because of your iniquities, and because of your transgressions your
mother was sent away. 2When I came, why was there no one to welcome me? When I called, why was there no one
to answer? Is my arm so short that it cannot redeem you? Or do I lack the strength to deliver you? Listen. By a
mere rebuke I dry up the sea, I turn the rivers into a desert; their fish rot due to lack of water and die of thirst.
3
I clothe the heavens with black mourning garments and make sackcloth their covering.
4
The Lord Jehovah has given me the speech of one who has been taught, so that I may know how to sustain
the weary one with a word. He wakens me every morning; he wakens my ear to listen like a disciple. 5The Lord
Jehovah has opened my ears; and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn back. 6I yielded my back to those who beat me
and I yielded my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not cover my face from mocking and spitting.
7
Because the Lord Jehovah will help me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore I have set my face like a flint; I know
that I will not be put to shame. 8The one who vindicates me is near; who, then, can bring charges against me? Let us
face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me! 9Look! The Lord Jehovah is the one who will help me;
who can condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment and become moth-eaten.
10
Who among you fears Jehovah? Who among you obeys the voice of his servant? He who walks in darkness,
without a ray of light, let him trust in the name of Jehovah and rely upon his God. 11Listen, all of you who kindle
fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches: walk by the light of your fires and with the torches you have set
ablaze! But this is what you shall receive from my hand: you shall lie down in torment.
THEME: When we experience a sense of defeat or spiritual weariness or confusion, we need to be exhorted to trust in
the name of the Lord and rely upon our God.
PURPOSE: To exhort the students to rely upon the Lord our God, because He is faithful and able to meet our every
need.
OUTLINE: I. Rely upon the Lord Your God,
…because He is Able to Deliver You (Isaiah 50:1-3)
II. Rely upon the Lord Your God,
…because He is Able to Uphold You (Isaiah 50:4-9)
III. Rely upon the Lord Your God,
…because He is Able to Counsel You (Isaiah 50:10-11)
Introduction
1.
Are there ever times when you feel a sense of defeat in your Christian life?

You wonder if you will ever make any progress towards spiritual growth and maturity, …you seem to fight a
never-ending battle with the same besetting sins.
53
2.
Are there times when you feel a sense of weariness and weakness in your Christian life?

3.
You feel overwhelmed by the burden you are called upon to bear, you feel as though you can’t go on.
Are there times when you feel a sense of confusion in your Christian life?

You need direction as you stand at a crossroads in your life, or you need light to illumine a dark question or
situation.
4.
In verse 10 of Isaiah chapter 50 we are exhorted to trust in the name of Jehovah and rely upon our God.
5.
As a Christian, it is your privilege and your obligation to rely upon the Lord your God, knowing that He is fully able
to meet your needs.
6.
As we study the 50th chapter of Isaiah, let us consider three reasons why we should rely upon the Lord our God.
I. Rely upon the Lord Your God,
…because He is Able to Deliver You (Isaiah 50:1-3)
1.
In verse 1 the Lord asks His people Israel a series of questions
Where is the certificate of divorce by which I sent your mother away?

according to Old Testament law, a husband could divorce his wife and give her a certificate of divorce if
he found just cause (note Deuteronomy 24:1)—but the Lord has not done so to Israel
If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about
her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house…
(Deuteronomy 24:1)
Or to which of my creditors did I sell you?

2.
again, under Old Testament law, a father had the authority to sell his son into servitude if he deemed it
necessary to do so (note 2 Kings 4:1)—but the Lord has not dealt so with Israel
The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband,
is dead, and you know that he revered Jehovah. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as
his slaves.” (2 Kings 4:1); in this case the sons were in danger of being consigned to servitude because of
the family’s debts
By means of these questions the Lord is responding to Israel’s unexpressed accusation that He has abandoned
His people…
a.
in the latter part of verse 1 the Lord confronts Israel with the truth: You were sold because of your
iniquities, and because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.

b.
that is to say, the people of Israel themselves are responsible for their present plight, it is not a
matter that the Lord has capriciously abandoned them; …Israel’s present state of banishment is not
due to the Lord’s unfaithfulness, it is due to their own unfaithfulness
in verse 2 the Lord addresses another series of questions to Israel: When I came, why was there no one
to welcome me? When I called, why was there no one to answer?

The separation of Israel can in no wise be attributed to a lack of loving
concern upon God’s part. (E. J. Young); the Lord came again and again, by means of His
servants the prophets, warning His people and calling them to return (note 2 Chronicles 36:15)
Jehovah, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through his messengers again and again,
because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. (2 Chronicles 36:15)
3.
We often times are prone to make the same false accusation against the Lord, charging that He has abandoned
us and left us to fend for ourselves
a.
Can you identify with this false view of the Christian life?
54

b.
by means of a “divine helicopter” from heaven, Christ has delivered you from the shark-infested
waters of sin; …only to drop you down on a wild and foreboding island, informing you that you are on
your own: you must try to survive as best you can until He some day comes back for you
What is wrong with this picture of the Christian life?

as a Christian, you are not left alone to fend for yourself as best you can (note John 14:18,16-17)
our Lord makes the promise, I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (John 14:18);
…and He fulfills His promise by means of His Holy Spirit: I will ask the Father, and he will give you
another Counselor to be with you forever—17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive him,
because it does not see him, nor does it know him. But you know him; because he stays with you
and will be in you. (John 14:16-17)

as a Christian, you are not left to your own resources (note 1 John 4:4; John 15:5)
…the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4); John is referring
to the Holy Spirit who resides within the Christian as the One who is greater than the devil
I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him, he is the one who
bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5); we are exhorted to rely upon
Christ and His divine grace
4.
In verse 2b the Lord asks yet another question, Is my arm so short that it cannot redeem you? Or do I lack
the strength to deliver you?

in verses 2b-3 the Lord Himself supplies the answer:
Listen. By a mere rebuke I dry up the sea, I turn the rivers into a desert; their fish rot due to lack of
water and die of thirst—here is a reference to the Lord’s mighty act of parting the waters of the Red Sea
at the time of the Exodus out of Egypt
I clothe the heavens with black mourning garments and make sackcloth their covering—here is a
reference to the Lord’s sovereign control over the natural realm: He turns the day into night.
5.
In verses 1-3 the Lord assures His people that He has not capriciously abandoned them, nor does He lack the
strength to deliver them
a.
like Old Testament Israel, we are prone to falsely accuse the Lord of forsaking us, when in fact the
problem lies in our forsaking the Lord or failing to avail ourselves of the divine resources He makes
available to us
b.
a related problem is our expectation of “instant sanctification—instant holiness;” but note the biblical
teaching that the attainment of spiritual maturity and holiness is a process, indeed, a life-long process
… let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out
of reverence for God. (2 Corinthians 7:1); perfecting holiness indicates a spiritual process to be
conducted in reliance upon the Holy Spirit
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation (1 Peter
2:2); the advancement of our spiritual life is compared to a baby growing to maturity—again, here is a
process that is accomplished and realized over time, not an instantaneous transformation from infancy to
full maturity
6.
Do you feel a sense of defeat in your Christian life? Rely upon the Lord your God—rely upon His grace and His
timetable, …knowing that He is both able and willing to deliver you (note Psalm 50:15)
Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me. (Psalm 50:15)
II. Rely upon the Lord Your God,
…because He is Able to Uphold You (Isaiah 50:4-9)
55
1.
In verse 6 the Servant of the Lord—our Lord Jesus Christ—describes Himself as willingly submitting to the
suffering divinely appointed for Him

our Lord endured both physical suffering (I yielded my back to those who beat me) as well as
emotional suffering (I did not cover my face from mocking and spitting); note Hebrews 12:2-3
Let us focus our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who … endured the cross,
scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who
endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews
12:2-3)
2.
In verse 7 our Lord reveals to us what enabled Him to undergo such suffering and what enabled Him to
endure such trials
Because the Lord Jehovah will help me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore I have set my face like a flint;
I know that I will not be put to shame.

Christ put His confidence in God His Father as His Source of help; consequently, …
a.
He would not be disgraced nor put to shame; that is to say, He would not experience ultimate
defeat and despair, on the contrary, He would be raised to glory and honor upon the faithful
completion of His ministry
b.
He would set His face like a flint; that is to say, with the enabling power and blessing of the Holy
Spirit, He would resolutely determine to fulfill the ministry He received from His Father (note Luke
9:51)
As the time approached for him to be received up (received to His Father’s throne via the cross,
the resurrection and the ascension), he resolutely set his face to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51)
3.
In verses 4-5 the Lord’s Servant—Christ Jesus—describes Himself as being taught by God so that He might
carry out a ministry of sustaining us
The Lord Jehovah has given me the speech of one who has been taught, so that I may know how to sustain
the weary one with a word. He wakens me every morning; he wakens my ear to listen like a disciple. 5The
Lord Jehovah has opened my ears; and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn back.

our Lord submitted Himself to His Father’s will (I was not rebellious) even though that will entailed the
way of suffering (I yielded my back to those who beat me)…

in so doing He found His Father to be faithful to sustain Him (note John 16:32) and to reward Him
(Philippians 2:8-9)
Listen, the hour is coming, in fact it has come, when you shall be scattered, each one to his own
home, and shall forsake me. However, I am not forsaken, because the Father is with me. (John 16:32)
…he humbled himself by becoming obedient unto death, even death on the cross. 9Therefore, God
exalted him to the highest position… (Philippians 2:8-9)

4.
based upon His own personal experience, our Lord now exhorts us to follow Him through trial into glory:
His ministry is one of sustaining us
On our part, we often times entertain a faulty view of the Christian life
a.
there is a failure to appreciate the fact that trials and suffering are a part of the Christian life
In the world you have tribulation. But have courage; I have conquered the world. (John 16:33); such is
the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ
…all those who would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)
b.
there is a failure to appreciate the fact that the Lord usually leads us through trials as opposed to
detouring us around them
56
…they (Paul and Barnabas) returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22confirming the souls of the
disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and teaching that through many tribulations we
must enter into the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:21-22)
c.
there is a failure to appreciate the Lord’s prerogative (note Jeremiah 18:1-6) and purpose (note 1 Peter
1:6-7) in subjecting His people to trials
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah: 2“Go down to the potter’s house, and there I
will give you my message.” 3So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the
wheel. 4But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it
into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. 5Then the word of Jehovah came to me: 6“O
house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” declares Jehovah. “Like clay in the hand
of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel….”. (Jeremiah 18:1-6)
…now for a little while it is necessary for you to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come
so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be
proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:67)
5.
Do you feel a sense of weariness—even disillusionment—in your Christian life because of the trials you have
encountered and have had to endure? Rely upon the Lord your God—rely upon His strength and His good
purpose, …knowing that He is able to uphold you.
…he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I
will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians
12:9); Paul here is reporting Christ’s response to his pleas to be released from his trial and his acceptance of
Christ’s will
III. Rely upon the Lord Your God,
…because He is Able to Counsel You (Isaiah 50:10-11)
1.
Verse 10 presents us with this exhortation: He who walks in darkness, without a ray of light, let him trust
in the name of Jehovah and rely upon his God.

the Lord our God is the One who supplies us with wisdom and understanding (note Jeremiah 33:3 and
James 1:5)
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
(Jeremiah 33:3)
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and
it will be given to him. (James 1:5)
2.
Conversely, verse 11 confronts us with the warning:
Listen, all of you who kindle fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches: walk by the light of your
fires and with the torches you have set ablaze! But this is what you shall receive from my hand: you shall
lie down in torment.

the picture here is of men rejecting the Lord as their source of wisdom and light in favor of pursuing
their own wisdom—they will not walk in the light the Lord provides, rather they will provide for
themselves their own flaming torches to light their way

the Lord exhorts such people to go their own way, if that is what they insist upon doing; but He warns
them of what their final end will be: this is what you shall receive from my hand: you shall lie down in
torment.
To lie down in torment, or affliction, signifies a position of defeat and permanently being given
over to the judgment of God
57
3.
Often times we neglect to avail ourselves of our heavenly Father’s willingness to impart His wisdom and
offer His guidance
a.
Do you seek His counsel, or because of pride or stubbornness or impulsiveness, do you neglect to look
to God your heavenly Father, choosing rather to seek your own way?
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. 9Do
not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding… 10Many are the woes of the wicked,
but Jehovah’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trust in him. (Psalm 32:8-10)
b.
Do you seek and accept the Lord’s counsel with confidence and a willingness to comply with it? Or do
you simply go through the formality of seeking His counsel with the intention of going your own way no
matter how that way may deviate from the counsel of God?
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and
it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is
like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive
anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. … 22Do not merely listen
to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does
not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself,
goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the
perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but
doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:5-8,22-25)
4.
Do you feel a sense of confusion in your Christian life? Rely upon the Lord your God—look to Him, confide in
Him, seek His counsel, wait upon Him—knowing that He is able to counsel you.
Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom else shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (John
6:68)
Conclusion
1.
Verse 10 of Isaiah chapter 50 gives us this exhortation: trust in the name of Jehovah and rely upon your God.
2.
As a Christian, it is your privilege and your obligation to rely upon the Lord your God, …
3.
…and this present passage of Scripture supplies us with three reasons why we should do so:

the Lord is able to deliver us: He will not abandon us, He will restore us; and He will minister His grace and
victory when we are confronted with temptations and spiritual conflicts

the Lord is able to uphold us: He will impart His strength of endurance when we are confronted with trials
and hardships

the Lord is able to counsel us: He will impart His wisdom when we look to Him and wait upon Him in times of
decision and dilemma
Questions on Isaiah 50:1-11
1. What questions does the Lord ask Israel in verse 1a (printed below?)
This is what Jehovah says, Where is the certificate of divorce by which I sent your mother away? Or to which of
my creditors did I sell you? (Isaiah 50:1a)
2. By means of these questions the Lord is responding to Israel's unexpressed accusation that the Lord has abandoned
His people. But in the latter part of verse 1 (printed below) the Lord confronts Israel with the truth. What does He tell
Israel?
You were sold because of your iniquities, and because of your transgressions your mother was sent away. (Isaiah
50:1b)
58
3. In verse 6 the servant of the Lord—our Lord Jesus Christ—describes Himself as willingly submitting to the suffering
divinely appointed for Him. What enabled Him to undergo such suffering and endure such trials? See verse 7 (printed
below)
Because the Lord Jehovah will help me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore I have set my face like a flint; I know
that I will not be put to shame. (Isaiah 50:7)
4. What counsel is offered to us in verse 10 (printed below?)
Who among you fears Jehovah? Who among you obeys the voice of his servant? He who walks in darkness, without
a ray of light, let him trust in the name of Jehovah and rely upon his God. (Isaiah 50:10)
5. Conversely, what warning are we given in verse 11 (printed below?)
Listen, all of you who kindle fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches: walk by the light of your fires and
with the torches you have set ablaze! But this is what you shall receive from my hand: you shall lie down in torment.
(Isaiah 50:11)
6. As a Christian it is your privilege and your obligation to _______ upon the Lord your God, knowing that He is fully
able to meet your needs. Fill in the blank
7. The following illustration provides an accurate and biblical description of the Christian life: By means of a “divine
helicopter” from heaven, Christ has delivered us from the shark-infested waters of sin; only to drop us down on a wild
and foreboding island, informing us that we are now left to our own resources until He someday comes back for us.
True or False
8. At times we are prone to make the same false accusation against the Lord as did His Old Testament people, charging
that He has forsaken us. But what assurance does He give us? Match the passages listed below with the assurances they
provide for the Christian.
a.
b.
c.
Jesus assures us, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18) ___
Jesus promises, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—
17
the Spirit of truth. (John 14:16-17) ___
Jesus informs us, “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him, he is
the one who bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) ___
1. We are not left to our own resources.
2. We are not abandoned.
3. We are not left to fend for ourselves.
9. One of the reasons we at times feel abandoned by God is because we have a faulty view of the Christian life. Match
the passages listed below with the lessons they teach us about the role of trials in the Christian life.
a.
b.
c.
d.
In the world you have tribulation. But have courage; I have conquered the world. (John 16:33) ___
They (Paul and Barnabas) returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22confirming the souls of the
disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and teaching that through many tribulations we must
enter into the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:21-22) ___
The word of Jehovah came to me: 6“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?”
declares Jehovah. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel….”.
(Jeremiah 18:5-6) ___
The Lord stood by me and strengthened me; …and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. The Lord
will deliver me out of every evil work and will save me for his heavenly kingdom, to whom be the glory
forever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:17-18) ___
1.
2.
3.
4.
We are often led through trials, not around them.
The Lord will be with us in our trials.
We are not exempt from trials.
It is the Lord’s right to test us by trials.
10. Match the lessons contained in Isaiah 50 with the situations to which they pertain. (Questions continued on next
page)
a.
When we feel a sense of defeat in our Christian life we need to rely upon the Lord our God, knowing
that ___.
59
b.
c.
When we feel a sense of weariness, or even disillusionment, in our Christian life we need to rely upon
the Lord our God, knowing that ___.
When we feel a sense of confusion in our Christian life we need to rely upon the Lord our God, knowing
that ___
1. He has not abandoned us
2. He is able to counsel us.
3. He will uphold us
SERVE THE LORD FAITHFULLY
ISAIAH 52:13-53:12
52 13See, my servant will be successful; he will become high and lifted up, he will be greatly exalted. 14Just as many
were appalled at you—he was so disfigured that his appearance was unlike any other man, his form was unlike the
sons of men—15so shall he cause many nations to be shocked. Kings shall cover their mouths at the sight of him; for
what was not reported to them they themselves will see, and what was not explained to them they will understand.
53 Who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of Jehovah been revealed?—2for he grew up before
him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him;
and when we looked at him, there was nothing in his appearance that would cause us to desire him. 3He was despised
and rejected by men; he was a man of sorrows and acquainted with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their
faces he was despised, and we did not hold him in esteem.
4
Surely he has borne our afflictions and carried our sorrows; but we regarded him as one who was stricken by
God, smitten by him and afflicted as an evildoer. 5But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for
our iniquities; the punishment was laid upon him for our peace, and by his wounds we are healed. 6We all, like sheep,
have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but Jehovah has laid upon him the iniquity of us all. 7He was
oppressed and afflicted, but he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is being led to slaughter, and like a sheep
that is silent before her shearers, so he did not open his mouth. 8By persecution and condemnation he was taken
away. But who of his generation considered the fact that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the
transgression of my people whose punishment was laid on him. 9Although he was assigned his burial with wicked men,
he was with a rich man in his death; because he had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in his mouth.
10
Yet it was Jehovah’s will to crush him, he caused him to suffer. Even though you have made his life an offering
for sin, he will see his offspring; his days shall continue, and Jehovah’s purpose shall be accomplished by his hand.
11
He will see the fruit of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied. By his knowledge my righteous servant shall
justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12Therefore, I will give him a portion with the great, and he will divide
the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors—he
bore the sins of many and interceded for the transgressors.
THEME: From the example of Christ our Savior we are taught the truth that the Lord will greatly honor the one who
serves Him faithfully.
PURPOSE: To exhort the students to serve the Lord faithfully, so that we may receive the honor that only He can
bestow.
OUTLINE: I. Serve the Lord Faithfully,
…Even When It Means Being Despised by the World (Isaiah 53:1-3,7-9)
II. Serve the Lord Faithfully,
…Even When It Means Enduring Divinely-Administered Affliction (Isaiah 53:4-6)
III. Serve the Lord Faithfully,
…Because It Is Well Worth It (Isaiah 52:13-15; 53:10-12)
Introduction
1.
Back in 1964 during a war in the South Pacific islands, Nepalese soldiers were asked if they would be willing to
jump from airplanes into combat against the Indonesian enemy.
2.
The Nepalese soldiers expressed their willingness to do so, asking only that the planes fly slowly over a swampy
area and no higher than one hundred feet.
3.
“But,” explained their commander in chief, “at that low altitude your parachutes will not have sufficient time to
open!”
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4.
“Parachutes!?!” exclaimed the Nepalese soldiers, “We didn’t know we would be outfitted with parachutes!”
5.
Now there is an example of commitment: those Nepalese soldiers thought they were being asked to jump out of
airplanes and into combat without parachutes—and they were willing to do it! (Our Daily Bread, 1/30/94)
6.
In that part of the world those brave Nepalese soldiers have always been known and honored for their courageous
commitment to their commander in chief.
7.
In the life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ we see an even greater example of commitment to the heavenly
Father; …and we are made to see how greatly God honors the one who serves Him faithfully.
8.
If we would be honored by God and would receive the honor that only He can bestow, by His grace we must serve
Him faithfully, no matter what we may encounter.
I. Serve the Lord Faithfully,
…Even When It Means Being Despised by the World (Isaiah 53:1-3,7-9)
1.
In Isaiah 53:2 our Lord is figuratively compared to a feeble little shoot sprouting up out of the parched ground:
he grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground.

2.
one certainly does not expect great things from such a plant; one does not even expect such a plant to
survive, let alone grow into a mighty tree or a beautiful flower of the field
Our Lord is further described as having neither an attractive form nor physical beauty, indeed, He had no
beauty or majesty to attract us to him; and when we looked at him, there was nothing in his appearance
that would cause us to desire him. (verse 2b)

in contemporary terms we may say that in His incarnation, our Lord did not assume the physique of a
professional athlete or the strikingly handsome features of a Hollywood movie star

there was nothing to be seen in our Lord’s physical appearance and demeanor that would make Him
naturally appealing to us

contrast this description of our Lord Jesus Christ in His incarnation with that of the young men who were
selected for positions of honor in the courts of Babylon (Daniel 1:3-4)
Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring some of the Israelites from the
royal family and the nobility—4young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for
every kind of learning, well-informed, quick to understand and qualified to serve in the king’s palace.
(Daniel 1:3-4)
3.
From the description given of our Lord in verse 2 it is no wonder that in verse 3 come these words: he was
despised and rejected by men

the point is that our Lord in His physical appearance and demeanor (note Matthew 11:29 for a further
revelation of His demeanor) came far short of what pagan men envision their gods and super heroes
would be if they were to assume human form—He did not measure up to what natural men look for and
admire in a leader
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am meek and humble in heart: and you shall find
rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:29)

consequently, they looked upon Him with contempt and totally dismissed Him as a potential leader or as
a threat to their rule
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. (John 18:37); such was Pilate’s incredulous response to Jesus when He
stood trial before the Roman governor
…we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles (1 Corinthians
1:23); the fact that salvation comes by faith in the crucified Christ was an offense to the self-righteous
Jews and foolishness to the proud and mighty Gentiles

note: when our Lord displayed His divine and miraculous power the crowd was attracted by that power,
but when it became clear that He would not employ that power as would a conquering general, they
forsook Him
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Now when the people saw the sign that he had performed, they said, Surely this is the Prophet who is
to come into the world! 15Jesus, perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force in
order to make him king, withdrew again into the hills by himself. (John 6:14-15); such was the peoples’
initial reaction to our Lord’s miracle of feeding the five thousand with just a few bread biscuits and five
small fish—but when He resisted their efforts to be their earthly king and employ His divine power against
the Romans of that day, they soon raised the cry, “Crucify him!” (Matthew 27:22)
4.
Our Lord in His state of humiliation in the incarnation is further described as being…

a man of sorrows and acquainted with suffering (verse 3b); our Lord in His human nature was not
immune to the effects of such rejection and abuse as He experienced: He knew what it is like to be
overlooked, ignored, discounted, rejected, and left alone

like one from whom men hide their face he was despised, and we did not hold him in esteem (verse 3c);
in His final earthly hour, when it had become fully evident that His chosen course (of submission to the
Father’s will) was at total variance with the expectations of the world, He was totally rejected, even by
those who were His dearest and closest disciples (note Matthew 26:56b,72)
Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. (Matthew 26:56b); such was the response of His
disciples in the garden of Gethsemane when the Lord Jesus refused to resist the soldiers and
meekly submitted in allowing Himself to be arrested
He denied it again, with an oath: “I do not know the man!” (Matthew 26:72); such was Peter’s
denial in the courtyard of the high priest
5.
Yet our Lord Jesus Christ served His heavenly Father faithfully, even though He knew that it would mean being
despised by the world (verses 7-9)
a.
Christ willingly submitted Himself unto affliction without raising any protest or making any defense (verse
7)
b.
by means of human oppression and unjust judgment He was swept off of the stage of history and out of
this present world (verse 8)

c.
6.
none of His contemporaries at the time appreciated the fact that he was cut off out of the land of
the living for the transgression of my people whose punishment was laid on him. (verse 8c)
having meekly submitted to the mockery of a false trial, and to the cursed death of the cross, His body
was laid to rest in a grave (verse 9)

he was assigned his burial with wicked men; they took His body down from the cross and buried it,
like they did with the two criminals who were crucified with Him

he was with a rich man in his death; now something unusual occurred: His body was laid to rest in
the grave of a rich man; He received an honorable burial—this would be the beginning of the honor
that was now to follow upon the successful completion of the Messiah’s redemptive work
Christian, in imitation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, let us serve the Lord faithfully, …even when it
means being despised by the world
Let us focus our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him
endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him
who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews
12:2-3)
And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13Let us,
then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. (Hebrews 13:12-13)
II. Serve the Lord Faithfully,
…Even When It Means Enduring Divinely-Administered Affliction (Isaiah 53:4-6)
1.
Verse 4 testifies, we regarded him as one who was stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted as an
evildoer
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
that is to say, we saw Him as one upon whom the full brunt of the wrath of God was administered:
stricken, smitten, afflicted

we witnessed Him being executed as the vilest criminal (Deuteronomy 21:22-23), …we heard Him cry out
that He was forsaken by God (Mark 15:33-34)
If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, 23you must not
leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is
hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not desecrate the land Jehovah your God is giving
you as an inheritance. (Deuteronomy 21:22-23)
At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34And at the ninth hour
Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why
have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:33-34)
2.
We regarded Him as a man rejected by God, cursed by God, …but we came to understand that He was made
to be a curse for us in order to procure our salvation
Surely he has borne our afflictions and carried our sorrows (verse 4)

that is to say, He was identifying Himself with us in our state of sin and misery, taking upon Himself the
plagues of body and soul which are part of the consequence of sin, part of life in this present sinful
world that is under the righteous curse of God
Into what estate (or condition) did the fall bring mankind?
The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery.
What is the misery of that estate whereinto men fell?
All mankind, by their fall, lost communion with God, are under His wrath and
curse, and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and
to the pains of hell forever.
Questions and Answers #17 and #19 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism (quoted above) describe the
state of mankind as a consequence of our rebellion against the Lord our God—it is to this state that our
Lord Jesus Christ submitted Himself for the redemption of all who entrust themselves to Him as their
Lord and Savior
…he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment was laid
upon him for our peace, and by his wounds we are healed (verse 5)

the righteous judgment of God and the awesome justice of God were enacted against Him in full
measure on behalf of all those who put their faith in Him (note 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Galatians 3:13)
Him (Christ) who knew no sin he (God the Father) made to be sin on our behalf, so that we might
become the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed
is everyone who hangs on a tree.” (Galatians 3:13)
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but Jehovah has laid
upon him the iniquity of us all. (verse 6)

here is the statement of universal guilt and the offer of all-sufficient atonement for all who receive
Christ (note 1 Peter 3:18)
Christ also died for sins once for all, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones, so that he might
bring us to God. (1 Peter 3:18)
3.
The heavenly Father subjected our Lord Jesus Christ to affliction in order to confirm His obedience (note
Hebrews 5:8) and to accept that perfect obedience as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of His people (Isaiah
53:4-6)
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Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered (Hebrews 5:8); our Lord’s
commitment to His Father was tested by every trial He encountered and that commitment was proven by
every act of obedience He rendered in the face of temptation and trial
4.
Christian, in imitation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, let us serve the Lord faithfully, …even when it
means being afflicted by God.

the heavenly Father subjects His children to affliction in order that we may develop in Christ-like
obedience and character (note Hebrews 12:5-6,10)
…you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: My son, do not make
light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you; 6because the Lord
disciplines those he loves, and scourges everyone he accepts as a son. … 10Our fathers disciplined us
for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in
his holiness. (Hebrews 12:5-6,10)
III. Serve the Lord Faithfully,
…Because It Is Well Worth It (Isaiah 52:13-15; 53:10-12)
1.
In Isaiah 52:13 the Lord pledges that His faithful servant shall be wonderfully exalted: my servant will be
successful; he will become high and lifted up, he will be greatly exalted.

despite His suffering and humiliation and death by crucifixion, indeed, precisely because of His faithful
acceptance of such suffering, the Lord declares that His servant shall be glorified and highly exalted
(note Philippians 2:8-11)
…he humbled himself by becoming obedient unto death, even death on the cross. 9Therefore, God
exalted him to the highest position and bestowed upon him the name that is above every name; 10so
that before the name Jesus now possesses “every knee should bow”—in heaven and on earth and
under the earth—11“and every tongue confess” that Jesus Christ is Lord unto the glory of God the
Father. (Philippians 2:8-11)

these promises began to attain their fulfillment with Christ’s resurrection and ascension, and they will
yet achieve their ultimate fulfillment with His return in glory (note 2 Thessalonians 1:7,10)
…the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels… 10on the day
he shall be glorified in his holy people and be marveled at by all those who have believed. (2
Thessalonians 1:7,10)
2.
In Isaiah 52:14-15 the Lord promises that His servant’s exaltation shall be in direct proportion to His previous
humiliation: Just as many were appalled at you…so shall he cause many nations to be shocked
a.
note: the primary meaning of the Hebrew word hz2n2 is “to leap” or “to spring.” In the hiphil form it
usually means “to spirt” or “to sprinkle.” But given the present context, the word as used here is best
understood to mean “to be startled,” or "to be shocked"—what is in view here is a leaping or spirting of
the emotions when men behold the once battered Christ when He appears in His divine glory at the end
of the age. Whole nations “will tremble with astonishment within themselves, being
electrified, as it were, by the surprising change that has taken place in the
servant of Jehovah.” (Keil & Delitzsch, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol.2, p.309)
b.
at the first, the suffering which befell the Lord’s servant caused many to look upon Him in astonishment
and shock: because His body was so battered and bloodied He presented an appalling sight, having been
beatened, scourged and crucified
c.
but at the last, the honor bestowed upon Him shall cause the nations to once again look upon Him, this
time in speechless astonishment at His glory: He shall appear in the very glory of God, He shall bear the
very Name of God, He shall truly be the visible manifestation of the great God Himself in human form
(note again Philippians 2:8-11)
d.
Kings shall cover their mouths at the sight of him;
at the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ the very rulers of this present world will be confronted
with the unspeakable and indefinable glory of God as it is revealed in the Person of His Son, our Lord
Jesus Christ
64
3.
In verse 12 of chapter 53 God the Father makes this testimony concerning His faithful servant:
…because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors

in His faithfulness He stopped at nothing short of death, and willingly exposed Himself to the
humiliation and shame of being identified with sinners…
Therefore will I give him a portion with the great, and he will divide the spoil with the strong

what is here figuratively stated in Old Testament terms is revealed in all of its fullness in Philippians
2:8-11 (note, too, Revelation 5:11-13)
And I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and
the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of
thousands; 12saying with a great voice, Worthy is the Lamb who has been slain to receive the power,
and riches, and wisdom, and might and honor, and glory, and blessing. 13And every created thing that
is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all things that are in them, I
heard saying, Unto him who sits on the throne, and unto the Lamb, be the blessing, and the honor,
and the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever. (Revelation 5:11-13)
4.
Christian, in imitation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, let us serve the Lord faithfully, …knowing that it is
well worth it
If any man would serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant also be. If any man
serves me, the Father will honor him. (John 12:26); such is the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ
God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty
hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time (1 Peter 5:5-6)
Jehovah declares, … I will honor those who honor me. (1 Samuel 2:30)
Conclusion
1.
I have told you about those Nepalese soldiers who were even willing to jump out of airplanes and into combat, so
great was their commitment to their commander in chief.
2.
In that part of the world those elite Nepalese troops have always been known and honored for their faithful,
courageous service rendered in wartime.
3.
In the life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ we see a far greater example of faithfulness and commitment to the
heavenly Father.
4.
And the Scriptures reveal to us how greatly God rewards the one who serves Him faithfully.
5.
If we would be honored by God and would receive the reward that He alone can bestow, we must serve Him
faithfully. Let us look to Him for the grace to do so.
Questions on Isaiah 52:13-53:12
1. How is the Lord's servant described in Isaiah 53:2 (printed below?) Note: The Lord's servant is none other than Jesus
the Messiah.
...he grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground. He had no beauty or majesty to
attract us to him; and when we looked at him, there was nothing in his appearance that would cause us to desire
him. (Isaiah 53:2)
2. How was the Lord's servant treated by men? See Isaiah 53:3 (printed below)
65
He was despised and rejected by men; he was a man of sorrows and acquainted with suffering. Like one from whom
men hide their faces he was despised, and we did not hold him in esteem. (Isaiah 53:3)
3. How did the Lord Himself treat His servant? See Isaiah 53:4 (printed below)
Surely he has borne our afflictions and carried our sorrows; but we regarded him as one who was stricken by God,
smitten by him and afflicted as an evildoer. (Isaiah 53:4)
4. Why did the Lord treat His faithful servant in this way? See Isaiah 53:5-6 (printed below)
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment was laid upon him for
our peace, and by his wounds we are healed. (6) We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his
own way; but Jehovah has laid upon him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:5-6)
5. What promise does the Lord make to His faithful servant in Isaiah 52:13 (printed below?)
See, my servant will be successful; he will become high and lifted up, he will be greatly exalted. (Isaiah 52:13)
6. In the life of the servant of the Lord—Jesus the Messiah—we witness a life of commitment to the heavenly Father,
and we are made to see how greatly God honors those who are _______. Fill in the blank
7. In His capacity as the servant of the Lord, Jesus remained faithful to His heavenly Father despite all He had to
endure from the world. Complete the sentences listed below that discuss what the Messiah endured.
a.
b.
c.
The servant of the Lord did not measure up to what the world looks for and admires in a leader;
therefore, ___.
The servant of the Lord experienced a life of ridicule, rejection and isolation; consequently, ___.
The servant of the Lord quietly endured the unjust treatment he suffered; He remained faithful to his
heavenly Father even though ___.
1. he was despised and rejected by men
2. he was oppressed and afflicted
3. he was a man of sorrows and acquainted with suffering
8. Which of the following statements accurately describe the divine affliction that was administered to His servant by
the Lord Himself?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
He was stricken and smitten by God as though he were an evildoer.
He was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities.
He was cut off from the land of the living.
He was associated with a rich man in his death.
All of the above
9. Contrast His former humiliation with the exaltation the Lord bestows upon His servant as a reward for His steadfast
faithfulness.
a.
b.
c.
He was assigned his burial with wicked men. ___
He was despised and rejected by men; we did not hold him in high esteem. ___
Many were appalled at him—he was so disfigured that his appearance was unlike that of any other man.
___
1. He was with a rich man in his death.
2. He will be greatly exalted.
3. Many nations shall be shocked by his glory.
10. What lessons are to be learned from this present passage of Isaiah 52:13-53:12?
a.
b.
c.
In the life of the Lord’s servant, Jesus the Messiah, we see that the Lord is faithful to spare from trials
the one who is faithful to Him.
In the life of the Lord’s servant, Jesus the Messiah, we see a life of steadfast faithfulness to the Lord.
In the life of the Lord’s servant, Jesus the Messiah, we see how greatly God rewards the one who serves
Him faithfully.
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LESSON SIX: I SAIAH 60:1-22 AND I SAIAH 61:1-11
The student should prepare for his study by asking the Holy Spirit to enlighten his mind and open his heart to
receive not only the teaching of Scripture but Christ Himself as He is presented in the Scriptures.
Assignments:
1. Bible Study: The student will explore 2 portions of Isaiah, guided by an expositional commentary on the text.
The student will then answers the questions found at the end of the expository notes.
2. Writing Your Essay: The student should continue work on his 8-10 page essay for Bachelor's credit or 15-20page essay for Master's credit. (See under Syllabus, "Description of Assignments," #3. The student is also
referred to the "Guidelines for Writing an Essay," provided by the facilitator.)
Note: All Scripture texts will appear in Comic Sans MS font; all extended quotations from other authors will
appear in Courier font.
THREE REASONS WHY YOU CAN LIVE IN HOPE
ISAIAH 60:1-22
60 Arise, shine, for your light has dawned; indeed, the glory of Jehovah has risen upon you. 2Look, darkness covers
the earth, and thick darkness is over the people; but Jehovah rises upon you, and his glory appears over you.
3
Nations will come to your light, and kings will come to the brightness of your dawn. 4Lift up your eyes and look
around: they all assemble themselves, they come to you—your sons shall come from a distance and your daughters
shall be carried in the arms. 5Then you will see this and be radiant with joy, your heart will throb and swell with
happiness; because the riches of the earth will be brought to you over the sea, the wealth of the nations will come
to you. 6Herds of camels will cover your land, the young camels of Midian and Ephah. All the men of Sheba shall
come to you, bringing gold and frankincense, and they shall proclaim the praises of Jehovah. 7All the flocks of
Kedar will be gathered for you, the rams of Nebaioth will be at your service; they will be accepted as offerings on
my altar, and I will glorify my temple with my glory. 8Who are these that fly along like a cloud in the sky, who fly
like doves to their nests? 9Surely the islands will be at my service; in the lead are the merchant ships of Tarshish,
bringing your sons from a distant land with their silver and gold; on account of the name of Jehovah your God, the
Holy One of Israel, because he has honored you. 10Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you;
for, although I struck you in my wrath, now with my favor I will have mercy on you. 11Your gates will continually
stand open, they will not be shut day or night, so that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations—and their
kings presented to you as captives. 12The nation or kingdom that refuses to serve you will perish; indeed, those
nations shall be utterly destroyed. 13The glory of Lebanon will be given to you—the pine, the fir, the cypress, all of
them—to beautify the area around my sanctuary; I will glorify the place where my feet rest. 14The sons of your
oppressors will come bowing before you; all those who despised you will bow down at the soles of your feet. They
will call you, The City of Jehovah, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
15
Whereas formerly you had been forsaken and hated, so that no one traveled through your land, I will make you
become an eternal splendor, a sight that inspires rapture in all generations. 16You will suck the milk of the nations,
you will nurse upon the breasts of kings. Then you will know that I, Jehovah, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the
Mighty One of Jacob. 17Instead of brass I will bring gold, and instead of iron I will bring silver, and instead of wood
I will bring brass, and instead of stones I will bring iron. Furthermore, I will make peace to be your governor and
righteousness to be your ruler. 18Violence will no longer be heard of in your land, nor will there be any reports of
ruin or destruction within your borders. On the contrary, you will name your walls Salvation and your gates you will
call Praise. 19The sun shall no longer be your light by day, neither shall the brightness of the moon be your source
of light in the night; Jehovah will be your everlasting light, and your God shall be your brightness. 20Your sun will
never set again, and your moon will no longer wane; for Jehovah will be your everlasting light, and your days of
sorrow will end. 21Your people will be completely righteous, they will inherit the land as an everlasting possession.
They are the shoot I have planted, the work produced by my hand, so that I may be glorified. 22The least of you
will become a thousand, and the smallest of you will become a mighty nation. At the appointed time, I, Jehovah, will
cause it to happen suddenly.
THEME: The Christian needs to know the reasons why we can live a life of hope.
PURPOSE: To inform the students why we, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, can live a life of hope.
67
OUTLINE: I. Live in Hope,
…Because You Shall Inherit the Blessings of God (Isaiah 60:4-9,16)
II. Live in Hope,
…Because You Shall Share in the Honor of Christ (Isaiah 60:10-15)
III. Live in Hope,
…Because You Shall See the Glory of the Lord (Isaiah 60:1-3,19-20)
Introduction
1.
A woman who did a lot of research work at home began to have difficulty with her vision, so she went to see an
eye doctor.
2.
After a thorough exam, he said, “Your eyes are extremely tired. They need a rest.”
3.
“But that is impossible,” replied the woman. “My work requires me to do very much reading.”
4.
After thinking for a moment, the doctor asked, “Do you have any wide views of the countryside from your home?”
5.
“Yes,” answered the woman. “From my front porch I can see the peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains.”
6.
“The next time your eyes get tired,” instructed the physician, “gaze steadily at the mountains for ten to twenty
minutes. The far look will rest your eyes.”
7.
What is true in the physical realm is also true in the spiritual: the eyes of your soul grow tired from focusing on
your problems and the sinfulness of this present world. But if you turn your attention to the far horizon of the
fulfillment of God’s promises, you gain a new and refreshing perspective. (Our Daily Bread, 11/24/92)
8.
Because of the great and sure promises of the Lord, we as Christians can live our lives in hope.
9.
As we study Isaiah 60, let us consider Three Reasons Why We Can Live in Hope.
I. Live in Hope,
…Because You Shall Inherit the Blessings of God (Isaiah 60:4-9,16)
1.
Verse 4 is describing a great re-gathering of God’s people, a great “homecoming,” a joyful “family reunion”
Lift up your eyes and look around: they all assemble themselves, they come to you—your sons shall come
from a distance and your daughters shall be carried in the arms (verse 4)
a.
Jerusalem is commanded to lift up her eyes, look around, and see what the Lord is doing; …as Jerusalem
responds to God’s command, she sees a great re-gathering of her exiled sons and daughters as they are
brought back home to their city and their land
b.
just as surely as the Lord brought His people out of the Babylonian captivity and back home to Israel, so
He will bring all His redeemed into His heavenly home and eternal kingdom
Do not let your heart be troubled; trust in God, trust in me also. 2In my Father’s house are many
rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go
and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me; so that where I am, you may
be also. (John 14:1-3); such is our Lord’s sure testimony and promise
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of
men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will
bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you
that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those
who have fallen asleep—16for the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with
the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to
meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other
with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
2.
Jerusalem shall be radiant with joy, her heart will throb and swell with happiness —i.e.; Jerusalem shall
beam with delight when she beholds the wealth of the world being brought to her (verse 5)
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a.
the merchant vessels are portrayed as sailing to her ports on the Mediterranean, filled with their cargo
(verse 5b)
b.
as she looks to the east, Jerusalem sees the caravans crossing the desert to bring her their treasures; the
camels are loaded down with gold and frankincense (verse 6a)
c.
all the flocks of Kedar and the rams of Nebaioth are gathered to Jerusalem where they are offered up as
a great and acceptable sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord (verse 7a)
d.
as she looks west, out across the Mediterranean Sea, Jerusalem sees the merchant ships of the nations
with their white sails—compared to swift moving clouds and white doves flying to their nests—coming to
deliver their cargoes to her: the great ships of Tarshish, that traveled the world, are now bringing their
silver and gold to Jerusalem (verse 8)
e.
the Lord has caused all these great merchant ships and caravans to do His bidding (like servants waiting
upon their master), …they act on account of the name of Jehovah your God, the Holy One of Israel,
because he has honored you. (verse 9)

3.
that is to say, their action is compelled by the Lord and by the fact that He has chosen to make His
people the object of His favor and glory, bestowing upon them the wealth of the world
What this passage is poetically portraying is the abundance of wealth/blessing that the Lord will finally bestow
upon His people at the end of this present age, …their expression of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord their
God, …and the acceptance of their person and worship by the Lord as they finally dwell with Him when heaven
and earth are united in the renewed creation

it is the teaching and the promise of Scripture that the Lord shall finally “repossess” the wealth of the
world and shall bestow it all upon His people in blessing forever (note Proverbs 13:22b; Job 27:13,16-17;
Ecclesiastes 2:26)
… a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. (Proverbs 13:22b)
Here is the fate God allots to the wicked: …Though he heaps up silver like dust and clothes like piles
of clay, 17what he lays up the righteous will wear, and the innocent will divide his silver. (Job 27:13,1617)
To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives
the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. (Ecclesiastes
2:26)
4.
When Jerusalem shall be “nourished” with the wealth of the nations, she shall know that the Lord is her Savior
and that her Redeemer is the Mighty One of Jacob

5.
the Lord’s people shall finally come to inherit and enjoy a prosperity that is abundant and of the finest
quality (verse 17a), … a peace and tranquility that is the fruit of righteousness (verse 17b), …and a
security that is provided by the Lord Himself (verse 18)
As a Christian, here is the first reason why you can live in hope: the fact that you shall inherit the blessings of
God
II. Live in Hope,
…Because You Shall Share in the Honor of Christ (Isaiah 60:10-15)
1.
Verse 10 contains the promise that foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you
a.
here is a complete reversal of the time when foreigners destroyed the city (note Psalm 74:4-7a)
Your foes roared in the place where you met with us; they set up their standards as signs. 5They
behaved like men wielding axes to cut through a thicket of trees. 6They smashed all the carved
paneling with their axes and hatchets. 7They burned your sanctuary to the ground; they defiled the
dwelling place of your Name. (Psalm 74:4-7a)
b.
here is a reference to Cyrus the Persian king sponsoring the re-building of the temple and the city of
Jerusalem (note Ezra 1:1-4)
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In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of Jehovah spoken by Jeremiah,
Jehovah moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to
put it in writing: 2This is what Cyrus king of Persia says, Jehovah, the God of heaven, has given me all
the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah.
3
Anyone of his people among you—may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah
and build the temple of Jehovah, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. 4And the people of
any place where survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods and
livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem. (Ezra 1:1-4)
c.
the final and complete fulfillment of this prophecy will be revealed with the final submission of the
nations before the Lord God and His people—acknowledging the Lord to be the true and only God (note
Revelation 2:26-27)
to the one who remains faithful to Him the Lord Jesus makes the promise: to him will I give authority
over the nations: 27and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken
to pieces; as I also have received authority from my Father (Revelation 2:26-27)
d.
2.
as verse 10b indicates, this is all due to the Lord’s mercy to His people, it is not due to our own power
or goodness: for, … now with my favor I will have mercy on you
Verse 11 continues the promise that there shall be brought into Jerusalem the wealth of the nations—and
their kings presented to you as captives

here is a complete reversal of the time when the nations plundered Jerusalem and foreign kings led
away the people into captivity (note Jeremiah 39:8-9 and 2 Chronicles 36:7)
The Babylonians set fire to the royal palace and the houses of the people and broke down the walls
of Jerusalem. 9Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard carried into exile to Babylon the
people who remained in the city, along with those who had gone over to him, and the rest of the
people. (Jeremiah 39:8-9)
Nebuchadnezzar also took to Babylon articles from the temple of Jehovah and put them in his
temple there. (2 Chronicles 36:7)
3.
Verse 12 proclaims that the nation or kingdom that refuses to serve you will perish

here is a prophecy of the Scriptural promise that the nations of the world shall finally bow before the
Lord in subservience to Him (Revelation 11:15 and Isaiah 2:17) and to His people (note again Revelation
2:26-27)
when the seventh angel shall sound his trumpet heralding the coming of the Lord in judgment and glory
then The kingdom of the world shall become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall
reign forever and ever. (Revelation 11:15)
The arrogance of man shall be brought low, and the pride of man shall be humbled; and Jehovah alone
shall be exalted on that day (Isaiah 2:17)
4.
Verse 14 prophesies that all those who despised you will bow down at the soles of your feet
a.
just as the individual Christian and the church of Christ as a corporate body share in the humiliation of
our Lord (He was despised and rejected by men, Isaiah 53:3) and the world’s hatred of Christ (cp.
Isaiah 60:15 with John 15:18-19), …
… formerly you had been forsaken and hated, so that no one traveled through your land (Isaiah 60:15)
If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before you. 19If you belonged to the world, the
world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, but I chose you out of the
world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:18-19)
70
b.
…so, too, shall the redeemed share in the honor and glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (note
Romans 8:17)
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share
in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:17)
5.
As a Christian, here is the second reason why you can live in hope: the fact that you shall share in the honor
of Christ
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down
with my Father on his throne. (Revelation 3:21)
If any man would serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant also be. If any man
serves me, the Father will honor him. (John 12:26)
III. Live in Hope,
…Because You Shall See the Glory of the Lord (Isaiah 60:1-3,19-20)
1.
Looking forward to the conclusion of the long seventy year “night” of the Babylonian captivity—and all the
way forward to the end of this present age of spiritual darkness—the Lord commands Jerusalem, Arise, shine
(verse 1)
a.
the city of God is commanded to become like the morning sun: to arise and shine with a brightness that
is seen throughout the world
b.
the city of God is enabled to heed the Lord’s command because your light has dawned; indeed, the
glory of Jehovah has risen upon you. (verse 1b)

like the morning sun dispelling the darkness of the night, so the Lord Himself shines forth in His
glory: He shines upon His people, awakening us by that glory and causing us to participate in it
2.
Verse 2 describes the state of the world as being comparable to the night: all is enveloped in moral and
spiritual darkness—but the Lord shines upon His people like the morning sun and that divine glory shines forth
like a beacon to the dark world
3.
Verse 3 relates the results of the Lord’s shining upon His people:
a.
nations will come to your light—Gentile peoples are converted to God through the gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ (note Isaiah 42:6-7; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10)
I, Jehovah, have called you by my righteousness, and I will hold your hand. I will watch over you and
appoint you to be the covenant representative for the people of Israel and a light for the Gentiles.
7
I have appointed you to open the eyes of the blind, to free the captives from prison, and to release
from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.. (Isaiah 42:6-7); such is the Lord’s commission to Jesus the
Messiah
…you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10and to wait for his Son from
heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. (1
Thessalonians 1:9-10)
b.
4.
…and kings will come to the brightness of your dawn—a reference to the powers and the rulers of the
world submitting to the Lord and His Christ—and to His people as they are united to their Savior and
share in His glory
What is the overall meaning and significance of this prophecy?
a.
the passage’s first level of fulfillment is seen in the Lord’s coming to redeem His people from the
“night” of their Babylonian captivity, …but it looks beyond that act of Old Testament redemption to His
coming in the incarnation to redeem His people from the bondage of our sins, …and it then looks all the
way forward to our Lord’s final coming in glory to accomplish the full redemption of His people
b.
the passage explains to us the results of the Lord’s coming:

His glory is revealed
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with regard to His coming at the time of His incarnation, the apostle John writes of our Lord Jesus
Christ, The Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us. We saw his glory, his glory as the
one and only Son who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
with regard to His final coming at the end of the age, our Lord Jesus Himself testifies, then shall
appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn,
and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
(Matthew 24:30)

His people are caught up into His glory, participating in it and radiating it from our lives
that process (known as sanctification) is even now being carried out by the Holy Spirit as He works
in the lives of the redeemed: we … beholding …the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into
the same image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18)
when that process is brought to its completion with the day of our Lord’s final appearing in glory,
we shall be completely transformed and perfectly radiate His divine glory:
Beloved, now we are children of God, but it is not yet revealed what we shall be. We know that,
if he shall be revealed, we shall be like him, for we shall see him even as he is. (1 John 3:2)

5.
the nations are confronted with the divine glory of the Lord and are compelled to respond to it:
they are made to acknowledge that the Lord is God, that He reigns, and that men must submit to
Him—willingly by conversion in this present time, or unwillingly by conquest on the day of His final
appearing
Verses 19-20 go on to promise that the light of the sun and the moon will be replaced by the glory of the
Lord:
The sun shall no longer be your light by day, neither shall the brightness of the moon be your source of
light in the night; Jehovah will be your everlasting light, and your God shall be your brightness. 20Your sun
will never set again, and your moon will no longer wane; for Jehovah will be your everlasting light, and your
days of sorrow will end. (verses 19-20)
a.
the presence of the Lord and His glory will illuminate the heavenly city, and that glory shall
everlastingly shine upon His people in blessing
b.
the desire of God’s people shall finally be realized: we shall see the King in His glory

c.
Moses expressed the desire within the hearts of all of God’s people when he requested of the Lord,
Show me your glory. (Exodus 33:18)
as a Christian living in the new Jerusalem of the kingdom of God, you shall experience the joy and
blessing of living in the fullness of God’s light and truth (note Revelation 21:23)
The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the
Lamb is its lamp. (Revelation 21:23)
6.
As a Christian, here is the third reason why you can live in hope: the fact that you shall see and experience in
blessing the glory of the Lord
Father, I desire that those whom you have given me may also be with me where I am, so that they may
see my glory—the glory that you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
(John 17:24)
Conclusion (continued on next page)
1.
The passage closes with these words: At the appointed time, I, Jehovah, will cause it to happen suddenly.

the point being made is that there is an appointed day for the fulfillment of all these things, …and the Lord
will see to it that nothing prevents the coming of that day; indeed, the Lord is causing history to speed on to
that great day
72
2.
This passage has presented to us, as Christians, three great reasons as to why we can and should live in hope:



3.
because we shall receive the blessings of God
because we shall share in the honor of Christ
because we shall see the glory of the Lord
Indeed, added to those reasons there is this further reason: the fact that the Lord is guiding history to the
appointed day of the fulfillment of these promises—and He guarantees that nothing can prevent the coming of
that great day.
Questions on Isaiah 60:1-22
1. What command does the Lord give to Jerusalem (see verse 1 printed below?) Contrast the state of Jerusalem with
that of the world (see verse 2 printed below).
Arise, shine, for your light has dawned; indeed, the glory of Jehovah has risen upon you. (Isaiah 60:1)
Look, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the people; but Jehovah rises upon you, and his glory
appears over you. (Isaiah 60:2)
2. According to Isaiah 60:3 (printed below), what is the result of the Lord shining upon His people and causing them to
share in His divine light?
Nations will come to your light, and kings will come to the brightness of your dawn. (Isaiah 60:3)
3. What kind of scene is being described in verse 4 (printed below?) When was this prophecy fulfilled in Israel's history?
What will be the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy?
Lift up your eyes and look around: they all assemble themselves, they come to you—your sons shall come from a
distance and your daughters shall be carried in the arms. (Isaiah 60:4)
4. What blessing is promised to Jerusalem (as the city represents God’s people) in Isaiah 60:5-7 (printed below?) When
will this prophecy have its ultimate fulfillment?
Then you will see this and be radiant with joy, your heart will throb and swell with happiness; because the riches of
the earth will be brought to you over the sea, the wealth of the nations will come to you. (6) Herds of camels will
cover your land, the young camels of Midian and Ephah. All the men of Sheba shall come to you, bringing gold and
frankincense, and they shall proclaim the praises of Jehovah. (7) All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered for you,
the rams of Nebaioth will be at your service; they will be accepted as offerings on my altar, and I will glorify my
temple with my glory. (Isaiah 60:5-7)
5. Having made all the promises contained throughout this chapter, what word of assurance does the Lord give at the
conclusion (see verse 22 printed below?)
The least of you will become a thousand, and the smallest of you will become a mighty nation. At the appointed
time, I, Jehovah, will cause it to happen suddenly. (Isaiah 60:22)
6. The message conveyed to us from Isaiah 60 is that, because of the great and sure promises of the Lord, we as
Christians can live our lives in _______. Fill in the blank
7. Isaiah 60:1 declares, “Arise, shine, for your light has dawned; indeed, the glory of Jehovah has risen upon you.”
According to the commentary, what is the fulfillment of this prophecy? (Answers continued on next page)
a.
b.
This prophecy is referring to the Lord’s coming to redeem His people from the “night” of their
Babylonian captivity.
This prophecy is referring to the Lord’s coming to redeem His people from the bondage of their sins by
His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
73
c.
d.
This prophecy is referring to the Lord’s coming in glory to bring His people into His eternal kingdom
there to fully and eternally share in His own divine glory.
All of the above
8. Isaiah 60:10-14 prophesy a great reversal in the fortune of God’s people because He will redeem them and cause
them to share in His own glory and honor. Contrast their previous state with the promises contained in these verses.
a.
b.
c.
The conquering Babylonian armies destroyed the city and burned it to the ground. ___
The Babylonians ransacked the city, looting its treasures and taking its wealth for themselves. ___
The residents of Jerusalem were subjected to every form of humiliation and led away into captivity by
the Babylonians. ___
1. Foreigners will rebuild your walls.
2. Those who despised you will bow down at your feet.
3. The wealth of the nations shall be presented to you.
9. Isaiah 60:17-18 enumerate some of the blessings the Lord’s people shall enjoy to the fullest extent in His everlasting
kingdom. Match the passages with the blessings of which they speak.
a.
b.
c.
Instead of brass I will bring gold, and instead of iron I will bring silver, and instead of wood I will bring
brass, and instead of stones I will bring iron. (Isaiah 60:17a) The Lord’s people shall enjoy ___.
Violence will no longer be heard of in your land, nor will there be any reports of ruin or destruction
within your borders. (Isaiah 60:18a) The Lord’s people shall enjoy ___.
The sun shall no longer be your light by day, neither shall the brightness of the moon be your source of
light in the night; Jehovah will be your everlasting light, and your God shall be your brightness. (Isaiah
60:19) The Lord’s people shall enjoy ___.
1. a prosperity of the finest quality
2. a state of peaceful tranquility
3. the Lord’s glorious presence
10. Complete the sentences listed below that enumerate the reasons why we as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ can
live a life of hope.
a.
b.
c.
We can live in hope because we shall inherit the ___.
We can live in hope because we shall share in the ___.
We can live in hope because we shall see the ___.
1. glory of the Lord
2. blessings of God
3. honor of Christ
TWO REASONS TO REJOICE
ISAIAH 61:1-11
61 The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me, because Jehovah has anointed me to preach good news to those who
are afflicted. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and freedom to
the prisoners. 2He has sent me to proclaim the year of Jehovah’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance. He has
sent me to comfort all who mourn—3to minister to those who mourn in Zion: to bestow on them a crown of beauty in
place of ashes, the oil of joy in place of mourning, the garment of praise in place of the spirit of despair. Then they
will be called Oaks of Righteousness, planted by Jehovah, so that he may be glorified.
4
They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places that were formerly devastated; they will repair the
ruined cities that have lain devastated for generations. 5Strangers will stand watch over your flocks and feed
them; foreigners will work your fields and your vineyards. 6But you will be called The Priests of Jehovah; men will
identify you as The Ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of the nations, and you will boast in their
riches. 7In place of your shame you will receive a double portion—instead of suffering disgrace they will rejoice in
their inheritance. They will possess a double portion in their land and everlasting joy will be bestowed upon them;
8
because I, Jehovah, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity. In my faithfulness I will reward them and make an
everlasting covenant with them. 9Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the
peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a family whom Jehovah has blessed.
10
I rejoice greatly in Jehovah, my soul exults in my God; because he has clothed me with the garments of
salvation, he has wrapped me in a robe of righteousness—like a bridegroom adorns his head with a turban like a
priest and like a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11As the soil makes the sprouts to come up and a garden
74
causes the seeds sown in it to grow, so will the Lord Jehovah cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all
nations.
THEME: The Christian has cause to rejoice when he considers what the Lord has done and what the Lord will do.
PURPOSE: To encourage the students to rejoice in the Lord by considering the biblical reasons for such rejoicing as
they are presented to us in Isaiah 61.
OUTLINE: I. Rejoice in the Lord,
…Because He has Clothed You with Righteousness (Isaiah 61:10)
II. Rejoice in the Lord,
…Because He will Cause His Righteousness to Triumph (Isaiah 61:11)
Introduction
1.
In Isaiah 61 a messenger from the Lord suddenly appears and announces his divine calling: The Spirit of the Lord
Jehovah is upon me

2.
here is someone anointed and empowered by the Holy Spirit in order to carry out the divine calling entrusted
to him
This messenger now describes his calling in the following terms (verses 1b-3a):
to preach good news to those who are afflicted

the Hebrew word, wn2e2, often rendered “the poor” also has the meaning “the afflicted,” which is preferable
in this context

he has a message of good news from the Lord God for those who are afflicted, those who are suffering the
consequences and burden of their sins
to bind up the broken-hearted

he is sent to minister healing and soothing comfort to those who are of a broken spirit and a contrite heart:
Jehovah is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a contrite spirit. (Psalm
34:18)
to proclaim liberty to the captives

he has come to announce release and freedom for those held prisoner and enslaved by a hostile, tyrannical,
and demonic power; indeed, he has come to announce that the door of their dungeon cell has been opened
and they are called to come forth into the light of divine freedom and life
to proclaim the year of Jehovah’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance

he announces that the date has arrived at which time the Lord will show mercy and favor to His people and
take vengeance upon those who oppress them and hold them captive
to minister to those who mourn

again it is emphasized that his calling is to minister the comfort and assurance of the Lord to those who
grieve over their sins and their estrangement from God
to bestow on them a crown of beauty in place of ashes, the oil of joy in place of mourning, the garment
of praise in place of the spirit of despair

3.
his task is to remove their mourning apparel, their humiliation and shame, their spirit of depression, and in
exchange cause them to receive a crown of beauty and honor, to become filled with the joy of the Lord, and
to be filled with praise to God
The results of the Messiah’s redeeming work, and the effect it has upon God’s people, are now declared in verse
3b and verses 10-11.
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4.
5.
In verse 3b we are told, Then they will be called Oaks of Righteousness, planted by Jehovah, so that he may be
glorified.

with their God-given righteousness the redeemed will resemble mighty oaks

they shall be planted by the Lord in His land, rooted into the life of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ

these stately oaks of righteousness shall adorn the kingdom of God and shall be for His own glory—redeemed
by Him, planted by Him, reflecting His glory by their fruit and in their stature
Verses 10-11 go on to further express the results of the Messiah’s work:
I rejoice greatly in Jehovah, my soul exults in my God; because he has clothed me with the garments of
salvation, he has wrapped me in a robe of righteousness—like a bridegroom adorns his head with a turban like a
priest and like a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11As the soil makes the sprouts to come up and a garden
causes the seeds sown in it to grow, so will the Lord Jehovah cause righteousness and praise to spring up
before all nations. (verses 10-11)
6.
Let us now consider these Two Reasons to Rejoice as they are presented to us in Isaiah 61.
I. Rejoice in the Lord,
…Because He has Clothed You with Righteousness (Isaiah 61:10)
1.
It is a terrible thing to stand before God exposed in the nakedness of our sin (consider Isaiah 6:5 and
Revelation 6:15-17)
Then I declared, “Woe to me! I am ruined!—for I am a man with unclean lips and I live among a people with
unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts.” (Isaiah 6:5)
Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free
man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall
on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17for the
great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:15-17)
2.
Throughout the ages men have sought for ways to conceal their sinful nakedness from the sight of God
a.
they have sought to do so by denying their sin
There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers; 12those who are pure in their
own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth; 13those whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose
glances are so disdainful; 14those whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are set with knives to
devour the poor from the earth, the needy from among mankind. (Proverbs 30:11-14); here are people
who are engaging in the vilest and cruelest of sins, and yet they protest their own innocence: they are
pure in their own eyes
b.
they have sought to excuse their sin
And Jehovah God said to the woman, What is this you have done? And the woman said, The serpent
deceived me, and I ate. (Genesis 3:13); rather than taking full responsibility for her sin, Eve seeks to
shift the blame completely upon the serpent
“What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and
that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash, 12I
thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought Jehovah’s
favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.” 13“You acted foolishly,” Samuel said. “You
have not kept the commandment Jehovah your God gave you; if you had, he would have established
your kingdom over Israel for all time. (1 Samuel 13:11-12); rather than taking personal responsibility for
his failure to heed the Lord’s command to wait for Samuel to offer the appointed sacrifice, Saul blames
the people for pressuring him into offering the sacrifice
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c.
they have sought to minimize their sin

some, like the Pharisees, have sought to do so by comparing themselves favorably to a notorious
sinner:
The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—
robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a
tenth of all I get.’ (Luke 18:11-12)

others have sought to do so by limiting the demands of God’s moral law to mere external actions, a
mistake the Lord Jesus corrects when He taught the true depths of the law’s requirements upon our
lives:
You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “Do not murder, and anyone who murders
will be subject to judgment.” 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be
subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, “Raca,” is answerable to the
Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, “You fool!” will be in danger of the fire of hell. …27You have
heard that it was said, “Do not commit adultery.” 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a
woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:21-22,27-28)
d.
they have sought to establish their own personal righteousness

the apostle Paul, prior to his conversion, tried his utmost to establish a personal righteousness
before God
…although I certainly have reason for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks that he has
reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more reason. 5I was circumcised on the eighth day, I
come from the nation of Israel, I am of the tribe of Benjamin, I am a pure Hebrew; with regard
to the law, I was a Pharisee. 6As far as zeal is concerned, I persecuted the church. With regard
to the righteousness that a man can attain by the law, I had become blameless. (Philippians 3:4-6)

but his sincere efforts all the more confronted him with the presence and the depth of his sinful
human nature:
I would not have known what sin was except through the law; for I would not have known what
coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” 8But sin, seizing the opportunity
afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. (Romans 7:7-8)

when he was confronted with Christ in His absolute righteousness, Paul was compelled to abandon
the effort of producing his own righteousness as the way of salvation (Philippians 3:7-8a)
…whatever things were gains to me (his personal merits and endeavors listed in verses 4-6), these
things I now regard as losses on account of Christ. 8But much more than that, I regard all things
as losses on account of the all-surpassing value of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord
(Philippians 3:7-8a); the knowledge of Christ Jesus to which Paul refers is Christ’s perfect
acquaintance with righteousness as stated in such passages as John 8:29 and John 14:30b
The one who sent me is with me; he has not forsaken me; because I always do the
things that are pleasing to him. (John 8:29); such is our Lord’s personal testimony
concerning His relationship to His Father and His Father’s commands
… the prince of the world is coming. He finds nothing in me (John 14:30b); Jesus
testifies that the devil has no accusation whatsoever that he can bring against Him, and
can find no point in which the Lord Jesus is susceptible to sin
3.
The only solution to our dilemma is to become clothed with the perfect righteousness of the Lord Jesus
Christ—this is what Paul discovered and of which he testifies in Philippians 3:8-9
But much more than that, I regard all things as losses on account of the all-surpassing value of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, because of whom I have suffered the loss of all things. Indeed, I
regard all such things as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ, 9and be found in him—not having my own
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righteousness which is derived from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness
which is from God received by faith (Philippians 3:8-9)
4.
This is what Isaiah foresees, this is what he describes in verse 10 of chapter 61, and in this he rejoices:
I rejoice greatly in Jehovah, my soul exults in my God; because he has clothed me with the garments of
salvation, he has wrapped me in a robe of righteousness—like a bridegroom adorns his head with a turban
like a priest and like a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (verse 10)
5.
As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, let us rejoice in the fact that the Lord has clothed us with His own
perfect righteousness

to appreciate the significance of this, contrast Revelation 6:17 with Revelation 7:9,13-14
on the day of final judgment the nations of the world shall cry out before the judgment throne of God
and of the Lamb, …the great day of their wrath has come; and who is able to stand? (Revelation 6:17)
but those who have received the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ shall be able to stand on that
great day: After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count,
from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.
They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands… 13Then one of the
elders asked me, These in white robes—who are they, and from where have they come? 14I answered,
Sir, you know. And he said, These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have
washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9,13-14); the white
robes symbolize cleansing from sin by the blood of Christ and being covered with Christ’s righteousness
II. Rejoice in the Lord,
…Because He will Cause His Righteousness to Triumph (Isaiah 61:11)
1.
As a Christian, you can look at yourself and become discouraged

consider the testimony of the apostle Paul:
I do not understand what I do. What I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. … 18I know that
nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I have the desire to do what is good, but I
cannot carry it out. 19What I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I
keep on doing. …21So I find this principle at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with
me. 22In my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my
body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work
within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
25
Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:15,18-19,21-25a)
2.
But as Christians we can be encouraged and rejoice when we consider our destiny as it is defined for us in
Isaiah 61
The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me, because Jehovah has anointed me to preach good news to
those who are afflicted. … He has sent me to comfort all who mourn—3to minister to those who mourn in
Zion: to bestow on them a crown of beauty in place of ashes, the oil of joy in place of mourning, the
garment of praise in place of the spirit of despair. Then they will be called Oaks of Righteousness,
planted by Jehovah, so that he may be glorified. (verses 1,3)
3.
As a Christian, you can look at the state of the world and become frustrated and discouraged to the point of
despair

consider the testimony of the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk
Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. 4Therefore the law is
paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
(Habakkuk 1:3b-4)
4.
But as Christians we can be encouraged and rejoice when we consider the final destiny God has appointed for
His renewed creation as it is defined for us in Isaiah 61
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As the soil makes the sprouts to come up and a garden causes the seeds sown in it to grow, so will the
Lord Jehovah cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all nations. (verse 11)

5.
what Isaiah speaks of here is the same thing the apostle Peter presents in 2 Peter 3:13, according to his
promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
Prior to the fulfillment of these great promises it is important for us to have a biblical perspective on why
the Lord presently withholds the final judgment which will usher in the revelation of that righteousness
a.
the Lord desires to give men the opportunity to repent (2 Peter 3:9)
The Lord is not negligent in keeping his promise … He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to
perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
b.
the Lord is willing to allow evil to become fully ripe for judgment (Psalm 92:5-7)
How great are your works, O Jehovah, how profound are your thoughts. 6The brutish man does not
know, fools do not understand, 7that when the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, it
is in order that they may be destroyed forever. (Psalm 92:5-7)
c.
the Lord desires the gospel to go forth into all the world so that men might be introduced to Christ the
Savior and His redeeming grace
…this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and
then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)
6.
But we have the Lord’s sure promise that His righteousness shall at last triumph with an everlasting triumph—
and that is reason for us to rejoice!
As the soil makes the sprouts to come up and a garden causes the seeds sown in it to grow, so will the
Lord Jehovah cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all nations. (Isaiah 61:11)
Conclusion
1.
2.
As we consider Isaiah 61 we discover two great reasons why the Christian may and should rejoice:

we may rejoice because the Lord has clothed us with His righteousness

we may rejoice because the Lord will cause His righteousness to triumph
Together with the prophet Isaiah, may we testify to one another and sing to the Lord:
I rejoice greatly in Jehovah, my soul exults in my God; because he has clothed me with the garments of
salvation, he has wrapped me in a robe of righteousness … 11 … the Lord Jehovah will cause righteousness and
praise to spring up before all nations. (Isaiah 61:10-11)
Questions on Isaiah 61:1-11
1. In Isaiah 61 a mysterious messenger suddenly appears, very abruptly and without introduction. What claim does he
make in verse 1 (printed below?)
The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me, because Jehovah has anointed me to preach good news to those who are
afflicted. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and freedom to the
prisoners. (Isaiah 61:1)
2. Who is this mysterious messenger whom we meet in Isaiah 61? Note Luke 4:16-21 (printed below)
(Jesus) went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as
was his custom. And he stood up to read. (17) The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he
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found the place where it is written: (18) The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach
good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed, (19) to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. (20) Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it
back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21and he began
by saying to them, Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. (Luke 4:16-21)
3. How does Isaiah describe the results of the Messiah's redeeming work and the effect it has upon God’s people? See
Isaiah 61:3b (printed below)
Then they will be called Oaks of Righteousness, planted by Jehovah, so that he may be glorified. (Isaiah 61:3b)
4. What causes Isaiah to rejoice in the Lord (Jehovah?) See Isaiah 61:10 (printed below)
I rejoice greatly in Jehovah, my soul exults in my God; because he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has wrapped me in a robe of righteousness—like a bridegroom adorns his head with a turban like a priest and
like a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)
5. What assurance does the Lord give us in Isaiah 61:11 (printed below?)
As the soil makes the sprouts to come up and a garden causes the seeds sown in it to grow, so will the Lord
Jehovah cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all nations. (Isaiah 61:11)
6. Who is the person speaking in the opening verses of Isaiah 61?
a.
b.
c.
Isaiah the Prophet
John the Baptist
Jesus the Messiah
7. In Isaiah 61:1-3 the Messiah informs us about His ministry. Match the statements with the appropriate descriptions.
a.
b.
c.
d.
He announces the date has arrived at which time the Lord will show mercy to His people and minister
His redeeming grace to them. ___
He will announce the time when the Lord will carry out His righteous judgment and retribution against
those who have opposed Him and His people. ___
He will bestow comfort and assurance to those who grieve over their sins and their estrangement from
God. ___
He will take away from the Lord’s people their humiliation and sorrow, replacing such with honor and
gladness and praise for the Lord. ___
1.
2.
3.
4.
He will minister to those who mourn.
He proclaims the year of Jehovah’s favor.
He will bestow a crown of beauty in place of ashes.
He proclaims the day of our God’s vengeance.
8. Throughout the ages men have sought to conceal their sinful condition from the sight of God. Match the passages
listed below with the futile efforts they describe.
a.
b.
c.
There are those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth (Proverbs 30:12)
Men seek to conceal their sins by ___.
And Jehovah God said to the woman, What is this you have done? And the woman said, The serpent
deceived me, and I ate. (Genesis 3:13) Men seek to conceal their sins by ___.
The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—
robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of
all I get.’ (Luke 18:11-12) Men seek to conceal their sins by ___.
1. excusing them
2. denying them
3. minimizing them
9. Previously Isaiah trembled in fear before God, being acutely aware of his sinful condition. But now he rejoices. Why?
(Answers continued on next page)
a.
Because the Lord has wrapped him in a robe of divine righteousness.
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b.
c.
Because he himself has produced a robe of righteousness that makes him acceptable to God.
Because the angels have bestowed upon him their own righteousness which now covers him like a robe.
10. Isaiah 61:11 promises the final triumph of righteousness. But why does the Lord presently withhold the final
judgment that, when it comes, will overthrow evil and usher in the reign of divine righteousness? Match the passages
listed below with the reasons they supply.
a.
b.
c.
The Lord is not negligent in keeping his promise … He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish,
but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) ___
How great are your works, O Jehovah, how profound are your thoughts. 6The brutish man does not
know, fools do not understand, 7that when the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, it is
in order that they may be destroyed forever. (Psalm 92:5-7) ___
This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then
the end will come. (Matthew 24:14) ___
1. God is giving men opportunity to repent.
2. God desires the gospel to be heard world-wide.
3. God is allowing evil to become ripe for judgment.
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LESSON SEVEN : I SAIAH 62:1-12 AND I SAIAH 63:1-6
The student should prepare for his study by asking the Holy Spirit to enlighten his mind and open his heart to
receive not only the teaching of Scripture but Christ Himself as He is presented in the Scriptures.
Assignments:
1. Bible Study: The student will explore 2 portions of Isaiah, guided by an expositional commentary on the text.
The student will then answers the questions found at the end of the expo sitory notes.
2. Writing Your Essay: The student should continue work on his 8 -10 page essay for Bachelor's credit or 15-20
page essay for Master's credit. (See under Syllabus, "Description of Assignments," #3. The student is also
referred to the "Guidelines for Writing an Essay," provided by the facilitator.)
Note: All Scripture texts will appear in Comic Sans MS font; all extended quotations from other authors will
appear in Courier font.
PRAY FOR THE COMING OF GOD’S KINGDOM
ISAIAH 62:1-12
62 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, until her righteousness
shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a blazing torch. 2The nations will see your righteousness, and all
kings will see your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of Jehovah will bestow upon you.
3
Furthermore, you will be a beautiful crown in the hand of Jehovah, a royal diadem in the hand of our God. 4You
shall no longer be called “Forsaken,” neither shall your land any longer be called “Desolate.” On the contrary, you
shall be called “Hephzibah”—my delight is in her, and your land shall be called “Beulah”—married; for Jehovah will
take delight in you, and your land will be married. 5As a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry
you, O land; and as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
6
I have posted watchmen upon your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who are
Jehovah’s palace recorders, give yourselves no rest, 7and give him no rest, until he establishes Jerusalem and
makes her the praise of all the earth. 8Jehovah has sworn by lifting his right hand—and by his mighty arm—
promising, Never again will I give your grain as food for your enemies, and foreigners will never again drink the new
wine you have labored hard to produce. 9On the contrary, those who harvest the crop will eat it and praise Jehovah,
and those who gather the grapes will drink the wine in the courts of my sanctuary. 10Pass through, pass through the
gates! Prepare the way for the people! Construct, construct the highway! Remove the stones! Give the signal for
the peoples to come! 11Listen! Jehovah has made a proclamation to the ends of the earth, Say to the daughter of
Zion, Look! Your Savior is coming! Look, he is bringing his reward with him, and his recompense accompanies him.
12
They will be called, “The Holy People,” “Those whom Jehovah has redeemed.” You will be called, “A City that is
Desirable,” and, “A City that is No Longer Forsaken.”
THEME: Sometimes we lose sight of the great petition that should be the primary focus of our prayers, namely, the
coming of the kingdom of God.
PURPOSE: To exhort the students to make the great petition for the coming of God’s kingdom a top priority in their
prayers.
OUTLINE: I. Pray for the Coming of God’s Kingdom,
…Because You are Commanded to Do So (Isaiah 62:6-7)
II. Pray for the Coming of God’s Kingdom,
…Being Inspired to Do So by God’s Great Promises (Isaiah 62:1-5)
III. Pray for the Coming of God’s Kingdom,
…Being Motivated by God’s Own Commitment (Isaiah 62:1,8-12)
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Introduction
1.
A survey indicated that four out of five Christians pray at least once a day.
2.
The general content of their prayers was described as follows:







90% thank God for what they have (as does 73% of the non-Christian population)
74% pray for people they know (as does 58% of the non-Christian population)
71% pray for their own spiritual growth (as does 52% of the non-Christian population)
66% pray for their health (as does 61% of the non-Christian population)
31% pray about the events happening in the world (as does 31% of the non-Christian population)
28% ask for the Lord’s guidance for public leaders (as does 19% of the non-Christian population)
7% ask for material things they need or want (as does 17% of the non-Christian population)
3.
One observation the researchers made was that the content of the Christian’s prayers is strikingly similar to that
of the non-Christian. (Vital Signs, George Barna and William Paul McKay, Crossway Books, Westchester IL, 1984,
pp.111-112)
4.
Another observation that can be made from considering the Christians’ prayers is the startling omission of any
petition for the coming of God’s kingdom.
5.
It appears that many Christians are losing sight of one of the foremost petitions that should be the primary focus
and concern of our prayers: Thy kingdom come.
6.
Because of the instruction and incentives provided by God’s Word, let us be sure to make the coming of God’s
kingdom a primary petition—if not the primary petition—in our prayers.
I. Pray for the Coming of God’s Kingdom,
…Because You are Commanded to Do So (Isaiah 62:6-7)
1.
In verse 6a the Lord declares that He has set watchmen upon the walls of Jerusalem

2.
The Lord further declares that these watchmen are never to hold their peace day or night

3.
the palace recorder, or remembrancer, was an official position in the ancient Middle Eastern court whose
responsibility was to remind the king of his appointments and commitments—the remembrancer was a
type of royal secretary
These divinely appointed palace recorders are given this charge: give yourselves no rest, 7and give him no
rest, until he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of all the earth.

5.
but they are not constantly crying out a warning to the citizens of an approaching enemy; …they are
constantly crying out to God for the fulfillment of His promises to bring His kingdom to its full fruition
In verse 6b these watchmen are identified as Jehovah’s palace recorders

4.
these watchmen are not apprehensively on the look out for signs of an approaching enemy; …they are
expectantly looking for the coming of the Lord and His kingdom
that is to say, the Lord’s remembrancers are to take no rest and give the Lord no rest until He has
fulfilled His promises and brought His kingdom to the earth in all of its eternal glory
With this Old Testament passage before us, consider how the New Testament describes what should be the
Christian’s mind…
…the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It teaches us to deny ungodliness and
worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13as we wait for
the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:11-13)
Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Philippians 3:20)
…what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
day of God and earnestly desire its coming. (2 Peter 3:11-12)
12
as you look forward to the
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6.
…and what should be the foremost focus of our prayers
This is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9-10)
10
Your kingdom come, your will
He who testifies about these things says, Indeed, I am coming swiftly. Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
(Revelation 22:20)
The greeting and the prayer of the New Testament church was, Maranatha. (1 Corinthians 16:22); Maranatha
means “O Lord, come!”
7.
Let us also take to heart these words addressed to us by our Lord Jesus Christ:
Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you
may be able to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:36)
8.
Let us expectantly pray for the coming of God’s kingdom, …because we are commanded to do so.
II. Pray for the Coming of God’s Kingdom,
…Being Inspired to Do So by God’s Great Promises (Isaiah 62:1-5)
1.
In verse 1a the Lord promises that His people’s righteousness shall shine out like the dawn, and her salvation
like a blazing torch
a.
this is not an inherent personal righteousness (note Isaiah 64:6), it is the righteousness of God we come to
possess by faith in Christ (note Philippians 3: 9)
…all our righteous acts are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6)
…that I may gain Christ, 9and be found in him—not having my own righteousness which is derived from
the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God received by
faith (Philippians 3:9)
b.
at the present time this righteousness is obscure in the Christian’s life: the new heart still dwells in the old
sinful body, …there is still a great deal of resistance to the working of the Holy Spirit, …the fruit of the
Holy Spirit is planted in the Christian’s life, but it only appears in its immature form
c.
what is anticipated here in Isaiah 62:1 is the day when the divine righteousness of Christ shall radiate from
our lives with the brilliance of the noon day sun and like a blazing lantern illuminating a pitch dark cave

compare the revelation of Jesus’ glory as it was revealed on the mount of transfiguration (Matthew
17:2) with our complete participation in His glory as we shall experience it at His return (Matthew
13:43)
…he was transfigured before them; and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became
white as the light. (Matthew 17:2)
Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (Matthew 13:43)
d.
we are furthermore told that the nations will see your righteousness, and all kings will see your glory
(verse 2a)

on that day, when the world beholds the church, they shall see Christ—as His people radiate the
splendor of their Savior with whom they are united in glory—and they shall marvel

on that day the splendor of kings shall be put to shame and be consumed by the all-surpassing glory of
Jesus, the King of kings, as He reveals His divine glory in His people (note 2 Thessalonians 1:10)
…he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at by all those who have believed
(2 Thessalonians 1:10)
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2.
In verse 2 the Lord promises that His people shall be identified by a new name
a. the old name, Forsaken, shall be put away (verse 4)

that is the name the unrepentant sinner bears as he clings to his sins and remains outside of the
Savior and apart from Him (note Romans 1:28)
…even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up (Romans 1:28)
b.
the new name is Hephzibah—my delight is in her …; for Jehovah will take delight in you (verse 4)

this is the very way in which the Father addresses His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ (note
Matthew 3:17)
…there came a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased. (Matthew 3:17)

we shall eternally bear our Savior’s name and enjoy the divine favor of His Father because on the
day of His return we shall become His bride: at present we are engaged to Christ (note 2
Corinthians 11:2), preparing for and anticipating the day of His return when we shall be received as
His beloved bride, perfectly united to Him in all the holiness of His divine character (note Ephesians
5:25-27)
I pledged you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him (2
Corinthians 11:2b); the apostle Paul describes his ministry as that of causing the church to become
pledged, or engaged, to Christ
Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26so that he might sanctify her … 27so that
he might present the church to himself in glory, without blemish or wrinkle or any other such
thing, but being holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5:25-27)

3.
when you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ you become “engaged” to Him; you are no longer your
own, it is now your duty and desire to prepare for your great “wedding day”
In verse 3 the Lord promises that we shall be a crown of beauty in His hand
a.
here is the blessing of being totally possessed by God: being held in the Lord’s hand as His precious jewel
and treasured possession

the church, composed of all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, is God’s own heritage, and
He shall come to claim His possession (note Ephesians 1:14)
the apostle Paul identifies the Holy Spirit as a “deposit” guaranteeing our inheritance, until the
redemption of God’s possession, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14); the presence of the
Holy Spirit in the believer’s heart is the guarantee that we have been purchased by the blood of
Christ to be God’s own possession and that He shall surely come to claim us for Himself
b.
at the same time, here is the blessing of being a royal honor and glory to the Lord of glory Himself—a
crown of glory and a royal diadem for the Lord

the Lord has graciously chosen to glorify Himself in us by perfectly reproducing His character in us
(note 1 Peter 2:9)
…you are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people appointed to be God’s own
possession, so that you might display the virtues of him” who called you out of darkness into his
marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)
4.
Let us pray for the coming of God’s kingdom, …being inspired by God’s great promises.
III. Pray for the Coming of God’s Kingdom,
…Being Motivated by God’s Own Commitment (Isaiah 62:1,8-12)
1.
In verse 1 the Lord pledges that He will neither hold His peace nor rest until He has fulfilled His promises:
85
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, until her
righteousness shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a blazing torch. (verse 1)
2.
In verse 8 the Lord takes the solemn oath that He will most certainly grant to His people the blessings of His
kingdom
a.
the Lord has sworn by lifting his right hand—and by his mighty arm; that is to say, He is both
committed and able to do all that He has spoken
b.
the pledge is presented in Old Testament terms; namely, the people of God enjoying the blessing of the
bountiful fruits of their labors in the presence of the Lord their God:
Never again will I give your grain as food for your enemies, and foreigners will never again drink the
new wine you have labored hard to produce. 9On the contrary, those who harvest the crop will eat it
and praise Jehovah, and those who gather the grapes will drink the wine in the courts of my
sanctuary. (verses 8b-9)
3.
In verse 10 the Lord Himself oversees the construction of a highway and the removal of all obstacles, so that
His people may return to Him and enter into His kingdom

note: whereas in Isaiah 40:3 the way is prepared for the Lord to come to His people…
Prepare the way for Jehovah! In the desert make level a highway for our God! (Isaiah 40:3)

…here in Isaiah 62:10 the Lord is preparing the way for His people:
Prepare the way for the people! Construct, construct the highway! Remove the stones! (Isaiah 62:10)

4.
by way of illustration, the scene presented in these chapters of Isaiah is analogous to the building of the
transcontinental railroad in the American west: one team of workers started laying track in Nebraska
and headed west, another team started laying track in California and headed east, the two teams
connected in Utah
In verse 11 the Lord publicly proclaims in the hearing of all the nations that His kingdom shall surely come
Listen! Jehovah has made a proclamation to the ends of the earth, Say to the daughter of Zion, Look!
Your Savior is coming! Look, he is bringing his reward with him, and his recompense accompanies him.
(verse 11)

5.
the Lord has gone on public record, He has publicly committed Himself, (and He has put it in writing in
the Bible), …and for His own honor He will certainly fulfill His promise: His kingdom will surely come
Let us pray for the coming of God’s kingdom, …being motivated by God’s own commitment
a.
by way of illustration: when your favorite soccer player is coming in all alone on the opposing goal
keeper and is about to score a sure goal, the certainty of his success motivates you to enthusiastic
action (you stand up and cheer him on), not to lethargic complacency—in the same way, the
commitment of God to bring His kingdom should motivate us to enthusiastic prayer, not lethargic
complacency
b.
one dimension of prayer is this: the privilege of being used by God as the means by which He brings
about the fulfillment of His plans—Christian prayer is partnership with God
Conclusion
1.
According to the survey referred to earlier, it appears that many Christians are losing sight of the first great
petition of prayer, the petition which should be the primary focus and concern of our prayers: the coming of
God’s kingdom.
2.
Because of the instruction and the incentives provided in the Word of God, especially in such a passage as Isaiah
62, let us make the coming of God’s kingdom the primary petition in our prayers.
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Questions on Isaiah 62:1-12
1. What pledge does the Lord make in Isaiah 62:1 (printed below?)
For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet, until her righteousness
shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a blazing torch. (Isaiah 62:1)
2. What other promises of God should inspire and motivate us to persistently pray for the coming of His kingdom? See
Isaiah 62:2b-4 (printed below)
...you will be called by a new name that the mouth of Jehovah will bestow upon you. (3) Furthermore, you will be a
beautiful crown in the hand of Jehovah, a royal diadem in the hand of our God. (40 You shall no longer be called
Forsaken, neither shall your land any longer be called Desolate. On the contrary, you shall be called Hephzibah, and
your land shall be called Beulah; for Jehovah will take delight in you, and your land will be married. (Isaiah 62:2b-4)
3. Whom has the Lord stationed atop the walls of Jerusalem (see verse 6a printed below?) What else are they called
(see verse 6b printed below?)
I have posted watchmen upon your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who are Jehovah's
palace recorders, give yourselves no rest (Isaiah 62:6a)
You who are Jehovah's palace recorders, give yourselves no rest. (Isaiah 62:6b)
4. What is the task of these watchmen whom the Lord has stationed atop the walls of Jerusalem? See Isaiah 62:6-7
(printed below)
I have posted watchmen upon your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who are Jehovah's
palace recorders, give yourselves no rest, (7) and give him no rest, until he establishes Jerusalem and makes her
the praise of all the earth. (Isaiah 62:6-7)
5. What public proclamation does the Lord make in Isaiah 62:11 (printed below?)
Listen! Jehovah has made a proclamation to the ends of the earth, Say to the daughter of Zion, Look! Your Savior
is coming! Look, he is bringing his reward with him, and his recompense accompanies him. (Isaiah 62:11)
6. The Introduction to this lesson mentions a survey that was taken on the subject of prayer. According to the
commentary, what did that survey reveal?
a.
b.
c.
The content of the Christian’s prayers is strikingly similar to that of the non-Christian.
The content of the Christian’s prayers is strikingly different from that of the non-Christian.
In the Christian’s prayers there is the startling omission of any petition for the coming of God’s kingdom.
7. Compete the sentences listed below that enumerate the promises the Lord makes that should inspire and motivate
us to pray for the coming of His kingdom.
a.
b.
c.
The Lord promises that our lives will radiate with His ___.
The Lord promises that we will be addressed in the same terms as His ___.
The Lord promises that we shall be cherished as His ___.
1. treasured possession
2. divine righteousness
3. beloved Son
8. What is the duty of the watchmen whom the Lord has stationed atop the walls of Jerusalem?
a.
b.
c.
d.
These
These
These
These
watchmen
watchmen
watchmen
watchmen
are
are
are
are
to
to
to
to
be constantly on the look out for signs of an approaching enemy.
be expectantly looking for the coming of the Lord and His kingdom.
be constantly crying out a warning to the citizens of an approaching enemy.
be constantly crying out to God for the coming of His eternal kingdom.
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9. What commitment has the Lord made that should motivate us to pray for the coming of His kingdom?
a.
b.
c.
d.
He has taken a solemn oath that He will bestow His kingdom blessings upon His people.
He has personally overseen the construction of a highway so that His people may gain entrance into His
kingdom.
He has gone on record with a public proclamation that He will come to save His people and bestow upon
them eternal rewards.
He has made a covenant with stipulations guaranteeing the fulfillment of His promise to establish His
kingdom in all of its glory.
10. Compete the sentences listed below that re-iterate the three reasons why we as Christians should pray for the
coming of God’s kingdom.
a.
b.
c.
We should pray for the coming of God’s kingdom because we are commanded to do so by ___.
We should pray for the coming of God’s kingdom because we are inspired to do so by ___.
We should pray for the coming of God’s kingdom because we are motivated to do so by ___.
1. God’s own commitment
2. God’s great promises
3. God’s sacred Word
THREE ASSURANCES CONCERNING GOD’S JUDGMENT
ISAIAH 63:1-6
63 Who is this who comes from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, this one who is
clothed with majesty, striding in the greatness of his strength? It is I, the one whose speech is righteous, the one
who is powerfully able to save. 2Why are your garments red, like the garments of him who stomps in the winepress?
3
I have stomped in the winepress alone; of all the peoples there was no one with me. Indeed, I stomped upon them
in my anger and I trampled upon them in my wrath. Their blood splattered my garments, and I have stained all my
clothing. 4I trampled upon them because the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redemption has
come. 5I looked, but there was no one to help; I was astonished that no one could give support; so my own arm
procured salvation for me and my wrath sustained me. 6I trampled down the peoples in my anger; in my wrath I
made them drunk with their spilt blood, then I poured their blood on the ground.
THEME: Scripture assures us that the Lord will act in His capacity as the righteous Judge.
PURPOSE: To acquaint the students with the facts concerning the administration of God’s judgment as they are
presented in Isaiah 63:1-6.
OUTLINE: I. Be Assured that the Lord will Judge His Enemies
II. Be Assured that the Lord will Execute a Righteous Judgment
III. Be Assured that the Lord has Appointed a Day of Judgment
Introduction
1.
Suppose you are called to serve the Lord as a foreign missionary in the jungles of South America.
2.
You pack up your family, leave your homeland, and re-locate on a mission outpost carved out of the dense
jungles.
3.
One day your little son and daughter come racing into the house. They are terrified!
4.
When you calm them down, they report that they were attacked by a fifteen-foot long snake.
5.
You inquire into their story and discover from the natives that yes, indeed, the compound and the neighboring
villages have been terrorized by a demonic monster of a snake that is their mortal enemy.
6.
Now what do you do about this?
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

Because you do not want to disturb the balance of nature or endanger the native wild life, do you suggest
that if perhaps we leave the snake alone it will leave us alone?
Or, as a loving father and faithful protector of the people who have entrusted themselves to your care, do
you get out your machete and go hunting for that snake?
7.
About noon the next day your children and the villagers see you come striding out of the jungle with your clothes
spattered with blood.
8.
When they inquire, “Where have you been? Why are your clothes all splattered with blood?” you inform them that
they no longer need fear that snake.
9.
You have dispatched of him and his whole brood, …now at last the compound, the villages, and the whole
surrounding jungle are safe: now at last you can all live in perfect peace and rest.
10. Summarizing the teaching of Scripture, the Westminster Shorter Catechism states:
Christ executes the office of a King, …by ruling and defending us, and by restraining
and conquering all his and our enemies. (Question and Answer #26).
11. This is the truth we discover in the passage of Scripture presently before us: Because the Lord is a faithful
Redeemer, we may be assured that there will be a day of final deliverance and of just retribution.
12. As we consider this passage of Scripture, let us acquaint ourselves with the facts concerning the administration of
God’s judgment as it shall finally be revealed.
I. Be Assured that the Lord will Judge His Enemies
1.
The nation of Edom was the archenemy of Israel
a.
Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through their land when the Israelites were on the way to the
Promised Land of Canaan (Numbers 20:14-18)
Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying: This is what your brother Israel
says: You know about all the hardships that have come upon us. 15Our forefathers went down into
Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers, 16but when we
cried out to Jehovah, he heard our cry and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. Now we are
here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory. 17Please let us pass through your country. We
will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the king’s
highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory. 18But
Edom answered: You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the
sword. (Numbers 20:14-18)
b.
Edom was characterized by a perpetual enmity against Israel and the ambition to take Israel’s land
The word of Jehovah came to me: 2Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir (a reference to
Edom); prophesy against it 3and say: This is what the Lord Jehovah says: I am against you, Mount Seir,
and I will stretch out my hand against you and make you a desolate waste. … 5because you harbored an
ancient hostility and delivered the Israelites over to the sword at the time of their calamity, the time
their punishment reached its climax, …10because you have said, “These two nations and countries (i.e.;
Israel and Judah) will be ours and we will take possession of them,” even though I Jehovah was there.
11
Therefore, as surely as I live, declares the Lord Jehovah, I will treat you in accordance with the
anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them and I will make myself known among them when
I judge you. (Ezekiel 35:1-3,5,10-11)
This is what the Jehovah says: For three sins of Edom, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath.
Because he pursued his brother with a sword, stifling all compassion, because his anger raged
continually and his fury flamed unchecked (Amos 1:11)
c.
when Israel was invaded by the Babylonians, Edom rejoiced in their defeat and captivity (note Psalm
137:7)
Remember, O Jehovah, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. “Tear it down,” they cried,
“tear it down to its foundations!” (Psalm 137:7)
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2.
Edom is here presented as the representative of all the enemies of God’s people

whereas Isaiah 63:1 refers to Edom, verse 6 refers to God’s judgment upon the peoples (note John 15:1819 and Matthew 24:9)
If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before you. 19If you belonged to the world, the
world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, but I chose you out of the world,
therefore the world hates you. (John 15:18-19)
… you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations
because of me. (Matthew 24:9)
3.
Since the garden of Eden there has been a mortal enmity between the Lord and the devil, involving all of
mankind, either aligned with the devil against God or redeemed and restored to God
 in the garden of Eden, following the fall, the Lord declared to the devil,
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall
crush your head, and you shall bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15); the offspring of the devil is a reference to
all of fallen humanity in their state of sin (note Ephesians 2:1-3), the offspring of the woman is a
reference to the Lord Jesus Christ and all who believe in Him
And he raised you also, when you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you once walked
in accord with the course of this world, which is in accord with the ruling prince of the air, that is,
the spirit who is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3Indeed, we all formerly lived among them in
the lusts of our sinful nature, doing the will of the flesh and of the mind, and we were by nature
children of wrath just like the rest of mankind. (Ephesians 2:1-3); the ruling prince of the air is a
reference to the devil who is at work in the lives of sinful mankind
4.
This enmity between unregenerate mankind and the children of God is played out across the pages of
Scripture and throughout history, beginning with the spiritual conflict between Cain and Abel (1 John 3:12)
and continuing on in the spiritual conflict between the world and the church (1 John 3:13)
Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother (Abel). And why did he murder
him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. (1 John 3:12)
Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. (1 John 3:13)
5.
The source of this conflict must be traced back to two distinct heart attitudes towards God: the enmity
against God exhibited by the natural man as opposed to the love for God exhibited by the redeemed
This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does
not practice righteousness is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. (1 John 3:10)
…the mind of the sinful nature is at enmity against God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
(Romans 8:7); …in contrast to the mind of the sinful nature is the heart of the converted: in my inner being I
delight in God’s law (Romans 7:22); such is the apostle Paul’s testimony as a Christian
6.
These two distinct heart attitudes towards God manifest themselves in their position with regard to God’s
kingdom and rule, either defying God’s holy dominion or reverently submitting to it and desiring its full
revelation
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2The kings of the earth take their stand and the
rulers gather together against Jehovah and against his Anointed One. 3Let us break their chains, they say,
and throw off their fetters. (Psalm 2:1-3); such is the attitude of the world against the rightful rule of the
Lord God over their lives
This is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10Your kingdom come, your will
be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9-10); such is the prayer that is taught to God’s people and to
which they respond
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7.
The redemption of God’s people inevitably involves the judgment of His and their enemies:
a.
…in order to execute justice (Revelation 18:24; Revelation 19:2)
…in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that have been slain upon the earth.
(Revelation 18:24); such is the description of “Babylon” the symbol for the kingdom of man in opposition
to God and His people
…true and just are his judgments. He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her
adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants. (Revelation 19:2); such is the commentary
on God’s final judgment of “Babylon”
b.
…in order to provide perfect security for His people (note 1 Chronicles 17:9)
I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their
own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked men will not oppress them anymore… (1 Chronicles 17:9); such
is the promise of God that shall be fulfilled in its full dimension when Christ returns to execute final
judgment and deliverance for His people
c.
note that the deliverance out of Egypt involved judgment upon the Egyptians; likewise, the deliverance
out of Babylon involved judgment upon the Babylonians—both incidents being types which serve as
historical models of the final deliverance of God’s people and His final judgment of the world
II. Be Assured that the Lord will Execute a Righteous Judgment
1.
In Isaiah 63:1 the Lord describes Himself as the one whose speech is righteous, the one who is powerfully
able to save

2.
that is to say, the Lord pronounces a righteous judgment, and He is powerfully able to perform both an
act of judgment as well as salvation
In verse 3 He declares, I have stomped in the winepress alone, and in verse 5 He states, I looked, but there
was no one to help

the point being made is that the Lord alone executes His justice because it is His sole prerogative to do
so (note Romans 12:19) and because He alone is truly righteous and worthy to carry out a righteous
judgment (note Psalm 11:7 and Psalm 96:13)
Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, Vengeance
belongs to me; I will repay, declares the Lord. (Romans 12:19)
Jehovah is righteous; he loves righteousness (Psalm 11:7)
Jehovah… is coming … he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with his truth. (Psalm 96:13)
3.
Verse 4 speaks of the day of vengeance

4.
vengeance by definition is “punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense;” the ultimate
injury and offense is to transgress the commandments of the Lord our God and to blaspheme His holy
Name in word and in deed—and He shall finally take the ultimate vengeance: the execution of a
perfectly righteous judgment
We may be assured that the Lord will execute a righteous judgment

in answer to Abraham’s question, Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? (Genesis 18:25), we
have the assurance that the answer is an emphatic “Yes” based upon the very character of God (note
Deuteronomy 32:4)
He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong,
upright and just is he. (Deuteronomy 32:4)
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
we may also take note of Ezekiel 14:22-23
… when you see their conduct and their actions, you will be consoled regarding the disaster I have
brought upon Jerusalem—every disaster I have brought upon it. 23You will be consoled when you see
their conduct and their actions, for you will know that I have done nothing in it without cause,
declares the Lord Jehovah. (Ezekiel 14:22-23); such is the Lord’s testimony to Ezekiel at the time He
judged Israel by means of the Babylonian armies

furthermore, let us take note of Revelation 16:5-7
Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, You are just in these judgments, you who are
and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged; 6for they have shed the blood of your
saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve. 7And I heard the altar
respond, Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments. (Revelation 16:5-7)
III. Be Assured that the Lord has Appointed a Day of Judgment
1.
In verse 4 the Lord declares that the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redemption
has come

2.
The New Testament informs us that in the same manner the Lord has an appointed day when He will
execute His final judgment against the world of sinful mankind


3.
Note: it appears that here the focus has shifted from Edom to Babylon and the fact that the Lord had a
day appointed at which time He would carry out His righteous judgment against that empire which set
itself in defiance of God and made itself an oppressor of God’s people
our Lord Jesus Christ declares, Do not be amazed by this; for the hour is coming when all who are in
the tombs shall hear his voice 29and shall come out: they who have done good shall be resurrected
to life; but they who have done evil shall be resurrected to condemnation. (John 5:28-29)
the apostle Paul testified at Athens, God … commands all men everywhere to repent; 31because he has
set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed (the Lord Jesus
Christ). He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead. (Acts 17:30-31)
We may be assured that the Lord has set a day on which He will carry out His final righteous judgment of
the world and bring about the final and full redemption of all those who have taken refuge in His Son the
Lord Jesus Christ.
What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted. (Proverbs 10:24)
Questions on Isaiah 63:1-6
1. Who were the people of Edom, what was their relationship to Israel? Note Ezekiel 35:1-3, 5, 11 (printed below)
The word of Jehovah came to me: (2) Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir (a reference to Edom);
prophesy against it (3) and say: This is what the Lord Jehovah says: I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will
stretch out my hand against you and make you a desolate waste ...(5) because you harbored an ancient hostility and
delivered the Israelites over to the sword at the time of their calamity, the time their punishment reached its
climax...(11) Therefore, as surely as I live, declares the Lord Jehovah, I will treat you in accordance with the anger
and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them and I will make myself known among them when I judge you.
(Ezekiel 35:1-3,5,11)
2. Is the prophecy of Isaiah 63 only referring to the nation of Edom or does it also extend beyond that individual nation?
Note Isaiah 63:6 (printed below)
I trampled down the peoples in my anger; in my wrath I made them drunk with their spilt blood, then I poured their
blood on the ground. (Isaiah 63:6)
92
3. How does the Lord describe Himself in Isaiah 63:1 (printed below?) What does this tell us about the judgment He
carries out against Edom?
Who is this who comes from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, this one who is
clothed with majesty, striding in the greatness of his strength? It is I, the one whose speech is righteous, the one
who is powerfully able to save. (Isaiah 63:1)
4. Does the Lord have any assistance when He carries out His judgment against Edom? What does the answer to this
question tell us? See Isaiah 63:3,5 (printed below)
I have stomped in the wine press alone; of all the peoples there was no one with me. Indeed, I stomped upon them
in my anger and I trampled upon them in my wrath. Their blood splattered my garments, and I have stained all my
clothing... (5) I looked, but there was no one to help; I was astonished that no one could give support; so my own
arm procured salvation for me and my wrath sustained me. (Isaiah 63:3,5)
5. Is the Lord nonchalant as to when He will actually carry out His divine judgment? See Isaiah 63:4 (printed below)
I trampled upon them because the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redemption has come.
(Isaiah 63:4)
6. Because the Lord is the faithful God, of what can the Christian be assured?
a.
b.
c.
We can be assured that there will be a day of final deliverance.
We can be assured that there will be a day of just retribution.
Both of the above
7. Match the passages listed below with the reasons they present as to why the redemption of God’s people and the
coming of God’s kingdom inevitably involves the judgment of His and our enemies.
a.
b.
c.
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2The kings of the earth take their stand and the
rulers gather together against Jehovah and against his Anointed One. 3Let us break their chains, they
say, and throw off their fetters. (Psalm 2:1-3) ___
True and just are his judgments. He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her
adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants. (Revelation 19:2) ___
I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own
and no longer be disturbed. Wicked men will not oppress them anymore… (1 Chronicles 17:9) ___
1. Because they stand in opposition to God’s rule
2. In order to execute God’s justice
3. In order to provide perfect security for God’s people
8. Why does the Lord carry out His judgment against Edom all by Himself without any assistance?
a.
b.
c.
Because the Lord alone takes offense at sin and only He is adversely affected by the sinful conduct of
the wicked.
Because it is the Lord’s sole prerogative to carry out judgment in His capacity as the Judge of all the
earth.
Because the Lord alone is worthy to carry out judgment since He alone is truly righteous.
9. The apostle Paul informs us that the _______ of Jesus Christ is the proof that God has, indeed, set a date on which
He will carry out His righteous judgment. Fill in the blank
10. Complete the sentences listed below that re-iterate the assurance given to the Christian with regard to the Lord’s
act of divine judgment. (Answers listed on next page)
a.
b.
c.
We may be assured that the Lord will judge ___.
We may be assured that the Lord will execute ___.
We may be assured that the Lord has appointed ___.
1. a day of judgment
2.His enemies
3. a righteous judgment
93
LESSON EIGHT : I SAIAH 65:1-25 AND I SAIAH 66:1-24
The student should prepare for his study by asking the Holy Spirit to enlighten his mind and open his heart to
receive not only the teaching of Scripture but Christ Himself as He is presented in the Scriptures.
Assignments:
1. Bible Study: The student will explore 2 portions of Isaiah, guided by an expositional commentary on the text. The
student will then answers the questions found at the end of the expository notes. Upon the completion of this
course, the student should prepare to take the Final Exam.
2. Writing Your Essay: The student should complete work on his 8 -10 page essay for Bachelor's credit or 15-20page essay for Master's credit. The student will then answers the questions found at the end of the expository
notes. Upon the completion of this course, the student should prepare to take the Final Exam.
Note: All Scripture texts will appear in Comic Sans MS font; all extended quotations from other authors will
appear in Courier font.
WHY YOU MUST PREPARE TO MEET YOUR GOD
ISAIAH 65:1-25
65 I have revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I allowed myself to be found by those who did not seek
me. To a nation that did not call upon my name, I said, Here I am! Here I am! 2All day long I have held out my hands
to a rebellious people, a people who walk in a way that is not good, following their own thoughts. 3A people who
provoke me to my face continually, offering pagan sacrifices in gardens and burning incense upon altars of bricks.
4
A people who sit among the graves and spend the night in caves, who eat the meat of pigs, and the broth of
unclean meat is in their pots. 5They are a people who say, Stay away, do not come near me, for I am holier than you!
These people are like smoke in my nostrils, produced by a fire that burns all day long. 6See, their conduct has been
recorded in my presence; therefore, I will not remain silent, but will pay them what is just; indeed, I will deliver
their recompense into their bosom—7both for your own iniquities as well as for the iniquities of your fathers,
declares Jehovah—into the bosom of those who have burned incense on the mountains and scorned me on the hills.
Therefore I will first measure their recompense into their bosom.
8
This is what Jehovah says, As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes, and men say, Do not destroy it,
for there is still some good in it, so will I do for the sake of my servants, so that I will not destroy them all. 9I will
bring forth an offspring from Jacob, and from Judah I will bring forth one who shall inherit my mountains. Indeed,
my chosen one shall inherit it and my servants shall dwell there. 10Sharon will become a pasture for flocks and the
Valley of Achor a resting place for herds, this will be for my people who seek me.
11
But as for you who forsake Jehovah, you who forget my holy mountain, you who prepare a table for Fortune
and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny, 12I will destine you for the sword and you shall all succumb to the
slaughter; because, when I called, you did not answer, and when I spoke, you did not listen. On the contrary, you did
what was evil in my sight, and chose those things in which I take no delight. 13Therefore, this is what the Lord
Jehovah says, My servants will eat, but you will be hungry. My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty. My
servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame. 14My servants will sing with a joyful heart, but you will cry out
with a sorrowful heart and will wail with a broken spirit. 15You will leave your name to my chosen ones to be used for
the pronouncing of a curse, and the Lord Jehovah will put you to death; then he will bestow upon his servants
another name. 16Consequently, whoever pronounces a blessing in the land will do so by the God of truth; and whoever
takes an oath in the land will swear by the God of truth—because the past troubles will be forgotten; indeed, they
will be hidden from my eyes.
17
See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to
mind. 18Instead, be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create; for I will create Jerusalem to be a place of
rejoicing and her people to experience joy. 19I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people. No longer
shall there be heard in Jerusalem the sound of weeping and the sound of crying. 20No longer will there be in it an
infant who lives for only a few days, nor an old man who has not lived out the full number of his days; for the man
who dies in his youth will be one hundred years old, and the man who fails to reach the age of one hundred will be
considered accursed. 21They will build houses, and inhabit them; they will plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
22
They will not build houses only to have others inhabit them; they will not plant vineyards only to have others eat
the fruit of them; for my people will live as long as a tree, and my chosen ones will enjoy the fruit of their labors
for a long time. 23They will not labor in vain, nor bear children destined to suffer calamity; for these children are
the offspring of those who are blessed by Jehovah, they and their descendants with them shall experience his
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blessing. 24Before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will respond. 25The wolf and the lamb
will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox; but dust shall be the serpent’s food. They will neither
hurt nor devour one another on all my holy mountain, declares Jehovah.
THEME: We are all destined to appear before God on a day of final accountability that will have eternal consequences.
PURPOSE: To inform the students of the reasons presented in Isaiah 65 as to why we must prepare to meet our God.
OUTLINE: I. You Must Prepare to Meet Your God,
…Because You will have an Inevitable Encounter with Him (Isaiah 65:1-7)
II. You Must Prepare to Meet Your God,
…Because He will Make a Separation Between the Devout and the Hypocritical
(Isaiah 65:8-16)
III. You Must Prepare to Meet Your God,
…Because Only His Servants will Inherit the New Creation (Isaiah 65:9,17-25)
Introduction
1.
What would you do if you knew that you had only one day left to live?
2.
That question was posed to 625 German students.
3.
A number of them responded by saying that they would spend their last 24 hours drinking, taking drugs, and
chasing girls. (Our Daily Bread 4/19/93)
4.
That is not a good way to spend your last day before being ushered into the presence of your God and Judge.
5.
Through the Old Testament prophet Amos, the Lord gives the exhortation, “Prepare to meet your God.”
6.
This same message can be understood to be the theme of Isaiah 65.
7.
As we study Isaiah 65, let us consider Three Reasons Why We Must Prepare to Meet Our God.
I. You Must Prepare to Meet Your God,
…Because You will have an Inevitable Encounter with Him (Isaiah 65:1-7)
1.
Verse 1 is describing an unexpected, but inevitable, encounter with God
I have revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I allowed myself to be found by those who did not
seek me. To a nation that did not call upon my name, I said, Here I am! Here I am! (verse 1)
2.

the Lord has granted an audience to a people who did not request an audience with Him

the Lord suddenly revealed Himself to a people who were not looking for Him

the Lord presented Himself to a people who were not calling for Him
God suddenly and inescapably reveals Himself…
a.
b.
…to a thoroughly unresponsive people (verses 1b-2)

All day long I have held out my hands (as a loving father) to a rebellious people (a people who turn
their backs and walk away)

here are a people who walk in a way that is not good, following their own thoughts—they will not
listen to the Word of God, they stubbornly walk in the way that is appealing to them and appears to
them to be wise and profitable
…to a people who provoke God to His face continually (verses 3-4)
A people who provoke me to my face continually, offering pagan sacrifices in gardens and burning
incense upon altars of bricks. 4A people who sit among the graves and spend the night in caves, who
eat the meat of pigs, and the broth of unclean meat is in their pots. (verses 3-4)
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
c.
the Lord has continuously demonstrated lovingkindness, patience, and a desire for these people; but
they constantly provoke Him with their idolatry
…to a people that were characterized by an incredible self-righteousness (verse 5a)
They are a people who say, Stay away, do not come near me, for I am holier than you! (verse 5a)

3.
they distanced themselves and stood aloof from others because they considered themselves to be
more holy than their neighbors
How does God describe such people?
These people are like smoke in my nostrils, produced by a fire that burns all day long. (verse 5b); they are a
great source of grief and irritation to Him on a continual, day by day basis
4.
According to verses 6-7, what will God do?
See, their conduct has been recorded in my presence (verse 6a)

that is to say, their conduct is inscribed in writing before the Lord, it is not dismissed or forgotten, it has
been recorded as a testimony against them
I will not remain silent (verse 6b)

the Lord will not remain passive forever and let the sinful, insolent conduct of the people pass by without
comment and without judgment
the Lord will pay them what is just; indeed, I will deliver their recompense into their bosom—7both
for your own iniquities as well as for the iniquities of your fathers, declares Jehovah (verse 6c-7)

the sins of one generation have been passed on to the next; whereas formerly the Lord abstained from
bringing about a totally devastating act of judgment upon the nation, giving the people warning and time
to repent, He will now abstain no longer
Therefore I will first measure their recompense into their bosom. (verse 7b)

5.
therefore, because there has been persistence in sin instead of repentance, now, as a matter of first
priority, the Lord will repay judgment into the very bosom of these people
The Scriptures assure us that each one of us shall finally and inevitably stand before God when He reveals
Himself to us face to face—we each will have the kind of inevitable encounter with the Lord God as did the
Old Testament people of Israel described in Isaiah 65 (note Revelation 1:7)
Behold, he comes with the clouds; and every eye shall see him (Revelation 1:7)
6.
On that great day when we stand before the Lord our God nothing shall be hidden, everything shall be exposed
to the light of His truth
…we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due him for
the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of
him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:13)
7.
On that great day every false confidence will perish before the awesome reality of God’s presence
a.
the false confidence that God entertains an attitude of indifference and tolerance with regard to the
issues of morality (note Psalm 50:16-21)
…to the wicked, God says: …17You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you. 18When you see a
thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers. 19You use your mouth for evil and
harness your tongue to deceit. 20You speak continually against your brother and slander your own
mother’s son. 21These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you.
But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face.
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b.
the false confidence that the passage of millenniums refutes the teaching that there shall be a final day
of judgment (note 2 Peter 3:3-4,8-10)
First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their
own evil desires. 4They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died,
everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” … 8But do not forget this one thing,
beloved: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. … 9The Lord
is not negligent in keeping his promise…. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but
everyone to come to repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will
disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will
be laid bare.
8.
Let us prepare to meet our God, …because we shall have an inevitable encounter with Him
…it is appointed for men once to die, and after this comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27)
II. You Must Prepare to Meet Your God,
…Because He will Make a Separation Between the Devout and the Hypocritical (Isaiah 65:8-16)
1.
Using the illustration of harvesting grapes from the vineyard, the Lord shows us the distinction He makes
between those who are spiritually alive and fruitful and those who are not (verse 8)

when the harvesters come upon a juicy cluster of grapes in the midst of clusters that have rotted or are
shriveled, they spare that good cluster before chopping down the unproductive vine

let us carefully consider such passages as the following that emphasize the Lord’s demand for spiritual
fruit:
Jesus testifies, I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. 2He removes every branch in me
that does not bear fruit. But he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it may bear more
fruit. (John 15:1-2)
…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, integrity,
control.(Galatians 5:22-23a)
2.
23
humility, self-
Verse 10 projects us into the future, describing the renewed land and those who will inherit it
Sharon will become a pasture for flocks and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds; this will be for
my people who seek me. (verse 10)
a.
from the plain of Sharon on the west to the valley of Achor on the east, the land to be inherited shall be
filled with peace and prosperity—here is a picture of the new creation employing Old Testament
geographical locations
b.
the inheritors are defined as my people who seek me; in contrast to the people described in verse 1,
those who are truly God’s people seek Him and serve Him (note John 10:27-28)
My sheep respond to my voice; I know them and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life—they shall
never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:27-28)
3.
As verses 11-12 declare, a far different future is in store for those who forsake the Lord and forget his holy
mountain (i.e.; those who neglect the worship of the Lord their God and who abandon the faith)
But as for you who forsake Jehovah, you who forget my holy mountain, you who prepare a table for
Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny, 12I will destine you for the sword and you shall all
succumb to the slaughter; because, when I called, you did not answer, and when I spoke, you did not
listen. On the contrary, you did what was evil in my sight, and chose those things in which I take no
delight. (verses 11-12)
a.
they are described as preparing a banquet table for Fortune and Destiny—they have given themselves
over to pagan superstition and idolatry and to the pursuit of hedonism (verse 11)
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4.
b.
the Lord declares to such people, I will destine you for the sword—the sword of God’s judgment and
punishment, in this case by means of a foreign invader (verse 12a)
c.
the reason for the judgment is stated in these terms: there was no responsiveness to the Lord when He
called; on the contrary, there was the pursuit of wickedness and all that is abominable to Christ (verse
12b)
In verses 13-15 the Lord Himself reveals the respective fate and rewards of those whom He identifies as my
servants in distinction to those whom He identifies as a rebellious people (verse 2)
a.
my servants shall eat—they shall be provided for and be satisfied, but you will be hungry—those who
have lived for themselves and in opposition to the Lord shall at the end be denied His blessing and given
over to His judgment (verse 13a)
Jehovah will not allow the soul of the righteous to famish; but he thrusts away the desire of the
wicked. (Proverbs 10:3)
b.
verse 13b-14; My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame. 14My servants will sing with a
joyful heart, but you will cry out with a sorrowful heart and will wail with a broken spirit. (verses 13b14)

c.
the servants of the Lord shall experience the joy of the divine promises being fulfilled, the joy of
discovering that their investment in Christ reaps eternal dividends of blessing; …but shame and
suffering shall be the consequence of bad, ungodly life choices, the consequences that await those
who have lived for themselves instead of for their Lord and God
in conjunction with these verses of Isaiah 65 we may note our Lord’s teaching as recorded in Luke 6:2026
Looking at his disciples, he said, Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
21
Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you
will laugh. 22Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your
name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your
reward in heaven; for that is how their fathers treated the prophets. 24But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort. 25Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go
hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26Woe to you when all men speak well
of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets. (Luke 6:20-26)

5.
the contrast is between those who have invested their lives in Christ and the kingdom of God and
those who have invested in themselves and this world
Let us prepare to meet our God, …because He will make a distinction and separation between the devout and
the hypocritical
Then those who feared Jehovah talked with each other, and Jehovah listened and heard. A scroll of
remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared Jehovah and honored his name.
17
“They will be mine,” declares Jehovah of hosts, “in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I
will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. 18And you will again see the
distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”
(Malachi 3:16-18)
III. You Must Prepare to Meet Your God,
…Because Only His Servants will Inherit the New Creation (Isaiah 65:9,17-25)
1.
In verse 17 the Lord declares,
See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they
come to mind. (verse 17)

what is coming is nothing less than a new creation—a new creation that shall completely replace the
present creation, replacing even the memory of this creation
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
2.
3.
it will prove to be a creation filled with glories so great that we will never be tempted to even consider
comparing them to the blessings experienced in this present world
In verses 18-25 the life and blessing of the new creation are described in terms of this present creation that
are familiar and meaningful to us—especially meaningful to the Old Testament people of God
a.
as we are projected into the future and made to stand at the threshold of the new creation, the Lord
extends to His people the invitation and issues the command: be glad and rejoice forever in what I will
create (verse 18)
b.
the Lord promises that He Himself is going to rejoice with us and we are going to be a source of joy to
Him, and He pledges that all sorrow will be left behind forever (verse 19)
c.
the assurance that there will be no infant mortality nor premature death (he who fails to reach one
hundred years of age will be considered to be accursed) is conveying the promise of eternal life (verse
20)
d.
by means of the imagery of building houses and living in them, planting vineyards and enjoying their
fruit, there is conveyed the blessing of enjoying the fruit of our labor free from futility and oppression
(verses 21-23)
e.
verse 24 is communicating the blessing of close, instantaneous fellowship with God: Before they call, I
will answer.
f.
verse 25 is conveying the blessing of perfect peace throughout God’s new creation: the wolf and the
lamb shall feed together
Let us prepare to meet our God, …because those who
serve Him shall inherit His new creation.
Conclusion
1.
So very many people are living their lives totally absorbed with gaining riches and success in this present world
without any preparation for their encounter with God.
2.
Many other people live their lives like those young German students: absorbed in the pursuit and experience of
the pleasures of this present world without any preparation for their encounter with God.
3.
But the message of Isaiah 65 is this: Be prepared to meet your God.
4.
How do you prepare yourself for that awesome encounter?

Receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and take refuge in Him if you have never done so

Return to Christ if you have strayed away from Him

Remain in Christ and, by His grace, continue to be faithful to Him
Questions on Isaiah 65:1-25
1. What is being described in Isaiah 65:1 (printed below?)
I have revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I allowed myself to be found by those who did not seek
me. To a nation that did not call upon my name, I said, Here I am! Here I am! (Isaiah 65:1)
2. How does God describe these people to whom He has expectantly revealed Himself? See Isaiah 65:2-4 (printed
below)
All day long I have held out my hands to a rebellious people, a people who walk in a way that is not good, following
their own thoughts. (3) A people who provoke me to my face continually, offering pagan sacrifices in gardens and
99
burning incense upon altars of bricks. (4) A people who sit among the graves and spend the night in caves, who eat
the meat of pigs, and the broth of unclean meat is in their pots. (Isaiah 65:2-4)
3. According to verses 6-7 (printed below), what will God do?
See, their conduct has been recorded in my presence; therefore, I will not remain silent, but will pay them what is
just; indeed, I will deliver their recompense into their bosom—(7) both for your own iniquities as well as for the
iniquities of your fathers, declares Jehovah—into the bosom of those who have burned incense on the mountains
and scorned me on the hills. Therefore I will first measure their recompense into their bosom. (Isaiah 65:6-7)
4. What illustration does the Lord use in verse 8 (printed below?) What is He teaching?
This is what Jehovah says, As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes, and men say, Do not destroy it, for
there is still some good in it, so will I do for the sake of my servants, so that I will not destroy them all. (Isaiah
65:8)
5. How does the Lord describe the respective fate and rewards of those whom He identifies as "my servants" in
distinction from those whom He has identified as "a rebellious people?" See Isaiah 65:13-15 (printed below)
Therefore, this is what the Lord Jehovah says, My servants will eat, but you will be hungry. My servants will drink,
but you will be thirsty. My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame. (14) My servants will sing with a joyful
heart, but you will cry out with a sorrowful heart and will wail with a broken spirit. (15) You will leave your name to
my chosen ones to be used for the pronouncing of a curse, and the Lord Jehovah will put you to death; then he will
bestow upon his servants another name. (Isaiah 65:13-15)
6. Complete the sentences listed below that discuss the Lord’s appearance to His people as it is described in Isaiah
65:1.
a.
b.
c.
The Lord revealed Himself to those who did not ___.
The Lord appeared to those who did not ___.
The Lord presented Himself to those who did not ___.
1. ask for Him
2. call for Him
3. seek Him
7. In addition to being thoroughly unresponsive to the Lord and constantly provoking Him with their idolatry, the
people of whom Isaiah speaks were also characterized by an incredible _______. Fill in the blank
8. What terms does the Lord use in this passage of Isaiah 65 in describing the people who enjoy the blessing of His
favor?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
My servants
A rebellious people
My people who seek me
My chosen ones
A people who provoke me
9. In Isaiah 65:18-25 the life and blessing of God’s new creation are described in terms of this present creation that
would be familiar and especially meaningful to the Lord’s Old Testament people. Match the earthly imagery with the
future blessing.
a.
b.
c.
There will be no infant mortality or pre-mature death; God’s people shall live to an extraordinary old
age. ___
God’s people will build houses and live in them; they will plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them. ___
The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. ___
1. The blessing of perfect peace and tranquility
2. The blessing of eternal life
3. The blessing of being free from futility and oppression
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10. Complete the sentences listed below that instruct us as to how we are to prepare to meet our God. (Answers listed
on next page)
a.
b.
c.
___ as your Savior if you have never done so.
___ if you have strayed away from Him.
___ and, by His grace, continue to be faithful to Him.
1. Return to Christ
2. Receive Christ
3. Remain in Christ
WHAT KIND OF LIFE ARE YOU BUILDING?
ISAIAH 66:1-24
66 This is what Jehovah says, Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Therefore, what kind of house
will you build for me, and where will be my resting place? 2My hand has made all these things, so it was that all
these things came into being, declares Jehovah. But this is the man I will regard, namely, he who is humble and who
has a contrite spirit, he who trembles at my word. 3Whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a man; and
whoever offers a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck. Whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers
swine’s blood; whoever burns frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways,
and their soul delights in their abominations; 4so I will choose their afflictions and I will bring upon them the things
they dread—because when I called, none of them answered; when I spoke, they did not listen. On the contrary,
they did what was evil in my sight, and chose those things in which I have no delight.
5
Hear the word of Jehovah, you who tremble at his word: Your brothers who hate you, who thrust you away
because of my name, they have said, May Jehovah be glorified, so that we may see your joy! But they are the ones
who shall be put to shame. 6Hear the sound of an uproar in the city, a noise from the temple—it is the sound of
Jehovah repaying his enemies what they deserve. 7Before she went into labor, she gave birth; before the birth
pains came upon her, she delivered a son. 8Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a country
be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet as soon as Zion went into labor she gave birth
to her children. 9Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause the child to be delivered? asks Jehovah. When I
bring an infant to the point of delivery, do I shut the womb? asks your God. 10Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad
for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her. 11Be glad for her, so that you may
nurse and be satisfied with her comforting breasts, so that you may suck out and be delighted with the abundance
of her glory. 12This is what Jehovah says, I will extend peace to her like a river, and bestow upon her the wealth of
the nations like an overflowing stream. You will be nursed, you will be carried on the hip, and you will be dandled
upon the knees. 13I will comfort you as a mother comforts her child; indeed, you will be comforted in Jerusalem.
14
When you see this, your heart will rejoice and your bones will flourish like the grass of springtime. The hand of
Jehovah will be made known to his servants; but he will exhibit indignation against his enemies.
15
See, Jehovah will come with fire, and his chariots will be like the whirlwind; he will come to render his anger
with fury and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16With fire and with sword Jehovah will execute judgment upon all
mankind, and those slain by Jehovah will be many. 17Those who consecrate and purify themselves in order to go into
the gardens, following the instructions of the priest who stands among them, eating swine’s flesh and other
abominable things, including rats—they will all come to an end together, declares Jehovah. 18Because of their works
and their thoughts I will come to gather all nations and languages; and they will come, and they will see my glory.
19
But I will work a miracle among them, and those who are delivered from my judgment I will send to the nations—
to Tarshish, to Put, and to the famous archers of Lud, to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have
neither heard of my fame nor seen my glory. Those who have been delivered shall proclaim my glory to the nations.
20
And these messengers will bring all your brothers from out of all the nations as an offering to Jehovah, conveying
them on horses and in chariots and in wagons and upon mules and upon camels to Jerusalem my holy mountain,
declares Jehovah, just as the children of Israel bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of
Jehovah. 21And I will also select some of them to be priests and Levites, declares Jehovah. 22Just as the new
heavens and the new earth, that I will make, shall always remain before me, declares Jehovah, so shall your
descendants and your name perpetually endure. 23And it shall be that from one new moon to the next, and from one
Sabbath to the next, all mankind will come to bow down before me, declares Jehovah. 24And they will go out and
view the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me; the worm that feeds upon their corpses shall not
die, neither shall the fire that consumes their corpses be quenched—they will be an abhorrence to all mankind.
THEME: We should be concerned to build lives that are pleasing to the Lord.
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PURPOSE: To urge the students to build a life that is pleasing to the Lord.
OUTLINE: I. Build a Life that is Worthy of the Lord (Isaiah 66:1-2a)
II. Build a Life that is Characterized by a God-Pleasing Spirit (Isaiah 66:2b-6)
III. Build a Life that Receives God’s Blessing (Isaiah 66:7-24)
Introduction
1.
On the night of January 10, 1948, a fire broke out in the old First Reformed Church of Paterson, New Jersey. On
that cold and bitter winter night it burned to the ground in a three-alarm blaze.
2.
Suppose the same were to happen to the church you presently attend. One night you are awakened by the sound
of fire engine sirens and discover that your church building is ablaze.
3.
When the flames have finally been extinguished, there is nothing left but charred brick and rubble. Your
congregation must rebuild. You are appointed to the building committee.
4.
You and the other members of the committee meet together to consider the question, What kind of structure
shall we build?
5.
In the midst of your deliberations the Lord Himself appears and informs you that He is far more interested in the
kind of life you are building than in any architectural design you may choose.
6.
Such is the message of this last chapter of Isaiah: the setting may have been the occasion when the people of
Israel repaired the temple in the days of Hezekiah. In this setting the Lord comes to the people by the prophet
Isaiah and informs them of what is of primary importance to Him.
7.
As we study this passage of Scripture, let us consider what kind of life the Lord desires for us to be building.
I. Build a Life that is Worthy of the Lord (Isaiah 66:1-2a)
1.
The people were in the process of repairing the temple that had been in a state of deterioration due to
neglect (note 2 Chronicles 29:3)
In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the temple of Jehovah and
repaired them. (2 Chronicles 29:3); the passage is referring to the work of repairing the temple in the days of
king Hezekiah
2.
As the people are engaged in this work, the Lord speaks to them by the mouth of Isaiah the prophet
This is what Jehovah says, Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Therefore, what kind of
house will you build for me, and where will be my resting place? 2My hand has made all these things, so it
was that all these things came into being, declares Jehovah. (verses 1-2a)
3.
a.
the Lord reminds the people of His great majesty: heaven is His throne, the earth is His footstool, He
has made the whole creation with His own hands
b.
the Lord then proceeds to ask the question, What kind of house will you build for Me?—He is urging them
to realize that there is nothing they can make that could even begin to contain the greatness of His
presence or begin to do justice to the greatness of His glory

seeing that heaven itself is God’s throne and the earth is His footstool, what kind of house is man
able to build for God that is worthy of Him and that could contain His glorious Person?

seeing that the Lord Himself has created the heavens and the earth, what could man possibly build
that would be adequate to serve as a fit dwelling place for our Creator?
If we are to build lives that are worthy of the Lord we must begin by being aware of the majesty and the
awesomeness of who He is
Jehovah is exalted over all the nations; his glory is above the heavens. 5Who is like Jehovah our God, the
One who sits enthroned on high, 6who stoops down to look upon the heavens and the earth? (Psalm 113:4-6)
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4.
If we are to build lives that are worthy of the Lord we must understand what is of paramount interest to Him
and what is pleasing to Him
But Jehovah said to Samuel, … Jehovah does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward
appearance, but Jehovah looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in
their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)
Love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy
6:5)
5.
If we are to build lives that are worthy of the Lord we must realize that it requires the work of God in us, it is
not something we can manufacture ourselves
Unless Jehovah builds the house, its builders labor in vain. (Psalm 127:1a)
I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26I will give you a new heart and put a new
spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27And I will put my
Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (Ezekiel 36:25b-27)
6.
Let us build lives that are worthy of the Lord, yielding our selves to Him and asking Him to do His gracious
work in us
Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. …10Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a
steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:2,10)
II. Build a Life that is Characterized by a God- Pleasing Spirit (Isaiah 66:2b-6)
1.
The Lord is not impressed by any temple or cathedral that men may build for Him, but He does look with
favor upon the man whom He describes as …
a.
one who is humble and who has a contrite spirit; the reference here is to the man who is aware of his
spiritual need, is humble before the Lord his God, and exhibits sorrow for sin and a repentant spirit

it is the spirit and attitude exhibited by the tax collector in Jesus’ parable
…the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast
and said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner. 14I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went
home justified before God, for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who
humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 18:13-14)
Jehovah is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a contrite spirit.
(Psalm 34:18)
b.
the man who trembles at my word

holy fear is a right and proper response for a man to make to the Person of God
There is none like you, O Jehovah; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. 7Who should
not fear you, O King of the nations? for to you it appertain… . (Jeremiah 10:6-7a)

holy fear of the Lord is a characteristic of a godly man, a characteristic of Christ Himself in His
incarnate state
speaking of Christ, the writer to the Hebrews declares, During the days of his life on earth, he
offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from
death, and he was heard because of his godly fear… (Hebrews 5:7)

it is the teaching of Scripture that the man who fears the Lord is the man who experiences the
tender mercies of the Lord
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…for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him…
13
As a father has compassion on his children, so Jehovah has compassion on those who fear
him…17But from everlasting to everlasting the lovingkindness of Jehovah is upon those who fear
him. (Psalm 103:11,13,17)
2.
As verse 3a indicates, the Lord has no respect for those who offer Him the mere formalities of worship
Whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a man; and whoever offers a lamb is like one who breaks a
dog’s neck. Whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers swine’s blood; whoever burns
frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. (verse 3a)
3.
a.
worship may be offered to the Lord in strict accordance with the guidelines of Scripture, but if the
worshipper lacks the qualities outlined in verse 2, his worship is considered by the Lord to be in the
same class as idolatry
b.
those who would build lives that are pleasing to God must be aware of the majesty and awesomeness of
God’s person, must humble themselves before Him in humility and godly fear, and must worship Him
with whole-hearted devotion
The Lord once again describes the people in their present sinful condition (verses 3b-4)
…they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations (verse 3b)

here was a nation of people who were engaged in the practice of the formal worship of God while
resolutely determined to go their own way and to delight in those very things that the Lord defines as
abominations
I will choose their afflictions and I will bring upon them the things they dread—because when I called,
none of them answered, when I spoke, they did not listen. (verse 4a)

4.
because they did not fear God, God will therefore bring upon them the things they dread—in this case a
reference to the fear of conquest by a fierce foreign power, a temporal form of the judgment of God
There now follow words of assurance addressed to those who tremble at God’s word
Hear the word of Jehovah, you who tremble at his word: Your brothers who hate you, who thrust you
away because of my name, they have said, May Jehovah be glorified, so that we may see your joy! But
they are the ones who shall be put to shame. 6Hear the sound of an uproar in the city, a noise from the
temple—it is the sound of Jehovah repaying his enemies what they deserve. (verses 5-6)
5.
a.
those persons who are devoted to the Lord their God presently suffer persecution at the hands of their
countrymen: they are hated, they are ostracized, they are mocked for their devotion to the Lord and
their continued confidence in His promises
b.
but there is coming a great reversal: those who presently engage in mocking the Lord and His servants
shall themselves be put to shame
c.
this great reversal shall be accomplished by the voice of the Lord rendering recompense to His enemies,
causing a voice of tumult to arise throughout the city and the nation (i.e.; the voice of anguish raised by
the vanquished amidst the voice of the battle cry raised by the invaders—once again, a temporal form of
God’s final judgment)
Let us build lives that are characterized by a God-pleasing spirit: lives that are characterized by godly
humility and holy fear, a contrite heart, and a devotion to God’s will
III. Build a Life that Receives God’s Blessing (Isaiah 66:7-24)
1.
As the smoke of war and destruction and judgment clear away, we see the miraculous rebirth of Zion, the
city of God
Before she went into labor, she gave birth; before the birth pains came upon her, she delivered a son.
8
Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a country be born in one day? Can a
nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet as soon as Zion went into labor she gave birth to her children.
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9
Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause the child to be delivered? asks Jehovah. When I bring
an infant to the point of delivery, do I shut the womb? asks your God. (verses 7-9)
2.
a.
the imagery here is that of a woman giving birth, and the wonder of the effortless swiftness of the
birth, as well as the wonder of the abundance of her offspring (verses 7-8)
b.
verse 9 indicates this to be the work of the Lord, and the Lord will bring to fulfillment the good work
He has begun: the good work of redeeming His people to be His own possession and to inherit His
everlasting kingdom
Those who have loved Jerusalem and who have mourned for her, are now called to rejoice with her
(Jerusalem here representing the kingdom of God)
Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who
mourn over her. 11Be glad for her, so that you may nurse and be satisfied with her comforting breasts,
so that you may suck out and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. (verses 10-11)

3.
as a baby contently feeds upon his mother’s milk, so shall the godly drink in (experience) the
consolations and the abundant glory of (the new) Jerusalem
The Lord Himself testifies that He will bless His city and His servants in it
This is what Jehovah says, I will extend peace to her like a river, and bestow upon her the wealth of the
nations like an overflowing stream. You will be nursed, you will be carried on the hip, and you will be
dandled upon the knees. 13I will comfort you as a mother comforts her child; indeed, you will be
comforted in Jerusalem. 14When you see this, your heart will rejoice and your bones will flourish like
the grass of springtime. The hand of Jehovah will be made known to his servants; but he will exhibit
indignation against his enemies. (verses 12-14)
4.
a.
the Lord will bless “Jerusalem” with peace like a flowing river and with the wealth of the nations—just
as the nations now reign in glory, so shall the Lord bestow that glory upon His people (verse 12)
b.
Christ’s servants shall drink in that abundant blessing like a baby drinking his mother’s milk, and they
shall be comforted by God their Father as a mother comforts her child (verse 13)
c.
the hand of Jehovah will be known to his servants; they shall experience His work on their behalf,
…but He shall have indignation against His enemies (verse 14)
Having indicated that He will pour out His everlasting indignation upon His enemies just as surely as He
bestows His everlasting favor upon His servants (verse 14), the scene now shifts back to the fall of
Jerusalem (Jerusalem here referring to the earthly city inhabited by a God-defying people)
See, Jehovah will come with fire, and his chariots will be like the whirlwind; he will come to render his
anger with fury and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16With fire and with sword Jehovah will execute
judgment upon all mankind, and those slain by Jehovah will be many. 17Those who consecrate and purify
themselves in order to go into the gardens, following the instructions of the priest who stands among
them, eating swine’s flesh and other abominable things, including rats—they will all come to an end
together, declares Jehovah. (verses 15-17)
5.
a.
the warning is issued (verse 15)
b.
the judgment about to fall upon Jerusalem is a type of the final universal judgment that shall take
place at the end of history (verse 16)
c.
it is specifically stated that the Lord’s indignation and judgment is directed against the idolaters—all
those who give their worship and the devotion of their lives to anything other than to the Lord their
God, refusing to give Him the place of supreme pre-eminence in their lives (verse 17)
Verses 18-21 speak of a great gathering before the Lord
Because of their works and their thoughts I will come to gather all nations and languages; and they will
come, and they will see my glory. 19But I will work a miracle among them, and those who are delivered
from my judgment I will send to the nations—to Tarshish, to Put, and to the famous archers of Lud, to
Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have neither heard of my fame nor seen my glory.
Those who have been delivered shall proclaim my glory to the nations. 20And these messengers will bring
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all your brothers from out of all the nations as an offering to Jehovah, conveying them on horses and in
chariots and in wagons and upon mules and upon camels to Jerusalem my holy mountain, declares
Jehovah, just as the children of Israel bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of
Jehovah. 21And I will also select some of them to be priests and Levites, declares Jehovah. (verses 1821)
a.
the Lord has set a date for all the world to stand before Him: to behold His glory, to be confronted
with the truth that He alone is God (verse 18)
b.
verse 19 indicates that prior to that appointed day the Lord will work a miracle among them, and will
send to the nations those who are delivered from my judgment, and they shall declare the Lord’s
glory among the nations

c.
6.
in the light of New Testament revelation, this appears to be a reference to the day of Pentecost
at which time Jews, (who had been dispersed among the nations,) being gathered together in
Jerusalem at the time of the Passover, heard the gospel and carried the good news of salvation
through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ back with them to the distant reaches of the Gentile world
verses 20-21 appear to be a reference (couched in Old Testament terminology) to the ingathering of all
the Lord’s redeemed (believing Jew and believing Gentile alike) by means of the universal preaching of
the gospel—and they shall all serve the Lord in the same capacity that was once reserved for only the
Levites of the Old Testament nation of Israel
The eternal state that shall characterize the new creation is now outlined in the following terms:
Just as the new heavens and the new earth, that I will make, shall always remain before me, declares
Jehovah, so shall your descendants and your name perpetually endure. 23And it shall be that from one
new moon to the next, and from one Sabbath to the next, all mankind will come to bow down before me,
declares Jehovah. 24And they will go out and view the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against
me; the worm that feeds upon their corpses shall not die, neither shall the fire that consumes their
corpses be quenched—they will be an abhorrence to all mankind. (verses 22-24)
7.
a.
the redeemed of the Lord and their offspring (their believing children) shall remain before the Lord
forever (verse 22)
b.
again using terminology familiar to the Old Testament people of God, the Lord indicates that all flesh
(both the saved and the damned) shall acknowledge that He is God (verse 23)
c.
just as the redeemed are destined to experience the eternal blessing of God their Savior; so, too, the
unrepentant sinner is destined to experience the eternal curse of God His Judge (verse 24)
Let us build lives that receive God’s blessing and that shall inherit His everlasting kingdom of glory.
Conclusion
1.
What kind of life are you building?
2.
The Word of God exhorts us to build lives that are worthy of the Lord our God, …to build lives that have a Godpleasing spirit, …to build lives that shall receive God’s blessing.
3.
As you build your life, keep this divine “blueprint” before you, and take to heart the words of the Lord Jesus
Christ:
I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48He is like a
man building a house; who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent
struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49But the one who hears my words and does
not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the
torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete. (Luke 6:47-49)
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Questions on Isaiah 66:1-24
1. Isaiah 66 is addressing the people of Israel at the time when they were repairing the temple in the days of King
Hezekiah. In the midst of this re-construction work the Lord addresses His people by His prophet Isaiah. Of what does
He remind the people? What question does He ask? See Isaiah 66:1-2 (printed below) What do you think He wants them
to understand?
This is what Jehovah says, Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Therefore, what kind of house will
you build for me, and where will be my resting place? (2) My hand has made all these things, so it was that all these
things came into being, declares Jehovah. But this is the man I will regard, namely, he who is humble and who has a
contrite spirit, he who trembles at my word. (Isaiah 66:1-2)
2. What kind of a person does the Lord regard with favor? See Isaiah 66:2b (printed below)
...this is the man I will regard, namely, he who is humble and who has a contrite spirit, he who trembles at my word.
(Isaiah 66:2b)
3. What kind of worship is being described in verse 3 (printed below?) (Note the Lord's comments about the people who
are offering this worship) How does the Lord regard such "worship?" See verses 3-4 (printed below)
Whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a man; and whoever offers a lamb is like one who breaks a dog's neck.
Whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers swine's blood; whoever burns frankincense is like one who
blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations; (4) so I will
choose their afflictions and I will bring upon them the things they dread—because when I called, none of them
answered; when I spoke, they did not listen. On the contrary, they did what was evil in my sight, and chose those
things in which I have no delight. (Isaiah 66:3-4)
4. In verses 5-6 (printed below) the Lord turns from those whose worship merely consists of religious formalities to
once again address those who are truly devoted to Him. What assurance does He give them? Why does He find it
necessary to offer such assurance?
Hear the word of Jehovah, you who tremble at his word: Your brothers who hate you, who thrust you away because
of my name, they have said, May Jehovah be glorified, so that we may see your joy! But they are the ones who shall
be put to shame. (6) Hear the sound of an uproar in the city, a noise from the temple—it is the sound of Jehovah
repaying his enemies what they deserve. (Isaiah 66:5-6)
5. Verses 18-21 (printed below) speak of a great gathering before the Lord. How is that gathering described? What do
you think is the fulfillment of this prophecy?
Because of their works and their thoughts I will come to gather all nations and languages; and they will come, and
they will see my glory. (19) But I will work a miracle among them, and those who are delivered from my judgment I
will send to the nations—to Tarshish, to Put, and to the famous archers of Lud, to Tubal and Greece, and to the
distant islands that have neither heard of my fame nor seen my glory. Those who have been delivered shall proclaim
my glory to the nations. (20) And these messengers will bring all your brothers from out of all the nations as an
offering to Jehovah, conveying them on horses and in chariots and in wagons and upon mules and upon camels to
Jerusalem my holy mountain, declares Jehovah, just as the children of Israel bring their grain offering in a clean
vessel to the house of Jehovah. (21) And I will also select some of them to be priests and Levites, declares
Jehovah. (Isaiah 66:18-21)
6. Complete the sentences listed below that discuss the background for the prophecy recorded in Isaiah 66. (Answers
listed on next page)
a.
b.
c.
d.
The people of Israel were repairing the temple in the days of ___.
In the midst of the re-construction project the Lord came to them by ___.
The Lord informed His people that He is not pleased with the offering of ___.
What is pleasing to the Lord is the offering of ___.
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1.
2.
3.
4.
religious formalities
King Hezekiah
obedience
the prophet Isaiah
7. Why does the Lord take exception to the worship of the people who are described in Isaiah 66:3-4?
a.
b.
c.
They were presenting sacrifices divorced from a life of devotion to the Lord.
They were offering their sacrifices to pagan idols instead of offering them to the Lord.
They were failing to offer the sacrifices prescribed by the Lord in His Law.
8. The Lord is not impressed by any temple or cathedral made by men; but He does look with favor upon what kind of
person?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The
The
The
The
person
person
person
person
who
who
who
who
is humble.
is diligent to attend every worship service.
has a contrite heart.
trembles at His Word.
9. According to the commentary, based upon this passage of Isaiah 66, what kind of life should we strive to build?
a.
b.
c.
d.
We
We
We
We
should strive
should strive
should strive
should strive
to
to
to
to
build a life that will make us worthy before the Lord.
build a life that is characterized by a God-pleasing spirit.
build a life that will receive the Lord’s blessing.
build a life that is worthy of the Lord.
10. Complete the sentences listed below that describe what is necessary if we are to build a life that is worthy of the
Lord.
a.
b.
c.
We must be aware that the Lord is the ___.
We must appreciate the fact that the Lord desires a ___.
We must rely upon the transforming power that the Lord supplies by the ___.
1. Holy Spirit
2. consecrated life
3. majestic God
(At some point, perhaps after a time of review, the facilitator should administer
the Final Exam on this course.)