TODAY’S READING: ISAIAH 40-45
OVERVIEW: Judah’s future captivity in Babylon and promise of deliverance (40:1-11); God’s omnipotence (40:12-26); God’s sustaining power (40:27-31); God’s sovereignty in history (41:1-7); God’s protection of Israel (41:8-20); God’s challenge to the idols (41:21-29); the Servant of the LORD (42:1-25); assurance of Israel’s restoration (43:1-44:5); the witness of the restored nation (44:6-23); the fulfillment of restoration (44:24-45:25).
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
In the microcosm of the Bible that we call the Book of Isaiah, having covered the first 39 chapters, representative of the Old Testament, we begin today the section representative of the New Testament. Interestingly, as we come to chapter 40, Isaiah begins, as does Matthew in the New Testament, with “The voice of him (John the Baptist – Matt. 3:1-3) that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (40:3). Just as a little sidelight, this is one of my favorite little “ditties” to show Jehovah’s False Witnesses outside the doors of my house (II John 7-10) just before I lovingly tell them they are of an antichrist spirit (II John 7). Note that when Isaiah makes this prophecy, John the Baptist, he says, will be preparing the way of “Jehovah.” Every time you see the word “LORD” in our King James Bible written in all capital letters, as in verse 40:3, it is signifying that this is the Hebrew word for “Jehovah.”! When the prophecy is fulfilled in Matt. 3:1-3, Jehovah is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ!!! The same incredible truth also took place earlier in the Book of Isaiah, chapter 6. In Isaiah 6:5, Isaiah saw “Jehovah” (the “LORD” of hosts — KJV) in all of His glory. When the Holy Spirit writes of this (II Pet.1:21) in John 12:37-41, He says that Isaiah was seeing CHRIST’S (!!!) glory and spoke of CHRIST!!! And all of God’s people said, AMEN!!!
Hey, this is way too much fun to stop now! Let me show you a few more little Jehovah’s False Witness “ditties.” In chapter 42:8, God clearly says that “GLORY” belongs to “JEHOVAH” (‘the LORD” – KJV) ALONE: “I am the LORD: that is my name (“Jehovah”!): and my glory will I not give to another.” John1:14says, “And the Word (Christ – John 1:1) was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Very simply, in light of Isaiah 42:8, if Jesus Christ isn’t “Jehovah,” where did He get His glory? Hopefully, you’re seeing how monumental these verses are! In John 17:5, as Jesus prayed to “Jehovah,” His Father, He prayed, “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” Again, in light of Isaiah 42:8, why would Jesus ask for something “Jehovah” doesn’t give?
In chapter 43 and verse 10, God makes reference to His “witnesses.” These are what we like to call the “True Jehovah’s Witnesses”! And in verse 11, God says very clearly, that there is only one “Jehovah” (“the LORD” – KJV), and “Jehovah” is the ONLY SAVIOUR: “I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.” Check out Titus 2:13: “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great GOD and our SAVIOUR Jesus Christ.” Notice that Jesus Christ is referred to as the “SAVIOUR” (Isa. 43:11), and that He is “THE GREAT GOD”! Not “a” God. “THE” GOD!!!
In chapter 44 and verse 6, it lets us know that “Jehovah” (“the LORD” – KJV) is the ONLY eternal God, and that the attribute of being “the first and the last” is only true of “Jehovah God.” In light of the clear teaching of this verse, check out Revelation 1:10-11: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice (the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ in the context!), as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, THE FIRST AND THE LAST” !!!
And just one more. In chapter 44 and verse 24 says that “Jehovah” (“the LORD” – KJV) made “all things” by HIMSELF (“myself”). In light of that, check out John 1:1-3 and Colossians 1:16: “ALL THINGS(!!!) were made by him (the “Word,” the Lord Jesus Christ!); and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). “For by him (the “Son” – Col. 1:13, again, the Lord Jesus Christ!) were ALL THINGS (just as in Isa. 44:24) created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: ALL THINGS (there it is again!) were created by him, and for him” (Col. 1:16). How ‘bout them apples for God proving that Jesus Christ, His Son, is “JEHOVAH”!
To help you keep the flow going in Isaiah in the chapters of today’s reading, follow the sequence listed in today’s more extensive “OVERVIEW.”
SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”:
40:10 – “the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him.”
42:4 – “till he have set judgment in the earth”
42:13 – “The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man”
CHRIST IS REVEALED:
As JEHOVAH in the verses in today’s reading listed above – Isa. 40:3; 42:8; 43:10-11; 44:6; 44:24 As SHEPHERD – Isa. 40:11 (John 10:11) As CREATOR – Isa. 40:28 (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16) As REDEEMER – Isa. 41:14 (Gal. 3:13; I Pet. 1:18-19; Rev. 5:9) As HE TO WHOM EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE SWEAR (CONFESS) – Isa. 45:23 (Phil. 2:10).