365 Days of Pursuit.org

OVERVIEW:

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

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”: 

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

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

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

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

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

OVERVIEW:

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

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

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

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

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

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

OVERVIEW:

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


HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

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

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

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

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

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

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

SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”:  

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

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

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

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

OVERVIEW:

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

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”: 

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

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As JEHOVAH in the verses in today’s reading listed above — Isaiah 40:3; 42:8; 43:10–11; 44:6; 44:24

As SHEPHERD — Isaiah 40:11 (John 10:11)

As CREATOR — Isaiah 40:28 (John 1:1–3; Colossians 1:16)

As REDEEMER — Isaiah 41:14 (Galatians 3:13; 1^st Peter 1:18–19; Revelation 5:9)

As HE TO WHOM EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE SWEAR (CONFESS) — Isaiah 45:23 (Philippians 2:10)

OVERVIEW:

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

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

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

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

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

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

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

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

SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”:  

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

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the ONE WHO WIELDS “THE SWORD OF THE LORD” IN JUDGMENT — Isaiah 34:6 (Revelation 19:15)

As the ANGEL OF THE LORD who smote the enemy – Isaiah 37:36 (Romans 12:19)

OVERVIEW:

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

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”: 

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

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

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

OVERVIEW:

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

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”: 

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

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

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

OVERVIEW: 

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

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”: 

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

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

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

OVERVIEW:

Isaiah’s message for King Ahaz; Christ’s birth and Kingdom foretold; Assyria to be broken; the promise of Israel’s restoration; Christ, the Branch.   

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

The chapters in today’s reading (Isaiah 7–12) are sometimes referred to as “The Book of Immanuel” because of their clear prophecies concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.

Keep in mind, as we continue through this book, that Isaiah prophesied during the time period that is chronicled in 2^nd Kings 16–25, during the reigns of King Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah.

Also keep in mind that the nation of Israel became divided after the death of Solomon with the 10 northern tribes being referred to as Israel, and the two southern tribes being referred to as Judah. The capital city of Israel was Samaria, and the capital city of Judah was Jerusalem. Though Isaiah’s ministry was centered in Jerusalem, his messages influenced both the northern and the southern kingdoms. 

As we pick up in chapter 7 today, understand that because of Assyria’s menacing power, the surrounding nations wanted to form a coalition to stand against her. King Ahaz of Judah, however, refused to join the confederacy, so Syria and Israel actually joined forces to attack Judah to try to force her to cooperate with them. (7:1-2) From 2^nd Kings 16:1– 9, we know that, rather than trusting the Lord to help, Ahaz was secretly negotiating with Assyria to protect to him. While Ahaz was inspecting the safety of the water supply, God sent Isaiah and his son, Shearjashub (meaning “the remnant shall return”), to give the king a message of confidence and hope. They tell him not to fear, because Israel and Syria would both be “broken” within 65 years. In the fulfillment of the prophecy, Assyria defeated Syria (Damascus) in 732 B.C., and defeated Israel in 721 B.C.

In 7:10–16, God wanted Ahaz to ask for a sign to confirm the prophecy, but Ahaz piously refused. The Lord then determined to give a sign to the entire “house of David.” (7:13) The sign is delineated in 7:14: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” As with many of the prophecies in the Old Testament, there is actually a “double fulfillment” included in this sign. In other words, to affirm and confirm that the prophecy would be fulfilled in the future, God would often allow there to be a partial fulfillment of the prophecy in more of the immediate present. That seems to be the case in the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14. This is an obvious reference to virgin birth of Jesus Christ, who was conceived of the Holy Ghost in Mary’s womb, Mary having never known a man. (Luke 1:31–35) The more immediate partial fulfillment of the prophecy, however, was that a child was to be born to Isaiah’s wife, as detailed in Isaiah 8:1–8. Apparently, Isaiah’s first wife, the mother of Shearjashub had died, and Isaiah had taken a new wife shortly after giving this prophecy, and the virgin he took to wife gave birth to a child by the name of Mahershalalhashbaz (meaning, “speed to the spoil, haste to the prey”) within the next year.

From 7:17 through 10:34, Isaiah is preaching to apostate Israel, warning the northern kingdom that Assyria would come upon them and completely annihilate them. It was at this very juncture that Mahershalalhashbaz was born; his very name pointing to the soon destruction of Samaria and Syria. (8:4)

In chapter 9:1–7, Isaiah gives a second prophecy concerning the coming Messiah. (Compare this prophecy with Matthew 4:13–16.) In 9:8 through 10:34, Isaiah continues to warn Israel of her impending ruin. At the same time, he warns Assyria not to become proud of her victories, recognizing that she would simply be a tool in the hand of God, and that she, too, would soon be defeated. Note also in this section, that Assyria is a type of the antichrist (“The Assyrian” – 14:25; 19:23; 30:31; 31:8; 52:4; Ezekiel 31:3; Hosea 5:13; 11:5; Micah 5:5–6) who will gather the nations of the world together in battle against Israel at Armageddon at the end of the Great Tribulation!

In chapters 11 and 12, Isaiah prophesies that Israel and Judah will unite in the Kingdom.

 SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”: 

• 7:18 – “in that day” 
• 7:21 – “in that day” 
• 7:23 – “in that day” 
• 9:7 – “and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it” 
• 9:14 – “in one day” 
• 10:3 – “in the day of visitation” 
• 10:17 – “in one day” 
• 10:20 – “in that day” 
• 10:27 – “in that day” 
• 10:32 – “that day” 
• 11:10 – “in that day” 
• 11:11 – “in that day” 
• 11:16 – “in the day” 
• 12:1 – “in that day” 
• 12:4 – “in that day”

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In the SON WHO IS BORN OF VIRGIN, CALLED IMMANUEL — Isaiah 7:14 (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:26-35)

In the CHILD UPON WHOM THE GOVERNMENT SHALL BE UPON HIS SHOULDER — Isaiah 9:6 (Revelation 11:15)

OVERVIEW:

Israel’s backslidden condition; Isaiah’s exhortation for repentance; the coming of Christ’s kingdom; Jerusalem’s glorious future; God’s judgment upon sinners; Isaiah’s vision of God’s holiness.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

The book of Isaiah is one of the most intriguing books of the entire Bible. There are either some very strange “coincidences” found in this book, or there are some very incredible things God reveals to us through it!

Is it mere coincidence that the Bible is comprised of 66 books and that the book of Isaiah is comprised of 66 chapters?

Is it mere coincidence that Isaiah chapter 1 begins, as does the book of Genesis, talking about the “heaven” and the “earth”? (Genesis 1:1 c.f. Isaiah 1:2)

Is it mere coincidence that chapter 40 of Isaiah, corresponding to the 40^th book of the Bible (or the first book of the New Testament), talks about, “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God,” just as does the Gospel of Matthew?  (Isaiah 40:3 c.f. Matthew 3:1–3)

Is it mere coincidence that Isaiah chapter 66, corresponding, of course, to the last book of the Bible (the book of Revelation) talks about the “new heaven and the new earth,” just as does Revelation 21? (Isaiah 66:22 c.f. Revelation 21:17)

Is it mere coincidence that the first 39 chapters of Isaiah (i.e. representative of the Old Testament) is so distinctly different in content from the last 27 chapters (i.e. representative of the New Testament) that many have insisted that there are actually two “Isaiah’s” that authored this book? The first 39 chapters, coincidently enough, point to man’s tremendous need for salvation and the last 27 chapters point to God’s gracious provision of it!

Wow! Obviously, we’re not dealing here with mere “coincidences”! The book of Isaiah is actually a microcosm of the Bible. If you are unfamiliar with the term “microcosm”, it simply means “a miniature” or “a small and yet perfect representation of the whole”. Because New York City has residents from literally every nation on earth, we could say that it is a “microcosm” of the world. Because the capstone of a pyramid is simply a miniature of the entire pyramid, we could say that the capstone is a “microcosm” of the pyramid itself. So, the book of Isaiah is a perfect, miniature representation, or microcosm, of the entire Bible!

Note also that the book of Isaiah begins the books of the Bible referred to as “the Prophets.” (Luke 24:27, 44) Of course, “the Prophets” are divided into two main categories or headings: Major Prophets, and Minor Prophets. What determines the distinction between their being “Major” or “Minor” is not the significance of their content, but very simply the amount (or length) of their content. The books comprising the Major Prophets are simply longer than the books comprising the Minor Prophets.

The theme of Isaiah is the same as in all of the Prophetic Books: it is “the day of the Lord” or the second coming of Christ. Regardless of the situations that Israel was facing; regardless of the sins that Israel was committing; regardless of the subject of which the prophet was preaching, the theme in the Prophetic Books is always the same! It always ends with and/or is pointing to “the day of the Lord”!

Note also that the time of Isaiah’s prophecy is approximately 814 to 769 B.C., and takes place during the last half of the book of 2^nd Kings, chapters 16 through 25. Primarily, Isaiah writes to the two southern tribes.

Israel’s spiritual condition in chapter 1 is a familiar one in Israel’s history. Once again, they have allowed themselves to spiral downward into apostasy. Note that Isaiah actually uses seven different terms or phrases in verse 4 to describe their backslidden state:

1. “sinful” 
2. “laden with iniquity”
3. “evildoers”
4. “corrupters”
5. “forsaken the Lord”
6. “provoked the Holy One”
7. “gone away backward”

The pitiful thing about it, however, is that though these terms were accurately descriptive of Israel’s true spiritual condition, it did not stop the people from going through the motions of all kinds of activity that made them think they were doing okay spiritually! Despite God’s graphic commentary of their pathetic spiritual condition, they continued all of their religious observances: the feasts, the sacrifices, the new moons, and the sabbaths long after they had any meaning in their hearts or bearing on their lives. If I may paraphrase, God says to Israel through Isaiah in 1:10–15: “I’m sick of all of your religiousness! Don’t bring me any more of your vain oblations! I can’t stand it! You’re wearing me out will all of this stuff you’re doing! I’m going to close my eyes so I don’t even have to see any more of your hypocrisies! When you lift up your hands in prayer, all I see is all of the sinful things you’ve been doing with them! Spare Me!”

It is quite interesting to observe how much this particular passage, in Isaiah 1, mirrors the letter our Lord Jesus Christ wrote to the Laodiceans in Revelation 3:14–22, describing the spiritual condition of His church in our day. God’s people come to church in the Laodicean Church Period, looking the part, faithfully participating in the offering, standing and singing the songs, taking copious notes, nodding our heads in all of the right places, saying “amen” in all the right places, and yet, our hearts are not in it! Somehow, all of the things we do on Sundays, have little, if any, bearing on what will take place in our lives Monday through Saturday!

God’s answer in Isaiah’s day, just as it is now, is “Get your heart right! Then, get your heart into it!” God says in verses 16–20 of Chapter 1: “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” The key parallel passage in the New Testament is, no doubt, 2^nd Corinthians 6:14–7:1.

Notice a key phrase in Isaiah 1:19. God says, “If ye be willing AND obedient…” Perhaps the key word in this phrase is the word “AND”. Laodicean churches are filled with many “WILLING” people. They’re WILLING to serve in a children’s class; they’re WILLING to be involved in the upkeep of the facilities; they’re WILLING to offer the Lord a gift of love upon the first day of the week; they’re WILLING to do any number of things! The only problem is they just seldom ever “DO” any of these things! WILLING? Yes! OBEDIENT? No!

On the other hand, Laodicea is filled with “OBEDIENT” people. They would never think about not obeying Hebrews 10:25 by missing a service; they would never not obey 1^st Corinthians 16:2 by not participating in the offering; they would never miss taking notes during the message on Sunday morning; they would never not “DO” a lot of things! The only problem is, their OBEDIENCE is strictly a matter of DUTY! It is ritualistic, legalistic, hypocritical, and the result of self-disciplining and suppressing their real desires, and “cranking out” spiritual-looking activity rather than the joyous, passionate, heart-felt, Spirit-led response of a “WILLING” heart. Oh, may we surrender ourselves to be both “WILLING AND OBEDIENT”!

As we start down the path of “the prophets” in today’s reading, may I suggest that you underline in your Bible every specific reference to “the day of the Lord” (the Tribulation/Second Coming of Christ/the Millennium). I’ll list the ones I see each day, but it’ll be a whole lot more engaging and valuable if you underline them as you find them yourself, first. By doing this, you’ll understand in a whole new way why the first day of our 365 Days of Pursuit began by emphasizing that “the day of the Lord” is the theme of the Bible!

SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”:  

• 2:2 – “And it shall come to pass in the last days”  
• 2:11 – “in that day”  
• 2:12 – “For the day of the Lord”  
• 2:17 – “in that day”  
• 2:19 – “when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth”  
• 2:20 – “in that day”  
• 2:21 – “when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth”  
• 3:7 – “in that day”  
• 3:18 – “in that day”  
• 4:1 – “in that day”  
• 4:2 – “in that day”  
• 5:30 – “in that day”

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the ONE WHO WILL JUDGE THE NATIONS — Isaiah 2:2–4 (The Lord Jesus Christ shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing — 2^nd Timothy 4:1)

As the BRANCH OF THE LORD, BEAUTIFUL AND GLORIOUS — Isaiah 4:2 (Zechariah 3:8; 6:12; Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15; Isaiah 11:1)