Isaiah Series

June 26, 2021

The first few words in a book often set the tone for the whole book and that is certainly the case with Isaiah. Notice:

• Isaiah 1:1-3, 21-25 - The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the day of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the Lord has spoken. “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me. An ox knows its owner, and a donkey its master's manger, but Israel does not know, My people do not understand." …. See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her—but now murderers! Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water. Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them. Therefore, the Lord God of hosts, The Mighty One of Israel declares, "Ah, I will be relieved of My adversaries, and avenge Myself on My foes. 25 I will also turn My hand against you, and will smelt away your dross as with lye, and will remove all your alloy.”

Not the best of starts. However, Isaiah has sometimes been called the “5th Gospel” because sprinkled throughout the book are 17 passages that point to God’s deliverance of His people.

The importance of these passages cannot be underestimated because they were written at a time of great spiritual apostacy.

Which brings us to My Favorite Thing About ISAIAH, whose name literally means “The Lord Saves” ---- It is the picture he paints of the coming Redeemer.

Some of the most awe-inspiring words ever written regarding this Redeemer are found within the pages of this book.

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The people were prosperous under the leadership of Uzziah. But, as always, God looked beyond the surface to the motivations of the heart and it was not good news. God pleaded with His people to return to Him and be restored, but they refused to listen. They traded the God of the Universe for images of wood and stone and precious metal. They CHOSE rebellion and ultimately, they CHOSE to return to captivity.

Isaiah’s ministry occurred between 740 – 681 BC {approximately}

Israel destroyed by Assyria in 722 BC

Judah destroyed by Babylon in 586 BC

This is why I find the Redeemer passages in Isaiah so remarkable. Despite their rebellion, God CHOSE to continue to pursue them and He promised to send a physical redeemer in the person of Cyrus the Great:

• Isaiah 44:28 - 45:6 - It is I who says of Cyrus, 'He is My shepherd! And he will perform all My desire.' And he declares of Jerusalem, 'She will be built,' and of the temple, 'Your foundation will be laid.'" Thus says the LORD to Cyrus His anointed, whom I have taken by the right hand, to subdue nations before him, and to loose the loins of kings; to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: …. 4 "For the sake of Jacob My servant, and Israel My chosen one, I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor though you have not known Me. 5 "I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; 6 that men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other…

o Ezra 1:1-3 {200+ years later} - In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah {regarding the length of the captivity – 70 years}, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing: 2 "This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: "'The LORD, 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 the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem.

And a spiritual and eternal Redeemer in the person of Jesus:

• Isaiah 9:1-2 - Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan - 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned ….