The Future Restoration Of Israel - Part 4 - Scriptures In Isaiah Series

THE FUTURE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL - PART 4 - SCRIPTURES IN ISAIAH

Part 4 continues to look at Isaiah scriptures about the Restoration of Israel. Some people might say, “But some of that could apply to me,” and that might be so. The application may be partial to you, but not the fulfillment. In all these passages the fulfillment is to Israel and the Jewish people. Let us begin Part 4.

{{Isaiah 32:13-18 for the land of my people in which thorns and briars shall come up; yea, for all the joyful houses, and for the jubilant city. Isa 32:14 Because the palace has been abandoned, the populated city forsaken. Hill and watch-tower have become caves forever, a delight for wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks Isa 32:15 UNTIL the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fertile field and the fertile field is considered as a forest. Isa 32:16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness and righteousness will abide in the fertile field. Isa 32:17 THE WORK OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL BE PEACE, and THE SERVICE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, QUIETNESS AND CONFIDENCE forever. Isa 32:18 Then my people will live in a peaceful habitation and in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places.”}}

This section is contained within a passage dealing with distress on the land because of sin. As I said earlier, Israel’s blessings are in the land, and departure from God, results in a scourge on the land. I have left two verses at the beginning that is part of this cursing of the land because of sin. Then in verse 15, there is the full reverse. Note the “UNTIL”. Remember, that in prophetic writings the timeframe can bounce all over the place – now, future, now, past, future . . .

CHAPTER 32 VERSES 13-14. These are the two verses of judgement on the land through sin. Thorns and briars, forsaken, the palace and city forsaken, and wild donkeys – all signs of God’s disfavour. This was not only the situation in the past but in essence it has been that way for over 2000 years with some slight change in our times. In spiritual terms, Israel is still a barren desert with donkeys of unbelief roaming there.

ISAIAH 32 VERSE 15. This is the pivot, the dramatic change leading to everlasting blessing, and it is signified by the word, “UNTIL.” Once God’s Holy Spirit is poured out on the nation as part of their restoration, from that point onwards, things change. In this verse the expansion is covered - wilderness to a fertile field, and the fertile field to a forest. This is what happens under Messiah’s rule and several Old Testament passages parallel this. Nothing happens in blessings until the Spirit is poured out on them, then blessings flow from above. A fuller treatment is done on this when we do Joel. Joel confirms the redeemed must be in the land, settled, and THEN the Spirit is poured out on them.

CHAPTER 32 VERSES 16-17. Now the prophet writes of the blessings that flow from the giving of the Spirit when the Lord returns to His people after the Second Coming. The first ones are justice and righteousness. Israel has always struggled with these two qualities but after this time, no longer. Justice and righteousness will be the attributes in His Kingdom, but those two will spill out wider as we have in 17 - The work of righteousness will be peace, and the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. Verse 18 is the habitation of restoration in the Lord’s Kingdom. It will all be marvellous. The conversion work of God turns a wicked soul into a saved soul. He changes our unrighteousness into His righteousness and that brings peace to the soul. Righteousness brings peace. Then as saved people we serve in righteousness because the foundations have been secured in faith. Serving works in quietness and confidence.

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{{Isaiah 34:16-17 “Seek from the book of the LORD and read: Not one of these will be missing; none will lack its mate for His mouth has commanded, and His Spirit has gathered them. Isa 34:17 He has cast the lot for them and His hand has divided it to them by line. They shall possess it forever, from generation to generation they shall dwell in it.”}}

Chapter 34 is all about judgement and the destructive conditions on the land, and then immediately in the common prophetic timeframe, we move over about 2600 years and into verse 16.

ISAIAH VERSES 14-15. The previous verses (7-9) were speaking of all the creatures in the land – {{Isaiah 34:14-15 “The desert creatures shall meet with the wolves; the hairy goat also shall cry to its kind. Yes, the night monster shall settle there and shall find herself a resting place. Isa 34:15 The tree snake shall make its nest and lay eggs there and it will hatch and gather them under its protection. Yes, the hawks shall be gathered there, every one with its kind.”}} Then in the next two verses, God moves from the creatures to His own people. Of course in the Millennium, these conditions apply also to all creatures, because all creation groans for its redemption (Rom 8). None of His Jewish redeemed will be missing for the Spirit has gathered them and they will be restored to their land and blessed forever. Praise God!