-
The Oil Of Joy
The close connection between this chapter and Luke 4:14-21 means there is no doubt as to the identity of the preacher said to have been anointed by the LORD. Isaiah is prophesying the very words of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus read this passage in the synagogue at Nazareth at the commencement of His ministry and declared it fulfilled in Himself. God the Holy Spirit descended upon the Lord Jesus, as a dove at His baptism. This was witnessed by John the Baptist who declared ‘for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him’. A well-informed people We are again reminded how much of Christ the Messiah these Old Testament believers understood. By prophetic revelation they looked forward to Christ’s coming in faith, being…
-
Arise, And Shine
This is a chapter full of positive promises and good hope for the church of Jesus Christ. As we have seen in earlier passages there may be occasional references to the return of the exiled Jews from Babylon. However, there is much deeper spiritual depth and meaning to the prophet’s words when seen through New Testament eyes. Isaiah speaks of the church’s enlargement, victory and ultimate triumph. He provides some beautiful references to our Saviour and Redeemer. He emphasises Christ’s success in gathering His church for the glory of Jehovah God. Light shining in darkness The opening call to ‘arise, shine’ may be understood as a call from God the Father to the Lord Jesus Christ to rise up and shine forth in His covenant…
-
The Redeemer Shall Come
The opening verse of this chapter is for saints who feel forgotten and unnoticed. Hold on in hope to God’s promises even when the Lord seems far away. Persevere in prayer even when His responses seem delayed. The Lord loves us, His people, and whether we see immediate evidence for it or not, He is actively caring for His little flock. Be sure, His ‘hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear’. When the Lord tarries There is no lack of power in God to do what He has said. Our Lord is a prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God. There is wisdom in God’s scheduling and there is goodness in His method even if we cannot see the…
-
Show My People Their Sins
In chapter 40 the Lord instructed Isaiah to comfort His remnant people by reassuring them that the Messiah would come and Immanuel would be born into the world. Harsh times of conquest and exile were yet to afflict Jerusalem and the Jews, nevertheless the coming Christ would deliver God’s promised salvation. As we have seen, the faithful prophet fulfilled his task by consistently pointing forward to the Messiah. He wrote of the suffering which Christ would endure and the success He would enjoy. Believers are always comforted when they see Jesus. The sins of God’s people Now, however, the Lord God has an additional message for His prophet-preacher. Isaiah must declare loudly and strongly the transgressions of God’s people and show the house of Jacob…
-
No Peace To The Wicked
The Psalmist tells us, ‘Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints’. Here Isaiah contrasts the attitude of the wicked, perhaps thinking especially of the blind watchmen and ignorant shepherds of the previous chapter. They have no sense of the value lost to the church and the world by the death of those who lived uprightly, prayed for their brothers and sisters, and daily witnessed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Unbelievers do not realise the benefits they receive from the presence of the church in the world. The blessings of death Those who die in the Lord are triply blessed. They are evermore preserved and protected from the evil of this world. Their souls are carried into the presence…
-
An Everlasting Name
For all the comfort and encouragement granted to the Old Testament saints by Isaiah’s prophecies concerning the Messiah, the remnant people were not to imagine that the coming gospel age would be a time of blessing without trial. The gospel must go to all nations, and the Lord’s elect will be gathered from the ends of the earth, but the growth of the church would not be trouble-free. Each generation of God’s people have their peculiar blessings and their distinctive difficulties as we shall see in this and the coming chapters. When God speaks Isaiah opens this prophecy with a ‘Thus saith the LORD’. It is our privilege to be always listening for the word of the Lord God while seeking opportunity to follow in…