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HIS SERVANTS' MINISTRY www.godcannotlie.org Welcome to our web site We here at His Servants' Ministry, teach the whole Truth of God's Holy Word. We teach God's goodness and mercy and Heaven; but we also teach God's righteous wrath and judgment to come and an eternal Hell, a Lake of Fire. It deeply saddens me the way that the world is turning away from the goodness of Almighty God. The vast majoriy of people in the world today never, ever, think of eternity. They just keep on keeping on in their sin, and they really must think they will go to Heaven. My dear friend, there really IS a Hell, and there really IS a Judgment Day when ALL people will be held accountable for their sins. BEWARE!!! Many of our articles are linked to other Christian web sites. We do not always agree 100% with everything these sites say, but as a rule, they have the same basic beliefs that we do. This is our 'godcannotlie' web site. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Book of Isaiah Chapters 49-57 give us God’s gracious provision of redemption. This second section (chapters 49-57) points to an effective cure for their (and our) real problems. On the outside, their exile would seem to be the bad guy ruining their lives. If from section one they can understand that their judgment is because of their sin, then they will look for relief not only in a return to their homeland but in the healing of their sins, and ONLY God alone can provide this healing. Although they are comforted about their return to Palestine, it is just a small part of the complete worldwide plan of healing that Almighty God will provide through His gracious and Humble Servant. The Servant serves as the Center of Hope in these chapters. Because of this awesome Servant, Israel can be assured that God has not forsaken them. In reality, the Servant will lead ALL nations to serve God. Slowly this Majestic Servant is introduced. His work is not easy, but He finds strength in the LORD God. Through the multitude of verses describing the Suffering Servant, the Israelites (and we as well), should begin to realize the cost of salvation. It is easy enough to arrange for their passage back to Judah as the first section emphasized using Cyrus the Persian emperor as His servant. But, this Suffering Servant, brings God’s people back through sufferings which climax with His death on the cross, and in this way He has become their Saviour (and ours). He died for their sins. What should have been OUR sufferings, became His sufferings. Do you honestly realize just what Jesus did for us? For you and for me? And because He faithfully did and does His work, He prospers and leads all those who are made righteous (justified) by Him (Rom.3:24; 5:1, 9). God ever so patiently taught the Jews that His plan was to incorporate people all around the world. The many was to include people from all around the world . . . Jews AND Gentiles! The every one in chapter 55:1 is all-encompassing. Chapter 56 deliberately assures these strangers (Gentiles) not to feel inferior or unimportant. Consider the following: How great and immeasurable is God’s grace! Chapter 57 brings us back to the operating table. God spreads out our wickedness right before our eyes, and IF you sincerely want salvation of your soul, and long for hope of everlasting life, you must be willing to hear what the LORD has to say to you. Are you listening??? Ch.40-48: Isaiah 48:22 There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked. (KJV) All three of these last sections end with the same idea . . . there shall be no peace, to the wicked. The Messiah brings peace, but any and all who reject Him will NEVER know peace. Turning TO idols is turning AWAY from the Messiah. As we have seen, this section has majored in a condemnation and rebuke of idolatry. Idolatry is a road that leads to Babylon. The LORD, in the Book of Isaiah, is traveling the lonely road to Calvary. BEWARE!!! ALL idolatry and witchcraft are an abomination to the LORD: (Deut.27:15; 1 Ki.11:7; 23:13; Isa.44:19; Jer.32:35; Eze.18:12; Dan.12:11; Mal.2:11; Rev.21:27) ISAIAH 54 parallels with 1 TIMOTHY. Isaiah 54:1 O barren, thou refers to Israel under the law. Isaiah 54 shows the contrast between law and grace, the results of atonement to Israel. Isaiah 54 tells the cause of their fruitfulness and rejoicing, which is Calvary. 1 Timothy shows us Paul, a shadow and representative of Israel, in his barren condition under the law and then in his fruitfulness under grace. As Chapter 53 is a prophecy of the humiliation and exaltation of Christ, of His sufferings and His death, and the glory that should follow; this is a prophecy of that part of His glory which tells of the prosperous estate of His Church. In reality, the Death of Christ is the life of the church and of all those who truly belong to it and therefore very correctly, after the prophet had foretold the sufferings of Christ, he foretells the success of the church, which is a big part of the glory of Christ Jesus. His glory, and the adoration and acclaim of Christ was the actual reward of His humiliation. It was a Promise to Him that He would see His seed, and this chapter is a revelation of that Promise (Gen.22:17-17; Ps.89:3-4). It may easily be taken for granted that it has a primary reference to the welfare and prosperity of the Jewish church after their return out of Babylon, which was typical of the glorious liberty of the children of God, which through Christ we are brought into . . . yet it cannot be denied that it has a further and main reference to the Gospel church, into which the Gentiles were to be admitted (Gal.3:26-28). It is here promised concerning the Christian church: #1. Although the beginnings of it were small, it should be greatly enlarged by the accession of many to it among the Gentiles, who had been totally destitute of church privileges (vs.4-5). #2. Although sometimes God might seem to withdraw from her, and hold back the signs of His favor, He would return in mercy and would not return to struggle with them anymore (vs.6-10). #3. Although for a while she was in sorrow and under oppression, she would be in time, advanced to greater honor and splendor than ever before (vs.11-12). #4. That knowledge, righteousness and peace, would flourish and prevail (vs.13-14). #5. That all attempts against the church would be confounded since the LORD was on her side, and she would be secured from the malice of her enemies (vs.14-17). Theme: The regathered and restored wife of Jehovah; the rejoicing and righteous restored wife of Almighty God. The Regathered and Restored Wife of Jehovah (54:1-10) This is speaking directly to Israel saying they should sing. Isaiah 54:1 Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. (KJV) Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear . . . one version interprets this: sing praise, O Jerusalem, which was as a barren woman that bears not. The apostle Paul applies the words of the text to the Jerusalem, the mother of us all, the then present Gospel church (Gal.4:26), which when it was first set up, in the times of Christ, during His life and at the time of His Death, and before the day of Pentecost, was like a barren woman; the number of converts was very small; very few believed the Gospel, very few professed Christ and submitted to His ordinances. The number of the disciples were but a hundred and twenty (Acts 1:15). *****The first word after the crucifixion in chapter 53 is Sing. It truly is a call to Israel to sing, but the Jews are not singing in their land today. In the past Israel has been like a barren wife, but somewhere out in the future, her struggle will be over. But her future is glorious because she will have many children in the future. Multitudes were converted in the past from idols to the living God. Those were the church's children that were born again, and were partakers of a new and divine nature, by the Word. More were the children of the desolate than of the married wife; there were more good people found in the Gentile church (when that was set up) that had long been a-far off, and without God in the world, than ever were found in the Jewish church. God's sealed ones out of the tribes of Israel are numbered (Rev.7:4). Enlarge the place of thy tent . . . the tent is a symbol of the church, because of its uncertain and movable condition, being sometimes in one place, and sometimes in another; and because of its outward unkindness and weakness, as well as its small extent. Now it is suggested that it should be enlarged, and room be made for access of the inhabitants to it. The Gospel church should not be confined to Jerusalem, but should be accessible in other parts of Judea, and in Galilee, and in Samaria (Acts 9:31). Thou shalt break forth . . . burst forth with increase; their offspring shall grow, answering to thy seed in the following clause. This shalt bring forth a multitude of children; for this word is commonly used of any great and extraordinary spread of living creatures, whether beasts or men (Gen.30:30; Ex.1:12; Ps.105:24). *****This may be granted a main reference to the welfare and prosperity of the Jewish church after their return out of Babylon, which (as other things that happened to them) was typical of the glorious liberty of the children of God, which through Christ alone we are brought into . . . but I believe it also looks forward to the last days, to the Gospel church, into which the Gentiles were to be admitted (Rev.7:9, 13-14). Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed . . . for the barrenness and widowhood, which once was the cause of their grief and shame, because now they shall be delivered from it, and God will own them for His wife, and beget children of them. Fear not . . . the fulfilment of these things; no matter how unlikely and doubtful they may seem, for the LORD was able to perform them; and for that reason they should not have fear, doubt and an unbelieving heart. Isaiah 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. (KJV) For thy Maker is thine Husband . . . thy Maker is He who made them out of nothing (Jn.1:3; Col.1:16-17; Heb.11:3), and therefore can easily fulfil all these Promises. Therefore He will not nor utterly forsake them. Thine Husband, meaning that Christ is the Husband of the church, and of every true believer, for He has secretly betrothed them to Himself in eternity, Him having asked of His Father; and, being given to Him (Jn.10:29), He embraces them in conversion, one by one, as a chaste virgin (2 Cor.11:2); which He will do more publicly in the last day, when the marriage of the Lamb will take place (Rev.19:7- 9), when He will appear as the Bridegroom of His people. http://lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_marriage_supper_of_the_lamb.htm The Prosperity of the Church B.C.706 Isaiah 54:6 For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. (KJV) For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit . . . the Lord hath called thee, to return and come again to Him. Like a woman forsaken, as forsaken by her husband, who had divorced her. Grieved in spirit, for losing her husband's favor and love. *****Even though Christ Jesus was refused, or dismissed, or despised by Israel, yet the LORD had mercy on them and freely offered redemption to them. Israel today is like a wife that has been divorced for adultery. That is the figure of speech that is used in this verse. But their God; who will once again be their God, and will show Himself to be their God, and will renew His Covenant with them. The seasonable comfort and relief which God sent to His captives in Babylon, when they had a discharge from their bondage there, are here foretold, and are as a symbol and type of all those comforts of God which are treasured up for the church in general and all believers in particular, in the covenant of grace. It would be a blessing to Israel (and us) if they/we would look back to former troubles, and compare them with God's favors to His people. Isaiah 54:7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. (KJV) For a small moment have I forsaken thee . . . a small moment, a few years, as seventy years in Babylon, and some such intervals, which may well be called a small moment in comparison of God's everlasting kindness mentioned in the next verse. The people of God seem to be forsaken by Him when He hides His Face from them (Deut.31:17; 32:20; 32:29). When they are in distress, and He does not appear immediately for them, they are afflicted in body and mind, even though these afflictions are but for a moment, they are not really forsaken by Him, not in things temporal or spiritual. God never forsakes the work of His own Hands, nor His people, not for ever, not that they shall perish. Small moment: (Isa.26:20; 60:10; Ps.30:5; 2 Cor.4:17). Isaiah 54:8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. (KJV) In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment . . . some think little wrath should be great wrath, or overflowing wrath, or heat of wrath, and the intensity of it; which would bear witness to Christ Jesus’ despicable suffering, such a scene of bloody persecutions to attend the first ages of Christianity. I hid my face means that the LORD removed the means and pledges of His Presence and His kindness. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me . . . this covenant of grace and peace made with them shall be as certain and perpetual as that which the LORD made with Noah, that there should never be another flood of waters to drown the world (Gen.9:11). Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. (KJV) For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed . . . which has been confirmed in some mountains and hills, that by earthquakes or otherwise, have been removed from their places. This kind of expression is often misunderstood (Isa.51:6), and so the sense is, the mountains would sooner depart from their places, than the LORD’S kindness would depart from them. When it is said, I desired mercy, and not sacrifice (Hos.6:6), it means, I desired mercy more than sacrifice. Also consider, the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places (Rev.6:14), could well mean that mountains may be interpreted as the kings of the nations (Rev.6:15-17). O thou afflicted, tossed with tempests, and not comforted . . . or, O thou poor church; for the first Christian churches mainly consisted of poor people, not many mighty and noble being called (1 Cor.1:26), and which were greatly afflicted with false teachers, who presented errors and heresies, and made divisions among them. The church was tossed with tempests like a ship at sea; or stormed with the rage and fury of violent persecutors, such as the Roman emperors, and not comforted, having none to administer any external comfort or relief to them. Not comforted . . . by anyone; none gave her help or comfort. What comfort they had was internal and spiritual; coming from Christ and His Spirit, and by the Holy Word and decrees. Isaiah 54:12 And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. (KJV) In righteousness shalt thou be established . . . in the righteousness of Christ (1 Cor.1:30), from where flows the peace spoken of before, and which is the stability of the Gospel church of Christ, and the security of it and its members from condemnation. The doctrine of justification by Christ's righteousness is the main article of the church . . . it either is held fast or neglected; stands firm or falls. It is established in exercising righteousness, doing justice and judgment, for it is the support and establishment of a Coming Kingdom and state, and too of the church, for if purity of holiness and righteousness are neglected, a church soon decays; for such will be the holiness of the professors of religion in the last days, that every pot and vessel in it shall be holiness to the LORD (Zec.14:20-21). Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me . . . the idea in this verse is, that the enemies of the people of God would indeed form alliances and compacts against them, but it would NOT be under the LORD’S divine direction, and they would not be able to prevail against the church. Alliances would be formed; contracts would be entered into; leagues would be made by the enemies of the people of God, and they would be assembled to destroy the church . . . this has often been done. Terrible confederations have been entered into for the purpose, and deep-laid plans have been devised to destroy the friends of the Most High (Ps.2:2). The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD, and against His Anointed. Much of history is a record of the combinations and alliances which have been entered into for the purpose of driving the TRUE religion from the world. But not by me. . . not under the LORD’S direction, or by His command, as they do this without any order from God, as Sennacherib and Nebuchadnezzar had (Isa.10:6-7; Jer.25:9), so they shall not have His help in it, and without which all their endeavors will be vain and unsuccessful. ***** Even though attempts would be made upon them to insult them, to invade their country, or besiege their towns, they would all be in vain, and none of them succeed. They shall surely gather together against them; they must expect it. The confederate force of Hell and Earth will be renewing their assaults. As long as there is a devil, and he persecutes God's people, they must expect frequent alarms; but, #1. God will not own them, #2. will not give them commands; #3. they gather together, hand joins in hand, but it is not by the LORD! God gave them no such order as He did to Sennacherib, to take the spoil, and to take the prey (Isa.10:6). And therefore, their attempt will end in their own ruin (Ps.27:2). Whoever shall gather together against them, be they ever so many and mighty, they shall not only be baffled, but they shall fall for their sake. God will make them to fall for the sake of the love that He bears for His church and the care He has for it. Their enemies shall fall, that the church may stand. Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire . . . into which the smith puts his iron to soften it, that he may beat it, and form it into whatever shape he desires. This clause is added to show that it is a blacksmith that is intended, and to distinguish him from the carpenter and mason, of whom this word is also used, who deal, the one in wood, and the other in stone, and neither of which requires fire. Behold, I have created the smith, the sense of this verse is, everything that can affect your welfare is under the LORD’S control. The smith who makes the instruments of war or of torture is under the LORD. His life, his strength, his skill, are all in the Hands of God, and the workman can do nothing which He shall not think it best to permit him to do. So too, with the enemy of the church, the one who destroys; he is totally under God’s control and at Almighty God’s removal. Some understand this of Satan, the greatest enemy of mankind; and others of a council of war, that forms the design, blows up the coals of contention, and brings forth the plan of operation in war, who are under control of the wicked devil. *****The LORD has formed every man who is engaged in spreading desolation by wars, and He has every such man under His complete control (Isa.10:5-7; 37:26-29; 46:1-6). The idea here is that as God had all such conquerors under His control, they could NOT accomplish any more than He allowed them to do. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper . . . all weapons of war which are made with a plan to hurt and destroy the people of God, shall be totally useless; not one of them shall succeed, nor to hurt, ruin and destroy the saints of God. Shall prosper (Isa.52:13), it may seem for a time to appear to prosper as persecutors and oppressors; but there would be NO final and complete success. Special Comments The power of God over the church's enemies is declared. The Truth is they have absolutely no power except what is given to them from the LORD above, and He that gave them their power can limit and restrain the power. Only as far as He allows, they shall go, and no further. #1. They cannot carry on their plan without arms and weapons of war; and the smith (workman) that makes those weapons is God's creature, and it is God alone that gave him his ability to work in iron and brass (Ex.31:3-5), and mainly to make proper instruments for purposes of war. #2. They cannot carry it on without men, they must have soldiers, and it is God that created the waster to destroy. Military men value themselves upon their great offices and grand titles, and the common soldiers even call themselves gentlemen . . . but God calls them wasters made to destroy, for wasting and destruction are their business. They think their own cleverness, labor and experience made them soldiers; but it was Almighty God that created them, and gave them strength and spirit for that hazardous employment; and therefore He not only can restrain them, but will serve His own purposes and designs by them. The Promise of God concerning the church's safety is seriously laid down, as the heritage of the servants of the LORD, as that which they may depend upon and be confident of, that God will protect them from their adversaries. (a) From their adversaries, that think to destroy them by force and violence, and of sword:, even though ever so skillfully managed by the waster that seeks to destroy, shall prosper; it shall not prove strong enough to do any harm to the people of God, and it shall miss its mark, or maybe recoil in the face of him that uses it against them. It is the joy of the church that NO weapons formed against it shall prosper very long, and so the stupidity of its enemies will at length be made clear to all, for they are simply making instruments of ruin for themselves. (b) When the weapons of war do not prosper there are tongues that shall rise in judgment. All shall be directed to the gates of Hell that seek to destroy the church. The tongues that rise in judgment against the church are those that either demand a dominion over it, as if God's children were their lawful captives, or those that misrepresent them, and falsely accuse them, and by insults and slanders attempting to make them hateful to the people and unbearable to the government. This the enemies of the Jews did, to incense the kings of Persia against them (Ezra 4:12-13; Est.3:8-11). But these insulting threatening tongues the LORD shall condemn; they shall have to answer their disrespectful demands, and to put to silence their malicious thoughts. They shall do it by well-doing (1 Pet.2:15), by doing that which will make them clear in the consciences of even their adversaries, that they are not what they are represented to be. The LORD God shall condemn the enemies for them. He shall bring forth their righteousness as the light (Ps.37:6). He shall condemn them as Noah condemned the old world that reproached him, by building the ark, and so saving his house, in contempt of their contempt (Gen.6:8 thru Gen.8:19; 1 Pet.3:20). The day is coming when God will reckon with the wicked men for all their hard speeches which they have spoken against Him (Jude 1:15). This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD. His servants are His sons, for He has provided an inheritance for them, rich, sure and not able to be lost, annulled or overturned. God's Promises are their heritage for ever (Ps.119:111); and their righteousness is of the Righteous Servant, saith the LORD. God will make very clear the righteousness of their cause before men. The reward for their righteousness, and for all that which they have suffered unrighteously, is of God, that very God who judges the Earth, and with whom verily there is a reward for the righteous. Their righteousness itself, all that in them which is good and right, is of God, who works it in them; it is Christ who is made righteousness to them (1 Cor.1:30). In those for whom God plans an inheritance in the hereafter, He will work righteousness now. Thank You Jesus! Book of Isaiah . . Isaiah's Mini-Bible Isaiah Ch.1 . . Isaiah Ch.2 . . Isaiah Ch.3 . . Isaiah Ch.4 . . Isaiah Ch.5 . . Isaiah Ch.6 . . Isaiah Ch.7 . . Isaiah Ch.8 . . Isaiah Ch.9 . . Isa.Ch.10 . . Isa.Ch.11 . . Isa.Ch12 . . Home Page JUDGMENT ON THE NATIONS . . . . . Isaiah Ch.13 . . Isaiah Ch.14 . . Isaiah Ch.15 . . Isaiah Ch.16 . . Isaiah Ch.17 . . Isaiah Ch.18 . . Isaiah Ch.19 . . Isaiah Ch.20 . . Isaiah Ch.21 . . Isaiah Ch.22 . . Isaiah Ch.23 . . Home Page ISAIAH’S APOCALYPSE . . . . . Isaiah Ch.24 . . Isaiah Ch.25 . . Isaiah Ch.26 . . Isaiah Ch.27 . . Home Page ISAIAH'S SIX WOES . . . Isaiah Ch.28 . . Isaiah Ch.29 . . Isaiah Ch.30 . . Isaiah Ch.31 . . Isaiah Ch.32 . . Isaiah Ch.33 . . Isaiah Ch.34 . . Isaiah Ch.35 . . Home Page Isaiah's Historic Part . . Isaiah Ch.36 . . Isaiah Ch.37 . . Isaiah Ch.38 . . Isaiah Ch.39 . . Home Page Isaiah Speaks of Messiah's Incarnation. . Isaiah Ch.40 . . Isaiah Ch.41 . . Isaiah Ch.42 . . Isaiah Ch.43 . . Isaiah Ch.44 . . Isaiah Ch.45 . . Isaiah Ch.46 . . Isaiah Ch.47 . . Isaiah Ch.48 . . Home Page Isaiah's Introduction to the Suffering Servant Isaiah's Suffering Servant Prophecy. . . Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Isaiah's Redemption Through the Suffering Servant . . . Isaiah Ch.49 . . Isaiah Ch.50 . . Isaiah Ch.51 . . Isaiah Ch.52 . . Isaiah Ch.53 . . Isaiah Ch.54 . . Isaiah Ch.55 . . Isaiah Ch.56 . . Isaiah Ch.57 . . Home Page Isaiah's Vision of the Dispersion . . . Isaiah Ch.58 . . Isaiah Ch59 . . Isaiah Ch.60 . . Isaiah Ch.61 . . Isaiah Ch.62 . . Isaiah Ch.63 . . Isaiah Ch.64 . . Isaiah Ch.65 . . Isaiah Ch.66 . . Home Page
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