Isaiah

September 18, 2017

The Lord spoke through Isaiah of a “precious cornerstone” that He would lay in Zion (“Jerusalem”). This coming cornerstone would have certain attributes:
1) It would be laid by God Himself.
2) It would be the foundation.
3) It would be tried (tested) and found perfect.
4) It would be precious (none other like it).
5) It would be sure (faithful, unchangeable).
6) It would inspire belief and bring rest.

This Cornerstone is Jesus. He is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. As the apostle Paul wrote, “Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself” (Eph. 2:20). On the day of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem He quoted Psalm 118:22 to His detractors saying, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone’?” (Matt.21:42).

Christ is the Cornerstone, the foundation of our faith.

September 13, 2017

Isaiah prophesied that while Babylon would soon take Israel captive, the day would soon follow when Babylon would be overthrown by God. The judgment of God against Babylon would be like it was against “Sodom and Gomorrah,” for He would make it uninhabitable. This prophecy must have been hard to believe as Babylon was considered to be one of the greatest cities on earth. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Yet, Isaiah’s prophecy came true. Today, the ruins of Babylon lie in the desert South of Baghdad in Iraq. They have been uninhabited for generations just as the Bible predicted.

September 12, 2017

Isaiah foresaw a day when a “Root of Jesse,” would come as Messiah. Jesse was King David’s father. And the “Root” is Jesus Christ. A root is the hidden source of life to a plant. In like manner, Jesus is both the preincarnate Son of God who is the source of all life, but also the One who became human, born into the line of Jesse, to be the Redeemer of life. God revealed to Isaiah that this “Root” would become a “banner” drawing all people, Jew and Gentile alike, to Him for rest. Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy. As He said, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32).

September 10, 2017

Isaiah was given a difficult preaching assignment. He was to preach knowing that the people of Israel would not “understand,” nor “perceive” his message. The Israelites had been given the greatest access to the Word and works of God of any people in history, yet they had not listened to His Word, nor remembered His works. Therefore, God’s judgment would be according to their sin. He would continue to declare His Word and perform His works before them, yet they would not hear, nor see. The fulfillment of this prophecy was during the time of Christ, who was the supreme revelation of God to His people, yet they did not receive Him. Jesus quoted this passage from Isaiah many times during His earthly ministry knowing that only a remnant would believe (Matt. 13:14-15, Mark 4:12, John 12:40).

I’m glad that we have a new preaching mission today, the same one given to the apostle Paul by Jesus “to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me” (Acts 26:18).

September 8, 2017

The prophet Isaiah wrote of a Day when the “haughtiness” of humanity would be “brought low” and the glory of the Lord rightly acknowledged. This is the “Day of the Lord” (“Yom Yahweh”), a time when God’s purposes are fully revealed and fulfilled. It is at that time, as the apostle Paul wrote, that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil.2:10-11).

September 30, 2016

The Scriptural basis for a favorite VBS song is found here: “Rise and shine, and give God the glory, glory…

September 29, 2016

The prophet Isaiah spoke of the Lord as a heroic redeemer coming clothed for battle, not with iron and steel, but with righteousness, salvation, vengeance and zeal. The apostle Paul must have had this passage in view as the Spirit inspired him to expand upon it to describe the “armor of God” (Eph. 6:10-17). Isaiah’s prophecy spoke anthropomorphically, using the metaphor of ancient armor to describe the attributes of the Lord, who is Spirit. Yet, because of Christ, who has come to abide in those who believe, we have access to this real armor of God for the spiritual warfare waged against us. We put on Christ.

September 27, 2016

Isaiah prophesied 700 years before the Messiah’s coming of the rejection and hatred that the He would endure. Isaiah described in incredible detail the circumstances surrounding Christ’s crucifixion and even His burial (“with a rich man” v.9), yet as his prophecy predicted, He was “rejected by men.” Christ Jesus took on our sin and our sorrow. He suffered great physical pain at our hands, but perhaps His greatest pain was that of our rejection and disdain. As the gospel of John declared, “He came to his own and they did not receive him. Yet, as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:11-12).