|
Chapter 49 In prophesy for Isaiah is history today. We are now past the comfort offered through Cyrus and after they rejected that offer of comfort. Chapter 48 was a message for the Jews. The first word was hear. They are told to hearken in 48:12. In 48:16 He tells them to come near and hear. The LORD want them to know after the 70 captivity is over they could have become His true witnesses. His heart for His people was they deal with their wickedness before judgment comes again. The nation of Israel could have started over with a clean slate, but 48 ends with there is no peace for the wicked - Judah and Israel would not know peace but for a short time after Cyrus decreed they return to Jerusalem. The Jews have never experienced the peace offer by The LORD because of their wickedness. Chapter 49 is a message to the Isles - the gentile nations. They too need to hear and respond to the words of the LORD. Identify The messenger (The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.) *I believe it is Isaiah - the man chosen to deliver the prophesy to Judah and Jerusalem. He was set apart for service. Isaiah 6:7 Isaiah call actually began in chapter 6 (Isa 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.) Isaiah is often identified with his father Amoz - a steadfast man - The LORD chose his father before Isaiah was born. [Isaiah's call was about Isaiah, but it really wasn't about him; it was about HIM! Isaiah could have felt his ministry was in vain (Isa 6:9) Example: Ahaz chose not to hearken to Isaiah if you do not believe you will not be established. We saw in chapter 45 the Jews would question the LORD, contend with the One who made and formed them as a nation. The message to the Isles: Isles hear me and respond - Why
Verse 1 - The LORD called him from his mothers womb to be His servant - Verse 2 - Isaiah was the mouth of the LORD - the words Isaiah spoke divided the Judah into believers and non-believers, the established and the un-established. In Hosea 6:5 The LORD said concerning the Jews, "Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth." [Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.] The LORD protected this prophet (he was not killed as Jeremiah) Isaiah as a polished shaft would go true and strait and pierce deeper into the heart of those who hear. He was kept safe in His quiver ready to be used. Verse 3 - Isles hear this - The LORD told me (the servant, Isaiah) that He called all of Israel to be His servant and will be glorified in the nation of Israel - not in the gentile nations. (Today The Lord is not glorified by nations but only by individuals in the local church - the mystery of the church age)
Verse 4 - The messenger told the isles he felt he had served in vain - Judah and Israel were not glorifying The LORD - they were not gathered unto the LORD, they did not respond to words delivered through him. Verse 5 - The LORD comforts His messenger - Even though HE chose him to go to bring the nation of Israel back to Him and they still are not gathered - you are still glorious in MY eyes and will be your strength. - Understand the messenger was not responsible for Judah's rejection of The LORD's message, he was was only responsible delivering it in truth. Verse 6 - Choosing him to be His servant to offer restoration to the Jews was just a light thing (only part of the ministry He had given to Isaiah) He is also going to use him to be a light unto the gentiles. [Who is this chapter to - the isles] Telling them about The LORD, The Holy One Of Israel - Could he be telling the gentiles what Hezekiah knew - The LORD was not only the God of the Jews but the God of all the world. (Isaiah 37:16) - Now hear this isles The Lord God Of Israel is The Lord God of the isles.
The rest of the message to the isles - he continues to tell the isles what the LORD said to him (the servant) concerning the nation of Israel. Verse 7 - I AM the the Redeemed of Israel, The Holy one -yet the nations despised and abhorred Me. Yet kings and princes will raise raise up to worship Me, because I am the Holy One Of Israel and have chosen them to be my servant and witness. Isaiah is telling the Isles what the LORD has said about and to Israel. - The LORD does the choosing Verse 8-12 - There is a specific time when the LORD will again will hear the prayers of His people. Isaiah 1:15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. There is a day of salvation for Israel, the earth will be established through Them, they will be preserved and will inherit the desolate lands (the promised land was desolate during the 70 year captivity) and is now desolate of the Truth and Peace- and will He will comfort those held prisoner: He will assemble them as a nation, feed, water, cool, give them a safe path way to travel on - Back to Jerusalem as Cyrus offered and they rejected.
Verses 13-17 When Israel is gathered again (after the Babylonian captivity) the heavens and earth are to be joyfully singing - The LORD has comforted His people. - But Zion - The nation of Israel will feel forsaken and forgotten - 70 years of extreme hardship, desolation, will not change their attitude towards the LORD's chastening (only a remnant will believe and return) - Isles, the LORD has told Israel that He has not forgotten them, He is not through with them, He will make their enemies waste before them. Verses 18-23 The nation of Israel will go from being the prisoner of the gentiles to being fed, clothed, exalted, honored by the gentile nations. Their children once suffered and died will not flourish and grow in number so great the promised land, now desolate will not be able to hold them. Israel will know that The Holy One Of Israel, He is God and has brought them comfort. Verses 24-26 The gentile nations should have come to Israel to find God, when God used the gentile nations to chasten His people they did it willing and found pleasure in punishing God chosen - they never showed Israel mercy - They should have felt remorse for being used to chasten His chosen. But instead of showing mercy they preyed upon them as beasts prey upon the weak and abandoned. Colossians 4:1 ¶ Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. All the kings should have recognized the hand of The LORD in their being used to chasten His people as Cyrus did. In these verses Isaiah is telling these gentile nations The LORD will deliver His people out of their hands and hold them accountable for the way they spoiled His chosen people. "When will this come about in That Day when Babylon is once and for all destroyed, a sign to Israel that comport is coming, The LORD steps upon the mountains and the split apart he makes a way for His remnant to return. Isaiah 60:16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. Revelation 14:19, 20 & 16:6
After Babylon, After Cyrus there were other Gentile nation that would be unduly cruel to the Jews. There is going to be another Babylon in "That Day", other gentile nations will come in That Day to destroy His People. Chapter 49 is for the gentile nations that come after Cyrus. Remember Chapter 49 is about Isaiah, but it is not about Isaiah is is about HIM. Next Lesson Chapter 50 |