Isaiah
V1. The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah
son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of
Judah.
Comments: The prophet Isaiah sets the setting what the condition of the Nation of Israel finds themselves in the first 5 chapters, the Nation of Israel’s sin is expounded and the effect and condition of its citizens. Chapters 6 then God call for a messenger and the prophet Isaiah responding to the call. He records what is to happen to Israel with the main emphases on the period in their dispensation with the judgment from God leading to the captivity and the oppression from the nations around them from chapters 7-40. He touches on their restoration after the time of their judgment which they have never fully experienced even though they are in the land today. Through the book the length of time of the events are not expounded on but just that sometime later after the judgment the events of restoration would be completed. In chapters 41 to the end of the book the main emphases tells how the restoration will take place, presenting the judgment and oppression of the gentiles coming to an end and the future restoration of the Nation of Israel after purification.
The best way to explain how and why the events are confusing at times and seems as if he is speaking about all the events at the same time, running them together and why they are not clear is because he was seeing them all together.
He was looking down through time seeing them all together and not always making the distinction or distinguishing them one from the other event in history. For example when he sees judgment he sees all the judgment together as if they are one event or when he sees restoration of the Nation he see all the restorations as one event. If we take a stack of glass and lay one piece of glass on top of the other and put each event of the book on different layers as events were to happen and correlating them at different times it becomes clearer.
Today believers have the responsibility to ask God to open their eyes according to His Sovereign will and to give understanding of what is yet to take place and then communicate it as His stewards of His word to the world. God is calling to the world by His word to repentance and salvation for their eternal soul. Isaiah 1:1
v2. Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth!
For the LORD has spoken:
"I reared children and brought them up,
but they have rebelled against me.
Comments: God reared, children, who rebelled against God the Father. This rebellion can be said from first dispensation to the time of the writing of the book of Isaiah and as the prophecy unfolds until the final event of this present world. Isaiah however, is speaking directly about the special relationship God had formed with the Nation of Israel.
The Nation of Israel’s sin and the pending judgment of the ‘time of the Gentiles’ was at hand. We discover that the Nation of Israel rejected their special position given by mercy and the grace of God.
They first rejected the Father’s rule and love by their rebellion and then we see them rejecting the Son of God when He came to earth the first time and then in the book of Act the Nation rejecting the Holy Spirit the third person of the trinity and because of their rejection of all three attempts from God to make them a unique witness (stewardship) to the world - their pending 7 year Tribulation wrath judgment became the next event waiting to accrue. Isaiah 1:2
v3.
The ox knows his master,
the donkey his owner's manger,
but Israel does not know,
my people do not understand."
Comments: Over time Israel demonstrated their rebellion, they no longer new their owner, they did not understand; somewhere the teaching of His ownership and communication of Him being their God and Father had been lost, which existed since their beginning. God the Father had not abandoned His claim on them as His people and He expected them to respond accordingly. God was using them to represent Himself to the world and they were failing or had failed, so immediate judgment was pending during the writing of the book of Isaiah. Isaiah 1:3
v4.
Ah,
sinful nation,
a people loaded with guilt,
a brood of evildoers,
children given to corruption!
They have forsaken the LORD;
Comments: The Nation which God chose as the world’s steward had fully sinned, they were guilty, evildoers and given to corruption. They have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. Isaiah 1:4
v5. Why should you be beaten anymore?
Why do you persist in rebellion?
Your whole head is injured,
your whole heart afflicted.
Comments: Israel as a Nation persists in rebellion: their whole head was injured, their whole heart afflicted. It just did not make sense – why? I was asked once why if all mankind started with Adam and Eve then why don’t men believe the truths of God and follow holiness and righteousness.
We know that unless God had given a means of redemption no one could be save do to the original sin of defilement, rebellion and wickedness. Also God knows the heart and He knows the process which will save those who respond to Him. Just because the Nation of Israel were chosen by God to carry out His purpose to the world it does not mean the whole nation was saved, in fact we see that as a Nation the majority at this time were not saved or did they respond in a sanctification way as God expected. Isaiah 1:5
v6.
From the sole of your foot to the top of your head
there is no soundness—
only wounds and welts
and open sores,
not cleansed or bandaged
or soothed with oil.
Comments: No soundness, (Self imposed hurt). In God’s love He is very longsuffering; however there comes a time when God has to stop the wicked for the sake of others to be save or have the opportunity to be saved. The majority of the Nation of Israel had broken the covenant made with them and it had come to the point for God to step into their affairs, changing things by judgment. Those who were corrupted had become completely corrupt from the top to the bottom – the king, the priests, the prophets and to the common people. They were so bad they were even hurting themselves which happens when man is left to himself, (Deu.29, Ezek 16:49, 50). They were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and they did detestable things before God. Isaiah 1:6
v7.
Your country is desolate,
your cities burned with fire;
your fields are being stripped by foreigners
right before you,
laid waste as when overthrown by strangers.
Comments: Their country is desolate; cities burned with fire, fields are being stripped by foreigners all because of their complacency. Their promised land was being overlooked and unproductive. Foreigners were infiltrating and taking possession of a country not belonging to them with their false gods. The Nation of Israel was helpless in defending themselves because they had forsaken God their Farther by compromise and serving these false gods. They had broken the covenant He made with them. God was taking His protective hand off the Nation and sending judgment and captivity. Isaiah 1:7
v8.
The Daughter of Zion is left
like a shelter in a vineyard,
like a hut in a field of melons,
like a city under siege.
Comments: As the prophet looks through the stack of prophetic glass he sees the ‘Daughter of Zion’ is left. We see that a remnant called ‘daughters of Zion’ were singled out by God as the only hope the Nation would have for a future restoration and His fulfillment He promise to them by covenant and to their forefathers, Romans 9:27,28.
God promised that Israel would always exist and have a primary position in the world. Compared to the existing Nation, the daughters of Zion were a place to be for shelter, a place small watching the harvest of the wicked and while the Nation was experiencing the judgment the remnant would experience the siege themselves but God would preserve them. The daughter of Zion were the faithful remnant which followed God’s will and were obedient like Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel and other not mentioned in scripture. Isaiah 1:8, Romans 9:27,28
v9.
Unless the LORD Almighty
had left us some survivors,
we would have become like Sodom,
we would have been like Gomorrah.
Comments: Unless the LORD Almighty had left a remnant Israel would have been completely destroyed never to rise again, Romans 9:27,28. However, God who keeps His promises cannot lie and will not fail in fulfilling what He had promised to the physical descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The glory which the prophets reveal to the Nation of Israel and its people, they have never experienced in the fulfillment as prophesied yet and until then the Nation of Israel will and has undergone many persecutions. There is however, always a remnant because of God providential protection to fulfill His promises, 2 Kings 2:30,31, Ezra 9:8,9, Isaiah 10:20-22, 11:11,16, 37:32, 46:3, Romans 9:27, 11:5. Even though this prophecy makes it clear that at this time in Israel’s history they were facing extreme judgment do to their sins and failures for Israel was not being the people God intended. Israel was not living as His representatives to the world they were rejecting God as their father, they were not responding to Him and being accountable to Him, they only were thinking and living for themselves and not being just, righteous or holy in their lives. Isaiah 1:9
v10.
Hear the word of the LORD,
you rulers of Sodom;
listen to the law of our God,
you people of Gomorrah!
Comments: Hear the word of the LORD, rulers; listen to the law of your God (God calls them Sodom and Gomorra) people of the Nation. We see God holds everyone responsible for doing right. Even though the rulers of the Nation were not doing right it did not exempt the individuals of the government from doing right and they were accountable for doing wrong in disobeying God’s laws. Their behavior had become as bad as the people and the rulers of Sodom and Gomorrah and they were facing a sever judgment where only a remnant of those doing right as Lot did in the account of Sodom and Gomorrah’s judgment were saved. Isaiah 1:10, Romans 9:27,28
v11.
"The multitude of your sacrifices—
what are they to me?" says the LORD.
"I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
of rams and the fat of fattened animals;
I have no pleasure
in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
Comments: The multitude of Israel’s sacrifices to the LORD, He has no pleasure. He did not want their hypocritical behavior and religion which they were giving and doing. Religion than and today will never take the place for doing as God requires and revealed. God’s people are called to do right and be just as a governmental leader or in one’s personnel life. A blood sacrifice offering in their religious practice was not sufficient to give saving or sanctifying faith if the object of heart was not right. Obedience was to be attendant too which was revealed by God through His Scriptures and given to prophets, priests and kings.
Israel then and today need to take responsibility from the hearts as sinner who are totally depraved and in need, with a willingness to follow and be obedient to God’s revealed ownership, love, and redemptive plan for them as individuals. If Israel would heed the prophets call of repentance thing would have been different for the Nation of Israel. Today if the Nation of Israel was to study their need for change from God’s perspective through His word and Christ Jesus, it would set the stage for God’s fulfilling His promises to them but the call will only be heeded by a remnant until the end of the Tribulation or 70th week of Daniels prophecy. Isaiah 1:11, Romans 9:27,28
v12. When
you come to appear before me,
who has asked this of you,
this trampling of my courts?
Comments: Coming to God to worship when all week long you have been sinning and then coming to appear before God to worship is hypocritical especially when you live as if He does not see, trampling His justice system and ignoring His laws. Whether ruler or individual the Lord has not asked for injustice and doing wrong. The beatitudes that our Lord Jesus spoke to the people of Israel and indirectly speaks to the whole world are eternal truths of God which are to be lived as the people of God. Isaiah 1:12
v13.
Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your evil assemblies.
Comments: Stop bringing meaningless offerings they were detestable, God cannot bear your evil assemblies repent first then the Israelite would be accepted. Isaiah 1:13
v14. Your
New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts
my soul hates.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
Comments: God had become weary of bearing the Israelites do to their sins of injustice, lack of holiness and their lack of doing right. They were lazy in their devotion to Him and carrying out the responsibility to the world of being an example of a Godly nation. His longsuffering was coming to an end. Isaiah 1:14
v15.
When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even if you offer many prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are full of blood;
Comments: God would not hear their prayer, He hid His eyes from them even though they offered many prayers, and God will not listen for their hands were full of blood. They had been offering their children in sacrificial death sacrifices to false gods. Whenever a people kill children or babies in the womb, God’s judgment becomes pending and will be executed when His longsuffering come to an end. God wants His people to live sanctified or set apart making a difference in their society. It is detestable when believers do not oppose the evil of a society but come complacent and even practice the evil themselves thinking or outright ignoring the truth of God. Israel no longer practicing justice in defending the innocent, in fact the innocent were dying because of their behavior. Today believers are to vote when possible on leaders from a moral consideration and if not, evil will increase and with their failure believers are being held responsible before God. Isaiah 1:15
v16. wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds
out of my sight!
Stop doing wrong,
Comments: God was calling the Nation of Israel to repent. Repentance starts with individual then as He does now whether the Nation of Israel then or the Body of Christ, the church today. Those who claim they know God then or believers today in Jesus Christ were/are to put Him as God of their personal lives or LORD of their lives. Those who are call by His name, God’s chosen people then or Christians today are to seek and practice justice, righteousness and holiness 24/7. We are to promote God’s standard in living and be the stewards He expects out of a heart of appreciation as our creator and sustainer. Isaiah 1:16
v17. learn to do right!
Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed.
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.
Comments: Learn to do right by reading, listening, and believing His word. Today we learn through the Bible, listening to the Holy Spirit as He speaks through the instruments God has provided, (preachers of His truths’, missionaries, or an individual believer). God’s people are to seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless and plead the case of the widow, or anything just, righteous and holy. Israel at the time of the witting of Isaiah had the prophet, priest, king, and written plenitude (first five books of the Bible), God’s written word up to this time in history.
Those who know God are to present the testimony of God to a lost world letting them know God loves them and He does not want them to perish. Israel was to bless the world by their devotion to God as we who call ourselves Christian or the church are to live and give the message of reconciliation to the world. God say “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise,” Proverbs 11:30, and 2 Corinthians 5:18-23. Being a witness and giving testimony of God’s truths is a universal principle, just as living is experienced in man’s existence, it should be an automatic reposes for all of God’s people. Isaiah 1:17
v18. "Come now, let us reason together,"
says the LORD.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.
Comments: God was calling the Nation of Israel to reason with the truths He gave them even though their sins were serious, they could be forgiven, though they were many, they could start over knowing not to be rebellious again. He was calling them before the time of the Gentile began to repent but they did not so judgment came to them and this judgment will not be lifted until the Dispensation of the Kingdom on earth or believers die and are in the eternal Kingdom or heaven. Isaiah 1:18
v19
If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the best from the land;
Comments: V 19. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land. God held out His hand to Israel, through their rebellion if only they would repent from their evil ways. He wanted or desired them to come to Him and He wanted to prosper them. And with the correct response from God’s people, He is always ready to heal and restore what has been corrupted making it new and holy for eternity. However, because man bring God’s longsuffering to an end God brings judgment either by a direct foe on them or leave them to their sin which brings destruction of one body soul and spirit. Through it all however, God’s plan will still be accomplished and completed. Isaiah 1:19
v20
but if you resist and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword."
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Comments: The southern tribes of Israel – Judah and the half tribe of Ephraim they were warned and pleaded with from God to repent of their rebellion and to stop resisting His mercy and grace but they refused and because they did not the Babylonian captivity became a reality to bring them back to Him. He did not forsake them but judged them to repent. However through the judgment many lost their lives and God’s direct dealing was given only to a remnant. Isaiah 1:20
v21
See how the faithful city
has become a harlot!
She once was full of justice;
righteousness used to dwell in her—
but now murderers!
Comments: God recall to Israel that at one time and according to His expectation they were called faithful and He wants them to remain faithful but because of neglect of their spiritual behavior they became murders in their justice. An example of this happening today is a government and people killing babies – offering their babies to the god of ‘a right a woman has to her body’ which as she believes it, it is bringing death spiritually because of the violation to a eternal, holy, righteous principle and if she does not repent will condemn her eternal soul. Thing like this may be politically correct but an anathema of evil condemning the person and government and a waiting judgment from God. Thing like this harden the soul and you hear them say thing contrary to God which even they believe but they do not have righteousness defined correctly. The Biblical expressions God has used is ‘they do that which is right in their own eyes’ or ‘there is a way that seems right to a man but the ways there are is death’. Isaiah 1:21
v22
Your silver has become dross,
your choice wine is diluted with water.
Comments: Humans when they leave the truths of God seem to follow the ‘god of their pocketbooks’. Government do wrong by accepting bribes or making decisions on base of their pocketbook instead of the revealed truth of God’s Word and His holiness, righteous and justice. Israel was guilty of the abomination and judgment came to the Nation. Israel is still under the judgment from God for their behavior back then when Isaiah prophesied these truths and facts. Isaiah 1:22
v23
Your rulers are rebels,
companions of thieves;
they all love bribes
and chase after gifts.
They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;
the widow's case does not come before them.
Comments: V 23. Israel’s rulers are rebels, companions of thieves, they all love bribes, chase after gifts, they do not defend the cause of the fatherless, the widow's case does not come before them for fair judgment. Israel was sacrificing children at the altars of Moloch just as today abortion is legal at the altar of a woman’s right and convenience. The prophet reveals to the world then and now the wickedness of God’s stewards in Israel and their interest in self gratification forsaking justice and the protection to the true needy. He proclaims their rebellion of the government of their kingdom to God and His laws forsaking the moral wellbeing of its citizens. They are thieves, murderers in their self center hearts. Isaiah 1:23
v24
Therefore the Lord, the LORD Almighty,
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
"Ah, I will get relief from my foes
and avenge myself on my enemies.
Comments: V 24. The LORD Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel, declares, Israel has become His foe and enemy. God the Father declared that He was taking up the defense of the helpless and judgment will bring relief, for as Israel’ leaders deal wickedly with those within their own ranks that are in need He is taking their offence as His. God exclaims that Israel belongs to Him and those responsible to represent Him in their government of the kingdom have brought judgment upon their rebellion. Isaiah 1:24
v25
I will turn my hand against you;
I will thoroughly purge away your dross
and remove all your impurities.
Comments: V 25. The judgment will be a complete success. The purging will bring about the removal of the impunities of their rebellion and wickedness.
v26
I will restore your judges as in days of old,
your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward you will be called
the City of Righteousness,
the Faithful City."
Comments: V 26. God will restore Israel’s judges as in days of old; their counselors as at the beginning and afterwards Israel will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City. Here we see the prophet looking down through the stack of prophetic glass and seeing the restoration but not distinguishing between the events of history which transpires from partial restoration to the full restoration. The full restoration will be in the Dispensations of the future, the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time. There is partial restoration between the writing of this prophecy and the fulfillment. They will be the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City after the 1000 year millennial reign of Christ. They will be call these terms in the millennium but find the full reality in the Eternal Kingdom. The world will call them these names then where as yet the world has not and the true Israel has not been fully gathered for as yet they are still under the judgment of God, the Time of the Gentiles with the Dispensation of Grace in operation and the pending 70th week of Daniel still to be completed and then the fulfillment of the millennial reign of Christ. Isaiah 1:26
v27
Zion will be redeemed with justice,
her penitent ones with righteousness.
Comments: V 27. Zion will be redeemed with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness notes that the remnant are the true recipients to receive the honor to be called His Nation, the Nation of Israel for the non-redeemed Israelite will be condemned with the not believing world who rejects the Lord Jesus Christ. This will find fulfillment with the completion of the tribulation, (70 weeks of Daniel prophecy), and completion of the millennium, concluding with the Great White Throne Judgment. Isaiah 1:27, Romans 9:27,28
v28
But rebels and sinners will both be broken,
and those who forsake the LORD will perish.
Comments: V 28. This prophecy of being broken and perishing which is seen only partially since the writing but will find its fulfillment with the Great White Throne Judgment. Again we see the prophet only seeing through his prophetic layers of glass. Isaiah 1:28
v29
"You will be ashamed because of the sacred oaks
in which you have delighted;
you will be disgraced because of the gardens
that you have chosen.
Comments: V 29. The prophet Isaiah speaks of the present situation the Nation finds itself. History show there was a remnant who was ashamed because of the sins which the Nation of Israel delighted; and there was a time in the history that the Nation in part did repent but never to the full repentance which is yet to come. Isaiah 1:29
v30
You will be like an oak with fading leaves,
like a garden without water.
Comments: V 30. An oak with fading leaves or a garden without water does not mean it dies or ceases to exist but is in need of a change and a gardener who will water it and bring it back to health. The prophet foretells the Nation that there is going to be a time of fruitlessness because of their wick sinfulness and rebellion. Isaiah 1:30
v31
The mighty man will become tinder
and his work a spark;
both will burn together,
with no one to quench the fire."
Comments: V 31. Those who are not of Zion, the faithful will burn with no one to quench the fire. Again the prophet speaks as he looks through the panes of glass, of the historical judgment of those not saved who caused and were part of the rebellion against God. Not just a present punitive judgment but the future eternal judgment of the punitive Lake of Fire. Isaiah 1:31
Scripture:
Isaiah 60 The Glory of Zion – is yet to be fulfilled
v1 "Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
Comments: The Lord will shine upon Israel as never seen in time past. When Israel read this of old they thought it would come when the Messiah would come and rule. The birth of Christ Jesus was the beginning of this prophecy, however it has not been completed because Israel has not repented and accepted Jesus Christ as the Lord and the Christ (Messiah), which will not be completed until after the mystery dispensation of today with the Rapture and the end of the Tribulation period is over. Isaiah 60:1
v 2 See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
Comments: The earth is in darkness when this prophecy was written but as we look through the glass of prophecy we see other ages which were yet to come where the darkness would be great and the people of the earth is in need of the Nation of Israel’s glory to shine through them which was preached during the Acts period but they as a Nation refused to repent and refused to accept the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of their refusal to repent God laid them aside as the steward of the New Covenant and revealed a new mystery dispensation the Church call His Body to be the stewards today. Now until the completion of this dispensation the Nation of Israel is in blindness until it is over and then the fulfillment of this prophecy will be fulfilled, were the LORD rises over Israel and the glory appears to the world. Isaiah 60:2
v3 Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Comments: This verse say nations will come to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus as the glorious light of salvation as a result of the Nation of Israel’s stewardship. This has not happened so through the layers of prophetic glass we see into the future of the transition tribulation period and earthly 1000 year Kingdom of Christ or the Dispensation of the kingdom. Israel will be back in covenant relationship and their blindness will be lifted. Isaiah 60:3
v4 "Lift up your eyes and look about you:
All assemble and come to you;
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters are carried on the arm.
Comments: There will be a dispensation where nations will have a new relationship to the Nation of Israel. This prophecy says Israel’s sons and daughters will be treated with kindness and they will be accepted as the people of the one true God. And, because we have not seen this as yet historically to happened, we know it is yet to be fulfilled. This will be fulfilled in the earthly Kingdom the Dispensation of the Kingdom and will extend to the eternal Kingdom the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time. The Nations of the world will respect the Nation of Israel in the future. Isaiah 60:4
v 5 Then you will look and be radiant,
your heart will throb and swell with joy;
the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,
to you the riches of the nations will come.
Comments: In the Dispensation of the Kingdom Israel will be blessed and their joy will be experienced which has not accrued yet, so we know it is future referring to the Dispensation of the Kingdom and may extend to the Dispensation of the fullness of time. The nations of the world from the east and west of Israel will bring their wealth to their nation, (‘of the seas’ refer to the Gentile nations). Isaiah 60:5
v6 Herds of camels will cover your land,
young camels of Midian and Ephah.
And all from Sheba will come,
bearing gold and incense
and proclaiming the praise of the LORD.
Comments: will be great. This will be the testimony of Israel which proclaims the praise of the LORD and His faithfulness to His promises and covenant He made with them from the beginning of the nation. Isaiah 60:6
v7 All Kedar's flocks will be gathered to you,
the rams of Nebaioth will serve you;
they will be accepted as offerings on my altar,
and I will adorn my glorious temple.
Comments: The glorious temple referrers to the temple in the New Jerusalem which the LORD says He will decorate with the riches and wealth as an offering given. We know because animal sacrifices were not needed after the one for all sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ and there will be no animals sacrificed by death in the Millennium. The alter probably referrers to the seat of Lord Jesus Christ and the temple is in the New Jerusalem which is prophesied to be here on earth during the Millennial reign of Christ Jesus. Isaiah 60:7
v8 "Who are these that fly along like clouds,
like doves to their nests?
v 9 Surely the islands look to me;
in the lead are the ships of Tarshish,
bringing your sons from afar,
with their silver and gold,
to the honor of the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor.
Comments: Because of the position the Nation of Israel holds in the future dispensation the nations of the world will seek to be the first to honor the LORD - Israel’s God with their respect for Israel and will bring their wealth to the land and New Jerusalem, (‘the Islands refer to the Gentile Nations as ‘the seas was a reference to them). Isaiah 60:8-9
v10 "Foreigners will rebuild your walls,
and their kings will serve you.
Though in anger I struck you,
in favor I will show you compassion.
Comments: For generation during the time of the Gentiles God was judging the Nation of Israel but now or during the Dispensation of the Kingdom and Eternal dispensation His compassion will be great that shows God’s favor for the Jewish people. Nations will work for Israel being servants to them. Isaiah 60:10
v11 Your gates will always stand open,
they will never be shut, day or night,
so that men may bring you the wealth of the nations—
their kings led in triumphal procession.
Comments: The LORD God’s compassion will be experienced by the safety and the continuous economics given to Israel. Isaiah 60:11
v12 For the nation or kingdom that will not
serve you will perish;
it will be utterly ruined.
Comments: The rulers of the nations will be in full agreement with the offerings and if not that nation will perish. The world as a whole today has not honored the chosen people of God but in the future they will. Isaiah 60:12
v13 "The glory of Lebanon will come to you,
the pine, the fir and the cypress together,
to adorn the place of my sanctuary;
and I will glorify the place of my feet.
Comments: Verses 10-12 were speaking of the compassion of God on the Nation of Israel but there is a shift in the prophecy now to the Person of Christ Jesus the ruler of the Kingdom during the Dispensation of the Kingdom. The person speaking say ‘my sanctuary’ and ‘glorify the place of His feet’. Here we see the LORD identifying with the Nation of Israel were the glory and adoration is present the light which shines. What energizes the nation of Israel is the light of Christ which they will reflect. Christ Jesus the LORD God is the owner of all glory. Isaiah 60:10-13
v14 The sons of your oppressors will come
bowing before you;
all who despise you will bow down at your feet
and will call you the City of the LORD,
Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Comments: The Holy One of Israel is the owner of Zion the city where the Jewish people who had been oppressed will experience the oppressors and despisers coming to them and bowing down at the feet of the King. Note, it says the son of the oppressors and despisers because it is referring to a time in the past where the fathers oppressed and despised the Nation of Israel. The former time is the time since Israel’s formation. Isaiah 60:14
v15 "Although you have been forsaken and hated,
with no one traveling through,
I will make you the everlasting pride
and the joy of all generations.
Comments: The people of the earth had no desire as a whole to honor the Nation of Israel and in time past ever since inception hated them, forsaking to give them the proper honor as God’s chosen people. However, in the future Dispensations of the Kingdom and Dispensation of the Fullness of Time the LORD will will make them the everlasting pride and joy of other nations. However, Israel’s abandonment was of the LORD judgment due to their sins but there will come a time that all Israel will be saved. Isaiah 60:15
v16 You will drink the milk of nations
and be nursed at royal breasts.
Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior,
your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
Comments: In the future The Nation of Israel will know the Lord Jesus Christ as being their LORD God, their Savior, and Redeemer who is the Mighty one of Jacob prophesized. When this accrues the Nation of Israel will receive blessing of a magnitude nature from the nations of the world. Because none of this has happened the prophecy is still referring to the future which will be completed in the Dispensations of the Kingdom and the Fullness of Time. Isaiah 60:16
v17 Instead of bronze I will bring you gold,
and silver in place of iron.
Instead of wood I will bring you bronze,
and iron in place of stones.
I will make peace your governor
and righteousness your ruler.
Comments: This prophecy is or telling the Nation of Israel that He is the one who gives them this grace of prosperity and acceptance in the world. He is telling them that their governor and the ruler will give peace and righteousness in His administration at the time. He is referring to the Dispensation where the Lord Jesus Christ will sit on the throne of David as prophesied and rule the world. He says ‘I will’ - showing His deity with this earthly ruler who is Christ Jesus. Isaiah 60:17
v18 No longer will violence be heard in your
land,
nor ruin or destruction within your borders,
but you will call your walls Salvation
and your gates Praise.
Comments: There is a shift in the prophecy from the Millennial Dispensation of the reign of Christ to the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time or eternal dispensation which never ends because it never fails and all unrighteousness, violence, and destruction will be abolished forever. At this time Israel’s land and walls of the New Jerusalem will be a place of eternal Salvation and the gates of Praise for all eternity. (As we read prophecy we need to remember that when the prophet wrote he wrote as if it was one continuous event looking down through the future. It is like looking through layers of glass you can see what is on the lowest layer but you also see event on each layer but from the top glass it looks like all event are one so you have to be discerning as to which layer the events belong to with careful discernment.) Isaiah 60:18
v19 The sun will no more be your light by day,
nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you,
for the LORD will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
Comments: The prophecy continues to describe the Eternal dispensation where there will be on sun or moon for the LORD’s glory is the everlasting light of His Eternal Kingdom. This prophecy is referring to the New Heavens and the New Earth spoken about in the prophetic scriptures. God is Israel glory and at this time of fulfillment Israel will have experienced the 1000 year millennial Kingdom and all Israel will be saved and the Great White Throne Judgment had accrued. Isaiah 60:19
v20 Your sun will never set again,
and your moon will wane no more;
the LORD will be your everlasting light,
and your days of sorrow will end.
Comments: Israel with its judgments from God and the treatment of the nations will never come again. The eternal Kingdom or dispensation never fails the nation of Israel will never experience sorrow again and it will extend to all the redeemed since the beginning of mankind. The marriage feast of the Lamb will happen and both Israel and the Gentile redeemed will feast together forever. Isaiah 60:20
v21 Then will all your people be righteous
and they will possess the land forever.
They are the shoot I have planted,
the work of my hands,
for the display of my splendor.
Comments: God says that all things happened to the Nation of Israel to display His splendor. Israel was chosen not by their merits or what they could offer to God but God displays His longsuffering, mercy, grace, love and all His other attributes to them. The rest of the world only became recipients to God’s characteristics because of His choosing to use them to show Himself to the people of Israel and in His love the world received salvation according to the dispensation they lived. Israel is going to posses all the land given to them by God and they will be eternally righteous for the LORD has decreed. Isaiah 60:21
v22 The least of you will become a thousand,
the smallest a mighty nation.
I am the LORD;
in its time I will do this swiftly."
Comments: Here is where we see the scripture that says ‘a day is as a thousand years to the Lord’. The Lord is not slack in showing His promises but it is in His eternal timing not ours. Also we see Him say that when the right time comes He will swiftly fulfill the events. He promises Israel a great posterity of offspring in the future and it will happen. Isaiah 60:22
v1
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
Comments: The speaker through Isaiah is identified as the LORD in verse 8, ‘for I the LORD’ in this verse He says that He is Sovereign and the Holy Spirit is on HIM and He has an anointing to preach good news to the poor which is a universal truth which the LORD practiced in His incarnation fulfilling the provision of the gospel or good news of the New Covenant. At the writing of this prophecy the Lord Jesus Christ had not come to earth yet but we know historically He did latter in the Dispensation of Promise recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Jesus preached to the poor of spirit, He bound up the brokenhearted, He set the captives free through the Gospel of His redemption, and by this releasing those in their inherited sinfulness and sin. His message here is to Zion verse 2 says but the universal truth of the covenant of redemption is a universal truth running through every dispensation. We are looking through the glass layer of the Dispensation of Promise but the truth is a universal truth about redemption and has a relationship to every dispensation as you look at the glass layer of the specific dispensation. How it relates to Israel specifically will be explained as we continue to studying this passage and how it relates to their present dispensation of the writing and the relationship to the Nation of Israel in the future dispensations of the Kingdom and the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time. Isaiah 61:1
v2 to proclaim the
year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
Comments: Jesus Christ proclaimed to the Jews the Lord’s favor to them, John 1:12, ‘He came unto His own’ and the day of vengeance, but His own received Him not,’ and in Matthew 24,25. Isaiah 61:2
v3 and provide for
those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
Comments: Jesus proclaimed the way of repentance for Israel and the way of eternal salvation and Zion’s responsibility to the world as His stewards. When the time of the incarnation came the Nation of Israel is under the oppression of the Gentile nation of Rome. This is the continuation of the time of judgment on them by God called the time of the Gentiles. This prophecy is giving the reader hope of deliverance and a unique place in God’s plan and heart. However we know historically deliverance or the completion of this prophecy is many year in the coming and more oppression would accrue by the Gentile Nations. Again we are reading about event still to happen at time of this writing and today we see some fulfillment but know more is to come before it’s fully fulfilled. The Nation of Israel or Zion has not of yet receiver the crown of beauty, gladness and praise or nor are they being called the solid oaks of righteousness planted by the LORD displaying His splendor by the world as we will discover as we further study the meaning of this prophecy and study the eternal aspects to the fulfillment of the special relationship being prophesied. Isaiah 61:3
v4 They will rebuild
the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
Comments: This verse starts our saying ‘they will’ showing to the reader it is still future from the time written and because we still have not seen this special relationship that Israel will have on earth fulfilled we know that the fulfillment is still future. So any Jew or Israelite reading this prophecy can still have hope and hopefully be motivated to know the truths of God in Christ Jesus and be saved with the assurance of God’s covenant with them to be accomplished. We also know that from the time of the writing of this prophecy Israel has experienced bit and peaces which look like it was going to be fulfilled but has not. However, we know it is still future. The promises will be fulfilled with permanent results not partial. As we proceed in this chapter the event yet to happen even though Israel is still not experiencing them today. Being in the land in the Middle East does not mean that the fulfillment is present without other event first being fulfilled. It could be setting the stage for future fulfillment but we cannot say with full confidence that it is the historical fulfillment that is being prophesized. Yes, Israel is in the land but not as prophesied. They are making preparation to build the temple but before the fulfillment certain other things have to be present. Isaiah 61:4
v5 Aliens will
shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
v6 And you will be
called priests of the LORD;
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.
v7 Instead of their
shame
my people will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
they will rejoice in their inheritance;
and so they will inherit a double portion in their land,
and everlasting joy will be theirs.
Comments:
v 3 Israel will be called oaks of righteousness
v 4 Nations will rebuild Israel ancient ruins and restore the
places long devastated;
v 4 Nations will be laborers and renew the ruined cities for Israel
v 5 Aliens will shepherd
Israel’s flocks as servants
v 5 foreigners will work
Israel’s fields and vineyards as servants
v 6 Israel will be called
priests of the LORD
v 6 Israel will be named
ministers of our God
v 6 Israel will feed on
the wealth of nations, and in their riches they will boast
v 7 Israel will receive a
double portion instead of shame
v 7 Israel will rejoice in
their inheritance instead of disgrace
v 7 Israel will inherit a
double portion in their land
v 7 everlasting joy will
be theirs, Israel
v 8 God will reward Israel
and make an everlasting covenant with Zion
v 9 Israel’s descendants will
be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples.
v 9 All who see Israel will
acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed
v 10, 11 the Sovereign LORD
will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations Remember this
prophecy is given to a Jewish people and they would be the recipients, We see by
the future I ‘will’ God is stating that all these thing had not happened but
will at a later time from the time of the prophetic writing and they will come
true. If we look at the ’wills’ and layer them on flat pieces of glass, one
glass on top of the other and name the first glass Dispensation of the Kingdom
and the other one name The Dispensation of the Fullness of Time we see both
recorded prophetic event and we will have to determine which one is referring to
what time as we continue down through the passage seeking to understanding what
the prophet is saying and when and who the words are being spoken about. The record will show that the Lord Jesus Christ is the author who bring
these events to completion and Israel is the tool and recipient of these
promises. Also that these promises are eternal and the fulfillment
will be starting with the Dispensation of the earthly Kingdom where Jesus Christ
will be sitting on the throne of David in Jerusalem ruling the world and then
finding the completion with the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time. The world
at that time will experiences blessings because of God’s rule during the earthly
Kingdom and then only the redeemed in the final dispensation because all evil
and all the nonbelievers will be in the Lake of Fire along with Satan and his
ambassadors and representatives. Isaiah 61:5,6,7
v8 "For I, the LORD,
love justice;
I hate robbery and iniquity.
In my faithfulness I will reward them
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
Comments: The LORD expresses a universal principle for all dispensations and that is His love for justice. We Know when He reigns in the future dispensations as King of the World perfect justice will exist. We also know at the time of the writing of this prophecy our Lord Jesus Christ had not of yet fulfilled the just requirement for the sins of mankind. Before this prophecy could find fulfillment Christ Jesus would have to complete the redemptive covenant. It is wrong and dangerous for anyone to rob Israel of their future promise from God. Israel did have Christ Jesus make provisions for them to forgive them of their sinfulness. Their is and will be those who are faithful to the Covenant between them and God. Israel is given to the world as God's chosen people even though at the present God's hand of judgment is still on them as a Nation. The inheritance promised they will receive when God has completed today's dispensation and the 7 yr tribulation. When judgment is complete God is to make an Ever Lasting covenant with the Nation of Israel never to have to rebuke them again in His anger as he had over the time of their existence and the time of the Gentiles' judgment. He says this everlasting covenant is going to have the same eternal promise as the rainbow did to the world after the world wide flood in Noah's day, Isaiah 54. Isaiah 61:8
v9 Their descendants
will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the LORD has blessed."
Comments: When God speaks we need to take full notice of obedience, Israel is the Nation of God's chose to work His plans to the world. The world will acknowledge them and realize God has blessed them. Even in His judgment on them shows His favor and love because He does not let them get away with evil but makes them accountable today and over the years for their failure to God and the world as messenger or priest of God. This failure will come to an end and anyone who is or has tried to annihilate the Jewish people will only meet their doom and on the other hand every Jew need to repent and consider the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal saver or they will never be part of this great heritage and eternal covenant. Isaiah 61:9
v10 I delight greatly
in the LORD;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Comments: The subject of the Nation of Israel who repent and receive Jesus as Messiah and Lord God will delight greatly and rejoice knowing they are given righteousness through Jesus Christ and given the future promises of heaven and a special place of service on earth where they receive a unique relationship to all others in the world. Isaiah 61:10
v11 For as the soil
makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise
spring up before all nations.
Comments: Sovereignty has spoken and Israel will bring righteousness and praise to all nations. The millennial time Israel experiences what they rejected, after they rejected the stewardship given them in the historical Acts period and God started and will bring to completion today's dispensation, the Dispensation of Grace. Isaiah 61:11
Make sure you have covered this in the study
Isaiah 2:10-22, "Isaiah warns his listeners to "run for cover" because of the coming judgment of the day of the Lord. This is a time of universal judment that will result in the overthrrow of all human government (cf. Joel and 2 Thess. 1:7-2:12). Since this day of judgment is coming, when all human government shall collapse into the dust, the ptophet urges his readers to trust in God.. The ships of Tarshish reference to the fleet of western Europe (Spain) which carried smelted ore. The reference to shaking the earth is similar to Revelation 6:14.
Isaiah 13:6-18, "Isaiah's reference to the day of the Lord is both immediate and eschatological. The destruction that he has immediately in view is the fall of Babylon in 539 B.C.. But he also saw the ultimate fall of. "" Babylon" in the last days (cf. Rev. 14:18)." (Notes from the King James Study Bible by Thomas nelson Publishers, Nashville 1988, page 1036)
It is recommended for all to further their Biblical study and understand to purchase the following books!!
Following Companies:
The first book -
Please write a review, go to each of the sites and write a review. This would be very helpful and appreciated!!
The other book -
E Mail pastor@pestor.com
World Wide Outreach
Ministry Inc.
By:
Theodore D Pestor/ President/Pastor BTH