SGA Thirteenth Street Baptist Church Isaiah lesson 13
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ISAIAH
"THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL"
Lesson 13
Isaiah 41:8-14
Henry Mahan
In the closing verses of Chapter 40, the Lord speaks to afflicted people who are groaning under troubles and sorrows, even complaining that the Lord took no notice of their calamities and sufferings.
(Isa. 40:27) "What are you saying, O Israel?"
1. "My way is hid from the Lord." Since the Lord has not delivered us from these troubles, He must take no notice of them.
2. "My judgment (my cause and case) is ignored by God." He allows my enemies to oppress me and does not avenge me nor take my part.
(Isa. 40:28) The answer follows in these verses. Have you not known? Have you not heard? from the scriptures, from the history of the church, from the prophets, from all creation that the everlasting God--Jehovah--is the creator of all things, upholds all things, is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient! He does not change, faint, nor grow weary! No one can understand His majesty, His wisdom, nor His ways (Rom. 11:33-36). He knows and cares for His people at all times, though they do not.understand His mysterious ways.
(Isa. 40:29) "He gives power to the faint and strength to those who are weak."
1. THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS.OF THE GOSPEL! "Ho everyone that thirsteth, come to the water; he that hath no money" (Isa. 55:1). "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden" (Matt. 11:28; I Cor. 1:26-30; Eph. 2:1-5).
2. THIS IS WHY CHRIST CAME!--"To seek and to save the lost" (Lk. 19:10), to die for the ungodly and those without strength, without hope, and without God (Rom. 5:6-8; Eph. 2:12).
3. THIS IS THE EXPERIENCE OF ALL OF THE LORD'S PEOPLE! "When we are weak in ourselves, we are strong in Him" (II Cor. 12:9-11; 4:6-7). His grace, mercy, and strength are most glorified in our need, our weakness, and our inability. Gideon's experience is a picture of this; his army had to be depleted for God to have all glory.
(Isa. 40:30-31) "All who trust in and depend on the flesh shall utterly fall."
1. Even young men who have pride in their strength and ability shall one day grow weary and utterly fall. This is a warning to those who trust in their spiritual strength, morality, and works; they shall utterly fall (Matt. 7:22-23).
2. But those who wait upon, look to, and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ--
shall grow in grace, faith, patience, and understanding;
shall be as eagles who fly higher out of danger and closer to God;
shall walk in the Spirit, continue in faith, and not quit.
Isaiah 41:1-7 is a warning to the idolators of the world. Verses 6-7 talk about them encouraging and assisting one another in making and worshipping idols.
(Vs. 8-9) "BUT THOU, ISRAEL, ART MY SERVANT." While the nations of the world are servants of their idols and they own idols to be their gods, "thou, Israel, art MY PEOPLE, and I am THY GOD" (Exo. 11:7; Deut. 7:6-8). The reference is to SPIRITUAL ISRAEL, represented by the nation of Israel.
1. "JACOB WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN." Often in scripture believers are referred to as "sons of Jacob." (a) Like Jacob, God loved us from the beginning; (b) like Jacob, God chose us from the beginning (Rom. 9:10-13); (c) like Jacob at Bethel, God revealed the way of life to us also and promised to be with us; (d) like Jacob, God gave us a new name--Israel, "a prince with God;" (e) like Jacob, God keeps us in all our journey and always brings us back to Bethel-His house!
2. "THE SEED OF ABRAHAM, MY FRIEND." A person is not of Israel because he is born a Jew, neither is he a son of Abraham by natural generation. We are true Israel who have been born of the Spirit of God,the word of God, and given faith to believe, and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Redeemer: (Gal. 2:7-9, 16, 29; Rom. 2:28-29).
3. "I have taken you out of many nations, tribes, and tongues" (Rev. 7:9). "I have chosen you and I will never cast you away" (Jn. 6:37-39).
(Vs. 10-13) The people of God (the objects of His love, affection,and choice) are encouraged with the promises of grace, help, and strength from the Lord.
1. "FEAR NOT FOR I AM WITH THEE." By purpose, providence, ordering, and overruling all things for your good, I am with you in. special grace to provide for you, keep you, and comfort you.
2. "BE NOT DISMAYED, I AM THY GOD" by an everlasting covenant (II Sam. 23: 5) .
3. "I WILL STRENGTHEN THEE, HELP THEE, AND UPHOLD THEE WITH THE RIGHT HAND OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS." All of these mercies of wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption are in, by, and through THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO IS THE MAN OF HIS RIGHT HAND--our righteousness (I Cor. 1:30).
4. "I will deal with your enemies". That battle is not yours but mine,
saith the Lord (II Chron. 20:15; Heb. 10:30).
5. We are held in His hand as a child in the hand of a loving parent, and
we need not be afraid (Jn. 10:28-30).
(Vs. 14) "FEAR NOT, THOU WORM, JACOB." By nature, birth, and practice we are worms.
1. We came from the earth, we dwell in it, are supported by it, and go back to the dust when we die. (Job 25:4-6).
2. We are impure as worms, weak and impotent as worms, mean and despicable as worms; and even our Lord Himself was content to be called a worm and no man (Psa. 22:6). He was one with us to redeem us.
"I WILL HELP THEE, SAITH THE LORD (JEHOVAH) AND THY REDEEMER THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL." This is our Kinsman Redeemer. This is our Messiah--our Substitute and Saviour (Isa. 47:4). Over 24 times in this book of Isaiah, our Redeemer is called THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL! We are holy in Him; Israel is holy in Him! He is called "the Lord our Righteousness" (Jer. 23:5-6). In Him WE ARE CALLED, "The Lord our righteousness" (Jer. 33:16).
Henry Mahan
Ashland, Ky.
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