Isaiah3-2

Remember the call in the previous chapter was to get ready to meet God, and then the chapter unfolded to reveal different facets of this God who was coming. In a sense this chapter continues to describe the Lord, but also brings a sense of personal encounter being required now.

Verse 1 is a call for the whole world to come together and stand before the Lord to speak and be judged. ‘Islands' always indicate the furthermost scattered peoples. ‘Nations' simply refer to the mass of the world population, so this is a calling the whole world to account.

In verse 2 the Lord points out to them how He is a God who can summon kings into His service and use them to exercise His judgement. There is no name given here, it is just general principles being stated, though the names of Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus as kings in the future that the Lord would call and use, come to mind.

In verses 2 and 3 the Lord reveals the destructive, cleansing nature of such a king in the hand of the Lord. The Lord can bring direct judgement but so often he uses men to judge men, i.e. He uses the affairs of men to judge men. He claims the sovereign ability to create nations, whole generations, as well as bring judgement on them. If He destroys He can create anew! In this passage we see the Lord who is sovereign over the affairs of men.

D. Application:

1. Do you see the hand of God through the events of history?

2. Do you see the hand of God in the affairs of today?

Chapter: Isaiah 41

Passage: Isaiah 41:5-7

A. Find Out:

1. How does the earth respond? v.5a,b

2. What do they do? v.5c

3. To do what? v.6

4. Who encourages who? v.7a

5. Who else spurs on who? v.7b,c

6. What do they do? v.7e

B. Think:

1. What has the world seen, referred to as “it” in verse 5?

2. What was their emotional response to it?

3. What did they then DO in response?

C. Comment:

The Lord has just prompted Isaiah to prophesy about the His activities among the nations, using nations to judge nations. Now he shows us the response of the rest of the world as they have looked on and seen all that has happened.

Their first response is their emotional response: fear and trembling. Not a bad response in the face of an awesome Almighty God! Their second response is to gather together for mutual support. They don't bow down before the Lord as you might expect, but instead take comfort from one another. In this way they reinforce their own ungodliness. They do not turn to the Lord and become godly people, but instead reassure each other in their ungodliness.

More than that they reassure and encourage one another in their idol worship! In those days that referred to literal idols, but today the idols that we rely upon are more “sophisticated” – science, psychology, medicine, caring services – all good things in themselves but things that the world uses to reinforce its ungodliness, that it uses to reinforce its, “we can do it ourselves, we've got the answers,” mentality. This in fact is idolatry when it is to the exclusion of God and used to exclude Him. That is what the modern world does. Having received these things as gifts of God, they now use them to declare they don't need God!

D. Application:

1. Anything you use to exclude God is idolatry.

2. Be sure not to turn a gift into an idol.

Chapter: Isaiah 41

Passage: Isaiah 41:8-10

A. Find Out:

1. List the five descriptions in verse 8.

2. Where had they come from? v.9a,b

3. How were they different from the rest of the world? v.9c,d

4. What two things are they told NOT to be? v.10a,b

5. Why? v.10a,b

6. What will the lord do for them? v.10c,d

B. Think:

1. What is the role of a servant?

2. Why is Israel a servant?

3. What encouragement are they given?

C. Comment:

At this point in Isaiah we have the first of many references to Israel as God's servant. Let's note some things about servants. By definition, a servant has a master and a servant's role in life is to serve the master. The master decrees what the servant will do, and the servant exists to achieve what the master wants achieved.

So, twice here Israel is described as God's servant. Not a friend, not an equal, but one who does the bidding of the other. Twice they are told that God has chosen them. There is a sense of ownership, of destiny and purpose in all this. God created them, right back from Abraham. He took Abraham from afar off and drew him to the Promised Land. There He turned him into a nation. A number of times Abraham, Jacob, and later the nation at the exile, and then at the dispersion in AD70, left the land, but the Lord took them back. This is where they belong and where they still are today.

Why? Because they are God's servant. For this reason they are told not to be afraid or be put off when things don't seem to be working out. Why? Because they are God's servant and He is with them. They may be called to do His will but He is with them to protect, provide and generally bless them. When they grow weak He will strengthen them. When they are opposed He will uphold them. Why? They belong to Him.

D. Application:

1. WE are servants of the Lord, called for a purpose.

2. But WE'RE also friends and family of God. Rejoice in that.

Chapter: Isaiah 41

Passage: Isaiah 41:11-13

A. Find Out:

1. Who will be ashamed and disgraced? v.11a

2. What will happen to those who oppose them? v.11b

3. What will happen when they go looking for their enemies? v.12a

4. Why? v.12b

5. What does the Lord say He does? v.13a,b

6. What does He speak to them? v.13c,d

B. Think:

1. How should verse 11 bring a sense of security to Israel ?

2. How should that happen because of verse 12?

3. How does verse 13 answer any queries that may arise from 11 & 12?

C. Comment:

The Lord has been speaking about His greatness, and then shows the foolish response of the nations (v.5-7). He then went on to describe Israel as His servant who was not to fear. When the Lord says, “Don't worry”, it's because there is a reason to worry – the world still rejects Him, there are still enemies out there! So, now He deals with the question of these enemies. What does He say?

Basically He's saying, don't worry about them. First of all they are going to be put to shame. They may look big and powerful at the moment but they are going to be brought low. If you worry about them opposing you, don't, because their opposition will melt away. Indeed there will come a time when you go looking for those who are against you and you will find none of them left! So, you can look at them and see how big they seem, but don't worry, they will not be a problem!!!!

Why can the Lord say this? Because He is the Lord! Because of all that He has said before about His own greatness and power and wisdom. It is stupid to think of rulers and nations in the same breath! But more than that, the Lord isn't just “out there”. He speaks of His intimate closeness to them: He takes them by the hand and whispers, it's all right, nothing to be afraid of, I'll look after you, just like a father with a little child. That is why we don't need to fear.

D. Application:

1. God is all powerful. None can withstand Him. Worship him.

2. The Lord is with you, be at peace.

Chapter: Isaiah 41

Passage: Isaiah 41:14-16

A. Find Out:

1. How does Lord describe Israel ? v.14a

2. What does He instruct them? v.14a

3. Why should they not? v.14b

4. How does He now describe Israel ? v.15a,b

5. What does He say they will do? v.15c,d,16a,b

6. And what will be their end state? v.16c,d

B. Think:

1. What two contrasting pictures of Israel are given?

2. What will be the cause of change from one to the other?

3. What will be the end outcome?

C. Comment:

The Lord has been encouraging Israel. He has called them His servant (v.8,9), He's said He will be with them (v.10,13), and He's said their enemies will become as nothing (v.11,12). Now He puts all those ideas into one and reiterates His encouragement.

First of all He declares their smallness. He calls them a worm, an inferior, weak creature. He calls them 'little Israel', a small almost insignificant nation. That IS what they are like: weak, small & helpless.

But He commands them not to be afraid. Naturally they have everything to fear, for nations around them are bigger and stronger, but don't fear, He says, because I will help you. With God on your side, it doesn't matter who is against you!

Then He tells them what He's going to do with them. He will make them into a new, very efficient (many teeth) threshing sledge. Such a sledge was dragged over the crop to chop the straw in preparation for winnowing. What a picture of the triumph they will have over their enemies! Mountains and hills refer to seeming insurmountable obstacles. But more than this they will also winnow or beat out the crop and it will all be blown away. By the time they are finished with their enemies there will be nothing left of them. As a result of this there will be great exultation in Israel with praise for God.

D. Application:

1. God takes what is weak and uses it triumphantly.

2. Let God take you with your weakness and use you.

Chapter: Isaiah 41

Passage: Isaiah 41:17-20

A. Find Out:

1. Who search for what, and with what result? v.17a,b

2. How does the Lord reassure them? v.17c,d

3. How does He say He will change things? v.18

4. What will He then do? v.19

5. Why will He do this? v.20

B. Think:

1. What, according to this, is the state of the land?

2. How may the physical state described reflect their spiritual state?

3. What did God say He would do?

C. Comment:

When a desert is mentioned we get this clear picture of a dry, arid wasteland, where little grows and there is little or no water. In spiritual language, a desert is a spiritual experience where there is poverty of life, poverty of contact with God. Back in chapter 40 the call to prepare to meet God came in the desert. Now in today's reading the picture is of a people with no water, a land that needs desperately transforming. It may be physical, it may be spiritual.

Again the Lord is encouraging Israel. Don't worry about your state, He says, I'll answer your cries of help, I won't leave you, I'll come and bring transformation.

The extent of the transformation is dramatic. Where there is no water, suddenly rivers and springs will appear. Where there is only desert, suddenly there is plenty of water. Where there was only arid desert, suddenly there is lush vegetation, and plenty of trees.

Why will the Lord do this? Is it simply to bless Israel? No it's bigger than that. God's ultimate objective is always to draw people to Himself, for in Him is eternal life and that He wants people to have. So He will do all this, yes to bless Israel, but more, to draw the eyes of the world to see what has happened, and to realise that this is the work of God Himself. Behind all He does is this ultimate goal which we must remember. He wants people to come and receive life from Him.

D. Application:

1. Is there a ‘desert' in your life? Cry to God to transform it.

2. Don't be hopeless, there is nothing beyond God's transformation.

Chapter: Isaiah 41

Passage: Isaiah 41:21-24

A. Find Out:

1. What does the Lord now challenge them to do? v.21

2. What does He want them to do? v.22a,b

3. With what aim in mind? v.22c,d

4. What again does He ask and for why? v.22e,23a,b

5. What also does He ask and why? v.23c,d

6. How does He conclude all this? v.24

B. Think:

1. Who or what is the Lord speaking against? (v.22)

2. What is He showing they cannot do?

3. In the light of what has gone before, what is He doing?

C. Comment:

In verses 5-7 we saw the Lord revealing the folly of mankind with their idols. By contrast to the idol worshipping nations, He then speaks of Israel as His servant and goes on to encourage them with promises of His presence and His blessing and transforming power. Now He returns to the idol-worshiping people of the world (whether in Israel or not). Come on, He says, show who you are, present your case for being a worthwhile contender for my position (implied)! Let's see these idols, let's see what they can do!

So, can they tell how history is going to work out? Can they tell what the future holds? Can they interrupt history and show their power so that we will be in awe of them? There is a strong sense of derision in these words from the Lord. He knows they are futile! In fact, to conclude, He writes them off – you are less than nothing, your works are worthless. In other words, you don't exist and so you don't have any effect on this world, and anyone who turns to you and chooses you as the guide of their life, is stupid and to be detested as a deceiver. That is the sense of these strong words from the Lord. He reveals idols for what they are, superstitious nonsense!

D. Application:

1. Are we relying on “things” that have no power over the present and

cannot determine the future?

2. Are we truly relying upon the Lord for He alone is God and He alone

determines history, past, present and future. Worship Him!

Chapter: Isaiah 41

Passage: Isaiah 41:25-29

A. Find Out:

1. What does the Lord say He has done? v.25a,b

2. What is this person doing? v.25c,d

3. What does the Lord then ask? v.26a,b

4. What does He answer? v.26c,d, 27

5. What does He say He does, with what result? v.28

6. So what does He conclude? v.29

B. Think:

1. What are we told about God's ability to direct history?

2. What are we told about His knowledge?

3. With whom does He contrast this?

C. Comment:

The Lord has been encouraging Israel but at the same time decrying those who would rely on idols. He has been revealing His own greatness and contrasting it with the weakness of humanity and folly of idols. In these verses He continues to do these things.

First of all He again reveals Himself (v.25) as one who guides and directs history. He has stirred up a king from the north to come and bring judgement (see also 41:2).

Next, He again reveals Himself (v.26,27) as the one who has all knowledge of history and in particular the future, contrasting Himself with the idols who cannot do this (v.22).

Finally, He contrasts Himself (v.28,29) with either the idols or the idolaters who can say nothing, who cannot speak with understanding of the past or predict the future.

The Lord alone is the One who determines history. He doesn't make it happen in the sense that He makes people do His bidding like a bunch of mindless robots, but He knows people's hearts and so He can speak to them in such a way that He stirs them into action to bring about His will. This is exactly how God brought about Jesus' death (see Acts 2:23, 4:28). This is the Lord who KNOWS men so well that He can stir them into action (v.25) to perform His desired will. He is the Lord!

D. Application:

1. Learn to look for the hand of the Lord in your circumstances.

2. Look for God's hand in the events of History. Worship Him!

RECAP - "History Maker" - Isaiah Chapter 41

SUMMARY :

In this second group of 8 studies we have seen :

- a Challenge (1)

- the Lord reveal Himself as the mover of history

- the folly of the idol worshipping nations

- Israel as the Lord's servant

- the Lord declaring triumph for them

- the Lord who will bring transformation to the Land

- the Lord deriding the idols

- the Lord reiterating, He alone is the Lord of History!

COMMENT :

This is a powerful chapter, a chapter of contrasts. On one hand there are puny, foolish and unbelieving men and their powerless idols, and on the other hand there is the Lord, the all-powerful One who oversees and directs history. That is the core of this chapter – the revelation of the Lord as the One, the only One, who moves nations and directs history

LESSONS?

1. The Lord can call nations to act as His judgement.

2. The Lord's servants may be small & weak, but He is great & strong.

3. God is a God who brings life transformation.

4. God calls the ungodly & unrighteous to account.

5. The Lord is Supreme. There are no contenders!

PRAY :

Thank the Lord that He IS THE LORD who is all-powerful, all-knowing, who is Lord over your whole world. Ask Him to open your eyes to see the reality of this, especially when things aren't going as you expect them to go.

PART 3 : "Two Servants"

In this next Part we will see the first of the so-called “Servant Songs” where the prophet reveals the servant as a person. This generates a call to praise God for what He is doing, but then comes reference to another servant who is blind and deaf, and this can only be a reference to Israel . Two very different servants. Watch for them.