In Isaiah 41:21-29, the *Lord has discussed *idols. He declares that they have no life in them. They have no use for anything. They have no value whatever (see Psalms 135:15-18). • But now, in the first verse of chapter 42, the *Lord discusses ‘my Servant’. The *Lord’s Servant is to perform a world... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH: GOD CONTROLS THE NATIONS GOD PROMISES COMFORT TO HIS PEOPLE ISAIAH CHAPTER S 40 TO 48 _NORMAN HILLYER_ CHAPTER 42 The *Old Testament calls several people ‘the *Lord’s servant’. Moses is one example (see Exodus 14:31). In the Book of Isaiah various people are called ‘the *Lord’s servan... [ Continue Reading ]
Isaiah uses pictures in words to show the Servant’s quiet kindness and care for all weak people (see Matthew 12:20-21).... [ Continue Reading ]
Difficulties will not disturb the Servant’s determination to help other people.... [ Continue Reading ]
The word ‘*justice’ has much more than a legal meaning. Rather, it has the meaning of ‘right order’. To establish right order is the work of the *Lord God who creates all things (see Genesis 1:1-2). • The Servant’s work is world-wide. It is not only for the benefit of the people from Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
The *New Testament considers that these words are about Jesus (see Matthew 11:5).... [ Continue Reading ]
The *Lord alone controls events. Therefore he alone can announce what will happen. A SONG TO PRAISE GOD V10 Tell the whole world to sing a new song to the *Lord. Tell those who sail the seas to join in the song. And tell those who live in distant places to join in too. V11 Let people who live in t... [ Continue Reading ]
The declaration of a ‘new song’ (to praise God) is always because of a new display of God’s goodness (see Psalms 40:2-3; Revelation 5:9). • The *Lord is not only the God of the people from Israel. He is everybody’s God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Kedar and Sela were cities in the country called Edom. • Relations between the nations called Israel and Edom were never good (see my note on Isaiah 34:5). So it is wonderful that even these two nations can share in the universal joy at the *Lord’s victory (success in battle). GOD WILL HELP HIS PE... [ Continue Reading ]
God is like a brave officer who charges into battle with his soldiers.... [ Continue Reading ]
God’s people suffered many years as prisoners in a foreign country. God seemed to be doing nothing to help them. But God must choose the moment to act.... [ Continue Reading ]
When God does act, it will be plainly his work. Nothing will be able to stand in his way. The bushes and trees in the forest will not delay his arrival. Even the broadest river could not delay his progress.... [ Continue Reading ]
Some people cannot benefit from the promises in verse 16. They are the people that choose to trust home-made *idols. ISRAEL FAILS TO LEARN V18 The *Lord says: ‘Listen, you people of mine who have been so deaf. Look carefully, you people of mine who have been so blind. Pay close attention to my wor... [ Continue Reading ]
God appointed Isaiah to be his special messenger (a servant who carries a message) to the people in Israel. But, at the same time, God warned Isaiah that the people would not listen (see Isaiah 6:9-10).... [ Continue Reading ]
God had chosen the people in Israel to be his witnesses. He wanted them to obey his law (directions) and so to live happy lives. Then other nations would want to leave their *idols and decide to follow the *Lord’s directions.... [ Continue Reading ]
But the people in Israel refused to obey the *Lord. So he punished them severely. The *Lord allowed a powerful enemy to take them to Babylon as prisoners. OLD TESTAMENT ~ the first part of the Bible. It contains 39 books all from the time before Jesus was born. LORD ~ God’s personal name in the Bibl... [ Continue Reading ]