ISAIAH: GOD CONTROLS THE NATIONS GOD PROMISES COMFORT TO HIS PEOPLE ISAIAH CHAPTER S 40 TO 48 _NORMAN HILLYER_ CHAPTER 44 The connection between Chapter s 43 and 44 is similar to the connection between Chapter s 42 and 43. • Chapter 42 ended with words that accused the people from Israel. The... [ Continue Reading ]
The names ‘Jacob’ and ‘Israel’ appear together again in verse 5. Jacob was a son of Isaac and Rebekah (see Genesis 25:20-26). God changed Jacob’s name to ‘Israel’ (see Genesis 32:28). • Jacob became the father of 12 sons. Their families formed the 12 *tribes of Israel (see Genesis chapter 49).... [ Continue Reading ]
The rare name ‘Jeshuran’ probably means ‘one whom I greatly love’. The name appears again only in Deuteronomy 32:15; Deuteronomy 33:5 and Deuteronomy 33:26. • As in Isaiah 43:1, the *Lord reminds his special people that he created them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Water is essential for life. People who live in a dry land like Israel understand this fact very well. • Water, or its absence (lack), means the difference between life and death. To give water or not to give water is in the power of the God who creates it.... [ Continue Reading ]
It is not only the special people of God who benefit from God’s activities. Other nations also will realise that the *Lord is the provider of all good things. THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD V6 The *Lord is Israel’s King and Rescuer. He is the *Lord of Heaven’s Forces. This is what the *Lord declares: ‘I a... [ Continue Reading ]
The *Lord identifies himself by several titles. • The *Lord is Israel’s King. He expects his people to respect his rule. • The *Lord is Israel’s Rescuer from trouble. But the *Lord will choose the moment to act (see Isaiah 41:14-16). • The *Lord is Commander of Heaven’s Forces (Armies). Their imm... [ Continue Reading ]
God describes himself as a ‘Rock’. A rock is a firm place that provides security. It is a strong base for the construction of a building. In the same manner, God provides security for his people. They can trust him. They can depend on him. *IDOLS HAVE NO VALUE V9 People who make *idols are wasting... [ Continue Reading ]
Isaiah laughs at foolish people who are serious about *idols.... [ Continue Reading ]
Someone makes an *idol to be his god. But all that he is doing is to make a god to suit his desires. He wants a god that he can control. That shows that he has lost all sense of reality. The one real God can never be under anyone’s control. • To realise suddenly that God is actually present with th... [ Continue Reading ]
The task requires much labour. It wears out even a strong man. And it is all for nothing worthwhile! *IDOLS HAVE NO LIFE v13 Another workman is skilled to use wood. He makes an outline of a human figure on a block of wood. He marks the wood with a tool. Then he shapes the wood to look like an att... [ Continue Reading ]
To ‘feel good’ is the limit of this person’s purpose in life.... [ Continue Reading ]
Food and warmth have made this person feel comfortable. But occasionally he thinks that there may be something missing from his life. So he makes himself a god to fill the space.... [ Continue Reading ]
His sense of reality has vanished. ISRAEL IS THE *LORD’S SERVANT V21 The *Lord speaks to the people in Israel: ‘Always remember that I shaped you as a nation to be my special servant. Therefore, Israel, I shall never forget you. V22 I have forgiven your evil deeds. They were like a mere cloud that... [ Continue Reading ]
The people in Israel have shaped a dead piece of wood. Then they have called it their god! • But the *Lord has shaped the people in Israel. In other words, he designed them to be his special nation. He intends his people to be witnesses. By their behaviour they are to show that the *Lord is the God... [ Continue Reading ]
The *Lord has freely decided to forgive his people’s *sins. He gives them a new start again. He has removed their evil deeds completely out of his mind (see Jeremiah 31:34 and Hebrews 8:12). • Now they can act as witnesses to all the nations. And their message will be clear, because their behaviour... [ Continue Reading ]
Isaiah tells all that the *Lord has created to praise him. The state of Israel’s relationship with God affects everything else. THE *LORD CONTROLS HISTORY V24 People from Israel, it is the *Lord who rescues you from foreign countries. The *Lord says, ‘I created you in the beginning. I am the *Lord... [ Continue Reading ]
Long ago, the *Lord rescued the *Israelites from Egypt (see Exodus chapter 24). That was the time when the *Lord established a *covenant with the * Israelites. • The *Lord continues to control the events of history. He will now rescue his people from Babylon. His *covenant with his people is still... [ Continue Reading ]
The *Lord names the foreign soldier whose army will bring about the *Lord’s purpose. So the *Lord shows that he knows about the future. Cyrus was not born until long after the time when Isaiah lived. Cyrus made the order to rebuild the *Temple about 200 years after Isaiah wrote these words (Ezra 1:1... [ Continue Reading ]