A husband in Israel could divorce his wife, if she did not remain true to him (see Deuteronomy 24:1-4). This was well-known. The Bible often refers to the *Lord’s relationship to Israel as that of husband and wife. And people could understand that picture in words. But the relationship had broken do... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH: GOD CONTROLS THE NATIONS GOD’S SPECIAL SERVANT ISAIAH CHAPTER S 49 TO 57 _NORMAN HILLYER_ CHAPTER 50 ISRAEL HAS REFUSED TO TRUST THE *LORD V1 This is what the *Lord says to the people from Israel: ‘You cannot produce any official notice of divorce. You have no evidence that I ever se... [ Continue Reading ]
After many years as *exiles, nobody imagined that they would ever see their own country again. It was impossible. So, when the *Lord promised to bring the *exiles home, nobody believed him. • But several times the *Lord told the people that they had a wonderful future (see Isaiah 12:3-6; Isaiah 35:... [ Continue Reading ]
Here ‘tongue’ is a picture word, to refer to the Servant’s authority to speak God’s message. The Servant qualifies to be God’s *messenger, because God has taught him what to say (see Jeremiah 1:9; Ezekiel 3:27). Moreover, God had comforted his special Servant. So the Servant can also speak from per... [ Continue Reading ]
The Servant must listen carefully. That is, not only to hear God’s words, but also to understand God’s meaning.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Servant was willing to suffer. • To pull out the hairs of a man’s beard was not only painful. It was the traditional way to bring shame upon a man (see Isaiah 7:20; Isaiah 15:2; Nehemiah 13:25). THE SERVANT TRUSTS THE *LORD V7 The *Lord God will help me. Therefore shame and insult cannot hur... [ Continue Reading ]
The Servant concentrates his mind on the *Lord. That action gives the Servant the determination that he needs to carry on the *Lord’s work. That determination is the meaning of the word picture about stone.... [ Continue Reading ]
The language of a court of law shows the Servant’s attitude. He has complete confidence in the *Lord’s judgement.... [ Continue Reading ]
The attacks of those who oppose the Servant are too weak to succeed. Old clothes that insects have spoiled will fall to pieces. And the accuser’s arguments have no more substance than those old clothes.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Servant stands firm. He has complete confidence in the *Lord. That encourages other people also to put their complete trust in the *Lord. THE FATE OF THOSE WHO REFUSE TO OBEY GOD V11 ‘Carry on, you people who have started your own fire. Bring piles of wood! You have chosen your own way, not Go... [ Continue Reading ]
Some people refuse to listen to the *Lord’s servant. They want to live in whatever manner pleases him. They care only about themselves. These people would suffer a terrible punishment. The verse refers to their awful deaths. • This verse may refer to the people whom the Roman army defeated in *AD 7... [ Continue Reading ]