DBG - August 13 - Isaiah 63-66

In this chapter the Messiah’s deliverance is shown and a prayer for God’s deliverance is offered.

vs. 1-6 – Christ, the conquering Messiah, is seen in His victorious appearing at Armageddon.  The Israeli survivors of the Antichrist’s campaign have fled to Bozrah in Edom.  This is where they turn to Christ and He comes to their rescue (Isaiah 34:1-7, Habakkuk 3:3, Micah 2:12-13).

vs. 7-14 – God’s past dealing with Israel are remembered, especially the Exodus.  His great mercy and great power are highlighted.

vs. 15-19 – A prayer that God remember His past dealings with Israel and act in the same way in the present.  This is the prayer of the Jews for their Messiah to deliver them as realized in the opening of this chapter.

In this chapter the prayer of Israel for God’s deliverance continues.

vs. 1-4 – A prayer for God to manifest His power over the enemies of Israel.

vs. 5-7 – A confession of the sad spiritual state of Israel.  I used vs. 6 quite often because it describes our righteousnesses (plural), the best we can hope to offer, as something repugnant to God. 

vs. 8-12 – A prayer for God to restore Israel from her desolation. 

In this chapter God answers Israel’s prayer with the promise of the Millennial Kingdom.

vs. 1-7 – God rebukes Israel for her sins.  They have engaged in idolatry and pagan worship.  These must be repented of before God can answer Israel’s prayer.

vs. 8-10 – God had not judged Israel to the point of annihilation because there was a faithful remnant.  That faithful remnant would be the ones to inherit His blessings.

vs. 11-12 – The unfaithful and idolatrous members of Israel will not partake of the blessings of the Millennial Kingdom.  The picture of vs. 11 is that these have fully forsaken God to worship a host of false gods, not just any specific god or two.

vs. 13-16 – The contrast is shown between the future blessings of the faithful and the judgments of the apostate.

vs. 17 – While the Millennial Kingdom is still the subject of this chapter, Isaiah gives a brief glimpse beyond it in this verse.  This corresponds with Revelation 21.  It is part of the promise that, as wonderful as the Kingdom will be, there are still greater things to come.

vs. 18-25 – The focus here is the Millennial Kingdom and not the Eternal State.  One proof of this is in vs. 20, where it is revealed that men will enjoy longer life spans as they did before the Flood.  But this lengthened life is not eternal life.  Death is present here, but it will not be in the Eternal State according to Revelation 21:4.  The rest of the descriptions match other promises for the Kingdom.

In this chapter Christ’s coming seals the fates of the righteous and the wicked.

vs. 1-5 – The mighty God looks down upon Israel.  Who does He show favor to?  Those that fear Him in humble faith.  Sacrifices without faith are shown to be empty and unacceptable.  Those that do not seek Him will be ashamed.  Those that do fear God will face persecution from their unfaithful brethren. This pictures the spiritual state of Israel during the Tribulation.

vs. 6 – Here is described the return of Christ.  Jerusalem is in turmoil.  The noise of the enemy is silenced by the voice of Christ (Revelation 19:15).

vs. 7-9 – God provided a solution to Israel’s problems long before the Tribulation begins.  Christ is the man child of vs. 7.  The Tribulation is described as labor pains because it would give birth to the Millennial Kingdom of Christ.  That is the nation born in vs. 9.  Never has and never will an empire be created so quickly.

vs. 10-14 – Jerusalem is the center of the Millennial Kingdom.  Here the restored nation of Israel will be shepherded by Christ and exalted above all other nations.

vs. 15-18 – Armageddon is again seen as judgment upon those that refuse to fear God.

vs. 19-21 – The regathering of Israel at the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom.

vs. 22-23 – God compares His enduring love for Israel to the Eternal State that will follow the Millennial Kingdom.  This will never end just as God’s love for true Israel and their worship of Him.

vs. 24 – The fate of the wicked contrasted to the blessedness of the righteous during the Millennial Kingdom.  Christ uses the description of the wicked’s fate in Mark 9:44-49

The closing of Isaiah should feel familiar.  We once again return to the them of the two paths of Psalm 1.  The way of the righteous leads to blessing while the way of the wicked leads to destruction.  There is no middle ground between these two.  Those who claim to walk in the way of righteousness but truly travel the way of wickedness will be revealed.  We have the choice before us today of which path we will follow.  There will come a day when we will reach the end of it and we will be forever bound to its fate.  Choose wisely now and heed the guiding voice of our Savior to follow Him in the straight and narrow way.

Our hymn today is “Who Is This that Comes from Edom?”, written by Thomas Kelly in 1809.  It draws heavily from Isaiah 63 to show the victorious Christ.

Who is this that comes from Edom,
All His garments stained with blood;
To the slave proclaiming freedom;
Bringing and bestowing good;
Glorious in the garb He wears,
Glorious in the spoils He bears?

’Tis the Savior, now victorious
Traveling onward in His might;
’Tis the Savior, O how glorious
To His people is the sight!
Jesus now is strong to save,
Mighty to redeem the slave.

Why that blood His raiment staining?
’Tis the blood of many slain;
Of His foes there’s none remaining,
None the contest to maintain:
Fallen they are, no more to rise,
All their glory prostrate lies.

This the Savior has effected
By His mighty arm alone;
See the throne for Him erected;
’Tis an everlasting throne:
’Tis the great reward He gains,
Glorious fruit of all His pains.

Mighty victor, reign forever,
Wear the crown so dearly won;
Never shall thy people, never
Cease to sing what Thou hast done;
Thou hast fought Thy people’s foes;
Thou wilt heal Thy people’s woes.