Lesson 4 Video David Arthur (54:38)

Isaiah Part 2 in your life. But if the Bible is truly what it says it is, Lesson 4 Video David Arthur (54:38) the Word of our Creator, the revelation of our God 3/26/2009 to His creation, then understanding how things fit within the bigger picture really makes a difference. Comfort My People I will Make You the Light of the Nations So, here’s what I want to do: I want to take the white board and I want to show you the big picture. [See attached chart at end of these pages.] [He starts filling out column 1 (Genesis 1) on the white board.] Where does the Bible start? First Last week we looked at a bold claim by our God book? Genesis. All right! We’re starting good! And when He said, “I am God and there is no other, no in Genesis 1, who is the character in Genesis 1? one besides Me.” Today we’re going to look at a Yes, it starts with God; and God creates His image different perspective from God. We’re going to look and names him Adam. All right. And Adam is at the universality of God. In other words, the big without sin. Adam is the true representation of his picture, the scope that He’s going to show us here Creator. Where is Adam? He’s in the Garden of in Isaiah, chapter 49. Not to be confused with Eden. God’s perfect pattern. His design without universalism, which says that everyone is saved flaw; it’s perfect, right? And so the reign and the and no one goes to hell. Not to confuse it with that rule, everything is perfect. heresy, but the universality of God describes the bigness of God and His plan for His creation. Now some trees are mentioned in this garden, right? What trees are mentioned in the garden? The I heard a story the other day of a city official who tree of life and the other one, the one that Adam was invited to come to the local elementary school and Eve ate from, right? The tree of the knowledge to teach some Bible. Public school. So he came in of good and evil, right? So I’m going to draw up and his first question, kind of a gruff fella, his first here the tree of life. All right. question went something like this: Who broke down the walls of Jericho? Complete silence in the So we had this, this is a great story, everything is classroom. No hands raised. The silence grew and going well, but in Genesis 3 something bad lengthened. People began to shift in their chairs not happens, right? What happens in Genesis chapter sure what he was talking about. Finally this guilt- 3? [Now he is filling in column 2 (Fall)] Well, we ridden boy, his name was Bruce Jones, Bruce have sin entering into the picture. And they eat of slowly raised his hand and said, “I’m not sure, I’m the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and not sure, but I don’t thing I did. I don’t think I broke evil. So now sin comes in and what happens to the down the walls of Jericho.” He kind of laughed it off image of God? Right, it’s marred or it’s distorted. If and went on and taught his lesson. we keep reading in Genesis, chapter 5, verse 1, it says that Adam’s son was in Adam’s likeness and Well, that boy went home and told his parents. And so on, so passed it on. his parents called the principle. And the principle called the city official who worked with the other city Gen 5:1-3 official and finally a letter was issued to this teacher, 1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. this city official who came in and taught this Bible In the day when God created man, He made him in class. It said, “We’re not sure who broke down the the likeness of God. walls of Jericho. We have done our research and 2 He created them male and female, and He we don’t think it was Bruce Jones, nor does his blessed them and named them Man in the day father, nor does his friends, but if you will let us when they were created. know how much it costs to fix it, we’ll take care of 3 When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty that.” years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him I mean the boy didn’t know the story of Jericho, the Seth. NASB boy’s father didn’t know the story of Jericho, the other city official . . . I’m sure it’s not a true story. So the image of God is distorted. What about But the point is, sometimes when we study Eden? Did they get to stay in Eden? No, they were Scriptures we have these little segmented stories sent out. For the purposes of what I‘m going to do, that don’t really fit anywhere. And that can get to be we’ll call it an exile, right? They were sent out and a problem if your philosophy is: Listen, the Bible is how did God keep them out of the, from going back just some good old common sense. You know the in? Going out the indoor coming back around and Bible is just, it’s kind of like salt. I use it when I want going . . . He had an angel standing there with a it; I don’t want it, I don’t use it. If that’s the way the flaming sword. Protecting the pathway to, right? the Bible is to you, then this won’t be a problem tree of life. So, and obviously, this is no longer because it doesn’t really make that big a difference Lesson 4 Video 2 perfect, this is distorted or damaged or marred, the says, “No it’s not.” Chapter 15 says it will be environment, the place that God has for them. through your own body, through Sarah. You will have a son and we found it was to be Isaac. So all So, if we keep reading we have to ask ourselves, this restoration is going to come through the family what happens next? How does God fix this of Abraham. problem? What is the resolution? There’s several ways to look at this, but one of the key things in the Gen 16:2-4 Bible that talks about how God is going to, in a 2 So Sarai said to Abram, "Now behold, the sense, return us to Eden, or how He’s going to LORD has prevented me from bearing children. restore His creation, come through a man named Please go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain Abraham. Right? So let’s go to Genesis chapter 12. children through her." And Abram listened to the Let’s look at this story. This is chapter 12. We have voice of Sarai. God introducing Himself to Abraham; his name is 3 And after Abram had lived ten years in the actually Abram at this point in the text, in Genesis land of Canaan, Abram's wife Sarai took Hagar the chapter 12, verse 1: Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. Gen 12:1-2 [reads] 4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived; 1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from and when she saw that she had conceived, her your country, And from your relatives And from your mistress was despised in her sight. NASB father's house, To the land which I will show you; 2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will When we move along we get to Israel. [He’s bless you, And make your name great; And so you starting to fill in the 4th column (Israel)] Go to shall be a blessing; NASB Exodus with me. Israel is described, which comes out of Abraham, right? And Israel, go with me to Okay. So I’m going to make you a great nation. I’m Exodus, chapter 19, and we’ll look at verses 5 and going to give you a great name, I’m going to bless 6. Exodus 19, verses 5 and 6. God says, let’s back you and why, He tells us at the end of verse 2, so up a little bit, verse 3: you shall be a blessing. God says, “I blessed you to be a blessing.” To whom? verse 3: Ex 19:3-5 [reads] 3 And Moses went up to God, and the LORD Gen 12:3 [reads] called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the Israel: families of the earth shall be blessed." NASB 4 'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, Okay. [He’s filling out column 3 (Abraham)] In and brought you to Myself. Genesis 12, verse 3, our character is Abraham and 5 'Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice He says, “Here’s a restoration plan.” Verse 3, He and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own says, what’s going to happen to the world? What’s possession among all the peoples, for all the earth going to be provided for the world? A blessing, is Mine; NASB right? And where is that blessing going to be found? Right. In Abraham. Now, the whole world will be Okay. Well, we know, if they obey His voice and blessed in Abraham, or through Abraham, we could keep His commandments that He will make them, say. The whole world will be blessed through keep His covenant, that God will make them His Abraham. So here he becomes part of, as we work own possession. So picture that, that is God saying, our way across the Bible, here becomes part of “Out of the peoples of the earth, if you follow My God’s solution to fix this thing called the fall. To take agenda, My design, covenants for you. I will make us back to His perfect place, His perfect agenda, you mine.” But not just that, verse 6 says, “But and His perfect image. He is going to use this man there’s a purpose to this. There’s a purpose. I’m called Abraham; He is going to bless the whole going to make you My own possession.” What world. could it be? Why would God select these people, out of all the nations of the earth? Well, we know Now what do we know of Abrahams’ situation? Is from places like Deuteronomy 7 and others, it he a young man or old man? Well, he’s getting wasn’t because they were beautiful, it wasn’t older. Now one of the ways He tells him is, “I’m because they were numerous, it wasn’t because going to give you a son.” Now Abraham, like most they had something great that the other nations of us, begins to figure it out on our own: my wife is didn’t. barren, Sarah, so we can’t have children. So maybe He means it is through one of my men, one of my Deut 7:6-8 associates. The seed will come through him. My 6 "For you are a holy people to the LORD your generations, my nations will come through him. God God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a Lesson 4 Video 3 people for His own possession out of all the Benjamin even being turned on. I mean, the peoples who are on the face of the earth. people of Israel start to eat themselves, you know, 7 The LORD did not set His love on you nor like some horrible bacteria has infested them and choose you because you were more in number than they begin to devour themselves. The point of any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all Judges is we need a judge that remains true. We peoples, need a representative that doesn’t die. There’s got 8 but because the LORD loved you and kept to be something better. the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand, and Well, you follow Judges with first and second redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the Samuel, right? And in first and second Samuel we hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. NASB get, not much better than the judges. We have a couple of good spots there. We have a couple of It’s just because He set His love and affection on good kings. Right? We get through first and second them. “I’ll make you My own treasured possession.” Samuel, first and second Kings, we find out the Why? Well, look at verse 6: judges, yeah, that doesn’t work. We get to Kings and there’s a couple of bright spots in there. Ex 19:6 [reads] There’s actually Solomon, right? First Kings. That’s 6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of of what? the climax. That’s where the nations are flocking to priests a whole kingdom of priests! and a holy Israel and saying, “Wow! You guys are amazing. I nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to mean, just so wise!” They begin to unload their the sons of Israel." NASB pockets and give gold to King Solomon, you know, “Put some wisdom on us! We want to pay for it. [he He says in Exodus, in Exodus 19:5, they’re coming, pulls his wallet out of his back pocket] Here it is!” in a sense, out of Egypt, and He says, “But now They just lay it all out before them. Queen Sheba what I’m going to do, I’m going to make you an and others come and just bring him gold just entire kingdom of priests. You remember the priests because he’s just so amazing. But Solomon doesn’t were the ones who represented God. They were end up well. Solomon ends up crashing and the go-betweens between the people and God. You burning. So you take the judges, they come up to a did not address or confront or encounter God on big fat zero. You take the kings, honestly, they end your own. You went through a priest. And not a up in a big fat zero. priest that was elected to it, not a priest who was self-appointed, But one that was born in the tribe of So, we have to ask ourselves, this is Your Levi. What He’s saying here in Exodus 19 is, “I’m representatives? Lord, this is Your plan to bring, going to make you an entire nation of priests. Not a you know, Your light to the world? This is Your plan nation with priests, but all of you now become My to bring Your restoration, Yourself, to the watching representatives. All of you Israelites now become world? That’s not going to work. So what follows the the go-between between Me and the world.” kings? That’s where we are in our text now. Following the kings are going to be prophets. And So in Exodus 19, 5 and 6, we get this idea that the prophets weren’t there like the kings were to fix Israel is to be the ones who are to represent God, things. The prophets weren’t there to take rule or to God’s plan, God’s plan of restoration that He’s establish rule. The prophets were basically the bringing about, God’s agenda, God’s majesty, Lord’s mouthpiece, saying, “Repent! Return!” The God’s forgiveness, God’s glory. All these things are Hebrew shub. [repent, return] “Come back, come to be in and through the people of Israel. This is back to My agenda. This is what I have designed God’s communication device: The people of Israel. you for.” So they’re going to communicate this, this through . . . If you read through the prophets, they’re always going back to these covenants: the Davidic So how did Israel do? Well, we keep reading and covenant, the Abrahamic covenant, the Mosaic we get to the book of Judges, right? The book of covenant. Pointing back and saying, “Don’t you Judges shows the people of Israel interacting with remember? Don’t you remember what God said? those around them, those who are still in the He’s true to His Word.” Promised Land. How’d that work for them? Not real well. They get a judge and the judge would kind of So you get to the end of the Old Testament and it’s, lead them and they’d experience a couple of good quite honestly, depressing. There’s some exile years and then the people would forget God and return, right? There’s a little bit of the prophets. they would cry out in distress and another judge Remember that’s when they told them, “If you don’t would be raised up and it goes on and on and on repent you will suffer exile.” There’s a little bit of and it doesn’t get better. It actually gets worse as return. Right? We talk about this, they come back, you work your way through Judges, until you get to but it’s just [thbbbbb]. I mean, the Old Testament the end of Judges and you have the tribe of just ends horribly. The restoration plan, has it Lesson 4 Video 4 failed? Has God somehow chosen wrongly? Has He somehow missed a step, or a plan, or made a Then in Genesis 3:15, you all know that verse. This mistake? is what we call the proto-evangelion, or the proto- gospel, or the first gospel, the first mention of the Let’s go to Isaiah, chapter 49. He says in verse 1: gospel. Now remember up in our chart, this is going to fall right here in the fall. [He’s pointing under the Isa 49:1-4 [reads] “Fall” column.] And this is going to be some of the 1 Listen to Me, O islands, If you’re marking your implications that God is going to have because of Bibles, you’re going to mark that [islands] in the sin entering into the world. But He says in Genesis same color you marked “nations.” So in mine, I do a 3:15, prophetically, He’s talking to the snake and green and underline that. And pay attention, you He says: peoples from afar. The LORD called Me from the womb; From the body of My mother He named Me. Gen 3:15 [reads] 2 And He has made My mouth like a sharp 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the sword; In the shadow of His hand He has woman, And between your seed and her seed; He concealed Me, And He has also made Me a select the seed of the woman shall bruise you on the arrow; He has hidden Me in His quiver. head, And you the serpent shall bruise him on the 3 And He said to Me, "You are My Servant, heel." NASB Israel, In Whom I will show My glory." 4 But I said, "I have toiled in vain, I have spent So in Genesis 3:15 we have the gospel in My strength for nothing and vanity; Yet surely the foreshadowing form; we have it in prophetic form. justice due to Me is with the LORD, And My reward Here, speaking of the offspring of the woman, who with My God." NASB we eventually will know to be Jesus Christ, will crush the head of the serpent, but the serpent will All right. Go back to the first paragraph. He’s talking bruise His heel. This is being called from the womb. to the nations. He’s talking to the islands. That’s the audience who is listening. Who is talking here? In Let’s go back to Isaiah 49. Now when we pick up in your homework you probably wrestled with that. verse 5, here is the text I want us to focus on. He You know who it is definitely starting in verse 5. You says in verse 5: know the Servant has to be the Messiah not Israel. But there may be some question in the first four Isa 49:5-7 [reads] verses. But let’s look at it. For example, this whole 5 And now says the LORD, who formed Me idea in verse 1, the Lord called Me from where? He from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob called Me from the womb. The Lord called Me from back to Him, in order that Israel might be gathered the womb. to Him (For I am honored in the sight of the LORD, And My God is My strength), That’s a Biblical theme. Have you picked that up? 6 He says, "It is too small a thing that You For example, his contemporary Jeremiah is going to should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of show up later. Jeremiah, chapter 1, verse 5, we’re Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I told that Jeremiah also was called from the womb. will also make You a light of the what? the Gentiles or the nations So that My salvation may reach to Jer 1:5 the end of the earth." 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, 7 Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have and its Holy One . . . appointed you a prophet to the nations." NASB Let me stop there. Okay. So we have God speaking When we get to the New Testament, guys like John to His Servant whom we have now identified, at the Baptist, John is a baby inside Elizabeth and she least starting in verse 5, as the Messiah. We know sees Mary who has Jesus inside of her and there’s it’s not Israel here because of verse 5; it tells us this some kind of divine interaction. And the baby inside Servant is to bring Jacob back to God, or that Israel of Elizabeth, John the Baptist, is stirred. He’s, might be gathered back to God. So Israel doesn’t there’s some kind of connection made there. Some gather Israel. This is Jesus in prophetic form, the kind of divine connection. He too, was called from Servant, bringing Israel back to God. But look at the womb. When we get to Galatians, chapter 1, what He says in verse 6. He says, God says: verse 15, Paul tells us that He was called from before birth. Isa 49:6 [reads] 6 He says, "It is too small a thing that You Gal 1:15 Messiah should be My Servant To raise up the 15 But when He who had set me apart, even tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones from my mother's womb, and called me through His of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations grace, was pleased NASB Lesson 4 Video 5 So that My salvation may reach to the end of the that He will make you a, what? To the nations, to earth." NASB the Gentiles? “I’ll make you a light.”

Here’s what He’s saying: “It’s not big enough. It’s Now, we’ve seen this already in Isaiah, haven’t we? not enough that I just restore Jacob. It’s not enough Look at chapter 42, verse 6. We just looked at this that I just bring back the preserved ones of Israel.” recently. Chapter 42, verse 6, speaking about the Now, understanding where we are on this chart, Messiah, chapter 42, verse 1: why is that not enough? Why would it be that God would say to His own people, “It’s not enough that I Isa 42:1-6 [reads] restore you.” He wants to do more because this is 1 "Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My not just Israel here; [he’s pointing under the “fall” chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put column on the chart] this was not just Israel that My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the was distorted and marred and was crushed under nations. the fall of mankind. This was the world, this was all 2 "He will not cry out or raise His voice, Nor of mankind. But note He’s going to bring make His voice heard in the street. restoration, not across all mankind, but He’s going 3 "A bruised reed He will not break, And a dimly to use who? He’s going to use Israel. He’s going to burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully use, through this one family, through Abraham, He bring forth justice. is going to bring blessing, shalom, restoration to the 4 "He will not be disheartened or crushed, Until whole world. He’s going to do it by making Israel a He has established justice in the earth; And the kingdom of priests. coastlands the nations will wait expectantly for His law." How’s He going to do this? But the problem that we see is that they’re not 5 Thus says God the LORD, Who created the doing a really good job of representing God, right? heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out We read the book of Judges, we read the books of the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the first and second Samuel, first and second Kings, people on it, And spirit to those who walk in it, Chronicles; we got into the prophets; it’s not 6 "I am the LORD, I have called you in working. There seems to be a problem. And so we righteousness, I will also hold you by the hand and get to Isaiah. This is part of this section right here, watch over you, And I will appoint you as a [He’s pointing to the word “prophets” in column 4] covenant to the people, As a light to who? To the when we get to Isaiah, He says, “It’s too small a kingdom of priests? As a light to the family of thing that Jacob be My only target.” Now, why is it Abraham? No. The light is to the nations. To the too small? Because in Genesis 12:3, He says, “I will whole world, the restoration, back to His plan. Back bless the whole world; I will bless the families, all to His design. ‘I’ll make you a light to the nations,’ the families of the earth, through, or in you. It’s too He says. And look at how that’s going to look, verse small a thing because there’s more, I want My 7: salvation,” He says at the end of verse 6. “I want My salvation, not to just reach My representatives, not Isa 42:7-8 [reads] to just reach My priests. I want My salvation to 7 To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners reach the whole world.” from the dungeon, And those who dwell in darkness from the prison. Now, doesn’t that sound like God to you? That 8 "I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not doesn’t sound like, the gods that you hear about are give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven the, he’s compromising. “I can’t take all the world so images. NASB I’ll take what I can get.” The next thing you know you’ve got this pathetic little weak little god who’s See, we’ve already heard Him describe Himself as just wringing his hands. “I wonder if Johnny will a light to the nations. There’s even more. Let’s look come to Jesus? Oh, I hope he makes the right at some more. Let me get back to my notes. Look decision; I hope he chooses me! Choose me!” at chapter 9, Isaiah, chapter 9. For those of you That’s the kind of god who shows up in that kind of who joined us in Isaiah Part 1, you remember this, thinking. this text, or if you’ve been to church on Christmas you’ve probably heard this text. A title I’ve written of We’ve been reading Isaiah. We know that’s not who mine is: “A Child Is Born.” Where does that come God really is. The One we saw last week says, “I from? So, we have in chapter 9, a prophecy of the am God and there is no other. I will not share My coming of Jesus. It says: glory with another! I will not give My praise away! I am God and there is no other!” He says, “It’s too Isa 9:1-2 [reads] small a thing, it’s too small a thing to raise this up.” 1 But there will be no more gloom for her who How is He going to do this? How is He going to was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land accomplish this salvation when we see in verse 7, of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali that’s the area it’s through suffering, but we also see in verse 6, of Galilee with contempt, but later on He shall make Lesson 4 Video 6 it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side 12 "Behold, these shall come from afar; And lo, of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. What is this going these will come from the north and from the west, to look like? And these from the land of Sinim." NASB 2 The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light We don’t know where that is. It could just mean the will shine on them. NASB extreme ends of the earth. It could mean just way far away. And He says, “What are we to do, what is And then He goes on and describes, there’s a to happen?” Verse 13: verse, you remember, verse 6, where a child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us, and thus Isa 49:13 [reads] prophesying of God. 13 Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains! Isa 9:6 For the LORD has comforted His people, And will 6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be have compassion on His afflicted. NASB given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful You see, what we have building up in chapter 49, is Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of not just a restart button is being hit and we go back Peace. NASB to the Garden of Eden, but that God, in His sovereignty, is using Israel who is currently about to We have another one. You’ll find next week as you suffer exile, He’s telling them, “You are going to be look at chapter 51, verse 4, Isaiah 51, verse 4. I My tool. And I’m going to restore you to Me. And in won’t steal any of your study, but I want to point out so doing I will bring restoration to the whole world.” verse 4. As He said to Abraham, “I will bless you and you, Abraham, will be a blessing to those. In fact, all the Isa 51:4 [reads] families of the earth will be blessed in you.” 4 "Pay attention to Me, O My people; And give ear to Me, O My nation; For a law will go forth from So in chapter 49, He goes on to say, but Zion wants Me, And I will set My justice for a light there it is to argue with that. Israel is saying, “No, no. It again of the peoples. NASB doesn’t feel that way. We’re down here in exile, Lord. You have forgotten us. What happened to this And later on you find out the peoples are nations, or promise back in Genesis 12:3? What happened to Gentiles. Also in chapter 60, verses 1 to 3. Again, I this promise in Exodus 19, 5 and 6? Lord, I know won’t steal any thunder, but just note the mention of we’ve disobeyed Your commandments, what You light. God is a light there. made conditional for us, but have You abandoned us? Have You left us out to die? Have You walked Isa 60:1-3 [reads] away from Your people and done this [brushing his 1 "Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the hands off like he had something on them] with us?” glory of the LORD has risen upon you. That’s their question in verse 14. “The Lord has 2 "For behold, darkness will cover the earth, forsaken us and the Lord has forgotten me.” And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you, And His glory will appear upon you. There’s both an action and an attitude represented 3 "And nations will come to your light, And there. It’s not just that God has turned His back, but kings to the brightness of your rising. NASB in His heart. The people of Israel: “We feel like You’ve abandoned us, that You’ve not only turned Oooh! Boy! Does that sound familiar? Boy, does away, but Your heart. You’ve left Your passions. that fit right here or what? As God is bringing in His You’ve dropped Your compassion for us.” restoration, as He’s bringing in this, this is the role of what Israel is to be. He tells us in chapter 60, And I love the way God answers. Look at how He prophetically, and it will happen. That you will be answers, verse 15. He picks one of the most tight this great light and nations will come to it. We see relationships there is known to mankind, the this in chapter 49 as well. Look at chapter 49, verse relationship between a mother and her suckling 11. Here, He describes them coming. He says: child. Picture a mother and her first baby who is dependant upon the body of the mother to live. Isa 49:11-12 [reads] There’s connection there, there’s intimacy, there’s a 11 "And I will make all My mountains a road, And bonding there. Quite honestly, we guys, we don’t My highways will be raised up. That sounds like understand. But there’s this connection between the chapter 40, verse 4, doesn’t it? The valleys being mother and child. And He says: filled up and the nations being leveled down. This great highway for the comfort of the Lord to come, Isa 49:15 [reads] as we saw in chapter 40. 15 "Can a woman forget her nursing child, And have no compassion on the son of her womb? the Lesson 4 Video 7 answer is implied, no! Of course not. But look at wear them.” Look at what else He says. He says in what He adds: Even these may forget, but I will not verse 19: forget you. NASB

In other words, here’s the biggest, highest relationship we can come up with in mankind’s Isa 49:19-20 [reads] understanding, is between a mom and her nursing 19 "For your waste and desolate places, and child. And there’s a deep connection. And He said, your destroyed land — Surely now you will be too “Even if these forget, I will not.” “Well, how do we cramped for the inhabitants, And those who know, Lord? How do we know You’re really saying swallowed you will be far away. You’re going to stick to this promise here? How do 20 "The children of whom you were bereaved we know that Your goal is to bring us back to Your will yet say in your ears, 'The place is too cramped agenda, to Your design, to Your plan?” for me; Make room for me that I may live here.' NASB Isa 49:16 16 "Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of Now this is not, this is not cramped like we don’t like My hands; Your walls are continually before Me. cramped. This is a cramped; it’s a good thing here. NASB Right? Cramped is a plentiful, it means that God has blessed them. That God has done what He’s He says, “Look at My hands. I’ve inscribed you on promised. That He’s bringing this blessing to His the palms of My hands.” The word, I looked it up. It people and He’s multiplying them and He’s means “to cut.” It’s not a piece of ink; it’s not a little returning them to the people. And there’s a sense thing you can wipe off. He has literally carved the here of which part of this is inclusive of the return name of Israel into His hands. I don’t know about from exile, which is yet to happen. But there’s more you, but the first place my mind went to was on to it. It too, is like a foreshadowing. How do I know Calvary. Right? Do you remember how our King that? Well, look at what He says in verse 21. He was nailed to the tree? They went through His says: hands. God says, “This is how much I love you. Can you see? I’ve carved you on My hands. I’ve Isa 49:21 [reads] engraved you on My hands,” He says. In verse 18 21 "Then you will say in your heart Look at the He says: reasoning of the Jew: 'Who has begotten these for me, Who has begotten these, what? Since I have Isa 49:18 [reads] been bereaved of my children, Listen to the 18 "Lift up your eyes and look around; All of condition she describes herself. And am barren, an them gather together, they come to you. As I live," exile and a wanderer? And who has reared these? declares the LORD, "You shall surely put on all of Behold, I was left alone; From where did these them as jewels, and bind them on as a bride. NASB come?'" NASB

I love that picture. It’s this bride who’s getting ready Now, this is so, this is so vintage Yahweh. This is for her wedding and she wants to look absolutely so typical God. Here they are, they don’t have it, the best. But she’s poor and she doesn’t have they’re in exile, they’re barren. They’re right here. anything nice to put on. She’s just making do with They’re struggling. [Points to the word “exile” what’s she’s got. She’s taking her dress that she between column 4 and 5 on the chart.] They don’t wears a lot and she’s cleaning it and cleaning it, but see the blessings of God. They’re wondering if God then there’s a knock on the door. And in comes a has left me. And God in His abundant grace begins giver. And the giver comes to her and says, “Look to just flood them with people. They’re coming from what I’ve got for you.” And he lays out before her everywhere. these precious jewels. These sparkling, gorgeous jewels. And he says, “They’re for you.” But look at how she’s described as barren. The barren thing that we see here is the thing that we “Do they match my dress? Do you think my groom see throughout Scriptures. Sarah, though she was will like them?” No! That’s not how she responds. barren Isaac was born to her. Rachel, though she Right? “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” She was barren God gave her Joseph. Remember takes them and starts putting them on, almost like Joseph was the one who rescued Israel out of the my young daughters would do, beginning to play famine. Hannah. Remember Hannah crying out to dressup. They put on too much! Too much makeup, the Lord, there in 1 Samuel, chapter 1. God gave too much jewelry. He says, “That’s what it’s going to her Samuel, a rescuer of Israel. be like. I’m going to bring them to you and you’re going to adorn yourself. Like a bride getting ready 1 Sam 1:1-20 for the return, for the coming of her groom. You’ll 1 Now there was a certain man from Ramathaim-zophim from the hill country of Lesson 4 Video 8 Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son her. of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 20 And it came about in due time, after Hannah 2 And he had two wives: the name of one was had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah; and she named him Samuel, saying, "Because I have Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no asked him of the LORD." NASB children. 3 Now this man would go up from his city yearly And Elizabeth, in the New Testament. Though she to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in was barren, out of her came John the Baptist. Think Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and about it: Mary. She wasn’t barren but her womb Phinehas were priests to the LORD there. was a virgin womb, and out of her came the 4 And when the day came that Elkanah Deliverer of all mankind. God, God loves, God loves sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his a curveball. God loves a surprise. He loves to use a wife and to all her sons and her daughters; barren woman to bring His deliverance to His 5 but to Hannah he would give a double people. That’s the kind of God that we serve. A God portion, for he loved Hannah, but the LORD had that says, “It looks like we’re desperate. It looks like closed her womb. we’re in exile.” And God says, “I’ve got a plan. I’ve 6 Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly got a plan to restore you.” Now how do we know to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her this? womb. 7 And it happened year after year, as often as Go with me to the New Testament. As we cross that she went up to the house of the LORD, she would line into the New Testament we get into Luke provoke her, so she wept and would not eat. chapter 2 and we find that in verse 25: 8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat Luke 2:25 [reads] and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you 25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem than ten sons?" whose name was Simeon; and this man was 9 Then Hannah rose after eating and drinking in righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. NASB the doorpost of the temple of the LORD. 10 And she, greatly distressed, prayed to the Oh, I love it! What’s Simeon about? Well, he’s a LORD and wept bitterly. righteous man; he’s a devout man; he’s a God- 11 And she made a vow and said, "O LORD of fearer; he follows God. But what’s he looking for? hosts, if Thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of What’s he looking for? He’s looking for the Thy maidservant and remember me, and not forget consolation, the deliverance of Israel. He’s looking Thy maidservant, but wilt give Thy maidservant a for the promise that was made. And what happens? son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of What happens to Simeon here in Luke, chapter 2? his life, and a razor shall never come on his head." 12 Now it came about, as she continued praying Luke 2:26-33 [reads] before the LORD, that Eli was watching her mouth. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy 13 As for Hannah, she was speaking in her Spirit that he would not see death before he had heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was seen the Lord's [Messiah]. The Lord’s Christ, the not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. consolation of Israel. And it had been revealed to 14 Then Eli said to her, "How long will you make him by the Holy Spirit. Verse 27: yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you." 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and 15 But Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk carry out for Him the custom of the Law, neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out 28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed my soul before the LORD. God, and said, 16 Do not consider your maidservant as a 29 "Now Lord, Thou dost let Thy bond-servant worthless woman; for I have spoken until now out of depart In peace, according to Thy word; my great concern and provocation." 30 For my eyes have seen Thy salvation, 17 Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace; 31 Which Thou hast prepared in the presence of and may the God of Israel grant your petition that all peoples, And then he quotes Isaiah, verse 32: you have asked of Him." 32 A light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the 18 And she said, "Let your maidservant find glory of Thy people Israel." favor in your sight." So the woman went her way 33 And His father and mother were amazed at and ate, and her face was no longer sad. the things which were being said about Him. NASB 19 Then they arose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned again to How is the consolation of Israel described in Luke, their house in Ramah. And Elkanah had relations chapter 2, verse 32? How is the rescue, what Lesson 4 Video 9 happens on the other side of the Old Testament, New Testament boundary? The consolation is that this gospel that was preached to Abraham Jesus Himself. But it’s not just with Jesus. Jesus before that actually shows up in the book of Isaiah, then takes His message and passes it on. So when that says: “It’s too small a thing for You to take care we get to Luke 2, so if you’re taking notes, [he’s of Jacob and Israel and restore them, but I will also writing on the white board under New Testament] make You a light to the nations, that My salvation write Luke 2:32, this is Jesus. But we find out in shall reach the ends of the earth.” Galatians, chapter 3, verses 6 through 9. Paul, the apostle, writes: Isa 49:6 6 He says, "It is too small a thing that You Gal 3:6-8 [reads] should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of 6 Even so Abraham believed God, and it was Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I reckoned to him as righteousness. There’s that will also make You a light of the nations So that My promise that was actually in Genesis 15, verse 7. salvation may reach to the end of the earth." NASB 7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. We now see that transferred not just to Christ, but 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would Christ makes it part of the Apostolic Mission that justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel Paul and Barnabas do. Well, how do the Gentiles beforehand to Abraham, saying, "All the nations respond? Look at the next verse, verse 48: shall be blessed in you." NASB Acts 13:48-49 [reads] Right here, Genesis 12, verse 3. God preached the 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began what? The gospel beforehand to Abraham using rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as Genesis 12, verse 3. Look at what he says then: many as had been appointed to eternal life Verse 9, in conclusion: believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was being spread Gal 3:9 [reads] through the whole region. NASB 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. NASB The Word of the Lord was growing as a light unto the nations, as a light unto the world. So we have And later on in Galatians we’ll also see that he Gentiles now entering into the picture. We now identifies this seed, the way the whole world will be have the role here, of this kingdom of priests, is blessed, is actually going to be in Christ Jesus. That now no longer just to Israel but is now being is God’s plan for bringing restoration back to His shared, is being used alongside people that God earth is through Jesus. But it doesn’t just stop with calls to minister to the rest of world, or to the Jesus. It also transfers to us. Go with me to Acts, Gentiles. This is God’s restoration plan. Now, if chapter 13. Paul and Barnabas are addressing the you’re drawing a chart up here, you would note that crowd there in verse 46: the rest of the story, there’s a big gap, that’s why we’re at the end of the board, the rest of the story is Acts 13:46-47 [reads] right here [he stands off to the side of the white 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and board with nothing behind him.] and this is the first said, "It was necessary that the word of God should coming of Jesus has taken care of this. And the be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it, and apostolic mission, that ministry that was given to us judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, to be light to the whole world is still ongoing. Do you we are turning to the Gentiles. remember Jesus gave us the commission in 47 "For thus the Lord has commanded us, We’re Matthew 28? Now take it and take it to the ends of turning to the Gentiles; here’s why: 'I have placed the earth, making disciples and teaching them to You as a light for the Gentiles, That You should observe, right? Of what I’ve said. bring salvation to the end of the earth.'" NASB Matt 28:19-20 We see also in Acts chapter 26, 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father Acts 26:22-23 and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 22 "And so, having obtained help from God, I 20 teaching them to observe all that I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses even to the end of the age." NASB said was going to take place; 23 that the Christ was to suffer, and that by The story’s not over. We don’t get back, [he’s reason of His resurrection from the dead He should pointing to the first column] we haven’t seen this, be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish we haven’t seen this restoration. What will it be that people and to the Gentiles." NASB will bring back, what will it be that will bring it back? Lesson 4 Video 10 Go with me to Revelation, chapter 21, Revelation 16 and said, "By Myself I have sworn, 21, beginning in verse 22. Speaking of heaven declares the LORD, because you have done this here. John sees this: thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, Rev 21:22-22:2 [reads] 17 indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will 22 And I saw no temple in it, the house of the greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the Lord wasn’t there for the Lord God, the Almighty, heavens, and as the sand which is on the seashore; and the Lamb, are its temple. and your seed shall possess the gate of their 23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the enemies. NASB moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. You have this beautiful story. But then the people 24 And the nations shall walk by its light, and the He said He would do it with, that would be a kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it. kingdom of priests, the ones who would represent 25 And in the daytime (for there shall be no night God to the whole world, it’s confusing because we there) its gates shall never be closed; don’t see it happening. We read through Judges 26 and they shall bring the glory and the honor of and Kings but we come up with nothing. We get to the nations into it; the prophets and we’re with the prophets. We’re 27 and nothing unclean and no one who going: “Come on! Our hope is you, Israel. Come practices abomination and lying, shall ever come and be what, the light that God has called you to into it, but only those whose names are written in be.” And then we go through 400 years of silence. the Lamb's book of life. We hit the New Testament and an old man named 22:1 And he showed me a river of the water of life, Simeon who had a word from the Lord, “You will clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and see the deliverance of Israel. You will see My of the Lamb, answer.” Holds in his hands the consolation of 2 in the middle of its street. And on either side Israel. It’s Jesus. Jesus’ message to them is now, “I of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds am the One to restore.” Guess what? He’s passed it of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves on. He’s not delegated it out, but He’s shared His of the tree were for the healing of the nations. mission. And He tells us in Matthew, chapter 5, NASB Matt 5:14 You see, it’s a full story. It comes all the way back 14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a around. Where is the tree of life? Well, we see it in hill cannot be hidden. NASB Genesis. We see it in the beginning. It’s in God’s creation. It’s in God’s perfect place in Eden. It’s Matt 5:16 God’s perfect place. And God’s perfect man, there 16 "Let your light shine before men in such a is no sin. But sin entered the world and brought with way that they may see your good works, and glorify it damage, exile, destruction, distorted the image. It your Father who is in heaven. NASB cast us out of Eden. But God said, “I will restore it. And I’ll do it through My people Israel.” We didn’t “You believers are the light of the world. Let your know at this time, but here He said, “In you I will light that I’ve given you, let your light shine so bless all the families of earth.” others may see your good works and praise Me.”

Gen 12:3 Look at 1 Peter, chapter 1, verse 10: 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the 1 Peter 1:10-12 [reads] families of the earth shall be blessed." NASB 10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you Gen 15:5 made careful search and inquiry, 5 And He took him outside and said, "Now look 11 seeking to know what person or time the toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are Spirit of Christ within them was indicating he’s able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall talking about the prophets here as He predicted the your descendants be." NASB sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not He said, “Abraham, walk outside tonight; look up in serving themselves, but you, in these things which the sky. Count the stars. That doesn’t even touch it. now have been announced to you through those Now walk along the beach; look at the sand. That who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit doesn’t even touch it.” sent from heaven — things into which angels long to look. NASB Gen 22:15-17 15 Then the angel of the LORD called to Then look at chapter 2, verse 5: Abraham a second time from heaven, Lesson 4 Video 11 1 Peter 2:5-9 [reads] 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture: "Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed." He’s speaking of Jesus. 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe. But for those who disbelieve, "The stone which the builders rejected, This became the very corner stone," 8 and, "A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense"; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; NASB

That’s what we read in Exodus, chapter 19. But now He’s putting it on the people of the New Testament. “You are a holy nation, a royal priesthood, a chosen race, a people for God’s own possession.” Why? The same as it’s always been.

1 Peter 2:9 [reads] 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; NASB

“It’s too small a thing,” He said. “My plan is to restore them, is to bring it back to Eden, back to heaven.”

So when we get to this point [He’s standing beside the white board again with nothing behind him.] we have the first coming of Christ; we have a period of time which we are currently in. And we’re waiting for the second coming of which Revelation 21 will come to play, will happen. But what are we to be about at this point in time? We’re to be His representatives. We are to be bringing people into His marvelous light. Showing them who Jesus Christ really is.

[There is no prayer at the end of this.]