DOCSLIB.ORG

Fear Not! Isaiah 41 Introduction A

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Fear Not! Isaiah 41 Introduction A ©Living Hope Church 10 August 2008 Fear Not! Isaiah 41 Introduction Quick. What is, by far, God’s most frequent command? The usual suspects include “Do not commit adultery,” “Have no other gods before me,” and “Love one another.” The next group includes whatever commands you know you have violated, in which case they only feel as if they appear on every page of Scripture. The actual answer is “Do not be afraid.” Ed Welch in Running Scared, p 59 A. “Do not be afraid” includes statements like do not worry, do not be anxious, and fear not. The command “do not be afraid” is both easy to understand and yet hard to accomplish. 1. Being afraid is part of the human problem. You don’t teach fear to your kids. You don’t try to be scared. Fear comes naturally and when it comes it seeks to dominate us. 2. Fear (like any strong emotion) wants to own you (be your boss, have authority). Fear wants to tell us how life is, how life will be, and it isn’t easily persuaded otherwise. 3. Fear (like any strong emotion) thirstily demands satisfaction now. Fear is impatient. Our largest fears are about our safety, our money, and people. B. Three times in our text we read the words Fear Not (my title). When we encounter repetition in the Bible it is always for good reason. We are wise to pay close attention. 1. Why does God say these two words (fear not) to His people? God says “fear not” because He is seeking to comfort (strengthen) His people (see Isaiah 40). C. God’s people are in need of comfort because hard times are coming (and life is hard). 1. Storm clouds are gathering and captivity in Babylon is on the distant horizon. Jerusalem will fall and with it the promised land is seemingly gone. 2. Isaiah speaks as he gazes into the future to two audiences: · The exiles in Babylon · Us (Israel is a picture of spiritual realities that we face) D. The point of Isaiah 41 is that to know God is to trust God. Put negatively: to be afraid is to distrust and move toward idols. Isaiah 41 is divided into 3 sections. 1. Isaiah 41:1-7 (the problem) 2. Isaiah 41:8-20 (the solution) 3. Isaiah 41:21-29 (the challenge) I. The problem. A. Isaiah calls the people into the courtroom and he makes an announcement (verse 1). 1. The people gather for judgment (a decision has been rendered). B. In verse 2 a question is asked. Who stirred up one from the east? Victory is his wherever he goes. He defeats nations with no problem. 1 ©Living Hope Church 10 August 2008 1. Commentators are agreed that this one from the east is Cyrus (mentioned again by Isaiah in Isaiah 44). An invading army seems like a reasonable thing to fear. 2. Thing is God says He is the One who will raise up Cyrus. C. The ends of the earth tremble. Folks seek to work together but God’s purpose will endure. The problem is large and fear seems reasonable. 1. Then God steps in with an announcement. The circumstance won’t change (remember, it is over 100 years away) but God will comfort His people. II. The solution is comfort. How will God bring comfort? A. We saw in Isaiah 40 that God was committed to comforting His people. 1. Isaiah 40:3-5 (the glory of the Lord will appear) 2. Isaiah 40:6-8 (the Word of the Lord will stand) 3. Isaiah 40:9-11 (the Lord will shepherd His flock) 4. Isaiah 40:12-26 (His ability, power and greatness is certain) 5. Isaiah 40:27-31 (wait for Him ... desire, seek, obey) B. Now God assures His people that he will do it. Here is grace on top of grace. 1. God reminds them of His action in their calling and election (see verses 8-11). · I have gathered you from the corners of the earth and I chose you. I will not cast you off (I’m not giving you up). · The promise extends back to Abraham and comes through Jacob who was a deceiver but was chosen over Esau. God is working His plan. Genesis 12:1-3 (ESV) Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 2. God reminds them that he will redeem them (see verse 14). 3. God reminds them that He is faithful (see verse 17) 4. God reminds them His promises are sure (see verse 20). What a great preacher and pastor Isaiah was! He sustained the weary people of God by bringing them back to the great fundamentals of their faith: election, calling, redemption, the promises of God, and the faithfulness of God. God give us such preachers today! Barry Webb in TBST Isaiah Commentary, p 169 C. That is where God’s people take their stand in any age. God’s grace comes to us as we humble ourselves under His mighty hand and become aware of his activity in our lives. III. The challenge (read Isaiah 41:21-29). A. God issues a challenge to idols. You’re a god? You speak and tell us the future. 1. Precisely because God is God He knows the future. So He says I will raise up one from the north (still Cyrus who comes from the east via the north). 2. Notice the important role prophecy plays here. It is one of the proofs that God exists and that 2 ©Living Hope Church 10 August 2008 God is great and faithful. B. Which means we can trust Him with our lives. Our hearts are wired for worship. We will either worship God or we will erect an idol. When idolatry is practiced, Christ withdraws. He will not tolerate rivals. Anything that comes before Christ is an idol. It may take the form of family, business, fashion, sport, pleasure, or earthly security: these must never have pre-eminence in our lives: their rightful place is beneath Christ’s sceptre. Frederick Leahy in The Hand of God, p 125 1. To know God is to trust God. To distrust God is to move toward idols because we will trust something or someone. Trust is worship. Ex: John Wesley and the hymn-singing Moravians on the ship returning to England. 2. The command of God in Is 41 is fear not. Do not succumb to unbelief when you are confronted by waves or mountains or valleys. C. What is your game plan? A football coach goes into a game with a plan. A general commands an army at war by having a set of plans. When fear comes what do you do? 7 steps: 1. Identify whether you are talking or listening to yourself. We must learn to take ourselves in hand... Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself? Martyn Lloyd-Jones in Spiritual Depression, p 20 2. Identify the pressure point(s) ... what overwhelms you, what frightens you (perhaps with good reason)? Ex: Kids being in a car accident (especially when they are late). 3. Identify your response (panic, obsessive thoughts, anger, sometimes addictive habits). Ex: The person battling depression generally has fears. Actually, the more possessions we have the more room fear has to maneuver. 4. Identify what you want. What do I want, need, crave, expect, demand, and lust after? Or what do I fear losing or never getting? Identify the specific lust of the flesh. Anxious people “eagerly seek” the gifts more than the Giver. They bank treasure in the wrong place. What is preoccupying me, so that I pursue it with all my heart... Sinful fears are inverted cravings. David Powlison in Seeing With New Eyes, p 123 & 133 5. Identify the promise of Jesus that speaks to you most clearly. Go to the Word of God which will not return empty. · Shepherd, calling, election, redemption, promises, faithful (the gospel). 6. Identify how to pray. The issue isn’t so much whether or not we are afraid and worry. Scripture assumes that we will be afraid and anxious at times. What is important is where we turn, or to whom we turn when we are afraid. The God who calls you to trust in him when you are afraid will spend a great deal of time showing you that you can trust him. Ed Welch in Running Scared, p 69 3 ©Living Hope Church 10 August 2008 7. Identify where you should give (since we become self-focused in fear move out to others by giving ... we tend to fear our safety, our provision, and other people). Close A. The command of God to His people is fear not! How? Why? Because: 1. God is with us. 2. God will help us. 3. God will strengthen and uphold us. 4. God will never forsake us. B. Where are you tempted to be afraid? When is your heart filled with fear? Humble yourself and cast your cares on the Lord because He cares for you.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • (Does Not) Know(S) Us: an Intertextual Dialogue in the Book of Isaiah
    Terblanche, “Abraham (does not) know(s) us,” OTE 24/1 (2011): 255-283 255 Abraham (Does not) Know(s) Us: An Intertextual Dialogue in the Book of Isaiah MARIUS D. TERBLANCHE (UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE ) ABSTRACT The stance towards Abraham in Isaiah 63:16 seems to be at odds with the high esteem in which Abraham is held in the other texts in the book of Isaiah which explicitly mention him, and other exilic and post-exilic texts. This state of affairs points to an intertextual dialo- gue between the Abraham texts in the book of Isaiah. The proper name Abraham acts as a signal which alerts a reader to the inter- textual relationship. Isaiah 63:16 displaces 29:22, 41:8 and 51:2 from their positions of authority. Trust in Yahweh himself was the only option for the people. A INTRODUCTION Abraham was particularly held in high esteem in exilic and early post-exilic times. 1 The people’s assertion in Isaiah 63:16a that Abraham does not know them and that Israel does not acknowledge them, is therefore astonishing. The prophet Ezekiel criticises the people remaining in the land after the deportation in 597 B.C.E. for substantiating their claim to the land through a typological alignment with Abraham. 2 Since Abraham was only one man when the land was given to him, the people remaining in the land believed that, although they were few, they could lay claim to the land. 3 The post-exilic prayer in Nehemiah 94 regards God’s promise to Abraham as foundational for hope for salvation in 1 The seven explicit allusions to Abraham in the prophetic corpus all occur in exilic or post-exilic texts, namely Isa 29:22; 41:8; 51:2; 63:16; Jer 33:26; Ezek 33:24; Mic 7:20.
    [Show full text]
  • FST14.The Forerunner Message in Isaiah 41-42.Study Notes.171208
    INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PRAYER UNIVERSITY – MIKE BICKLE FORERUNNER STUDY TRACK: THE FORERUNNER MESSAGE IN ISAIAH 1-45 Session 14 The Forerunner Message in Isaiah 41-42 I. INTRODUCTION A. Isaiah spoke this to the people of Judah sometime before the Assyrians invaded the land in 701 BC. Isaiah 41 and 42 go together. Most commentators would agree to that. It is one big topic covered over two chapters. If I had to sum it up in one word, it would be the word, justice. Now you know that Isaiah 42 is a famous chapter. It is one of the famous Isaiah chapters where the Messiah comes and establishes justice in the nations of the world. Isaiah 41 is leading up to the great justice chapter of Isaiah 42. Like many of the other chapters, Isaiah spoke this message to the people of Judah, to the southern kingdom, some time before the great Assyrian invasion of which the nation was fearful because the Assyrians, the super power of that day, were coming down to Judah, surrounding them, and destroying the cities. However, Isaiah 41-42 is far more about the generation that the Lord returns, though it did help the people in Isaiah’s day. They did not understand there was a big storyline where billions of people would be on the earth in the generation when God transitions the earth to the age to come. That is where the ultimate lessons of Isaiah 41-42 are really applied in a global way. So we have the outline here: B. Outline for Isaiah 41-42 41:1-7 The Lord controls human history 41:8-16 The Lord will help Israel 41:17-20 The Lord will supernaturally help Israel return to the land 41:21-29 The powerlessness of false gods 42:1-4 God’s Servant will establish justice in the nations 42:5-9 God’s Servant will give light to the nations 42:10-17 The end-time prayer movement and Jesus’ second coming 42:18-25 God’s discipline of Israel C.
    [Show full text]
  • Isaiah Commentaries & Sermons
    Isaiah Commentaries & Sermons SONG OF SOLOMON JEREMIAH NEWEST ADDITIONS: Verse by verse Commentary on Isaiah 53 (Isaiah 52:13-53:12) - Bruce Hurt Verse by verse Commentary on Isaiah 35 - Bruce Hurt ISAIAH RESOURCES Commentaries, Sermons, Illustrations, Devotionals Click chart to enlarge Click chart to enlarge Chart from recommended resource Jensen's Survey of the OT - used by permission Another Isaiah Chart see on right side Caveat: Some of the commentaries below have "jettisoned" a literal approach to the interpretation of Scripture and have "replaced" Israel with the Church, effectively taking God's promises given to the literal nation of Israel and "transferring" them to the Church. Be a Berean Acts 17:11-note! ISAIAH ("Jehovah is Salvation") See Excellent Timeline for Isaiah - page 39 JEHOVAH'S JEHOVAH'S Judgment & Character Comfort & Redemption (Isaiah 1-39) (Isaiah 40-66) Uzziah Hezekiah's True Suffering Reigning Jotham Salvation & God Messiah Lord Ahaz Blessing 1-12 13-27 28-35 36-39 40-48 49-57 58-66 Prophecies Prophecies Warnings Historical Redemption Redemption Redemption Regarding Against & Promises Section Promised: Provided: Realized: Judah & the Nations Israel's Israel's Israel's Jerusalem Deliverance Deliverer Glorious Is 1:1-12:6 Future Prophetic Historic Messianic Holiness, Righteousness & Justice of Jehovah Grace, Compassion & Glory of Jehovah God's Government God's Grace "A throne" Is 6:1 "A Lamb" Is 53:7 Time 740-680BC OTHER BOOK CHARTS ON ISAIAH Interesting Facts About Isaiah Isaiah Chart The Book of Isaiah Isaiah Overview Chart by Charles Swindoll Visual Overview Introduction to Isaiah by Dr John MacArthur: Title, Author, Date, Background, Setting, Historical, Theological Themes, Interpretive Challenges, Outline by Chapter/Verse.
    [Show full text]
  • Isaiah 41:1-7, Yahweh Confronts the Nations
    ISAIAH ISAIAH 41:1-7, YAHWEH CONFRONTS THE NATIONS In this chapter of Isaiah, Yahweh assures the Israelites that they need not fear because He is in charge of world affairs. He is using the people and the nations of the world for His purposes just as He is using Israel for His purposes. His purposes for world history will not be thwarted, nor will His plans and purposes for Israel fail to be realized. Those things are inseparable. “The purpose here is one of motivation. How can a condemned and fallen people ever become the Servant of God in the world? How can they begin to exercise the trust that was taught in chs. 13-39? The answer is unmerited grace: grace to defeat their enemies and grace that declares them not forsaken. Obedience that is motivated by fear is minimal obedience; but obedience that is a response to wholly underserved deliverance is of a sort that does not ask about requirements. It asks only if there is not more that needs doing” [John N. Oswalt, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament: The Book of Isaiah: Chapters 40-66, 79]. Most theologians believe verses 1-7 refer to a forensic, or legal, setting and that Cyrus is the one from the east. If Cyrus is in view, which seems to be accurate, he is also serving as a type of another One who will come from the east at the end of the Tribulation (Zech. 14:4). God’s power and justice continue to be matters of discussion here.
    [Show full text]
  • The Middle East & Prophecy #6 (Transcript)
    The Middle East & Prophecy #6 by Ronald L. Dart If you pick up the Bible and start reading in any of the prophets, nearly anywhere, you will almost certainly be reading about the Middle East. Even the prophecies that deal with other nations deal with them from a Middle East perspective. That’s all very reasonable, since the entirety of the Bible was written…guess where? In the Middle East. Now, it is all too easy, as you open up an Old Testament prophet, to assume that the prophecies are all about the times in which the prophet lived—that the prophecies were all fulfilled in ancient history and they are no longer relevant in the modern world. But it would be a mistake to think that. For one thing, these are prophecies and not merely revelations of the future. What’s the difference? Well, prophecy is inevitably laced with strong moral teachings and repeated warnings that if you make the same mistakes people of old made, you’re going to suffer the same end. And so there’s a great deal of value in the study of prophecy for that alone. But there’s another reason, as well. You may settle in to read one of the prophets, comfortable in the knowledge that he is speaking to his own generation, and then, with no warning at all, and no recognizable transition, you suddenly realize he is speaking to the last generation of man before the kingdom of God comes on the earth. To a Jewish reader, these passages probably call to mind the messianic age (which they hope for out in the future) but the problem is, we have not arrived at the messianic age yet and these prophets are talking about it.
    [Show full text]
  • Isaiah: Salvation Comes From
    Isaiah: Salvation Comes From God The creator of “Interesting Facts About Isaiah” from Barnes Bible Charts says that “Isaiah is like a miniature Bible: The first Daily Steps 39 chapters, like the 39 books of the Old Testament, are filled 1. Read the scripture selection for the day. with judgment upon immoral and idolatrous men. The final 27 2. Use the Bible study questions to help you process the content. chapters, like the 27 books of the New Testament, declare a message of hope.” 3. Pray for understanding, application, and obedience. 4. Spend a few moments memorizing the verse for the month and its reference. Day Reading Day Reading 1 Isaiah 1-2 16 Isaiah 35-36 Specific Questions to Process 2 Isaiah 3-5 17 Isaiah 37-38 1. What does this passage teach me about God and His character? 3 Isaiah 6-8 18 Isaiah 39-40 2. What does this passage teach me about Israel and God’s 4 Isaiah 9-10 19 Isaiah 41-42 relationship with it? 5 Isaiah 11-13 20 Isaiah 43-44 3. What does this passage teach me about who God uses in the 6 Isaiah 14-15 21 Isaiah 45-46 redemptive process? 7 Isaiah 16-17 22 Isaiah 47-48 4. What does this passage teach me about a personal relationship with 8 Isaiah 18-20 23 Isaiah 49-50 God? 9 Isaiah 21-22 24 Isaiah 51-52 10 Isaiah 23-24 25 Isaiah 53-55 5. What does this passage reveal about future events? 11 Isaiah 25-26 26 Isaiah 56-57 12 Isaiah 27-28 27 Isaiah 58-59 Further Application Questions 13 Isaiah 29-30 28 Isaiah 60-62 Is there a… 14 Isaiah 31-32 29 Isaiah 63-64 Grow 15 Isaiah 33-34 30 Isaiah 65-66 Sin to confess? Promise to claim? Memorization verse: “The grass withers, the flower fades, Example to follow? but the word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8 Command to obey? Stumbling block to avoid? .
    [Show full text]
  • Commentary on Isaiah 41:8-10, 17-20 by L.G
    Commentary on Isaiah 41:8-10, 17-20 By L.G. Parkhurst, Jr. The International Bible Lesson ( Uniform Sunday School Series ) for December 12, 2010 , is from Isaiah 41:8-10, 17-20 . Five Questions for Discussion follow the Bible Lesson Commentary . The International Bible Lessons can be read at: http://internationalbiblelessons.com/ ; new International Bible Lessons are also published each Saturday in The Oklahoman newspaper. Isaiah 41:8-10 8 But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; God respected the fact that the children of Abraham, especially Jacob (whose name God changed to Israel) and his children, were the children of His friend. God did much for them simply because Abraham was His friend, and because God planned for the Messiah to be born as a descendant of Jacob. How wonderful to think that Jesus, the Messiah, called His faithful followers friends. How wonderful to think that God wants to be our friend and sent Jesus to us in order to establish a lasting friendship with us. 9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; God led His people, Israel, out of Egypt into the Promised Land. As punishment for their sins, He also drove them from the Promised Land into exile (first, in 722 BC, Assyria destroyed the Northern Kingdom; and second, in 605 BC and 586 BC, God drove the Southern Kingdom into exile in Babylon).
    [Show full text]
  • Isaiah 1:18 Isaiah 40:8 Isaiah 40:10 Isaiah 40:11
    Isaiah 1:18 Isaiah 40:8 Isaiah 40:10 Whiter Than Snow God’s Word is Faithful God Will Reward "Come now, let us reason See, the Sovereign LORD comes together," says the LORD. "Though The grass withers and the flowers with power, and his arm rules for your sins are like scarlet, they shall fall, but the word of our God stands him. See, his reward is with him, be as white as snow; though they forever." and his recompense accompanies are red as crimson, they shall be him. like wool." Isaiah 40:11 Isaiah 40:12 - God Is Great! Isaiah 40:13 -14 God the Shepherd Who has measured the waters in the God is Awesome He tends his flock like a shepherd: hollow of his hand, or with the breadth Who has understood the mind of He gathers the lambs in his arms of his hand marked off the heavens? the LORD, or instructed him as his and carries them close to his heart; Who has held the dust of the earth in counselor? Whom did the LORD he gently leads those that have a basket, or weighed the mountains consult to enlighten him, and who young. on the scales and the hills in a taught him the right way? balance? Isaiah 40:15 Isaiah 40:22 Isaiah 40:23 -24 God is Greater Than Nations! Men are as Grasshoppers God Rules the Nations Surely the nations are like a drop in He sits enthroned above the circle of He brings princes to naught and a bucket; they are regarded as dust the earth, and its people are like reduces the rulers of this world to on the scales; he weighs the grasshoppers.
    [Show full text]
  • The Prophecies of Isaiah 41 Lesson 17 It Is 722 BC and the Northern
    The Prophecies of Isaiah 41 Lesson 17 Near Future Isaiah’s The army that gathers in the valley outside Jerusalem Presentation will not capture the city. Format Isa. 22:1-25 Chapter Figure 42: Vision 18 to the Valley Outside Jerusalem 22:1-25 It is 722 BC and the Northern Kingdom is still intact as the Lord delivers this 18 th vision to Isaiah. It would be impossible to time the fulfillment of this vision except for Isaiah 22:20 which says, "Then it will come about in that day, that I will summon My servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah.” Eliakim is a good man who serves the Temple honorably along with Shebna as priests. He is sent out to receive the message from Assyria during the days of Hezekiah. Here are three Old Testament passages that identify Eliakim. 2 Kings 18:18 When they called to the king, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, came out to them. 2 Kings 18:37 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn and told him the words of Rabshakeh. 2 Kings 19:2 Then he sent Eliakim who was over the household with Shebna the scribe and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz. Therefore, Vision 18 is given in 722 BC and fulfilled in 712-711 BC.
    [Show full text]
  • May Doulos Final.Pub
    The Doulos Doulos: Greek n. “servant” Newsletter of the Dillsburg Brethren In Christ Church May 2017 Fear or Faith By Marlin Zook Bible stories are interesting partly because Jesus got back in the boat and they they portray people’s real human nature. launched, Jesus told the disciples to be careful of the yeast of the Pharisees and Recently I preached at Paxton Ministries Herod, for that teaching is opposite the and used the story of the blind man in John teaching of Jesus. The disciples heard the 9. Jesus makes mud and puts it on his face word “yeast” and associated that with and tells him to go to the pool of Siloam and “bread” and they remembered that they did wash it off. He did so and was able to see not bring enough bread for lunch. Jesus for the first time in his life. When he came had to remind them of the 4,000 men they back from Siloam, people asked him where had just fed and the previous time when Jesus was. Think about it, how would he they fed 5,000. know where Jesus went? Jesus was constantly going from one place to another Do you ever focus on what you don’t have? and the blind man went off to wash his face. This is the primary focus of our world and one of the reasons why we must endure so Another story found in Mark 8 shows a much advertising. Not only had the human characteristic that is very common disciples multiplied the bread before, but in our present world.
    [Show full text]
  • Isaiah 40:31 Commentary
    Isaiah 40:31 Commentary PREVIOUS NEXT Isaiah 40:31 Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weary. (NASB: Lockman) English Translation of the Greek (Septuagint): but they that wait (continually) on God shall renew their strength; they shall put forth new feathers like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not hunger. (Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton). Amplified: But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. [He 12:1, 2, 3.] (Amplified Bible - Lockman) ESV: but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. KJV: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; NET: But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired. (NET Bible) NIV: but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
    [Show full text]
  • 'Silence! in My Courtroom!' Part 1 I've Been Asked To
    1 ‘Silence! In My courtroom!’ Part 1 I’ve been asked to speak from Isaiah 41 over the next two weeks, I’ll deal with the first seven verses today and we’ll deal with the rest of the chapter next week. But this chapter which is very prophetic in nature, a chapter in which God calls for justice, a chapter where God tells us that a certain man will become ruler over forty-nine countries. But God says in about 150 years from now, He will use this man to utterly destroy every enemy of Israel. Now let me say a few words about Isaiah. Isaiah was born somewhere between 760-780 B.C. and his father was called Amoz. He was a prophet of the southern kingdom of Israel, Judah. He was married and had two sons, both of which had prophetic names. The oldest child was named Shearjashub, and his name means, ‘a remnant will return’. The younger child was named Mahershalalhashbaz, and his name means, ‘hastening to the spoils’ or ‘hurrying to the prey’. And like I said, both names were prophetic because they spoke of the pending plunder of both Damascus which is Syria and Samaria which is Israel, by the Assyrians. Now the Book of Isaiah covers one of the most significant periods of history in reference to the final years of the northern kingdom of Israel before they went into captivity. You can read all about it in 2 Kings 15-20 and 2 Chronicles 26-32. Let me share with you a very basic outline of the Book of Isaiah.
    [Show full text]