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Isaiah 45-48
God Knows
Psalm 78:40-72 Forgetful Sheep
40.How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness, and grieved him in the desert!41.They turned again and tempted God, and provoked the Holy one of Israel.42.They didn’t remember his hand, nor the day when he redeemed them from the adversary;43.how he set his signs in Egypt, his wonders in the field of Zoan,44.he turned their rivers into blood...51.and struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.52.But he led forth his own people like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.53.He led them safely, so that they weren’t afraid, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.54.He brought them to the border of his sanctuary, to this mountain, which his right hand had taken.55.He also drove out the nations before them, allotted them for an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.56.Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God, and didn’t keep his testimonies;57.but turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers. They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.58.For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their engraved images.59.When God heard this, he was angry, and greatly abhorred Israel;60.So that he forsook the tent of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;61.and delivered his strength into captivity, his glory into the adversary’s hand.62.He also gave his people over to the sword, and was angry with his inheritance.63.Fire devoured their young men. Their virgins had no wedding song.64.Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows couldn’t weep.65.Then the Lord awakened as one out of sleep, like a mighty man who shouts by reason of wine.66.He struck his adversaries backward. He put them to a perpetual reproach.67.Moreover he rejected the tent of Joseph, and didn’t choose the tribe of Ephraim,68.But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which he loved.69.He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which he has established forever.70.He also chose David his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds;71.from following the ewes that have their young, he brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob, his people, and Israel, his inheritance.72.So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands."Observation
78:40-72.God delivered, saved, and redeemed His people from Egypt to bring them into the land of promised blessing. However, they, His people, His inheritance, turned from Him to their sin and provoked Him to anger. Then He kicked them out of their inheritance, the promised land, into captivity. They were still His people, but rather than enjoying His delights, they experience His discipline. 1Corinthians 10 says this can happen to NT saints. After the nation was disciplined by death and loss of dominion, they repented. Then God graciously subdued their enemies, and brought them back into blessing. Because they turned back from obeying Him, (verse 9-11) He rejected the mighty tribe of Ephraim (here put for the nation), who had received Jacob's chief inheritance blessing and chose Judah instead to rule. God made a covenant with David (2Sam 7) to lead and shepherd His people.
Application
Those who rebel against God's rule in their lives will regret the loss they reap. Those who submit to God's shepherding care of them will rejoice in His guidance and blessing. Which camp are you in?
Prayer
My Good Shepherd, thanks for saving and guiding me; may You be delighted by the way I respond to Your care of me. Amen.
Proverbs 20:1-4 Four Follies to Forego
1.“Wine is a mocker, and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.2.The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.3.It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be quarreling.4.The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing."Observation
20:1-4.Four unwise behaviors to avoid:
20:1 Being under influences that move you off the wise path;
20:2 Angering your authorities;
20:3 Disputing and quarreling (sometimes it's honorable to allow fools their delusions); and
20:4 Avoiding the difficult and uncomfortable.
Application
Develop the habits that give you the results you want.
Prayer
All-Wise God, thanks for giving guidance on the wiser way to live. May I do so. Amen.
Isaiah 45-48 God Knows
In these chapters, God stresses that He is the only One who knows the future, because He has purposed it. He tells Cyrus of His purpose in giving him the kingship. This prophecy would be a powerful motivation for Cyrus to send the Jews back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. God also impresses upon Judah that He is the one sending them back, according to His plan. It's not the work of some dumb idol they might pray to, therefore they must only trust “The God of Israel.”
Isaiah 45 Cyrus, Meet God
1.Thus says Yahweh to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him, and strip kings of their armor; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut:2."I will go before you, and make the rough places smooth. I will break the doors of brass in pieces, and cut apart the bars of iron.3.I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, Yahweh, who call you by your name, even the God of Israel.4.For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel my chosen, I have called you by your name. I have surnamed you, though you have not known me.5.I am Yahweh, and there is none else. Besides me, there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not known me;6.that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none besides me. I am Yahweh, and there is no one else.7.I form the light, and create darkness. I make peace, and create calamity. I am Yahweh, who does all these things.8.Distil, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open, that it may bring forth salvation, and let it cause righteousness to spring up with it. I, Yahweh, have created it.9.Woe to him who strives with his Maker—a clay pot among the clay pots of the earth! Shall the clay ask him who fashions it, ‘What are you making?’ or your work, ‘He has no hands?’10.Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What have you become the father of?’ or to a mother, ‘To what have you given birth?’"11.Thus says Yahweh, the Holy one of Israel, and his Maker: "You ask me about the things that are to come, concerning my sons, and you command me concerning the work of my hands!12.I have made the earth, and created man on it. I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens; and I have commanded all their hosts.13.I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways. He shall build my city, and he shall let my exiles go free, not for price nor reward," says Yahweh of Hosts.14.Thus says Yahweh: "The labor of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you, and they shall be yours. They will go after you. They shall come over in chains; and they will bow down to you. They will make supplication to you: ‘Surely God is in you; and there is none else. There is no other god.15.Most certainly you are a God who hidden yourself, God of Israel, the Savior.’"16.They will be disappointed, yes, confounded, all of them. Those who are makers of idols will go into confusion together.17.Israel will be saved by Yahweh with an everlasting salvation. You will not be disappointed nor confounded to ages everlasting.18.For thus says Yahweh who created the heavens, the God who formed the earth and made it, who established it and didn’t create it a waste, who formed it to be inhabited: "I am Yahweh; and there is no other.19.I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness. I didn’t say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, Yahweh, speak righteousness. I declare things that are right.20."Assemble yourselves and come. Draw near together, you who have escaped from the nations. Those have no knowledge who carry the wood of their engraved image, and pray to a god that can’t save.21.Declare and present it. Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has shown this from ancient time? Who has declared it of old? Haven’t I, Yahweh? There is no other God besides me, a just God and a Savior; There is no one besides me.22."Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.23.I have sworn by myself, the word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and will not return, that to me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.24.They will say of me, ‘There is righteousness and strength only in Yahweh.’" Even to him shall men come; and all those who were incensed against him shall be disappointed.25.In Yahweh shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.Observations
45:1-4.God raised up Cyrus, king of the Persians and gave him victory over the nations, to accomplish His purpose of returning Israel to the the promised land. Cyrus is called Yahweh's “shepherd” in the last chapter, and here, His “anointed” (same word for Messiah). God can use pagan kings to accomplish His plans, who obey better than Israel.
2Chronicles 36:22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, 23 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up! (cf Ezra 1).
45:5-11.
Since God has known Cyrus' name (well over a hundred years before he was born), but Cyrus doesn't know Him, Yahweh gives a self-introduction, the Creator who brings righteousness and salvation to the earth, who is both knowable, but beyond the scrutiny of His creatures.
45:12-25.
God spends a lot of verses saying there is no one like Him, so Israel won't be tempted to trust in false gods, like they did when in the promised land. He particularly emphasizes His knowledge of the future, to demonstrate His sovereign control, so people will look to Him and be saved. See comments on Isaiah 46:9-12. His salvation of them is everlasting.
Application
Since God knows the future, and makes it happen, it is wise to trust and obey what He's revealed.
Prayer
God, thanks for creating me with the capacity to seek and find You; to know You and serve You. You save and sanctify for a purpose; may I daily discern and do Your will. Amen.
Isaiah 46 God Knows and Purposes the Future
1.Bel bows down, Nebo stoops; their idols are on the animals, and on the livestock: the things that you carried about are made a load, a burden to the weary.2.They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves have gone into captivity.3."Listen to me, house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, that have been borne from their birth, that have been carried from the womb;4.and even to old age I am he, and even to gray hairs will I carry you. I have made, and I will bear; yes, I will carry, and will deliver.5.To whom will you liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?6.Some pour out gold from the bag, and weigh silver in the balance. They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god. They fall down—yes, they worship.7.They bear it on the shoulder, they carry it, and set it in its place, and it stands, from its place it shall not move: yes, one may cry to it, yet it can not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.8."Remember this, and show yourselves men; bring it again to mind, you transgressors.9.Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me;10.declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, my counsel/plan shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure;11.calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country; yes, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it.12.Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, who are far from righteousness:13.I bring near my righteousness, it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not wait; and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.Observations
46:1-8.Bel and Nebo are the powerless Babylonian gods who couldn't prevent the delivery of “their” people to Cyrus, God's servant. In contrast God still carries His people, Israel.
46:9-12.
Repeatedly in this section of Isaiah, God asserts that He knows what will happen in the future, “declaring the end from the beginning”. God is outside of time, and knows all that happens at once. He reveals it linearly to His prophets and people. The prophets can see some things from God's perspective, as they happen in the future. God also has purposed some things to occur, and brings them to pass. In His sovereignty, He has set the rules of His universe (including giving man/woman free will), and has determined that certain things will occur according to His timetable (such as the interval from the decree of Cyrus to the entrance of the Messiah to Jerusalem Daniel 9:25). Other times, He waits to be gracious based upon His people turning to Him, or patiently forbears judgment based upon our repentance or exercises it based upon our unwillingness to obey. To miss the distinction between God's determined and permissive will or desire, is to misinterpret Scripture.
Application
Since God does all things for His pleasure, we should too.
Prayer
God, may I not be stubborn-hearted, but sensitive to You, Your pleasure, and Your timing in my life. Amen.
Isaiah 47 Trusting in Self or God
1."Come down, and sit in the dust, virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, daughter of the Chaldeans: for you shall no more be called tender and delicate.2.Take the millstones, and grind meal; remove your veil, strip off the train, uncover the leg, pass through the rivers.3.Your nakedness shall be uncovered, yes, your shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and will spare no man."4.Our Redeemer, Yahweh of Hosts is his name, the Holy one of Israel.5."Sit in silence, and go into darkness, daughter of the Chaldeans; for you shall no more be called the mistress of kingdoms.6.I was angry with my people, I profaned my inheritance, and gave them into your hand: you showed them no mercy; on the aged you have very heavily laid your yoke.7.You said, ‘I shall be a mistress forever’; so that you did not lay these things to your heart, nor did you remember the latter end of it.8."Now therefore hear this, you who are given to pleasures, who sit securely, who say in your heart, ‘I am, and there is none else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children’:9.but these two things shall come to you in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood; in their full measure shall they come on you, in the multitude of your sorceries, and the great abundance of your enchantments.10.For you have trusted in your wickedness; you have said, No one sees me; your wisdom and your knowledge, it has perverted you, and you have said in your heart, I am, and there is none else besides me.11.Therefore evil will come on you; you won’t know when it dawns: and mischief will fall on you; you will not be able to put it away: and desolation shall come on you suddenly, which you don’t know.12."Stand now with your enchantments, and with the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth; if so be you shall be able to profit, if so be you may prevail.13.You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels: let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save you from the things that shall come on you.14.Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: it shall not be a coal to warm at, nor a fire to sit before.15.Thus shall the things be to you in which you have labored: those who have trafficked with you from your youth shall wander everyone to his quarter; there shall be none to save you.Observations
47:1-6.God will humble the Babylonians, into whose hand He delivered disobedient Israel/Judah, because of their ill-treatment of them. Since they showed Israel no mercy, the God of Israel will not show them any either. Justice.
47:7-15.
Since Babylon showed “god-like” self-sufficiency and pride, God will bring them down in desolation and destruction. All that they trusted in, their wisdom and wickedness, and wizards, will be unable to save them.
Application
Those who trust in themselves will be put to shame.
Prayer
Lord, You are my Redeemer, my confidence, my hope, and my trust. I look only to You for providing all that I need, and all that is good in my life. Amen.
Isaiah 48 Who's Your Lord?
1."Hear this, house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel, and have come forth out of the waters of Judah; who swear by the name of Yahweh, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth/faithfulness, nor in righteousness2.(for they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves on the God of Israel; Yahweh of Hosts is his name):3.I have declared the former things from of old; yes, they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them: suddenly I did them, and they happened.4.Because I knew that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew, and your brow brass;5.therefore I have declared it to you from of old; before it came to pass I showed it to you; lest you should say, ‘My idol has done them, and my engraved image, and my molten image, has commanded them.’6.You have heard it; see all this; and you, will you not declare it? "I have shown you new things from this time, even hidden things, which you have not known.Observations
48:1-2.God calls Israel into account for calling themselves His people but not in truth nor righteousness (cf. Ex 20:7 Taking the name of the Lord in vain). Being His people and swearing by His name should have resulted in them obeying Him and manifesting righteousness.
48:3-6.
God again reiterates that He's telling them that He is the one who will rescue them (and restore them), so that when it happens, they can't attribute it to their dumb idols.
Application
If you call yourself by God's name, or call upon His name, make sure your life reflects His will.
Prayer
Lord, I do not take your name lightly, but acknowledge You as the One in control of my life, whose will I pledge and desire to do. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God reveals Himself as the Creator of everything, who has a plan for His people. He is incomparable, knowing and purposing the future, raising up and putting down kings and nations. He redeems and restores His people with an everlasting salvation, calling Himself not only the God of Israel, but their Savior.Us in a nutshell: Our obstinate self-sufficiency makes us miss out on God's provision, and marks us out for discipline. We tend to lose sight of the fact that God blesses us for His glory's sake, not our self-indulgence. We also forget that God knows, and has revealed the future, and that pleasing Him is the best way to enjoy it.