FREE YOURSELF AND REJOICE ISAIAH 52:1-15

Transcription

1 1 FREE YOURSELF AND REJOICE ISAIAH 52:1-15

2 2 Text: Isaiah 27:1-15, FREE YOURSELF AND REJOICE 1. At that time the Lord will punish with his destructive, great, and powerful sword Leviathan the fast-moving serpent, Leviathan the squirming serpent; he will kill the sea monster. 2. When that time comes, sing about a delightful vineyard! 3. I, the Lord, protect it; I water it regularly. I guard it night and day, so no one can harm it. 4. I am not angry. I wish I could confront some thorns and briers! Then I would march against them for battle; I would set them all on fire, 5. unless they became my subjects and made peace with me; let them make peace with me. 6. The time is coming when Jacob will take root; Israel will blossom and grow branches. The produce will fill the surface of the world. 7. Has the Lord struck down Israel like he did their oppressors? Has Israel been killed like their enemies? 8. When you summon her for divorce, you prosecute her; he drives her away with his strong wind in the day of the east wind. 9. So in this way Jacob s sin will be forgiven, and this is how they will show they are finished sinning: They will make all the stones of the altars like crushed limestone, and the Asherah poles and the incense altars will no longer stand.

3 For the fortified city is left alone; it is a deserted settlement and abandoned like the desert. Calves graze there; they lie down there and eat its branches bare. 11. When its branches get brittle, they break; women come and use them for kindling. For these people lack understanding, therefore the one who made them has no compassion on them; the one who formed them has no mercy on them. 12. At that time the Lord will shake the tree, from the Euphrates River to the Stream of Egypt. Then you will be gathered up one by one, O Israelites. 13. At that time a large trumpet will be blown, and the ones lost in the land of Assyria will come, as well as the refugees in the land of Egypt. They will worship the Lord on the holy mountain in Jerusalem. 14. (just as many were horrified by the sight of you) he was so disfigured he no longer looked like a man; 15. his form was so marred he no longer looked human so now he will startle many nations. Kings will be shocked by his exaltation, for they will witness something unannounced to them, and they will understand something they had not heard about. (NET) Introduction: God gave a message of hope to His people. He would provide deliverance for the Jews from Babylon. However, they must stand up, be strong, return, and rebuild Zion, that special city. Isaiah provided more information concerning the deliverance of the Jews from Babylon. He then turned his attention to our spiritual deliverance in Christ. The prophet begins his focus on the Redeemer. He reminded the Jews that they would no longer be

4 4 slaves in Babylon. God wanted it understood that his people would be redeemed and they would go out as kings. He wanted them to know that He had brought this redemption. Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money. For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed. Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I. (Isaiah 52:1-6) Those who were slaves in Babylon would go out victorious. (Isaiah 52:7-12, How delightful it is to see approaching over the mountains the feet of a messenger who announces peace, a messenger who brings good news, who announces deliverance, who says to Zion, Your God reigns! Listen, your watchmen shout; in unison they shout for joy, for they see with their very own eyes the Lord s return to Zion. In unison give a joyful shout, O ruins of Jerusalem! For the Lord consoles his people; he protects Jerusalem. The Lord reveals his royal power in the sight of all the nations; the entire earth sees our God deliver. Leave! Leave! Get out of there! Don t touch anything unclean! Get out of it! Stay pure, you who

5 5 carry the Lord s holy items! Yet do not depart quickly or leave in a panic. For the Lord goes before you; the God of Israel is your rear guard. (NET)) God s prophet then turns his attention to Jesus the Christ. The Messiah would be abused more than anyone; yet, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider. (Isaiah 52:13-15) Commentary: The Suffering in Babylon Would End Isaiah 52:1-6, At that time the Lord will punish with his destructive, great, and powerful sword Leviathan the fast-moving serpent, Leviathan the squirming serpent; he will kill the sea monster. When that time comes, sing about a delightful vineyard! I, the Lord, protect it; I water it regularly. I guard it night and day, so no one can harm it. I am not angry. I wish I could confront some thorns and briers! Then I would march against them for battle; I would set them all on fire, unless they became my subjects and made peace with me; let them make peace with me. The time is coming when Jacob will take root; Israel will blossom and grow branches. The produce will fill the surface of the world. (NET)

6 6 Jerusalem must wake up, stand up and be strong. God said, Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. (Isaiah 52:1) Isaiah 52 begins with another look at the captivity in Babylon ending for the Jews. God wanted to stir the hearts of the Jews so that they would be put on alert concerning the deliverance from Babylon. He wanted them awake so they could receive the good news that the Jews were going home to Zion. They would return to rebuild and restore their beloved city Jerusalem. God promised the Jews that the captivity in Babylon would end and that no uncircumcised would come to take their holy city again. The Jews could shake themselves from the dust and humiliation of captivity. They would be free to rebuild and restore their holy city. The Jews had sold themselves into Babylon and had received nothing for the sale. They would be brought out of Babylon without a ransom being paid. Instead of a ransom being paid they would come out at the expense of other nations. God s people suffered captivity in the past. They had been captives in Egypt. The ten northern tribes dealt with Assyrian captivity. In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. (2 Kings 17:6) When the seventy years of captivity ended for the Jews, Babylon would be destroyed. They had abused the people of God and blasphemed His name. Both Jews and Babylon would learn respect for the name of God. (Isaiah 52:6, The time is coming when Jacob will take root; Israel will blossom and grow branches. The produce will fill the surface of the world. (NET))

7 7 A Good News Message of Deliverance Isaiah 52:7-10, Has the Lord struck down Israel like he did their oppressors? Has Israel been killed like their enemies? When you summon her for divorce, you prosecute her; he drives her away with his strong wind in the day of the east wind. So in this way Jacob s sin will be forgiven, and this is how they will show they are finished sinning: They will make all the stones of the altars like crushed limestone, and the Asherah poles and the incense altars will no longer stand. For the fortified city is left alone; it is a deserted settlement and abandoned like the desert. Calves graze there; they lie down there and eat its branches bare. (NET) Isaiah announced the deliverance of Jerusalem from Babylon in a very beautiful verse. He said, How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! (Isaiah 52:7) Likely the prophet sees the deliverance of the Jews from Babylon, but also he sees a far more important release. The gospel releases men from sin. Paul quotes part of this verse in Romans 10:15. And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! The prophet gave a beautiful illustration of the return of the captives to Zion. In a figure, he pictured all the watchmen who were on the wall seeing the return at the same time. They sing and cry out together. They recognize the presence and the power of the Lord. Jerusalem was a ruined and wasted city. With the help of God, it

8 8 would be restored and the people could join in singing and shouting for the victory that God had given them. All nations would see and know that God had delivered His people from Babylon. God Commanded the Jews to Leave Babylon Isaiah 52:11-12, When its branches get brittle, they break; women come and use them for kindling. For these people lack understanding, therefore the one who made them has no compassion on them; the one who formed them has no mercy on them. At that time the Lord will shake the tree, from the Euphrates River to the Stream of Egypt. Then you will be gathered up one by one, O Israelites. (NET) God commanded the Jews to leave Babylon. He commanded them to leave every idol and unclean thing behind them. They were to leave the city and not touch any filthy or unclean thing. As God brought them back to Jerusalem, He wanted the ungodliness of idolatry left behind. The deliverance from Babylon was an amazing work of the hand of God. He said, For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward. (Isaiah 52:12) God told the Jews that when they left Babylon they did not need to run because no one would be chasing them. He promised, The LORD God of Israel will lead and protect you from enemy attacks. The Exodus from Babylon stands in contrast to the Exodus from Egypt when the people had to go out in haste. And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the

9 9 LORD'S passover. (Exodus 12:11) When the children of Israel left Babylon, it would be in a peaceful order. There would be no panic. God would be their guard to ensure a safe journey. The Suffering Savior Died for Sins Isaiah 52:13-15, At that time a large trumpet will be blown, and the ones lost in the land of Assyria will come, as well as the refugees in the land of Egypt. They will worship the Lord on the holy mountain in Jerusalem. (just as many were horrified by the sight of you) he was so disfigured he no longer looked like a man; his form was so marred he no longer looked human so now he will startle many nations. Kings will be shocked by his exaltation, for they will witness something unannounced to them, and they will understand something they had not heard about. (NET) The prophet wrote, Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider. (Isaiah 52:13-15) Isaiah was again allowed to look down through the days of history and see the time of Christ. He saw Jesus, the Servant of God, exalted before the eyes of the people. He knew that Jesus would succeed in His efforts as the Savior of the world. Many people were horrified or astonished at the works of Jesus; they were appalled at the things Jesus suffered. The message of the suffering

10 10 Messiah would be sprinkled throughout many nations. People everywhere would be astonished at what he had done. It is a very touching fact to see the Son of God is spoken of by the Father as My Servant. Jesus looked at himself as one sent from God to accomplish this great work. Jesus said, For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. (Luke 22:27) Not only did God look at Jesus as a servant, He looked at Himself the same way. I am among you as he that serveth. We must look at ourselves as servants of God. When we fail to do so, we miss our highest calling. The deeper we go beneath the waves of sacrificial suffering the higher we shall rise in the heavenly kingdom. The Gentiles as well as the Jews are called to the service of God in the Christian age. Conclusion: God said of Jesus, Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. (Isaiah 52:13) It just makes sense to love and obey Him.

11 11 Questions on Isaiah 52: gave a of to His. He would provide for the from. 2. However, they must up, be,, and, that. 3. also wrote of our in. The focuses on the. 4. wanted it understood that his would be and they would go out as. He wanted them to know that he had brought this. 5. God s turns his attention to the. The would be more than ; yet, he is of and of. 6. must up, up and be. 7. The wee going to. They would return to and

12 12 their,. They would be free to and their. 8. The had into and had received for the. They would be brought out of without a being. Instead of a being they would come out at the of. 9. Compare and contrast the Babylonian, Assyrian and Egyptian captivities. 10. Of what does Isaiah 52:7 speak? 11. How do Romans 10:15 and Isaiah 52:7 relate to each other?_

13 What did the watchmen on Jerusalem s wall see? What was their present situation? What future did they envision? 13. the to leave and to leave and thing behind them. As brought them back to, He wanted the of. 14. When the of, it would be in a. Thee would be no. would be their to a. 15. How is Christ Jesus described in Isaiah 52:13-15?

14 Jesus was God s and the of others. You and I should be 17. Both the as well as the are to the of in the. 18. God said of Jesus in Isaiah 52:13, 19. What did Judah do or not do to be exiled to Babylon? How did they manage to leave Babylon? 20. What are the major lessons you have learned from this study of Isaiah 52?