Isaiah Sing a Song of Righteousness and Peace ~ Part 2 Isaiah 26:12-21 S cripture speaks of many kinds of resurrection. What kind of resurrection is being described is dependent on the recipient of God s words. Much of the hope of the resurrection in the Old Testament is focused on the resurrection of a restored nation of Israel. There is the resurrection of the righteous dead, saints of the Old Testament, the Church, and the Tribulation. This resurrection is the most hoped for of all. Sadly there is also a resurrection of the unrighteous to judgment and eternal separation from the God who created them. But all this is necessary for the completion of the promises of God. And so Ezekiel also speaks of these same events, the rising of the nation spoken of here by Isaiah. The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, Son of man, can these bones live? I said, O Sovereign LORD, you alone know. Then he said to me, Prophesy to these bones and say to them, Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD. So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet a vast army. Then he said to me: Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off. Therefore prophesy and say to them: This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD. (Ezekiel 37:1-14).
The valley of dry bones exists for both Israel and the world. And as Ezekiel had the words to bring to life the bones of Israel, we have the words to bring to live the dry bones around us. I Introduction II Judah s Song Verses 1-6 III Righteousness Vs. Unrighteousness Verses 7-11 IV God s Zeal for His People Verses 12-15 V Resurrection Verses 16-19 VI Conclusion Verses 20-21 Introduction: First, as noted last time, this song of praise is eschatological in nature. It may have been foreshadowed by times of restoration from the influences of Assyria and Babylon. But clearly the full magnitude of events have not yet occurred. Consequently, the song reflects the praises of a restored Judah/Israel in the Millennial age. The nation is praising God for the establishment of His kingdom under His Messiah and all that this entails for them. Now, while our concern isn t so much Millennial, we do look forward to the day when Christ will come for us. But don t forget, we too will have a place in that future kingdom where we will serve Christ. But, the point here is, regardless of one s understanding of prophecy, there is much to praise God for. And just as God has been faithful in the past, He will be faithful in the present and in the future. Therefore, we can faithfully praise Him. And, we can faithfully pray for His kingdom to come and his will to be done. But we don t have to wait for that coming day. We can experience aspects of God s kingdom now. As we saw in the earlier part of this study, we find a familiar and comforting promise here. You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you (Isaiah 26:3). This peace includes two aspects. First is the peace which now can exist between the Creator and His creation, humanity. This peace is available through the work of Christ on the Cross. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17). The second aspect of peace is conditional because it depends on resting in the Lord. This is a supernatural peace and relates to peace in the midst of circumstances. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us (Romans 5:3-5). ) 236 (
And for the singers of this song, the aspect of peace that is their focus is peace from their enemies and the sufferings experienced by them throughout their history. Granted, some of their suffering comes as a result of their rebellion against God. But some also comes from Satan s ongoing attacking against them. With the coming of the kingdom, however, their suffering will come to an end. And so they praise. Verses 12-15: Isaiah expands on this concept as the future Israelites praise God for His lordship. It is only under God s lordship one finds true peace. This wisdom comes through experience. Israel experienced lordship from many throughout her history but she never found any peace. The leaders being referred to here would have been the foreign leaders who held the nation in his power. But sadly, Israel s own leaders, as well as some of Judah s, were actually more detrimental than those of foreign nations. So Israel honors God s zeal for them. Those who had led in the past have died. And, since the singers note these have been punished by God, they recognize the difference between dependency on God versus dependency on others. Remember, this study started with Judah wanting alliance with Assyria to defend itself against Israel and her allies. Hosea noted: Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall! Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount war-horses. We will never again say Our gods to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion. I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them. I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon. Men will dwell again in his shade. He will flourish like the grain. He will blossom like a vine, and his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon. O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? I will answer him and care for him. I am like a green pine tree; your fruitfulness comes from me. Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them (Hosea 14:1-9). It should be pointed out when speaking of those who have died and will not return, this has nothing to do with the issue of resurrection of the unrighteous dead. Young (Book of Isaiah, in loc.) warns against misinterpreting the messages of v.14: It is a mistake to use this verse to support the position that no general resurrection of the dead is taught here, but only a resurrection of the just. What Isaiah is speaking of is not so much a resurrection, as the fact that those who had once acted as lords over Israel are now dead, and cannot return to life again to afflict the Israelites He is not denying that in the general resurrection they too shall arise unto everlasting punishment. On that particular subject he is not now speaking. What he is saying, however, is of comfort to the Israelites, for it teaches them that in the kingdom founded on Zion, they shall be free from those who formerly had oppressed them. 1 1 Grogan, Geoffrey W., The Expositor s Bible Commentary, Isaiah, Zondervan Interactive Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1990. ) 237 (
What is the most important fact to note here is that God s judgment on Israel s enemies brings glory to God. The establishment of righteousness benefits His children, but is entirely due to God s workings. This is the point we need to understand in our own lives. We too sometimes chose leaders, motivators who can lead us into disaster. And it is through the graciousness of God that He rescues us, if we are willing to depend on Him for the desire to give up these old leaders. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose (Philippines 2:12-13). And so as the kingdom is established, God increases it size, though not stated, probably to the original borders intended for it and beyond under the Messiah. I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the River. I will hand over to you the people who live in the land and you will drive them out before you (Exodus 23:31). He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth (Psalm 72:8). Verses 16-19: Here Isaiah, for the future vision given by the Holy Spirit, looks back on the Judah of history and of his own day. The nation has finally realized their helplessness and have turned to God. But in the past it was different. What is interesting about these verses is the Jew specifically, and humanity in general still has not learned the lesson pointed out here. For all her efforts, Judah would not bring about her own salvation. The nation went through all the pains of childbirth but brought forth nothing. All the religious systems of the world, all the efforts at works, all the suffering to be righteous result in absolutely nothing. There is nothing to show for sincerity if it is exercised in earning salvation. The work of salvation is done by God and is a product of His grace and mercy. Where the dead old leaders would not return, now the Messiah is ruling, the nation is resurrected, returned from the dead. And considering the state of the Jewish people from Isaiah s day on through contemporary time, the nation certainly hasn t been resurrected yet. But I think it is clear there is more than a figurative statement about the resurrection of a nation. Grogan quoting a number of other scholars notes: This verse is very striking when read, as it should be, in its context. It presents a glorious contrast for Israel not only with the dead and impotent tyrants who have lorded over her in the past (v.14) but also with the strenuous and yet ineffective endeavors of Israel herself to bring forth spiritual fruit (vv.17-18). Because of their reluctance to attribute to Isaiah a belief in physical resurrection many modern scholars either deny this verse to him, placing it much later, or else interpret it figuratively. If, how- ) 238 (
ever, Ezekiel 37 uses the concept of resurrection figuratively, as it clearly does, then we would expect that that concept would be well known in literal terms; and so some awareness of it must have been already given. Why not then through Isaiah? Is the language in this verse to be understood spiritually, of a rebirth of the nation to a new spiritual life, or literally (Isaiah, in loc.) Skinner calls it a clear intimation of a belief in the Resurrection. Young (Book of Isaiah, in loc.) says The language is not to be taken figuratively. It is quite true that the Book of Isaiah is replete with forceful and graphic imagery, but everything here leads the mind toward a literal interpretation. Certainly there are metaphors here, for the prophet calls the dead to awake and asserts that the earth will give birth to her dead. The metaphorical, however, must always rest on the literal; and it is with the literal that this verse commences: But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. This verse itself prepared the way for Daniel 12:2, which fills out more fully the destinies of the righteous and the wicked beyond death and subsequent resurrection. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2). So while this passage contextually must be understood as relating to Ezekiel 37 and the valley of dry bones, the resurrection of God s chosen people, this doesn t preclude seeing the promise of physical resurrection as well. And as important as is the coming kingdom, even it is only a precursor to an eternity for the children of God with their Father. So relief will be found from the enemies of the people Conclusion: Verses 20-21: So Isaiah warns the people to hide, as they did in Egypt from the hand of God s wrath. In this, these last verses seem similar in concept to our own expectations, We too wait in expectation for that day when the Messiah will come and bring righteousness to a fallen world. He will save His righteous and bring judgment on the lost. This message of hope is not limited to the national dream of the Jewish people. It is a promise of the healing for all creation, healing for His children. Righteousness will finally triumph. So we look for the coming of the Messiah, the restoration of Israel and the taking of the Bride into the presence of her Groom and Her God. The message of Ezekiel, the message of Isaiah, are messages of resurrection for Israel. But, as we noted at the beginning, we too have a message of resurrection. Just as Ezekiel prophesied that God would bring life to the dead bones of Israel, we have the words the Holy Spirit can use to bring life to the spiritually dead. God is the one who brings life and breath to those who are dead. But He uses us as instruments of that act. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God s wrath remains on him (John 3:36). He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life (1 John 5:12). 2 Ibid. ) 239 (
And the message that will bring these bones to life is: By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:2-4). Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die (John 11:25-26). For all the saints who from their labors rest, Who Thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest. Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress, and their Might; Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight; Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold, We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine. But lo! There breaks a yet more glorious day; The saints triumphant rise in bright array; The King of Glory passes on His way. From earth s wide bounds, from ocean s farthest coast, Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, Singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost: Alleluia, Alleluia! 3 3 How, William W., The Celebration Hymnal, For All the Saints, Word/Integrity, Waco, TX, #767. ) 240 (
Isaiah Sing a Song of Righteousness and Peace ~ Part 2 Isaiah 26:12-21 I Introduction II Judah s Song Verses 1-6 III Righteousness Vs. Unrighteousness Verses 7-11 IV God s Zeal for His People Verses 12-15 V Resurrection Verses 16-19 VI Conclusion Verses 20-21 Introduction: (Ezekiel 37:1-14; Isaiah 26:3; Romans 5:3-5) IV God s Zeal for His People: (Hosea 14:1-9; Philippines 2:12-13; Exodus 23:31; Psalm 72:8)
IV Resurrection: (Daniel 12:2) V Conclusion: (John 3:36; 1 John 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:2-4; John 11:25-26) Personal Application: Identify those dry bones around you that need God s life giving breath. Share the message of hope and resurrection with them. Prayer for the Week: Lord, thank You for allowing us to be part of the work by which the dead are raised to eternal life. In Jesus name, amen.