Isaiah Comfort You My People Isaiah 49:13-26 O ne thing about getting more chronically challenged is the loss of people around us. We lose parents, mentors, friends, co-workers, etc. When you watch award shows enviably they include a montage of those who died during the previous years. Sometimes you say, isn t that sad, as we did with Jimmy Stewart. Other times it s Who? In my practice I often meet people who are grieving for their childhoods which weren t as God intended. They mourn the loss of innocence, of love, of recognition, etc. And often healing comes when they are truly allowed to grieve what requires grieving. Probably the most important reason we need to grieve is so we can experience God s comfort. This is true whether we are grieving our sin or the losses that come from living in a fallen world. We already saw this expressed in an earlier section of Isaiah. Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for (Isaiah 40:1-2). How does God comfort? He does so through His Word and through each of us within the community of believers. This chapter is one of encouragement and comfort. I Introduction Verse 13 II Feeling Abandoned Verses 14-21 A. God doesn t Forget Verses 14-18 B. Proof of God s Hand Verses 19-21 III Home Coming Verses 22-26 A. By the Hand of the Gentiles Verses 22-23 B. By the Hand of the Lord Verses 24-26 IV Conclusion Introduction: Verse 13: I want to start by pointing out that I may be inconsistent in my use of tenses during the lesson. This is because of the problem with prophecy. The events are future to Isaiah, and in some cases to ourselves. But, at the same time it is as if they have already occurred because God accomplishes all he promises. Wiersbe s introduces the section (chapters 49-52) in the following manner: A plaque in a friend s office reads: The world is full of people who want to serve in an advisory capacity. But Jesus Christ did not come with good advice: He came with good news, the Good News that sinners can be forgiven and life can become excitingly new. The Gospel is good news to us, but it was bad news:
to the Son of God; for it meant that He would need to come to earth in human form and die on a cross as the sacrifice for the sins of the world. These chapters present God s Servant, Messiah, in three important relationships: to the Gentile nations (49:1-50:3), to His Father (50:4-11), to His people Israel (51:1-52:12). 1 What is important in these sections is the promise of comfort and restoration to God s people. This point is God never fails His children, be they Israel, or be they us. Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. The praise found in verse 13 can be seen as a hub around which the chapter revolves. The praises are for the promise of the coming kingdom presented in the first half of the chapter, and for the blessings identified in the balance of the chapter. The praise for the compassion of God goes throughout the earth. He is compassionate for His rebellious children and moves in their lives to restore them to Him. The pattern here is found in His interactions with us also. And so we too praise Him as a God of comfort, or as Paul says: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God (2 Corinthians 1:3). The praise includes a reminder of all we have to be thankful for and the hope for the total comfort which we have to look forward to in eternity. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21:4). Verses 14-18: This is a good example of the difference between our feelings and truth. Israel s exiles feel abandoned by the Lord, even though that is not the case. It s the old sense of prayers bouncing off the ceiling. This sentiment is found in Lamentations. Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long? Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure (5:20-22). Either Isaiah is the one who responds or God is responding through him, but a rhetorical question is asked. The reality is God cannot forget His children. A mother doesn t forget her children. But though a mother may forget 1 Wiersbe, Warren W., The Bible Exposition Commentary, Old Testament The Prophets, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1971, p. 54. ) 356 (
God cannot, will not forget His children! The imagery is one of Israel being so close to God that their very name is engraved on His hands. To be graven on the palms of His hands is suggestive of the closest identification with Himself, or His unchanging love, and of His constant mindfulness of us in all His emotions and activities. 2 Israel is kept in God s heart and on His mind. This is demonstrated by the fact that the day is coming when the scattered Israelites will return home and her enemies will depart. The language here is reminiscent again of Exodus. The NIV Study Bible Notes point this out when stating: engraved you on... my hands. As the names of the tribes of Israel were engraved on stones and fastened to the ephod of the high priest as a memorial before the Lord. 3 Keep in mind the first fulfillment would/will be the opportunity to return from the Babylonian captivity, at least a hundred years in the future. But the complete fulfillment is even further in the future the return for the exile which is still going on, the Diaspora. Both returns are matters of great blessing. This is why the children are described as ornaments, wedding jewelry. The restored Israel is a blessing to her and to the world in general. Whenever we see God blessing and restoring His own it is a testimony of Him mercy, not just to us, but to the lost as well. Grogan, speaking of the imagery notes: In another beautiful image God pictures Zion as proudly putting on her citizens, like a bride her jewels. In fact, the numbers coming would be so great that the city could not house them all (v.19). 4 Verses 19-21: Where there has been desolation there will be prosperity. Where the nation had been reduced in numbers by persecution and war, it will once again grow so big its boundaries will become too small. The restoration of Israel will be astonishing and complete. The prophecy was partially fulfilled in the return from Babylon and may include spiritual offspring among both Jews and Gentiles. 5 Young (Book of Isaiah, in loc.) well sums up vv.20-21: Zion regarded herself as a widow; as a matter of fact her Husband, the Lord, had not forsaken or forgotten her. The children who will one day crowd to her are legitimate children, begotten through a lively faith. 6 Verses 22-23: But, if one defines home as primarily a relationship with God, then the homecoming isn t limited to Israel. God is also reaching out to the Gentile nations to be involved in bring the Israelites home. But here their involvement seems to be of their own choice be- 2 Vine, W. E., Isaiah, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1971, p. 147. 3 NIV Study Bible Notes, Zondervan Interactive Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1999 4 Grogan, Geoffrey W., The Expositor s Bible Commentary, Isaiah, Zondervan Interactive Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1990 5 NIV Study Bible Notes 6 Grogan ) 357 (
cause of the gentle way in which the carry the Israelites back into the land. Gentiles will be friends and protectors of Israel. It appears Satan s efforts to make Israel the scapegoat of the world, to keep Anti-Semitism in place will finally come to an end. Dr. McGee summarizes it this way: God assures Israel that the Gentiles will assist Him in the final restoration of the nation to the land. Heretofore, the Gentiles have scattered them, which makes this rather remarkable prophecy even for today. Great Britain did open the land for the Jews; yet Great Britain was the country that issued the mandate which forbade them to enter the land so they came by ship without permission, and they have been hindered in one way or another since that time. It has taken persecution to push them out of other countries, and at the time I am writing this they are being blocked from leaving Russia, which probably has the third largest Jewish population in the world. Russia doesn t want to get rid of them; yet is subjects them to a great deal of anti-semitic oppression. However, in that day, that is, in the end times, God will bring them back into their land, and He will use the Gentiles to more them back! In that day, Leaders of the world are now committed to the protection and give the nation the recognition as God s people, protected by Him. The imagery is certainly that of the middleeast as they rulers make obeisance. And, needless-to-say, The very change in a history relations between the Gentile world and Israel is proof of God s hand. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians (Exodus 6:7). Verses 24-26: Once again Isaiah returns to the Exodus because, if you remember, when Israel departed Egypt she went out with much of the wealth of the people. The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. For otherwise, they said, we will all die! So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing. The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians (Exodus 12:33-36). In the future, when Israel is in captivity in Babylon, she will be freed and will be allowed to return to Israel, to Jerusalem, to rebuild the Temple. Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive to Babylon (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town (Ezra 2:1). And so, one day Israel s, God s enemies will finally be brought down to the lost level possible, demonstrated by cannibalism. This certainly was true when Israel was out her lowest. During the siege of Jerusalem its people were reduced to cannibalism. 7 With their own hands compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food when my people were destroyed (Lamentations 4:10). 7 NIV Study Bible Notes ) 358 (
But the restoration of the nation, the blessing by the Gentiles is the fulfillment of all God has promised and is therefore an encouragement to Israel, and to us. Conclusion: I always like to go back to Paul. Scripture isn t to be the only encourager. We are also called to encourage each other. We do this with God s truth, and HIStory, giving Him the praise. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-7). Vine reminds us of reasons to be encouraged. He, speaking of the verse telling us that Israel s name is engraved on God s hands, states: Often, in our unbelief, remissness and forgetfulness, we lose sight of our preciousness in His sight in Christ. What is here conveyed in figure finds its fullness of expression in the outflowing of the Lord s heart to the disciples in the upper room. 8 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love (John 15:9). Israel faced future trials, but with them came the promise of relief. We too will face trials. That s simply the truth of life. But we too will be blessed through them and will finally find relief. This truth can be used to encourage one another. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11). This truth can also be used to give a reason for the non-believer to accept God s gift of salvation. For, if we God s children are not appointed to wrath and judgment, then clearly the lost are. Their only hope is the message of the Gospel. And so, as Vine concludes: Sometimes the Lord refrains from manifesting His dealings and, in testing our faith, keeps us waiting till the appointed time for the disclosure of His actings and significance. Far greater the joy when the unfolding comes than if there had been no mystery, no darksome circumstances, and far greater the glory of His grace. 8 Vine. ) 359 (
God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan His work in vain; God is His own interpreter, And He will make it plain. 9 9 Ibid. ) 360 (
Isaiah Comfort You My People Isaiah 49:13-26 I Introduction Verse 13 II Feeling Abandoned Verses 14-21 A. God doesn t Forget Verses 14-18 B. Proof of God s Hand Verses 19-21 III Home Coming Verses 22-26 A. By the Hand of the Gentiles Verses 22-23 B. By the Hand of the Lord Verses 24-26 IV Conclusion I Introduction: (Isaiah 40:1-2; 2 Corinthians 1:3) II Feeling Abandoned: A. God doesn t Forget: (Lamentations 5:20-22) B. Proof of God s Hand:
III Home Coming: A. By the Hand of the Gentiles: (Exodus 6:7) B. By the Hand of the Lord: (Exodus 12L33-36; Ezra 2:1; Lamentations 4:10) IV Conclusion: (2 Corinthians 1:3-7; John 15:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11) Personal Application: Depend on the Lord for the patience to deal with your world. Prayer for the Week: Lord help me to keep my eyes on You, not the circumstances. In Jesus name, amen.