Prophecies against Israel: Isaiah 7-12 (3)

Pray Psalm 72.18, 19.
Blessed bethe LORD God, the God of Israel,
Who only does wondrous things!
And blessed be His glorious name forever!
And let the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen and Amen.

Read Isaiah 9.

Reflect.
1. This chapter divides into two parts. How would you summarize each?

2. Birth and death: These are the dominant themes. Who is to be born? Who is about to die?

Meditate.
Isaiah 9 deals with two themes. The first is birth. A Child is to be born, and with His birth, a Kingdom of peace which will endure forever (vv. 1-7). This is for the long term, however; in the short term, a people and a kingdom are about to die, having rejected the Lord and His ways (vv. 8-21). The Leader of the Kingdom which is to be born will bring the people into the favor and blessing of God and His peace. The leaders of the kingdom which is dying lead their people into rebellion, immorality, wickedness, and death (v. 16).

The fate of Israel provides a warning for the people of Judah and Jerusalem, a warning which they will not heed. The judgment of God against Israel is unrelenting, emphasized in the repetition of the phrase, “For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still” (vv. 12, 17, 21). God will make a complete end of the nation of Israel.

By contrast, the Kingdom which is to be born, ruled by the Child Who is God, will never end (v. 7). As zealous as God is to judge and punish His people, He will be zealous to establish His eternal Kingdom in the last days (Is. 2.1-4).

A death is coming, and it will be violent, terrible, and final.

But a birth is coming as well, and it will bring peace, safety, and eternal life.

Prepare.
1. How can you see that the Child to be born is to be God? What will be the purpose of His birth?

2. What is the zeal of the LORD of hosts? To what two objectives does He direct that zeal in this chapter? Should we be zealous like this as well? Explain.

3. In a time of judgment, wrath, decline, and dissolution, Isaiah holds forth a message of hope and peace. What does this suggest to us about sharing the Gospel with the people in our Personal Mission Field? 

Likewise Isaiah also says, “For unto us a child is born.” But what is there unusual in this, unless he speaks of the Son of God? “To us is given he whose government is upon his shoulder.” Now, what king is there who bears the ensign of his dominion upon his shoulder, and not rather upon his head as a diadem, or in his hand as a scepter, or else as a mark in some royal apparel? But the one new King of the new ages, Jesus Christ, carried on his shoulder both the power and the excellence of his new glory, even his cross; so that, according to our former prophecy, he might thenceforth reign from the tree as Lord. Tertullian (155-250 AD), Against Marcion 3.19

Rule in my soul, Lord Jesus, for peace and joy, and for the power to…

Pray Psalm 72.
David wrote this prayer (v. 20) for his son, Solomon, but it clearly has larger Messianic and Kingdom overtones. Use this psalm to pray for the coming of the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.

Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 72 (Martyrdom: Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed)
O give the King Your judgment, Lord, and righteousness Your Son; 
And let Him judge by Your good Word the need of every one. 

Let now the mountains ring with peace, the hills in righteousness.
Let justice rise, oppression cease, and all the needy bless. 

Let nations fear You while the sun and moon endure on high; 
Refresh, renew us, every one, like sweet rain falling from the sky. 

Let righteousness abundant be where Jesus’ reign endures; 
Let peace increase from sea to sea ‘til moonlight shall be no more. 

And let the Righteous rule the earth, and let His foes bow low; 
Let nations praise His matchless worth, and all His bidding do. 

The Lord the needy rescues when he cries to Him for grace; 
All they who suffer violence find mercy before His face. 

Let Christ be praised and all the gold of Sheba be His right; 
Let blessings to His Name be told, and prayers made both day and night. 

And let the earth abound with grain, let fields His fame proclaim; 
And may our King forever reign and nations bless His great Name. 

Now bless the God of Israel Who wondrous works performs. 
And bless His Name, His glory tell both now and forever more!

T. M. Moore

Where do the prophets fit with the rest of Scripture? How can I be a better student of God’s Word? Our course, Introduction to Biblical Theology, can help you gain a better approach to and understanding of the Scriptures. Watch this brief preview video, then register at The Ailbe Seminary and enroll in this free online course.

Forward today’s lesson to some friends, and challenge them to study with you through this series on Isaiah. Each week’s lessons will be available as a free PDF download at the end of the week. Get a copy for yourself and send the link for the download to your friends. Plan to meet weekly to study Isaiah’s important message.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).