Isaiah's ministry recapped and previewed.
The Day of Salvation: Isaiah 25-35 (7)
Pray Psalm 81.1, 2.
Sing aloud to God our strength;
Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.
Raise a song and strike the timbrel,
The pleasant harp with the lute.
Review Isaiah chapters 25-35.
Reflect.
1. As you quickly review these chapters, how would be the best way to describe the overall mood or tone?
2. What seems to be the most important point Isaiah is communicating in these chapters?
Meditate.
Chapters 25-35 of the book of Isaiah are something of an interlude before the next section. That is, they recap themes and moods from what has come before (in chapters 7-24), and they lay the foundation for what will come in the rest of the book.
We see the same themes of judgment and restoration, wrath and salvation, that we saw in chapters 1-24, but here they are condensed, as if to reiterate in more summary manner the message of what God is about to do. This is what Isaiah is saying, in effect, “Let me recap what I’ve proclaimed thus far.”
At the same time, the promise of salvation and restoration to God’s faithful remnant is repeated and given some greater clarity and further historical extension, all the way to a time when the Spirit of God will be given, and beyond that, even to the end of the age.
Isaiah will have more to say on all these subjects. But in the next section, chapters 36-39, we return to a more historical narrative of events, which will include Isaiah’s reporting on several earlier prophecies which by then will have come to fulfillment. This section will also lead into the beginning of Jerusalem’s dealings with Babylon. This section validates God’s Word against Assyria, and reminds the people in Isaiah’s day of what God had spoken through him about Babylon.
Prepare.
1. Why do you suppose God felt like He needed to repeat, albeit in summary manner, the prophetic words Isaiah had spoken in chapters 7-24? Do you suppose we need to hear the Word of God over and over? Why?
2. The focus on salvation sharpens in this section, especially in chapter 35. Why do you suppose God felt the need to say more about this?
3. What’s your primary takeaway from Isaiah 23-35?
Isaiah…brings them back to the Law, in which God frequently declares that he will take care of his people, and that he will punish the wicked and reprobate. Moses having long ago spoken in this manner, the Prophet says that there is no reason why it should be difficult to believe what he foretells, since he brings forward nothing new, but only confirms now what Moses declared and testified. John Calvin (1509-1564 AD), Commentary on Isaiah 34
Help me, Lord, to keep Your promises before my mind, that I might always…
Pray Psalm 81.
Pray for the Church in the world today, and your own church. Let these words guide you to intercede for believers everywhere, that we might have willing and obedient hearts, to know the blessing and salvation of the Lord.
Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 81 (St. Petersburg: My Hope is Built on Nothing Less)
O sing for joy to Jesus our strength; to Jacob’s great God shout joyfully at length!
And strike the drum, and offer a song; all instruments, your glad music prolong.
“O Israel, hear, admonished now be; My people, repent, return to Me!”
Let every kind of instrument play to celebrate God’s deliverance today.
It is His statute and His command to worship and praise all over the land.
“O Israel, hear, admonished now be; My people, repent, return to Me!”
Declare His mercy, tell of His grace; our enemies flee the look of His face.
In mighty deeds strong witness He gave, and powerf’ly did His chosen ones save.
“O Israel, hear, admonished now be; My people, repent, return to Me!”
God set us free from bondage to sin and graciously brought us near Him again;
He rescued us whenever we cried and often our falt’ring confidence tried:
“O Israel, hear, admonished now be; My people, repent, return to Me!”
“Let no false gods among you be found; but scatter their altars over the ground.
Pursue not wealth, nor leisure nor fame, but worship the Savior’s glorious Name:
O Israel, hear, admonished now be; My people, repent, return to Me!”
For You are God, Your Name is the Lord, who faithfully keeps His covenant Word,
Who rescued us from bondage and pride; our mouths He would fill, we open them wide.
“O Israel, hear, admonished now be; My people, repent, return to Me!”
“My people would not listen to Me, but hardened their hearts most hideously;
I cursed them for their hard-hearted ways to wander in darkness all of their days:
O Israel, hear, admonished now be; My people, repent, return to Me!”
Now let us all abandon our ways and listen to God, and offer Him praise!
Our foes He will so quickly subdue, extending His hand to save and renew.
“O Israel, hear, admonished now be; My people, repent, return to Me!”
Then even those despising the Lord would falsely obey and follow His Word;
In vain they seem to follow His way, yet judgment awaits on God’s chosen day.
“O Israel, hear, admonished now be; My people, repent, return to Me!’
The finest foods for us He will buy, and furnish us an abundant supply;
How sweet our lives can be in the Lord, when only we heed His glorious Word.
“O Israel, hear, admonished now be; My people, repent, return to Me!”
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.
Each week’s lesson in our study of Isaiah is available as a free PDF download at the end of the week (click here). 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).
