Rsbc 11/12/00
Sunday Night
Isaiah
Subject- “ God’s Sovereignty Manifested In Salvation and Judgement”
Text- Isaiah 24-1-23
Intro- This is the conclusion of all that Isaiah has prophesied concerning the judgement of these nations up to this point. This is not simply an isolated event but rather it is my understanding that this is the summation of what he has been teaching and prophesying..
A comparison of some of the other chapters and certain verses in this chapter revealed clearly what I am talking bout...
Compare with me the following verses with other chapters we have studied already...
Isaiah 24-13 – Isaiah 17-5-6
Isaiah 24-16-- Isaiah 21-2
What I feel is the conclusion of this matter is that all of Gods enemies and the enemies of his people are now faced with the devastation of their whole country...I know that there are other interpretations to this great chapter and I have respect to them...Example..
John Gill Says...
This chapter contains a prophecy of calamities that should come upon the whole world, and the inhabitants of it, for their sins; of the preservation of a remnant; of the visitation of the kings of the earth; and of the appearance of Christ in his glory and majesty. The miserable condition of the world, and its inhabitants, especially all within the Romish jurisdiction, is set forth by various phrases
Matthew Henry Says...
Some think (and very probably) that it is a prophecy of the great havoc that Sennacherib and his Assyrian army should now shortly make of many of the nations in that part of the world. Others make it to point at the like devastations which, about 100 years afterwards, Nebuchadnezzar and his armies should make in the same countries, going from one kingdom to another, not only to conquer them, but to ruin them and lay them waste; for that was the method which those eastern nations took in their wars. The promises that are mixed with the threatenings are intended for the support and comfort of the people of God in those very calamitous times. And, since here are no particular nations names either by whom or on whom those desolations should be brought, I see not but it may refer to both these events.
Page # 2
“ THE WORD THROUGH WHICH HE CALLS OUR ATTENTION TO WHAT HE IS SAYING... “BEHOLD”..VS 1
The word behold means to turn and look honestly at what he is saying, and in most cases were the word is used it means to look at an object at which he is showing you. In this case it would be a prophetical look...
13 times in this book the Prophet uses the term “Behold the Lord” he wanted the readers and the listeners of this text to take notice...take heed at what he was saying..So let us gaze upon those things he is saying to us...
I.... “ THE ORIGIN OF THIS JUDGMENT”...VS 1 “THE LORD”
Isa 26:21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
When we read of the judgements in the Bible it was always God that did it, sometimes he uses different things to accomplish it but it is in essence the Lord that does it.
Ge 6:17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
2 Chronicles 34:28 Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again.
Listen, it was the Lord that rained down judgement upon Egypt, it was God who drove out the enemies of his people in the Land of Cannon and then settled his elect there. It was God who opened up the earth in judgement against the Israelites when Moses brought the Law down and found them with other gods.
Jude 14‑15 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard [speeches] which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
II... “ WHAT ISAIAH DECLARES HE WAS GOING TO DO”...VS 1-4
As we can see that this is not limited to the earth, it includes the people of the earth both his own and the enemies...
1. Leaves no one out...vs 2
Page # 3
Ho 4:8 They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.Ho 4:9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
2. The guarantee of this happening..vs 3
In the very beginning of this great book, the Lord had pleaded with Isaiah time and his people to clean up their act, and even God said these words...
Isaiah 1:18‑20 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it].
3. The reason for his judgement...vs 4-5
Sin is the reason for any of Gods judgements, the people sin against the Lord that has been so good to them, we sin against the Lord who has been so good to us, and then we wonder sometimes why this happens and why that happens...God is not mocked if we sow wrong we reap wrong.
The Lord had told them...
Numbers 35:33‑34 So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye [are]: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. 34 Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.
David ask the question...
Ps 94:20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
Note the term “everlasting covenant” This is not talking about the covenant of redemption but rather the covenant God made with Adam, Noah, and Abraham, and the nation of Israel. The covenant of God’s laws in regard to the earth, each other is on going from generation to generation.
In verse 5 there is not future tense and there is a reason for it, it deals with the immediate time that Judah was in captivity and God was dealing judgement both to his own and the heathen nations...note the term.. “IS DEFILED” meaning not going to be but was, not just the earth but those who inhabited it, It does not say they were going to transgress the laws, but they have transgressed the laws, it does not say they were going to change the ordinances, but that they had changed them. and that they had broken the everlasting covenant...