Rsbc
May 26, 2002
Sunday Night
The Book of Isaiah
Subject- “Something To Have Joy About”
Text- Isaiah 49:13-23
Intro: Last week saw how GOD through the Prophet promised the LORD JESUS CHRIST would come and redeem his people. That he would raise up the remnant of Jacob and restore them. Tonight our lesson gives Sion great reason to have joy..though they may not see it.
Likewise we as the people have great reason in our hearts to rejoice over what the LORD hath done for us his people. In our lesson tonight we once again deal with the promises of the LORD to his people...
Remember what GOD said through Peter...
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us‑ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
I... “ HE SPEAKS AS THOUGH IT HAD ALREADY HAPPEN”...VS 13
Often the Lord speaks this way in dealing with his people. The reason being GOD is not effected by time he is totally outside time. We are time creatures and we are effected by it every day...
1. Who is to rejoice.... “ O heavens and mountains”
This speaks of two higher ruling bodies... John Gill says and I tend to believe it likewise that this speaks of angels and the mountains speaks of Kings and men of higher authority..
Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
2. Why they are to rejoice... he gives two reasons..
a. The Lord hath comforted his people..
Page # 2
The scriptures affirm that GOD is the GOD of all comfort... meaning if we comforted it comes from GOD even though he may use some means other than himself he will get the glory for it...
2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
b. That he will have mercy upon them...vs 13
The great GOD of comfort demonstrates his comfort by showing great mercy to his people who have been held captive.
David said of the LORD these words: Psalm 71:21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. Mercy is a great grace GOD gives us in Christ Jesus our LORD...
Psalm 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD [is] from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; Six times in the Chronicles of the Kings it is said that the mercy of the LORD endureth forever..
Psalm 100:5 For the LORD [is] good; his mercy [is] everlasting; and his truth [endureth] to all generations.
Psalm 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, [so] great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
II... “ THEIR RESPONSE TO IT”...VS 14
Often in adversity we tend to think that GOD has forgotten us. When we sin against him we feel likewise that he has forgotten us. They no doubt was in a backslidden position not able to touch the LORD with their prayers anymore...
Psalm 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
That is they knew of the power, the provision, the protection that GOD had shown their ancestry and them also.
Page # 3
III... “ GOD’S ANSWER TO THEM”..VS 15-23
These promises of the LORD to Zion in this text are remarkable. Here the Lord makes it clear as to his plan and his purpose for them.
1st. The great question he poses ...vs 15
It is not hard to visualize in this day mothers that forget their children but they do and GOD said so in this verse. Hundreds of mothers leave their children to mercy of the world every day.
But the LORD said in this text “ I will not forget thee”. You can take that to the bank it will work. When the LORD makes a promise it is as good as done. He made that same promise to you and I...
Hebrews 13:5 [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
2nd. The reason he gives...vs 16
If you will notice the first thing you look at usely when viewing your hands is the palms of your hands. So what this means that they are ever present before the LORD he cannot and he will forget us his people...we are constantly before him as he views us...
Two verse that may help to clear up what is meant by “walls” are before men..
Isaiah 26:1 ¶ In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Zechariah 2:5 For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
3rd. The specifics of his promises to them...vs 17-23
a. The promise of the return of their children ..vs 17
The prodical son and his father...Luke 15:20-24
Page # 4
b. The destroyers shall depart from them...vs 17
No longer will they be tormented by the Babylonians. The LORD shall free them from their oppressors.. What he is really saying that they would go away from them.
c. Thy restoration of Israel...vs 18
I like what Jamison, Fauset, Brown say about this verse...As Zion is often compared to a bride (#Isa 54:5), so the accession of converts is like bridal ornaments ("jewels, " #Isa 62:3 Mal 3:17). Her literal children are, however, more immediately meant, as the context refers to their restoration; and only secondarily to her spiritual children by conversion to Christ. Israel shall be the means of the final complete conversion of the nations (#Mic 5:7 Ro 11:12,15).
d. The dwelling place for them shall be to small..vs 19-20
Zechariah 10:10 I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.