Paul used the clause, though in a pejorative sense, in 2 Timothy 3:7. “Ever learning ….”

But what the Apostle meant negatively … I find true in my life positively … when it comes to the study of Isaiah, that massive 66 Chapter Block of Scripture heading the Old Testament’s Major Prophets.

“Ever learning!”

Indeed, “ever learning.”

I must have really been quite “uninformed” concerning this astounding Section of my Bible. (Paul again … “I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren.”)

Yes, earlier this morning, as I prepared to write this “Isaiah 47” Lesson … I again “learned and learned and learned!”

I remembered how Isaiah railed against the wicked Kingdom of Babylon back in his 13th and 14 chapters! “And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.” (Isaiah 13:19) A Classic Jeremiad!

Then again in Isaiah chapter 21! “And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.” Just verse 9, but crystal clear!

But I did not know that Isaiah 47 (our Chapter for today and tomorrow) would return to the theme of Babylon’s destruction!

Lines like: “Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.” And this is just verse 1, quite “to the point!”

Sounds like “doomsday” for Babylon. “Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man. As for our Redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.” Verses 3-4, where the “nudity” clauses describe how defeated captives (in ancient warfare) were stripped and marched long distances to some foreign land! Looks here like God Himself is the Attacker, Holy Aggressor!

But WHY this trauma, this tragedy against Babylon? Most often, when God judges … He makes the “charges” or “crimes” well known. Their atrocities were perpetrated against Israel! “I (God) was wroth with my people (the Jews), I have polluted (pierced) mine inheritance, and given them into thine (Babylon’s) hand: THOU DIDST SHEW THEM NO MERCY; upon the ancient (again, the Jews) THOU HAST VERY HEAVILY LAID THY YOKE. 7 And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.” Verses 6-7, note the emphases please, the capitalized lines.

Anti-Semitism to the core, hatred for God’s specially created people, the “apple of His Eye!” To all the world’s Jew haters, to this very moment … the Bible still warns: “He that toucheth you (Israel) toucheth the apple of his (God’s) eye.” Zechariah 2:8

Babylon DID NOT LAY THESE THINGS TO HEART! She DID NOT REMEMBER THE “LATTER END” OF JEW HATRED!

So Babylon, as of April 3, 2019, is no more!

And should she ever be (literally) rebuilt … she will yet again by the Power of God be destroyed!

Written to a Nation, which America (the United States) still is, though maybe “loosely so” nowadays … “Behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23, Babylon was the world-power of her day!

Psalm 9:17 sadly preaches here too. “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the NATIONS that forget God.”

I have one more thing to say … with the second half of Isaiah 47 looming as tomorrow’s Lesson … “God bless the Jews!”

Read Genesis 12:1-3 when you have time.

Also … “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Psalm 122:6

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Modern day “Babylons” (more nations who passionately hate the State of Israel) are now preparing to decimate that little Country! They too, will meet “DEATH” at the Hand of God!

In a few weeks I am to preach at a “Jewish Conference” … for a Missions Ministry trying to bring these precious people to Jesus! Pray for these upcoming Services please.

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It’s the only time this particular “string” of words occurs in the Bible. And God is speaking in the First Person … about the children of Abraham, about the Jews.

I share with you (from Isaiah 46:13) today God’s Sentiments about one little Nation on earth. He specifically calls her “Israel My Glory.”

Wow!

God is very (and properly) “jealous” of His Glory!

This jealous … “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” Isaiah 42:8

This jealous … “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it(preserve Israel): for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.” Isaiah 48:11

But that Special Glory God possesses (which is God in essence) he has somehow conferred upon Israel!

To the Point He has named her (re-named) “Israel My Glory!”

The whole Verse, our Text … “I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.” Isaiah 46:13

A saved, glorious Israel!

Don’t believe it?

Try Isaiah 60:2 then … “For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.” (His Glory … upon thee!)

Israel, God’s Glory!

And Christian friend, you are not far behind! “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27

We say, rightly, “Glory to God!”

And simultaneously God says back to the Jews, the saved ones … “And I (the Lord) will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

How highly the Lord truly elevates His saints.

Including without reservation … “Israel.”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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I knew he was bold.

And had a keen eye for prophecy.

And sophisticated, well acquainted with Royalty.

But I am now learning just how eloquent a writer Isaiah really is! (I think I should have used the past tense verb here, “was,” but this Prophet seems to be yet alive … speaking to our hearts even now!)

Here in today’s Lesson is an example of his amazing pen in action. (Though it is true his words are Holy Spirit inspired, no doubt. Yet God did guide his men, the Bible authors, through their own individual personalities! As in Luke’s medical language! Or young John Mark’s brevity! Or David’s poetry! Or Solomon’s philosophy!)

“Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: and even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.” Isaiah 46:3-4

Hearken means “to listen, to give ear.” But here “shama” also demands obedience! (No choice, an imperative verb, “required listening!”)

But look. Though the Northern Kingdom of Israel has been subsumed into Assyrian captivity for years, and Isaiah is currently preaching only to the South, to Judah … he has God speaking to BOTH Kingdoms, the north and south! Hence, “House of Jacob” then “the remnant of the House of Israel!” Again there is coming a literal “United Israel,” folks!

Good News for all Jews, God’s “chosen” people, the “Apple of His Eye!”

Then God (in our Text) reveals (once again) His great Love. Something is being depicted that God has done (is still doing) for the Israelites … “from the womb, from the belly!” Prior to birth, even? And certainly from infancy!

And that Act of Love continued over His people (these dear children of Abraham) all the way through their National life … “to old age!”Then to extremely old age … “to hoar (gray) hairs!”

All their days!

But exactly WHAT has God been doing for them?

He has been “carrying” them! He has “borne” them! And He has (or will) “deliver” them!

What an array of verbs!

From “amas” meaning “to carry heavy load.”

To “nasa” meaning “to lift!”

To “sabal” meaning “to labor hard, to even drag if necessary, in pulling a (perhaps massive) load!”

Wow!

And God as Deliverer? The verb “malat” is here employed. In its most intensive form! Earnestly, energetically “rescuing” a people! Here written as an on-going enterprise! God is not finished caring for Israel. Not our faithful, eternal God!

Mercy!

Even though Israel has (and will yet again) face some extremely trying times … God will never “put her down!”

Yes, excellent writing, Isaiah!

Moses would have said it his way: “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee.” Deuteronomy 33:27

And you now what?

I believe that Same Great God also has me (and you if you’re saved) “in His Hands.” Gently (and maybe at times not so gently) “carrying” us all the way Home!

Praise His Name!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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I thought I loved Isaiah chapters 1-39, such wonderful variety in peaching! But Isaiah chapters 39 through 66 are going to astound beyond measure! Already have, really.

Let me share a few (three) “snippets” (short quotes) from the concluding Paragraph of Isaiah 45, our current Text.

They (the wicked) “pray unto a god that cannot save.” (Verse 20) I realize that little Clause is self-explanatory, but it strikes me with sadness. Folks, we are so blessed. We serve a God (with a Capital “G”) who can save! Does save! Came to earth to save! And saved (even) me! And will save all who come to Him in faith believing!

Hallelujah!

Verse 22 also is powerful, our “saving” God being the Speaker, the Inviter … “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”

Wow!

“Look (by faith) and live!”

This verse has been used of the Holy Spirit to bring thousands (maybe tens of thousands) into the Kingdom of God, to eternal salvation! (Including a teenage British boy on a snowy Sunday in a little Methodist Chapel … Charles Haddon Spurgeon by name!)

Lastly look at Isaiah 45:23, part of it anyway. God vowing: “That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” Aren’t you glad, Christian friend, that you have already submitted to him? Thrilled that your knee and your tongue have acquiesced?

Paul loved that Line, that Truth, didn’t he? Quoting it so eloquently in Philippians 2:11 … “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Isaiah 45, what a chapter!

Bask in the light and warmth of these three little “snippets” today.

And if you do, that’s called “meditating” in the Word of God.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Our verse today is Isaiah 45:17. Look at this Promise God has given His people, the Jews!

“But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.” Is this not amazing?

Now, if one understands these words literally (and why not?) … the little Nation of Israel will not perpetually be harassed, attacked, hated!

There is, in her (bright) future, “salvation” in store!

And no more “hurt, reproach, or confusion!”

I believe this Miracle occurs at the end of the Tribulation, when Jesus comes again to earth. Here is Zechariah’s Account, watch Israel fall under “conviction.” God is saying: “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” Zechariah 12:10

Subsequently, the same Prophet declares, still quoting God: “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.” Sounds like salvation to me! Zechariah 13:1

What I am sharing with you this morning, Paul the Apostle certainly believed. Here he is preaching/teaching in Romans 11:26 … “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written ….” Almost certainly alluding (if not quoting) Isaiah 45:17.

He likely too has in mind Isaiah 59:20 (a later lesson, Lord willing) … “And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.”

Folks, I have found over two dozen times Paul, in his New Testament Corpus, references Isaiah’s great Book, either directly or indirectly! What an interesting (and profitable) Bible Study this would make!

No wonder they call Isaiah the “Evangelist” Prophet!

Again today’s Text … “But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.”

Praise the Lord!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Do not fall into the error of replacing the Nation of Israel with the New Testament Church. This false teaching, nowadays often called “Replacement Theology,” has become more and more popular as America drifts from God. Literal Israel, the people … God has not finished with them yet! Not by any means.

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