I’ve learned that really Isaiah chapters 2 through 5 present a single Sermon from the Prophet. Unbroken Holy Spirit inspired preaching! (Although here we are going to study this elongated Message a chapter at a time.) Isaiah, a Man of God … with a burden for his Nation! A Seer with enough boldness to declaim sin, in all its ugliness! (Yes, in olden days a “Prophet” was also called a “Seer.” (1st Samuel 9:9 … “For he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.”)

But specifically (and importantly), here are two things I didn’t mention in the Lesson on the coming glorious “Millennium,” described in Isaiah 2:1-4, written two mornings ago …

First, an indictment of the nation’s sins!

Do not skip this paragraph please, it being so typically Isaianic. “Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers. Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots: their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made: and the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.” Isaiah 2:6-9, a pretty good synopsis of the degraded social life of Judah in Isaiah’s day, at least until Hezekiah’s attempt at revival occurred.

The “east” … the heathen God-defying nations surrounding Judah!

Notice too their keen obsession with money, “silver and gold.”

“Horses and chariots,” a misplaced trust in military prowess, rather than the Protecting Hand of Almighty God! God had long ago forbidden Israel to “collect” horses. “But he (Israel’s King) shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.” Deuteronomy 17:16

And prolific  “idols,” a cleat violation of the Ten Commandments, at least twofold!

Wow!

Now secondly … in chapter 2 verses 10-22, a description of the coming dreadful time of Judgment that was to befall Israel. Still is coming, in some major ways.

This (partially) happened when Judah fell to the Babylonians. But it will be completely fulfilled in the coming days of world-wide Tribulation. A horrible time generally known as “the day of the Lord.” (In fact, this exact phrase appears in verse 12, King James Version.)

Things like …

“And the idols he shall utterly abolish (God having destroyed them). And they (the rebellious people) shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; to go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.” Isaiah 2:18-21, panic as God pours out His Wrath!

This picturesque passage is virtually quoted by John the Apostle on the Isle of Patmos, describing the tribulation! (Quoted 800 years later!) “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Revelation 6:15-17

Isaiah, every bit as up-to-date as Revelation!

Again I say, Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Tomorrow morning, the Lord willing, we shall study some in Isaiah chapter 3. What a Prophet, what a Book, what a Bible, what a wondrous God!

READ BOTH POSTS PLEASE …

It is 4:58 here in Tunnel Hill, Georgia. IN THE MORNING!

And we soon leave for the surgery center at my ophthalmologist’s office.

I am scheduled to have cataract surgery on my left eye this morning around 6:30, the Lord willing.

I ask you to pray for me please.

As soon as my vision allows, I will write the Isaiah chapter 2 Lesson.

The Bible, what a Book to study!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Now it’s 5:18 here in Tunnel Hill, Georgia. IN THE EARLY EVENING, PM!

My eye surgery has gone well. God has been so good, answering prayer after prayer! I can already see through my left eye!

Thank you all for praying!

On December 20th (the Lord willing) I return for the cataract surgery on my right eye.

I will again be writing Isaiah Lessons as soon as possible. Maybe even tomorrow morning.

Gratefully,

Dr. Mike Bagwell

We leave tomorrow for a time of Revival in Michigan. Pray for us as we travel.

Isaiah’s second chapter abounds in words of judgment. But its opening paragraph is absolutely glorious! If taken literally (which we plan to do) it can only point to some yet future time … on earth.

“The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Isaiah 2:1-4

It would be hard to merely “spiritualize” this Text, because it mentions both “Jerusalem” and “Judah” in its opening line! A real City and a real little Nation!

Then too … it would be hard to relegate this Text to some time in the distant past. It is patently said to occur “in the last days.” 

Also notice the geography Isaiah builds into his sermon. “The MOUNTAIN of the LORD’S house shall be established in the TOP of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the HILLS.” Topographically correct!

Yes. Jerusalem is a mountainous city. And its highest point is the Temple (often called the Temple Mount) … here called “the Lord’s House!” 

Then there is Isiah’s evangelistic emphasis! (This recurs so often through his whole Book.) “Nations” being “saved” and coming to the Temple to worship!

“All nations,” think of the scope of that phrase!

“Many people,” sounds like anti-Semitism may some day be a thing of the past!

Next comes what I consider to be the greatest Fact in the whole Paragraph. “Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and HE will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” THE LORD IS THERE!

This Event, this Sequence, occurs after Jesus has returned to earth, the second time.

Read Malachi 3:1 here … “The Lord (that’s Jesus), Whom ye seek, shall SUDDENLY come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, Whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come.”

Well, He’s here … in our Isaiah Pericope!

And (during Jesus’ Reign) world-wide Revival occurs! Nations saying … “and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” Amazing!

“WE WILL WALK IN HIS PATHS!”

And should there be any rebellion, even a scintilla … “And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people.” (Of course that golden Age begins with what Bible teachers often call “the judgment of the nations.” Recorded in microcosm in Matthew 25. Verses 31 and 32 set the mood: “When the Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His Glory: and before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.”)

And lastly, it is going to be a time of “peace!” Because … the “Prince of Peace” has come to rule and reign! (One of Isaiah’s many honorable Names/Titles for Jesus the Messiah, found in Isaiah 9:6.)

Peace, world-wide, and to that virtually unprecedented degree? “And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”

This is astounding.

And exciting.

And faith building.

So great a truth that the Prophet Micah borrows the Sermon from Isaiah and uses it in his ministry! Let me quickly show you … “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Micah 4:1-3

Twice said (prophesied, promised), once by a Major Prophet and once by a Minor Prophet!

Sounds like one of Jesus’ 25 “Verily Verily” Statements, doesn’t it?

I close.

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (The Bible’s very last prayer and the energizing heart-throb of every growing Christian, Revelation 22:20.)

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

It is my goal to highlight a single Text (Paragraph) in each chapter of Isaiah, and to do so sequentially. Yes, all 66 of them, the longest (in its number of chapters) of all the Biblical Prophets.

I did that (at least attempted that) yesterday in the Lesson, focusing on Isaiah chapter 1, verses 18-20. I feel that Pericope summarizes the basic Message of the Old Testament Prophetic Literature.

But I didn’t mention a number of things that are significant.

For example … Isaiah’s very first verse calls his whole Work (the Isaiah “Corpus” some call it) a “vision.” (Read it. “The VISION of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.”) The word derives from a verb meaning “to see, to behold, to look.” But twice the King James translators let it mean “to prophesy.” And once it is expressed “to provide,” literally meaning “to see ahead, to see in advance!” That’s prophecy!

I also noticed that Obadiah begins his Prophecy the same way, with the word “vision.” Here: “The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom.” 

I am saying this: such Biblically godly men of Prophecy did not only “hear” the Word of God, in some realistic way they “saw” the Word of God as well. He was that REAL to them! 

Wow!

Now one or two Old Testament Prophets begin their Works with the word “burden,” not “vision!” These Messages are that HEAVY, I suspect.

Actually Nahum does this. But then he immediately employs our noun “vision” too. (Nahum was allowed of God to preach the Message Jonah so longed to proclaim, about the destruction of Nineveh!) “The BURDEN of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.” Nahum 1:1

Habakkuk does this as well. “The BURDEN which Habakkuk the prophet did see.” Habakkuk 1:2

What a study (a whole book) could be written about these men and their specific messages, their varying personalities too.

Wow!

Isaiah 1 also … lists the Kings under whose administrations (reigns) Isaiah preached. A long ministry, indeed! Let me show you their names, four of them … “The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of UZZIAH, JOTHAM, AHAZ, and HEZEKIAH, kings of Judah.” A dynasty in fact, springing from one single family of leaders. (All are Davidic!) Folks, Isaiah knows these men, personally! He is a Court Preacher!

Ever heard of a Christian “backsliding?” The root idea comes from Isaiah 1:4. “Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away BACKWARD.” Yes, gone away BACKWARD! God’s view of our recalcitrance.

The first chapter of the Book of Isaiah has a total of 31 verses, great verses too!

A dozen sermons (surely I understate the fact) await its perusal, its study.

But I feel led to focus on verses 18-20, one of the better known Texts in all of the Old Testament!

“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. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” Isaiah 1:18-20

This vast (Wisdom-filled) Statement essentially houses the basic Message of all the Prophets of the Bible. (No doubt this is Holy Spirit inspired! As is ALL the Word of God.)

The opening verb, “to reason” (in Hebrew “yakach”) is a word basically meaning “to judge.” Like … God is here taking the Nation (Judah) to court! Among its 59 Bible usages (in the whole Old Testament), the word is translated “to reason” only twice! But 23 times it means “to rebuke,” in the King James Bible! And 12 more times “to rebuke!” It is “to correct” 3 times. And even “chasten” twice! Get this: “argue” once!

Surprisingly, the verb is NOT an invitation to simple dialogue! (I have learned something today already.) It is God Almighty WARNING an errant people! The verse is a subpoena!

A “choice” is being offered Israel, well Judah.

“Scarlet” sins imply souls/hearts/lives that are deeply “stained” with rebellion, wrongdoing! Sins that are clearly visible … from afar, thus called “red.”

While “white” (as snow) … implies those sins being cleansed, having been washed away, the stains totally removed! Oh, praise the Lord!

So … our stern Judge has a heart of mercy and grace, in reality! Though He does mean what He says, no empty threats in this Passage.

“Red like crimson” and “as wool” (white, clean, pure) restate the same word picture. MY sins can be gone, those spots of filth removed … God is here offering forgiveness to that amazing extent!

“Wool” … like a little lamb, or a freshly bathed ram or ewe … a member of the “flock!” Well cared for … by a Good Shepherd, the Best! (“The LORD is my Shepherd!”)

But God’s Speech here contains an “if,” two “ifs” actually! And what a difference between them. An “if” of obedience, and an “if” of disobedience!

“IF ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: but IF ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword.” Isaiah 1:19-20

In sum, IF you obey, God will bless you.

IF you do not obey, God will discipline (chastise) you.

Obey … your land will be fruitful.

Or disobey … an enemy will come with his sword!

Wow!

The overall Message of the Prophets … indeed!

But look how the Text ends … “for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.”

Yes, a Sermon from Isaiah … but behind His man stands really the God of Creation. The God of Righteousness. The God of Calvary too!

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell