Why does God not execute his final judgment for his people’s first offence?
(Isaiah 9-12; Matt. 1:21; John 14:27; 2 Pet. 3:9) Blog Jan. 24–30, 2021
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: After Isaiah pointed out the hypocrisy of God’s covenant bride, he foretold the deliverance that God would bring to his people through judgment. His realization that not only his people but he himself came short of God’s high ideal led him to declare that their only hope was in God’s forgiving mercy. When wicked King Ahaz refused God’s repeated offers of protection Isaiah focused his hope on the promise of a Divine Deliverer that would save only “a very small remnant” of his covenant people.
A Great Light (Isaiah 9:1-7; Matt. 4:12-17; Luke 1:32-33; 2:8-14)
1. What does Isaiah 9 promise that God will send to his covenant bride after her present anguish in darkness? That her land (especially Galilee) would receive a great light.
2. What was the primary fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy that a great light would come to God’s covenant bride? That Jesus would come & concentrate his ministry in “Galilee of the gentiles”.
3. How does Isaiah describe the coming of the great light? As a baby born to God’s people who becomes a mighty conqueror freeing them from the yoke of their enemies & becoming their King on David’s eternal throne.
4. Who repeated this prophecy of a conquering king to the virgin Mary? The angel Gabriel.
5. What titles are given in verse 6 to describe this conquering King? And why? “Wonderful” (as the Angel of the Lord [Jud. 13:18]), “Counsellor” (“the Lord… shall direct thy paths” [Prov. 3:5-6]), Mighty God” (“the great God” [Tit. 2:13]), “Eternal Father” (because he became our Federal Head in place of Adam [Rom. 5:12-19]), “Prince of Peace” (which Christ gives to his followers [John 14:27]).
6. What previous, marvelous prophecy in Isaiah also points to this Peace Child? “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [meaning “God with us”] (7:14).”
God’s Chastisement (Isaiah 9:8-21; 10:1-34; Lev 26:14-39; Rom. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9)
7. In Isaiah 9:8-19 what is God prophesying about the northern kingdom of Israel? That although they have suffered destruction, they will think to rebuild with better material but in three destructive waves God will punish their hypocrisy & their hatred of God’s people, Judah.
8. Why does God not execute his final judgment for his people’s first offence? Because he is longsuffering, desiring them to repent, turn from their wicked ways, & be saved.
9. What peculiar aide for understanding Revelation 9:10 and 19 is given in Isaiah 9:15? That “tail” is a symbol for prophets & “head” is a symbol for ancient & honorable men.
10. What is the significance in Isaiah 10:1 of God calling Assyria “the rod of mine anger”? It shows us that God often uses powerful enemy armies to chastise his people & accomplish his goals – such as he used Nebuchadnezzar to conquer Jerusalem (Daniel 1:1) & the Roman armies of Titus to again wreak havoc on Jerusalem (Matt. 22:7).
11. What does God say he will do to the proud king of Assyria after he has accomplished God’s goals against Judah? He “will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks… [Because] he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent.”
12. For what reason does God not allow the king of Assyria to boast about conquering Judah? Because he was only the tool in God’s hand whom God allowed to do that, otherwise it would never have happened.
13. In Isaiah 10 what prompts God to remove the yoke from the neck of his people and mightily conquer the enemies of the remnant of his people? The repentance of the remnant in removing their trust from human powers & placing it in their mighty God.
God’s Restoration (Isaiah 11 & 12; Matt. 1:21; Rom. 15:12; Eph. 2:14; Rev. 15:2-4; 19:1-5, 11, 15; 22:16)
14. How do we know who is referred to by the term “a rod out of Jesse? We know this refers to Jesus because it says that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him with wisdom, might, knowledge, & righteousness & that he was a descendant of Jesse (David’s father & also the root [origin] of Jesse) & that he would judge the poor with righteousness just like Jesus is described in Revelation 19.
15. How is this earth described in Isaiah 11 after Jesus saves the poor and the meek and slays the wicked? As a place of harmony & peace where the wolf & the lamb live together, the lion eats straw, children play beside snake pits, & God has brought eternal “rest” for the remnant of his people.
16. What will the response of God’s remnant be when he restores harmony and peace to the earth as recorded in Isaiah 12? They will praise the Lord for comforting & giving salvation to his people, & they will sing to him who dwells with them because of the excellent things he has done in all the earth – for they are the redeemed who do this as pictured in Revelation 15 & 19.
17. What New Testament name means “God is my salvation” just as stated in Isaiah 12:2? Jesus.
18. In view of the chapters we have considered this week how is the Prince of Peace portrayed? As God himself who took our humanity in order to become our Federal Head (vicarious Representative) to bear our sins & bring his great salvation with a world of harmony & peace to his believing remnant.