Something Greater

Isaiah 12, Part 2: God Draws Near Isaiah makes an abrupt change in tone midway through this chapter. Verse one began with "You", translated from a Hebrew word that is singular, suggesting a feeling of isolation. But the subject of verse three is a word that is plural, suggesting fellowship or gathering together. Isaiah 12:3 (ESV) With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Further supporting the notion of plurality, the song encourages the listeners to "make known his deeds among the peoples...let this be made known in all the earth." Perhaps the change in number points to the unity experienced between an individual and God: Isaiah 12:6 (ESV) Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. "Your" in verse six is singular, but describes God as being in the midst of that singular person, as if Isaiah is speaking of an person indwelt by the Spirit of God. MIDST: qereb "

Isaiah 12, Part 1: Anger Turns to Comfort What has gone before... The LORD promised a divine Judge who would end oppression and wickedness on earth. Isaiah 11:4 (ESV) With righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. The dispersed tribes of Israel will be regathered and restored to the land around Jerusalem. Isaiah 11:12 (ESV) He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. All nations on earth will turn to Jerusalem in worship of the LORD. Isaiah 11:10 (ESV) In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. Moving on... Now, in Chapter 12, Isaiah breaks into song, calling all the earth to join in worship

Isaiah 11, Part 4: Recovering the Remnant The Lord restores the nation of Israel, bringing back from dispersion, the Israelites scattered by war and exile. Isaiah 11:11-12 (ESV) In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. Isaiah described the recovering of the remnant as "a second time". When was the first time? Isaiah 11:16 (ESV) There will be a highway from Assyria for the remnant that remains of his people, as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt. Pursued by their captors, Israel found themselves with their backs against the sea, facing an Egyptian army six hundred chariots strong. The people des

Isaiah 11, Part 3: The Signal The LORD will make "the root of Jesse", the divinely Righteous Judge of the world, to stand as a signal. Isaiah 11:10 (ESV) In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. SIGNAL: nes "nace" (a flag or sail; a flagstaff, signal or token); from nasas (to gleam from afar; to be conspicuous as a signal) The first instance of "signal" is found in the Book of Numbers: Numbers 21:8-9 (ESV) The LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live." So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. "Pole" is the same word as "signal". David composed a psalm which referred to a banner, using the same word as "signal": Psalm 60:4 (

Isaiah 11, Part 2: Fearing the LORD Isaiah referred to fear of the LORD as something admirable. Isaiah 11:3 (ESV) His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, FEAR: yir'a "yir-AW" (fear or moral reverence); from yare (to fear, to revere; to frighten) The root word of "fear of the LORD" is a word meaning an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat (The New Oxford American Dictionary). "Fear" comes from an Old English word meaning calamity or danger. Adam feared punishment after disobeying God's command regarding the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 3:10). Jacob feared the loss of his wives after tricking Laban (Genesis 31:31). The Israelites feared pain and injury from serpents, scorpions and desert (Deuteronomy 8:15). Rather than describing someone running away

Isaiah 11, Part 1: The LORD's Righteous Judge Previously, in Chapter 10... Isaiah declares God's judgement against the iniquitous leaders of Israel who oppressed the needy and poor. A powerful enemy, Assyria, would be used by God as a rod of anger against godless Israel. But Assyria herself would be punished for their arrogance when the king boasts of his unlimited power and lofty scorn for the God of Israel. Assyria's invasion would be suddenly halted before the gates of Jerusalem with a wasting sickness that would decimate the army. Only a remnant of Israel would survive the destruction of war, yet the people would return in faith to the LORD. Now, in Chapter 11... Isaiah describes One Who would judge the world with the power and righteousness of God. This Righteous Judge will stand above all earthly governments and powers, ushering in a time of extraordinary peace and joy. The scattered remnant of the nation of Israel will return from all corners of the wor

Isaiah 10 (Part 2 of 2): Condemnation of Arrogance === Main Idea #2 === God furiously condemned Assyria's arrogance. The king of Assyria did not in the least consider God to be his commander. He took to himself the glory and fame of conquest and control. Isaiah 10:12 (ESV) When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes. Assyria was a tool in the hands of God, a tool of judgement and punishment against Israel's idolatry and wickedness. God moved the leaders of Assyria against Israel, "to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets." But Assyria went beyond God's intent. Not content with seizing property and commanding tribute, Assyria sought to destroy all of Israel, boasting of his power. Isaiah 10:8-11, 13-14 (ESV) for he says: "Are not my commanders all kings? Is not Calno