Study the Bible

with Pastor Gregory

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1. The Degeneracy Resulting from Rejecting Scripture – vv. 16-19
   
   
1. Isaiah had faithfully but thanklessly been declaring the Word of God – that Israel was going to know the judgment of God at the hand of Assyria.
2. The people had all rejected His preaching & prophecy and had essentially turned their backs on all of God’s Word.
3. Isaiah responds to their cold-hearted rejection of Scripture by calling for the few who followed Him to "bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples" – so as to preserve it until such a time as the people would listen.
4. Isaiah indicated that in light of the certainty of God’s judgment, that He would simply wait for the promised deliverance through the Messiah – "I will wait for the Lord who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob; I will even look eagerly for Him."
5. He then indicates that he and his children existed as supernatural indications of God’s desire to be gracious to the people of Israel – "Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion."
6. The people, instead of hearing the truth from Isaiah, his followers, or his children, they desire to turn anywhere except the Word of God.
7. He indicts them by indicating that "when they say to you, ‘consult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter,’ should not a people consult their God?"
8. Isaiah bemoans how far they have degenerated in that the living consult the dead for direction – "Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?" – a leave God completely out of the picture?.
   
   
2. The Distress Resulting from Rejecting Scripture – vv. 20-22
   
   
1. As a direct result of their refusal to hear the Word of God – and obey it, Isaiah admonishes them to turn to the power of God’s Word – "To the law and to the testimony!"
2. He then describes the spiritual condition that leads people to such a place of helplessness –
1. First, if they don’t see the veracity in God’s Word, it is for a definitive reason – "If they do not speak according to this Word, it is because they have no dawn."
2. They were facing some major struggles connected with the deportation and occupation of Assyria – "They will pass through the land hard-pressed and famished"
3. Finally, they have degenerated so far that "when they are hungry, they will be enraged and curse their king and their God as they face upward."
3. Their alternative is to become humanistic in their perspective and worship the creature which leads to nothing but calamity and dismay – "Then they will look to the earth, and behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish; and the will be driven away into darkness." – Romans 1:21; Ephesians 4:17-18
4. This clearly takes them even further away from God – 1 John 1:5-6; 2:8-9
   
   

1. The Deliverance from the Contempt of God – v. 1
   
   
1. Isaiah holds out hope for sinners – by declaring that the gloom and anguish that prevails in their experience does not foreclose on God’s willingness to redeem them
2. Isaiah declares: "But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish" – a day will come when He will deliver them
3. When He judged them by handing them over to the Assyrians, God "treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt."
4. However, in the day of deliverance, "later on, He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles" – a reference to the region where Jesus was from – Matthew 4:12-17
5. Thus, instead of contempt, they are brought to a position of honor.
   
   
2. The Deliverance from the Consequences of Sin – vv. 2-5
   
   
1. Their condition – due to their refusal to heed the Word of God and seek His face – was one of darkness and distress, but God will do a work – "The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will sine on them."
2. This is clearly a reference to the impact of Jesus Christ who is the light come into the darkness to dispel sin and bring life – cp. John 1:4-5, 9; Luke 2:29-32.
3. Instead of knowing the gloom, they would know gladness because God will bring them out of their bondage and bring peace – cp. vv. 3-5.
4. This is what is promised – freedom from the yoke of oppression and the provision of peace – what the Jewish people in Jesus day didn’t realize is that the oppression from which God was interested in delivering them was not political, but spiritual; not from other sinners but from their own sin.
5. This is the peace that was heralded by the angels – cp. Luke 2:14.
   
   

1. The Humanity of the Savior
   
   
1. Here we see that when the fullness of time is fulfilled "a child will be born to us" – a special child of a virgin – cp. Isaiah 7:14
2. This addresses the humanity of Christ – that He became flesh and blood so that He could vicariously suffer for our sins – Hebrews 2:14-15
   
   
2. The Divinity of the Savior
   
   
1. However, we are also told that this child possesses other characteristics that make it even more special – "a son will be given to us."
2. This is a reference to the incarnation of the Son of God – that God Himself would become flesh and dwell among men – John 1:14
3. This son that would be given, will rule the kingdom of David perfectly – "and the government will rest on His shoulders" – very capable
4. This son is identified with various titles demonstrating His divine nature:
1. Wonderful - Counselor
2. Mighty God
3. Eternal Father
4. Prince of Peace
5. His rule will be perfect and there will be perfect harmony with God in total justice and righteousness.
6. This section concludes with a tremendous statement: "the zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this." – it is all of God!
   
   

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