Week
5 in Review
If
the first two lines of Isaiah 53 describe our sin problem, the last
two lines give God’s solution to it. God took our sin, all our sin, and laid it
on Christ. When Christ hung on the cross, God took all our sin and placed it on
Christ so He could die in our place. So here, in the middle of Isaiah 53, is a
powerful statement. First, man’s basic sin problem is stated to be going our
way rather than God’s way. Then there’s God’s solution: a Substitute who will
bear our sin.
It’s
amazing when you think of it—all your sin and rebellion paid for by another,
who died for you. Amazing grace.
“All
we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, everyone, to his own way; And
the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6 NKJV
All
we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way: Here
the prophet describes our need for the Messiah’s atoning work. Sheep
are stupid, headstrong animals, and we, like they, have gone astray. We
have turned – against God’s way, everyone, to his own way.
We
all have our own way of sin. The constant temptation is to
condemn your way of sin, and to justify my way of sin. But
each way that is our own way instead of the LORD’s way is a sinful,
destructive, damned way.
If
the Messiah was wounded for our transgressions, then it was also the
LORD who laid on Him the iniquity of us all. The Father judged
our iniquity as it was laid on the Son.
Somebody
paid for our sin.
“Pay
attention and come to me; listen, so that you will live. I will make a
permanent covenant with you on the basis of the faithful kindnesses of David.”
Isaiah 55:3 CSB
“Incline
your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an
everlasting covenant with you— The sure mercies of David.” Isaiah 55:3 NKJV
The
thought carries over from the idea of let your soul delight itself in
abundance. Whoever will genuinely “feast” off of the Word must
consciously incline their ear towards what God will say.
This explains why two people can listen to the same message, and one benefit
and the other not. Often, the one who did not benefit simply did not incline their ear to
the LORD.
Incline
your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an
everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Isaiah
55:3 NKJV
Hear,
and your soul shall live: The benefit from inclining your ear to God
is impressive. When we do it, we have life for our soul.
And
I will make an everlasting covenant with you – the sure mercies of David: For
the one who will listen to the LORD, God promises a covenant. From Isaiah’s
perspective, this covenant is still in the future (I will make). The
covenant is also characterized by the sure mercies of David.
“so
is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but
will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You
will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will
burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their
hands.”
Isaiah
55:11-12 NIV
“For
as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but
water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and
bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall
not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall
succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11 ESV
When
God talks, His words accomplish His intended purpose. The word of the
LORD has power, and it never fails in His intended purpose.
God’s
Word shows that God’s Word brings forth fruit. It also shows that the
fruit has many different applications. The same grain that gives seed to
the sower also gives bread to the eater.
God’s
Word has something to accomplish. God doesn’t just speak to hear Himself
talk. His Word is not empty, or lacking in power. This also means that God’s
Word has a purpose. He didn’t speak in unfathomable mysteries just to blow
our minds, or confuse us, or leave things up to any possible interpretation.
When God speaks, He speaks to accomplish a purpose.
“You
will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will
burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their
hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers
the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting
sign, that will endure forever.” Isaiah 55:12-13 NIV
“For
you shall go out with joy and be led out with peace; The mountains and the
hills Shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field
shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the Lord
for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” Isaiah 55:12-13
NKJV
When
God’s people turn to Him, listen to Him, and His Word does His work in
them, joy and peace are always the result. The joy is so
great, that even the mountains and the hills, and the trees of the field
join in!
Before
there was barrenness and reminders of the curse (the thorn), now there will be
beautiful and useful trees. The picture is clear; in His glorious work of
restoration, God takes away the barren and the cursed, and brings forth beauty
and fruit.
When
the LORD restores, all the work is done for His name, and for His glory.
When the LORD restores, the work is secure; it is an everlasting sign that
shall not be cut off.
Be
Blessed and Be a Blessing
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