The Lord Promised them a Redeemer (Isaiah 9:1-7)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/29/2013 8:29 AM

My Worship Time                                                    Focus:  The Lord promised them a Redeemer

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Isaiah 9:1-7

            Message of the verses:  This is the first sub-point under the third main point in the second chapter of Warren Wiersbe’s commentary on Isaiah.  I follow the outline in Dr. Wiersbe’s “Be” series books to do my Spiritual Diaries.  The third main point is entitled “Shear-jasub:  A Promise of Mercy” and it will cover Isaiah 9:1-11:16. 

            This name of one of Isaiah’s son’s Shear-jasub means a remnant will return, and of course this is a promise that God will bring a remnant back from the Babylonian exile.  When the Assyrian’s captured the Northern Kingdom of Israel they were never returned to their land and from those mixed people came what was called the Samaritans of which we learn more about from the New Testament.  It is good to be noted that there were no lost tribes of Israel then and there still is no lost tribes of Israel now for we read in the book of Revelations that God will chose 12,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel to work for Him in the tribulation period which is described in chapters 6-19 in Revelations.  After the splitting of Israel into two countries after the death of Solomon many of the people from the ten tribes in the North moved to the Southern Kingdom because they could not follow the way of new worship that was set up in the north.

            Dr. Wiersbe writes at the end of his beginning commentary on this section the following:  God’s mercy to His people is seen in four ministries the Lord performed for them.”  We will look at the first one this morning.

            The Lord promised them a Redeemer (Isaiah 9:1-7):  “1 ¶ But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. 2 The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them. 3 You shall multiply the nation, You shall increase their gladness; They will be glad in Your presence As with the gladness of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian. 5 For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. 6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.”

            We continue the theme of light and darkness from chapter eight and verses twenty through twenty-two in this section of chapter nine.  Those who read the Bible on a regular basis will identify that a portion of this section is quoted in the NT and that it refers to the Lord Jesus Christ.  The area identified in verse one is part of the land that the Assyrians had devastated.  Jesus made His headquarters in this region and in Matthew 4:15 (NIV) we read “Galilee of the Gentiles” and we see the Lord’s loving ministry to these people which brought light and joy to them.

            I have mentioned that there are times in the OT prophets that they write about the first coming of Christ and then go to things that will happen in the second coming of Christ, for they actually did not know that there would be two comings of the Messiah.  We see this in this section in verses 3-7.  What we see in these verses is described by Dr. Wiersbe “Instead of protecting a small remnant, God would enlarge the nation.  Instead of experiencing sorrow, the people would rejoice like reapers after a great harvest, soldiers after a great victory, or prisoners of war after being released from their yoke of bonding.”  We know that some of these things happened when the Lord defeated Assyria in the deliverance of Jerusalem, but the main portion of this prophecy will happen still yet in the future.  7/29/2013 8:58 AM  7/30/2013 12:23 AM

            Dr. Wiersbe concludes his commentary on this sub-section with these words:  “If His name is ‘Wonderful’ then there will be nothing dull about His reign!  As Counselor, He has the wisdom to rule justly and as the Mighty God, He has the power to execute His wise plans.  ‘Everlasting Father’ does not suggest that the Son is also the Father, for each Person in the Godhead is distinct.  ‘Father of eternity’ is a better translation.  Among the Jews, the word ‘father’ means ‘originator’ or ‘source.’  For example, Satan is the ‘father [originator] of lies’ (John 8:44, NIV).  If you want anything eternal, you must get it from Jesus Christ’ He is the ‘Father of eternity.’”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It is good for me to understand better the name of our Lord Jesus Christ as given from this section of verses in Isaiah.  Names mean a lot in the Bible and so as I better understand the names of Jesus Christ, I better understand who He is.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Proverbs 3:5-6.

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 46:1-8.

            1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.

    6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. 8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has wrought desolations in the earth.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible Question:  “He shall be in danger of the council.”  (Matthew 5:23)

Today’s Bible Question:  “Who said, ‘Hail, thou art highly favored, the Lord is with thee:  Blessed art thou among women’?”

Answer in tomorrow’s SD.

7/30/2013 12:34 AM