The Deliverer
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Intro:
AG: Approaching Mountains: See the peaks? There is no telling how long and winding the hidden roads are between peaks. That is where Isaiah is now. From where he stands, he sees judah about to descend into a valley of judgment as they enter captivity. But ahead, beyond that valley, he can see a peak… a deliverer is coming. And beyond that, he sees a second larger peak of an even greater deliverer.
TS: That is our text today in Isaiah 41 and 42. God reveals 2 coming deliverers. Last week in ch 40 we saw the promise of renewed strength to those who wait upon the Lord. Today, we see the one for whom they were waiting.
First, we see an unusual plot twist. In the past, GOD had raised up one of His own people to free His nation. Moses led them out of bondage in Egypt to the brink of the promised land. The Judges led them to liberty from oppressors throughout the period of the judges. Kings like David came and freed them from captivity and oppression. Yet now, we get a shock....
I. The Unexpected Deliverer (41:1–7, 25–29):
I. The Unexpected Deliverer (41:1–7, 25–29):
My friend called me in hysterics. “I just saw a mouse in my kitchen!” she yelled. “I’m so grossed out! It’s so disgusting!”
“What are you going to do?” I asked.
“I’m not sure. But you can bet I’ll never eat the stuff I drop on the floor anymore.” [rd.com]
God promises to send a pagan King to send His people home!
Some two centuries before this Persian king is born, Isaiah predicts his victories, even calling him by name.
A. The source of Cyrus’s power (ISA 41:1–4, 25–29):
A. The source of Cyrus’s power (ISA 41:1–4, 25–29):
Listen to me in silence, O coastlands; let the peoples renew their strength; let them approach, then let them speak; let us together draw near for judgment.
Who stirred up one from the east whom victory meets at every step? He gives up nations before him, so that he tramples kings underfoot; he makes them like dust with his sword, like driven stubble with his bow.
He pursues them and passes on safely, by paths his feet have not trod.
Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he.
I stirred up one from the north, and he has come, from the rising of the sun, and he shall call upon my name; he shall trample on rulers as on mortar, as the potter treads clay.
Who declared it from the beginning, that we might know, and beforehand, that we might say, “He is right”? There was none who declared it, none who proclaimed, none who heard your words.
I was the first to say to Zion, “Behold, here they are!” and I give to Jerusalem a herald of good news.
But when I look, there is no one; among these there is no counselor who, when I ask, gives an answer.
Behold, they are all a delusion; their works are nothing; their metal images are empty wind.
MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary
The Lord anointed Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, to accomplish His righteous will by conquering Babylon in 539 B.C. and allowing some of the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem (cf. 41:25; 44:28; 45:1). He founded the Persian Empire and ruled from ca. 550 to 530 B.C.
God Himself directs and permits the victories of Cyrus.
God had previously revealed through Isaiah and other prophets that pagans would be used as His hand of divine judgment. Now one is predicted who will be God’s appointed Deliverer!
God once again was doing something unexpected.
You would expect Him to raise up a Samson, Gideon, or even Moses.
Instead, He had a Persian king
His power would come from God
That makes all the difference!
B. The strength of Cyrus’s power (ISA 41:5–7):
B. The strength of Cyrus’s power (ISA 41:5–7):
The coastlands have seen and are afraid; the ends of the earth tremble; they have drawn near and come.
Everyone helps his neighbor and says to his brother, “Be strong!”
The craftsman strengthens the goldsmith, and he who smooths with the hammer him who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, “It is good”; and they strengthen it with nails so that it cannot be moved.
No nation is able to withstand his assaults.
They turn to each other to try and defeat Cyrus, and they fail
Not because Cyrus is so great, but because GOD had a purpose they were standing against.
Just as God used Babylon to bring Judah into captivity, GOD was going to use Cyrus to set them free and send them home.
To withstand Cyrus was to withstand God at that time.
II. The Unsurpassed Deliverer (41:8–24; 42:18–25):
II. The Unsurpassed Deliverer (41:8–24; 42:18–25):
In these passages God both consoles and corrects Israel, his chosen nation.
Here He reminds them that their ultimate deliverance would come with the Messiah!
A. The consolation of Israel (ISA 41:8–24):
A. The consolation of Israel (ISA 41:8–24):
God has chosen Israel as his people.
1. The reason for God’s choice(ISA 41:8–9):
But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend;
you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”;
Israel was selected because Abraham, its founder, was a special friend of God.
In the last days, God will regather Israel from her worldwide dispersion.
God hasn’t forgotten Israel!
“You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
God has promised that their line would continue:
Abraham
his son Isaac, his son Jacob (who became Israel)
David
his son Solomon....
God blessed and encouraged them often
He reminded them that one of David’s descendants would rule forever
Only Jesus can do that!
2. The results of God’s choice (ISA 41:10–24)
a. Divine protection (ISA 41:10–16):
fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish.
You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all.
For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
Behold, I make of you a threshing sledge, new, sharp, and having teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and crush them, and you shall make the hills like chaff;
you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the tempest shall scatter them. And you shall rejoice in the Lord; in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.
He will strengthen, help, and uphold his people. Anyone who opposes them will be cut off by the Lord.
Strength
God promised to give them the strength… the power they need
Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!
Help
So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Uphold
The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.
They had no reason to fear the coming of the Lord, He is coming to uphold them!
Their enemies would vanish and they would be strengthened due to God’s faithfulness.As the Lord purchased His people from the bondage of Egypt by the blood of the Passover Lamb, He is to do the same from their worldwide exile by the blood of the True Lamb, Jesus Christ, when they turn to Him in faith (cf. Zec 12:10–13:1).
God still strengthens, helps, and upholds His people!
John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Is 41:14.
b. Divine provision (ISA 41:17–24):
When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive. I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together,
that they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.
Set forth your case, says the Lord; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.
Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come.
Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good, or do harm, that we may be dismayed and terrified.
Behold, you are nothing, and your work is less than nothing; an abomination is he who chooses you.
In Messiah's future kingdom, the land will be well-watered
He plants trees and provides water.
Literal, and used here as a symbol of God’s blessing of meeting all spiritual needs in the Millennium.
He provides all our needs in the coming Kingdom, but realize, He does that now!
I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
B. The correction of Israel (42:18–25)
B. The correction of Israel (42:18–25)
1. Their sin (ISA 42:18–21):
Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see!
Who is blind but my servant, or deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is blind as my dedicated one, or blind as the servant of the Lord?
He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear.
The Lord was pleased, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify his law and make it glorious.
They will not listen or see what God does.
God’s judgment of their sin did not mean He didn’t love them
In fact, it demonstrated His love.
2. Their suffering (ISA 42:22–25):
But this is a people plundered and looted; they are all of them trapped in holes and hidden in prisons; they have become plunder with none to rescue, spoil with none to say, “Restore!”
Who among you will give ear to this, will attend and listen for the time to come?
Who gave up Jacob to the looter, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the Lord, against whom we have sinned, in whose ways they would not walk, and whose law they would not obey?
So he poured on him the heat of his anger and the might of battle; it set him on fire all around, but he did not understand; it burned him up, but he did not take it to heart.
They are robbed, enslaved, and imprisoned.[1]
God disciplined… .God also delivered
Glory be to God!
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Today, we need to look for God’s deliverance.
Sometimes it will be unexpected.
When GOD delivers, it is often in unexpected ways and through unexpected sources.
Why I wonder? Probably so He gets the glory. There is no other explanation
Ultimately Deliverance comes through the Unsurpassed Messaih!
[1] H. L. Willmington, The Outline Bible(Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1999), Is 41–42:25.