The Restoration of Israel

Isaiah 27:2-13

Introduction

Everyone wants to make a difference in the world - be a world changer

Many will have big impact

No one person has even come close to the impact that Jesus has had on the world

Through the centuries nations have pursued greatness

Still are - every nation has some national pride

Despite all the power & bluster of nations through the ages it’s Israel who has most significantly impacted this world

Certainly, not all of that has been positive (as we’ve seen in Isaiah)

No nation or people group has so divided the world as this little group of people, Israel

Bible helps us understand why this small group of people has such an enormous impact

Isa. 27:6 - Israel is at the centre of God’s purpose for the world

It’s not considered ‘cool’ in Christian circles to hold to a belief in the distinction of Israel & the Church

In fact, this belief is often mocked

Though I’m no expert scholar, the more deeply I study this, the more convinced I am of this distinction

Isaiah 27 contains the last song of this section of prophecies

This is a song about Israel’s future

Not just an end to one part of the prophecies

It points us to the aim of all of Isaiah’s prophecies - glorious worship of God (Isa. 66:23)

It matters to us because God’s blessing on Israel flow through Israel to us

What does God have in store for Israel?

Israel’s Future

Isaiah 27:2-6

A Vineyard of Delight

Isaiah 27:2; Isaiah 5:1-7

From Sour Grapes

We’ve heard a song like before

It even begins quite similar (Isa. 5:1-2)

Isaiah 5 has a twist we’ve come to expect

Message starts peacefully but turns sour

Good God plants a vineyard in choice land

He care’s for it, protects it, nourishes it with expectation of delightful fruit

Instead it results in sour, stinking fruit

So vineyard is left to ruin

We remember that this was a song about Israel’s rebellion, their hearts of wickedness and God’s judgment as a result

A vineyard produces no fruit

Receives no rain

Is left unguarded

Filled with thorns and weeds

Overrun by others

Much of Isaiah has been about the judgment heard in this song

To a Pleasant Vineyard

In that day God will sing a new song to His vineyard

Unlike the first song, the expected twist doesn’t come and we hear a song full of joy

The vineyard of Isa 5 may be rundown, overgrown & desolate but it’s still there

It’s not a new vineyard - God hasn’t let it die

In this song it isn’t a place of wild, sour grapes but of choice ‘red wine’ (literally = vineyard of delight)

This vineyard now bears fruit (compare the vineyards)

God waters this vineyard

He protects, guards it

No thorns & weeds

Spreads out

This vineyard will be restored to glory, to the way it was intended

A Vineyard of Peace

Isaiah 27:3-5

God’s Care (Isa. 27:3)

He speaks of ‘watering’ the garden

Yes, likely reference to rain

It’s also a much more personal way of saying it rather than just saying I’ll make it rain

To me it seems like a statement of deliberate care

He will tend to it & care for it

Broken watch house is rebuilt

Wall is rebuilt to keep it from being trodden down

His eye is on it day and night

God loves the Church, blesses it, cares for it

Doesn’t mean His attitude towards Israel has changed

Deuteronomy 7:8 “8 but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”

Jeremiah 31:3 “3 The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”

God’s Love (Isa. 27:4)

His love for them (as it is for all of His people) is passionate & intense

That is, God will whatever is required to keep them & do good for them

Basically saying, don’t try to hurt or defile my vineyard

He will weed with vengeance

It’s almost like He’s taunting people to come against Him so He can fight for them

He will protect the ones He loves

God’s Forgiveness (Isa. 27:5)

Thorns & briars may represent outside enemies doing harm

Or may represent harm from within Israel (idolatry, etc.)

I think context favours this

Either way, this is a wonderful verse of forgiveness

They can be objects of God’s vengence in protecting His people

Or they can come to Him and find forgiveness and peace

This is the glory of God’s great purpose: making peace between us and God

The invitation to be at peace with God is the heart of the Gospel

A Vineyard of Fruitfulness

Isaiah 27:6

Israel’s Fruitfulness

Here is the great reversal

A barren, rundown vineyard becomes vibrant & fruitful

You see, what God is doing with Israel is a picture of God’s work & purpose in salvation

God makes us at peace with Him through Jesus Christ

Through Jesus Christ we gain life and fruitfulness

This is the picture of the vine in John 15

Will Fill the Earth

Remember the vineyard of Isa. 5 was overrun & trampled down by the world

In that day, the world & enemies will no longer invade Israel but Israel will spread through the world

This, of course, has to do with their influence & position in the Kingdom

It is also seen in the spread of the Gospel through the world

1 of the first promises to Israel was that they would bless all nations

That blessing is Jesus Christ and His salvation

Israel’s Present Hope

Isaiah 27:7-13

Judgment on Israel

Isaiah 27:7-9

Restrained Judgment (Isa. 27:7)

Here’s the transition we expected in the song

We’re brought abruptly back to the present

Time of trouble & discipline

‘That day’ hasn’t come yet and Israel needs to be prepared/cleansed for that

In watching how God prepares Israel for their future we learn how God deals with all of His people for our future

Jeremiah 30:11 “11 For I am with you,’ says the [Yahweh], ‘to save you; Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, Yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice, And will not let you go altogether unpunished.’”

God will judge/discipline/chastise His people for their sin

He doesn’t deal with us as harshly as He does others

God deals with us as His children (Heb. 12:7) not as enemies

Why? Because in Jesus we are not objects of God’s wrath but His loving care

Carefully Controlled (Isa. 27:8)

His judgment on His people is measured

He moves them out of the way of the fierceness of His judgment

Although they must feel some of God’s judgment that falls on the world He will remove them from much of the harshness

To End in Atonement (Isa. 27:9)

Why does He do this? God does have purpose in His affliction of His people

To cleanse them from their sin & to rid them of all their idolatry

All of this is moving Israel to salvation

Judgment on Israel’s Enemies

Isaiah 27:10-11

Desolation of Wickedness

God judges Israel to bring them to deliverance

Nations that have rejected God are brought to desolation

It’s describe as a city so completely destroyed it becomes a place animals feed on

Israel becomes a fruitful, spreading vineyard & enemies of God become a desolate wilderness

Without Understanding

The Book of Isaiah, Chapters 1–39 (b) Cleansing Versus Destruction (27:7–11)

For the OT writers, the true mark of human stupidity is idolatry

No Mercy

Result of their wickedness and rebellion against God is they forfeit any measure of God’s mercy & compassion

There is no bargaining with God or balancing the books

God is just and what is just is to punish wickedness not reward it

Joyful Hope of Israel’s Restoration

Isaiah 27:12-13

The Harvest (Isa. 27:12)

Brings us back to hope as we’re pointed to the future again

God will gather His people, Israel, together back in the land promised to them

We hear people chant today for the Palestinians: ‘From the river to the sea’

Their claiming the land from Jordan River to Mediteranean Sea

God declares that isn’t theirs to claim

God promises Israel from the Eupharates to the boarders of Egypt

The Celebration (Isa. 27:13)

Great Trumpet probably meant to remind us of the Feast of Trumpets

Last feast celebrated & marks Jewish new year

It came at the end of the harvest season

Blast of the trumpet (shofar) indicates 2 things in Bible

Call of warning to the enemies to beware of God’s judgment

Call of worship to God’s people

Here it is primarily a call to us to worship

God will call His people to Himself

He will draw attention to Himself

Response of God’s people from all over is to worship God

Conclusion

This is the great end of all things - the worship of God

God’s work with Israel in this world is meant to lead us to worship

We take heart in God’s faithfulness to Israel because it is one way we see how God is faithfully working for all of His people

God’s faithfulness to Israel to the very end is a grand reason for us to praise His name

One of the great reasons this matters to us is because God promised to bless all people through Israel

Ultimate fulfulment of that promise is salvation from sin that comes in Jesus Christ

Take hold of Jesus and find peace with God

Like Israel, you too can have your iniquity washed away, your sin forgiven

Believer, see in Israel God’s faithful goodness to you

He has prepared a future of blessing for you (Jn. 14)

In this life, He is cleansing you in preparation to enjoy those blessings