Major Prophets Isaiah

Living With The End In Mind

Discover Jesus as: Immanuel Isaiah 23-25 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 584 of 730
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INTRO

In today’s lesson, Isaiah continued to pronounce words of judgment.

TEACHING

Isaiah 23:1-7: Tyre and Sidon were cities in the Phoenician area. David and Solomon used cedars from these cities in their building projects.1 Wiersbe summarized the judgment against them as: “weep and go home.”2

Isaiah 23:8-14: Isaiah explained that judgment would fall on Tyre and Sidon because it was the Lord’s doing.

Isaiah 23:15-18: Tyre and Sidon wouldn’t be around for 70 years, what was considered to be the life of one king.

Isaiah 24: Chapters 24–27 contain prophecies of worldwide judgment and deliverance. Worldwide judgment is commonly associated with the end times. This type of prophecy contains a mixture of good news and bad news. In this section, understanding prophecies about the Messiah can be tricky because a distinction has to be made between prophecies regarding the Messiah’s first coming and His second coming.

Nelson’s Commentary noted five sections of chapter 24:3

  1. The desolation of the earth because of sin (vv. 1-6).
  2. The end of revelry in the city (vv. 7-13).
  3. Glory to God, but grief over the earth (vv. 14-16)—conveyed in song format. God was praised by the remnant even though the earth was judged.
  4. The hopelessness of flight, for the whole earth shakes (vv. 17-20).
  5. The vision of God reigning on Mount Zion over the cosmos (vv. 21-23).

Isaiah 25:1-5: Constable noted that Isaiah’s prophecy progresses to describe the remnant that would enter Jerusalem at the beginning of the Messiah’s millennial reign.4 The judgment of Isaiah 24 correlates to the judgment described in Revelation 6. If we go back to Isaiah 24:23, we see that “The moon will be put to shame and the sun disgraced, because the Lord of Hosts will reign as king.” Revelation 21:23 also paints a powerful picture: “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God’s glory illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb.”

In verse 3, the “strong people” who “will honor You” doesn’t imply that these people will follow the Lord. They will simply acknowledge Him. “The rest of the people, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands to stop worshipping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which are not able to see, hear, or walk. And they did not repent of their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts” (Revelation 9:20-21). During the tribulation, God will show up to those who look to Him.

Isaiah 25:6-8: The beginning of the millennium was described. MacArthur declared, “In this kingdom, the Lord will host His great banquet on Mt. Zion for the faithful remnant.”5 After all the judgment the remnant will have seen, they will experience a great banquet hosted by the Lord. At this time, the Lord will destroy death forever.

Isaiah 25:9-12: The remnant will acknowledge the Lord’s salvation and His faithfulness to them through the tribulation. There will be people who will not be able to withstand God’s judgment, but those who trust the King of kings and the Lord of lords will stand.

CLOSING

We don’t know when Jesus will come back, but we should live like Jesus is coming back today. “Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed”(Romans 13:11).

  1. John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2005), pp. 785-786.

  2. Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: Old Testament (Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2007), p. 1168.

  3. Earl Radmacher, et. al. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1999), p. 832.

  4. Thomas Constable, Dr. Constable’s Expository Bible Study Notes: Isaiah, p. 163; available at https://planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/pdf/isaiah.pdf.

  5. MacArthur, p. 788.

Questions

  1. Judgement on the earth is foretold in Isaiah 24. Isaiah 24:5 says the earth’s inhabitants have “transgressed teachings, overstepped decrees, and broken the everlasting covenant.” To what everlasting covenant is this referring? (Genesis 9:16; 17:7; Leviticus 24:8; 2 Samuel 23:5; Jeremiah 32:40; Hebrew 13:20)

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin Isaiah 25:9

“On that day it will be said, ‘Look, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us. This is the LORD; we have waited for Him. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.’"

Isaiah prophesied about the day Jesus will return. Although many people will not wait for the Lord or seek His ways, a remnant will remain faithful. The remnant will stand before Jesus and state: “Look, this is our Lord, we have waited for Him! Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”

Will the Lord find you faithful? Will He see you and say: “Well done, good and faithful servant”? Or is your life built around worldly and temporary pleasures? Are you just living your own life and not seeking the Lord’s ways? The Lord longs for you to be ready for His return. Therefore, rejoice in the Lord always. Give thanks at all times, for your salvation is found in Him! Prepare yourself for eternity with Jesus as you spend time on earth loving Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. The time to repent and turn to the One who created you is now. God doesn’t need your perfection. He doesn’t require your strength. God wants to have your whole heart in humility. As you give your heart to Him, He will raise you up, allowing you to live in the fullness He has for you. He is waiting for you today. Will you be waiting for Him?

“On that day it will be said, ‘Look, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.’”

— Isaiah 25:9

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • Psalm 27:13-14 — “I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and courageous. Wait for the Lord.”
  • Matthew 25:21 — “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!’”
  • Romans 13:11 — “Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.”