Isaiah Chapters 56:9 to 57:21
Chapters 55, 56, 57 are one subject; disclosing the grace and the judgment with which the Millennium will be introduced. We have been reading of the grace of God, and now we come to His judgments.
In verse 9 is a call to destroy, to lay waste; it is addressed to the Gentile oppressors of the Jews, and concerns the land of Israel. The watchmen,—those who should have been on guard, watching with tender care over the flock that was Jehovah’s, are blind; without knowledge; dumb dogs that cannot bark; dreaming, living a life of ease; greedy, too, living for themselves and utterly indifferent to God and without true regard for His people.
Verse 1. The true Shepherd of Israel is not indifferent to His people; He takes away the righteous from the evil to come. But the death of these occurs without any laying it to heart. This discloses the true condition before God of those who are left.
These dead who thus pass into eternity are entered into peace; they rest in their beds each one that has walked in his up rightness (verse 2). It is only in the New Testament that we find the veil drawn aside and the unseen world reveal ed (Philippians 1:21, 2321For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)
23For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (Philippians 1:23)).
Verses 3 to 13 arraign the wicked Jews variously; idolatry, though mentioned, is not their only sin. Verse 9 speaks of “the king,” evidently the same person as is mentioned in Daniel 11:36-40,36And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. 37Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. 38But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. 39Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. 40And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. (Daniel 11:36‑40) under that title; in John 5:4343I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. (John 5:43) as one coming in his own name; in 2 Thessalonians 2 :3-10 as the man of sin, the son of perdition; in 1 John 2 as the Antichrist, and in Revelation chapters 13 and 19 as the second beast and the false prophet.
He that putteth his trust in Jehovah shall possess the land, shall inherit His holy mountain (verse 13). He may have been as wicked as any; his past works do not commend him, but his present faith does. With this class Jehovah will dwell(verse 15).
His Word is that He will not contend forever, nor be always wroth, for the spirit should fail before Him, and the souls which He has made. Israel is in view, and “for the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth and smote him.” But he will be healed, will be led; comforts will be restored to him, and to those of his that mourn,— and all this will be God’s doing. The fruit of many lips, both of those “far off”—the saved Gentiles, and those “near”—the children of Israel—will be giving thanks to Jehovah’s Name, for peace brought to them, and healing (verse 19). But the wicked do not change; judgment is for them, and not peace.
Let us compare the ends of chapters 48 and 57, each of them ending a subdivision of Isaiah’s wide prophecy. Chapters 40 to 48, as we have seen, take up God’s controversy with Israel on account of idolatry; and chapters 49 to 57 His dealings with them because of their rejection of His Son, their Messiah. The latter is of course by far the greater evil. This explains “saith Jehovah” in the one passage, and “saith thy God” in the other.
Messages of God’s Love 4/29/1934