Isaiah Part 3

Thus says the Lord: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed.
Isaiah 56:1

In this article we consider the third portion of Isaiah. Check out the previous Friday blog articles to read an overview of Isaiah, Part 1 of Isaiah (chapters 1-39), and Part 2 of Isaiah (chapters 40-55).

After having walked through a valley of judgment, in chapters 1-39, to find hope in the Messiah and God, in chapters 40-55, we find ourselves facing several charges from God. At the outset of this section the people of God are challenged to live righteously and this theme of living faithfully to God is expressed in several manners such as obedience to the covenant (56:4), purity from idols (57:2-13), proper posture in fasting (58:3-13), and more. In these last chapters of Isaiah, we are getting a better picture of Godly activity as well as the future hope and destiny of true followers of God.

This section is a complete reversal in state of the Godly and the righteous as well. For example, in the first section, we read of the many judgments that God pronounces against His own people because they had turned from Him to idolatry, sexual immorality, and vile wickedness. And the instrument that he uses are the pagan nations around them. In destroying the people of God, they are finding their kingdom expanded, more powerful, and wealthier. However, in the last 11 chapters, we read of the great salvation and restoration of the people of God (61:1-3; 62:1-12). And the wealth and might of the nations are replaced by promises of their destruction (63:1-6; 65:1-7). It is by their destruction that God will create a new heaven and a new earth where it will be full of his people worshiping and serving the Lord (65:8-66:14; 66:18-23). But similar to Psalm 1:4-6, the wicked will not prosper and will be burned up in a place of fire and torment forever (66:15-16, 24).

In this final section, we find rich theological themes on just and righteous living (56-59), salvation (60-62), and end times (63-66) developed, all of which find a great fulfillment and revelation with the coming of Christ. I think it is quite proper for it to flow this way as well. In the end Isaiah leaves all of his readers to wrestle with the question of if they are servants or rebels. Which should force each and every one of us to examine our own lives and what/who it is that we find hope for salvation. If we are resting in anything other than Jesus Christ, then we have shifted into a legalistic, atheistic mindset which will surely end in our destruction. But for those who have placed their hope in the Suffering Servant, we can have hope and joy knowing that God is faithful and will restore all things. This present age will pass away, but “the word of our God will stand forever” (40:8).

Grace and Peace,
Alex Galvez

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