ATTENTION: Please note that this lesson, I Am Your Redeemer on Isaiah 44:21-26 is for the 01-02-11 ISSL. You will find the 12-26-10 lesson, I Will Be with You, directly beneath this message and on the right side.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Jed
I Am Your Redeemer
Isaiah 44:21-26
International Sunday School Lesson
01-02-11
Commentary
By
Jed Greenough
Isaiah 44:21-26
21 “Remember these things, O Jacob,
for you are my servant, O Israel.
I have made you, you are my servant;
O Israel, I will not forget you.
22 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me,
for I have redeemed you.”
for you are my servant, O Israel.
I have made you, you are my servant;
O Israel, I will not forget you.
22 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me,
for I have redeemed you.”
23 Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this;
shout aloud, O earth beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,
you forests and all your trees,
for the LORD has redeemed Jacob,
he displays his glory in Israel.
shout aloud, O earth beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,
you forests and all your trees,
for the LORD has redeemed Jacob,
he displays his glory in Israel.
Jerusalem to Be Inhabited
24 “This is what the LORD says—
your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb:
your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb:
I am the LORD,
who has made all things,
who alone stretched out the heavens,
who spread out the earth by myself,
who has made all things,
who alone stretched out the heavens,
who spread out the earth by myself,
25 who foils the signs of false prophets
and makes fools of diviners,
who overthrows the learning of the wise
and turns it into nonsense,
26 who carries out the words of his servants
and fulfills the predictions of his messengers,
and makes fools of diviners,
who overthrows the learning of the wise
and turns it into nonsense,
26 who carries out the words of his servants
and fulfills the predictions of his messengers,
who says of Jerusalem, ‘It shall be inhabited,’
of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be built,’
and of their ruins, ‘I will restore them,’
of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be built,’
and of their ruins, ‘I will restore them,’
In last week’s message in Isaiah 43 we saw God as redeemer and that thought continues this week along with Israel the servant.
In that message I mentioned that God uses whatever means suit Him to carry out His will for those who are His and I mentioned the ruler Cyrus and though he isn’t mentioned in today’s scripture we only have to read forward a couple more verses to see his name brought up.
In that verse he is referred to as God’s shepherd and it is a fitting reference even for this conqueror, if he serves a role of someone who has a responsibility for God’s sheep. The title, shepherd, can be one of honor such as the Good Shepherd of John 10 or of dishonor such as the foolish shepherd of Zechariah 11.
For some it might seem perplexing that God would use someone we might consider to be dishonorable but God does not limit himself when He sets out to achieve His ends and this time He was using one from foreign lands to bring His servant Israel back even though Cyrus did not even acknowledge God (Isaiah 45:4).
In today’s scripture we are given a glimpse at our God who will discipline those that are His but then once the time of that discipline is completed He removes from His mind the offenses just as if they were clouds that are now gone on a bluebird day or like morning mist that disappears in the heat of the sun just as if they had never been.
Additionally, today’s scripture reminds that this redemption is something to celebrate with much joy. Joy because His children are called to return to Him, joy because God Himself is glorified in the redemption of Israel. And of course we cannot forget as Christians our joy and the joy we can feel for our fellow servants as we consider our own redemption and the glory that brings Him.
I love that the scripture tells us that the heavens and earth are included in this celebration of joy for as we know even creation was subjected to decay and therefore frustration and that each redemption will bring it all the nearer to ultimate liberation. (Rom 8:19-21)
In the Bible version I use most often the section of today’s passage beginning with verse 24 is a declaration from God and is entitled “Jerusalem to Be Inhabited”. Isaiah’s listeners didn’t have our benefit of seeing that God actually accomplished what He declared since Isaiah’s prophecy occurred approximately 150 years before it was fulfilled, but for our sake, I am very glad that we study prophesies that have been fulfilled but it is possible we may have a tendency to miss the things that are still pertinent. They can still be reminders and an education that only His word can be wholly relied upon. Just as then, we have false prophets and diviners and the so-called learned among us.
In Isaiah’s time the prophet not from God, the diviner, the so-called wise were not carrying His message but the message that they did have, played well, it was accepted readily enough. It might have made perfect sense on the surface, but the message wasn’t His.
Back in Isaiah’s day the Israelites could have been exposed to teaching or declarations that did damage by giving false hope and resulting disillusionment. Another teaching could have been one that resulted in destroying hope and therefore faith.
Today, many are still mislead. Some of this is by cults that are passing themselves off as being His. They are more and more “mainstream” as their history among us grows. They are coming to be treated like just another denomination.
Others that are misleading appear more benign on the surface. Their wisdom grows from their zeal for God, but they are teaching a message that will result in nonsense instead of fulfillment. And just as in Isaiah’s day and as we are warned in this scripture we must remain aware that with too much erroneous teaching you will end up with people who cannot recognize true teaching because it fails to measure up to what they are looking for based on what they have been taught.
Just as pertinent today is the message that God does what He says He will, He promises and fulfills. Through His prophets such as Isaiah, He has declared things that were fulfilled without error and just as exciting are the final fulfillments that we have to look forward to.
For Discussion:
- Our lesson starts with “Remember”. Other versions might say “Keep this in mind”. Another still, “Pay attention”. Consider how God is like any parent and unlike any as well.
- As Christians, compare today’s 2nd verse of Isaiah 44:22 with Acts 3:19.
- Discuss verse 23 with regard to God displaying His glory in Israel.
- With regard to today’s verse 25, consider 1 Corinthians 1:18-31.
- Discuss the prominent well known cults of today and their growing acceptance.
- Discuss all aspects of the timing of this prophecy (given 150 years in advance) not forgetting to include God’s time table.
(Join me next week for the International Sunday School Lesson for January 9, 2011, Turn to Me and Be Saved, on Isaiah 45:18-24a)
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
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