LESSON 2

Lesson 2
ISAIAH THE PROPHET

As our study opens in Isaiah chapter two, the prophet sees the future of Judah and Jerusalem as if it has already taken place. If there is a message for Jew and Christians alike it is that a glorious future awaits the child of God, regardless of our present state of affairs. For the Jewish people, the final restoration of Israel and the glorious reign of Messiah is a fact. For the Christian, the return of Christ in the air and the catching away of the bride of Christ are assured. God places His character on the line that in both cases His promises will be kept, and we can be assured He will do just as He promised. Allow your spiritual eyesight to glimpse the hope to be found by the careful student of the Word of God. Regardless of how dark the hour or how severe the judgment is at the time being administered by God, hope is always a part of the message.

Our study in Isaiah chapter 2:2-5 takes us beyond the dreaded battle of Armageddon to a time when the house of the Lord shall be established in Zion. Micah 4:1-4 gives us almost verbatim the same message, thus establishing this truth in the mouth of two witnesses. My mind is also drawn to Zechariah 14 where the Messiah comes back to stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and becomes King over the whole earth (Zechariah 14:9). Isaiah makes it clear the Messiah will reign and have authority over all and be exalted as King, the Lord Almighty. Those who live during the millennial reign of the Messiah will come to Jerusalem to worship. Zechariah 14:16 makes it clear that all who live on the earth will be required to come to Jerusalem once a year "to worship the King." Like it or not, there will be a theocracy, meaning God Himself will rule the whole earth, and all who live will be accountable to the Sovereign of the universe. Isaiah goes on to tell us what a rule of God will be like when the Messiah is King over the whole earth. People will come to be taught the ways of God and the way they are to conduct themselves. Any dispute between people will be handled by a perfect judge with perfect knowledge.

The nations of the world will finally beat their swords into pruning hooks, which mean that peace on earth will be realized by all nations and between all men. No one on earth will be allowed to disturb the tranquility of peace for one thousand years. Any dissenters will be removed on the day they attempt to cause trouble by the King Himself. All the terrorist training camps will be closed, and no more military bases will be in operation. Our youth will not undergo military training, and no spy satellites will be circling the earth. The 666 the mark of the beast from the tribulation period will be a thing of the past. Peace will be the trademark of the day, and the whole earth will sigh in relief that true peace has finally come.

From the mountain top of the Messiah's peace, we now are called upon to descend to the valley of mans sinfulness as we view our present condition. Isaiah put his finger upon those sins which destroys the peace we all seek. God can forgive sin, but He does not allow it to go unchecked. Whether it is a nation or individual, the sad truth is that the sins of the past and those of the present have a similar ring. "Full of superstitions from the east," verse 6, reminds us of what is going on in our country. From Hollywood to many Church members, today the practices of Eastern religion and meditation dominate people's lives, exercise routines and influence lifestyle. You would think Isaiah was alive today and writing about the American Church and culture. If you call yourself a child of God, you had better rethink what you follow because God's attitude has not changed since the day of Isaiah. In the statement, "The land is full of silver and gold," it is not difficult to see people trusted in their riches. This was the sin of Israel; Isaiah leaves no doubt. The sad truth is that this sin has never been more in evidence than today in the churches of our land. While large building and even bigger staff in churches are the order of the day, the missionary outreaches are begging for money; and the poor and outcast are finding little concern. Their chariots and horses spoke of the power of their armies, and trust in them was placed above their faith in God. I thank God we live in the strongest nation on earth, but never let us put faith in ourselves ahead of our faith in God, for to do so will lead to disaster.

Then Isaiah goes right to the heart of the matter as he points out the land is full of idols. When we turn to our own devices and worship the works of our own hands, God makes it plain that He will bring man low and cause mankind to be humbled. God hates pride and arrogance (verse 11). Our heavenly Father will humble His children whether they are Jew or Christian, for His Holy character will not allow this type of a sinful attitude. In Proverbs 6:16-19, our Lord says there are seven things He hates, and "a proud look" is listed first. The end result of all this is that Isaiah directs his country men to go to the rocks and hide in the caves of the earth from the dread of the Lord. For when God shakes the earth, as the Bible teaches He will do, men find out what fear is all about. God pleads with His children through His prophet Isaiah to stop trusting in man and all his devices and trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

I believe God is pleading with His Church in America as He did in the days of Isaiah to stop following the same sins that brought the hand of judgment on Israel. We are trusting in the idols our hands have built. Arrogance and pride have replaced humility. In his last message to the Church through Timothy, Paul, directed by the Holy Spirit, writes in II Timothy 3:1-4, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affections, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God."

God's judgment and punishment can always be delayed or cancelled if as individuals we turn to God in true repentance and seek His forgiveness. The Church of Jesus Christ in America needs to turn in repentance that we may move forward in being the witness that God has called us to be in the world in which He has placed us. We are called to be His ambassadors or spokesperson. May we as God's children cry out to let this spirit of faithfulness to Him begin in us. Then through us reach out into the body of Christ across our great land that the blessing of God may rest upon us as individuals and bring a spiritual awakening in the Church of Jesus Christ.