Chapter 50
1 Thus says the LORD: "Where is your mother's certificate of divorce, with which I sent her away? Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away. [Isa 50:1 ESV]
Here, God says that the separation of Judah was not permanent. Though they feel "divorced" and "sold" because of the suffering that they are enduring - the result of their iniquity and rebellion against God - there is no divorce, there is no bill of sale. MSB says that in Jeremiah, speaking of the northern kingdom, God does divorce them. But the Davidic covenant means that Judah, that the House of David, be forever preserved. So wouldn't this mean the Northern Kingdom will never come back??? Why is the land divided among all 11 tribes in Ezekiel's vision if only Judah - or maybe Judah and Benjamin - are still covenant children? Hmm...because the promise to Abraham continues despite the failure of the northern 10 to keep the Mosaic? They don't get Mosaic promises but they do still participate in the Millennial as sons of Abraham?
2021 - That last part of the verse does not read as if there is no certificate, but as if there is one. I know what Jeremiah says. It seems like it might be more accurate to apply this verse, and those around it, to the northern kingdom? If we do that though, we change subjects from the end of 49 to 50:1.
2022 - The first two verses are extremely long. Vs 4 is also very long, as are 10 and 11.
2021 - Here's the thing. I got through Isaiah to about chapter 40 this time and was able to keep up. Once I hit Colossians though, which I had never studied much, I found so much information there that I had no "brain cells" left to study Isaiah. This continued into 1 Thessalonians. Yesterday, when I got to 49, I just got lost, and now today, looking at 50, I don't know what's going on. So I'm going to read this on out - Isaiah that is - and maybe next year I can read these Isaiah chapters first, and then do Col and Thess. That's why I picked this reading plan this year, because I think the other plan I've used rushes too quickly through the NT. With this plan, I read 1 chapter in the NT most days, so there is time to really look at it. With the old plan, I read 1 and 2 Thessalonians - the entire books - both on the same day. So I will not feel bad that Isaiah is losing a little this year. I had time to read it first the last three years.
2022 - Same this year. I actually didn't make it all the way to Isaiah 40 before I got lost this time, and I really feel like I am just reading to satisfy the plan at this point. The Servant Songs are so very important, and there is just no telling how much is there, if I weren't used up from 1 Thessalonians. I got SO VERY MUCH out of 1 Thess today though! I would hate to give that up! And Colossians 3 and 4? There's a month of material there! Even so, I am making notes above, and at the beginning of Col and 1 Thess to read my Isaiah stuff FIRST next year. It is time to buckle down here.
2023 - Once I finally noticed the notes that said to read Isaiah first this year, and switched over to doing so, I got a lot out of Isaiah. I don't think you could ever get "all there is" from Isaiah, but I've gotten more this year than I have in a good long time. I am starting 50 today and don't feel just completely lost. Probably will do the Isaiah chapters first again next year.
2024 - Isaiah first again. So much more has opened up. The whole verb type as a key to understanding the prophecies. The concept that God can call "done" things that have not yet happened. That there is no past/present/future tense in Hebrew. There is a lot in Isaiah and it goes on for 66 Chapters. It is illogical to expect to completely understand it all, but almost certain that more will make sense every year.
Then in vs 4, the third "Servant Song" begins. In this one, it is the Servant who is talking. Jesus says he listened to God, each morning, as to a teacher, and so he did God's will perfectly. Then this in vs 6:
6 I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. [Isa 50:6 ESV]
Obedience to the point of suffering bodily, physical harm. Jesus did this, how can we not??? Jesus says that though the world sees this as a disgrace, God does not. God sees it as obedience, and will be Jesus' help.
2023 - This is the OT, the book, that Mohammad told his followers to believe. In this book it says that Jesus would suffer ignominy during his life, and it makes this a good thing, an example for us all. For Islam to deny Jesus as servant, as suffering disgrace, is not only unbiblical, but to do so they must also ignore the Quran.
2021 - So vss 4-9 are almost like Jesus in the past, before His incarnation, looking "back" on the life he had on earth as if it is already done. This is God unrestricted by time. Then in vss 10, 11, a couple of long verses, we get the warning and the sermon. If you try to do this yourself, you will burn. It is an interesting couple of verses, almost saying that we are better to continue in darkness than to light a fire of our own. Trust Him in the dark.
It is interesting that 4-9 were just ignored as to a possible application to the Messiah. Whom did they think these were about? The Pharisees had this book. Who did they think these verses were about? Because if you really read these verses, they can only be about the Messiah, and about him being spat upon, and so forth. You would have seen the suffering, abused, murdered servant. But then, I have the benefit of hindsight. Still, I would like to know what they taught about these verses.
Then these two verses, spoken by Jesus. Phrased to show that all is given into His hands, because of his obedience and suffering:
10 Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. 11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment. [Isa 50:10-11 ESV]
This says our faith, our trust, even in the darkest of times, is to be in the LORD. We are NOT to try and find our own way, NOT to light our own torch so that we can see the way, but to exclusively trust and rely on our God. This refers to man-made religions, to "works righteousness", to earning our way into heaven by our own power and effort. This refers also to man-made philosophies for coping with the world - Stoicism, existentialism, Marxism, and our modern day "torches" like intersectionality, and whatever we substituted for Marxism. Those who rely on either of these - false religion or man made enlightenment, have the same end - they will "lie down in torment". They won't make it. They won't get close to making it. These words are the words of Christ, given by God to Isaiah. This is the ONE WAY foretold in Isaiah. Jesus' appearance as the New Covenant should not have been a mystery at all.
Possible FB post after that other one about Islam?