Sunday School Lesson
Introduction: God likes covenants because he dislikes misunderstandings. He likes agreements, pacts, and contracts. Because he is God he sets the terms of these covenants. Because he is God he makes the covenants out of his own character (i.e. faithfulness). Our text today says that the everlasting covenant is a relationship between God and his people, and God wants us to be clear about it. Being clear about the covenant of God can be a challenge in this passage. There are issues that impact proper understanding (pronoun issues, literal versus figurative issues, and reading forward or backward issues). Pronouns refer to the nearest antecedent, but who is the “me” and “he” of the text? Did the Messiah literally release prisoners from the darkness or should we understand that spiritually? And should we borrow freight from the New Testament and read it into Old Testament passages? These issues challenge us as we study this text.
Things Were Going To Change
Isaiah 61:1-4KJV
1The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
Much of Isaiah 40–66 is about God’s servant. God’s servant can be a pagan king (Isaiah 45), the nation of Israel (43), or the Messiah (42; 52:13). We want to be respectful of the text by reading it forward before reading it backward, but we cannot unread this passage. Jesus read this passage for us (Luke 4:18, 19). This messianic figure will be empowered by the Spirit of God. Everything he does will be by the power of the Holy Spirit (see all of Luke 4). This anointing will show up in his preaching (proclaim good news to the poor), in his healing (bind up the brokenhearted), in his liberation (proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners), and in his renewal of the world (to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor). The results of what he does bring comfort, provision, joy, and praise. One difference from this text and Jesus’ use of it in Luke 4 is the phrase, and the day of vengeance of our God. Perhaps Jesus did not read that part because he came the first time as our Savior but he will come a second time as our Judge. The messianic servant’s coming will be effectual (it will really do something with those who receive this everlasting covenant). Using metaphors from agronomy and architecture, Isaiah talks about God’s people being like oaks of righteousness, and being like rebuilt ancient ruins and restored ruined cities. This could refer to God’s people coming back from Babylonian captivity and literally rebuilding their nation, but it could also be understood spiritually in the church.God’s people would become known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. The nations would be able to acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed. When the servant (Messiah) works his wonders, the servants (God’s people) bear the fruit of those wonders.
They Were Going to Be Blessed
Isaiah 61:8-9 KJV
8 For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed.
We would not know anything about God unless he revealed himself to us. Sometimes in the Bible, God comes right out and tells us something about himself. Such is the case in Isaiah 61:8. The Lord loves justice. The converse of that is that he hates robbery and wrongdoing. Our God loves setting things right. He began doing that as early as the fall, he continued it with the promise to Abraham, and he really fleshed it out in the giving of the law under Moses. All of the laws of God come from his character. When we obey his precepts, we discern his principles. When we discern his principles, we see his person. Therefore the everlasting covenant that he makes with his people comes from his faithfulness. God’s laws always stem from his goodness.
They Would Be Forgiven
Isaiah 61:10-11KJV
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Can the Lord delight greatly in the Lord? Well, yes, because the God of the Bible is a triune God (see Matthew 22:41-46 and its use of Psalm 110:1). We are probably to understand this to mean that Jesus delights greatly in the Father. Jesus rejoiced in God (Luke 10:21).
Because Jesus was aware of his role in saving the world he knew something about garments, robes, and wedding imagery. He is the bridegroom of his covenant people (Mark 2:19, 20). He not only saves, he is the Savior. He not only is the gardener, he is the soil as well.
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Saturday, September 10, 2016
The End of Oppression
Sunday School Lesson
Introduction: God does some of his most important work on mountains. God’s wrath against humankind’s evil was averted when the ark rested on Mount Ararat (Genesis 8:4). God’s test of Abraham’s faith took place on the mount he named The Lord Will Provide (Genesis 22:14). God’s law was given to his people on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19, 20). God’s house was built on Mount Zion (1 Kings 8). God’s victory over false gods was secured on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18). Jesus delivered his famous sermon on what is now called the Mount of Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1, 2). Jesus was transfigured before three of the disciples on a mountain (Matthew 17:1, 2). Jesus died on a mount called Skull (Mark 15:22). And Jesus went back to God from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:9-12). If wells were places of romance (Genesis 29:9-12), then mountains were places of revelation (Exodus 34:2-4). The Bible uses the term mountain in a literal way (Matthew 24:3) and in a figurative way for peoples, nations, or governments (Micah 1:4) and for the kingdom of God (Isaiah 2:2, 3; Daniel 2:44, 45; Micah 4:1, 2). Last week’s lesson stressed that God’s ultimate kingdom is peaceful (Isaiah 11:1-9). But the road to that peace goes through several valleys of difficulty. Nations and cities such as Babylon, Assyria, Moab, Damascus, Cush, Egypt, Tyre, and Sidon would all have to undergo judgment (Isaiah 13–24) before the mountain (kingdom) of God would have prominence.
A Lavish Feast
Isaiah 25:6KJV
6 And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.
Mountains were places of provision (Genesis 22:1-14). That is what the imagery in our text means when it says, The Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines. In the kingdom of God the Lord himself is the chef. The kingdom of God is pictured as a mountain, but it is also pictured as a great banquet (Revelation 19:9). Jesus himself pictured it this way (Matthew 8:11, 12). When he turned water into wine it was the best of wine, and it was in abundance (John 2:1-11). God provides for his people in a kingdom where he reigns unchallenged.Sometimes the road to peace is bumpy. God has to do the hard work of judgment to get his people to peace and joy. So he will destroy (the same word for swallow up in verse 8) anything that stands in the way of his agenda. Isaiah did not tell us exactly what this shroud (covering) or sheet (veil) were. In verse 8 he mentioned death. Since that is the ultimate enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26), it must be removed or swallowed up (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). There are two marvelous things about this destruction. First, God himself will do this swallowing. He will endure the destruction himself (Isaiah 53:10). Second, he will do this for all nations. This mountain of God is not exclusive or prejudiced.
The Sorrow and Death
Isaiah 25:7-8KJV
7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.
If the God of this great mountain seems harsh and hard-hearted, think again. Isaiah pictured a time when the Lord would wipe away the tears from all faces. In the new heaven and new earth God will wipe away (literally “out of” our eyes) tears from everyone. Ultimately the kingdom of God is a land of no more tears. After the smoke of God’s judgment passes, there will be no need to cry. Another indication of his compassion will be his removal of disgrace from his covenant people from all the other nations of the earth. Israel was the apple of God’s eye (Deuteronomy 32:10; Zechariah 2:8), but she had been disgraced on numerous occasions. God would act in his sovereign compassion to remove any shame.
A Celebration of Salvation
Isaiah 25:9-10KJV
9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
10 For in this mountain shall the hand of the Lord rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill.
Isaiah pictured a time when God’s hand (symbol of his power) would so rest on his mountain (people) that the only appropriate thing to do would be to party. Everyone would recognize that God acted on behalf of his people to save them. God does the saving. His people do the trusting (mentioned twice in the text). Together they celebrate. Rejoicing and celebrating is the only rational response in light of God’s saving activity. The most significant thing about the mountain of God is the God of the mountain. In our text today he is referred to as Lord Almighty, Sovereign Lord, the Lord (three times), and our God. Even in the turmoil of our world (as this lesson day is the fifteenth anniversary of 9/11), God reigns on his mountain.
Introduction: God does some of his most important work on mountains. God’s wrath against humankind’s evil was averted when the ark rested on Mount Ararat (Genesis 8:4). God’s test of Abraham’s faith took place on the mount he named The Lord Will Provide (Genesis 22:14). God’s law was given to his people on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19, 20). God’s house was built on Mount Zion (1 Kings 8). God’s victory over false gods was secured on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18). Jesus delivered his famous sermon on what is now called the Mount of Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1, 2). Jesus was transfigured before three of the disciples on a mountain (Matthew 17:1, 2). Jesus died on a mount called Skull (Mark 15:22). And Jesus went back to God from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:9-12). If wells were places of romance (Genesis 29:9-12), then mountains were places of revelation (Exodus 34:2-4). The Bible uses the term mountain in a literal way (Matthew 24:3) and in a figurative way for peoples, nations, or governments (Micah 1:4) and for the kingdom of God (Isaiah 2:2, 3; Daniel 2:44, 45; Micah 4:1, 2). Last week’s lesson stressed that God’s ultimate kingdom is peaceful (Isaiah 11:1-9). But the road to that peace goes through several valleys of difficulty. Nations and cities such as Babylon, Assyria, Moab, Damascus, Cush, Egypt, Tyre, and Sidon would all have to undergo judgment (Isaiah 13–24) before the mountain (kingdom) of God would have prominence.
A Lavish Feast
Isaiah 25:6KJV
6 And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.
Mountains were places of provision (Genesis 22:1-14). That is what the imagery in our text means when it says, The Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines. In the kingdom of God the Lord himself is the chef. The kingdom of God is pictured as a mountain, but it is also pictured as a great banquet (Revelation 19:9). Jesus himself pictured it this way (Matthew 8:11, 12). When he turned water into wine it was the best of wine, and it was in abundance (John 2:1-11). God provides for his people in a kingdom where he reigns unchallenged.Sometimes the road to peace is bumpy. God has to do the hard work of judgment to get his people to peace and joy. So he will destroy (the same word for swallow up in verse 8) anything that stands in the way of his agenda. Isaiah did not tell us exactly what this shroud (covering) or sheet (veil) were. In verse 8 he mentioned death. Since that is the ultimate enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26), it must be removed or swallowed up (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). There are two marvelous things about this destruction. First, God himself will do this swallowing. He will endure the destruction himself (Isaiah 53:10). Second, he will do this for all nations. This mountain of God is not exclusive or prejudiced.
The Sorrow and Death
Isaiah 25:7-8KJV
7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.
If the God of this great mountain seems harsh and hard-hearted, think again. Isaiah pictured a time when the Lord would wipe away the tears from all faces. In the new heaven and new earth God will wipe away (literally “out of” our eyes) tears from everyone. Ultimately the kingdom of God is a land of no more tears. After the smoke of God’s judgment passes, there will be no need to cry. Another indication of his compassion will be his removal of disgrace from his covenant people from all the other nations of the earth. Israel was the apple of God’s eye (Deuteronomy 32:10; Zechariah 2:8), but she had been disgraced on numerous occasions. God would act in his sovereign compassion to remove any shame.
A Celebration of Salvation
Isaiah 25:9-10KJV
9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
10 For in this mountain shall the hand of the Lord rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill.
Isaiah pictured a time when God’s hand (symbol of his power) would so rest on his mountain (people) that the only appropriate thing to do would be to party. Everyone would recognize that God acted on behalf of his people to save them. God does the saving. His people do the trusting (mentioned twice in the text). Together they celebrate. Rejoicing and celebrating is the only rational response in light of God’s saving activity. The most significant thing about the mountain of God is the God of the mountain. In our text today he is referred to as Lord Almighty, Sovereign Lord, the Lord (three times), and our God. Even in the turmoil of our world (as this lesson day is the fifteenth anniversary of 9/11), God reigns on his mountain.
Saturday, September 3, 2016
The Peaceful Kingdom
Sunday School Lesson
Introduction: The Prince of Peace knew that wars and rumors of wars were standard fare in a fallen world (Matthew 24:6). But Isaiah, who predicted the coming of the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), knew about rumors of peace as well. Even though the northern kingdom would fall to Assyria and the southern kingdom would later fall to Babylon, Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would come and begin to spread his peaceful kingdom over the earth as the waters cover the sea.
The Spirit of the Lord
Isaiah 11:1, 2 KJV
1And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
All of humankind’s efforts have failed to establish peace. Someone (the Messiah) must come from the outside to bring it. These first two verses of our text describe this Messiah’s identity and anointing. The Messiah is described in agricultural terms, i.e. a tree. It is not wide of the theological mark to connect this symbolism to Jesus. In the Garden of Eden there was a tree of life (Genesis 2:9). In the Holy City there will be a tree of life (Revelation 22:2). Jesus himself said to Nicodemus that Jesus would be lifted up (“on a tree” is implied) so that whoever believed in him would live (John 3:14, 15).The imminent invasions which Isaiah saw would shave off the trees of Israel at their stumps. But God’s people did need to fear. Given enough time, a shoot (Hebrew “netzer”) would grow from the razed stump. This Hebrew word is as close to Nazarene as we can get (Matthew 2:23). This stump comes from the lineage of Jesse (Davidic line). Its Branch (messianic term) will bear fruit. This messianic peaceful warrior is identified to be from David’s family.The Messiah’s anointing (equipping) is from the Spirit of God himself. The breath of God will rest on the Messiah. This equipping Spirit will help the Messiah to operate in a context of wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, and fear (reverence). Paul especially connected these qualities to the Messiah (1 Corinthians 1:30; Colossians 2:3).
The Fear of the Lord
Isaiah 11:3-5KJV
Isaiah 11King James Version (KJV)
3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins
Not only would the Messiah have the right identity and anointing, he also would have the proper character. This character is pictured anthropomorphically. The Messiah’s nose (the word for delight can refer to an aroma), eyes, ears, mouth, breath, and waist are all mentioned. If God is Spirit (John 4:24), how can he have any of these? Two answers: 1. Humans have to talk about God in some human way. 2. God became human in Jesus. The Messiah delights in the Lord, and this drives his discernment and decisions, which are pure and non-prejudiced.This character is also pictured in some large vocabulary. Our text mentions words like righteousness, justice, and faithfulness. The semantic domain of these words greatly overlap, but they emphasize conforming to a standard, doing what is fair, and keeping promises. This is why the Messiah is totally objective when it comes to taking care of the needy, helping the poor, and slaying the wicked. He knows the real situations. He can tell the difference between a genuinely needy person and a con artist. The character of the Messiah drives his justice.
The Knowledge of the Lord
Isaiah 11:6-9KJV
6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah sees a future day where all of creation will be healed. When the Messiah comes it will mark the beginning of the end. He will save the world. This will include but not be limited to lost people being found, guilty people being forgiven, sick people being made well, outside people being brought into community, wrong things being set right, and all of creation being healed.
This state of peace will even be felt in the animal kingdom. While it is possible to understand the text figuratively describing a state of peace, there is no good reason not to take it literally. When Jesus was baptized, Mark tells us that the Spirit “threw” him out into the desert with the wild beasts (Mark 1:12, 13). Was this the beginning of his taming of the unruly world?Wild animals (wolves, leopards, lions, bears, and snakes) will coexist with domestic animals (lambs, goats, calves, cows, and oxen) in a state of peace. Woody Allen said, “The wolf will lie down with the lamb, but the lamb won’t get much sleep.” True—at least right now. But some day even children will play near typical danger zones without fear.This holy mountain (see also Isaiah 2:2) is the peaceful kingdom, and it will fill the earth with the knowledge of the Lord.
Introduction: The Prince of Peace knew that wars and rumors of wars were standard fare in a fallen world (Matthew 24:6). But Isaiah, who predicted the coming of the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), knew about rumors of peace as well. Even though the northern kingdom would fall to Assyria and the southern kingdom would later fall to Babylon, Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would come and begin to spread his peaceful kingdom over the earth as the waters cover the sea.
The Spirit of the Lord
Isaiah 11:1, 2 KJV
1And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
All of humankind’s efforts have failed to establish peace. Someone (the Messiah) must come from the outside to bring it. These first two verses of our text describe this Messiah’s identity and anointing. The Messiah is described in agricultural terms, i.e. a tree. It is not wide of the theological mark to connect this symbolism to Jesus. In the Garden of Eden there was a tree of life (Genesis 2:9). In the Holy City there will be a tree of life (Revelation 22:2). Jesus himself said to Nicodemus that Jesus would be lifted up (“on a tree” is implied) so that whoever believed in him would live (John 3:14, 15).The imminent invasions which Isaiah saw would shave off the trees of Israel at their stumps. But God’s people did need to fear. Given enough time, a shoot (Hebrew “netzer”) would grow from the razed stump. This Hebrew word is as close to Nazarene as we can get (Matthew 2:23). This stump comes from the lineage of Jesse (Davidic line). Its Branch (messianic term) will bear fruit. This messianic peaceful warrior is identified to be from David’s family.The Messiah’s anointing (equipping) is from the Spirit of God himself. The breath of God will rest on the Messiah. This equipping Spirit will help the Messiah to operate in a context of wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, and fear (reverence). Paul especially connected these qualities to the Messiah (1 Corinthians 1:30; Colossians 2:3).
The Fear of the Lord
Isaiah 11:3-5KJV
Isaiah 11King James Version (KJV)
11 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins
Not only would the Messiah have the right identity and anointing, he also would have the proper character. This character is pictured anthropomorphically. The Messiah’s nose (the word for delight can refer to an aroma), eyes, ears, mouth, breath, and waist are all mentioned. If God is Spirit (John 4:24), how can he have any of these? Two answers: 1. Humans have to talk about God in some human way. 2. God became human in Jesus. The Messiah delights in the Lord, and this drives his discernment and decisions, which are pure and non-prejudiced.This character is also pictured in some large vocabulary. Our text mentions words like righteousness, justice, and faithfulness. The semantic domain of these words greatly overlap, but they emphasize conforming to a standard, doing what is fair, and keeping promises. This is why the Messiah is totally objective when it comes to taking care of the needy, helping the poor, and slaying the wicked. He knows the real situations. He can tell the difference between a genuinely needy person and a con artist. The character of the Messiah drives his justice.
The Knowledge of the Lord
Isaiah 11:6-9KJV
6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah sees a future day where all of creation will be healed. When the Messiah comes it will mark the beginning of the end. He will save the world. This will include but not be limited to lost people being found, guilty people being forgiven, sick people being made well, outside people being brought into community, wrong things being set right, and all of creation being healed.
This state of peace will even be felt in the animal kingdom. While it is possible to understand the text figuratively describing a state of peace, there is no good reason not to take it literally. When Jesus was baptized, Mark tells us that the Spirit “threw” him out into the desert with the wild beasts (Mark 1:12, 13). Was this the beginning of his taming of the unruly world?Wild animals (wolves, leopards, lions, bears, and snakes) will coexist with domestic animals (lambs, goats, calves, cows, and oxen) in a state of peace. Woody Allen said, “The wolf will lie down with the lamb, but the lamb won’t get much sleep.” True—at least right now. But some day even children will play near typical danger zones without fear.This holy mountain (see also Isaiah 2:2) is the peaceful kingdom, and it will fill the earth with the knowledge of the Lord.
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