What I Noticed Today (Isaiah 54-58)
Isaiah 54
Isaiah 54 describes the future glory of Israel.
Verses 1-3 begins with ‘Rejoice’ (or ‘Sing’). Israel is described as a barren woman who now will have many children, a cause for rejoicing.
In verses 4-8, Isaiah tells them not to fear; they will not be ashamed or disgraced, for God is your husband and the Holy One of Israel your redeemer.
In verses 9-10, God says this day is like the day of Noah when God made a covenant with Noah. Now, as Israel enters the Millennium, God promises never to remove His love or peace from them.
In verses 11-17, the Lord promises to restore Jerusalem, reset her foundations, give her peace, teach the children, and there will be no oppression or need to fear. No weapon formed against God’s people shall succeed
Isaiah 55
Isaiah 55 is an invitation for God’s people to come to the Lord and experience His forgiveness.
In verse 1, God calls everyone around the world to come to the Lord’s feast. The waters represent the Holy Spirit, the wine represents joy, milk represents the Word of God, and the fact that they are free is an act of God’s grace.
In verses 2-5, the people are exhorted to eat what is good, listen, and come to the Lord and be saved. Nations who you do not know will come to you because God has glorified you.
In verses 6-9, one must seek the Lord and call upon Him, and then the Lord will have compassion on him and pardon him. Man must not judge God by their own thoughts and ways because God’s thoughts and ways are more than anything we could possibly imagine.
In verses 10-11, God’s Word goes out like rain from heaven and will not return empty but will accomplish its purpose.
In verses 12-13, because God has redeemed His people, they will go out with joy and be guided back to Jerusalem in peace. All of nature, the mountains, and trees will also rejoice. This will be an everlasting sign that this is from the Lord.
Isaiah 56
In verses 1-8, the Lord warns the exiles to preserve justice, practice righteousness, and maintain the Sabbath. Foreigners and eunuchs need not fear that they will be excluded from the Lord’s Kingdom. All of God’s servants, Israelites, and Gentiles will be gathered together in His house.
In verses 9-12, is a condemnation of Israel’s watchmen. Watchmen were supposed to watch over fields and animals. Israel’s watchmen, referring to their leaders, did not keep watch over the people. They were compared to dogs who just sleep and eat and don’t bark when danger is near. They eat and drink and think tomorrow will be even better than today.
Isaiah 57
Verses 1-2 continue from Isaiah 56:9-12. While the watchmen are not paying attention, the faithful and righteous are swept away, and no one cares. But God cares, and He will give the faithful and righteous peace and rest.
In verses 3-13, God condemns those in exile who continue to practice idolatry and warns them of their coming judgment.
In verses 3-6, God compares them to adulterers and harlots. They sacrifice their children to Baal and Molech.
In verses 7-10, their idolatry was practiced in mountain shrines, and they engage in orgies (suggestive of the sexual practices of the Canaanites whom they were supposed to avoid).
In verses 11-13, they did not fear God, but when judgment does come, God says they should all out to their idols to help them. Of course, their idols will fail, but whoever turns to God will be saved.
In verses 14-19, God now turns to the faithful exiles promising that a way will be constructed and obstacles will be removed so they can reach God’s Holy Mountain easily.
In verses 20-21, the Lord condemns the wicked again, saying they are like a storm-tossed sea, there will be no peace for them.
Isaiah 58
In Isaiah 58, Isaiah describes the difference between true and false fasting.
In verses 1-2, God tells Isaiah to proclaim loudly the sins of Israel. The people seem to want to know God and know His ways, and ask God for righteous judgment.
In verse 3, the people express confusion saying they have fasted and denied themselves, but God has not noticed what they have done. God responds saying yet you do as you please on your days of fasting and even oppress your workers.
In verses 4-5, God continues saying they are full of strife during their fasts, even resorting to fighting. Why do they think God will honor their fasts when they do not honor each other? They fasted outwardly, but their actions reflected no change in their hearts.
In verses 6-7, God says the point of a fast is for your behavior to reflect a change in the condition of your heart; break the chains of wickedness, stop oppressing the poor, share your bread with the hungry, bring the poor into your house, and clothe the naked.
In verses 8-12, if the people’s actions reflected a change in the condition of their hearts, then God would have accepted the prayers of their fast and bless them.
In verses 13-14, God promises that if they will fast in a way that reflects a change in the condition of their hearts and honor the Sabbath, then they would experience joy.
