Isaish 54-60: The Great Effects of Christ's Great Success (part 1)

Introduction

Jonathan Edwards, in his beautifully Christ-centered biblical theology, The History of the Work of Redemption, argues that all of history was planned out by God for the purpose of accomplishing his mighty work of redemption. Accordingly, he divides history into three basic epochs, demonstrating, “(1) That from the Fall of man until the incarnation of Christ, God was doing those things that were preparatory to Christ’s coming and working out redemption, and were forerunners and earnests of it. (2) That the time from Christ’s incarnation until his resurrection was spent in procuring and purchasing redemption. (3) That the space of time from the resurrection of Christ to the end of the world is all taken up in bringing about or accomplishing the great effect or success of that purchase.” In our last lesson we spent all of our time in Isaiah fifty-three, meditating on the actual accomplishment of redemption that should occur when Christ came to take on human flesh, suffer for our transgressions, and rise again victorious over death and sin. As we move now into chapter fifty-four, we see the necessary effects of Christ’s perfect victory, as Isaiah looks ahead to that third great epoch of redemptive history, in which the success that Christ has already accomplished grows and spreads until it embraces all the nations. This is the epoch in which we live today. And the reason we are still alive on this earth is to labor for the sake of our Savior, so that the effects of what he has done for us might overspread the earth. Let us, therefore, be intentionally applicational as we look for the Spirit to teach us the truths that he has for us in this text. Let us be continually asking ourselves the question, “How can I be involved in seeing these prophesied realities come to fruition?” We have no greater honor than to be laboring for the growth of the kingdom of Christ. And this honor is ours indeed, if in faith we seize ahold of the opportunity that God’s grace offers to us.

Christ’s Victory Flourishes (Chapter 54-55)

Chapter fifty-four begins with the command for those who were previously barren to rejoice at their great fruitfulness; because the tents of salvation were about to be mightily expanded. In the days of mere shadows of redemption, the tabernacle of Israel was the tent in which God’s presence dwelt. In the days of gospel-realities, God’s presence, through the Spirit of the victorious Christ, would cover the earth, ushering the Gentiles, together with Israel, into blessed fellowship with God (cf. John 4:21-26; Ephesians 2:11-22). Paul explicitly relates this prophecy of her who was barren to the Gentile peoples, in Galatians 4:27. Isaiah goes on to affirm that, because of Christ’s victory, his church would no longer have reason to fear; for God has married his people, and he will not divorce his wife. Christ loved his bride and gave himself for her; and therefore, we are eternally his (Ephesians 5:25-27). Even though, in the history of Israel, God cast off his people for a time, yet, when he receives them back again, he will nevermore put them away; this simply because the exile of Israel was a type of God’s forsaking Christ. When God raised up Christ from the dead, the entirety of his wrath had been eternally exhausted. He will never again forsake his Son, because he was fully satisfied with his sacrifice. And so we, his church, who are in him, will never be forsaken either. What strong consolation Isaiah draws from these reflections! Just as in the days of Noah God promised never again to flood the earth, so because of Christ, God has promised never to forsake his people. His covenant is eternal and unbreakable (cf. Romans 11:29; Hebrews 6:16-20). Instead of being cast aside, the new tabernacle of God’s presence (his Church) would be beautifully adorned forevermore. No enemy would be able to overthrow this dwelling place of God on earth: God, who made all men and governs the works of their hands, will not permit any weapon forged with the intent to destroy his Church to have success. This is all true only because the righteousness of the saints comes from God. When we trust in Christ’s righteousness alone, we can never be moved! In Chapter fifty-five, Isaiah issues the gospel proclamation that must follow the recognition of such marvelous gospel truths. All the ends of the earth are summoned, hungry, helpless and hopeless as they are, to drink the eternally-satisfying waters of salvation for free. How foolish it is to try to spend that which is not money to buy that which is not bread! But all of us, before the Spirit opens our hearts to the gospel, are laboring to do this very thing. We are attempting to earn our own notion of salvation (infinitely less satisfying than the true salvation offered in Christ) with our own price of good works – which can never have any bargaining power with God. Praise be to God that this gospel call will be effective, so that men from every nation will come to Christ, who will be given to them as their true David, their gracious King for all eternity! Even though the wicked will never naturally forsake his ways, yet, because God’s word is not like ours – it is always effective to accomplish his intent – when his gospel word goes forth, it will accomplish his purposes of spreading the effects of Christ’s great success until all those whom the Father had given him from eternity come and fall before him. And then, the earth itself will be restored by his mighty work, and will once again be fruitful for all eternity. to be continued…

~~posted by Zioneer