Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind - Jehovah Will Refine His People

Jehovah Will Refine His People

Jehovah will not tolerate such abuse of power forever.  Isaiah continues:  "Therefore the utterance of the true Lord, Jehovah of armies, the Powerful One of Israel, is: 'Aha! I shall relieve myself of my adversaries, and I will avenge myself on my enemies.'" (Isaiah 1:24)  Jehovah is given three designations here, emphasizing his rightful lordship and his vast power.  The exclamation "Aha!" likely signifies that Jehovah's pity is now mixed with determination  to act upon his wrath. There is certainly reason for this.

Jehovah's own people have made themselves his enemies.  They fully merit divine vengeance. Jehovah will "relieve," or rid, himself of them.  Does this mean a complete permanent obliteration of his name people?  No, for Jehovah goes on to say:  And I will turn back my hand upon you, and I shall smelt away your scummy dross as with lye, and I will remove all your waste products."  (Isaiah 1:25) Jehovah now uses the refining process as an illustration. A refiner in ancient times often added lye to help separate the dross from the precious metal.  In a similar way, Jehovah, who does not see his people as completely wicked, will 'chastise them to the proper degree.'  He will remove from them only the "waste products"-the stubborn, undesirable ones, who refuse to learn and obey.  (Jeremiah 46:28) With these words, Isaiah has the privilege of writing down history in advance. 

Jehovah did indeed refine his people, removing the scummy dross of corrupt leaders and other rebels.  In 607 B.C.E., long after Jehovah's time, Jerusalem was destroyed and its inhabitants led off for the 70-year exile in Babylon.  This in some ways parallels and action God took much later.  The prophecy at Malachi 3:1-5, written long after the Babylonian exile, showed that God would again do a refining work.  It pointed to the time when Jehovah God would come to his spiritual temple accompanied by his "messenger of the covenant," Jesus Christ.  This evidently happened at the end of World War I.  Jehovah inspected all of those claiming to be Christians, sifting the true from the false.  With what result?

Jehovah answers:  "I will bring back again judges for you as at the first, and counselors for you as at the start. After this you will be called City of Righteousness, Faithful  Town.  With justice Zion herself will be redeemed, and those returning of her, with righteousness."  (Isaiah 1:26, 27)  Ancient Jerusalem experienced an initial fulfillment of this prophecy.  After the exiles returned to their beloved city in 537 B.C.E., there were once again faithful judges and counselors like those of the past.  The prophets Haggai and Zechariah, the priest Joshua, the scribe Ezra, and the governor Zerubbabel all served to guide and direct the faithful returning remnant to walk in God's paths.  However, an even more important fulfillment occurred in the 20th century.

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From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind