Trust in Jehovah in the Face of Adversity, Chapter Nine

ISAIAH chapters 7 and 8 are  a study in contrasts.  Isaiah and Ahaz both belonged to a nation dedicated to Jehovah; both had God-given  assignments, one as  a prophet, the other as a king of Judah; and both faced the same threat-the invasion of Judah by superior enemy forces.  Isaiah, however, faced the threat with confidence in Jehovah, whereas Ahaz  gave way to fear.  Why the different reactions?  Since Christians today are likewise surrounded by hostile forces, they do well to examine these two chapters of Isaiah to discover what lessons they contain.

Facing a Decision

Much like an artist who defines the outline of a new painting with a few sweeping strokes, Isaiah starts his account with a few broad statements that mark the beginning and the end of events  he is about to relate:  "It came about in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham the son of Uzziah, the king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, the king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem for war against it, and he proved unable to war against it." -Isaiah 7:1.

It is the eighth century  B.C.E. Ahaz has succeeded  his father, Jotham, as king over  Judah. Rezin, the king Syria, and Pekah, the king of the northern kingdom of Israel, invade Judah, and their armies hit hard. Eventually, they will besiege Jerusalem itself.  However, the siege will fail.  (2 Kings 16:5, 6; 2 Chronicles 28:5-8)  Why? That we will learn later.

Earlier in the war, "a report was made to the house of David, saying:  'Syria has leaned upon Ephraim.'  And his heart and the heart of his people began to quiver, like the quivering of the trees of the forest because of a wind." (Isaiah 7:2) Yet, it is frightening to Ahaz and his people to learn that the Syrians and the Israelites have teamed up and that their armies are at this  very moment encamped on Ephraim's  (Israel's) soil.  They are merely a two-or-three day march from Jerusalem!

Next time: Conclusion of Trust in Jehovah in the Face of Adversity

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind

Other Fulfillments

Isaiah's prophetic task foreshadowed the work that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would do some 800 years later.  Isaiah 8:18; 16:1, 2; Luke 4:16-21; Hebrews 2:13, 14) Although greater than Isaiah, Jesus was just as willing to be sent by his heavenly Father, saying: "Look! I am come to do your will." -Hebrews 10:5-9; Psalm 40:6-8.

Like Isaiah, Jesus faithfully carried out  his assigned work and met with the same reaction.  The Jews in Jesus' day were no more willing to accept the message than were those to whom the prophet Isaiah preached.  (Isaiah 1:4)  The use of illustrations  was feature of Jesus' ministry.  This prompted his disciples to ask: "Why is it you speak to them by use of illustrations?"  Jesus replied: "To you it is granted to understand the sacred secrets of the kingdom of  the heavens, but to those people it is not granted.  This is why I speak to them by the use of illustrations, because, looking, they look in vain, and hearing, they hear in vain, neither do they get the sense of it; and toward them the prophecy of Isaiah is having fulfillment, which says,  'by hearing, you will hear  but by no means get the sense of it; and, looking, you will look  but by no means see.  For the heart of this people has grown unreceptive, and with their ears they have heard without response, and they have shut their eyes; that they  might never see with their eyes  and hear with their ears and get the sense of it with their hearts and turn back, and I heal them.' " -Matthew 13:10, 11, 13-15; Mark 4:10-12; Luke 8:9, 10. 

In quoting from Isaiah, Jesus was showing that the prophecy had a fulfillment in his day.  the people as a whole had a heart attitude like that of the Jews in Isaiah's day.  They made themselves blind and deaf to  his message and likewise met with destruction.  (Matthew 23:35-38; 24:1, 2)  This occurred when the Roman forces under General Titus came against Jerusalem in 70 C.E. and demolished the city and its temple. Yet, some had listened to Jesus and had become his disciples.  Jesus pronounced these "happy."  (Matthew 13:16-23, 51) He had informed them that when they saw "Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies," they should "begin fleeing to the mountains."  (Luke 21:20-22)  Thus the "holy seed" that had exercised faith and that had been formed into a spiritual nation, "the Israel of God," was saved. -Galatians 6:16.

About 60 C.E., the apostle Paul found himself under house arrest in Rome.  There he arranged a meeting with "the principal men of the Jews" as well as others and gave them a "thorough witness concerning the kingdom of God."  When many would not accept his message, Paul explained that this was in fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.  (Acts 28:17-27; Isaiah 6:9, 10) So Jesus' disciples carried out a commission comparable to that of Isaiah. 

Similarly, Jehovah's Witnesses today discern  that Jehovah God is in his holy temple.  (Malachi  3:1) Like Isaiah, they say:  "Here I am! Send me." Zealously, they sound the warning message about the approaching end of this wicked system of things.  But, as Jesus indicated, relatively few people open their eyes and ears to see and hear and be saved.  (Matthew 7:13, 14) Happy, indeed are those  who incline their hearts to listen and "get healing for themselves"! -Isaiah 6:8, 10.

Next time: Trust in Jehovah in the Face of Adversity, Chapter Nine

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, 2000

Isaiah's Commission

Alas, Jehovah's answer shows that the bad spiritual state of the people will continue until the full consequences of disobedience to God, as outlined in his covenant, are fulfilled.  (Leviticus 26:21-33; Deuteronomy 28:49-68) The nation will come to ruin, the people will be deported, and the land will lie desolate.  Isaiah will not live to see the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple by the Babylonian army in 607 B.C.E., although he will prophecy for over 40 years, continuing into the reign of King Uzziah's  great-grandson Hezekiah. Still, Isaiah will keep faithfully at his commission until he dies, more than 100 years before that national disaster occurs. 

Destruction that will leave Judah "ruined into a desolation" is bound to come, but the situation is not hopeless.  (2 Kings 25:1-26)  Jehovah assures Isaiah:  "There will still be in it a tenth, and it must again become something for burning down, like a big tree and like a massive tree in which, when there is a cutting down of them, there is a stump; a holy seed will be the stump of it."  (Isaiah 6:13)  Yes, "a tenth, . . .a holy seed," will remain, just like the stump of a massive tree that is felled.  This assurance, no doubt comforts Isaiah-a holy remnant will be found within his people.  Though the nation experiences a repeated burning, like a big tree cut down for fuel, a vital stump of the symbolic tree of Israel will remain. It will be a seed, or offspring, that is holy to Jehovah.  In time, it will sprout again, and the tree will regrow.-Compare Job 14:7-9; Daniel 4:26.

Did the words of the prophecy come true?  Yes, Seventy years after the land of Judah had been desolated, a God-fearing remnant returned from exile in Babylon.  They rebuilt the temple and the city, and they restored true worship to the land.  This restoration of the Jews to their God-given homeland made possible a second fulfillment of this prophecy that Jehovah gave to Isaiah. What was that to be? -Ezra 1:1-4. 

Next time: Other Fulfillments

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind

Isaiah's Commission

Jehovah now outlines what Isaiah is to say and what the response will be:  "Go, and you must say to this people, 'Hear again and again, O men, but do not understand; and see again and again, but do not get any knowledge.'  Make the heart of this people unreceptive, and make their very ears unresponsive, and paste their very eyes together that they may not see with their eyes  and with their ears they may not hear, and that their own heart may not understand and that they may not actually turn back and get healing for themselves."  (Isaiah 6:9, 10)  Does this mean that Isaiah is to be blunt and tactless and repel the Jews, keeping them at odds with Jehovah?  Absolutely not! These are Isaiah's own people for whom he feels an affinity.  But Jehovah's words indicate  how the people will respond to his message, no matter how faithfully Isaiah fulfills his task.

The fault lies with the people. Isaiah will speak to them "again and again," but they will not accept the message or gain understanding. The majority will be stubborn and unresponsive, as if totally blind and deaf.  By going to them repeatedly, Isaiah will let "this people" show that they do not want to understand.  They will prove that they are shutting their minds and heart to Isaiah's message-God's message-to them.  How true this is of people today!  So many of them refuse to listen to Jehovah's Witnesses as they preach the good news of the incoming Kingdom of God.

Isaiah is concerned:  "At this I said: 'How long, O Jehovah?'  Then he said: 'Until the cities actually crash in ruins, to be without and inhabitant, and the houses be without earthling man, and the ground itself is ruined into a desolation; and Jehovah actually removes earthling men far away, and the deserted condition does become very extensive in the midst of the land.' " (Isaiah 6:11, 12) By asking, "How long?"  Isaiah is not asking how long he will have to continue preaching to an unresponsive people.  Rather, he is concerned about the people and asks how long Jehovah's name will be dishonored on the earth.  (See Psalm 74:9-11) So, then, how long will the senseless situation go on? 

Next time: Conclusion of Isaiah's Commission

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, 2000

Unworthy, Yet Cleansed

Reminding us again that this is a vision is the mention of  "the altar."  (C0mpare Revelation 8:3; 9:13) There were two altars at the temple in Jerusalem.  Just before the curtain of the Most Holy was the small altar of incense, and in front of the entrance to the sanctuary was the large altar of sacrifice, where the fire was kept constantly burning.  (Leviticus 6:12, 13; 16:12, 13) But these earthly altars were typical, representative of greater things.  (Hebrews  8:5; 9:23; 10:5-10) It was fire from heaven that consumed the burnt offering upon the altar when the temple was inaugurated by King Solomon.  (2 Chronicles 7:1-3)  And now it is fire from the true, heavenly altar that removes the uncleanness of Isaiah's lips.

Let us listen with Isaiah. "I began to hear the voice of Jehovah saying: 'Whom should I send, and who will go for us?" And I proceeded to say:  'Here I am! Send me.' " (Isaiah 6:8)  The question propounded by Jehovah  is clearly designed to elicit a response from Isaiah, as no other human prophet appears in the vision.  It is unmistakably an invitation for Isaiah to be Jehovah's messenger.  But why does Jehovah ask, "Who will  go for us?"  By switching from the singular personal pronoun "I" to the plural pronoun "us,"  Jehovah now  includes at least on other person with himself. Who?  Was this not his only -begotten Son, who later became the man Jesus Christ?  Indeed, it was this same Son to whom God said, "Let us make man in our image."  (Genesis 1:26; Proverbs 8:30, 31)  Yes, alongside Jehovah in the heavenly courts is his only begotten Son. -John 1:14.

Isaiah does not hesitate to respond! Regardless of what  the message might be, he immediately replies:  "Her I am! Send me."  Neither does he ask what he might gain by accepting the assignment.  His willing spirit is a fine example for all of God's servants today, who have  the commission to preach the 'good news of the kingdom in all the inhabited earth."  (Matthew 24:14)  Like Isaiah, they faithfully stick to their assignment and accomplish the "witness to all the nations," despite widespread unresponsiveness.  And they go forward with confidence, as did Isaiah, knowing that their commission has the  highest authorization.

Next time: Isaiah's Commission

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind

Unworthy, Yet Cleansed

The vision of Jehovah's throne has a profound effect on Isaiah.  He records:  "I proceeded to say:  "Woe to me!  For I am as good as brought to silence, because a man unclean in lips I am, and in among a people unclean in lips I am dwelling; for my eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of armies, himself.' " (Isaiah 6:5)  What  a stark contrast there is between Isaiah and King Uzziah! Uzziah unsurped the position of the anointed priesthood and impiously invaded the Holy compartment  of the temple. Although Uzziah saw the golden lampstands, the golden altar of incense , and the tables of "the bread of Presence," he did not see Jehovah's face of approval or receive any special commission from him. (1 Kings 7:48-50) On the other hand, the prophet Isaiah does not brush aside the priesthood or trespass on the temple and is honored with a direct commission from God.  While the seraphs do not presume  to look upon the enthroned Lord of the temple, Isaiah is allowed, in vision, to look upon "the King, Jehovah of armies, himself!"

The contrast that Isaiah sees between God's holiness and his own sinfulness, makes him feel  most unclean.  Filled with fear, he reasons that he will die.  (Exodus 33:20)  He hears the seraphs praise God with clean lips, but his own lips are unclean and are further sullied by the uncleanness of the lips of the people among whom he dwells and whose speech he hears.  Jehovah is holy, and his servants must reflect that quality.  (1 Peter 1:15, 16)  Although Isaiah has already been chosen as a spokesman for God, he is struck with the realization of his sinful condition and lacks the clean lips befitting a spokesman of the glorious and holy King. What will the heavenly response be?

Instead of banishing lowly Isaiah from before Jehovah's presence, the seraphs act to help him. The record states:  "At that, one of the seraphs flew to me, and in his hand there was a glowing coal that he had taken with tongs off the altar. And he preceded to touch my mouth  and to say: 'Look! this has touched your lips, and your error has departed and your sin itself is atoned for.' " (Isaiah 6:6, 7) In a symbolic sense, fire has purifying power.  When applying the glowing coal from the holy fire  of the altar to Isaiah's lips, the seraph assures  Isaiah that his sins have been atoned fro to the extent necessary to enable him to receive God's favor and a commission.  How reassuring this is to us!  We too are sinful and unworthy to approach God. But we have been redeemed by the merit of Jesus' ransom sacrifice and can receive God's favor and approach him in prayer.- 2 Corinthians 5:18, 21; 1 John 4:10.

Next time: Conclusion of Unworthy, Yet Cleansed

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind

The Seraphs

Listen! Isaiah continues:  " Seraphs were standing above him.  Each one had wings.  With two he kept his face covered, and with two he kept his feet covered, and with two he would fly about."  (Isaiah 6:2) Isaiah chapter 6 is the only place in the Bible where we find mention of seraphs.  Obviously, there are angelic creatures in Jehovah's service who rank very highly in privileges and in honor, being stationed about Jehovah's heavenly throne.  Unlike proud King Uzziah, they occupy their position in all humility and modesty.  Because of being in the presence of the heavenly Sovereign, they cover their faces with one set of wings; and with reverence for the holy location, they cover their feet with another set.  Close to the Universal Sovereign, the seraphs are all the more self-effacing, so as not to distract from God's  personal glory.  The term "seraphs,"  meaning "fiery ones" or "burning ones," suggests that they radiate brightness, yet they hide their faces from the greater brilliance and glory of Jehovah. 
The seraphs use their set of wings for flying and, no doubt, to hover, or 'stand," in their places.  (Compare Deuteronomy 31:15)  As to their position, Professor Franz Delitzch comments:  "The seraphim would not indeed tower above the head of Him that sat upon the throne, but they hovered above the robe belonging to Him with which the hall was filled."  (Commentary on the Old Testament) This seems reasonable.  They are "standing above," not as superior to Jehovah, but as waiting on him, obedient and ready to serve.

Listen, now, to those privileged seraphs!  "This one called to that one and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of armies.  The fullness of the earth is his glory.' " (Isaiah 6:3)  Their assignment is to see that Jehovah's holiness is declared and that his glory is acknowledged throughout the universe, of which the earth is a part.  His glory is seen in all that he created and will soon be discerned by all earth's inhabitants.  (Numbers 14:21; Psalm 19:1-3; Habakkuk 2:14) The threefold declaration, "holy, holy, holy," is no evidence of a Trinity. Rather, it is a threefold emphasizing of God's holiness.  (Compare Revelation 4:8) Jehovah is holy to the superlative degree.

Although the number of seraphs is not mentioned there may be groups of seraphs stationed near the throne.  In melodious song, they repeat one after another the declaration of God's holiness and glory.  What result do we note?  Listen again as Isaiah continues:  "The pivots of the thresholds began to quiver at the voice of  the one calling, and the house itself gradually filled with smoke."  (Isaiah 6:4)  In the Bible, smoke or a cloud often provides visible evidence of God's presence.  (Exodus  19:18; 40:34, 35; 1 Kings 8:10, 11; Revelation 15:5-8)  It denotes a glory to which we human creatures cannot approach.

Next time: Unworthy, Yet Cleansed

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind

Jehovah God Is in His Holy Temple, Chapter Eight

Jehovah God Is in His Holy Temple

"IN THE year that King Uzziah died, I, however, got to  see Jehovah, sitting on a throne lofty and lifted up, and his skirts were filling the temple."  (Isaiah 6:1)  With these words of the prophet, the 6th chapter of the book of Isaiah begins.  It is the year 778  B.C.E.

Uzziah's reign of 52 years as king of Judah was, for the most part, a brilliant success.  Doing what "was right in Jehovah's eyes," he enjoyed God's backing in his military, building, and agricultural ventures.  But his success also came to be his undoing. Eventually, his heart became haughty, "so that he acted unfaithfully against Jehovah his God and came into the temple of Jehovah to burn incense."  Because of this presumptuous act and his rage against the priests who censured him, Uzziah died a leper.  (2 Chronicles 26:3-22)  It was about this time that Isaiah started his prophetic service.

We are not told where Isaiah is stationed when he sees the vision.  But what he sees with his physical eyes is clearly a vision, not an actual sighting of the Almighty, as "no man has seen God at any time."  (John 1:18;  Exodus 33:20)  Still, to see the Creator, Jehovah even in vision, is an awesome sight.  Sitting on a lofty throne, which symbolizes his role as everlasting King and Judge, is the Universal Ruler and Source of all rightful government! The skirts of his long, flowing robe fill the temple.  Isaiah is being called  to a prophetic service that will magnify Jehovah's sovereign power and justice.  In preparation, he will be given a vision of God's holiness.

Isaiah provides no description of Jehovah's appearance in his vision-unlike the visions reported by Ezekiel, Daniel, and John.  And those accounts all vary as to what is seen in heaven.  (Ezekiel 1:26-28; Daniel 7:9, 10; Revelation 4:2, 3) However, the nature and purpose of these visions must be borne in mind.  They are not literal descriptions  of Jehovah's presence.  The physical eye cannot see what is spiritual, nor can the finite human mind comprehend the spirit realm.  Hence, the visions present in human terms the information that is to be conveyed.  (Compare Revelation 1:1) In Isaiah's vision a description of God's appearance is not necessary.  The vision informs Isaiah that Jehovah  is in his holy temple and that he is holy and his judgments are pure.

Next time: The Seraphs

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, 2000

Conclusion of Hating Sin and Loving Truth

Appropriately, Isaiah adds these final woes:  "Woe to those wise in their own eyes and discreet even in front of their own faces!   Woe to those who are mighty in drinking wine, and to the men with vital energy for mixing intoxicating liquor, those who are pronouncing the wicked one righteous in consideration of a bribe, and who take away even the righteousness of the righteous one from him!"  (Isaiah 5:21-23)  Those words were evidently addressed to those serving as judges in the land.  Congregation elders today avoid seeming "wise in their own eyes."  They humbly accept counsel from fellow elders and adhere closely to organizational instructions.  (Proverbs 1:5; 1 Corinthians 14:33)  They are moderate in their use of alcoholic beverages, never indulging before carrying out congregation responsibilities.  (Hosea 4:11)  Elders also avoid giving even the appearance of showing favoritism.  (James 2:9)  How different from the clergy of Christendom!  Many of these whitewash the influential and wealthy  sinners in their midst, in direct contrast to the apostle Paul's warnings at Romans 1:18, 26, 27; 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10; and Ephesians 5:3-5

Isaiah concludes this prophetic message by describing a calamitous end for those who "have rejected the law of  Jehovah"  and failed to bear righteous fruit. (Isaiah 5:24, 25; Hosea 9:16; Malachi 4:1)  He declares: "[Jehovah] has raised up a signal to a great nation far away, and he has whistled to it at the extremity of the earth; and, look!  In haste, it will swiftly come in." -Isaiah 5:26; Deuteronomy 28:49; Jeremiah 5:15. 

In ancient time a pole on an elevated site could serve as "a signal," or rallying point, for people of armies.  (Compare Isaiah 18:3; Jeremiah 51:27)  Now Jehovah himself will rally this unnamed "great nation" to execute judgment.  He will 'whistle to it," that is, draw its attention to his wayward people as an object worthy of conquest.  the prophet next describes the swift and terrifying onslaught of these lion like conquerors who will "grab how of the prey," that is, God's nation, "and bring it safely away" into captivity.  (Read Isaiah 5:27-30a)  And what a sad result for the land of Jehovah's people!   "One will actually gaze at the land, and look! there is distressing darkness; and even the light has grown dark because of the drops falling on it." -Isaiah 5:30b.

Yes, the vineyard that God so lovingly planted proves itself barren-worthy only of destruction.  What a powerful lesson Isaiah's  words hold for all who could serve Jehovah today! May they strive to bear nothing but righteous fruit, to Jehovah's praise and to their own salvation!

Next time: Jehovah God Is in His Holy Temple, Chapter eight

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind

Hating Sin and Loving Truth

Hear now Isaiah's third and fourth woes:  "Woe to those drawing error with ropes of untruth, and as with wagon cords sin; those who are saying: 'Let his work hasten; do let it come quickly, in order that we may see it;  and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, that we may know it!'  Woe to those who are saying that good is bad and bad is good, those who are putting darkness for light and light for darkness, those who are putting bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" -Isaiah 5:18-20.

What a  vivid picture this paints of practicers of sin!  They are attached to sin the way draft animals are tied to wagons.  These sinners do not fear any coming day of judgment.  Mockingly they say:  "Let [God's work] come quickly!" Rather then submitting to God's Law, they twist things, declaring that "good is bad and bad is good." -Compare Jeremiah 6:15; 2 Peter 3:3-7.

Christians today must avoid such an attitude at all costs.  For example, they refuse to embrace the world's view of fornication and homosexuality as acceptable.  (Ephesians 4:18, 19)  True, a Christian might 'take a false step' that could lead to committing a serious sin.  (Galatians 6:1)  The elders in the congregation are ready to help those who have fallen and need assistance.  (James 5:14, 15) With the aid of prayers and Bible-based counsel, spiritual recovery is possible.  Otherwise, there is the danger of becoming "a slave of sin."  (John 8:34)  Rather than mocking God and losing awareness of the coming day of judgment, Christians strive to remain "spotless and unblemished" before Jehovah. -2 Peter 3:14; Galatians 6:7, 8.

Next time: Conclusion of Hating Sin and Loving Truth

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, 2000