Isaiah 8:1-9:7 From Darkness to Light

by Larry Ferrell | January 20, 2018
This unit deals with the same events as chapter 7, and the fact that the name Immanuel occurs in 8:8 and is alluded to again in 8:10 suggests that, in general, what we have here is the further outworking of the word spoken to Ahaz in 7:14. That word was a doubled-edged involving both judgment and salvation. Its outworking is now depicted in terms of darkness and light. In the short term it means gathering darkness (judgment), but in the long term brilliant light (the coming of the Messiah and the drawing of a new age). The passage as a whole consists of four oracles, in which Isaiah delivers messages given to him directly by the Lord, and two brief reflections on their significance by the prophet himself.

The verses 8:1-10 are strikingly reminiscent of 7:14-17. Like Ahaz in chapter 7, the people as a whole are being given a last chance to abandon their faithless scheming and rely entirely on the Lord as their deliverer, for the sign does not speak of judgment on Judah, but rather of the destruction of her two northern enemies (v. 4). King and people alike have rejected the Lord’s help (compared to the gently flowing waters of the Shiloh spring in Jerusalem) and preferred the help of Assyria (likened to the water of the mighty Euphrates). But if they thought that the river, once in flood stage, would stop at their own borders, they were mistaken. It will sweep on into Judah, all but engulfing it (v. 8). For all that however, the clever schemes of the nations (whether they be Israel, Syria, or Assyria) are, in the final analysis of no consequence. It’s what the Lord has purposed, not what they have planned, that will ultimately be achieved (vv. 9-10).

The verses in 8:11-15 have a logical connection with what has gone before. The schemes of the nations will come to nothing because they stem from the fear of mere humans. Isaiah and his followers are to have nothing to do with such schemes. Instead, they are to fear the Lord alone. To those who do this the Lord will be a sanctuary (He will protect them), but to those who do not He will be like a great stone in their path, over which they will stumble and fall (vv. 14-15). The bottom line is that the Lord cannot be ignored. Whether He is experienced as Savior or as Judge depends on how we respond to Him.

In verses 8:16-22 Isaiah, at times, appears to be addressing an unspecified individual (v. 16) or his disciples collectively (v. 19), but the mixed speech forms are in reality an indication of his inner turmoil as he reflects on the preceding words and their implications. Those who have rejected the clear message he has brought from God will turn in their lostness to the occult, and in so doing plunge themselves into ever deeper darkness and ruin (vv. 19, 21-22). Isaiah therefore sees the urgency of committing his teaching to his disciples. They will need it to turn to as the darkness closes about them (v. 20), and they will preserve it for a future generation who may be more willing to hear. But if Isaiah has hope in this dark moment (and he does), it is not grounded finally in the disciples but in the Lord. Even the disciples may fail to live up to the expectations Isaiah has of them, but the Lord Himself will never let him down.

Verse 9:1 introduces a sharp contrast (Nevertheless…) which prepares the way for what follows in verses 9:2-7. The change of mood from fearful gloom to no more gloom is possible only because of Isaiah’s confidence in the Lord. With his gaze once more fixed on the future, the time of fulfillment, the imminent devastation of the northern kingdom by Assyria is relegated to the past. By faith he sees a glorious reversal that will one day be effected by God’s grace. Devastation will give way to glory. The dawn will break in the very region that was the first to experience God’s judgment. No wonder Matthew draws our attention to the fact that it was in these northern parts, with their mixed population, that Jesus first proclaimed the gospel.

The theme of salvation is clearly the climax of the whole movement from darkness to light in verses 8:1-9:7. At the same time it represents the final reversal of the situation in chapter 7 where the Davidic house, represented by Ahaz, was rejected. The logical structure is signaled by the threefold “for” of verses 4, 5, and 6 (RSV). The rejoicing of verse 3 is occasioned by release from oppression (v. 4), cessation of war (v. 5), and the birth of an ideal ruler (v. 6). That which is plainly future spoken of as already accomplished, for the zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this (v. 7c). Finally the language of verse 6 can apply only to one who is God incarnate. There can be little doubt, then, that this oracle points directly to the coming of the Messiah, the great Son of David and the true Light.

Isaiah 8:1-9:7 Reflection Questions:
Are you bringing the Lord into all your major decisions or are you doing acting alone?
What Scriptures in the New Testament refer to Jesus as the true Light?
In what ways are you daily reflecting His light?
What lesson is God showing you with this study?

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Philippians 2:9-11 The Name Above All Names (Part Two)

by Larry Ferrell | January 26, 2018
Let’s review what we have learned up to this point that has happened to the Lord Jesus Christ in our study of Philippians 2:5-11. Jesus Christ was in the form of God. He laid aside His glory to take a form of a man. He died once for man’s salvation. He rose again. He ascended into heaven. He has been given the name that is above every name. Jesus Christ is Lord. All this happened, and God has provided us with evidence that these things are so. Still we refuse to admit what God has demonstrated. We refuse to acknowledge the facts, preferring our own fantasies to God’s truth. We do this, not from a worthy motive but because it makes us more comfortable with sin. Against this sinful attitude our text rings out like a thunderclap from heaven (Phil. 2:9-11). According to these verses, the day is coming when human arrogance will be ended. Every mouth will be stopped (Rom. 3:19), and everyone will admit that truth is truth, even though they may hate God for it.

If you read these verses carefully, you will see at once that they are a prophecy. In fact, they are the New Testament equivalent of an Old Testament prophecy found in Psalm 110:1. That verse is quoted in the New Testament directly and indirectly at least twenty-seven times. It teaches that the One called David’s Lord, the Messiah, will one day reign over all things and that al His enemies shall be defeated. Philippians 2:9-11 is the New Testament equivalent of this prophecy. Yet, like most of the revelations given in the New Testament text, it tells of things that are not evident in the Old Testament. First, it tells that the acknowledgement of Christ’s rule will take the form of the verbalized confession “Jesus Christ is Lord.” Second, it tells that this confession will be made by all orders of intelligent beings – those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth. Finally, it tells that this confession will result in the ascription of glory to the Father.

The acknowledgement of Jesus Christ spoken of in these verses will take the form of the confession “Jesus Christ is Lord.” The title “Lord” has been already been considered in our previous study. It is a name for God (Adonai). Consequently, when it is applied to Jesus Christ it is an acknowledgement that He is God. Jesus himself said, “He who has seen me has seen the Father.” The confession also means that Jesus is the sovereign God. The word “Lord” has overtones of rule. Consequently, Jesus is the One who does what is right and who has the power to carry out His decisions. All this is true. Yet the use of the confession in these verses has a slightly different tone simply because it is set in the future when the exalted Christ will already have established His rule. The day that these verses speak of is coming, when the confession will stand as a glorious acknowledgement of what has already taken place. Jesus is Lord, but then there will be no more rivals to His throne.

The second important teaching in these verses is the fact that this confession is to be made by every order of intelligent being – by those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth. The first confession will be made by angels. We read about it in more detail in Revelation 4-5. Here we find that there are myriads of angels that join with the saints in voicing praise to God. We also read that this confession will be made by those on the earth: men and women. The Book of Revelation seems to imply that this will be an innumerable company of people. Verse 10 also says that there is to be a confession of the lordship of Jesus Christ by those who are under the earth. This means the demons plus those who have rejected the gospel and are now confined to Hades. We need to ask ourselves how we are going to make that confession, because every one of us will make it someday. You will either make it willingly as you acknowledge Him who is your Savior and Lord, or you will be forced to acknowledge it with bitterness moments before you are banished from God’s presence forever.

A final thought comes from verse 11. Here we read that the confession that will be made will result in glory to God the Father. This is not true of any honor given to humans. If you glorify human beings, you dishonor God. You do so if you exalt yourself or your merits as a means of salvation, or exalt human beings as mediators between yourself and God, as saints who win God’s favor for you, or exalt human wisdom as that which is ultimately able to solve the world’s problems, or place your hopes for the future in psychiatry, science, systems of world government, or whatever it may be. If you exalt the ability of mankind in any of those ways, you dishonor God, who declares that all of our works are tainted by sin and that we will never solve our own problems or the problems of others except by turning to Christ and depending upon His power to do it. The only way to honor God is to give honor to Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:9-11 Reflection Questions:
Do you accept Jesus Christ as you Lord and Savor? If you have not already done so “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).
Are you putting your hopes for the future in psychiatry, science, systems of world government, or whatever it may be, or is all your hopes in God?

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