national Israel

Isaiah Series 03: “Do not fear, Israel, My servant” (41:8-16) Part 1

POST OVERVIEW. Another post in “The Isaiah Series,” a series of studies from selected passages of Isaiah 41-66. These posts seek to reveal the beauty and the power of Isaiah’s prophecy and to interpret the meaning of these passages so that the disciple of Jesus is encouraged in their walk.

This post focuses on Isaiah 41:8-9 where we once again examine the identity of “Israel” in Isaiah’s prophecy.

With this passage in Isaiah 41:8-16, we begin the actual devotionals of this series. The pattern for our studies will be to work our way through the passage verse-by-verse (or sometimes section-by-section) and then to conclude the study with a summary and an application.

OUTLINE OF THE PASSAGE

  • What the LORD has already done for “Israel” (41:8-9)
  • What the LORD will do for “Israel” (41:10-14)
  • What “Israel” will do for the LORD (41:15-16)

THE IMMEDIATE CONTEXT. In the verses just before our chosen passage (41:1-7), the context has been one of coming judgment on the coastlands and on the ends of the earth. The peoples are afraid and they tremble as the LORD draws near for judgment, but instead of repentance and cries for mercy, the people encourage one another to be strong and to build idols that will not totter. They openly defy the LORD and His warning.

WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE FOR “ISRAEL”

Isaiah 41:8-9. The LORD suddenly changes His gaze from the defiant nations under judgment to “Israel, My servant (and) Jacob whom I have chosen.” In fact, as we read 41:8-9 carefully, we find seven descriptions of “Israel.”

  • Israel, My servant.
  • Jacob whom I have chosen.
  • Descendant of Abraham My friend.
  • You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth.
  • (You whom I) called from its remotest parts.
  • And said, “You are My servant.”
  • “I have chosen you and not rejected you.”

THE IDENTITY OF ISRAEL. It is clear from the passage thatthese seven descriptions apply to the same group of people. That is, these are seven characteristics of one entity, whether that entity is called “Israel” or “Jacob” or “descendant of Abraham.” But the question the reader must now answer is, “Am I included in this group? Am I part of ‘Israel’?” Therefore, before we continue with our study of this passage, it is necessary that we determine the identity of “Israel.”

Why do we need to answer this question about the identity of “Israel?” We need to know the identity of “Israel” because in this passage, the LORD is addressing His message explicitly and exclusively to this one particular group of people named “Israel.” If I am a member of this “Israel,” then the LORD’s message in Isaiah 41:8-16 is intended for me and I can receive it with joy. If, on the other hand, I am not a legitimate member of this particular group named “Israel,” then the LORD’s message in Isaiah 41:8-16 is not intended for me and I cannot claim any of the blessings or promises in that passage because they are intended for someone else. Just as in our country it is illegal for me to go to my neighbor’s mailbox and take mail that is not addressed to me, so in biblical terms it is illegitimate for me to claim blessings and promises intended for another recipient. So, if I determine that I am not a member of “Israel,” it is illegitimate for me to claim anything from a passage addressed to “Israel.” For me to claim “Israel’s” promises and blessings would be stealing someone else’s mail.

WHICH ISRAEL IS THIS? In our previous post called “Isaiah Series 02,” we had presented the two possible identities of “Israel” in Old Testament prophetic passages. “Israel” could be interpreted literally as meaning the twelve tribes of the Hebrews, the physical descendants of Jacob or it could be interpreted figuratively as meaning true Israel, the elect of God. As we study this passage, we see that here the LORD is addressing true Israel, His people whom He has chosen for salvation. And so, when we read of the LORD speaking to “Israel” in this passage, we know that He is speaking to us who have believed in Jesus. In Isaiah 41:8-16, we believers are “Israel.”

Isaiah 41:8-9 (cont’d). We are “Israel” and therefore we are the Lord’s servant (41:8a, 9d). We are in Christ to be obedient servants of the Lord. Therefore, we serve the Lord by serving our fellow believers. We spend ourselves for others. We serve the Lord with good works (Eph. 2:10; James 2:14-26).

We are “Jacob whom I have chosen” (41:8b). Here the Bible obviously and unambiguously teaches the doctrinal truth that the LORD chose us for salvation completely independent of our help or merit or contribution. That is simply what it means to be chosen by the LORD. In case someone remains confused by the LORD’s message, He says again, “I have chosen you” (41:9d). It is a doctrinal fact from Genesis to Revelation that the Lord is the One who chooses His people and we who are in Christ are the chosen. The Lord is active and we are passive. Rejoice that He has chosen you! (Jn. 15:16; Rom. 9:14-23; Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 2:9)

Next the LORD says that “Israel” is a “descendant of Abraham.” But how can a Gentile believer be a descendant of Abraham? Turn to Galatians 3:7 and 3:26-29 and you have your answer. (See also Romans 4:16.) All those who believe, whether Jew or Gentile, are sons of Abraham through faith in Jesus.

We read further that the LORD has taken “Israel” (or “Jacob”) “from the ends of the earth and called [him] from its remotest parts” (41:9a, b). In the gospel, the mystery has now been revealed that true “Israel” includes believing Gentiles, who “are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Eph. 3:6). Gentiles from every tribe and tongue and people and nation are being gathered in from the ends of the earth, from its remotest parts to worship the Lord and to obey Him and to serve Him in His church.

SUMMARY. Our study so far has shown us that anyone who has believed in Jesus can legitimately claim the name of “Israel” and is thus a rightful recipient of the blessings and promises which the LORD pours out in the remainder of this passage (41:10-16). The LORD’s strength and help and presence and redemption are for true “Israel” who are God’s people through faith in Jesus.

NEXT ARTICLE. Now that we know that we are the “Israel” of Isaiah 41:10-16, we will see the promises and the blessings that the LORD provides for us in the rest of the passage.

Soli Deo gloria            rmb                 1/8/2024                     #688

Cut down the fig tree! (Luke 13:6-9) – Part 1

INTRODUCTION. A study in two parts from the parable of the fig tree in Luke 13:6-9. This first post examines this parable as it applies to the nation of Israel and their rejection of Jesus the Messiah.

After His clear teaching on the necessity of repentance in Luke 13:1-5, Jesus goes on to tell a parable that illustrates the urgency of repentance. We would be wise to carefully consider the Lord’s message so that we do not get cut down like this fig tree.

THE PASSAGE, LUKE 13:6-9

6 And He (Jesus) began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. 7 And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; 9 and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’” – Luke 13:6-9

The action in this parable is simple enough to understand. The owner of the vineyard (or garden) has come to harvest some fruit he expected to find on the fig tree, but once again, there is no fruit on that tree. He tells the keeper of the vineyard that this fig tree is useless and needs to be cut down so another tree can take its place. But the vineyard keeper suggests that they should wait one more year for fruit. Then, if still there is no fruit, cut the tree down.

As with any parable, the key is to interpret the meaning of the parable. The meaning of this parable will be determined by understanding its intent in its context. It turns out that this parable can be understood on two levels.

THE MEANING OF THE PARABLE – BIG PICTURE

First, then, we will consider the “big picture” meaning of the parable. The big picture has to do with the nation of Israel and their rejection of Jesus, their promised Messiah. The fig tree is a symbol for Israel. Ever since the Exodus from Egypt and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, the Lord has been calling national Israel to obedience of His commandments, to forsaking their idols and to stopping their rebellion against Him. And Israel and Judah have persisted in their stiff-necked disobedience. God is the vineyard owner looking for fruit, and now His patience has run out. Cut down the tree (the nation of Israel) and plant another one in its place (the Gentiles) that will bear the fruit of repentance (Matthew 21:40-43; Luke 3:8-9)! The vineyard-keeper symbolizes Jesus. He is Israel’s promised Messiah, and His coming to the vineyard represents Israel’s “last chance.” “Wait one more year. If they reject Me and continue in their rebellion even when their promised Messiah is in their midst, then go ahead and cut them down.”

Of course, we know that Israel did reject Jesus the Messiah. They despised Him and opposed Him and finally crucified Him. And the details of this parable were fulfilled in AD 70 when, as a result of Israel never bearing the fruit of repentance, “the fig tree was cut down” when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem. This is the “big picture” understanding of this parable.

APPLICATION

Before we move on to another way to view this parable, we should consider how this parable applies to us. Consider that the nation of Israel had free access to God’s word. In fact, Israel was unique among the nations because they “were entrusted with the oracles of God” (Romans 3:2). The LORD had given His Word, the Old Testament, to the nation of Israel. But despite having the Scriptures and having true prophets who called the people to obey the LORD, Israel continued in their rebellion and their disobedience. Finally, when their promised Messiah appeared in the flesh, instead of receiving Him with joy they rejected Him. So, most of the people perished in their sins.

But can you see the parallel with any person living in America? Like the nation of Israel, we have free access to God’s word, the Bible any time we want. Unlike countries where even reading a Bible is a capital offense, the people in this country can read and own the Bible without any risk of punishment or persecution. Preachers in America freely preach the Bible, bookstores sell Bibles, radio and TV programs teach the Bible, seminaries dissect the Bible. But despite an abundance of Bible resources and an immense number of proclaimers of the gospel message, most people ignore and reject all these opportunities and continue in their disobedience and rebellion. In the midst of easy access to the message of the gospel of salvation, most people run headlong toward destruction. So, most of the people perish in their sins. If you are one of those people who have ignored God’s word and have remained willfully deaf to the call to Jesus, I beg you to turn to Jesus Christ in faith before the Lord says, “Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?”

ANOTHER INTERPRETATION

So, one way to see this parable is to see Jesus giving a final warning to national Israel that they needed to receive their Messiah. But there is another way to understand this parable that has application to every single person who ever hears the gospel. We will explore that in our next article.

SDG                 rmb                 1/18/2022                   #485