Article archive
04/26/2013 08:09
Although the Mosaic covenant faded, God did not give up on the Jews. They too are invited to become offspring of the Servant. In Romans, Paul speaks of the Jews being grafted back into covenant relationship. And thus we see the pattern of all of Scripture: union—fall away—restoration. Isaiah...
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04/19/2013 07:39
The suffering is over. The victory is won. The triumph is complete. Isaiah 54 presents a picture of the blessing realized from the accomplished mission of the Servant. In the chapter, God speaks to the Servant, not about him. It is written in 2nd Person. But taken as a whole, we may think...
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04/12/2013 08:28
What if the story had gone slightly differently? What if most of the incidents had taken place as we know them—Jesus arrested by the temple guard in Gethsemane, taken to Caiaphas for the mock trial, marched at daybreak across Jerusalem to Pilate, Pilate asking Jesus where he was from, Jesus...
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04/05/2013 08:57
In climactic fashion, Isaiah 52 brought together Israel the nation, Israel the Messiah, and Israel the Messiah’s offspring in explanation of God’s redeeming plan that would bring about Zion—God and his image bearers dwelling together in love forever. This plan is actually what the Abrahamic...
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03/29/2013 06:00
In the first 8 verses of chapter 51, God first calls for covenant faithfulness (1-3), next he promises covenant faithfulness on his end (4-6), and finally based on this covenant faithfulness, he tells those with whom he’s joined in covenant to rest in that covenant.
Starting with verse 9 and...
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03/22/2013 08:06
After God explains that the break with or cutting off of Jacob was not something God had wanted but was due to Jacob’s own faithless iniquity, the focus shifts to the faithful Servant. In verses 4 through 11 of chapter 50, the Servant is speaking. He begins with a curious statement: “The...
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03/15/2013 09:02
The major covenants we find in Scripture provide the framework of God’s interaction with his image bearers. These covenants include:
The Covenant of God – This covenant is God’s own, made with himself before the world began. In love and foreknowledge, he determines to create. His purpose...
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03/08/2013 10:34
Isaiah 49:8 tells us that the Servant will be the covenant and, by the covenant, restore the land and make them possess the desolate inheritances. We see definite Abrahamic covenant language in this verse. Land, as an inheritance promised to God’s people, always signifies his secure...
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03/01/2013 16:18
Isaiah 49 begins with the Servant speaking. The Servant calls out to the world to listen. We understand this as a universal call because he speaks to “coastlands.” Some translations use the word “islands,” but the meaning is the same. Coastlands are those areas that are at the extreme edge...
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02/22/2013 08:03
Isaiah 48:12-16 divides into three specific addresses. The first (verses 12-13) calls to Jacob and Israel to listen to God. The call is singular addressing the group as a nation rather than individuals among that nation. It is interesting and telling that God addresses the nation as both...
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