Exposition by Max A Forsythe
Today's half of Isaiah thirty is divided into two parts. The first seven verses are in prose and the second five verses in poetry, according to our New International Version translation. In this chapter of woe for the people of Zion, the Lord makes clear in the first section that still there is hope for those who belong to Him. Of course we look long and hard at some of the goings on before and after this chapter, and particularly frown upon the dire straits of the second half today, and we may well wonder. Let's look at the theme here in this way: Baby Salmon are spawned far inland in various rivers around the world. As soon as they can they head down stream with the water flow. Into the world's oceans pour the countless multitudes of tiny fishes. There in the course of their adult life they grow and mature. Finally the great design implanted in their genes causes them to return to the very river from which they came. Homeward bound they go. But not all return. Very many at different stages of life are consumed by other, larger fish. Quite a few are gathered up in nets for our dinner tables. Still others are caught swimming up the long rivers to the quiet pools at journey's end. In uncivilized areas, vast throngs of bear gorge themselves in preparation for their winter's sleep. In civilized areas, fishermen and industries take their toll. Finally some few make it all the way home, where they lay their eggs to provide the next generation and so on since the beginning of time
As we look at this portion today, keep this image in mind as we see the Lord sorting out the elect and showing us the dangers which claim all of those who never make it to our heavenly home. As we consider this return and redemption let us consider the flip side of salvation. After all there is little use thinking much of salvation if we have not learned what it is we were saved from, is there? Let me rephrase that because this is a very vital point. This is why salvation is so little appreciated in our day and age. This is why it is always good to spend some time in the prophets and work our way through entire books of the New and Old Covenants. If we do not have a right knowledge of sin and eternal punishment for that sin we may not appreciate God's plan to provide a way home to heaven. Years ago there was a foul tasting medicine called castor oil. No one liked it, but when ever a child felt sick and complained they had to take a dose! The medicine really never cured much, but the thinking was this. If the child was sick enough to take a spoonful, they must really be sick! Sick enough to see a doctor! Off they went quickly! In the same way, if you are willing to take a dose of the prophets’ preaching, if you are willing to swallow the perceived bitter pill of humiliation in the presence of our awesome God, then you are ready to hear the news of God's salvation.
Here is a shadow of the Christian gospel in the first half of our text today. Look at the promise in verse nineteen. Dr Young assures us that this promise is of salvation for those who dwell in the midst of the city where God Himself is with us. Even Zion as he translates it. See the graciousness there in this verse. But you have to cry for help. You have to know that you are in real danger! I am reminded of an innocent city toddler who on a relative's farm was seen playing with a barking puppy running in and around the legs of an old draft horse. Did anyone dare yell out, possibly scaring the horse? No, quickly and quietly the toddler was gathered up and returned to the house. In another case one of my nephews was warned repeatedly every time he came to our farm that the fence was electric and that he should stay away from it. I was working at the barn and my nephews were running around the yard. They headed for the fence, I warned them but one not only ran into the fence but got wrapped up in it. I quickly reached inside the barn door to hit the safety switch which shut down that whole circuit. But not before he had been zapped a half dozen times! Believe me he cried out for help. He learned the hard way about the dangers of electric fence, just like little children used to learn about hot heating and cooking stoves.
In the same way we have to learn to call out to our Father in heaven for help in the midst of a wicked and fallen world. Unfortunately some of the greatest dangers of our time are extremely attractive. One of my most promising students last year was led away from success in the military and a vocational career because he lusted after the flesh. After all, she cooed, she didn't want to be left alone on weekends. Never mind the dishonorable discharge, never mind the ruined career. Even as several of us warned him repeatedly he never ever thought that he might need some help. He was blind to the danger. In verse twenty we see that like that young man, we are all disciplined by adversity and affliction because of blindness to the teachings of those who know better. But those who will hear, those who will listen to God's teachers will be delivered. Look at verse twenty-one; the image here is almost like that of a farmer driving a draft animal. At one time oxen, horses and mules were all taught to respond to voice commands. Gee to go right and Haw to go left. In learning that simple lesson which even the dumb animals are able to comprehend, we should see our own way to salvation. In the old horse cavalry a bugler went down by the stables to practice the trumpet signals. Unnoticed to him, a dozen horses in the pasture out back gathered into formation, where they galloped and trotted around the field in response to the time worn signals. When the bugler sounded the charge, they burst through the fence and out onto the plain. Our poor bugler had to spend the next three days rounding up horses because he didn't have the wits to sound recall quick enough.
In verse twenty-two Isaiah predicts that finally, after a millennium or more, the Lord's people will at long last put away the pagan idols. These will be as so many used Tampax Isaiah notes. Thus confronted by the Lord's commands, the people begin to work on sanctification. Step by step, sins may be acknowledged and put away and the people prepared for eternity.
In verse twenty-three we see that the Lord promises blessings showers, even. And these not only for the people but also their livestock. Notice verse twenty-four - the Hebrew words for feed there indicate that the grain is cleaned by sieve and fan. This is what we are doing in our store for our customers, because the elevators will not take the time to clean animal feed. Our last wagon load of oats has nine pounds of inedible dirt and weeds in every hundred. We are a long way from the biblical perfections in this particular matter today!
Perhaps his hearers were equally appalled that anyone might take the time to treat the livestock well. Of course we have to be careful with this line of thought in our day and age because in the state of Ohio you can get a jail term and a multi-thousand dollar fine if you destroy a wild turkey egg. You see, a wild turkey egg is an undeveloped embryo so it has to be protected. Lucky is the turkey who might have been an unborn human with open season declared the year around!
In verse twenty-five Isaiah clarifies his vision of the great day when Christ shall return. Even as the towers fall and the slaughter increases, streams of living water will flow and the blinding light of God's presence will be revealed. In verses twenty-seven and eight the vision shifts to those who are lost - those who will not hear the word of the Lord, those who care not that they are lost because they really, sincerely do not want to be found.
Even as we return home from the far country of sin and perdition we learn that the Lord has a burning rage against sin and all of those who love to sin. They are swept away in the torrent of his wrath because like a run away horse they have taken the bit into their teeth to go their own way, to destruction. But you, you Isaiah says, "you will sing as on the night you celebrate a holy festival". The night in question here is very probably the Passover night which every spring has been celebrated by the Jewish people. That Passover night is the oldest regularly celebrated religious festival known to man. On the grand day at the end of the age, all of true Israel will sing songs of celebration because they have arrived safely home to the arms of Jesus, the Rock of Israel. The redeemed will see the righteous punishment of the wicked. In time and for our own assurance, Assyria will visibly be shattered.
In verse thirty-three the very visible death pit outside the city of Jerusalem will be prepared for the thousands of bodies of those Assyrians who will be slain by the hand of God. What a hellish place will this valley be in time. Providentially ,I have never been on a battle field where men have had to labor long and hard to clean up the gruesome mess. A rural fire department once had to clean up after a youngster who took some pills and, thinking he was superman, stood on the tracks, and put up his hands to stop a roaring locomotive. What will happen to the wicked at the end of the age will be even worse. When we get there it will be well for us to remember: There but for the grace of God go I. Look back at verse thirty and pray earnestly that if God has not already done so, he will cause you to hear his majestic voice. If you know you have been redeemed, give Him your heartfelt praise in song as we worship our Redeemer today. Amen.
Resources Used:
Ellis, Charles..
The Wells of Salvation.
Thomas, Derek..
Welwyn Commentary Series: God Delivers.
Young, Edward J.
The Book of Isaiah.
The Holy Bible.
New International Version (1984 Edition)
NOTE: I am not able to automatically
recommend any future editions.
Christ Covenant Reformed (Presbyterian Church in America) -
Box 13926 - Columbus, OH 43213
(c) 2001
15 May 1994
Permission granted to redistribute unedited versions with this notice.