THE NEW
EXODUS: PART 3
BOOK OF ISAIAH
SUMMARY
The book of Isaiah, starting at chapter 40, is considered
by several modern liberal scholars to be different in character to the first 39
chapters and is thus called Second Isaiah or Deutero-Isaiah. This concept of a second Isaiah came about
near the end of the eighteenth century. The writing of the 2nd
section allegedly occurred sometime after the Babylonian captivity which
started after 586 BC. As such, this later date would explain explicit
predictions of “Cyrus, King of Persia” in Isaiah 44:28-45:1
and the mention of the word “Babylon” in several places. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain a complete
scroll of Isaiah dated from the second century BC. This scroll is one unit with
the end of chapter 39 and the beginning of chapter 40 in one continuous column
of text.
Jesus quoted from Isaiah
29:13 in Mark 7:6–7; He referenced Isaiah
42:1–4 in Matthew 12:17; and Isaiah 53:4 in Matthew
8:16-17. Several other New Testament
verses refer to the prophet Isaiah as being the sole author: Matthew 3:3
and Luke 3:4
from Isaiah 40:3;
Romans
10:16, 20 from Isaiah 53:1;
65:1;
and John
12:38-41 from Isaiah 53:1; 6:10.
Despite the opinion of modern scholars, Jesus considered all of Isaiah to
have been written by the same person.
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THE SERVANT OF THE LORD
In the days of Isaiah, the Assyrian empire conquered and
dispersed the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC. The majority of the northern inhabitants, who
weren’t killed, were taken captive and transported to Assyria. It has been reported, that at a later time, many
of the ten captive tribes later migrated north by the Caspian Sea into eastern
Europe, then on into Central Europe and Russia.
The southern kingdom of Judah was invaded by Babylon
around 586 BC. Jerusalem and the temple
were badly damaged. There were a total
of 3 different deportations of Judeans to Babylon with the first group being
the largest.
The Assyrian conquest began the dispersion of the people
of Israel and around 150 years later the Babylonians completed the exile task. These two dispersions were prophesied by
Moses in Deut. 30:1-6 which set the parameters for a new exodus or a gathering
of all God’s people, both Jews and Gentiles, from around the world. The New Exodus is a major theme of Isaiah
beginning at chapter 40.
The Gospels quote Isaiah to prove this righteous servant is Jesus
Christ, who is God's appointed messenger announcing the way of salvation and
leading God's people in a New Exodus out of the bondage of sin and death,
through the wilderness of this dark world, and on to the promised land of the
New Jerusalem. (Peter Goodgame)
Isaiah chapters 41, 42, 44, 49, and 53 all contain sections
referencing the phrase “My servant”.
Chapter 41
addresses “Israel, my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the offspring of
Abraham, my friend”. Israel and Jacob
taken from the ends of the earth is still a future prophetic event.
Isaiah 41:8-9 KJV But thou,
Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my
friend. (9) Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the
earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art
my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
Chapter 42
does not mention a name but the attributes of the servant begin to sound as if
it is a person. As a matter of fact it
is quoted in Matthew 12:15-21 referring to the ministry of Jesus.
The quote from Matthew adds “In His name shall the
Gentiles (nations) trust.” The word “isles”
in verse four according to Strong’s is defined as: a
habitable spot; dry land or a coast;
country; island.
Isaiah 42:1-4 KJV Behold my
servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my
spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. (2) He
shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. (3) A
bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he
shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
(4) He shall not fail nor be
discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait
for his law.
Matthew 12:17-21 KJV That it
might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, (18)
Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is
well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the
Gentiles (nations). (19) He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall
any man hear his voice in the streets.
(20) A bruised reed shall he not
break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto
victory. (21) And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
Chapter 44
addresses “my servant” as Jacob and Israel. Blessings of water are promised and
blessings of offspring. All will call
upon the Name of the Lord. The word “Jeshurun”
is a rare title for Israel meaning “the upright one”. Mr. Goodgame claims the “willows” of verse 4
is referring to non-Israelites.
Isaiah 44:1-5, 21 KJV Yet
now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: (2)
Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which
will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have
chosen. (3) For I will pour water upon him that is
thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed,
and my blessing upon thine offspring:
(4) And they shall spring up as
among the grass, as willows by the water courses. (5)
One shall say, I am the LORD'S; and another shall call himself by the
name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and
surname himself by the name of Israel.
(21) Remember these, O Jacob and
Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O
Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
Chapter 49
states the servant of was formed from the womb to be God’s servant. Israel is not yet gathered: if this is referring to the new Israel or the
New Covenant of Jesus, it could be the new exodus (new Eden) at the Millennium. The servant will restore all the tribes of
Jacob: this could refer to the so-called
lost ten tribes of Israel (or Jacob). He
will be a light to the Gentiles (nations) and will be the source of salvation
to the ends of the earth. The servant
will be a covenant, the New Covenant: He
will be Christ.
Isaiah 49:3,5-6,8 KJV And
said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. (5)
…..saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring
Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in
the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength. (6)
…..It is a light thing that thou should be my servant to raise up the
tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee
for a light to the Gentiles, that thou may be my salvation unto the end of the
earth. (8)….. In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation
have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of
the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
The end of Isaiah
52 through 53 contains the powerful Messianic prophecies and to the
Christian, these are undoubtedly referring to Jesus Christ. Of course, religious Mosaic Jews do not
believe Jesus was/is the Messiah. Some
of them continue to wait for that person and he will not be who, or what, he
appears.
Isaiah 52:13; 53:4-6, 11-12 KJV
Behold, my servant shall deal prudently (act wisely), he shall be
exalted and extolled, and be very high. (4) Surely he hath borne our griefs,
and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and
afflicted. (5) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he
was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and
with his stripes we are healed. (6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of
us all. (11) He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied:
by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear
their iniquities. (12) Therefore will I divide him a portion with
the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath
poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and
he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Peter Goodgame: Just as Moses was the pre-eminent “Servant of the
Lord” for the old exodus of the Old Covenant, Jesus is the pre-eminent “Servant
of the Lord” for Isaiah’s New Exodus that is a theme at the very heart of the
New Covenant. Yes, Jesus fulfilled the role prophesied by Isaiah of a figure
who would gather and lead the faithful remnant of Israel out from their bondage
in “Babylon” from the four corners of the earth to its final destination of
(the New) Jerusalem.
THE ISRAEL OF
JESUS
Not all, but many of the Israelites had physically returned
from the nation of Babylon several generations prior to the life and times of
John the Baptist and Jesus. Mark opens
his gospel with a reference to Isaiah 40:3 which is a prophecy referring to
John the Baptist, who was the messenger proclaiming, “Prepare ye the way of the
Lord, make his paths straight.” Based on
their understanding of the Old Testament, the people of Judea had been
expecting the promised Lord’s deliverance several generations prior to the
advent of Jesus. They were waiting for
the fulfillment of their deliverance by a messiah who would free them from the
tyranny of outside rule, expand their empire to one comparable to that of David,
and essentially make them the ruling authority of the world.
The Jews had rebuilt their temple (it was upgraded by
Herod) but it never contained the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat which
were both necessary to fulfill the Day of Atonement ceremony (Leviticus
16). By all accounts, the Shekinah Glory
of God never returned to the rebuilt temple.
Although many had physically returned from Babylon, it seems they only
brought Babylon back with them complete with its false teachings. They were
still waiting for the total literal return of all Israelites exiled from both
the northern and southern kingdoms as written in many of the prophecies.
Peter Goodgame: The
prophet Malachi preached about this and explained why God’s promises were
not fulfilled after the partial physical return from Babylonian exile.
He castigated the people of Israel for their continued corruption, idolatry,
and wholesale rebellion against God, even as they carried on the outward show
of religious rituals in their rebuilt Temple
All of these expectations were written about by
Isaiah. This current first century Israelite
worldview can be largely attributed to Isaiah 40-66. The opening of the gospel of Mark utilizes
this expectancy by maintaining this coming gospel of the Kingdom of God, first
heralded by John the Baptist and then taught by Jesus, is the answer to the
Israelites apocalyptic expectations.
[And it is, but not as they expected.]
It is said that Isaiah predicted that a remnant of Israel
would enter and follow the New Covenant and Kingdom of God. However, a large majority would reject Him
and as Isaiah states, they “would despise Him” and the religious rulers would
kill Him.
He was taken from prison and
from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of
the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he
stricken. (Isaiah 53:8 KJV)
This New Covenant believing remnant of Israel would quickly
enlarge to include Gentiles (nations) and all would be considered the new
nation of Israel. Paul refers to all,
both Jews and Gentiles, who walk in faith as the Israel of God.
And as many as walk according to
this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians
6:16 KJV)
Peter Goodgame: The early Church had nothing even close to the
widespread modern dispensational belief that “the Church” was a unique entity
that was separate and apart from the believing Jewish remnant that was the
foundation of the Church. The early Church viewed itself as followers of “The
Way” that was predicted by the prophet Isaiah. This “Way” was simply “The Way”
of Isaiah’s New Exodus that was composed of a righteous remnant of Israel led
by Isaiah’s “Suffering Servant.”
The original remnant of
Jewish believers considered themselves as the faithful of Israel. When the Lord made it known to Peter that
Gentiles were to be included as members of the faithful family, nothing
changed. They continued to refer to
themselves as the faithful of Israel.
They recognized that the prophet Isaiah and Jesus predicted this very
thing. Therefore, they were the true
Israel of God.
Peter Goodgame: After
Jesus, God’s people became defined by faith in Jesus, and not by circumcision, Sabbath-keeping,
kosher diet, and the various regulations of the Mosaic Law that previously
divided Jews from Gentiles.
Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of Isaiah. His resurrection should change our view of
the Old Testament eschatological predictions.
Jesus’ prophecy fulfillments are explained in the New Testament, many in
a spiritual manner and not in a dispensational literal explicit way.
Read the scriptures with faith and understanding.
Having eyes, see ye not? and
having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? (Mark 8:18 KJV)
Peter Goodgame: The
carpenter of Nazareth was the “Shepherd” of Isaiah 40:11; He was the “Servant
of the Lord” guiding the remnant of Israel on the Highway of Holiness (Isaiah
35:8), which would be a New Exodus joined by Gentiles (42:6, 49:5-8, 51:4-7),
leading out of the wilderness of Babylon (48:20), and on to the New Jerusalem
(60, 61, 62).
