M. L. Andreasen's Isaiah the Gospel Prophet:
CHAPTER III The Call to the House of Jacob Lesson Scripture: Isaiah 2; 3; 4 ISAIAH
2: 1-9. These verses contain the call of the people to “go up to the mountain
of the Lord." The parallel scripture is found in Micah 4: 1-3. At first
sight this scripture seems to teach a turning of the nations to the Lord, and
the beginning of the millennium when men shall learn war no more. A more
careful view, however, makes us hesitate to accept any such conclusion. Some of
the reasons for our not accepting the popular interpretation are: 1. Joel presents a message exactly the
opposite of this. Instead of beating their swords into plowshares, Joel is
commanded to tell the people to beat their plowshares into swords. The message in Joel. is God's
command to the prophet. The opposite statement in Isaiah is what “many people"
say.. Hence as between what God says and what "many
people" say, we accept God's word. 2. Mountains are doubtless symbolic of
political powers. In Revelation 17: 9, 10, the seven mountains are seven kings,
or kingdoms, - on which the woman sits. In Daniel 2: 35 we are told that the
kingdoms of this world are broken to pieces by the stone cut out without hands.
The kingdom of God destroys earthly kingdoms. Here in Isaiah we find “the
mountain of the Lord's house” "at the head of the mountains" (A.R.V.,
margin). It is not here destroying the kingdoms of the world, but heading them
up, "established in the top of the mountains." Instead of this being
God's people, the description rather seems to fit the apostate church spoken of
in Revelation 17, who shall sit on the seven mountains. Verse
9. 3. "The house of Jacob" (A.R.V.)
as a name for God's people, has a suspicious sound as here used. God has
forsaken the house, or children, of Jacob (verse 6), or rather “rejected” them,
as the original indicates. The reason for the rejection is that they are “replenished
from the east," they are "soothsayers," they "please
themselves in" or "strike hands with" (A.R.V.), that is, make
alliances with strangers. Also, their land is full of idols and they worship
them. From this it seems clear that the house of Jacob here mentioned is not the true people of God, but the false. 24 We
therefore conclude that this prophecy of Isaiah refers to a false movement in
the last days. The apostate power shall accept the leadership of the nations,
shall "rebuke," "arbitrate for," "will decide
concerning" (verse 4, A.R.V., margin), the nations, and “many
people," in fact, “all nations shall flow unto it." Verses 10-22. Events of the day of the Lord. When the day of the Lord
shall come, "the lofty looks of man shall be humbled." It will be a
dreadful day. Men will crawl into the holes of the rocks when the earth shakes
under the majesty of the Lord's presence. “The Lord alone shall be exalted in
that day." Isaiah 3:1-15. God's
controversy with Judah and Jerusalem. God is
about to punish His people. He will take away their stay of bread and water.
Children will rule over them, and general anarchy and ruin will result. This is
because “their tongue and their doings are against the Lord." In this time
of trouble God will not forget His own. “The Lord standeth up to plead" for them. They have been beaten
to pieces and ground down (verse 15), but in the end it will be well with them.
Verse 10. Isaiah 3: 16 to 4: I, God's controversy with
the daughters of Zion. As long
as the women of a nation retain their virtue and integrity, the nation will survive.
When women succumb to the vices and practices of men, the nation is doomed.
Every child born into the world is given into the charge of some woman who has
the first chance to mold and train the little one. As long as women discharge
this responsibility in the fear of God, there is hope. When the womanhood of a
nation goes wrong, when outward adornment becomes of greater interest to them
than inward piety, where shall help be found? The
women here mentioned are not heathen. They are the
daughters of Zion, professed Christians. They wish to bear the name of Christ,
but will neither dress themselves nor live to please Him. Isa. 4: 1. Instead of
Christ's robe of righteousness, they will wear their own apparel. Instead of
accepting Him, the bread that came down from heaven (John 6:33), they want to
eat their own bread. Isaiah 4: 26. God's true
church in the last days. These
verses deal with the purified church as the latter rain is poured upon them, and with conditions after probation ceases, just
before the Lord comes. The remnant, those that “are escaped," 26 that are "
left," are " beautiful and glorious," for God will have purged
away " the filth of the daughters of Zion." This will be done by the “spirit
of judgment" and of “burning." “Our God is a consuming fire"
(Heb. 12: 29), and His presence in the church will consume away the dross. Verses 5
and 6 speak of the last year before the Lord comes, the year of the seven last
plagues, when God will shield His people as they have sought refuge in solitary
places. Over every little group of believers will be seen the cloud by day and
the shining of a flaming fire by night, as when God brought His people out of
Egypt. When the plagues fall, there will be a place of refuge and a covert from
the storm and rain. Notes Isaiah
2: 5. The “house of Jacob " may here have a
special significance. Jacob was the name of a son of Isaac before his conversion.
After that his name was Israel. The power here mentioned is the house of Jacob,
not Israel. While this point should perhaps not be pressed too far, it is
worthy of notice that when God's people are mentioned later on, it is as
Israel. Chap. 4:2, 3. Verse 6. “Soothsayers." We do not know what particular form of
divination is here meant. Some translate the word "
cloud compellers," that is, rain makers. Verse 19. “To shake terribly," literally "to terrify the
earth." This without doubt is at the time of the great earthquake.
Rev. 16: 18. Isaiah 3:
16. "Mincing as they go, and making a tinkling." The “tinkling " (verse 18) was caused by the "ankle
chains " (verse 20, A.R.V.), a short chain uniting the feet, which also
caused the “mincing." Verses 18-24. We do
not know what all these ornaments were. Different times give different names to
prevailing styles and customs. Among others we find in the A.R.V. the following
familiar names: "pendants" instead of "chains;" "sashes"
and “perfume boxes" instead of "headbands" and
"tablets" (verses 19, 20); "shawls" and "satchels"
instead of "wimples" and "crisping pins" (verse 22);
"hand mirrors" instead of "glasses" (verse 23). "Well-set
hair," of verse 24, literally means "turner's work," artificial
curls. Instead of “burning” read “branding," a symbol of
slavery. Lessons for To-day Isaiah
2: 3. Carefulness is needed in reading the word. We should not attribute to God
that which the people say, but should rightly divide
the word of truth. 2 Tim. 2: 15. Verses 3, 4. We
should not lightly pass by these verses, thinking that they contain only what
the people say. While that is true, yet they are a part of the Bible, and will
be just as literally fulfilled as any other part. In the last days the people
will say exactly what is here said. The apostate church will regain temporal
power, and will take the leadership of nations, and they will flow into it. The
whole world will wonder after the beast. Rev. 13:3. And the politico-religious
church will arbitrate among the nations and judge them. Verse 7. " Neither is there any end of their treasures." (See James 5.) Verse 8. “Worship the
work of their own hands." That is true of idols,
and it is equally true of science. Men are so infatuated with their own
discoveries that they literally worship science. Verses 10-17. Man's
pride shall be brought down. Note upon whom-the day of the Lord will come.
There are ten "upons." All of them have
reference to some kind of pride. Men worship the work of their own hands.
Delving into the secrets of nature, men have found a few grains from the
marvelous storehouse of God's wisdom. These they exhibit with pride, and almost
think themselves gods. And yet the wisest of men are but as children by the seashore,
thinking to empty the ocean with a spoon. Verse 21. To fear the
Lord and to have fear of the Lord are two different experiences. Those who fear
the Lord now need have no fear of Him when He comes. Isaiah 3:
9. Some men can hide their emotions, but none can hide their lives. Their
countenances will witness against them. The sins of Sodom will be revealed in
their looks. Nature cannot he cheated. And it will surely be “woe unto their
soul." They that sin against their body" have rewarded evil unto themselves." Verses 10, 11. Notice
that both the righteous and the wicked merely receive the reward of their
doings. Verse 12. “They which
lead thee cause thee to err." What a responsibility it is to be a leader! Verse 14. God notices
every act of oppression, by whomever done. Verses 16-24. Many of
the things here mentioned are in them- 28 selves perfectly
lawful to use and wear. But when anything is worn or used for display, to
attract attention, it becomes questionable, though in itself it may serve a
useful purpose. We would not, however, recommend that the men spend too much
time discussing women's foibles. Let each one look to his own
shortcomings. Isaiah
4: 1. Seven women, one man. Seven is the complete
number. "Women " represents a church (Rev.
12: I, 2; 17: 3), but in this case not the true or pure church, for there is a
reproach. How true it is to-day that the churches will not
accept the bread that came down from heaven, but rather eat their own food —
the traditions of men. They want the name, but reject the garment which
Christ provides, and hence will be found at last without the wedding garment. Verse 2. "In that day." Note how often this phrase is
repeated in Isaiah. “The branch of the Lord," the true people of God. John 15: 5. "Them
that are escaped" — the remnant. The last church will have the wedding
garment rejected by others. This is what makes the church "beautiful and
glorious." Verse 3. “He that is left," "he that remaineth,"
— the remnant. It is he that remains that will be saved; the rest are
shaken out. “Among the living." In the early church God took an active part in keeping the
church above reproach. Ananias and Sapphira tried to
deceive, and they were carried out dead. Acts 5: I-11. Apostolic power for
which we pray presupposes apostolic purity. In the days of the apostles
"great fear came upon all the church when they heard about Ananias and Sapphira. and "of the rest
durst no man join himself to them." Verses 11, 13.
It was dangerous in those days for a sinner to belong to the church. Even so in
the last days, those that remain, those that are among the living, "shall
be called holy, even every one." When God
purifies His church, when the Holy Spirit is poured out, it will not be well
with the sinners in Zion. Verse 4. “Washed away the filth." It is not enough that sin be
repented of and pardoned; it must be washed away. It is one thing to cover
over, to forgive; it is another thing to wash away, to cleanse. The one is
righteousness by faith, the other is holiness. God will
not only “forgive us our sins," but will also "cleanse." I John I:
9. “Spirit of burning." This is none other but God, who as a consuming fire "shall
suddenly come to His temple." There “He shall sit as a refiner and
purifier," for "He is like a refiner's fire, 29 and like fullers'
soap." He "shall . . . purge them as gold and silver." Mal. 3:
1-3. The great question in that day will be, “Who may abide the day of His
coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth?" When God has finished His work, Zion will
be "the perfection of beauty." God being in Zion (the church), and
having purified it, it will be true that "out of Zion .
. God hath shined." Ps. 50: 2. Verse 5. “Every dwelling place of Mount Zion." In the last year
of probation God's people will be scattered all over the earth, many in
desolate places and among the mountains. But wherever a small group may be,
there the visible sign of God's presence is. What a wonderful time that must
be, in spite of the trials and deprivations! We will apparently be permitted to
gather in small groups as we flee to the mountains. Men and governments may
wish us ill, and starvation and even death may stare us in the face; but with a
little group — such as we have learned to love and trust — what precious
seasons together may we not even then enjoy, knowing that the pillar of cloud
and of fire is with us! (See "The Great Controversy," chapter “The
Time of Trouble.") “Upon all the glory." God's people are here meant. They are "beautiful and
glorious." Verse 2. Verse 6. God will not
leave His own. "In the time of trouble He shall
hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide
me." Ps. 27:5. |