ISAIAH - CHAPTER 46 - HEARKEN TO ME, YOU STOUT-HEARTED
ISAIAH 46 – HEARKEN TO ME, YOU STOUT-HEARTED!
Tuesday Morning Bible Study 10/21/13, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
“Carry” and “bear” are the two emphatic words singled out in this chapter.
The idols of Babylon, Bel and Nebo are represented as being “carried away” as spoil from the conquered city. They are piled on the backs of camels, horses, dromedaries and elephants. These beasts are described as groaning under the load. Their proved impotence is contrasted with the omnipotence of Jehovah.
We can contrast the present impotence of government leaders to effectively govern with the omnipotence of our Lord Jesus Christ to whom has been given all power in heaven and earth. We can insert Islam in to “Bel and “Nebo”. Although the present worship of “global warming” is another name for Baal. Nebo is a type of the liberal worship that leaves God out of its reckoning.
46:1-2:” Bel bows down. Nebo stoops, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle; your carriages were heavy laden; they are a burden to the weary beast. They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.”
“Bel” = abbreviation of “Baal” – Zeus of the Greeks; Jupiter of the Romans; chief domestic god, worshipped in the celebrated tower of Babylon;
Nebo = planet Mercury; quick messenger; celestial scribe; interpreter of the divine will; prophet inspired speech; oracle; height; prominent; the speaker of the gods. He answers to the Egyptian Anubis, the Greek Hermes, and the Roman Mercury. Nebo was the god of learning and letters, of writing and divine interpretation – (the object of devotion of the intellectual world).
The gold and silver images of the idols of Chaldea who could not guard the city nor defend it are themselves being carried by the beasts of the enemy caravans. Not so, says Jehovah in verse 3.
46: 3-5: “Hearken to Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are born by Me from the belly, which are carried from the womb. Even to your old age I am He; and even to white hair will I carry you? I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal, and compare Me. That we may be like?
Not so is it with the God we serve. Those dumb idols cannot carry their religious cults. The idols themselves have to be “carried.” The Lord says, “But I will carry, and will deliver you.” I have carried you from the womb; and even through old age, will I carry you. I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.”
With this kind of promise, what do we have to worry about on life’s journey as long as we are following after the Lord with our whole heart and doing the best we know how.
These words bring God before us, under the beautiful and tender image of a father bearing in his arms the child he loves. “You have seen how the Lord your God bare you, as a man does bear his son, in all the way that you went.” (Deut. 1:31).
We have a kindred image in the prophecies of Hosea, where Ephraim is represented, first as a little child, a tender infant, and Jehovah dealing with him as such. “I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms.” (Hos. 11:3).
A baby is, by and by, no longer carried in arms, but put in a walker to learn to walk; so the Lord is here revealed as conducting His children from development stage to stage, both in the natural and spiritual. “I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love” (Hos. 11:4).
This unwavering covenant of faithfulness extends not only in infancy and manhood but from the womb to the grave. Even to your old age, says He, “I am He”
The comparison of parental care falls short of the natural. The care of the earthly parent is diminished at the approach of manhood. Also in the case of the parent, advancing years and infirmities forbid efforts of care. Many orphans are left fatherless and motherless to pursue their solitary, un-befriended way. Not so, ‘our Father in heaven’---no weakness, no infirmity from the hour of birth to the hour of death breaks the chords of His love.
These idols and their lordly temples have fallen. But “the Lord lives.” While the visible temples have “bowed down” and become a mass of humiliating ruin, the Invisible God ever lives and loves. He lives as a Father, and loves as a Father.
46:6-7: “They lavish gold out of the bag, weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he makes it a god; they fall down, yea they worship. They bear it upon the shoulder. They carry it, and set it in its place. It stands, from its place, shall it not remove; yea one shall cry to it, yet can it not answer, nor save him out of his trouble. Remember this, and show yourselves men; bring it again to mind, O you transgressors.”
There was a severe blow dealt to idolatry and to the Babylonian for the idols of Bel and Nebo in particular, when the victorious Persians under Cyrus substituted their own religion and carried the Babylonian idols into captivity. The people have to carry their idol gods, but God carries His own people.
In the 21st century the world’s idols of gold and silver are worldly goods which have taken years to amass.
But there is “One” – the true divine “Recorder” of events in earth and heaven---who is without any variableness. There is no alteration in the promises of His holy word. On the journey, not only does the world change around us and external circumstances altered, but we are changed on the journey. While the outward man is perishing, the inward man is being renewed day by day; and like the eagle, we renew our strength.
What a halo of glory encircled the head of the Apostle Paul, when he is “such a one as Paul the aged!” (Philemon. 1:9). “Only Luke is with me” (2 Tim. 4: 11), was the utterance of the friendless man; and many around were doing all they could to embitter these closing moments, and mantle his evening in clouds.
But his faith was too deep, too strong for that. If he had trusted to the idols of his former life—the vain confidences in which he once gloried---it would have been a gloomy close. “But”, says he, “nothing can shake my faith; they may leave me, scorn me, malign me, scourge me, and kill me. They may consign this aged body to the flames, and scatters its ashes on the Tiber: ---“But nevertheless, I am not ashamed: “for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day”. (2 Tim. 1:12).
There is a special blessing promised to those who will serve the Lord in their youth and the strength of their manhood. “O God, you have taught me from my youth, and until now have I declared your wondrous works.” When we get old, we have the confidence that the Lord will take us through the golden sunset of life.
Let us work while it is called today. Let us give to God, not the crumbs which fall from life’s table, but the best of the feast; not the evening hour of weariness and sleep, but the morning prime of active energy.
46:9-10: “”Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there Is none else. I am God and there is none like Me. Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.”
Many scripture prophecies which were delivered long ago have not yet been accomplished although in our times we are watching as scripture is unfolding before our eyes. The accomplishment of some guarantees the accomplishment of all in due time.
The fulfillment of this particular prophecy, (which relates to the elevation of Cyrus and his agency in the deliverance of God’s people out of their captivity) is mentioned for the confirmation of this truth.
46: 11-13: “Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executes My counsel from a far country; yea, I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.”
Cyrus came from the east at God’s call. “I have spoken it by my servants the prophets. and what I have spoken is what I have purposed.” Though God has many things in his purposes which are not in his prophecies, he has nothing in his prophecies but what are in his purposes.
For the conviction of those who opposed the counsels of God, assurance is here given these will be accomplished very shortly.
46: 12-13: “Hearken to Me, you stouthearted, that are far from righteousness. I bring near My righteousness; it shall not be far off, and My salvation shall not tarry; and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel My Glory.”
This is addressed to the stout-hearted (those who are strong and rebellious against God: (1) The proud and obstinate Babylonians. These are far from righteousness. They say they will never let the oppressed go free, in spite of their petition or God’s petitions. (2) The un-humbled Jews, who have been long in the furnace, but are not melted.
This also applies to Judaism which rejects the gospel of Christ; though they followed after the law of righteousness, they attained not to righteousness; because they did not seek it by faith.”
Now the Lord says that whatever they think the one in presumption, the other in despair. Salvation will certainly be wrought for God’s people. If men will not do them justice, God will. He will place salvation in Zion. That is, he will make His Kingdom a place of safety and defense to all those who will plant themselves therein.
That Kingdom is the Kingdom of God. Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Ga. 3:28)
Col. 3:11: “Where there Is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor un-circumcision, Barbarian, Scythia, bond, nor free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing with another, and forgiving one another, If any have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.”
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from K.J.V. – I entered into the labors of John Ross MacDuff, Comfort Ye, Comfort Ye; Principles of Present Truth by: Kelly Varner; F. F. Bruce Bible Commentary. Matthew Henry’s Commentary. Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those who I entered into their labors.