Promises
to Repentant Backsliders The Inheritance of Believers in Christ’s Kingdom
11 “O you afflicted
one, Tossed with tempest, and not
comforted, Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, And lay your
foundations with sapphires. 12 I will make your pinnacles of rubies,
Your gates of crystal, And all your walls of precious stones. 13 All
your children shall be taught by the Lord,
And great shall be the peace of your
children. 14 In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be
far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not
come near you. 15 Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles
against you shall fall for your sake. 16 “Behold, I have created the
blacksmith Who blows the coals in the fire, Who brings forth an instrument for
his work; And I have created the 2spoiler
to destroy. 17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every
tongue which rises against you in
judgment You shall condemn. This is
the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.[1]
The Savior’s Great
Promise to Israel—Restoration: Repentant Backsliders Will Return to Him, Isaiah
54:1–17
(54:1–17) Introduction:
to backslide means to revert
to a worse condition, to lapse morally, or to back away from one’s practice of
religion. When believers backslide, they turn away from the Lord and His holy
commandments, which demand righteous living. A backsliding believer returns to
the selfishness and sins of the world. A backsliding believer ignores or
neglects worship, the reading of God’s Word, prayer, witnessing, and reaching
out to meet the desperate needs of the world. A backsliding believer sometimes
slips into immoral, lawless, or even violent behavior. Backsliding shames
Christ by giving the world a chance to ridicule and mock His name. How? By
presenting a terrible testimony or impression of the Christian life.
Backsliding is the practical subject of the present passage
of Scripture. The Israelites were a backsliding people, a people who
continually turned away from the Lord to follow the wicked ways and the false
gods of the world. Nevertheless, God loved His chosen people, both the
believers and the unbelievers. As seen in Isaiah 53, God sent the Savior
into the world to die for the sins of the entire human race. To the world, the
Messiah’s salvation means the offer of a great invitation (55:1–56:8).
To the hypocrites and the wicked of this earth, the Messiah’s salvation means a
strong warning (58:1–59:21). To Israel, the Messiah’s salvation means restoration (54:1–17).1
This is The Savior’s Great Promise to
Israel—Restoration: Repentant Backsliders Will Return to Him, 54:1–17.
[#4; OF CONCERN HERE: “The Repentant Backsliders
Would Be Given A Glorious Future: A Picture of The Savior’s Kingdom.”]
1.
The repentant backsliders would be set free
and filled with joy (vv. 1–3).
2.
The repentant backsliders would be delivered
from fear, shame, and disgrace (v. 4).
3.
The repentant backsliders would be
reconciled to God (vv. 5–10).
4.
The Repentant Backsliders Would Be Given
A Glorious Future: A Picture of The Savior’s Kingdom (vv. 11–17).[2]
Promises to Repentant Backsliders The Inheritance
of Believers in Christ’s Kingdom:
The repentant backsliders would be given a glorious future.
This Scripture is clearly describing a society far beyond any ever known on
earth. God is giving an unmistakable picture of the kingdom that will be
established in the future when Christ returns to earth. Note that the prophecy
is addressed to Jerusalem, the afflicted city that has been battered by army
after army, hardly ever knowing a moment of peace or comfort. God has wonderful
news for this downtrodden city: it has been destined for a glorious future.
This fact may stun and dumbfound many in the world; nevertheless, Jerusalem is
to become the capital of the Messiah’s kingdom when He returns to earth. Note
exactly what is said in these verses:[3]
The citizens of the New Jerusalem will live in a city of unparalleled beauty and value. God, Himself, will build the city using only the finest and most valuable materials. The city will be so glorious that it will be indescribable. Thus, Isaiah uses the most precious stones on earth to picture what the New Jerusalem will look like. All buildings in the city will be constructed from precious jewels, and the foundations will be laid with sapphires. All the towers and pentacles will be made of sparkling rubies, while the gates and walls will be made of other precious jewels and crystals. Remember that all stones and rocks in the universe deteriorate and eventually waste away. But the sparkling jewels used to construct the Holy City will be incorruptible. Therefore, the chemical makeup of God’s incorruptible throne is unknown to man. A study of Revelation, both the Scripture and commentary, is helpful in understanding the New Jerusalem (see outline and notes—Re. 21:9–23 for more discussion).
The citizens of the New Jerusalem will be
taught by the Lord Himself. As a result, their hearts will be flooded with the
peace of God. God’s peace suggests a
victorious life free from the oppression of enemies, trials, and temptations.
Also suggested are well-being, good health, and prosperity in all things. The
peace of God means to be free from all restlessness, disturbance, instability,
anxiety, distress, discouragement, depression, weakness, and any other feeling
or emotion that creates problems for people. God’s peace means inward strength,
purpose, meaning, significance, and a deep sense of fulfillment and
satisfaction. It means living a victorious, conquering, and triumphant life
that is full of meaning and purpose.
The citizens of the New Jerusalem will live
in a righteous society, for the Lord Himself will establish a fair and just
government that shows no partiality or favoritism. There will be no prejudice
or discrimination in the New Jerusalem. There will be no evil or lawlessness
running rampant throughout society. Tyranny and violence will be gone forever.
Within society, there will be nothing whatsoever to fear. The righteous, fair,
and just society of Christ’s kingdom is exactly the kind of society that God
admonishes us to be building today.
The citizens of the New Jerusalem will be
protected (vv. 15–17a). No nation will be allowed to defeat God’s people when
Christ establishes God’s kingdom on earth. In fact, no nation will be allowed
to assemble for the purpose of waging war. In the past, God raised up and used
the nations as His agents to execute justice in the world. But in the Messiah’s
kingdom, God will not allow an attack against His people. No weapon will be
forged to be used in war. Not even a verbal attack will be allowed against
God’s people. Peace will rule within the hearts and minds of people and within
their social relationships. God will personally protect His people.
Even today, God promises security to His
people. He promises to protect those who truly believe and follow Him. In all
trials and sufferings, God is present with His people. He carries them or walks
with them through every possible hardship if
they call upon him. Even when they face death, He promises to be with them and
to transfer them into His presence. Quicker than the eye can blink, true
believers are taken from this earth into the presence of God Himself.
The citizens of Jerusalem as well as all
other believers will have a glorious future in Jerusalem. This promise is
guaranteed by God’s Holy Word (v. 17b). All these blessings are to be the
heritage of those who serve the Lord. All true servants of God—genuine
believers—will inherit the New Jerusalem, be taught by the Lord, and be flooded
with His peace. And they will live in a righteous society under a fair and just
government. Moreover, God Himself will protect them. These promises, this
heritage, are guaranteed by God’s very own Word.[4]
(For more
information concerning backsliding, see the following post, “Backslide (Forget, Give Up, Turn Away).”
1 Warren
W. Wiersbe. Be Comforted, p. 142. The
wording of these last three statements was gleaned from Warren W. Wirsbe.
[2] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 2005. Isaiah: Chapters
36–66. Vol. II. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible.
Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
[3] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 2005. Isaiah: Chapters
36–66. Vol. II. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible.
Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
[4] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 2005. Isaiah: Chapters
36–66. Vol. II. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible.
Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
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