Class Notes on Micah 3

Mic 3:1-4 Then I said,

"Listen, you leaders of Jacob,

you rulers of the house of Israel.

Should you not know justice,

2 you who hate good and love evil;

who tear the skin from my people

and the flesh from their bones;

3 who eat my people's flesh,

strip off their skin

and break their bones in pieces;

who chop them up like meat for the pan,

like flesh for the pot?"

4 Then they will cry out to the Lord,

but he will not answer them.

At that time he will hide his face from them

because of the evil they have done. NIV

• Micah, in this chapter, addresses two groups of Israel's leaders. What is the first group?
  • Judges, rulers, or we could say civil leaders
  • Obviously the second group will be the religious leaders

• Why does Micah ask a rhetorical question in verse 1?
  • Because what is obvious, ie, the job description is not being practiced

• What have they done? Now, this is one of those places where the use of poetry, and the fact that the sentence make no sense literally, allows us to interpret it metaphorically, or symbolically. What is the image telling us they have done?
  • What is the image? Hunter
  • Why the use of the hunter imagery? People are game to be used for the personal satisfaction and use of the hunter
  • The leaders use their position for themselves and not to help the people

• APPLICATION: Many, when given positions of authority, start out well but are corrupted by the position and authority, and later misuse it. How do you stay on the right track? Only a new birth truly gives you a chance (although, there are many stories of unbelieving persons who were just all their lives), but then you need to continually be refreshed by the Holy Spirit. The key is an on-going and growing relationship with God
• What is the judgment upon the leaders?
  • God would treat them as they treated others
  • God would not hear their prayers. This is an anthropomorphism of God turning his back. God hears everyone's prayers, but God would not answer them

Mic 3:5-7 This is what the Lord says:

"As for the prophets

who lead my people astray,

if one feeds them,

they proclaim 'peace';

if he does not,

they prepare to wage war against him.

6 Therefore night will come over you, without visions,

and darkness, without divination.

The sun will set for the prophets,

and the day will go dark for them.

7 The seers will be ashamed

and the diviners disgraced.

They will all cover their faces

because there is no answer from God." NIV

• Now, God shifts to the religious leaders, and specifically, the prophets. What is God's primary complaint?
  • They tell the people what they want to hear
  • They adjust their message depending on the audience
• In the last days, which I believe we are living in, Paul said that it would happen again
  • 2 Tim 4:3-4 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. NIV
• What does Jesus say?
  • Luke 10:7 Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. NIV
  • There is a fine line between "deserving your wages" and "trying to obtain wages." The distinction is that we serve God. Once again, I think the key is an on-going and growing relationship with God, otherwise, it is very easy to slip into a mode of telling people what they want to hear -- because we want people to like us
• What is the judgment against the leaders?
  • No visions, humiliation
  • I wondered why the leaders would not continue to lie. I think that the calamities will be so overwhelming (and all but Jerusalem were conquered) that even the prophets would be compelled to cease pretending to see divine revelation
  • It is interesting that he doesn't call them false ...
• What do you see in the terms God uses, especially diviner?
• Diviner is a derogatory term, seer less so (used to describe prophets)
• Diviners were outlawed in Israel (God uses a detestable term to describe them)
• Deut 18:10-12 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. NIV
• "To cover the lip" or "beard" in the Hebrew. The beard, in oriental culture, is something of pride, suggesting that to cover it was shame, mourning, or sorrow. It is also an action enjoined on lepers
• Lev 13:45-46 "The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, 'Unclean! Unclean!' 46 As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp. NIV
• APPLICATION: In the past, God brought shame on religious leaders for compromising the truth. That continues to happen today. Unfortunately, it also brings shame on Christ, but it would be worst if God didn't judge his supposed spokespersons for their sin. Am I compromising truth? How close am I to bringing shame to the name of Jesus Christ?

Mic 3:8-12 But as for me, I am filled with power,

with the Spirit of the Lord,

and with justice and might,

to declare to Jacob his transgression,

to Israel his sin.

9 Hear this, you leaders of the house of Jacob,

you rulers of the house of Israel,

who despise justice

and distort all that is right;

10 who build Zion with bloodshed,

and Jerusalem with wickedness.

11 Her leaders judge for a bribe,

her priests teach for a price,

and her prophets tell fortunes for money.

Yet they lean upon the Lord and say,

"Is not the Lord among us?

No disaster will come upon us."

12 Therefore because of you,

Zion will be plowed like a field,

Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,

the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets. NIV

• What protect Micah from the fate of the leaders mentioned previously?
  • Full of the Spirit of the Lord.
  • What does that mean, how do we apply?
    • I believe it is accomplished through on-going and growing relationship with God
    • It is not compromising with sin, but calling sin, sin, no matter how it might be taken

• Micah gives a little more insight into the sins of the leaders, what is it?
  • Distorted all that is right
  • Used bloodshed and wickedness to build their fortunes and the country they now live in
  • Bribery
  • Teaching for pay
  • Fortunes for money
  • Arrogance to believe that God was on their side

• What is the judgment?
  • Zion plowed like a field (mostly occurs in Assyrian invasion)
  • Jerusalem will be a heap of rubble (occurs during the Babylonian invasion)

• APPLICATION: Our position as Christians means that our salvation is assured. I also believe it guarantees our rapture from the tribulation. But it does not guarantee that God will not judge our un-repented sins in this life, nor does it guarantee our reward in eternity. We may not be civil and religious leaders, but we all have a responsibility to live as a witness for Jesus Christ in this world. It should affect our behavior, how we treat people, how we expect to be treated, etc -- we are God's representatives, his ambassadors
  • 2 Cor 5:20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. NIV

Class Notes on Micah 1:1-2:4

Introduction:

• Timeline of Isaiah, since contemporary of Isaiah
  • 1447   The Exodus begins
  • 1400   Conquest of Canaan completed    
  • 1043    Saul becomes king
  • 931    Rehoboam becomes king of Israel and Judah; Jeroboam rebels; sets Up a rival kingdom in the north ...
  • 790    Uzziah becomes co-regent of Judah
  • 767    Uzziah becomes full king of Judah
  • 764    Amos begins to prophesy
  • 755    Hosea begins to prophesy
  • 753    Zechariah becomes king of Israel
  • 739    Uzziah dies; Isaiah begins to prophesy; Jotham becomes king of Judah
  • 736    Micah begins to prophesy
  • 735    Ahaz becomes king of Judah
  • 722    Sargon II becomes king of Assyria Samaria falls; the ten tribes go into captivity
  • 715    Hezekiah becomes king of Judah
  • 701    Judah invaded by the Assyrians
  • 686    Manasseh becomes king of Judah
• Micah prophesied during the reigns of the Judean kings Jotham (750-732 B.C.), Ahaz (732-715 B.C.), and Hezekiah (715-686 B.C.; 1:1). This made him a late eighth-century contemporary of Isaiah, who also ministered in the Southern Kingdom of Judah (cf. Isa. 1:1), and Amos and Hosea, who ministered in the Northern Kingdom of Israel (cf. Amos 1:1; Hos. 1:1). (Constable, 2008)
• Location: Judah, near Philistines
• His hometown and Lachish would have been fortified towns destroyed by the Assyrian invasion
• Theme or messages: Judgment, restoration, and a remnant, to be followed by world prominence during the reign of the Messiah (Constable, 2008)
• Lastly, Moresheth-gath lies directly on the international trade route, as do most of Israel and Judah. Israel was at the crossroads of civilization intentionally to serve as a witness, and failed in their task

Mic 1:1-5 The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah — the vision he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

2 Hear, O peoples, all of you,

listen, O earth and all who are in it,

that the Sovereign Lord may witness against you,

the Lord from his holy temple.

3 Look! The Lord is coming from his dwelling place;

he comes down and treads the high places of the earth.

4 The mountains melt beneath him

and the valleys split apart,

like wax before the fire,

like water rushing down a slope.

5 All this is because of Jacob's transgression,

because of the sins of the house of Israel.

What is Jacob's transgression?

Is it not Samaria?

What is Judah's high place?

Is it not Jerusalem? NIV

• What does verse 2 sound like or what might it remind a Jewish person of?
  • It sounds like a court room or an official government announcement; divine lawsuit
  • It is similar to Moses final words to the people
  • Deut 31:26-32:1 "Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God. There it will remain as a witness against you. 27 For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you have been rebellious against the Lord while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die! 28 Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officials, so that I can speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to testify against them. 29 For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster will fall upon you because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord and provoke him to anger by what your hands have made."

  30 And Moses recited the words of this song from beginning to end in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel:

  32 Listen, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. NIV

• What is the intent of verses 3 and 4?
  • Transcendent: philosophy in Kant's philosophical system, exceeding the limits of experience and therefore unknowable except hypothetically
  • Immanent: describes God as existing in and extending into all parts of the created universe
  • While God is above all and unknowable in entirety, he is knowable as a person, and he is involved in the lives of His people. He is not the watchmaker, who builds a watch, and then lets it run. On the other hand, he does allow the effects of sin to reign in the world. For the believer, he promises to work for the good of those who love him. Here, his involvement is directly related to the covenant
• Why is God pronouncing judgment?
  • There seems to be a play on words since Jacob was renamed to Israel. Jacob was the named used during Jacob's rebellious days, whereas Israel was his title after he wrestled with God
  • The result is because of Israel's sin, its breaking of the covenant. The early part of Micah's ministry was a time of wealth and prosperity (and forgetting God)
  • Also, both capital's are identified with the sin. Samaria held one of the two specific high places (the sin of Jeroboam, son of Nebat, which is mentioned repeatedly). But, in God's words, Jerusalem might as well be a high place as well

Mic 1:6-7 "Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble,

a place for planting vineyards.

I will pour her stones into the valley

and lay bare her foundations.

7 All her idols will be broken to pieces;

all her temple gifts will be burned with fire;

I will destroy all her images.

Since she gathered her gifts from the wages of prostitutes,

as the wages of prostitutes they will again be used." NIV

• What is the pronouncement for the Northern Kingdom's sin?
  • Samaria would become a heap of rubble. This occurred in 722BC and apparently the foundations are still visible today
  • Likely had not occurred yet, although the tone suggests Assyria had invaded (it could also be worded in a present future tense, see verse 9)
• Why burn the temple gifts?
  • Looters could get the gold that way
• What is verse 7 saying?
  • The worship of idols was Israel prostituting itself
  • The money used for the gold and the idols will be used by the Assyrians for the same thing to their idols
• APPLICATION: This last verse reminds me of 1 Cor 3:11-15.
  • 1 Cor 3:11-15 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. NIV
  • What am I building with my life? The verse describes the judgment of believers. Will my work survive to honor God. Nothing the Israelites (Samaria) did survive the fire because it was not done for good, and it would not be used for good later

Mic 1:8-9 Because of this I will weep and wail;

I will go about barefoot and naked.

I will howl like a jackal

and moan like an owl.

9 For her wound is incurable;

it has come to Judah.

It has reached the very gate of my people,

even to Jerusalem itself. NIV

• What do we see in Micah's preaching?
  • He wasn't just telling others of their sin. It affected him personally
  • He didn't stop others, because we can't stop sin. We can't make people believe in God. But he could weep for his people
• Ultimately, the punishment would reach Jerusalem. In 701BC, Sennacherib would attack the city. He would fail and lose 185000 men, but not before most of the towns of Judah, including Micah's are conquered
• It's possible that verse 9's present tense is only suggested of the present decision of God and not that Israel had been invaded

Mic 1:12-15 Those who live in Maroth writhe in pain,

waiting for relief,

because disaster has come from the Lord,

even to the gate of Jerusalem.

13 You who live in Lachish,

harness the team to the chariot.

You were the beginning of sin

to the Daughter of Zion,

for the transgressions of Israel

were found in you.

14 Therefore you will give parting gifts

to Moresheth Gath.

The town of Aczib will prove deceptive

to the kings of Israel.

15 I will bring a conqueror against you

who live in Mareshah.

He who is the glory of Israel

will come to Adullam. NIV

• There is a lot of wordplay in this section. It would had made more sense if you spoke biblical Hebrew. The author specifically chooses names of cities
• Maroth sounds like the word for bitterness. How does the bitter play in this verse?
  • The would wait for relief, but it won't come. It is natural to become bitter, even at God. Forty-six towns in Judah would be defeated before Sennacherib would besiege Jerusalem in 701BC
• Lachish is known for horses, and sounds like the Hebrew word for team (rekesh) of horses. Why is Lachish singled out?
  • Apparently, idol worship which had become a part of Judah, had started in Lachish. Maybe because she was a border town with the Philistines. Maybe because of the trade of horses with Egypt -- whatever the reason, it started in Lachish
• Judah will parting gifts to Moresheth Gath, as they leave they kingdom. Moresheth means inheritance. Much like bridal presents, the dowry, with which the Father sends the daughter away, so the inheritance is given to the conqueror
• Achzib, meaning winter brook would fail (would not provide the resource in time of need). Also, it would become deceitful (heb, akzab)
• Mareshar, which means possession or inheritance, will be taken possession of
• The name of Adullam suggested the memory of that cave, the refuge of the Patriarch David, the first of their line of kings, in extreme isolation and peril of his life. There, the refuge now of the remaining glory of Israel, its wealth, its trust, its boast-the foe should come. And so there only remained one common dirge for all. (from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Mic 2:1-4 Woe to those who plan iniquity,

to those who plot evil on their beds!

At morning's light they carry it out

because it is in their power to do it.

2 They covet fields and seize them,

and houses, and take them.

They defraud a man of his home,

a fellowman of his inheritance.

3 Therefore, the Lord says:

"I am planning disaster against this people,

from which you cannot save yourselves.

You will no longer walk proudly,

for it will be a time of calamity.

4 In that day men will ridicule you;

they will taunt you with this mournful song:

'We are utterly ruined;

my people's possession is divided up.

He takes it from me!

He assigns our fields to traitors.'" NIV

• In verses 1 and 2, what is the sin of Judah?
  • Evil schemes
  • Abuse of power
  • Covetousness (wanting what others have)
  • Theft
  • Ruining another's name for your own ambition
• How can these things be seen in a Christian's life
  • Evil schemes: Gossip and getting back at another who has hurt you
  • Abuse of power: Using position to thwart someone or for some gain
  • Covetousness (wanting what others have): Same thing
  • Theft: Hopefully not directly, but downloading software that you haven't bought or music or whatever
  • Ruining another's name for your own ambition: Gossip
• What is the most terrifying aspect of verses 3 and 4?
  • The decision has already been made and there is no going back
• What is the punishment?
  • Calamity
  • Utter ruin; total loss
  • Become a taunt or joke. God gave Israel's possession to foreigners who neither knew God or cared about God
• APPLICATION: The sins of Israel are still the things which bother God today and hurt our witness of Him in the crossroad where God has placed each of us

Mic 2:6-11 "Do not prophesy," their prophets say.

"Do not prophesy about these things;

disgrace will not overtake us."

7 Should it be said, O house of Jacob:

"Is the Spirit of the Lord angry?

Does he do such things?"

"Do not my words do good

to him whose ways are upright?

8 Lately my people have risen up

like an enemy.

You strip off the rich robe

from those who pass by without a care,

like men returning from battle.

9 You drive the women of my people

from their pleasant homes.

You take away my blessing

from their children forever.

10 Get up, go away!

For this is not your resting place,

because it is defiled,

it is ruined, beyond all remedy.

11 If a liar and deceiver comes and says,

'I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,'

he would be just the prophet for this people! NIV

• What are the people saying to Micah?
  • Don’t prophesy hard things
  • God would never do such a thing
  • Tell us good things that encourage us and we want to hear
• What does God say?
  • I will do good to the upright
  • My people not only sin but run to their sin
  • This is no longer a land of promise, a land of rest to this people
• APPLICATION: What are we more likely to do, run to sin or run to God? Too often it is the latter. Too often we don't want to hear a hard message. We've decided in the God we want to believe in and will not listen to what the word of God might really say. We need to repent and go back to the source, not what we want to hear

Events of the 2nd Half of the Tribulation (Part One)

Seventh Trumpet Judgment, Third Woe

Rev 11:14-15 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon. // 15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: // "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, // and he will reign for ever and ever." NIV [1]

Rev 11:19 Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm. NIV [1]

• The seventh seal contained the seven trumpets
• Here the seventh trumpet (and third woe) contains the seven bowl judgments
• The bowl judgments are described in Rev 15-16. The description picks up where 11:19 leaves off
• The scene shifts to activities occurring during the middle of the tribulation period, and not necessarily associated with any particular judgment

Rev 15 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues — last, because with them God's wrath is completed. 2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:

"Great and marvelous are your deeds, // Lord God Almighty. // Just and true are your ways, // King of the ages. // 4 Who will not fear you, O Lord, // and bring glory to your name? // For you alone are holy. // All nations will come // and worship before you, // for your righteous acts have been revealed."

5 After this I looked and in heaven the temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony, was opened. 6 Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed. NIV

• What evidence is there that this is a continuation of Revelation 11?
  • The trumpet judgments proceed out of the temple
• When the trumpet is first blown, the twenty-four elders sing a song describing God's judgment and wrath against sin. Here the martyred saints of the tribulation, sing two songs
  • The song of Moses
  • The song of the Lamb
  • Fruchtenbaum argues that the first song is Ex 15:1-18 or Deut 32:1-43, songs of deliverance and that the second song is here, vs 3b-4. In my opinion, it is not clear. But the songs do provide a bookend for the events described in the preceding chapters, and an introduction to the last judgments
• This is probably the verses where people mistakenly conclude we will be sitting on clouds with harps singing forever

First Bowl Judgment

Rev 16:1-2 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go, pour out the seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth." // 2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. NIV [1]

• How is the first judgment described?
• It attacks a person with an painful and ugly sore. Satan attacked Job's possession and family, then he attacked Job's body. This is painful, it attacks people physically. But is also ugly, so it attacks people's vanity
• It only attacks unbelievers

Second Bowl Judgment

Rev 16:3 The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died. NIV [1]

• Previously, what had happened to the sea? One-third of the sea was affected. Now, the entire salt water sea is destroyed, killing all the marine life

Third Bowl Judgment

Rev 16:4-7 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: // "You are just in these judgments, // you who are and who were, the Holy One, // because you have so judged; // 6 for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, // and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve."

7 And I heard the altar respond: // "Yes, Lord God Almighty, // true and just are your judgments." NIV [1]

• Now the remaining two-thirds of sweet water is destroyed. In all probability, this does not affect stored water, but it must cause a lot of fear since only stored water (a finite amount) would remain
• What is the reasoning for this judgment?
  • Because the world has shed the blood of saints and prophets, they are given blood to drink as they deserve
  • I imagine that those who think vampires are cool will be having second thoughts
• Not sure the significance of the altar responding to the angel in charge of the waters. Also not sure if that is a different angel than the third angel. What I do believe is that the judgment against those who have killed God's people is a long awaited judgment

Fourth Bowl Judgment

Rev 16:8-9 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. 9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him. NIV [1]

• What had previously happened to the sun?
  • Somehow one-third of the light had been restricted
• Now the heat of the sun either increase, or the heat is trapped, or the ozone layer is destroyed, or massive solar bursts occur, but people experience severe sun burn
• What is the response of the world at this point?
• They curse the name of God
• They refuse to repent (possibly they don't see the connection between their sin and the resulting judgments)
• They refuse to glorify God

Fifth Bowl Judgment

Rev 16:10-11 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done. NIV [1]

• This is the fourth blackout. This one is pretty severe and is more akin to what happened to the Egyptians
• And how does the world respond? They continue to refuse to repent

Background to the last Two Judgments

Matt 12:22-28 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"

24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."

25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. NIV [1]

• Jesus performs a messianic miracle
• The people seek confirmation from there leaders
• The rulers reject Jesus as Messiah and decide his power is from Satan

Matt 12:38-45 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you."

39 He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.

43 "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation." NIV [1]

• The Pharisees ask for a sign … have they not been looking?
• Jesus now only performs miracles for his disciples benefit or demands faith on the part of the hearer
• What term appears over and over? [this] generation
• John the Baptist began the house cleaning, but this generation, because of its decision is worse off
• The nation would only receive the sign of the prophet Jonah. Three times. Lazarus, Jesus, and the two witnesses

John 11:43-46 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. NIV [1]

• Some believe
• But some go to tell the Pharisees. Upon hearing the Pharisees decide that Jesus must die

Matt 23:33-39 "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.

37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" NIV [1]

• This is a long discussion and goes back to Matt 12, the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah by the leadership. The nation committed an unpardonable sin (the only possible unpardonable sin) and was judged in 70AD. There is now a condition upon Jesus' return, and that is the nation must accept the messiah-ship of Jesus Christ
• Consequently, the destruction of the nation will prevent the return of Jesus Christ. This is Satan's final plan

APPLICATION:

We have a peek into the future. A future we will not have to endure because of the promise of the rapture. Which is not to say we can not suffer persecution in the days prior. But because we have a glimpse of the end, it should encourage us to live our lives for God, in repentance, in a manner that would glorify him, in a manner that causes others to see the difference. Israel failed to be a witness during its day. It became so much like the world around it, that no one could see the difference. Even if our friends don't respond to the gospel, will they see enough of a difference that they respond before their hearts are hardened. You may or may not see many come to Christ, but will your legacy endure after you? Will anyone come to Christ during the tribulation because of you witness?

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.

Class Notes on Isaiah 55

Isaiah 55:1-2 (NIV) “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. [1]

• We practice good hermeneutics when we consider a passage in context. Isa 53 told us what? That a suffering servant would take away the guilt of our sin. Isa 54 told us what? That Israel's marriage would be restored and would be a new, perpetual covenant, principally expressed in the millennial kingdom
• Given the context of Isa 53-54, forgiveness, Jews restored, where might we be heading now?
  • It is a call to "all" who are thirsty
• What does it mean to be thirsty?
  • Not satisfied by the world
  • Not satisfied by what you are spending money on
  • Doesn't meet the real need our our soul
• What are the requirements of the call? You have to come, but otherwise none. Rich or poor
• Can you think of statements which Jesus made that are similar?
• John 4:13-14 (NIV) Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." [1]
• John 7:37-39 (NIV) On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. [1]
• Rev 22:17 (NIV) The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. [1]
• So, what is the water?
• It is the Holy Spirit which is given to all who believe Christ (all who COME!)
• It is also a guarantee of eternal life

Isaiah 55:3-5 (NIV) Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. 4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples. 5 Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.” [1]

• So who is God calling out to?
  • I think it is all people. Everyone, Jew and Gentile can participate in the promise to David
• Who is the 'him' of verse 4 and 'you' in verse 5?
• It sounds like Jesus
• It also sounds like a millennial timeframe, since Jesus is not leader and commander of the peoples until the millennial reign
• But it also sounds like now, since every nation is hearing the message of Christ's redemption, in increasing measure. Fewer and fewer people groups have heard the gospel

Isaiah 55:6-9 (NIV) Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. [1]

• The invitation, from the earlier verses, is repeated. What is added?
  • "… while he may be found …" suggesting that there is a time when it is too late
    • Older one becomes, the more harden becomes the heart
    • When you are dead it is too late
    • At some point in the tribulation, the taking of the mark, it is too late
  • The need for repentance
  • God promises mercy and a free pardon
• In context, when God says that his thoughts are not our thoughts, what is he referring to?
  • While the statement has applicability in almost all domains, here it is probably referring to man's evil thoughts, and (also) man's evil ways (verse 6)
  • We need mercy and pardon, because thoughts and ways are so sinful, and fall so far short of the standard that God requires -- no one can meet God's standard
• Not only is God's standard different, what else is different from the way people think in verses 6 and 7?
  • God's pardon is different
    • People find it difficult to pardon, they want revenge
    • People can forgive one or two offences, but then draw the line
    • People can forgive a hurt toward one or two people, but when it affects many, sometimes they can't forgive
    • People weight the gravity of the offense. It is easy to pardon a slight offence
  • God's pardon is not earned but freely given, as is his mercy
• APPLICATION: I always thought of this verse in terms of God's knowledge being greater than mine, which is true, but in context God is saying that a sinner's thoughts and ways are so far short of God's standard. And how God pardons people is way beyond my way of thinking

Isaiah 55:10-11 (NIV) As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. [1]

• Again, in context, what would the seed, rain, and snow represent?
  • Generally, the word of God -- specifically the gospel message of salvation
  • This is very similar to Jesus' parable of the seed
    • In the parable though, not all the seed produces fruit
    • But, does the seed that does not produce still "accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it?" Yes
• A person does not have to believe the message for the word to be effective
• If you don't know what to say to a person, knowing a few verses is a very effective method of evangelism
  • We don't want to shove the gospel down someone's face but memorizing a few key verses can be very helpful
  • John 14:6 (NIV) Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [1]
  • John 5:39-40 (NIV) You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life. [1]
  • John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. [1]
• APPLICATION: When you don't know how to answer someone, be honest, and use a verse. Example: well, I don't know about that, but I do know that God says ...

Isaiah 55:12-13 (NIV) You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.” [1]

• What is verses 12 and 13 trying to depict?
  • Great joy
  • Even creation itself will break forth in song
  • In contrast is Rom 8:19-21 (NIV) The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. [1]
• In the millennial age, the effect of sin will be reversed
  • In Genesis, God curses the earth so that it produce thorns and weeds. In the millennial age, the opposite occurs
  • Part of the reason we have swine flu, is not that God does not care, but that it is the consequence of our rebellion against God. Over time, the lifetime of people shorten, although in recent years, it has increased some. But disease, famine, and pestilence continue to kill people. And they will until the creation is restored
• APPLICATION: Jesus' redemption, spoken of in chapter 53, not only restores Israel, but redeems people and frees creation from the effects of sin

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.