Isaiah 43

Isaiah takes us here into the John 3:16 of the Old Testament since in this chapter God says to the remnant: “I love you” (v. 4b). Isaiah brought together many panels in this chapter and the theme is God and His identity as remnant loving-caring God and the deaf and blind remnant with a Laodicea condition. We learn that the sole purpose of the formation of the remnant by God is so that they can be His witnesses and that means they will declare His praise (v. 21b) and praise means “give glory to the Lord” (42:12a). Glory means to “make the law great and glorious” and that means to be pleased for Christ’s Rigtheousness sake (42:21). But the sleeping virgins of the deaf and blind church of Laodicea has to be woken up with the Latter Rain event to bring the faithful in and so Isaiah described the promise of the gathering of the harvest from all over the globe (vv. 5-9). They will come out of Babylon (v. 14). The Hell event after the millennium will be the time when Christ the King will be the warrior (vv. 15-17) and create all things new (v. 18). The remnant at that time will declare God’s praise (v. 21). However, right now God has an Investigative Judgment for His remnant with a Laodicea condition and the court case deals with their problems (vv. 23-24) and again a second round in vv. 25-28 with the proceedings for defense in vv. 25-26 and the accusation in v. 27 and the verdict in v. 28. All this Isaiah is doing with his technique of using a Synonym Dictionary so popular even at Niniveh where Jewish scribes copied and worked in the Library of Assyria during the Exile contemporary with Isaiah’s time. Jacob means Israel (v. 1a-b); redeemed means to be called [by God] by one’s name (v. 1c-d); waters is also rivers (v. 2a-b); to have God with you is for waters not to overflow you (v. 2a-b); fire is also flame and scorched is also burn (v. 2c-d); Lord is also Holy One and your God is also your Savior (v. 3a-b); ransom means in your place and Egypt is grouped with Cush and Seba (v. 3c-d); precious means honored and in My sight means I love you (v. 4a-b); in your place means in exchange (v. 4c-d); bring means to gather (v. 5a-b); give up means do not hold back (v. 6a-b); to be called by the name of God is to be created for His glory (v. 7a-b); formed is to be made (v. 7c-d); nations means peoples (v. 9a-b); gathered together means to assemble (v. 9a-b); declare is proclaim (v. 9c-d); their witness means let them hear and say (v. 9e-f); My witnesses means My servant (v. 10a-b); know is to understand (v. 10c-d); Lord is Creator and Holy One is King (v. 15a-b); way is also path and sea is also mighty waters (v. 16a-b); chariot is connected to army and [strong] horse to mighty man (v. 17a-b); call to mind means to ponder (v. 18a-b); new means spring forth (v. 19a-b); wilderness means desert (v. 19d-e); beasts of the field is meant to be jackals and ostriches (v. 20a-b); you have not called on Me means to become weary (v. 21c-d) [this is a lack of a prayer-life]; not to bring offerings [tithes] means not to honor God (v. 23a-b); not to burden means not to weary (v. 23c-d); sins means iniquities (v. 24c-d); wipes out means not to remember (v. 25a-b); put [God] into remembrance means to state your [case/condition] (v. 26a-b); argue your case means that you may be proved right (v. 26a-b); sinned means transgressed (v. 27a-b); pollute means to consign to the ban (v. 28a-b); princes of the Sanctuary means Jacob [the remnant or spiritual Israel] (v. 28a-b). Once we see the depth of Isaiah phraseology and his determination as quality Hebrew poet not to repeat one word twice we appreciate him more as a great poet. What separates this great poet from others in modern times, is his deep relationship, unshaken, with God. Isaiah started out the chapter by indicating how God Created the remnant, formed them, [they fell] and He redeemed them (v. 1). Blessings of protection are given in a long list (v. 2) and the reason for God’s involvement is His love “I love you” (v. 4b). A global gathering of the remnant is predicted, not just of Israel from Assyria or Babylon but “everyone who is called by My name” (v.7a). This gathering is reserved for the time of the Latter Rain since it coincides with the time of the condition of the Laodicea remnant, blind and deaf and the gathering is also during that time “all the nations have gathered together in order that the peoples may be assembled” (v. 9). It is a future prediction (v. 9c-d). The setting of the chapter is an Investigative Judgment since v. 9e-f indicates that. God has chosen His servant or remnant (v. 10b). The Targum changed the text here to make the Messiah the Chosen One here and read “The Messiah in Whom I am well pleased”. One almost hear Matthew 3:17 in the ink of the Targumist? Remnant or servant is singular but they are His witnesses (plural). The ID of God is spelled out in vv. 10c-13). Especially vv. 11-13 is cast into a pattern that put the phrase “so you are My witnesses” in the center (v. 12c). All the other verses before (vv. 10c-12b) and after (vv. 12d-13) form a frame for this portrait. The End-time scenario is a collapse of Babylon predicted. It appears to be after the Second Coming since Christ has here His kingship (v. 15b) and is a Warrior (v. 17). The Hell event is in mind in verse 17c-d “the army and the mighty man they will lie down together not rise again”. The absolute extermination here seems eternity started. Because of a new Creation God asks the remnant not to ponder the past (v. 18) since all will be new (v. 19). With the New Heavens described here in vv. 19-21 the panel of the glory stops. The last two panels is the court-case of the Investigative Judgment of the remnant (vv. 22-24, the first one) and the second one in vv. 25-28. The problem in the first one is that the remnant do not pay tithes and offerings. God made it easier for the Laodicea period remnant (v. 23c-d) that they do not have to bring sacrifices just use money to get something sweet but they do not (v. 24a) “you have bought me no sweet cane with money” . Even if the Lord made it easier for them, instead of sheep just fat they did not bring anything, just sins (v. 24c-d). God is willing to wipe out their transgressions in the Investigative Judgment, He said in the second panel vv. 25. But, due to Adam (‘your first forefather sinned’ v. 27a) and due to the leaders of the remnant (‘your spokesmen have transgressed against Me’) for that reason the Sanctuary will remain “polluted” for the “princes of the Sanctuary”, namely “Jacob” or the weeds in the remnant. Only the fruits will benefit. Daniel 8:14 mentioned that the Sanctuary was to be cleansed or vindicated, justified (more literal), and that means it is polluted. Now we know why.

Dear God

Grant that Your love will include us. That we may pay our tithes and offerings simplified for our generation by You. That we may praise Your name for we are part of the remnant of God who is chosen by You as Your witnesses. Amen.

Koot van Wyk, (DLitt et Phil; ThD) Kyungpook National University, Department of Liberal Education, Sangju, South Korea; conjoint lecturer of Avondale College, Australia