1st Coming - Understand Prophecy - Yamartino
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Chapter 45 of  60

With Their Lips (45:1)

Verses from Old Testament (45:2)

(note: although only the first of the following verses is referred to in the New Testament, the one following it is included for the sake of completeness) (45:3)

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: (45:4)

Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. (isa 29:13-14) (45:5) see

Predictions (45:6)

These words of Isaiah speak in general about three things. The first verse seems to be a condemnation of the people by the Lord God. This is followed by the Lord's promise that he will perform marvelous things. There is then a reference to the utter feebleness of the wisdom and understanding of men (45:7)

One pondering these verses may have expected marvelous things to be performed by the Lord. And why would the Lord perform these things? Well it seems that they would be performed in response to the low state of the people. Would the wondrous work be to awaken them? To guide them? To bless them? To punish them? Isaiah doesn't say. But surely, the people would be astonished (45:8)

Or would they? (45:9)

Regarding where or when or of what nature the things were to be, Isaiah, once again is silent. However, the first verse's reference to "this people" may have led one to believe that the people of Isaiah's time would witness what the Lord would perform (45:10)

Fulfillment (45:11)

But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? (45:12)

For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death (45:13)

But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; (45:14)

And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition (45:15)

Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you saying, (45:16)

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (mat 15:3-8) (45:17) see

Commentary (45:18)

Isaiah recorded the words which the Lord spoke through him "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth". Seven hundred years later someone claims that the words refer to himself. Who could have predicted this? Isaiah's words say nothing of the Messiah. Who could have guessed that this would be the case? (45:19)

Yes, it is abundantly clear from the New testament that Christ certainly did marvelous things. It is also abundantly clear, however, from the story of Christ, that He regarded those who "seeketh after a sign" as "evil and adulterous" (mat 16:4). (45:20) see

So, was the prophecy meant for one to find Christ by looking for a "wondrous work"?, or seeking after a sign? Or was it meant that one could find the Christ by looking for someone whom the people would draw unto with their lips, but from whom their hearts were far? Wouldn't a myriad of government and religious leaders have fulfilled this criteria? (45:21)

Isaiah's words were simply not meant to help in the recognition of the Christ. We can now understand the meaning of his words only because Christ Himself has revealed them to us. Before fulfillment, Isaiah's words would have provided no help for the seeker (45:22)

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