God's plans are unconditional; that's the meaning of "sovereignty." His promises do not depend on anyone but Himself. The promises of the Law stand as long as the fallen earth exists. However, those promises cannot be claimed and appropriated unless we go where they stand. The word "confession" is a reasonable translation of the languages in the Bible manuscripts, but only as we recognize it's original roots for English: to stand with. Thus, only as we confess our God -- stand with Him on matters of His declaration -- do we stand where His promises stand. His plans are to give those promises, but Israel refuses too often to stand with God where those promises can be found. Israel removes herself from God's plans, so He will make a New Israel. It may well be, from Isaiah's perspective, the Israel which goes into exile, then returns, can choose to be that new Israel. If she still refuses to take the vestments of that office, it awaits another to fulfill it.
So despite the necessity we saw in the previous chapter of destroying the Temple, Israel still has another chance to accept her role in God's divine plan. Somewhere, some day, there will be an Israel who is Jeshurun -- Upright. It remains at least once more her choice to be that Israel. The Spirit of God would be poured out upon whomever accepts this vestment, but it will surely not be the generation of Isaiah, so perhaps a later one. They will be recognized by seeing them take upon themselves the full manifestation of God's revelation and holiness, clearly and utterly loyal as the property and servants of the Lord.
Who is this Lord? In the early days of the Nation of Israel, the depth of cultural immersion in their times made it well nigh impossible to swallow the notion of there being only one deity, One True God. But this is some 700 years later, and there is no longer any excuse for it. Of all the various pagan deities, not one could claim to have foretold the future accurately. Indeed, a wise man might guess what will come tomorrow on a broad scale, if he has enough information. However, God has declared in advance things no man could expect. He said He would dry the sea floor for Israel to cross, and did it. He said He would feed them in a land which could scarcely support a small clan, much less the million plus marching under Jehovah's banner. God's claims are the only ones which come true, simply because He is the one who makes them happen.
We can be sure the ancient pagans did not necessarily believe their images were the actual gods themselves, but a point of focus. They weren't so primitive as to be utterly animist, at least in the ANE. However, God said there were no others, so it might as well be the idols were the gods themselves. Thus, we have this comical satire of men calling out to a chunk of material which required the help of a skilled craftsman to turn it into a god. Indeed, a man would cook his food and warm his body from one half a log, and with the other he has to work long and skillfully to make the god to which he kneels. Oh, what a mighty god that is! What a tragic figure is the man who cannot see what a fool he makes of himself that way.
Unlike that sort of deity, the wild imagining of a fearful man who makes his own god, Jehovah has made His people, Israel. There is but one purpose for redeeming Israel from slavery: That the whole earth would resound from their witness of His glory. All Creation waits, standing by to support the songs of praise Israel should be singing right now. Should Israel but obey the Covenant, every idolater would be shown the silly babbler he is. Every Israeli would be shown the wise and unopposable force for revelation, making that nation unassailable on the earth. Would she but remain faithful, her land would become like Eden, the Paradise Garden of God. In her path returning from Babylon, He would smooth the mountains, dry up every water barrier. This is the God who calls by name Cyrus of Persia before he is born, making him the servant of God to release His people from captivity. He will order and fund the rebuilding of Jerusalem to even greater glory than before, Temple and all.
This was the offer standing before Judah was ever carried off by Babylon. This is the offer she began to accept. Yet, as history shows, and the Word itself, she never quite claims that garment of holiness, that vestment of greatness as God's revelation on earth. It waited One who would come much later to fulfill all things.
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By Ed Hurst
29 April 2009
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