Today’s Verse and Thought
“Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.”(Isaiah 49:13)
From yesterday - Isaiah prophesied that God would not leave His children without hope… Isaiah proclaimed a time of future hope that was coming after the devastation.
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The Coming of Messiah - Hope for The Future
Yesterday we looked at the warnings and judgements against Israel and Judah regarding their pending destruction. Isaiah proclaimed the exile of both the northern (Assyrian exile in 722 BC) and southern kingdoms (Babylonian exile 586 BC) due to their spiritual apostasy.
As we know, the Assyrian exile caused the scattering of the northern kingdom’s ten tribes, but Judah would escape this first captivity. Eventually, however, they too would suffer for breaking their covenant with God when the Babylonians destroyed the Temple.
The Babylonian exile began in 586 BC, when the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II destroyed the First Temple in Jerusalem and captured the city. This marked the final stage of the exile of Judah.
Throughout these days of sorrow, God did not fully abandon His people. While Isaiah prophesied devastation against the Jews for being unfaithful and breaking their covenant with God, he also offered hope. Isaiah prophesied about a coming Messiah who would bring salvation and victory.
Prophecies in Isaiah that are viewed as specific to the first coming of Jesus are those that describe Christ's role as the suffering servant; the announcement of His birth; and description of certain aspects of His ministry.
Isaiah's messianic prophecies also point to a future millennial kingdom (and Second Coming of Christ), that are also described in several passages that have dual fulfillment—meaning they were partially fulfilled during Jesus' first coming, but will find complete fulfillment during His Second Coming in the Millennial reign.
The Messianic Prophecies in Isaiah
The Virgin Birth
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)
Fulfillment (First Coming): This prophecy was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. The virgin birth is a significant sign of Jesus' first coming, and the name Immanuel ("God with us") directly points to His divine nature.
Matthew 1:22-23 cites this prophecy as being fulfilled by the birth of Jesus to Mary, who was a virgin.
“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”(which means “God with us”).”(Matthew 1:22-23)
The Government of Peace Will be His
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.." (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Fulfillment (First Coming): This passage points to the first coming of Jesus Christ in that He is the "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace". While the full governmental reign in this passage will be fully realized in the Millennial Kingdom, Jesus’ first coming established the start of His eternal kingdom.
Luke 1:32-33 and Matthew 4:16 are cited in connection with this prophecy, referencing Jesus' role as the light to the Gentiles and the beginning of His Kingdom that will never end.
“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”(Luke 1:32-33)
“…the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”(Matthew 4:16)
The Righteous Branch
"There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit."(Isaiah 11:1)
Fulfillment (First Coming): Jesus is the "shoot from the stump of Jesse" (the family line of King David). This prophecy points to Jesus, who came from David’s line and is the one who would bring justice and righteousness.
Matthew 1:1* (genealogy of Jesus) connects Jesus to the line of King David. There were 14 generations from David to Jesus.
Luke 4:18-19 quotes part of this passage to describe Jesus’ ministry as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy.
“This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham…and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary,and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.”(Matthew 1:1, 16)
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”(Luke 4:18-19)
*Note: “It is common knowledge that the genealogies contained in Matthew and Luke differ. Most conservative Bible commentators explain the difference by holding that Jesus’ genealogy in Matthew 1:1–16 is traced through Joseph’s line to show Jesus’ royal right to the Davidic throne; correspondingly, the genealogy in Luke 3:23–38 traces Jesus’ ancestry through Mary’s line. This means that Mary’s lineage is recorded in the Gospel of Luke,”(source).
The Servant of the Lord
"Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations." (Isaiah 42:1)
Fulfillment (First Coming): This prophecy about “the Servant of the Lord” is understood in the New Testament as describing Jesus' first coming in the role of the “suffering servant.” Jesus is the one to bring justice, peace, and salvation not only to Israel, but also to the Gentiles.
Matthew 12:18-21 quotes this passage directly, applying it to Jesus' ministry. Jesus’ gentleness (not breaking a bruised reed or quenching a faintly burning wick) is particularly emphasized in His first coming.
“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope” (Matthew 12:18-21)
The Suffering Servant
"He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted." (Isaiah 53:3-4)
Fulfillment (First Coming): This is the most significant prophecy about the “suffering servant” and is one of the clearest and most direct prophecies of Jesus’ crucifixion and death. The suffering, rejection, and sacrifice of the servant are fulfilled in Jesus’ death on the cross for all the world’s sins.
New Testament quotes in Matthew 8:17 and 1 Peter 2:24 refer to the suffering of Jesus as the fulfillment of this prophecy. Jesus’ sacrificial death was the atoning work described in Isaiah 53.
“This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.’ ”(Matthew 8:17)
“‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’”(1 Peter 2:24 )
The Spirit of the Lord upon the Messiah
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners" (Isaiah 61:1)
Fulfillment (First Coming): This prophecy points to Jesus first coming, especially in His ministry of healing and proclaiming the good news of the Gospel. Jesus reads this passage in the synagogue in Luke 4:18-21 and declares that He is the fulfillment of it.
“He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.””(Luke 4:21)
The Lamb Led to the Slaughter
"He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth." (Isaiah 53:7)
Fulfillment (First Coming): These verses describe Jesus’ obedience to God because He knew this was why He came. It shows his humility and silence before His accusers during His trial and His crucifixion. Jesus’ silence before Pilate and His willingness to suffer without any retaliation are both seen as fulfilling this prophecy in Isaiah 53.
Matthew 27:12-14 and Mark 15:5 describe how Jesus remained silent before His accusers, fulfilling this prophecy.
“When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.”(Matthew 27:12-14)
“But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.”(Mark 15:5)
The Messiah's Suffering
"I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.." (Isaiah 50:6)
Fulfillment (First Coming): This prophecy foretells the mocking, beating, and suffering Jesus endured during His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, particularly the scourging and spitting He suffered at the hands of the Roman soldiers.
Matthew 26:67, Matthew 27:30, and Mark 15:19 describe the physical abuse Jesus experienced during His trial and crucifixion.
“Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him…”(Matthew 26:67)
“And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.”(Matthew 27:30)
“And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him.”(Mark 15:19 )
The Year of the Lord's Favor
“…to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn." (Isaiah 61:2)
Fulfillment (First Coming): This passage in Isaiah 61 is full of promise and great hope. It speaks of one who announces the Year of the Lord’s favor and goes into detail about what this means.
In Luke 4:18-21, Jesus reads this passage from Isaiah, but stops before mentioning "the day of vengeance of our God,” (vs 2) because His first coming would be a time of grace and favor—offering salvation rather than judgment.
The day of vengeance points to the Day of the Lord - a future prophecy that will be fulfilled in Jesus’ second coming.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”(Luke 4:18-21)
The Messiah's Atoning Death and Exaltation
"Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities." (Isaiah 53:10-11)
Fulfillment (First Coming): These verses describe the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, where He bears the sins of humanity and is victorious over death through His resurrection and ascension into heaven. While this prophecy may have dual fulfillment in the future messianic reign, the first coming of Jesus fulfilled the suffering servant aspect.
Matthew 20:28, Romans 5:8, and 1 Peter 3:18 emphasize Jesus' sacrificial death and atonement of all our sins.
“…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”(Matthew 20:28)
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”(Romans 5:8)
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.”(1 Peter 3:18)
We have seen that the Word of God is faithful. He not only carried out the judgements against His people because they broke their covenant, but He also fulfilled His promise of hope and restoration in the coming of Messiah.
These historically fulfilled prophecies give us great assurance that the unfulfilled ones in Isaiah regarding Jesus second coming fill us with immense hope! We have a bright future.
What are these prophecies about the second coming in Isaiah and do we have any hints as to when will they be fulfilled?
To be continued…
Today’s Question
Today’s Prayer
Father I am so very humbled by the words of your prophet Isaiah. It boggles my mind that a man prophesied over 700 years before the coming of Messiah, and today we get to read about the fulfillment of them through Jesus. The suffering and sacrifice is beyond my comprehension. While we were so undeserving, you gave us hope for our eternal security and beautiful future with you.
The hope this brings is wonderful. For your Word assures us that, just as Jesus came the first time, He is coming again. We have such an amazing future in your kingdom.
We also can have complete faith that you will always be true to your promises. Your Word is Truth. Your Word is justice. Your Word is Hope. Today I cling to your Word.
As this world prepares for the Antichrist system of control and satanic rule in a deceptive “Golden Age,” I’m excited about the true Golden Age that will be ours at the second coming. Our hope is you and you alone. I pray for your Kingdom to come quickly. May all honor and glory be yours. Amen.❤️