In chapter 60, we learned that Zion is ultimately the church, the city of God that shines amidst the cities of men. With the coming of Jesus, the light of God’s glory had broken through the darkness of our world. And all who come to King Jesus in faith become citizens of Zion now. Now, […]
At the end of chapter 59 we read how the Lord Yahweh himself would come to save his people, securing both worldwide and eternal results. This promise was fulfilled when Jesus Christ came in the armor of God to redeem us from sin and establish a new covenant in his blood. What follows now in […]
In Isaiah 57 we learned that God delights to draw near to the contrite and lowly, to those who recognize their great need, who mourn over their sinfulness. But in chapter 58 we find that there is a way to look humble and repentant on the outside yet remain unrepentant on the inside. In other […]
In Isaiah 57:13 we saw the promise that those who put their hope in God will find the peace and security they seek, and belong to the place where he dwells. For the rest of the chapter, Isaiah reveals how this is possible from God’s perspective and ours. In this sermon, pastor Matt shows us […]
In this sermon, pastor Matt reminds us that only a church captivated by a vision of God’s gospel will know the blessings of his peace. Those who lose sight of his kingdom will look for salvation in their idols. But those who seek first his kingdom and righteousness will take refuge in Christ and wait […]
Isaiah 56-66, the last section of the book, holds forth a vision of the kingdom of God—a kingdom that is both now and not yet—calling us to a life of faith that is centered on Christ and bears witness to his saving rule. In this sermon, pastor Matt helps us see that God’s grace gathers […]
In Isaiah 55 we are invited to know the comfort of God promised since Isaiah 40. It’s an invitation to enter the kingdom of his faithful servant and beloved Son, Jesus. It’s a summons to acknowledge his rightful rule, to come to him and live! And the call to the thirsty to “come to the […]
Isaiah 55 is the last chapter of this section of Isaiah that has been focused on the servant of the Lord (Isa. 49-55). We’ve seen how, through the sacrifice and exaltation of Jesus, God in Christ has made the way for sinners to be brought under the reign of his grace. Now, having just described […]
Isaiah 53 explained how God would one day redeem his people, establish his throne in Zion, and reign as King over the nations. This plan of salvation would be accomplished through the sacrifice and exaltation of his servant, our substitute, the Lord Jesus Christ. What follows now in chapter 54 are three stunning images that […]
In many ways, every thread used in the tapestry of the OT is woven together in Isaiah 53: the promises of Genesis, the redemption of Exodus, the sacrifices of Leviticus, the wanderings of Numbers, the blessings and curses of Deuteronomy, the victories of Joshua, the deliverances of Judges, the dynasties of Samuel and Kings; the […]
All along, Isaiah has told us that the Lord alone will be exalted. And his blessing would come to all nations through the witness of his redeemed people under the saving rule of his Messiah. We’ve heard of the child of Isaiah 9 who would sit on David’s throne forever and establish God’s kingdom of […]
For this Lord’s Day gathering, we spent time lamenting the sudden and tragic death of one of the precious children in our congregation, Orlando Vargas Jr., who died the day before his sixth birthday. We took time to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15) because “if one member suffers, all suffer together” (1 Corinthians […]
In chapter 51, God gives a word of comfort to the faithful remnant then and the true Israel today. The servant once more calls his people, his church, to listen. It is the Lord Jesus who is speaking here to sustain the weary (50:4). It is his voice which the righteous obey (50:10). And along […]
Isaiah 49 begins with a portrait of the faithful servant of the Lord who would bring Israel back to God and be a light to the nations. Verses 1-13 describe the redemption that would take place soon (in Israel’s return from exile), eventually (by the work of Christ), and ultimately (in the new creation). But […]
Last week, we began the next section of Isaiah 40-66. In chs. 49-55, the focus is on the servant of the Lord, who would be for Israel and for the world what Israel failed to be. He would be the one chosen by Yahweh to bring faithless Israel back to their God, ending the separation […]
