One day there will be a heavenly and an earthly Jerusalem that reflect the Lord’s glory. Isaiah gives us a view of both.
Isaiah 61: The Year of the LORD's Favour
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favour, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion--- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.
5 Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your ploughmen and vinedressers;
6 but you shall be called the priests of the LORD; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast.
7 Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonour they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy.
8 For I the LORD love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the LORD has blessed.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.
Isaiah 62: Zion's Coming Salvation
1 For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch.
2 The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give.
3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
4 You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married.
5 For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
6 On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the LORD in remembrance, take no rest,
7 and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.
8 The LORD has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: "I will not again give your grain to be food for your enemies, and foreigners shall not drink your wine for which you have laboured;
9 but those who garner it shall eat it and praise the LORD, and those who gather it shall drink it in the courts of my sanctuary."
10 Go through, go through the gates; prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway; clear it of stones; lift up a signal over the peoples.
11 Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the daughter of Zion, "Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him."
12 And they shall be called The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD; and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.
Things to think about…
1. Jesus stood up in the synagogue and claimed to fulfil the words of Isaiah 61:1,2 as recorded in Luke 4:18-21. All His hearers in that day would have known the context of the passage. So what did He fulfil what He read from Isaiah? Rome still occupied Israel, etc. The good news of course is that which deals with our greatest need - to have our sin forgiven. But look at the rest of the prophesy from Isa 61:4-11. Is it only a spiritual sense that these verses are fulfilled? Certainly the gospel should influence the nations and the ruined places due to sin will be rebuilt. People’s lives, homes and marriages are restored due to the gospel. But there also seems to be both a temporal and an eternal focus with respect to the promises in Isa 61:7,8 and the focus is upon all nations, not just Israel, vs 11. Righteousness only comes from Christ and is not passed on by being Jewish. These prophesies therefore refer both to the blessing that the gospel brings upon the nations and the physical rule of Christ on the earth from Jerusalem. Jerusalem will not be dishonoured but in fact be given a double portion of the Lord’s blessing, Isa 61:7. We have seen this to be the case with sons who were loved by fathers or brothers in the OT.
2. The Lord makes an “everlasting covenant” among the peoples, Isa 61:8 and His off spring “shall be known among the nations”, vs 9. This is of course the blessing of the gospel to the Gentiles, of whom we are numbered.
3. Jesus is the One who is “clothed with salvations” and who wears the “robe of righteousness”, Isa 61:10. As such “the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations”, Isa 61:11. Regardless of whether the world looks to be out of control the Lord will cause the whole earth to praise Him. While we know this will not happen before He returns, we know it will be true for all those who dwell on the earth in the Millennium. We are made righteous by the righteous robe of Yeshua.
4. Isa 62 has both spiritual and physical meaning with respect to the work of Christ and His past, present and future ministry. After Jesus rose from the grave, the question and desire from the disciples was whether Jesus would restore the kingdom to Israel, Acts 1:6. Jesus responded by saying that it was not for them to know the times and the season for that event, Acts1:6, not that there would not be such an event. Jesus lamented for Jerusalem and longed for the promises to be fulfilled for her, Matt 23:37, Luke 13:34.
5. In Christ Jerusalem shall not be called “Forsaken” or “Desolate”, but married Isa 62:4. We are the watchmen, vss 6, 7 that are called to “give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth”, Isa 62:7. This is the calling and privilege of all those who name the name of Christ. We are to pray for the gospel to cover the earth and for the peace of Jerusalem, when it will be praised by the inhabitants of the earth. Prayer is easily done, but often neglected. The reason is simply unbelief, self-reliance and pride. May the Lord’s Spirit encourage our souls to pray that His will be done on “earth as it is in heaven”, Mt 6:10.
6. Jesus has set a day to return, Isa 62:11. Salvation will come to Zion as prophesied here and also by the Apostle Paul in Rom 11:26. Pray for our ministry to the Jewish people through the One for Israel outreach that we have a share in this ministry of salvation to the Jews and Arabs in Israel.
7. These promises will one day be fulfilled. The gospel brings people to the Lord, but there are still literal promises for the future of Jerusalem, Isa 62:8-19. Let’s pray for Jerusalem and for the promises to be fulfilled. But the spiritual truths for God’s people are also evident, vs 12, we are “The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD; and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Life groups Wednesdays. Ric Benson group will start back on Wednesday night 6:30pm.
Pastor Jay has started the young adult’s life group starts back this Sunday.
Prayer Points
1. Christian minster attacked with a knife yesterday - Mar Mari Emmanuelle of the Good Shepherd Church, Wakeley in Sydney. He spoke out against the extremist Covid vaccine agenda. Pray for a full restoration.
2. Families of victims of the Bondi Junction massacre. Pray for healing, comfort and hope.
3. Anna is starting a Playgroup at CBC. First one this week on Friday 19th Apr 9am.
4. Conflict in Israel and Ukraine.
5. Those who are considering baptism.
6. Church finances to cover all expenses.
7. Pray for new Playgroup outreach, Kids@Church, Life groups and church community days.
8. Mathys has a prayer time at church on Monday afternoons. He would be happy for you to join him and to send prayer requests.
9. That we be bold in our witnessing for Christ. Pray for a heart to see those around you to be saved. Pray for the blessing over the new pastoral care and hosting program.
10. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Praise the Lord for ministry opportunities at Kidz@church and Playgroup.
2. Continue to pray for Tad to gain strength at home. Good to see him at church yesterday. Continue to pray for Glenys as she now has a splint to gain full use in her left arm. Any encouragement you can give will be greatly appreciated.
3. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. All Life Groups start back Wednesday 6:30pm at church.
2. Kids@Church back on Sunday.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for April...
Q. 19. Do you have a soul as well as a body? A. Yes; I have a soul that can never die.
