After foretelling a series of calamities on named nations and cities such as Assyria, Babylon, and Tyre, Isaiah now a prophesies of dire troubles that should come on the whole world and its inhabitants because of sin. It is said by the prophet that these disasters will be the work of the Sovereign Lord and an emptying of the world. By disease, wars and natural causes God will turn the earth upside down. Isaiah prefixes a ‘Behold’ because the events will be both remarkable and marvellous. The way of the world These events do not all occur together but in the history of nations there will be catastrophes and tragedies that will bring ruin and destruction so as to shake the very foundations of social…

We remember that the purpose of Isaiah’s prophecy was to comfort the Lord’s people and encourage them during difficult times when God seemed far away and the power and prosperity of their enemies seemed unassailable. The prophecy was designed to remind the Lord’s faithful remnant that despite appearances God is still on His throne and the promise of a coming Messiah was in no way hindered or compromised. It is the Old Testament equivalent of Christ’s words, ‘these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them’. Tyre’s long history The ancient Phoenician city of Tyre, originally part built on an island, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. In…

Our previous studies in Isaiah have helped us to understand how much awareness Old Testament believers had concerning the coming of the Messiah. We have seen how the place, circumstances and parentage of Christ’s extraordinary birth were known. We have learned that Isaiah knew about the redemption and deliverance of God’s chosen people. We have noted how detailed prophecies to comfort and encourage God’s remnant church were given and later fulfilled. An enduring message In all of Isaiah’s writings the person of the Lord Jesus can be discerned in typical ways in the historical and circumstantial events portrayed. As the prophet laid out God’s purpose and message for the people of his own age, and generations following, we detect spiritual significance in the things written.…

The genius of the Epistle to the Hebrews is the pre-eminence given to the Lord Jesus Christ, showing Him to be the fulfilment of the types and shadows of the Mosaic law with its sacrifices and rituals. The Levitical priesthood points to Christ’s office as our Great High Priest. The legal sacrifices prefigured the unique and perfect sacrifice Christ offered for us. Hebrews explains that the gospel does not modify the law of Moses. It supersedes and abolishes it. Grace pleases God We have seen how the person of Christ and all aspects of gospel revelation, from electing grace to final glory, please the Lord Jehovah. This is no surprise. The covenant of peace and the plan of redemption is designed according to the will…

There is a majesty in the Bible that testifies to its divine revelation and supernatural origin. In holy scripture we learn how God has intervened extraordinarily in the course of this sinful world’s history for the salvation of men and women otherwise lost. The scriptures reveal God’s gospel purpose of grace. They tell us, ‘while we were yet sinners Christ died for us’ and that we are ‘saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation’. The Ancient of Days Today’s portion is one such majestic passage. Daniel speaks of a vision of Jehovah God, the Ancient of Days; the Eternal Three In One. He tells us, ‘A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times…