Day 145: Isaiah 42-44

Isaiah quotes the Lord, "Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them." (Isaiah‬ ‭42:9‬) What does he mean specifically? He's probably referring to the prediction that came to pass regarding the Assyrian army and Sennecherib, and encouraging the reader to have faith based on that that all he predicts will occur. That includes the description about Christ that opens the chapter, (Isaiah 42:1-4), but also the pouring out of the Spirit (Isaiah 44:3), the blotting out of their transgressions, (Isaiah 44:22), and the destruction and rebuilding of Jerusalem, (Isaiah 44:28). The Cyrus prophecy is so specific that it's probably the inspiration for the whole Deutero-Isaiah heresy. But for us it all follows suit: if Isaiahs prophecy was fulfilled regarding Cyrus, and the first advent of Jesus, it will be fulfilled in Israel's regathering (Isaiah 11:11), Christ's second coming and Armageddon (Isaiah 26:19-21).

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