Basic HTML Version
170
Royalty and Ruin
The Captivity Brought “Good News” to Many
God gave the prophet a revelation of His plan for a greater good
in scattering unrepentant Judah among the nations of earth. “My
people shall know My name,” the Lord declared.
Isaiah 52:6
. In
their exile they were to give to others a knowledge of the living God.
Many among the strangers were to learn to love Him as their Creator
and Redeemer; they were to begin to observe His holy Sabbath as a
memorial of His creative power. “All the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.”
Verse 10
. Many of these converts from
heathenism would unite with the Israelites and go with them on the
return journey to Judea. Ever after they would be counted among
spiritual Israel—His church on earth.
[135]
“The sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the Lord, to
serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants—
everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My
covenant—even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make
them joyful in My house of prayer. ... For My house shall be called
a house of prayer for all nations.”
Isaiah 56:6, 7
.
God allowed the prophet to look down the centuries to the com-
ing of the promised Messiah. Many were being led astray by false
teachers; others were not bringing true holiness into their daily liv-
ing. The outlook seemed hopeless. But soon a wondrous vision
spread before the eyes of the prophet. He saw the Sun of Righteous-
ness, and in wondrous admiration he exclaimed, “The people who
walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the
land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.”
Isaiah
9:2
.
This glorious Light of the world was to bring salvation to every
nation and people. The prophet heard the eternal Father declare, “It
is too small a thing that You should be My servant to raise up the
tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also
give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation
to the ends of the earth.”
Isaiah 49:6
; see also
verses 8, 9, 12
.
Looking on still farther through the ages, the prophet saw the
bearers of salvation’s glad tidings going to the ends of the earth. He
heard the commission, “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them
stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen