Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. As we study the scriptures,
it is most profitable to seek out the meaning and purpose of
the names given to various persons and places, especially when they
are mentioned in connection with unfolding events, prophecies,
and the demonstration of His mercy. Because of the problems
of translation and our own dullness, it is sometimes very difficult
to ascertain exactly what these names signify. Surely, if we
do arrive at a proper understanding of them, it is because it has
been shown to us and not as a result of our own adeptness. Of all
the prophets in the Old Testament, none speak more clearly and voluminously
on the coming and triumphant reign of the Lord Jesus Christ
in the unfolding of His kingdom than Isaiah. He is aptly named
since Isaiah literally means, Jot, that is, Jehovah, has saved. He prophesied for approximately
85 years throughout the reigns of four kings. Though he was
no doubt puzzled as to the complete meanings of some of those things
which he was given to prophesy, yet he most gloriously declares
the gospel of the glory of the blessed God. Of which salvation
the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied
of the grace that should come unto you, searching what or what
manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did
signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and
the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed that
not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things
which are now reported unto you by them which have preached the
gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven,
which things the angels desire to look into. He prophesied of
Christ's birth, His ministry, His suffering and death, His
resurrection, and His ascension back to the throne of God as
the triumphant Redeemer King. The Lord signaled the beginning
of His ministry by standing up in the synagogue in Nazareth
to read Isaiah's prophecy concerning Himself. "'The Spirit of the
Lord is upon me "'because he hath anointed me "'to preach
the gospel to the poor. "'He hath sent me to heal the
brokenhearted, "'to preach deliverance to the captives "'and recovering
of sight to the blind, "'to set at liberty them that are bruised,
"'to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.' "'And he closed
the book and gave it again "'to the minister and sat down. "'And
the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue "'were fastened
on him. "'And he began to say unto them,
"'This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. These
Jews marveled at his words and wisdom, yet only a short time
later they were ready to cast him off of a cliff as he preached
unto them of the sovereign grace of God in visiting his salvation
upon the Gentiles. The Lord told Isaiah to name
his son Mahershala HaShbaz. This unusual name literally means
hasting to the prey. In the specific moment in which
the Lord gave Isaiah this direction, he had reference to the swiftness
with which the king of Assyria would employ in spoiling and
conquering Damascus and Samaria. No doubt the swiftness of his
judgment was demonstrated here in order to illustrate that he
instructed Isaiah in the naming of his son. Yet, as in all things,
the Lord would magnify the name and glory of Christ in the unfolding
of all events which he has ordained to occur in the earth. Lest we
have any doubt about this name being descriptive of him, we
read a little further and find, And he shall pass through Judah,
he shall overflow and go over. He shall reach even to the neck,
and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth
of thy land, O Emmanuel. The enemies of God's people had
well nigh destroyed them, and surely oppressed and enslaved
them when Christ came upon the scene. As he declared, he came
to preach deliverance to the captives. For when we were yet
without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly.
This is the fulfillment of that prophecy. So shall they fear
the name of the Lord from the west and his glory from the rising
of the sun When the enemy shall come in like a flood the spirit
of the lord shall lift up a standard against him And the redeemer
shall come to zion and unto them that turn from transgression
in jacob saith the lord But god commendeth his love toward us
and that while we were yet sinners christ died for us He has indeed
hastened to the prey for that work which christ has performed
though It was long in coming was a quick and short work according
to his purpose Esaias, or Isaiah, also crieth concerning Israel,
though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the
sea, a remnant shall be saved, for he will finish the work and
cut it short in righteousness, because a short work will the
Lord make upon the earth. And as Esaias said before, except
the Lord of the Sabbath had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom
and made like unto Gomorrah. He shall see of the travail of
his soul and be satisfied. Do you rejoice in that name which
is above every name? For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.