|
Isaiah: God Saves Sinners, by Raymond
Ortlund, Jr., a PCA teaching elder, is also a helpful resource to preachers,
teachers, and Bible students. This commentary is part of a series edited by R.
Kent Hughes.
While Genesis is the basic and absolutely
essential book for understanding how God the Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer
relates to his creation, laying the theological foundation for the Christian
faith and life, Isaiah is viewed by many as one of the most theologically
significant books in the Old Testament. Ortlund’s makes a point to underscore
that unity of vision of God throughout the sixty-six books.
According to Ortlund, Isaiah’s aim is to show us
more of God and more of ourselves than we have ever seen. Ortlund writes, “God
saves sinners. We don’t believe that. We bank our happiness on other things. But
God says to us, ‘I’m better than you think. You’re worse than you think. Let’s
get together.’” While demonstrating good exegesis, this book like others in the
series is designed to help the preacher know how to effectively and faithfully
set forth the message of Isaiah. Ortlund mentions his gratitude to J. Alec
Motyer and John N. Oswalt for their help in exegeting Isaiah. I would agree and
add to that list, E. J. Young’s classic set as well.
The opening passage in chapter 1 will give you a
preview of other rich words in this volume: “We can know, because God has
spoken. Into our troubled world, God has spoken to us from ‘the borders of
another world.’ Our needs go deeper than the remedies on sale in the marketplace
of ideas today. Whether you are a believer or an unbeliever, wouldn’t you agree
that the ‘solution of the riddle of life in space and time lies outside space
and time?’ …Surprisingly, his message is good news for bad people like us. Will
you listen to him thoughtfully, patiently?”
There are so many rich passages in this
commentary that it is impossible to mention them all. One of my favorite
passages is Isaiah 60, the Old Testament version of Revelation 21. Ortlund
entitles that chapter, “Revival and World Renewal.” It is the new Jerusalem and
the climax and consummation of all history. I especially appreciated his
handling of that rich chapter and its various themes. One last passage that
again reflects the importance of this commentary, “God himself came down into
this world and suffered Hell out of love for us, to save us from our folly. It’s
time for us to humble ourselves. It’s time to change the subject in our minds
from blaming God for ruining the world to owning our real moral guilt before
him, so that we can receive his saving love in Christ.” Need I say more to
encourage you to have access to this commentary and use it in your studying,
preaching, and teaching? It is powerful!
|