Prophecies Fulfilled Proverbs to Malachi

By Dennis Herman

Learn how Solomon's wisdom led him to be a prophet. Walk with Isaiah through a war torn region to deliver messages to kings and leaders. Stand with Jeremiah as God teaches him to be one of the Bible's youngest and most important prophets. Watch Jonah run from God before he found out what a prophet is supposed to be. Stand with Zechariah as he encourages the people who returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and warns them of things to come. Finally examine Malachi's last message in the Old Testament to see how the world has been preparing to fulfill that prophecy, or if they missed the message.

Isaiah showed how God communicates with His servants. Jeremiah showed how God chooses and trains prophets. Together those two books reveal a part of God's personality few people are able to see or experience. This is the forth in a series of books covering the prophecies Jesus fulfilled from Genesis to Malachi. Buy the whole set.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312628298

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Prophecies Fulfilled Proverbs to Malachi

Prophecies Fulfilled Proverbs to Malachi

Written by Dennis Herman

Copyright © 2014 Dennis Herman

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ISBN 978-1-312-62829-8

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Published by: Lulu.com

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Bibles:

NLTse New Living. Translation®. SECOND EDITION Tyndale House Publishers, Inc

KJV King James Version

MKJV Modern King James Version Sovereign Grace Publishers

GNB Good News Bible Thomas Nelson Publishers

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) (NLTse) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scriptures marked GNB are taken from the GOOD NEWS BIBLE (GNB): Scriptures taken

from the Good News Bible © 1994 published by the Bible Societies/HarperCollins Publishers

Ltd UK, Good News Bible© American Bible Society 1966, 1971, 1976, 1992. Used with

permission.

Prophecies Fulfilled Proverbs to Malachi

Introduction

Learn how Solomon's wisdom led him to be a prophet. Walk with Isaiah through a war torn region to deliver messages to kings and leaders. Stand with Jeremiah as God teaches him to be one of the Bible's youngest and most important prophets. Watch Jonah run from God before he found out what a prophet is supposed to be. Stand with Zechariah as he encourages the people who returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and warns them of things to come. Finally examine Malachi's last message in the Old Testament to see how the world has been preparing to fulfill that prophecy, or if they missed the message.

Solomon recorded one of the longest prophecies covering the widest span of time. The main theme covered the gift Solomon was given.

Isaiah is said to be the most quoted prophet in the New Testament. What kept drawing New Testament writers back to this ancient prophet? Learn to put yourself in Isaiah's position to see what he saw so you can understand the faith that took him across battlefields and past blood thirsty armies who often killed for sport. Learn the back ground of those opposing forces. How they got to where they were and how God tried calling them back. Learn how the Bible recorded and reveals the spiritual meaning of each country. Watch the physical wars unfold into spiritual lessons and battles covering every inch of this world.

It surprised Jeremiah when he found out, God's qualifications for a prophet were contrary to everything he learned in his training to follow in his father's footsteps as a priest. It didn't help Jeremiah to know God was planning to send him to stand in front of his teachers to deliver messages from the LORD. No where in the Bible is there a better example or collection of lessons showing how God can take a trembling youth and turn him into one of God's most trusted and loyal messengers.

God uses a specific process in everything. Look at the process in creation. Like everything from assembling a child's bike to raising a skyscraper, creation required a specific sequence. We see specific sequences and patters from Genesis to Revelation. Like any apprentice, we learn patterns and the reason we have to follow them from our Master Builder.

Isaiah showed us how God communicates with His servants. Jeremiah showed us how God chooses and trains prophets. Together those two books reveal a part of God's personality few people are able to see or experience.

Some of Isaiah's most important prophecies lead to parallel chapters in the New Testament recording their fulfillment. Many of those fulfillments use contrasts to show the form of worship Jesus came to remind the world of, and the forms of worship the world decided to create and follow. This collection of studies shows the conflict between the two forms of worship in this world today.

God's faithful messengers have always called people back to God. They have always encouraged people to return to a close personal relationship with God. God's prophets shared the same message. Listen to God. Why do major institutions call people to listen to them? See how this battle developed and unfolded over history.

Zechariah delivered a message of hope and encouragement to those Jews who returned to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. They were dispersed throughout the world to learn a lesson and prepare the world for the birth of the Messiah. Those Jews fell back into their old ways and failed at the task God gave them. Zechariah recorded a number of prophecies. Paul explained how some of those prophecies were fulfilled. Paul also explained another side of those prophecies, how the enemy will continue to do everything in his power to altar, misrepresent, water down, destroy, and stop the new message Jesus gave to this dead world. Paul explained how the lust of financial gain interfered with the message those Jews were trusted with in Zechariah's day. Then Paul explained how the enemy will gladly repeat the same plan that worked so well before.

It shouldn't surprise anyone to see the enemy repeating his most successful deceptions and creating new strategies to attack God's followers. We can learn a lot from history. But history only tells a part of the story. Without a doubt, there is no other book in this world like the Bible – God's inspired Word. God used a series of specific patterns to show how prophecies and their recorded fulfillments are linked. Learn to see, understand, use, and share those simple patterns in God's Word.

This is the forth in a series of books cover the prophecies Jesus fulfilled from Genesis to Malachi. This series of books doesn't cover every single one of those prophecies Jesus fulfilled. But this series cover a great deal of them. There is something unusual about following the order those prophecies about Jesus are recorded in the Bible. They begin with simple lessons, teaching us how to locate the recorded fulfillments in the New Testament. When we follow the simple procedures recorded in scripture, we find how the entire chapters compliment one another. Following the simple rules of context open up a new, deeper understanding of scripture. Many other inspired writers have used these methods to locate related scripture. But I have never seen another book dedicated to explaining how to locate and confirm parallel chapters. This series of book teaches you how to effectively study on your own. With God's Spirit of course.

Please consider adding a couple of useful apps to your phone so you can listen to these books on your phone. The best apps I've found are Cool Reader, and eBook reader. Cool Reader has an option to listen to eBooks and other formats. Check settings and click on Read Aloud. It works well with another app using a natural voice program called Ivona. I included both links for Android apps for your convenience. Sorry, iPhone users are on their own. I'm sure Apple has similar apps available.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.coolreader

https://play.google.com/store/search?q=ivona

Chapter 1 - Proverbs 8 Listen as Wisdom Calls Out

Pro 8:1  Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice!

Pro 8:2  On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads.

Pro 8:3  By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud,

Pro 8:4  "I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people.

Pro 8:5  You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding.

Pro 8:6  Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right,

Pro 8:7  for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception.

Pro 8:8  My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it.

Pro 8:9  My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge.

Pro 8:10  Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.

Pro 8:11  For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.

Pro 8:12  "I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.

Pro 8:13  All who fear the LORD will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.

Pro 8:14  Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine.

Pro 8:15  Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees.

Pro 8:16  Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments.

Pro 8:17  "I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me.

Pro 8:18  I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice.

Pro 8:19  My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver!

Pro 8:20  I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice.

Pro 8:21  Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries.

Pro 8:22  "The LORD formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else.

Pro 8:23  I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began.

Pro 8:24  I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters.

Pro 8:25  Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born--

Pro 8:26  before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil.

Pro 8:27  I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans.

Pro 8:28  I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth.

Pro 8:29  I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth's foundations,

Pro 8:30  I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence.

Pro 8:31  And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family!

Pro 8:32  "And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful.

Pro 8:33  Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don't ignore it.

Pro 8:34  Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home!

Pro 8:35  For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.

Pro 8:36  But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death."

Proverbs takes us into a new form of study. In his unique form of poetry, Solomon used a series of contrasts to teach a number of lessons. This is the only series of prophecies I identified in Proverbs. I'm sure there are more. This study will give you the basic information to identify, mark key words, and find scripture recording their fulfillment.

The first step is to identify key words and highlight them. Key words are those which are the same, similar, or related. The next step in this chapter is to divide the chapter into individual prophecies. This is a new step discussed in this book. Previous books in this series discuss locating fulfillments and parallel chapters in great detail. Finding the parallel chapter to the prophecy in Proverbs 8 is easy once you highlight and identify the key words. Two sets of them, hear and listen along with understand take us right to two possible chapters. Both of them contain the parable of the sower, or farmer based on the translation. In this study we'll use Mark chapter 4 because the summation brings out a point stressed in Proverbs 8.

Mark 4:23-25 NLTse  Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.  (24)  Then he added, Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given--and you will receive even more.  (25)  To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them."

Once we look at and compare the colors highlighted, these two chapters light up along with the many texts we can compare. Proverbs 8 talks about roads leading into a town and crossroads. When we look at the context in Mark 4 it takes a little understanding of the culture to see the connection between crossroads and a lake. Fisherman use what? Boats. Let's look at the introduction in Mark 4 to see how the author established the theme.

Mark 4:1-3 NLTse  Once again Jesus began teaching by the lake shore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore.  (2)  He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:  (3)  "Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed.

Notice how the word boat is repeated? This draws our attention to the key word boat. Also notice the word shore is repeated. Look at the culture of the people Jesus is reaching out to at that moment in time. How do you think fisherman got around? Do you think they walked from town to town on the road or got in their boats to drift or sail to the next town? The shoreline has the same meaning as a crossroad to people in a fishing village. Now we learned the lesson of looking at and comparing key words to see the spiritual meaning. God did this for a reason. Discovering details like this reminds us God's ways, imagination, and attention to detail is is far greater than ours. This also shows how God's Spirit prepared each message to be openly received by an individual or group based on where they are in their understanding and how they are capable of receiving that message.

Now think of it. I'm sure you won't argue prejudice exists all over the world in one form or another. A lot of people look at fishermen as ignorant, or at least not as intelligent as a lot of people these days. Well I'm sure all those people in the fishing village saw how Jesus used the shore line as a symbol of a crossroad long before most people realized it. With God's Spirit the weak become strong. My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge. Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.

Jesus taught in a boat to teach a number of lessons. There's no doubt Jesus chose a boat so He would not stand above the people He was teaching. Water has the physical characteristic of remaining level when it is not disturbed by other forces. The lake had to be lower than the land the people were standing on. The land had to raise up higher than the water Jesus was on. So the people were looking down on Jesus. This showed the humble way Jesus taught. Imagine the King of kings and LORD of lords taking a lower position to teach. Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine. Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees. Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments. Jesus never had a need to exhibit His power. That wasn't the reason He came to this world.

This makes you think. Was the shoreline a gentle sloop or steep? The Romans adopted the concept of looking down in the coliseums they built. Rome looked down on the slaves and Christians made to suffer and die for their entertainment pleasure. Was Jesus inserting a clue, another prophecy here? Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God.

This also makes you think about the time Jesus taught on a mountain. Did Jesus stand at the top and talk down to His listeners or did He stand at the bottom and talk up to them? Did Jesus choose a mountain to have those people stand at the top closer to God? When Moses talked with God, Moses looked up to God who occupied the highest position. In His own humble way, Jesus showed us His role of a servant by taking the lower position when teaching. Jesus didn't take the position reserved for God and the position reserved for Jesus after He secured redemption for this world.

Jesus chose a humble position to teach. No one had time to prepare the boat with fancy decorations or flowers which would have distracted from the simple symbols Jesus used. Was the water calm? The slightest wave would have made the boat rock. James and his brother John took positions at the front and back of the boat to steady it. Their efforts afforded a degree of success, but did little to offset the effects of the waves on the water. No need to fret, this was part of the lesson Jesus was teaching that day. We see that lesson in the summation.

Mark 4:35-41 NLTse  As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake."  (36)  So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).  (37)  But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.  (38)  Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, "Teacher, don't you care that we're going to drown?"  (39)  When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the water, Silence! Be still! Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.  (40)  Then he asked them, Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?  (41)  The disciples were absolutely terrified. Who is this man? they asked each other. "Even the wind and waves obey him!"

It took a while but Jesus' disciples finally saw who controlled the elements. After witnessing the event they still didn't understand the complete lesson. "The LORD formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else. I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began. I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters. Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born-- before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil. I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans. I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth. I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth's foundations, I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence. And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family! And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful. Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don't ignore it.

The disciples had a difficult time accepting Jesus as God's Son, as the Messiah promised in scripture. The disciples and everyone else spent their lives looking for a Messiah to come and wipe out their enemies. It was hard to see Jesus as the Messiah because He didn't fit the accepted mold. In trying to interpret scripture, the priests and Pharisees created an image to worship an image that wasn't God at all. They thought it was God, but their earthy desires twisted the plainest prophecy into something they wanted it to say. It's sad to think, most of the modern day interpretations on future prophecy still follow the same man made rules of interpretation the priests and Pharisees used. No one could see the true interpretation of scripture until after it was fulfilled. "And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful. Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don't ignore it. Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death."

When we study about learning the mysteries written in scripture, one story stands out. Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27 NLTse). Why did Jesus have to wait until after His resurrection before revealing all the prophecies about Himself? Was it because the disciples wouldn't listen while He was still alive? Was it because their minds were clouded by commonly accepted misinterpretations on over 300 prophecies about the Messiah? Was it because this is God's way of revealing the proper interpretation to His prophecies? I think it is the later.

What happens to our faith when we walk around thinking we know the future? What do we need God for when we think we have all the answers? Sure we can point to scripture and say, we still need Jesus so He can forgive our sins. But what happens to the relationship part of the equation? Notice what Solomon wrote about wisdom. "Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! What does it mean to watch daily? I'm sure this is what Jesus was trying to explain when He said: Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:33-34 NLTse). Jesus also told us: And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? When you are arrested, don't worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. (Matthew 7:3, 10:19 NLTse). This all points to one thing. Jesus is showing us how important a day to day, minute to minute relationship with God is. If we don't have it, we're basically on our own.

Finding knowledge and wisdom is easy for those with a close relationship with Jesus. It's nothing short of a mystery for those who choose to depend on themselves. It's a choice each of us has to make. It's more than a choice, it's a day to day, minute by minute struggle to put away yourself and learn to trust fully in Jesus.

It's not a big surprise that the order of the prophecies Jesus fulfilled turned out this way and this book begins with the lesson on the sower. Proverbs 8 pointed out one main feature in Mark chapter 4 – wisdom. I could add another 8-10 pages to look at the spiritual meaning of the symbols in that parable. I could tell you all about the stoney ground and the weeds. I could tell you how scripture provided a concise spiritual definition for each. But what would that accomplish? Real knowledge is the ability to gain experience which produces wisdom. The goal of this book is to introduce you to basic and what the world may term as advanced Bible Study rules and concepts. In other words equip you with the ability to study on your own and taking that knowledge to the next level, teach others how to study on their own.

I know there are a lot of people who use this information for free from my website. I suppose there's nothing wrong with that. After all, that's what it's there for. I also know book sales are slow to nonexistent when a price is attached to those books, but soars when I offer the books for free. What does that tell me about Christian faith and belief in giving?

The most important part of the tithing system was so priests could see to the needs of the poor, elderly, widows, orphans, and strangers. What do we get when we look at that from a spiritual nature? What about those who are poor in the spiritual nature? Most Christians tithe to support a church. A building most likely made of cement, brick, stone, wood, and steel. What does this do to support the needy? Sure a portion goes to help needy people, but the vast majority is to cover overhead. Was this what God wanted? Does God want us to work 6 days a week to support a building made of brick and wood?

I've donated much more in funds to independent ministries I support than I've made on book sales. I've given hundreds of books away and granted rights for literature evangelists and other private ministries to sell books and keep all the proceeds. They set the price or give them away. Supporting God's Word and helping to spread the Good News is much more than buying and maintaining a building. I'd hope you'll pray about this. If you like this book, please take a few minutes to add a review. Think about buying extra copies – maybe your pastor could use one or members of your family. Ebooks are kind of risky, requiring a certain amount of faith and trust in human nature. Since this is a book for Christians, it shouldn't be a problem expecting people to do what's right.

Looking back on this study, I'd like to point out another key word, responsibility. Look at Solomon's prophecy here. It all boils down to responsibility. You can choose to gain knowledge but using it in the proper way is a responsibility. Do you think Solomon acted correctly all the time using the knowledge God gave him to better his home, community, kingdom, not to mention introducing the world to God? What about Jesus' disciples? They seemed to miss more than they learned and remembered. Jesus repeated a number of lessons because the disciples didn't pay attention to the first event. A number of times Jesus tried to explain the scriptures about Himself. Each time the disciples had something they thought was more important. We have all this information clearly written out for us. All we need to do is act responsible enough to put it all in order. All it takes is time. The ability to work with others helps. Working together or alone does not neglect your responsibility to listen for God's commands and preform the duties He gives you.

Chapter 2 - Isaiah 5:1-8 My Vineyard

Isaiah 5:1-8 NLTse  Now I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a rich and fertile hill.  (2)  He plowed the land, cleared its stones, and planted it with the best vines. In the middle he built a watchtower and carved a winepress in the nearby rocks. Then he waited for a harvest of sweet grapes, but the grapes that grew were bitter.  (3)  Now, you people of Jerusalem and Judah, you judge between me and my vineyard.  (4)  What more could I have done for my vineyard that I have not already done? When I expected sweet grapes, why did my vineyard give me bitter grapes?  (5)  Now let me tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will tear down its hedges and let it be destroyed. I will break down its walls and let the animals trample it.  (6)  I will make it a wild place where the vines are not pruned and the ground is not hoed, a place overgrown with briers and thorns. I will command the clouds to drop no rain on it.  (7)  The nation of Israel is the vineyard of the LORD of Heaven's Armies. The people of Judah are his pleasant garden. He expected a crop of justice, but instead he found oppression. He expected to find righteousness, but instead he heard cries of violence.  (8)  What sorrow for you who buy up house after house and field after field, until everyone is evicted and you live alone in the land.

This may be one of the most confusing prophecies to locate a parallel chapter that matches all the requirements. It seems like an easy task to match up the prophecy about the vineyard in Isaiah 5 with the parable Jesus taught about the vineyard leased to wicked tenants. The thing is, when things seem easy you run the risk of following preconceived ideas and not God's Spirit.

The parable of the wicked tenants or farmers, depending on the translation, is found in three of the gospels, so each has to be considered as a viable link. Two of  them reflect the same theme to the introduction of Isaiah 5, but the summations didn't appear to match. This took a lot of prayer which lead to a solution and of course a verse which linked the summation in Isaiah 5 to the story Jesus told about the temple when He said not one stone will be left upon another. It's evident the summation in Isaiah 5 is about Jerusalem's fall as well the demolition of the temple. But neither of the chapters containing the parable of the evil tenants contained a summation about the fall of Jerusalem. Once God's Spirit pointed out the matching texts, I looked it up. I was surprised at what I found. Two of the gospels contained the story Jesus told about the temple stones immediately after the story of the widow casting her life savings into the temple treasury. Mark appears to be the easiest chapter to work with. Because this is a new phase in Bible Study, we'll have to be careful to examine every step to ensure we understand why God arranged the texts in this particular manner. It wasn't by accident God placed the answer to the summation of Isaiah 5 in the introduction to the chapter following Mark chapter 12. This actually introduces a well known rule of context showing how one chapter leads into the next. Once you get comfortable studying on a spiritual level, you'll begin to see more connections like this.

Mark 12:1-12 NLTse  Then Jesus began teaching them with stories: "A man planted a vineyard. He built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country.  (2)  At the time of the grape harvest, he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop.  (3)  But the farmers grabbed the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed.  (4)  The owner then sent another servant, but they insulted him and beat him over the head.  (5)  The next servant he sent was killed. Others he sent were either beaten or killed,  (6)  until there was only one left--his son whom he loved dearly. The owner finally sent him, thinking, 'Surely they will respect my son.'  (7)  "But the tenant farmers said to one another, 'Here comes the heir to this estate. Let's kill him and get the estate for ourselves!'  (8)  So they grabbed him and murdered him and threw his body out of the vineyard.  (9)  "What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do?" Jesus asked. "I'll tell you--he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others.  (10)  Didn't you ever read this in the Scriptures? 'The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.  (11)  This is the LORD's doing, and it is wonderful to see.'"  (12)  The religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus because they realized he was telling the story against them--they were the wicked farmers. But they were afraid of the crowd, so they left him and went away.

When we compare the prophecy in Isaiah 5 to the fulfillment recorded in Mark 12 the first thing we notice is both of them are introductions. This of course points to their importance as well as the theme in both chapters. Now we have two introductions showing us all the information in Isaiah 5 and Mark 12 deal with sour grapes and wicked farmers leasing the Lord's vineyard. Comparing the two we clearly see the relationship shared by the sour grapes and wicked farmers. We also see the key words grapes, vineyard, and planted repeated in each.

Now it's time to examine how each adds its own detail to the lesson. Isaiah calls his prophecy a song. Usually a song points us to an important event. Putting key words into a song makes it easier to remember and share. Both Isaiah and Jesus described how the vineyard was prepared. Both include a watchtower and winepress which indicate they are spiritual symbols.

Isaiah tells us the vineyard will be torn down and animals will trample over it. The vineyard will become a wild place where the vines are not pruned and the ground is not hoed, a place overgrown with briers and thorns. God will also withhold the rain. Isaiah identifies the nation of Israel as the vineyard of the LORD and the people of Judah are his pleasant garden. Isaiah also identifies the spiritual meaning of the grapes. He expected a crop of justice, but instead he found oppression. He expected to find righteousness, but instead he heard cries of violence. The sweet grapes God expected to harvest represent justice and righteousness. Sour grapes represent oppression and violence.

Jesus tells His parable with a few changes. Jesus explains more about the sour grapes that represent oppression and violence by describing how the tenants beat and killed the servants and finally the owner's son. In Jesus' parable the vineyard is not destroyed, but the farmers are killed and the vineyard leased to others. Why do we see two different outcomes? Or are they the same?

Time to take a look at circumstances surrounding the event. Mark tells us the religious leaders knew they were the wicked farmers. In Jesus' parable they are killed and the vineyard is given to others. When Jesus died it marked the end of the Levitical priesthood. On the first Passover Egypt lost their firstborn sons. In the last Passover when Jesus gave His life, God's chosen sons died. "Of all the people of Israel, the Levites are reserved for me. I have claimed them for myself in place of all the firstborn sons of the Israelites; I have taken the Levites as their substitutes. For all the firstborn males among the people of Israel are mine, both of people and of animals. I set them apart for myself on the day I struck down all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians. Yes, I have claimed the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons of Israel. (Numbers 8:16-18 NLTse). This fulfilled Jesus' words when He said the wicked farmers would be killed and the vineyard leased to others. After His resurrection the disciples took the original message God gave the Levites out to the world. Jesus' disciples began to complete the job the Levites neglected for generations.

The Tabernacle was built with signs and symbols pointing to Jesus and His ministry. God's prophets provided prophecy after prophecy about Jesus. This was the message the religious leaders were trusted to take to the world. This is the same message Jesus' disciples preached. This contains an important lesson we either have to learn or perish like the Levites, the chosen sons of God. If God had to give up the sons He chose because they refused to listen, because they chose to create a message of their own, because they made rules, regulations, doctrines, and traditions to replace God's message. Isn't God prepared to repeat that rejection if you refuse to take out the message He gave to take out into the world?

Jesus also quoted scripture at the end of this parable. One of the basic rules of Bible Study is to always look at scripture when it's quoted. Not only do we need to look at the scripture, but the texts around it, as well as the introduction and summation which will show the theme and how it relates to the chapter it is quoted in.

Psalms 118:19-24 NLTse  Open for me the gates where the righteous enter, and I will go in and thank the LORD.  (20)  These gates lead to the presence of the LORD, and the godly enter there.  (21)  I thank you for answering my prayer and giving me victory!  (22)  The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.  (23)  This is the LORD's doing, and it is wonderful to see.  (24)  This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalms 118:1-2 NLTse  Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.  (2)  Let all Israel repeat: His faithful love endures forever.

Psalms 118:27-29 NLTse  The LORD is God, shining upon us. Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.  (28)  You are my God, and I will praise you! You are my God, and I will exalt you!  (29)  Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

It's not hard to see the main theme in Psalms 118 is giving thanks and praising the LORD. As we read through the texts Jesus quoted and a few earlier verses we see some important points. The gates are opening for the righteous. This points to the parable where Jesus told the religious leader the vineyard with be leased to others. We also see a verse placed there for Jesus reminding Him of the victory He is about to gain. It's a verse placed there to encourage Jesus. The prophecy also shows God is in control of the situation.  This is the LORD's doing, and it is wonderful to see. The most important part to consider is the main theme. In this case the prophecy Jesus quoted led us to a sort of contrast. The parable Isaiah 5 led us to showed how the religious leaders mistreated God's prophets and His Son. Jesus sent the religious leaders and us back to scripture reminding us of our first duty. This also shows how Jesus used scripture to answer questions before they were asked.

Later in Mark 12 a religious leader approached Jesus to ask which was the greatest commandment. Jesus answered.  You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these. (Mark 12:30-31 NLTse). Think of it. If the religious leader would have looked at the scripture Jesus quoted, he would have found his answer. Now it's time for us to look for more details and information in the summations of the chapters we're studying.

Isaiah 5:26-30 NLTse  He will send a signal to distant nations far away and whistle to those at the ends of the earth. They will come racing toward Jerusalem.  (27)  They will not get tired or stumble. They will not stop for rest or sleep. Not a belt will be loose, not a sandal strap broken.  (28)  Their arrows will be sharp and their bows ready for battle. Sparks will fly from their horses' hooves, and the wheels of their chariots will spin like a whirlwind.  (29)  They will roar like lions, like the strongest of lions. Growling, they will pounce on their victims and carry them off, and no one will be there to rescue them.  (30)  They will roar over their victims on that day of destruction like the roaring of the sea. If someone looks across the land, only darkness and distress will be seen; even the light will be darkened by clouds.

Mark 12:38-44 NLTse  Jesus also taught: "Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces.  (39)  And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets.  (40)  Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished."  (41)  Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts.  (42)  Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.  (43)  Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions.  (44)  For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on."

It would be impossible to see the relationship between a prophecy pointing to the destruction of Jerusalem and a widow placing her last two coins into the temple treasury without comparing the context of two chapters. To do that you have to read the entire chapters. For this study I put together a few verses to get the feel for Isaiah 5.

So my people will go into exile far away because they do not know me. Those who are great and honored will starve, and the common people will die of thirst. But the LORD of Heaven's Armies will be exalted by his justice. The holiness of God will be displayed by his righteousness. In that day lambs will find good pastures, and fattened sheep and young goats will feed among the ruins. They even mock God and say, Hurry up and do something! We want to see what you can do. Let the Holy One of Israel carry out his plan, for we want to know what it is. What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever. (Isaiah 5:13, 16, 17, 21 NLTse).

One of the main points Isaiah brings out is, they don't know God. Within the prophecy Isaiah used the spiritual terms, stare and die of thirst. He contrasted those with the righteous who will feed among the ruins. We also see a request. People are asking God to hurry up and do something. Isaiah is telling us they'll be testing God.

Mark 12 contains a series of stories following the parable of the of the evil tenants. The religious leaders asked Jesus, is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? His answer was,  give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God. This sets the theme for the next story where Jesus was approached by some Sadducees who asked what would happen if a man died and his widow went through his six brothers. Then they asked Jesus, So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her. (Mark 12:23 NLTse). Jesus' answer was to the point. Your mistake is that you don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God. For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven. (Mark 12:24-25 NLTse). Jesus also pointed them back to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jesus wanted the religious leaders to consider the good and bad points each of God's famous followers had. After that the religious leader asked Jesus which was the most important commandment.

What is the connecting thread between these three stories and how do they relate to the parable of the wicked farmers? For one thing, the farmers represented the religious leaders who were asking the questions. We actually find the connecting thread in Isaiah 5. What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever. This reinforces Isaiah's main point, they didn't know God. They couldn't see how God was standing in front of them. After loosing one battle after another, the religious leaders kept coming back expecting to gain a victory. Jesus did see something in the last man and told him,  You are not far from the Kingdom of God.

The story about the widow draws us back to the introduction of Isaiah 5. At the end of the first prophecy Isaiah added; "What sorrow for you who buy up house after house and field after field, until everyone is evicted and you live alone in the land. The religious leaders made widows poor by either taking over their homes and lands themselves or allowing others to carry out the task by using laws the priests distorted. Today its not much better. People still misunderstand or intentionally distorted God's simple law for the same reasons the priests did in Jesus' day. In the early days it didn't take much money to support the Tabernacle. Whenever you take a census of the people of Israel, each man who is counted must pay a ransom for himself to the LORD. Then no plague will strike the people as you count them. Each person who is counted must give a small piece of silver as a sacred offering to the LORD. (This payment is half a shekel, based on the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs.) All who have reached their twentieth birthday must give this sacred offering to the LORD. When this offering is given to the LORD to purify your lives, making you right with him, the rich must not give more than the specified amount, and the poor must not give less. Receive this ransom money from the Israelites, and use it for the care of the Tabernacle. It will bring the Israelites to the LORD's attention, and it will purify your lives." (Exodus 30:12-16 NLTse).

Every third year the Levites were supposed to share the offerings with people in need. And do not neglect the Levites in your town, for they will receive no allotment of land among you. "At the end of every third year, bring the entire tithe of that year's harvest and store it in the nearest town. Give it to the Levites, who will receive no allotment of land among you, as well as to the foreigners living among you, the orphans, and the widows in your towns, so they can eat and be satisfied. Then the LORD your God will bless you in all your work. (Deuteronomy 14:27-29 NLTse). This reminded the priests of their duty to the poor and depressed as well as to God.

God also gave a portion of the sacrifices to the priests as their ration of food. Remember that the Levitical priests--that is, the whole of the tribe of Levi--will receive no allotment of land among the other tribes in Israel. Instead, the priests and Levites will eat from the special gifts given to the LORD, for that is their share. They will have no land of their own among the Israelites. The LORD himself is their special possession, just as he promised them. These are the parts the priests may claim as their share from the cattle, sheep, and goats that the people bring as offerings: the shoulder, the cheeks, and the stomach. You must also give to the priests the first share of the grain, the new wine, the olive oil, and the wool at shearing time. For the LORD your God chose the tribe of Levi out of all your tribes to minister in the LORD's name forever. (Deuteronomy 18:1-5 NLTse).

God wrote a job description for the priests they should have paid attention to. One of their main roles was to take care of widows, orphans, poor, needy people, and strangers. This was repeated by Moses throughout his ministry. The priests showed their main concern in the first test they used to trap Jesus. What was the question about? Money. The priests thought their best chance to trap Jesus was in the subject they knew best. God's job description for the priests was very specific. They were not to own land. But somehow they found a way to cheat widows out of their land.

Look at the contrasts in the story. On one side of the temple court you see Jesus standing in the animal pens where the sacrifices were held the day before. On the other side of the courtyard stood the priests in their stately attire standing high above the people gathered to listen to Jesus. Another contrast is the old widow and the priests – also the way they were supposed to treat her and how she was actually treated. If the priests fulfilled their roles, the widow had no business dropping in her last two coins. The priests should have been on the ground floor helping the widow, feeding her, looking out for her rights. Instead they used their self proclaimed authority to put the widow out in the streets to live the life of a beggar.

The widow listened to Jesus talk. She understood everything He said. She wanted the world to hear. Doctrine and tradition told the widow the best thing she could do was support the priests to the best of her ability so they could take Jesus' message out to the world. The summations are perfect parallels when you realize the widow showed how far the priests were from God and how close the priests were to crossing a line where God would say, enough is enough.

You may still be asking yourself where Jerusalem's destruction is mentioned. After all, if Isaiah recorded the prophecy, there must be a fulfillment. I had to pray about this one before the answer became clear. With many studies we've learned to look back at previous texts to find the answer. In this case we look forward. The answer is found in the introduction to the very next chapter.

Mark 13:1-4 NLTse  As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, "Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls."  (2)  Jesus replied, "Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!"  (3)  Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the Temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him privately and asked him,  (4)  Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to be fulfilled?

Jesus explained more details about Jerusalem's destruction found in the prophecy in Isaiah 5. When we look at the construction of the stone temple it's not hard to see why it burned and fell. In the first year of King Cyrus's reign, a decree was sent out concerning the Temple of God at Jerusalem. Let the Temple be rebuilt on the site where Jews used to offer their sacrifices, using the original foundations. Its height will be ninety feet, and its width will be ninety feet. Every three layers of specially prepared stones will be topped by a layer of timber. All expenses will be paid by the royal treasury. (Ezra 6:3-4 NLTse). The temple was build with a layer of wood between every three layers of stone. No wonder it burned and fell. Why was it built this way?

Solomon was more than anxious to get started on the temple. So he sent a letter to Tyre's king asking for material and help. King Hiram sent this letter of reply to Solomon: It is because the LORD loves his people that he has made you their king! Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth! He has given King David a wise son, gifted with skill and understanding, who will build a Temple for the LORD and a royal palace for himself. I am sending you a master craftsman named Huram-abi, who is extremely talented. His mother is from the tribe of Dan in Israel, and his father is from Tyre. He is skillful at making things from gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and he also works with stone and wood. He can work with purple, blue, and scarlet cloth and fine linen. He is also an engraver and can follow any design given to him. He will work with your craftsmen and those appointed by my lord David, your father. (2 Chronicles 2:11-14 NLTse).

Things weren't much different in Solomon's day than we see today. People specially gifted in the arts seldom gave credit to God. They had an attitude of self confidence which turned to greed. Their attitude often effected people around them. Soon every worker demanded more money. Solomon had no choice but to raise taxes to finish the temple. Solomon also numbered the people to use slave labor to finish the project. In an effort to increase profit Huram-abi also cut corners by using wood in place of more expensive stones. Everyone knows wood is a high maintenance exterior material on a building.

Regardless of its defects and the fact the stone temple was missing a number of items pointing to the Messiah, the priests worshiped the building more than God. They also made the mistake of preaching separation. They used a few choice pieces of scripture to claim God wanted them separate and wanted His message locked away from the world. God gave them a vineyard but instead of working for the harvest to share with the owner, the priests twisted everything to gain worldly advantages for themselves. Greed flooded their hearts, blocked their ears, and blinded their eyes. But even after they killed His Son, God continued to reach out to the priests. So God's message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too. (Acts 6:7 NLTse).

Since this is the first prophecy in this series of books dealing with a future prophecy, it has slightly different rules to find the answer and reveal the spiritual lesson. At this point it's best to review the steps this study followed.

Obviously the first step was to highlight the key words. These are words that are the same, similar, and related. The key words lead us to New Testament scripture recording it's fulfillment.

The next step was to compare the prophecy to its fulfillment. In this case Jesus quoted scripture at the end of the parable He told. It is important to look up and compare quoted scripture to the chapter its found in as well as the chapter containing the prophecy that led us to the New Testament chapter.

Next the chapter's introductions are compared. In this study the prophecy and its fulfillment are both introductions. So we continue on to compare the summations. In this case the summations seem to have no relationship, which sends us back to prayer. Every step should begin and end with prayer. It's important to understand God's prophecies are revealed to those who have a relationship with Him. Prayer is communicating with God. Bible Study is like a classroom session. Not everything is learned in one day. The student can never tell what the next step is until the teacher provides the necessary instruction and examples to teach. Since this is the first lesson involving any type of future prophecy, we have to allow God's Spirit to reveal the process and steps in the order He prescribes. This study required a look ahead to the introduction of the next chapter in Mark. There we found more details about the future prophecy at the end of Isaiah 5.

Some may question how this is a future prophecy. Every study should consider the five W's of Bible Study, who, what, when, where, and why. When we consider who refers to Jesus and when is after He predicted the destruction of the temple, the prophecy of Jerusalem's fall is studied as a future prophecy in relationship to the chapters in the study.

The rebellion sputtered on for another three years and was finally extinguished in 73 AD with the fall of the various pockets of resistance including the stronghold at Masada.

"...the rebels shortly after attacked the Romans again, and a clash followed between the guards of the sanctuary and the troops who were putting out the fire inside the inner court; the latter routed the Jews and followed in hot pursuit right up to the Temple itself. Then one of the soldiers, without awaiting any orders and with no dread of so momentous a deed, but urged on by some supernatural force, snatched a blazing piece of wood and, climbing on another soldier's back, hurled the flaming brand through a low golden window that gave access, on the north side, to the rooms that surrounded the sanctuary. As the flames shot up, the Jews let out a shout of dismay that matched the tragedy; they flocked to the rescue, with no thought of sparing their lives or husbanding their strength; for the sacred structure that they had constantly guarded with such devotion was vanishing before their very eyes.

References: Josephus' account appears in: Cornfield, Gaalya ed., Josephus, The Jewish War (1982); Duruy, Victor, History of Rome vol. V (1883).

The Romans Destroy the Temple at Jerusalem, 70 AD, EyeWitness to History, www.eyewitnesstohistory.com (2005).

Another point in this study is found when we compare the events in Mark chapter 12. It begins by Jesus telling a parable about some wicked farmers. This pointed to the obscene ways the priests were misrepresenting God as well as their vision of a Messiah. After the parable the religious leaders tried to trick Jesus with the question about taxes. Then Sadducees who didn't believe in a resurrection asked Jesus a question about a woman who married seven brothers and which one would she be married to in the resurrection. Finally the man asked Jesus which was the greatest commandment. In each of those, they were testing Jesus, putting Him on trial. What the religious leaders didn't consider was the fact they were also on trial. Many people forget the context of the judgment when they try to interpret prophecy. When we look at these events in context, the Bible is providing evidence to show why those religious leaders lost their role as priests and it was given to another. God does not do anything without proper evidence and warning.

The prophecy in Isaiah 5 was a warning. When we look back in Isaiah we see what God expected from the priests. Keep in mind the first chapter of Isaiah explained the context for the entire book. Read the entire chapter for yourself. Following are a few key verses in Isaiah chapter one.

Listen, O heavens! Pay attention, earth! This is what the LORD says: "The children I raised and cared for have rebelled against me.

(Isaiah 1:2 NLTse)

What makes you think I want all your sacrifices? says the LORD. "I am sick of