Let's take a look at this passage, which while overlapping other sections, introduces a marvelous new theme...
3 Turn your ear, and come to me.
Hear, and your soul will live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander to the peoples.
5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you don’t know;
and a nation that didn’t know you shall run to you,
because of Yahweh your God,
and for the Holy One of Israel;
for he has glorified you.”
6 Seek Yahweh while he may be found.
Call on him while he is near.
In this study, I would like to review these key points promised to Isaiah's hearers:
A. YaHWeH continues to make covenants - or at least incorporate new beneficiaries into the blessings of earlier covenants.
B. David is set forth as both the example and the figurehead or agent of the covenant under consideration.
C. New ethnic peoples will be incorporated into the Covenant.
A. YaHWeH's invitation to the hearers to "turn", "come", "hear" and "live" are simultaneously both seemingly a prerequisite and a benefit of joining in covenant with Him. The offer appears to be both personal ('I will make...covenant with YOU.') and yet inclusive and familiar ('I will make an everlasting covenant...'). This demands some prayerful consideration and the guidance of His Spirit to understand.
B. The 'Covenant' offered is the 'sure mercies of David' (all of 2 Samuel 7 is worth reading, but here is a portion):
12 When your days are fulfilled and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up your offspring after you, who will proceed out of your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13 He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men;
15 but my loving kindness will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you.
16 Your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you. Your throne will be established forever.” ’ ”
C. There is here clear indication that the physical descendants of Judah will not be alone in the future Reign. Consider these passages:
The lost tribes will be recalled (Isaiah 66):
18 “For I know their works and their thoughts. The time comes that I will gather all nations and languages, and they will come, and will see my glory.
19 “I will set a sign among them, and I will send those who escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to far-away islands, who have not heard my fame, nor have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations. 20 They shall bring all your brothers out of all the nations for an offering to Yahweh, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules, and on camels, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says Yahweh, as the children of Israel bring their offering in a clean vessel into Yahweh’s house.
21 Of them I will also select priests and Levites,” says Yahweh.
There will be a desire for YaHWeH stirred up within the hearts of those outside of Jacob (Micah 4, Zechariah 8):
2 Many nations will go and say, “Come! Let’s go up to the mountain of Yahweh, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the law will go out of Zion, and Yahweh’s word from Jerusalem;
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20 Yahweh of Armies says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come. 21 The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, ‘Let’s go speedily to entreat the favor of Yahweh, and to seek Yahweh of Armies. I will go also.’ 22 Yes, many peoples and strong nations will come to seek Yahweh of Armies in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of Yahweh.”
An overwhelming sense of WORSHIP shall overcome them (Psalm 86):
9 All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord.
They shall glorify your name.