Isaiah 57:14

 Isaiah 57:14

And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.

a. NASB 1995: And it will be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way, Remove every obstacle out of the way of My people.”  [New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.]

b. NKJV: And one shall say, “Heap it up! Heap it up! Prepare the way, Take the stumbling block out of the way of My people.” [Scripture quotations marked "NKJV" are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.]

c. Classic Amplified Bible: And the word of One shall go forth, Cast up, cast up, prepare the way! Take up the stumbling block out of the way [of the spiritual return] of My people.  [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. The Milstein Edition, Later Prophets, Isaiah. With Rabbinic Commentary: He will say, “Pave, pave! Clear the the road! Remove the obstacle from my Peoples path.”  [THE ARTSCROLL SERIES\MILSTEIN EDITION THE LATTER PROPHETS, ISAIAH Ⓒ Copyright 2013 by MESORAH PUBLICATIONS, Ltd.]

e. ESV: And it shall be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people’s way.”  [Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

f. Unless otherwise stated, all Greek and Hebrew definitions are from Blue Letter Bible

1. And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.

a. [And shall] say [Strong: 559 ʼâmar, aw-mar'; a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude):—answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, × desire, determine, × expressly, × indeed, × intend, name, × plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), × still, × suppose, talk, tell, term, × that is, × think, use (speech), utter, × verily, × yet.]

b. Cast ye up [Strong: 5549 çâlal, saw-lal'; a primitive root; to mound up (especially a turnpike); figurative, to exalt; reflexively, to oppose (as by a dam):—cast up, exalt (self), extol, make plain, raise up.]

c. cast ye up çâlal, saw-lal'; a primitive root; to mound up (especially a turnpike); figurative, to exalt; reflexively, to oppose (as by a dam):—cast up, exalt (self), extol, make plain, raise up.]

d. prepare [Strong: 6437 pânâh, paw-naw'; a primitive root; to turn; by implication, to face, i.e. appear, look, etc.:—appear, at (even-) tide, behold, cast out, come on, × corner, dawning, empty, go away, lie, look, mark, pass away, prepare, regard, (have) respect (to), (re-) turn (aside, away, back, face, self), × right (early).]

e. [the] way [Strong: 1870 derek, deh'-rek; from H1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb:—along, away, because of, by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever).]

f. take up [Strong: 7311 rûwm, room; a primitive root; to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively):—bring up, exalt (self), extol, give, go up, haughty, heave (up), (be, lift up on, make on, set up on, too) high(-er, one), hold up, levy, lift(-er) up, (be) lofty, (× a-) loud, mount up, offer (up), presumptuously, (be) promote(-ion), proud, set up, tall(-er), take (away, off, up), breed worms.]

g. [the] stumbling block [Strong: 4383 mikshôwl, mik-shole'; or מִכְשֹׁל mikshôl; masculine from H3782; a stumbling-block, literally or figuratively (obstacle, enticement (specifically an idol), scruple):—caused to fall, offence, × (no-) thing offered, ruin, stumbling-block.]

h. [out of the] way [Strong: 1870 derek, deh'-rek; from H1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb:—along, away, because of, by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever).]

i. [of my] people [Strong: 5971 ʻam, am; from H6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock:—folk, men, nation, people.]

1). Explanation of the stumblingblock.

2). It seems that Isaiah 53:4 is not only looking forward 700 years to the time of  Jesus the Messiah, it also seems at the same time, he is looking back at the crucifixion of Christ, from a time in the future in explaining the reason the Jewish people rejected him. The Scripture does say a man hung on a tree is cursed of God.

 

a). Deuteronomy 21:22, 23 And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:

21:23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

 

2). The Apostle Paul affirms this in Galatians 3:13, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree. This truth became a stumbling block to the Jewish people to keep them from believing that Jesus is the Messiah. They could not get past the Scripture that whosoever is cursed is hung on a tree. It was impossible to them that someone who is cursed of God could be the Messiah.

 

a). 1 Corinthians 1:23, “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block,…”

 

b). The Jewish thinking on this is how could someone who is cursed of God be the Messiah? Therefore they rejected him.  

 

3). This also was foretold by Isaiah.

 

a). Isaiah 8:14, 15 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

8:15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

  

4). This fascinating passage is foretelling of Israel’s rejection of the Messiah, but it does not stop there, it goes on to speak of the blindness upon Israel during this dispensation.

 

a). Isaiah 8:16-18 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.

8:17 I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

8:18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.  

 

b). I have placed words in italics that the inspired writer of Hebrews 2:13 declares are the words of the pre-incarnate Christ!

 

5). Within the prophetic passage foretelling of the Messiah being a stumbling block to Israel, causing them to reject the Messiah is a hint to our present dispensation of grace.

 

a). Hebrews 2:10-13 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

2:12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

2:13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

 

7). Many individual Jews have accepted Christ Jesus over the last 20 centuries, but the nation as a whole is still in unbelief because of this stumbling block. After Christ returns the stumbling block will be commanded to be removed.

 

a). Isaiah 57:13-18 When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain;

57:14 And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.

57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is  Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

57:16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

57:17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.

57:18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners. (Reference to Zechariah 12:10-14 & Isaiah 61:2, 3; Mourning for Aaron 30 days, Numbers 20:29; Mourning for Moses, Deuteronomy 34:8; Mourning for Jacob, 77 days, Genesis 50:3, 10.]