Isaiah 45:8
The James Method Verse Mapping
I’ve been reading through Isaiah, and I came across a verse that I really wanted to map. So I took a break from 1 John and mapped from Isaiah instead for about a week.
Isaiah 45:8 (NIV, 1984 version)
8 You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow up with it; I, the Lord, have created it.
Here’s my concept map for this verse:
Here is an image of my verse map for Isaiah 45:8. I will also type out what I have written for easier reading.
Keep in mind that a lot of my writing is shorthand or bullet points rather than complete thoughts or sentences due to limited space in the journal. That shorthand is reflected in the content I have typed out.
Isaiah 45:8 (NIV 1984)
8 You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow up with it; I, the Lord, have created it.
Translations (key differences bolded)
NIV 2011: 8 “You heavens above, rain down my righteousness;
let the clouds shower it down.
Let the earth open wide,
let salvation spring up,
let righteousness flourish with it;
I, the Lord, have created it.
KJV: 8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it.
NKJV: 8 “Rain down, you heavens, from above,
And let the skies pour down righteousness;
Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation,
And let righteousness spring up together.
I, the Lord, have created it.
NLT: 8 “Open up, O heavens,
and pour out your righteousness.
Let the earth open wide
so salvation and righteousness can sprout up together.
I, the Lord, created them.
ESV: 8 “Shower, O heavens, from above,
and let the clouds rain down righteousness;
let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit;
let the earth cause them both to sprout;
I the Lord have created it.
Context
Author: Isaiah
Date: Around 681 BC
Audience: Israelites/Jews
Purpose: To tell of the coming Messiah - telling of God’s unique status as the only God.
Key Words
Righteousness
Definition: what is right or just or normal, justice
Rain down/shower
Definition: flow, trickle, drop, streams, floods
Earth
Definition: land, whole earth, inhabitants of earth, ground
Salvation
Definition: deliverance, rescue, safety, welfare, victory
Grow/spring up
Definition: bear fruit, sprout, spring up
Created
Definition: to create, shape, form, always with God as subject
Cross References
Hosea 10:12: 12 Sow righteousness for yourselves,
reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes
and showers his righteousness on you.
Sow righteousness, reap love, the Lord will shower righteousness
Psalm 72:6-7: 6 May he be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.
7 In his days may the righteous flourish
and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.
King is like rain on the earth, in his days the righteous will flourish
Psalm 85:9-13: 9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.10 Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.
Salvation is near those who fear him, faithfulness springs from the earth, righteousness from heaven
Genesis 1:1: 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
God created the heavens and the earth
Joel 2:28-32: 28 “And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
29 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
30 I will show wonders in the heavens
and on the earth,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
31 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
32 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved;
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
there will be deliverance,
as the Lord has said,
even among the survivors
whom the Lord calls.
Pour out Spirit, everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved
Titus 3:3-6: 3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Saved us not by our righteousness but by his mercy, renewal by Holy Spirit, poured on us through Jesus/Savior
Isaiah 61:10-11: 10 I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness
and praise spring up before all nations.
Clothed me with salvation and righteousness, righteousness and praise spring up
View of God
God is the source of righteousness. He is the one who controls where and how much righteousness comes on the earth. It brings with it salvation for people. Righteousness is poured out just like the Holy Spirit. God is the creator of it all.
View of Man/Self
We are on the receiving end of God’s generosity to rain down his righteousness and salvation on us. But we have to be open to receive it, just as the earth opens to soak up the rain.
Reflection and Application
As I was reading through the cross references, I was struck by the parallel language with the Holy Spirit. Just as righteousness is rained down, Jesus poured out his blood on the cross, and the Holy Spirit is poured out on believers. Jesus’ blood and the Holy Spirit bring the fruit of salvation and righteousness if we open our hearts to receive it, just like the earth opens to receive the rain.
Prayer
Lord, thank you that you are righteous. Thank you that you give that righteousness to those who open their hearts to you, who believe on your name. Thank you for your salvation and for pouring out the Holy Spirit on believers. I pray that you would grow righteousness in my heart so that I will long to be close to you and will turn away from sin.