Salvation In Old Testament Prophecy


This section will deal with the use of the the Hebrew word Yshuwah(3444) which is many times translated salvation. The word for salvation is derived from another word, Yasha (3467), originally, this root was believed to mean "to be open, wide or free" When one has plenty of room in which to move, he feels safe and secure, Yasha means, therefore, to be delivered, saved, to get help; to deliver, give victory, to help; to take vengeance; to preserve. Some versions use "rescue" and "defend cause" and some use "saviour" It is noteworthy that the personal name of our Saviour, Jesus, derives from this root. Also in the N.T., when the crowds cried out to Jesus at His triumphal entry, they used the word Hosanna, which is directly traceable to this verb in the O.T. Yasha and its derivatives appear 353 times in the Hebrew Bible. At first, the word pointed to a physical deliverance from very real enemies or catastrophes. Later, the word: "save" developed a theological meaning. God is concerned about our physical well-being, our emotional status, and the salvation of our souls. God has the ability to save us from anything which would harm us. Salvation is God's love in action. There is none outside of Him. Some verses hint at an everlasting salvation which was coming. Some people, like Simeon and Anna (Lk 2:29,30,38) were waiting for it. (Spiros Zodhaites, Hebrew/Greek Key study Bible pg 1733,34)

Let us watch the transformation of this word in its usage from the deliverance from present distress to the hope of a future deliverance that will be for all time.

Isaiah 12:2 (KJV)
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
As used in the poetry, this is the personal self satisfaction that one has by doing God's will.

Isaiah 12:3 (KJV)
Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
Symbolically, salvation is deep and we can only achieve it by doing something. In this verse, we must draw it out of the well in order to benefit it. As long as it stays down in the well, it offers us nothing at all. We will only receive it with joy. As you read in the book of Acts of the conversions that took place, notice that joy accompanies those who have drawn the water out of the well.

Isaiah 17:10 (KJV)
Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:
Isaiah tells the people of the Northern kingdom, that the reason for their destruction is their failure to obey God.

Isaiah 25:9 (KJV)
And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
This is prophecy looking forward to a time in the future. This particular prophecy is describing the church and its lack of limitations as far as citizenship. This particular salvation is used in the sense of personal joy, yet "in that day" they will realize a different kind of salvation.

Isaiah 26:1 (KJV)
In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.
Walls and bulwarks are descriptive of a fort or some sort of defense. God will defend us. This defense will be the salvation that God offers. As in our protection or deliverance. Not until after the church is established do the people realize that this salvation is an eternal life being described.

Isaiah 33:2 (KJV)
O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.
Deliverance is the thought here, both for the individual and for the nation itself.

Isaiah 33:6 (KJV)
And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.
The fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom and instruction. Read the first few verses of Proverbs and see if this is what it is talking about.

Isaiah 45:8 (KJV)
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.
God is the source of salvation as He is the source of all things.

The next few verses deal with God's promises for future restoration of Israel and all nations. Keep in mind, that the people of the O.T. never realized salvation as being eternal life.

Isaiah 45:17 (KJV)
But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.
As long as Israel is faithful to God, they will be saved and spared from their enemies. Yet we know that they did not remain faithful, and thus lost their kingdom.

Isaiah 46:13 (KJV)
I bring near my righteousness: it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.
God is near. Everyone must learn that fact. God is not slack concerning His promises (2 Pet 3:9). We also know that from Zion will proceed the new covenant. Zion was the spiritual abode of God in the temple on the mount of Zion. This was the abode of God in relationship to His people. From Jerusalem the good news of salvation would proceed forth to the utmost part of the earth.

Isaiah 49:6 (KJV)
And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
God is speaking to His Messiah, which is His Son. Here are just some of the instructions which are placed upon Jesus from prophecy. Later the N.T. writers would quote this passage as futher proof that this was the Son of God, and that believing in Him, one might have eternal life (John 20:31)

Isaiah 49:8 (KJV)
Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
The book of Hebrews is written to show the greatness of Christ and how Christ became a new covenant for God's elect.

Isaiah 51:5 (KJV)
My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.
God and Jesus and the words of Jesus along with the writings of the Holy Spirit will be our judges in the last day. The arms mentioned are those extensions of God which were used to inform us of His will.

Isaiah 51:6 (KJV)
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
Here is an example of the everlasting life. Though they did not understand it, they began to perceive that there was something better in store for God's people. When we get closer to N.T. times, we will find those who believe in the resurrection. These people were looking for a physical bringing back to life of the faithful upon this earth. They still did not understand the great mystery which was hidden from them.

Isaiah 51:8 (KJV)
For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation from generation to generation.
Compare this with Acts 2:39.

Isaiah 52:7 (KJV)
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
Compare this with Rom 10:14-15. The "publisheth" is the making known of this salvation. Whether it be preached or written.

Isaiah 52:10 (KJV)
The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
Once again, a deliverance for the people of God, which the world will see and recognize Jehovah as a living active God who cares for His righteous ones. Compare Dan 4:28-29 and Dan 5:34-35, and Dan 6:26-27.

Isaiah 56:1 (KJV)
Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
Simeon and Anna were waiting for the salvation of the Lord to come. This salvation would be realized through Jesus.
Notice also that God says that His righteousness was to be revealed, or made known sometime in the future.

Isaiah 59:11 (KJV)
We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.
This usage is deliverance from trials and tribulations.

Isaiah 59:16 (KJV)
And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
Another prophecy that Jesus would be our intercessor.

Isaiah 59:17 (KJV)
For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.
Describing Jesus, notice that Paul gave us the same type of armour in Eph 6. We are to be like Jesus in all things. This is just another way of being like Jesus, when we put on the whole armour of God.

Isaiah 60:18 (KJV)
Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
Once again, a future promise that those people will never see, and will not be realized until after the church is established.

Isaiah 61:10 (KJV)
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Words and thoughts from the Messiah as spoken through prophecy.

Isaiah 62:1 (KJV)
For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
Jerusalem will be the beginning point of this salvation. It was first preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost. Keep in mind that the everlasting kingdom, that Daniel prophesied about, was at hand and that is what John and Jesus proclaimed.
Still, not until the church is established does anyone realize that salvation can be eternal life in a spiritual kingdom, not anything in this material world.

Isaiah 62:11 (KJV)
Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
Jesus is the "him". His work was to do the master's bidding.

Isaiah 63:5 (KJV)
And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.
Since God found no man worthy to stand up in place as a representative for the people, He would need to provide a pure soul. (1 John 4:9-10)

Jeremiah 3:23 (KJV)
Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.
Jeremiah tried to teach the people to repent and return to serving the Living God, but they constantly rejected Jehovah. As a result, destruction was coming upon them. These people had turned to idols and were worshipping in the high places in the hills.

Lamentations 3:26 (KJV)
It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
The only hope that anyone of the O.T. knew about salvation is realized in the physical realm. Either by one's circumstances or their own internal feelings. The person who relies upon God to provide this salvation is considered good.

Jonah 2:9 (KJV)
But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.
Jonah's salvation is from the belly of the great fish.

Micah 7:7 (KJV)
Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
Micah tells us the right place to focus upon.

Habakkuk 3:8 (KJV)
Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation?
A prophetical statement that is realized better when you read the whole context.

Habakkuk 3:13 (KJV)
Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah. Read the whole context

Habakkuk 3:18 (KJV)
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Once again, the inner peace from knowing that one is serving God.

Zechariah 9:9 (KJV)
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
Is there really any question as to where the salvation of God comes from? Who else but Jesus the Christ.

Go to the next section
Salvation In The New Testament

Home / Bible studies / Bible Survey / Special Studies / General Articles / Non-Bible Articles / Sermons / Sermon Outlines / Links / Questions and Answers / What Saith The Scriptures /Daily Devotional / Correspondence Courses / What is the Church of Christ / Book: Christian Growth / Website Policy / E-mail / About Me /